Allianz enters into distribution partnership in Italy

Expanding its investment proposition for financial advisory clients

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Allianz Bank Financial Advisors (ABFA) will offer four additional investment solutions to clients, via two of its life insurance policies, after entering into a deal with US investment management firm Neuberger Berman.

One of the investment strategies has been designed specifically for ABFA and will be managed by Neuberger.

It is the NB Liquid Alternative Solution, which aims to generate positive returns over a whole market cycle by investing in a selection of Ucits liquid alternative funds – including the Neuberger Berman Absolute Alpha Fund and Neuberger Berman Macro Opportunities FX Fund.

Pick and choose

ABFA will offer clients three additional ready-made investment solutions from the US investment company, through its Challenge Pro and Challenge Private platforms.

They will focus on specific asset classes, designed to complement customers’ portfolios made up of more traditional assets.

In a comment translated by International Adviser, Marco Avanzo-Barbieri, head of client group, Italy and Israel at ABFA, said: “In a market experiencing low returns and high volatility, the NB Liquid Alternative Solution strategy can generate uncorrelated returns by accessing better liquid alternative investment solutions through our investment platform.

“The portfolio composition is dynamically modified according to the market cycle and strategic opportunities that might arise.

“Neuberger Berman has a vast investment strategy offering in different global asset classes that can help us meet our investors’ needs efficiently and effectively,” he added.

The partnership with Neuberger Berman is the third distribution deal for ABFA in less than six months, as it entered into similar agreements with Unigestion and MFS Investment Management in October 2019 and December 2019, respectively.