Key Takeaways
- • Quilter Investors has launched an Absolute Return Equity fund within its WealthSelect Managed Portfolio Service, with Janus Henderson Investors selected as the sub-adviser to manage the mandate.
- • The fund employs a long/short equity strategy focused on large- and mega-cap companies, with exposure predominantly in the UK alongside selective European and US holdings, designed to deliver positive absolute returns over a 12-month period.
- • The strategy is managed by Ben Wallace and Luke Newman at Janus Henderson and mirrors the Janus Henderson Absolute Return fund, leveraging established performance track record.
- • Performance data shows the fund returned 26% over the past three years, significantly outperforming its UK base rate benchmark of 14.5% over the same period.
- • The launch represents an expansion of Quilter Investors' WealthSelect MPS offering, reinforcing the platform's multi-manager portfolio service capability through specialist sub-advised mandates.
Summary
Quilter Investors has expanded its WealthSelect Managed Portfolio Service with the introduction of an Absolute Return Equity fund managed by Janus Henderson Investors. The sub-advised mandate was launched on 14 October 2025 as part of Quilter's broader strategy to offer diversified investment solutions within its managed portfolio platform.
The Absolute Return Equity fund implements a long/short equity strategy targeting large- and mega-cap securities across developed markets. Investment exposure is weighted toward the UK while maintaining selective positions in Europe and the United States. The fund's primary objective is to deliver positive absolute returns on a 12-month rolling basis, positioning it as a defensive equity offering within the WealthSelect range. The strategy is managed by Ben Wallace and Luke Newman at Janus Henderson, drawing on their experience managing the Janus Henderson Absolute Return fund.
Performance metrics demonstrate the strategy's track record. Over the three-year period prior to launch, the fund returned 26%, substantially outpacing its UK base rate benchmark return of 14.5%. This performance differential underscores the value proposition of the long/short approach in capturing upside while mitigating downside equity exposure. The strategy's ability to generate positive returns across varying market cycles over a circa 20-year operating period has been noted by industry observers as a significant achievement.
The addition of this fund reinforces Quilter Investors' positioning within the competitive managed portfolio service market, where differentiation through specialist sub-advised mandates has become increasingly important. By partnering with established managers like Janus Henderson, Quilter enables its wealth management clients to access targeted strategies that complement traditional asset allocation approaches while maintaining the simplified custody and governance benefits of a unified platform solution.
The Absolute Return Equity fund implements a long/short equity strategy targeting large- and mega-cap securities across developed markets. Investment exposure is weighted toward the UK while maintaining selective positions in Europe and the United States. The fund's primary objective is to deliver positive absolute returns on a 12-month rolling basis, positioning it as a defensive equity offering within the WealthSelect range. The strategy is managed by Ben Wallace and Luke Newman at Janus Henderson, drawing on their experience managing the Janus Henderson Absolute Return fund.
Performance metrics demonstrate the strategy's track record. Over the three-year period prior to launch, the fund returned 26%, substantially outpacing its UK base rate benchmark return of 14.5%. This performance differential underscores the value proposition of the long/short approach in capturing upside while mitigating downside equity exposure. The strategy's ability to generate positive returns across varying market cycles over a circa 20-year operating period has been noted by industry observers as a significant achievement.
The addition of this fund reinforces Quilter Investors' positioning within the competitive managed portfolio service market, where differentiation through specialist sub-advised mandates has become increasingly important. By partnering with established managers like Janus Henderson, Quilter enables its wealth management clients to access targeted strategies that complement traditional asset allocation approaches while maintaining the simplified custody and governance benefits of a unified platform solution.
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