Strong Performance Leads RLAM To Commit More Assets To UK Strategic Growth Trust
The strong performance of the Royal London UK Strategic Growth Trust has led Royal London Asset Management (RLAM) to increase its commitment to its highly successful UK Strategic Growth Trust by investing additional assets to a total of £25m. This decision demonstrates RLAM's belief in the fund's investment approach and its experienced manager, Leigh Himsworth. The move also helps wholesale and institutional investors to invest in the fund without fear of taking too dominant a position.
Launched on 1st June 2006, the fund aims to achieve capital growth by investing primarily in medium sized (FTSE 250) UK companies, though Leigh retains the ability to invest selectively in larger or smaller companies as market conditions dictate.
Leigh's flexible investment approach has paid great dividends, with the fund delivering 23.08% in the eight months from launch to end January 2007, some 2.09% ahead of its Mid 250 peer group.
RLAM's Head of Sales, Stan Bland, comments:
"We're delighted with the fund's performance to date and have every confidence that Leigh's proven stock picking skills and his ability to vary the fund's market cap weightings to maximise market opportunities will continue to deliver strong returns for investors. Our additional investment brings the fund's size up to £25m, also helping to broaden the fund's external appeal at this early stage in its development."
According to Leigh:
"Towards the end of 2006 I raised exposure to Smaller Cap companies having identified opportunities in some attractively priced and strongly growing companies. A feature of this fund is that I have the flexibility to move outside the fund's normal Mid-250 stock bias as market conditions change. Raising the fund's exposure to Small Cap companies (including stocks such as Clapham House and Worthington Nichols) has certainly helped boost returns in December and January."
-ENDS-
For further information please contact:
Royal London Asset Management
Stephen Watchorn
Marketing and Communications Manager
Tel: 020 7506 6500
Polhill Communications
John Fryer
Tel: 020 7655 0500
Editor's notes:
Leigh Himsworth was ranked 6th out of 184fund managers in the IMA UK All Companies sector for the six months to 31/12/06. His average personal monthly performance was 3.31%.
He was ranked 3rd out of 150 fund managers in the same sector over two years to 31/12/06, with an average personal monthly performance of 2.23%.
Royal London Group, is a specialist financial service provider. Its businesses focus
on those sectors of the market which value premium propositions, operating through
a number of brands:
Scottish Life - UK pensions market
Bright Grey - UK protection market
Scottish Life International - offshore investment markets
RLAM - fund management
RLAS - life and pensions administration
Royal London is one of the stronger life and pension companies in the UK, with a
current rating of 7/10 from Cazalet Financial Consulting, and has a particularly strong
track record for with profits performance.
Royal London is the largest mutual life and pensions company in the UK with Group funds under management of £30.8 billion. Group businesses serve over three million customers and employ 2,640 people.(Figures quoted are as at 31 December 2006)
Source:rlam as at 15th February 2007, unless otherwise stated.
rlam is a marketing brand including the following companies:Royal London Asset Management Limited registered in England & Wales number 2244297; Financial Services Authority (FSA) register number 141665.Royal London Pooled Pensions Company Limited registered in Scotland number SC048729; FSA register number 110456.Royal London Unit Trust Managers Limited registered in England & Wales number 2372439; FSA register number 144037.All of the above are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
It also includes Royal London Asset Management Bond Funds Plc registered in Ireland number 364259 and regulated by the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority (IFSRA).
All these companies are subsidiaries of The Royal London Mutual Insurance Society Limited registered in England and Wales number 2372439.Head office:55 Gracechurch Street, London EC3V 0RL.
Our reference: 079-PR/PROF-02/2007-SW