SWIP launches new life and pension links with Skandia

Scottish Widows Investment Partnership has launched two funds onto Skandia's "Selestia Investment Solutions" platform. The Multi-Manager Diversity fund and the Absolute Return Bond fund will also be available as insured fund links via Skandia's life and pension products.

Scott Dakers, Head of Strategic Alliances at SWIP said: "We are absolutely delighted to have two of our most popular funds added to Skandia's platform as insured fund links. Both funds offer incredible investment expertise to the life and pension market place."

The SWIP Multi-Manager Diversity Fund is managed by ‘AA' Citywire rated managers Mark Harries and Simon Wood. The OBSR ‘A' rated fund offers excellent diversification through investing in a wide range of asset classes and geographic regions with the aim of delivering consistent, smooth returns over the longer term.

Mark Harries, Head of Multi-Manager at SWIP said: "The SWIP Multi-Manager team has returned 29.72% over the last five years in the UK Cautious Managed IMA sector, compared to an average of 14.49%. I am really pleased that the Diversity fund is now available to life and pension customers via Skandia."

SWIP's Absolute Return Bond fund is a low risk low volatility fund. It aims to achieve a positive capital return over the longer term and targets cash plus 3%.

The SWIP Absolute Return Bond Fund can adapt quickly to the ever increasing volatile economic climate. The portfolio managers seek strategies of investment and disinvestment in debt related derivative contracts and physical assets looking for positive returns in all market conditions.

Gareth Quantrill, Co-Manager and Head of Bond Product at SWIP comments: "The structure of our absolute return bond fund leads it to have a low correlation with bond markets which enables it to offer excellent asset diversification for investors. The absolute return strategy gives us greater scope to use sophisticated tools and techniques, such as derivative overlay strategies to add significant value in any market environment and to help us achieve steady absolute positive returns for our clients over the longer term."

Stuart Steven, Co- Manager of the SWIP Absolute Return Bond fund comments: "Based on our rigorous fundamental research, we have used our strong credit and cash analysis to take advantage of distressed instruments to buy into very high levels of yield for what we believe to be low levels of risk. During January the fund benefited from a number of overlay strategies, with a long position to US inflation proving to be the most successful."