Lighthouse Group PLC Product Launch (0535K)

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RNS Number : 0535K

Lighthouse Group PLC

16 September 2016

The information communicated in this announcement is inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation 596/2014

16 September 2016

Lighthouse Group plc

("Lighthouse" or "the Group")

Launch of Luceo Asset Management Limited

Lighthouse Group plc (AIM: LGT), the national financial adviser of choice for Middle Britain, is delighted to announce the launch of Luceo Asset Management Limited ("Luceo"), a wholly-owned subsidiary that will provide in-house investment solutions to the Group's core customer base.

Luceo has been established to provide people all over the UK with a better way to invest for their future. Luceo's investment solutions are specifically designed to be delivered by Lighthouse financial advisers, the preferred financial adviser for more than 6 million members of unions and affinity groups throughout the UK. This creates a seamless way for the people of Middle Britain to receive financial advice and have access to investment products that are designed to suit their needs.

Luceo's initial fund range, the Luceo Investment Funds ("the Funds"), will comprise three active multi manager funds (Luceo 4, Luceo 5 and Luceo 6) which are designed to deliver risk-targeted returns to investors. These funds sit within each of the three most popular risk bands for the Group's customer base.

The Funds will be managed by Octopus Investments Limited ("Octopus"), an award-winning investment company with nearly GBP6 billion under management on behalf of more than 50,000 investors. The multi manager team at Octopus has managed risk-targeted portfolios since 2008 and has established an impressive track record over that period.

The Funds will be available initially through a newly established platform relationship with Zurich. Branded the 'Lighthouse Zurich Platform', the new service will provide advisers and their clients with instant access to, and transparency of, operation over this range of funds on terms bespoke to Lighthouse and its clients. Zurich was chosen as a partner for its economic strength, long-standing reputation in the market and commitment to supporting the intermediary community.

The performance of the Funds will be regularly monitored and reviewed by the Luceo investment committee. This committee is made up of experienced investment professionals, with an independent chairman, ensuring that the interests of customers are always at the front of mind.

Lighthouse currently places around GBP900 million of new investments each year on behalf of clients, a proportion of which flows into multi-manager funds.

Malcolm Streatfield, Group Chief Executive of Lighthouse Group plc, commented:

"We are delighted to launch Luceo Asset Management and to add the Luceo Investment Funds to our already well established range of financial solutions for Middle Britain. The introduction of the Luceo Investment Funds will provide appropriate, high-quality investment solutions to our clients, and we expect them to prove to be very attractive to the Group's customers and advisers. We look forward to extending the Luceo investment range further in the future."

"We are pleased to be working in conjunction with Octopus Investments and Zurich in launching these funds and look forward to delivering value to our customers, advisers and other stakeholders."

Simon Rogerson, Chief Executive of Octopus Investments Limited, commented:

"By establishing Luceo Asset Management, and delivering investment funds that are specifically designed for use by Lighthouse financial advisers, Lighthouse is deepening the relationship between financial advice and investment management, which will deliver better outcomes for its customers."

"Lighthouse was clear about what it wanted from the investments it recommends to its clients. Consistency, reliability, and complete focus on delivering the outcome the customer expects. At Octopus, we pride ourselves on managing investment products that do what we say they will, so we were delighted to be appointed as the investment manager of the Luceo Investment Funds."

David White, Managing Director - Retail, Zurich UK Life, commented:

"Zurich has enjoyed a long-standing relationship with the Lighthouse Group and we are delighted that they have selected us to be at the heart of their new investment solution. As one of the fastest growing investment platforms in the UK today, this latest five year agreement reinforces our commitment to Lighthouse, the advisory market and leading distribution groups."

For further information, please visit www.luceoassetmanagement.co.uk or contact:

 
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About Lighthouse Group plc

As one of the UK's largest autonomous financial advice and wealth management groups, Lighthouse provides a comprehensive range of services to businesses and individuals and is retained by most of the major trades unions and other affinity groups to advise their combined memberships of over 6 million members.

Lighthouse has been listed on AIM (LGT) since 2000 and presents an integrated financial services company for investors, coupled with significant scale in terms of distribution through financial advisers and wealth managers and its fully diversified business model.

The Group aims to increase its relationships with and the benefits it derives from, its relationships with affinity groups and professional partners.

Lighthouse operates from its headquarters in London as well as having principal operating offices in Stockport and Woodingdean, near Brighton.

For more information please visit: http://www.lighthousegroup.plc.uk/

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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September 16, 2016 06:00 ET (10:00 GMT)