Martin Currie1, a global active equity specialist headquartered in Edinburgh and part of the Franklin Templeton group2, is delighted to announce that Ben Russon and Richard Bullas will co-head Martin Currie’s UK Equity team effective 1 October 2022. Both Ben and Richard will report into Michael Browne, Global Head of Investment Strategy and Oversight at Martin Currie.
Browne said: “These promotions are in recognition of Ben and Richard’s long-term and successful individual contributions to the growth of the UK Equity team. They demonstrate Martin Currie’s commitment to develop leadership talent in line with a thoughtful and strategic succession plan. Both Ben and Richard have added significant and meaningful value to the team over the years and, in their new roles, will continue to work closely and collaboratively to co-head the UK Equity team.”
In his expanded role, Ben will now lead the focus on UK large caps and will oversee portfolio managers Jo Rands and Will Bradwell, who will report directly into him effective 1 October 2022.
Meanwhile, Richard will continue to lead on UK small and mid-caps and he will oversee portfolio managers Dan Green and Marcus Tregoning as well as investment analyst Courtney Westcarr, who will report into him effective 1 October 2022.
In addition, Colin Morton has informed the firm that he will retire from the investment management industry effective 31 December 2022. Colin has spent over 39 years working in the UK investment management industry and has been with the firm since 2011 when Franklin Templeton acquired Rensburg Fund Management (subsequently rebranded as Franklin UK Equity team and now Martin Currie UK Equity Team).
Martyn Gilbey, UK Country Head at Franklin Templeton, commented: “Franklin Templeton and Martin Currie are deeply appreciative of Colin’s leadership and his decades of service, commitment and dedication to the firm. We send him our very best wishes in his well-deserved retirement. Colin will continue to work closely with the team to fully transition his fund management responsibilities over the coming months. Under Ben’s leadership, there will be no changes to any of the funds’ investment philosophy or process.”
Effective 31 December 2022, Colin will relinquish the portfolio manager responsibilities on the UK equity funds on which he is named. Ben will be become Lead Portfolio Manager on the following funds and will continue to be supported by Portfolio Managers Will Bradwell and Jo Rands. He continues to be Lead Portfolio Manager on the UK-registered FTF Franklin UK Opportunities Fund3.
| Domicile | Fund Name | Current PM Team | New PM Team as 31/12/2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
United Kingdom | FTF Franklin UK Equity Income Fund3 | Colin Morton (Co-Lead) | Ben Russon (Lead) |
United Kingdom | FTF Franklin UK Managers' Focus Fund3 | Richard Bullas (Co-Lead) | Richard Bullas (Co-Lead) |
United Kingdom | FTF Franklin UK Opportunities Fund3 | Ben Russon (Lead) | Ben Russon (Lead) |
Luxembourg | FTIF Franklin UK Equity Income Fund4 | Colin Morton (Co-Lead) | Ben Russon (Lead) |
The Martin Currie UK Equity team operate in a collaborative manner where desk-based discussion is encouraged. The close-knit nature of the team ensures that in-depth research is shared across the team over healthy debate and challenge to the status quo. Sector responsibilities are not allocated; rather, each PM/Analyst operates as a generalist in their respective capitalisation discipline. This team-based approach ensures continuous and in-depth coverage of the entire UK market. Based in Leeds, as of 1 January 2023 the team will consist of seven investment professionals with 106 years of combined industry experience. As of 31 July, Martin Currie manages GBP4.5 billion in UK equities.
For more information please watch the Q&A video below:
This is a marketing communication. Please refer to the prospectus of the UCITS and to the KIID before making any final investment decisions.
1Martin Currie is a global active equity specialist with leading credentials in sustainable investing, crafting high-conviction portfolios for client-focused solutions. Investment excellence is at the heart of its business. Central to its philosophy is a stock-driven approach, based on in-depth fundamental research, active ownership and engagement and skilled portfolio construction. Martin Currie is rated A+ in all three categories under the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) 2020. As a specialist investment manager of Franklin Resources Inc., it also has the backing of one of the world’s largest asset management firms.
2Franklin Resources, Inc. [NYSE:BEN] is a global investment management organization with subsidiaries operating as Franklin Templeton and serving clients in over 155 countries. Franklin Templeton’s mission is to help clients achieve better outcomes through investment management expertise, wealth management and technology solutions. Through its specialist investment managers, the company offers boutique specialization on a global scale, bringing extensive capabilities in equity, fixed income, multi-asset solutions and alternatives. With offices in more than 30 countries and approximately 1,300 investment professionals, the California-based company has 75 years of investment experience and approximately $1.4 trillion in assets under management as of 31 July, 2022. For more information, please visit www.franklintempleton.co.uk and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.
