Aegon has recently launched its first fund that has the capability to go short on stocks. The Edinburgh-based asset manager is hoping to build upon its existing range of UK equity funds with this latest launch.

Richard Wallis, deputy head of research and investment at Origen, reviews Aegon's UK Absolute Return fund.

'The UK Equity Absolute Return Fund will sit in the IMA Absolute Return sector and will aim to provide positive absolute returns over a 12-month period regardless of the direction of the UK market. The fund will invest principally in a portfolio of equities and equity-related securities (including contracts for difference and other derivatives) of companies predominantly based in the UK. Cash and near cash will also be held, and the fund may invest in other transferable securities if deemed appropriate in certain market conditions.

'This fund will look to meet its objective by investing in both long and short positions in UK-listed equities, with a strong focus on risk management to reduce volatility and preserve capital. The fund will comprise a long equity portfolio, a short equity portfolio and a cash portfolio.

'The value of the cash portfolio will be at or near the net asset value of the fund, while the size of the long and short equity portfolios will vary according to the risk limits and risk appetite of the fund, although it is expected that the portfolios will not exceed a 10 per cent net long or short position.

'This UK-focused fund is managed with a correlation to the equity market of near zero, while the cash portfolio will be actively managed to maximise returns for a low and controlled level of risk.

'It will be managed by David Griffiths and David Pringle from Aegon’s UK equity team, and will be supported by the wider team. The fund will also use the team’s successful stockpicking process to select assets. The investment process is based on a number of different investment strategies and these include investment and macroeconomic themes, best stock ideas, pair trades, interest on deposits, ideas generation and stock analysis, which utilises assessment of fundamental, valuation and technical indicators.

'In arriving at a single research conclusion, the managers assess and debate the importance of each factor. As the aim is to generate positive returns in different market conditions, the weighting given to each factor may alter as the economic and business cycle changes. The portfolio will normally hold between 50 to 100 stock positions, with greater emphasis placed on ideas that diversify risk.

'There are also strong risk controls applied to the fund, and these are also monitored by the portfolio risk control team as well as the fund managers. This fund’s peers in the IMA Absolute Return sector show that there is already strong competition from other funds that have UK equity-based mandates.

'However, the undoubted strength of the Aegon UK equity team, combined with its historically successful investment process, should assist in the management of this new absolute return mandate. As this is Aegon’s first foray into shorting stocks, it will be worth first monitoring this new fund in the short term to see how it performs, although the strong risk controls and the strength of the investment team should provide the grounds for it to be a success.'