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Downing partners with Spaghetti Bridge Ltd to build leading UK Special Educational Needs Platform
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Downing
Downing launches new actively managed liquid alternatives fund aiming to deliver 7% to 10%+ per annum and positive returns in most markets. The new MGTS Downing Active Defined Return Assets Fund (‘Active Defined Returns’, the ‘Fund’), is the first fund from its new Liquid Alternatives team.
The Fund is aimed at institutional investors, Discretionary Fund Managers, IFAs and advised sophisticated individual investors, and will primarily consist of UK Government bonds and large-cap equity index options, which provide significant scalability and strong liquidity. It aims to deliver 7% to 10%+ per annum and positive returns in all markets except for a sustained equity market fall (generally more than 35%), over a period of at least six years.
The Fund is the first to be launched by the new Liquid Alternatives Team established by Downing. Collectively, the team has over 125 years of experience and sector knowledge, and includes Tony Stenning, who held senior roles at BlackRock and most recently was CEO of Atlantic House Group; Russell Catley, founder and also a former CEO of Atlantic House Group; Huw Price, a former Executive Director at Santander Asset Management, and Paul Adams, former Head of Cash Equities and Derivatives Sales, Royal Bank of Canada.
The Fund offers investors a compelling building block for multi-asset portfolios, aiming to add consistent and predictable returns, typically secured with a portfolio of UK Government bonds. The unique proposition includes a hybrid approach of using systematic derivative strategies and active management, combining liquid investments with predictable returns, and an equity like risk profile.
Investment strategy: Maximising the probability of delivering predictable defined returns across the economic cycle.
Systematic Liquid Derivatives: Systematic, derivative strategies optimise the equity risk-return profile. The Fund uses rules-based derivative strategies linked to the most liquid, large-cap global equity indices (i.e. FTSE100, S&P500) with the aim of harvesting well-proven consistent returns across a wide corridor of market conditions.
Strong security: The Fund will hold a high-quality portfolio of assets as secure collateral – typically UK Government bonds.
Active benefits: At times, rules-based, passive derivative strategies can underperform when markets move strongly – this is when specialist active management can add incremental gains by monitoring and monetising positions and applying active risk management.
Key benefits
Increased consistency and predictability of returns: Positive returns in all markets except for a sustained equity market fall of more than 35% over at least six years.
Diversification of risk: The Fund’s risk components are diversified across large, liquid equity indices, observation levels and counterparties. Secured with high-quality assets – typically UK Government bonds.
Active management: Our experienced team will actively manage the Fund and its investments to optimise risk and reward for investors.
Russell Catley, Head of Retail, Liquid Alternatives at Downing, said: “Put simply, we focus your investment risk on the probability of receiving the returns you need, not those you don’t. We target the highest probability of delivering 7% to 10%+ per annum with active management adding material incremental gains. We believe that we are building the next evolution of the proven success of Defined Returns funds
The Downing team isseeing strong demand from clients looking for alternatives to large-cap equity funds which are becoming concentrated in technology stocks, or alternatives to UK equity income funds and illiquid alternatives.”
Tony Stenning, Head of Liquid Alternatives at Downing, said: “The launch of our Active Defined Return Assets Fund is a significant milestone in the ambitious build-out of our new Liquid Alternatives strategies. It is a solution-focused fund that should deliver stable high single or low double-digit returns across a wide spectrum of equity market conditions, except for a persistent multi-year bear market. The Fund is designed to enhance balanced portfolios by providing consistent, predictable returns and is suitable for accumulation or drawdown.
“We aim to deliver a unique combination of proven systematic derivative strategies and specialist active management, and we are doing so at a very compelling fee level, below our closest competitors and in line with active ETFs.”
How the Fund is expected to perform in different markets
In bullish markets: UK Government bonds secure the capital, and the equity index options deliver a predictable 7-10%+ return per annum – giving up some less likely upside.
In neutral markets and normal market corrections: UK Government bonds secure the capital, and the index options deliver a predictable 7-10%+ return per annum.
In a sustained sell-off: if markets fall more than the cover to capital loss and do not recover for six years. Then capital is eroded 1:1 in line with the worst performing index.
The average Cover to Capital Loss is targeted at 35%: the average cover to capital loss represents the average level the Global indices within the Fund could fall before capital is at risk.
Fund key risks
Performance: Capital is at risk. Investors may not get back the full amount invested.
Liquidity: Access to capital is always subject to liquidity.
Counterparty risk: Other parties could default on the contractual obligations.