3The FTF Franklin UK Opportunities Fund, FTF Franklin Rising Dividends Fund and FTF Franklin UK Equity Income Fund are sub-funds of Franklin Templeton Funds (FTF), a UK-domiciled OEIC range. For further information, please refer to relevant Key Investor Information Document. Past performance is no guarantee of future performance. This document does not constitute or form part of any offer for shares or an invitation to apply for shares. Subscriptions for shares can only be made on the basis of the Fund’s current prospectus and the relevant Key Investor Information Document, accompanied by the latest available audited annual report and the latest semi-annual report if published thereafter. The price of the shares of the Funds and the income received from them can go down as well as up, and investors may not get back the full amount invested. Currency fluctuations may affect the value of overseas investment. An investment in the Franklin Templeton Funds OEIC funds entails risks, which are described in the Fund’s prospectus and relevant Key Investor Information Document.
4FTIF Franklin UK Equity Income Fund is a sub-fund of Franklin Templeton Investments Funds (FTIF), a Luxembourg-domiciled SICAV.
Subscriptions to shares of FTIF can only be made on the basis of the current prospectus, and, where available, the relevant Key Investor Information Document, accompanied by the latest available audited annual report and the latest semi-annual report if published thereafter. The value of shares in FTIF and income received from it can go down as well as up, and investors may not get back the full amount invested.
Past performance is not an indicator or a guarantee of future performance. Currency fluctuations may affect the value of overseas investments. When investing in a fund denominated in a foreign currency, your performance may also be affected by currency fluctuations. In emerging markets, the risks can be greater than in developed markets.
An investment in FTIF entails risks, which are described in the FTIF’s prospectus and, where available, the relevant Key Investor Information Document. Investments in derivative instruments entail specific risks that may increase the risk profile of the fund and are more fully described in FTIF’s prospectus and where available in the relevant Key Investor Information Document. References to particular industries, sectors or companies are for general information and are not necessarily indicative of a fund’s holding at any one time.
No shares of FTIF may be directly or indirectly offered or sold to nationals or residents of the United States of America. Shares of FTIF are not available for distribution in all jurisdictions and prospective investors should confirm availability with their local Franklin Templeton Investments representative before making any plans to invest.
Regulatory information and risk warnings
This information is issued and approved by Martin Currie Investment Management Limited (‘MCIM’), authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. It does not constitute investment advice. Market and currency movements may cause the capital value of shares, and the income from them, to fall as well as rise and you may get back less than you invested.
The information contained in this document has been compiled with considerable care to ensure its accuracy. However, no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made to its accuracy or completeness. Martin Currie has procured any research or analysis contained in this document for its own use. It is provided to you only incidentally and any opinions expressed are subject to change without notice.
The document does not form the basis of, nor should it be relied upon in connection with, any subsequent contract or agreement. It does not constitute, and may not be used for the purpose of, an offer or invitation to subscribe for or otherwise acquire shares in any of the products mentioned.
Past performance is not a guide to future returns.
The views expressed are opinions of the portfolio managers as of the date of this document and are subject to change based on market and other conditions and may differ from other portfolio managers or of the firm as a whole. These opinions are not intended to be a forecast of future events, research, a guarantee of future results or investment advice.
The information provided should not be considered a recommendation to purchase or sell any particular strategy / fund / security. It should not be assumed that any of the security transactions discussed here were or will prove to be profitable.
This press release is intended to be of general interest only and does not constitute professional advice. Franklin Templeton and its management groups have exercised professional care and diligence in the collection and processing of the information in this press release. Franklin Templeton makes no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy of this document. Franklin Templeton shall not be liable to any user of this report or to any other person or entity for the inaccuracy of information contained in this press release or for any errors or omissions in its contents, regardless of the cause of such inaccuracy, error or omission.
Any research and analysis contained in this document has been procured by Franklin Templeton for its own purposes. For more information, UK investors should contact: Franklin Templeton, Cannon Place, 78 Cannon Street, London EC4N 6HL. United Kingdom. Phone: 0800 305 306, Email ftisalessupport@franklintempleton.co.uk.
Issued by Franklin Templeton Investment Management Limited (FTIML). FTIML is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority.
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