FTAdviser.com has unveiled the winners of the FTA 100 Club 2017 in a ceremony hosted at the FT headquarters in London, with Baillie Gifford taking the Large Investment Group title.
The judging panel deemed the asset manager a standout because of its strong offerings in a number of asset classes, underlined by its victories in the Global Equity, Japan and Corporate Bond categories this year.
Other big winners included Liontrust, which won Absolute Return fund of the Year and the overall Small to Mid Investment Group category. Fidelity, meanwhile, was named Passive Investment Group of the Year.
The Club, details of which can be found at fta100.ftadviser.com, is reviewed annually and aims to highlight the best funds and investment trusts available to intermediaries via an analysis of short- and long-term performance.
Baillie Gifford was praised by one judge for epitomising “the best of active management”, while Liontrust drew plaudits for its ability to grow a business while retaining a boutique culture.
Meanwhile Fidelity’s passive business was lauded for helping bring prices down across the market.
Individual winners were spread across a range of fund groups.
Marlborough European Multi-Cap triumphed in the European equity category, the Lowland investment trust took home the UK Equity Income gong, and Royal London Sterling Extra Yield topped the list of strategic bond funds.
Several value managers drew praise for having stuck with their investment style through tough times before reaping the benefits more recently.
Invesco Perpetual Asian, Dodge & Cox US Stock and JOHCM UK Dynamic were three such winners in the Asia, North American and UK equity categories, respectively.
The judging panel consisted of Gavin Haynes, managing director at Whitechurch Securities, Sophie Kennedy, head of research at EQ Investors, Tony Lawrence, investment manager at 7IM, Darius McDermott, managing director at FundCalibre, and Stephen Peters, fund analyst at Barclays.
FTA 100 Club 2017 – the winners
Absolute Return: Liontrust GF European Strategic Equity
Asia Pacific: Invesco Perpetual Asian
Europe: Marlborough European Multi-Cap
Global Emerging Markets: Hermes Global Emerging Markets
Global: Scottish Mortgage
Japan: Baillie Gifford Japan Trust
Mixed Asset: Premier Multi-Asset Global Growth
Mixed Asset Income: Artemis Monthly Distribution
North America: Dodge & Cox US Stock
Property: Picton Property Income Limited
Specialist Bond: Schroder ISF Global High Yield
Specialist sectors and assets: Charlemagne Magna New Frontiers
Corporate Bond: Baillie Gifford Investment Grade Bond
Strategic Bond: Royal London Sterling Extra Yield
UK Equity: JOHCM UK Dynamic
UK Equity Income: Lowland Investment Company
UK Smaller Companies: BlackRock Smaller Companies trust
Passive Investment Group: Fidelity
Small to Mid Investment Group: Liontrust
Large Investment Group: Baillie Gifford
