New name for Royal London UK Strategic Growth Trust as it celebrates three year performance
In a move to more accurately reflect its investment objectives, Royal London Asset Management (RLAM) has changed the name of its UK Strategic Growth Trust to the Royal London UK Mid-Cap Growth Trust, thus ensuring it is more easily compared to similar Mid-Cap funds within the IMA UK All Companies sector.
Managed since launch on 1st June 2006 by Citywire AAA-rated Leigh Himsworth, the Royal London UK Mid-Cap Growth Trust has achieved consistently strong relative returns, outperforming its UK All Companies peer group by 19.67% and 8.31% p.a. over 1 and 3 years respectively*. The fund has beaten its benchmark FTSE Mid 250 (ex Investment Trust) Index by 13.56% and 5.66% p.a. over the same periods to achieve top decile sector rankings.
The fund will continue to target capital growth over the medium to long term by investing principally in companies that comprise the FTSE Mid 250 (ex Investment Trust) Index. Manager, Leigh Himsworth aims to identify attractive growth stories, as well as shorter-term technical opportunities. He seeks to invest in undervalued stocks where there is a catalyst for change and a reason for an upwards re-rating. His key investment criteria include overall enterprise values, free cash flow generation and stock valuation.
Stan Bland, Head of Sales, commented:
"On reaching this important three year milestone, Leigh can be proud of his fund's enviable performance relative to both benchmark and peer group, despite some of the most challenging market conditions in recent history. The Royal London UK Mid-Cap Growth Trust has been a very strong addition to RLAM's high quality UK equity offering. We have seen significant interest in the fund from the investment community as a result of its excellent performance and Leigh's undoubted fund management skills."
Leigh Himsworth added:
"In the three years since the fund launched we have experienced some truly historic market movements. I have always tried to look through the short term market noise to assess fundamental value and identify unappreciated growth opportunities in the diversified mid cap arena. The name of the fund is changing but I will be maintaining the same, high conviction approach to stock selection as I look to deliver solid, sustainable returns over the medium term."
* Source: Lipper, 01/06/06 to 01/06/09, bid to bid, net of fees. Information about past performance is not a guide to future performance.
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For further information please contact:
RLAM
Stephen Watchorn
Tel: 020 7506 6582
Email: Stephen.watchorn@rlam.co.uk
Quill Communications
Jo Stonier
Tel: 020 7758 2230
Email: Jo@quillpr.com
Editor's notes:
Royal London Asset Management (RLAM) was established in 1988 and specialises in providing investment management solutions for both the Royal London Group and a range of external institutions. These include FTSE 250 companies, local authorities, universities, charities, wealth managers, financial advisers and private clients. RLAM manages over £30bn of assets, employing more than 50 experienced investment professionals in our London based office.
Royal London Group
is a specialist financial service provider. Its businesses focus on those sectors of the market which value quality propositions, operating through a number of brands:
- Scottish Life – UK pensions market
- Bright Grey – UK protection market
- Scottish Provident – UK protection market
- Royal London 360° – offshore investment markets
- RLAM – fund management
- RLCM – specialist cash and liquidity management for UK onshore clients
- RLAM C.I. – specialist cash and liquidity management for offshore clients
- RLAS – life and pensions administration
- Fundsdirect / Ascentric – funds supermarket; Wrap platform
Royal London also distributes life and pensions products through Abbey's national branch network.
Royal London is the largest mutual life and pensions company in the UK with Group funds under management of £32.5 billion. Group businesses serve around 3.6 million customers and employ 2,870 people. Figures quoted are as at 31 March 2009.