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Scottish Widows adds private market funds to workplace pensions

Graeme Bold said: “Bringing private markets into workplace pensions is a major milestone in helping customers make the most of their retirement savings."

Scottish Widows adds private market funds to workplace pensions
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Scottish Widows has opened up private market investing for millions of workplace pension savers through new investment options. 

Lifetime Investment Plus and Lifetime Investment Extra offer members more choice as they save for retirement. 

Both options are part of the lifetime investment suite, which is fully governed and aims to support a sustainable income in retirement by investing across a range of assets with responsible investment included as standard.

The new funds invest in two strategies. 

The growth portfolio, CG SW Growth LTAF, is managed by Aberdeen Investments and targets higher return assets such as private equity, venture capital, infrastructure equity and private credit. 

The diversified private credit portfolio, CG SW Diversified Credit LTAF, is managed by BNP Paribas Asset Management and is aimed at the derisking phase, investing across private credit including infrastructure lending, real estate and SME debt.

Lifetime Investment Plus has around 11% invested in private markets, while Lifetime Investment Extra has around 23%. 

Both use Scottish Widows’ bespoke long-term asset funds (LTAFs), which invest in a range of private market investments using global opportunities from local networks and experts. 

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Scottish Widows will also look to use Lloyds Banking Group’s ability to originate, deploy capital and manage UK-based private market assets. 

The LTAFs can add new managers and strategies over time.

Graeme Bold (pictured), managing director pensions and retirement at Scottish Widows, said: “Bringing private markets into workplace pensions is a major milestone in helping customers make the most of their retirement savings. 

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“We believe investing in private markets increases diversification and can provide access to long term growth opportunities to support retirement incomes.

“As the provider of the UK’s biggest and longest‑running default pension scheme we have a deep understanding of what savers want and need.”

Bold added: “We’re broadening investment opportunities through our new Lifetime Investment Plus and Extra propositions to improve long‑term outcomes and giving members greater choice and flexibility.”

Kevin Doran, chief investment officer at Scottish Widows, said: “With Scottish Widows Lifetime Investment Plus and Extra, members get access to investment opportunities that aren’t available on the stock market including innovative startups and those companies of the future, currently looking to scale. 

“The portfolios will include investments in areas driving energy transition and adaptation, delivering benefits to members in their immediate environment, alongside future financial returns.”

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