Schroders : Atlas Master Trust and Schroders target DC growth

Atlas Master Trust has appointed Schroders to become its defined contribution (DC) default fund investment manager, providing savers and employers with a market-leading pension proposition and positioning both companies for growth in the UK's master trust sector.

Capita Employee Benefits, which launched Atlas in 2015, will continue to administer the scheme, while Schroders will design and manage a range of bespoke Multi-asset funds underpinning Atlas' default investment strategy.

Schroders will work collaboratively with Atlas' trustees, using its global investment expertise running actively-managed innovative Multi-asset strategies to drive better member outcomes and fund governance.

Alan Whalley, Chairman, Atlas Master Trust, said:

'We are excited to be working with Schroders, who have an outstanding and globally respected pedigree as investment managers, as we seek to strengthen Atlas' investment strategy and the governance around it, making it the UK's stand-out master trust of choice.

'It is crucial that the trustees of any master trust continually review their strategy and proactively seek to improve member outcomes.'

Tim Horne, Head of UK Institutional DC, Schroders, said:

'Atlas has grown rapidly since 2015 and we are excited to further help grow what has been a great success story in the DC space.

'The UK's master trust market is poised for substantial growth and Schroders is well-placed to bring investment excellence to Atlas members.'

Atlas is among the UK's biggest master trusts in terms of assets. The Pensions Regulator estimates that total UK master trust assets will top £30 billion by 2025, propelled by the growth of auto-enrolment and workplace pension saving.

In May, Atlas appointed Paul Trickett as the Independent Chair of Atlas' Investment Sub Committee, who will lead the delivery of the trustees' investment strategy.

For further information, please contact:

Schroders

Andy Pearce, Institutional PR Manager Tel: 0207 658 2203/andy.pearce@schroders.com

Estelle Bibby, Senior PR Manager Tel: 0207 658 3431/estelle.bibby@schroders.com

Capita press office

media@capita.co.uk Tel: 0207 654 2399 (including out of hours)

Helen Braddock Tel: 020 7654 2282/Helen.Bracddock@capita.co.uk

Kirsty Sewter Tel: 020 7654 2386/Kirsty.Sewter@capita.co.uk

Note to Editors

For trade press only. To view the latest press releases from Schroders visit: http://ir.schroders.com/media

Schroders plc

As a global investment manager, we help institutions, intermediaries and individuals across the planet meet their goals, fulfil their ambitions, and prepare for the future. But as the world changes, so do our clients' needs. That's why we have a long history of adapting to suit the times and keeping our focus on what matters most to our clients.

Doing this takes experience and expertise. We bring together people and data to spot the trends that will shape the future. This provides a unique perspective which allows us to always invest with conviction. We are responsible for £418.2 billion (€476.3 billion/$543.3 billion)* of assets for our clients who trust us to deliver sustainable returns. We remain determined to build future prosperity for them, and for all of society. Today, we have 4,100 people across six continents who focus on doing just this.

We are a global business that's managed locally. This allows us to always keep our clients' needs at the heart of everything we do. For over two centuries and more than seven generations we've grown and developed our expertise in tandem with our clients' needs and interests.

Further information about Schroders can be found at www.schroders.com.

Issued by Schroder Investment Management Ltd., which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. For regular updates by e-mail please register online at www.schroders.com for our alerting service.

*as at 30 June 2017

Capita Atlas Master Trust is a professionally governed multi-employer trust-based pension plan. It has been designed to meet the exacting requirements of the Pensions Regulator and the needs of employers, while providing the opportunity for its members to accumulate assets in a quality pension arrangement with access to all of the new flexibilities on drawing pension benefits easily, engagingly and on competitive terms.

In 2015, Atlas gained the Pension Quality Mark (PQM) READY standard in recognition of its outstanding communications and good governance.

Atlas fully complies with the voluntary audit assurance framework for occupational DC Master Trusts (AAF 02/07) as defined and monitored by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales (ICAEW).

Capita Employee Benefits is the largest UK owned employee benefits business. Services it offers include; pensions administration, data cleansing, auto-enrolment, investment consultancy, actuarial, health management consultancy, employee benefits consultancy and DC and DB pension scheme consultancy. In addition to these services, Capita Employee Benefits offers award winning pensions administration and employee benefits technology, including its online employee benefits portal - Orbit. It currently manages 600,000 people's employee benefits via Orbit and administers 4 million members' pensions. Its workforce comprises of over 2,400 employees operating from 13 locations across the UK providing services to over 1,600 public and private sector clients. Capita Employee Benefits is part of Capita plc, a FTSE 250 company. For more information visit www.capitaemployeebenefits.co.uk