Fund Times: October 4 - 8
Brenda Reed and Ilario di Bon Resign from Fidelity; Gartmore Appoints Adam McConkey as Head of UK Small Caps; Threadneedle Promotes Richard Colwell on UK funds; Liontrust Overhauls Fund Range.
Fidelity announced that Brenda Reed would leave for New York in November, having been with the firm for 18 years, while Ilario di Bon will also depart the group. As a result Morningstar placed under review the ratings for three Fidelity funds: Fidelity Global Focus, Fidelity Funds Global Focus (the SICAV version of the fund) and Fidelity Funds Global Opportunities. Our view is that while we note the overall research strength of Fidelity, incoming manager Amit Lodha has not run a diversified offering before, and we will need to meet with him to determine our conviction in his capabilities. Similarly, the presence of Ilario di Bon was a key factor in our rating of Fidelity Funds Global Opportunities and we will therefore also need to meet with the new manager there – Sudipto Banerji – before updating our view.
Gartmore Appoints Adam McConkey as Head of UK Small Caps
Following the decision of Gervais Williams to leave Gartmore, the firm has appointed Adam McConkey as head of UK smaller companies. McConkey will be responsible running the Gartmore UK & Irish Smaller Companies fund. His small-cap team will also support Harmesh Suniara who is responsible for the Gartmore Fledgling Trust plc. The firm also plans to merge Gartmore Growth Opportunities plc with Artemis Alpha Trust plc. The firm has not indicated their plans for Gartmore Irish Growth Trust plc, stating only that they are “considering arrangements for the continuing management of the company’s portfolio”.
Threadneedle Promotes Richard Colwell on UK Funds
Threadneedle has appointed Richard Colwell as co-manager on the Threadneedle UK Equity Income and UK Equity Alpha funds. Threadneedle has made significant changes to the UK team in the last 12 months. In January 2010 Simon Brazier was recruited from Schroders and will work as co-head of UK equities, alongside Leigh Harrison. The team also recruited James Thorne, Chris Kinder as well as Colwell who will now co-manage the aforementioned UK funds with Harrison.
Liontrust Overhauls Fund Range
Liontrust has made a number of revisions to its fund range following a review including mergers, name changes and expanded powers. Notably, Liontrust First Large Cap fund has been merged into Liontrust First Growth. Five other funds have been renamed and given expanded UCITS III powers. The firm states that the use of the UCITS III powers is not intended to change the risk profile or volatility of the funds, although we think investors in any of the funds may wish to check that the fund’s strategy continues to fit with their investment objectives. The old names of the funds affected are: First Income; First Growth; First Opportunities; Intellectual Capital Trust: and Continental Europe fund.