Neptune US Opportunities - change of manager

Dominic Rowles | Fri 20 July 2018

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Robert Milway has left Neptune Investment Management and handed responsibility for the Neptune US Opportunities Fund to Ali Unwin. Patrick Close remains the fund’s co-manager.

Ali Unwin was previously appointed assistant manager of the fund after joining Neptune in 2014. He is also Head of Technology at the firm and manages the Neptune Global Technology Fund. Neptune believe disruption in the US stock market will be led by advances in technology over the longer term. Therefore, they expect the manager’s experience investing in technology companies will prove beneficial in running the US Opportunities fund. He has managed the Global Technology fund since launch in December 2015 and over this time it has grown 48.6%* compared with 48.9% for the IA Technology & Telecoms sector, although past performance is not a guide to future returns.

Annual percentage growth
Jun 12-
Jun 13
Jun 13 -
Jun 14
Jun 14 -
Jun 15
Jun 15 -
Jun 16
Jun 16 -
Jun 17
Neptune Global Technology N/A N/A N/A N/A 40.9
IA Technology & Telecoms 15.3 16.3 15.4 10.3 38.1

Past performance is not a guide to future returns. Source: Lipper IM* to 30/06/2017.

Please note full year past performance data prior to 2016 is unavailable.

Find out more about Neptune Global Technology Fund

View the Key Investor Information Document

The team’s existing investment process will remain unchanged and as a result we do not expect to see any significant changes made to the portfolio. It will remain concentrated, which means each investment can have a significant impact on returns, although this is a higher-risk approach. Ali Unwin and Patrick Close will continue to look for companies able to consistently earn high returns on the capital invested in the business and grow returns to shareholders, and invest in them for the long term. They will also continue to have the support of Neptune’s wider team of investment analysts.

We are not currently considering the fund for inclusion in the Wealth 150 list of our favourite funds across the major sectors. While Ali Unwin has served as assistant manager on the US Opportunities fund and managed the Global Technology fund, which largely invests in US companies, for almost two years, he does not have his own track record in managing a broad portfolio of US equities. Furthermore, the fund has undergone several management changes in recent years and we would like to see the existing team settle and build a longer track record before changing our view. We will continue to monitor the fund and inform investors if our views change.

Annual percentage growth
Jun 12-
Jun 13
Jun 13 -
Jun 14
Jun 14 -
Jun 15
Jun 15 -
Jun 16
Jun 16 -
Jun 17
Neptune US Opportunities 26.4 12.6 10.8 1.5 24.3
IA North America 24.9 10.7 14.8 14.6 23.8

Past performance is not a guide to future returns. Source: Lipper IM* to 30/06/2017.

Find out more about Neptune US Opportunities Fund

View the Key Investor Information Document

Important information

Please remember the value of investments, and any income from them, can fall as well as rise so you could get back less than you invest. This article is provided to help you make your own investment decisions, it is not advice. If you are unsure of the suitability of an investment for your circumstances please seek advice.

No news or research item is a personal recommendation to deal.

Hargreaves Lansdown Asset Management is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

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