The Swiss firm is building out its US market presence with a partnership agreement, aiming to tap into perceived investor need for highly diversified portfolios.

Switzerland-based Unigestion, the independent specialist asset manager, is expanding its US presence through a new sub-advisory partnership with John Hancock Investment Management, a company of Manulife Investment Management.

As of 18 December 2019, Unigestion’s Alternative Risk Premia strategy is available through the John Hancock Alternative Risk Premia Fund.

Managed by Unigestion’s cross-asset-solutions team, which is headed by Jérôme Teiletche, the John Hancock Alternative Risk Premia Fund adopts a macro risk-based proprietary investment approach, allocating strategically and dynamically across a broad and diversified range of alternative risk premia. The fund seeks to have a low correlation to the equity, bond and credit markets.

"In our view, a liquid portfolio of alternative risk premia should offer investors an alternative to equities and bonds that is expected to be more cost-effective and transparent than hedge funds. We believe our edge is underpinned by a focus on a truly diversified portfolio of alternative risk premia and a dynamic allocation built on a strong macroeconomic framework based on our proprietary indicators, Nowcasters," Simone Gallo, head of global intermediary distribution at Unigestion, said.

Founded in the 1970s, Unigestion oversees  $22.3 billion in assets under management.