Quilter appoints J.P. Morgan to manage long-short equity fund mandate

Quilter has announced the launch of the Quilter Investors Long-Short Equity Fund and appointed J.P. Morgan Asset Management (JPMAM) to manage the mandate.

The strategy aims to provide positive returns through an equity long-short approach, focusing on companies involved in consumer or consumer-related activity, either directly or indirectly.

JPMAM lead portfolio manager, Jonathan Ingram, will manage the fund, supported by Alexander Whyte, Victoria Helvert, and Guy Anderson.

The fund will be based on the recently launched JPM Consumer Long-Short Fund, which is already managed by Ingram and his team.

The team uses an investment approach that looks to integrate proprietary quantitative signals, machine learning techniques, and fundamental analysis.

The portfolio will be diversified, typically running low-net equity exposure, and stock-specific risk is expected to be the primary driver of returns.

Quilter uses sub-advised mandates, alongside third-party funds, across its multi-asset investment solutions.

It argued that this approach offered the portfolio managers a wide range of high-quality strategies across different asset classes, sectors, and geographies.

Quilter’s WealthSelect managed portfolio service (MPS) has added the Quilter Investors Long-Short Equity Fund to the portfolios at its recent rebalance.

Its portfolio managers, Stuart Clark, Helen Bradshaw and Bethan Dixon, have also increased the alternatives allocation within the Managed and Responsible portfolios in the MPS, while reducing cash holdings.

“We are always on the lookout for interesting and differentiated investment approaches, particularly in the alternatives space,” said Quilter WealthSelect MPS portfolio manager, Stuart Clark.

“We have been monitoring this team for some time and are now delighted to be partnering with J.P. Morgan to launch a mandate that we can include in WealthSelect.

“The team brings a disciplined approach and is comfortable using a number of different approaches to help avoid pitfalls associated with singular approaches.

“Given the high levels of uncertainty in the market, conflict erupting in the Middle East and continued concerns around asset bubbles, trade policy, and inflation, it is vital we look for genuinely diversifying investments to complement existing holdings in the portfolios.

“We see this new fund adding real value for clients and look forward to working with Jonathan and the team in doing so.”

JPMAM lead portfolio manager, Jonathan Ingram, added: “The whole team and I are delighted to partner with Quilter to launch this new strategy.

“The Quilter Investors Long-Short Equity Fund will use insights into rapidly changing consumer trends around the world in order to build a long-short portfolio that targets a total return in excess of cash for Quilter’s MPS clients."

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