S&P rates Russell funds as top notch
Russell’s International Share Fund and Global Opportunities Fund receive 4 star rating from their first ever S&P review
SYDNEY, 4 April, 2008 – Today Russell Investment Group announced that two of its International Equity Funds – the Russell Global Opportunities Fund and the Russell International Share Fund - received four-star ratings following the S&P International Equity – Multi Manager Review.
Rated for the first time ever, the two funds performed exceptionally well, achieving the highest rating given to managers in the International Equity Multi Manager sub-category. In total, there were 13 multi-manager products offered by six investment managers. As a result of the review, nine ratings remained unchanged, one was downgraded, and two (Russell funds) were rated for the first time.
Mr Chris Corneil, Managing Director, Russell Investor Services, said the rating reinforced the high calibre performance of Russell’s international equity funds.
“It is extremely commendable that S&P awarded both the Russell Global Opportunities Fund and the Russell International Share Fund with 4 stars in their first ever rating. This proves that they have a high regard for the managers that Russell chooses and the access Russell has to a large global network of research analysts.”
“Russell has been building multi-manager products since 1980 and we select the ‘best’ managers from around the world in each asset class, and carefully blend different ‘styles’ of managers to achieve a superior risk and return outcome for an overall portfolio. The S&P rating has confirmed our commitment to providing first-class multi-manager funds,” Mr Corneil said.
The Russell International Shares Fund was launched in January 1998 and employs a multi-style, multi-manager approach. It is broadly diversified and provides an ideal vehicle for an investor's core exposure to the international equities markets. The Fund aims to provide exposure to a diversified portfolio of international shares. It seeks to provide a total return, before costs and tax, higher than the MSCI World Net Dividends Reinvested Accumulation Index over the long term.
The Russell Global Opportunities Fund (RGOF) is the younger of the two international-equity products, launched in January 2005 and utilises a multi-style, multi-manager approach. It is broadly diversified and its global investment brief can be a valuable complement to an investor's core exposure to the international equities market. The Fund aims to provide exposure to a diversified portfolio of international shares, and to outperform significantly the Fund's benchmark, before costs and tax, over the long term.
According to Standard & Poor’s, both funds scored 4 stars reflecting their high conviction that the risk-adjusted fund returns will consistently exceed relevant investment objectives and returns of peer funds. Furthermore the S&P reports states that “S&P considers Russell’s globally-integrated investment-research team, product-management process, comprehensive information systems and analysis tools, internal implemented services, and its size to hold multiple sources of alpha key to its strength relative to peers. With dedicated global-equity research and portfolio-management staff based in the U.S and U.K, Russell is well-placed to furbish its list of buy-rated managers and strategies. S&P has a high regard for its quality of research effort in terms of staff and capability.”
Standard & Poor’s is the world’s foremost provider of financial market intelligence, including independent credit ratings, indices, risk evaluation, investment research and data. S&P is located in 21 countries and has played a leading role for more than 140 years by providing investors with the independent benchmarks they need to feel more confident about their investment and financial decisions. S&P ratings are awarded from five stars (high) to one star (low) and reflect their level of conviction that the manager will consistently generate risk-adjusted fund returns in excess of relevant investment objectives and peers.
The S&P International Equity – Multi-Manager category is a sub-sector of the International Equities review. The International Equities-Large Cap Sector Report will be available later this month. A full list of the funds reviewed is available at www.assirt.com.au
Issued by Russell Investment Management Ltd ABN 53 068 338 974, AFS Licence 247185 (“RIM”). This document provides general information only and has not been prepared having regard to your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making an investment decision, you need to consider whether this information is appropriate to your objectives, financial situation and needs. This information has been compiled from sources considered to be reliable, but is not guaranteed. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Any potential investor should consider the latest Product Disclosure Statement (“PDS”) in deciding whether to acquire, or to continue to hold, an investment in any Russell product. The PDS can be obtained by visiting www.russell.com.au or by phoning (02) 9229 5111. RIM is part of the Russell Investment Group (“Russell”). Russell or its associates, officers or employees may have interests in the financial products referred to in this information by acting in various roles including broker or adviser, and may receive fees, brokerage or commissions for acting in these capacities. In addition, Russell or its associates, officers or employees may buy or sell the financial products as principal or agent. MKT/1672/0408
*Assets Under Management current as at 31/3/07 and Assets Under Advice current as at 30/9/06.
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