Fund Manager Standard Life Investments today announced that its OEIC mutual funds are to be included on a new Wealth Management proposition from Axa Sun Life a move that will provide investors with greater access to some of its most successful funds.
With immediate effect, Standard Life Investments' UK Gilt, Corporate Bond, UK Equity Growth, UK Opportunities and UK Smaller Companies funds will be available to IFAs on the 'Axa Sun Life Wealth Management Proposition'. All of the funds were added in response to demand from the corporate pensions market.
Phil Barker, Head of Retail Sales at Standard Life Investments, said: "Our funds are currently available to investors via the Standard Life platforms in addition to other major external channels. Inclusion on this new proposition is great news for us as a team but more importantly for investors and advisers who will benefit from a wider and more easily accessible range of our funds.
"Our mutual fund range produced its strongest ever trading period during the first quarter of 2006 with gross sales increasing by 282% on the same period last year. With a gross industry average increase of 63%, our figures are way in excess of the still impressive hike that all fund management groups have seen.
"It's rewarding for us to know that our inclusion on this proposition derives from the growing awareness and strength of our brand and the fact that there is a greater demand for our products being shown by IFAs and discretionary managers. It is nice to know that they recognise our ability to provide a range of funds with strong performance backed by a robust and repeatable process."
Source: Standard Life Investments