Fund Structure
UK regulated OEIC fund structure, fully UCITS compliant
Daily dealing, at published NAV
Minimum investment: £100,000
SRRI: 6 out of 7
Depositary: Bank of New York
Authorised corporate Director (‘ACD’): Margetts Fund Management Ltd.
I share-class: SEDOL: BM8J604 / ISIN: GB00BM8J6044
F share-class: SEDOL: BM8J615 / ISIN: GB00BM8J6150
Risk warning: Opinions expressed represent the views of the fund manager at the time of publication, are subject to change, and should not be interpreted as investment advice. Please refer to the latest full Prospectus and KIID before investing; your attention is drawn to the risk, fees and taxation factors contained therein. Please note that past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Capital is at risk. Investments and the income derived from them can fall as well as rise and investors may not get back the full amount invested. Investments in this fund should be held for the long term.
Important notice: This document is intended for professional investors and has been approved as a financial promotion in line with Section 21 of the FSMA by Downing LLP (“Downing”). This document is for information only and does not form part of a direct offer or invitation to purchase, subscribe for or dispose of securities and no reliance should be placed on it. Downing does not offer investment or tax advice or make recommendations regarding investments. Downing is a trading name of Downing LLP. Downing LLP is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Firm Reference No. 545025). Registered in England and Wales (No. OC341575). Registered Office: 10 Lower Thames Street, London EC3R 6AF.
September 2021: Downing LLP (Downing) is delighted to announce its investment in Spaghetti Bridge Ltd in the UK, which is improving the lives and demonstrating strong education and care outcomes for children in the South West of England.
Spaghetti Bridge is a business that was established in 2020 alongside a highly experienced management team to build a leading Special Educational Needs (SEN) platform in the UK. It is estimated that of the 8.9 million pupils in England, 1.4 million have SEN of which approximately 300,000 are eligible for ringfenced funding under the government’s High Needs Budget.
Since inception, Spaghetti Bridge has opened two schools that are both performing well - one in Somerset in September 2020 and a second in Devon in September 2021 – with a number of other opportunities in the pipeline.
Downing’s commitment to healthcare and education has continued to grow throughout 2020-21 against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic. Spaghetti Bridge is a notable example of the Development Capital team supporting the creation of a professionally run and scalable operating platform in a needs-based market that are generally underserved. Spaghetti Bridge’s senior executive team has amassed a wealth of experience and expertise in specialist education and care, and are driven to secure fantastic outcomes for every young person in their services.
Torsten Mack, Investment Director at Downing, comments: “Our investment in Spaghetti Bridge is at the heart of what drives us at Downing – a commitment to the growth and development of UK-based businesses in markets that are generally underserved. Through Spaghetti Bridge, we are proud to be supporting some of the more vulnerable members of our society by providing them with specialist care and education. We are very happy to be working with such an expert and passionate team and are excited to continue growing the company to make a positive impact on the lives of those that need it most.”
Dan Alipaz, CEO of Spaghetti Bridge, said the partnership with Downing LLP would be key to the success of the business, commenting: “We wanted a partner who shared our values and our vision for delivering the very highest quality Special Educational Needs services – the Downing team were the perfect fit. Together, with our colleagues at Spaghetti Bridge, I am confident that we can grow a group of truly outstanding SEN schools and support services across the South West. These schools will serve the children and young people who too often have to fight too hard to access the education they need and deserve.”
About Downing
Downing is a fast growing, entrepreneurial investment manager based in the City of London. We believe a great investment opportunity isn’t just financial, it’s a chance to invest in things that matter – our environment, our health, our society, our local communities and our economy. Our ability to adapt and innovate to create investment products for our customers is key to our growth and success and our core values are vital to everything we do – from the businesses we invest in to the people we hire.
About Spaghetti Bridge Ltd
Spaghetti Bridge is helping students to overcome their individual challenges and achieve personal and academic growth. We believe that through building trust and rebuilding confidence, every young person can reach his or her full potential.
At Spaghetti Bridge, our approach is entirely centred around fostering wellbeing and skills for independence. We are aiming to move away from a typical education context by replicating real world, working environments, preparing our students as they approach adulthood and arming them with the skills and knowledge they are going to need.
Spaghetti Bridge caters for pupils who have social, emotional and mental health difficulties, including associated challenging behaviours. Many of the pupils that attend the schools have additional special educational needs such as autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit and hyperactive disorders (ADHD) and communication difficulties.
Spaghetti Bridge currently has two operating SEN schools; Silver Bridge School, Taunton, Somerset and Preston Bridge School, Paignton, Devon.
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