Man has been awarded an advisory managed account mandate for up to $1 billion by the Universities Superannuation Scheme Limited. This mandate was originally referred to in Man Group’s Interim Management Statement dated 15 January 2010.

Under the agreement, USS will start allocating funds in the first half of 2010 and the arrangement will last a minimum of three years. USS will gain access to Man’s managed account platform, with the benefits of increased transparency, liquidity and control which managed accounts offer. Man, which has more than a decade’s experience in managed accounts and has grown managed account assets to over $7 billion , will provide advisory services with regards to operational due diligence, manager take-on and risk management oversight for USS. USS will have sole responsibility for manager selection portfolio construction.

“USS is highly regarded as one of the most sophisticated pension funds in the UK,” comments Paul Dackombe, Head of UK Institutional Sales at Man. “The fact that USS has seen fit to award us such a sizeable mandate highlights the attractiveness of our well established managed accounts platform.”

Mike Powell, Head of Alternatives at USS, comments: “We undertook a rigorous selection process for our managed account platform provider. Man impressed us with the depth of their expertise and robustness of their risk management processes. We look forward to a long lasting and successful partnership.”

“Over the past eighteen months institutional investors have established a new agenda, demanding transparency, liquidity and control,” comments John Rowsell, Managing Director of Man’s multi-manager business. ”Our large, well established, independent managed account platform provides us with a compelling proposition for investors.”