Witan Investment trust has created a special portfolio to be managed by new chief executive Andrew Bell.
The CEO's Growth Opportunities portfolio has an unconstrained approach allowing Bell to invest in special opportunities and undervalued assets in areas not covered by the existing outsourced managers.
These areas include private equity, with investments in 3i Group and HarbourVest Global Private Equity and distressed debt via the NB Distressed Debt Investment fund.
It has also awarded a pan-European mandate to Marathon Asset Management.
The news comes as Witan reports its NAV declined 1.9% over the six months to 30 June 2010, compared with a benchmark return of -3.8% for the same period. The £985m trust will pay an increase interim dividend of 4.4p per ordinary share.
Witan's UK and Global portfolio managers delivered outperformance, as did pan-European manager Varenne and Brandes, which runs Japanese equities.
Bell, who joined Witan in February from Rensburg Sheppards where he was head of research, says: "The enhancements we have introduced are intended to help ensure our shareholders continue to benefit from the inherent diversification of the multi-manager approach, while taking greater advantage of tactical investment opportunities and returns from specialised asset categories."
