The launch of the trust was said to allow both financial advisers and retail clients access to the group’s investment capabilities for the first time. Previously, the Swell product was only available to wholesale investors.
The Swell Global Fund will replicate the group’s absolute return strategy and focuses on a concentrated portfolio of around 15 companies.
Perpetual was recently appointed as responsible entity and Mainstream Group as fund administrator.
Lachlan Hughes, Swell chief investment officer, said that the decision to launch a retail fund now was driven by increasing demand.
“Since our inception, we have built a track record of consistent performance,” he said.
“In the past 12-18 months, during one of the most tumultuous periods in history, our robust investment systems, processes and philosophy have proven resilient and performed strongly.”
The news coincides with the appointment of Stephen Poole as the new chief executive of the company, who emphasised the importance of making investment easy and flexible.
“Our aim is to make it easy for investors and advisers to access our capabilities,” said Mr Poole.
“We want to facilitate choice and allow investors and advisers to choose how they invest with us, be that a wholesale fund, separately managed account or a retail trust.”
Mr Poole joined Swell as head of distribution in April before being promoted to CEO this month.
He served as principal consultant at SPA Business Consulting prior to this. Earlier in his career, Mr Poole spent four years at NAB in management positions across NAB Wealth/MLC Advice Partnerships and the Meritum Financial Group.
