Ashburton's Funds Awarded 'A' Ratings
Ashburton, the Jersey based investment manager, has been credited with 'A' ratings for three of its funds from Standard & Poor's, the leading provider of qualitative fund management ratings. This is the first time Ashburtons funds have been recognised in this way. It reflects the distinctive and successful active management process applied to each of these funds as well as the consistent strong performance within each funds sector.
The following three funds were awarded the 'A' rating following a detailed review of not only the funds performance, but also the strength of the individual fund managers and the consistency of their investment process and risk controls. The corporate culture of Ashburton was also a key consideration:
* Sterling Asset Management Fund managed by Nick Lee and Peter Lucas
* Asia Pacific Equity Fund managed by Jonathan Schiessl and Craig Farley
* European Equity Fund managed by Calvin Vaudin and Richard Robinson
The ratings follow the ten year anniversary, in January 2007, of Ashburton's regional equity funds which over the rolling period for five and ten years and, since launch, have achieved top quartile performance. Since launch, as at end of May 2007, the European Equity Fund achieved 286.90%, outperforming its MSCI Europe benchmark by 159.89%. Over the same period, the Asia Pacific Equity Fund achieved 170.60%, outperforming its MSCI Pacific benchmark by 139.10%.
The Replica Sterling Asset Management Fund, one of Ashburtons longest running funds, which takes a low risk approach, has achieved growth of 194.20% since its launch in 1992.
Commenting on the new ratings, Product Development Director, Stephen Kearns said:
"We are delighted to be awarded 'A' ratings for these two top performing regional equity funds and for our more well known flagship Sterling Asset Management Fund. The accolade recognises the accomplishments of our investment managers who, constantly strive to outperform by actively managing their funds and aiming to invest in what makes most sense at any time rather than what is in some index. The robustness of Ashburton's distinctive investment process was also a key factor in this recognition."
