• Only five products in Zenith's 2018 Multi-Asset (Diversified) Review earn the highest rating - all Russell Investments' funds for Australian investors

SYDNEY, 6 November 2018 — Global asset manager Russell Investments has received a unique double industry recognition for active multi-asset investing in Australia with placement in both multi-asset categories at the recent Professional Planner/Zenith Fund Awards ceremony in Sydney as well as Zenith Investment Partners’ rarely offered "highly recommended" assessment for five multi-asset products.

Zenith Investment Partners and Professional Planner, which join forces annually to recognize the top talent in the funds management industry, selected Russell Investments as the 2018 winner of the Multi-Asset – Diversified award and as a 2018 finalist in the Multi-Asset – Real Return category. The awards are based primarily on Zenith's assessment of investment capabilities in each of 17 categories, including large-cap Australian equities and Australian fixed interest as well as the two multi-asset categories. 

Separately, Zenith, which annually rates funds across the industry based on comprehensive analyst reviews, recently issued an assessment of the 289 products in its Multi-Asset (Diversified) universe, and only offered it's "highly recommended" rating to the following five funds across all industry providers:

• Russell Investments Balanced Fund
• Russell Investments Conservative Fund
• Russell Investments Diversified 50 Fund
• Russell Investments Growth Fund
• Russell Investments High Growth Fund

No other industry product received the "highly recommended" rating this year, while all five of Russell Investments' assessed products earned that recognition.

In its 15 October 2018 product assessment of the Russell Investments Balanced Fund, for example, Zenith analysts wrote, "Zenith considers Russell to be one of the global leaders in multi-asset investing, with our conviction underpinned by the firm's strong local leadership, globally resourced team, scalable investment process and multi-faceted risk framework."

Andrew Sneddon, a managing director and senior portfolio manager for Russell Investments, said, "Industry recognition for our work in multi-asset investing is particularly gratifying this year as investors face increasing challenges to navigate through the late-cycle market environment. Our team of investment professionals is working diligently to deliver our clients’ desired outcomes through cost-efficient strategic and active asset allocation decisions."

Sneddon, who manages outcome-oriented, active multi-asset portfolios for Russell Investments' clients across the Asia-Pacific region, said the award and rating assessments offer deeply appreciated industry affirmation of the firm's active multi-asset investing prowess. "Unlike some investors who fall into the trap of focusing too much on short-term past performance, the Zenith rating sensibly assesses a broader range of factors such as risk, capability and likelihood of delivering future outcomes for clients," he added.

About Russell Investments

With more than 80 years of experience, Russell Investments is a global investment manager, dedicated to helping investors reach their long-term goals. Russell Investments offers investment solutions in 31 countries, manages A$397.1 billion in assets (as of 30 September 2018) and provides consulting services on US$2.4 trillion in assets (as of 30 June 2018). Russell Investments specializes in multi-asset solutions, scouring the globe to deliver the best investment strategies, managers and asset classes to its clients around the world.

Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, Russell Investments operates globally with 21 offices, providing investment services in the world’s major financial centers such as New York, London, Tokyo and Shanghai. For more information about how Russell Investments helps to improve financial security for people, visit russellinvestments.com.au.

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Issued by Russell Investment Management Ltd ABN 53 068 338 974, AFS Licence 247185 (RIM). This document provides general information only and has not been prepared having regard to your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making an investment decision, you need to consider whether this information is appropriate to your objectives, financial situation or needs. This information has been compiled from sources considered to be reliable, but is not guaranteed. This document is not intended to be a complete statement or summary. Copyright © 2018 Russell Investments. All rights reserved. This material is proprietary and may not be reproduced, transferred, or distributed in any form without prior written permission from Russell Investments.

The Zenith Investment Partners ("Zenith") Australian Financial Services License No. 226872 rating (assigned October 2018 referred to in this document is limited to "General Advice" (s766B Corporations Act 2001) for Wholesale clients only. This advice has been prepared without taking into account the objectives, financial situation or needs of any individual and is subject to change at any time without prior notice. It is not a specific recommendation to purchase, sell or hold the relevant product(s). Investors should seek independent financial advice before making an investment decision and should consider the appropriateness of this advice in light of their own objectives, financial situation and needs. Investors should obtain a copy of and consider the PDS or offer document before making any decision and refer to the full Zenith Product Assessment available on the Zenith website. Past performance is not an indication of future performance. Zenith usually charges the product issuer, fund manager or related party to conduct Product Assessments. Full details regarding Zenith's methodology, ratings definitions and regulatory compliance are available on our Product Assessments and at https://www.zenithpartners.com.au/our-solutions/investment-research/links/process-methodology/.

First Used: November 2018