Navigator today announced changes to the range of investment options available via its Personal Investment Plan and Personal Retirement Plan services.
Navigator today announced changes to the range of investment options available via its Personal Investment Plan and Personal Retirement Plan services.
Funds added to the Navigator fund list are:
- Ausbil Australian Active Equity Fund
- Challenger Orion Australian Share Fund
- Eley Griffiths Group Small Companies Fund
- Macquarie Master Diversified Fixed Interest Fund
- Merrill Lynch Monthly Income Fund
The funds are available for investment from today - 23 March 2005, and bring Navigator’s choice of managed funds investment options to more than 170.
Navigator’s research manager, Stuart Fechner, said the range and diversity of these fund additions demonstrates the wider choice and flexibility a full service platform can offer.
Ensuring suitable choice is provided across a range of different asset classes, along with a desire to listen to feedback from advisers, has led to a broad range of different investment options being added.
"Adviser feedback has not been dominated by one central theme, but was representative of more general interest across a variety of differing investment types. The fund additions are reflective of this," Stuart said.
"Orion Asset Management recently received the ‘Morningstar Emerging Fund Manager of the Year Award 2004’. It’s pleasing we’re able to provide access to such quality and recognised investment funds."
The small companies sector has seen many funds close due to capacity constraints in recent years.
"It has been difficult to find small company funds with capacity that are managed by experienced portfolio managers with a good track record. The Eley Griffiths Group Small Companies Fund provides both these criteria," said Stuart.
Not all funds added have exposure to growth asset classes. Both the Merrill Lynch Monthly Income Fund and the Macquarie Master Diversified Fixed Interest Fund provide different types of exposure to the fixed interest market.
"We all know about the ‘baby boomer’ generation and their need for income. It’s only recently we’ve seen a number of funds become available that are managed to provide income while offering different exposure to the traditional fixed interest funds," said Stuart.
The Merrill Lynch Monthly Income Fund is one such product. This Fund provides exposure to corporate debt and other credit securities, however most of the traditional duration risk is stripped out of the portfolio. The Fund provides opportunity for some level of diversification within an overall allocation to fixed interest based investments.
The Macquarie Master Diversified Fixed Interest Fund provides exposure to both domestic and international fixed interest.
"Sector specialist funds have been very popular within the asset classes of Australian and international equities. Such popularity however, has not been the case across fixed interest funds. On the back of this we have seen an increase in the number of diversified fixed interest funds that have become available in recent months," Stuart said.
"The Macquarie Diversified Fixed Interest Fund achieves this by investing into multiple fund managers that are specialists within different components of the fixed interest market," he added.
Not only have a broad range of different funds been added, but also a number of different fund managers.
Of the five fund managers represented by the fund additions, three are new to the Navigator fund list - Ausbil, Eley Grifffiths and Orion (via Challenger).
The Dresdner RCM International Equities Fund was removed from the list.
According to Stuart there have been a number of changes within this Fund’s investment team over the past year or so and this may have attributed to recent poor performance. On the back of this, inflows into the Fund have been low.
"Being a full service platform provider allows Navigator to offer a wide variety of funds, fund types and fund managers, rather than simply funds representing just the traditional asset classes and mainstream managers. This level of choice is important as it provides advisers with the diversity and flexibility of investment choice to construct a portfolio that meets the specific needs of an individual investor," Stuart said.
Stuart Fechner is available for interview on 0407 839 080.
For further information, please contact:
Simon Morgan, Group General Manager, Public Affairs
Tel: (03) 9829 8892 Mob: 0407 966 632
Notes to editors:
- Aviva Australia is a group of two specialist financial services companies: Navigator and Norwich Union Life Australia Ltd. Portfolio Partners is the Australian funds management arm of Aviva plc. Through these companies we provide products and services in the areas of wealth creation and wealth protection for more than 300,000 customers throughout Australia.
- Globally, Aviva Australia is part of Aviva plc, the world’s fifth largest insurance group, the largest insurer in the UK and one of the top five life companies in Europe. Aviva was formed in May 2000 through the global merger of CGU plc and Norwich Union plc.
- Aviva is a leading provider of life and pensions products to Europe and has substantial businesses elsewhere around the world. Its main activities are long-term savings, fund management and general insurance. It has premium income and investment sales from continuing operations of A$74 billion, and more than A$592 billion of assets under management (as at 17January 2005). The group has more than 49,000 employees and 30 million customers worldwide.
- The information in this document reflects Navigator Australia Limited's ('Navigator’) understanding of existing legislation, proposed legislation, rulings etc as at the date of issue. In some cases the information has been provided to us by third parties. While it is believed the information is accurate and reliable, this is not guaranteed in any way. The information given in this document is of a general nature and has not taken into account the investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs of any particular person and it is not a substitute for professional advice. Applications to invest in a financial product issued by Navigator, or any of its related entities, must be made by completing the application form attached to the applicable Product Disclosure Statement ("PDS"). A PDS is available from Navigator or your financial adviser. Before making an investment decision on the basis of the information above, a prospective investor needs to consider, with or without the assistance of a professional adviser whether the information is appropriate in the light of their particular investment needs, objectives and financial circumstances. Aviva does not receive any remuneration in relation to the provision of information available from this press release which is of a general nature only.