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FTF Martin Currie UK Mid Cap Class S - Accumulation (GBP)

Sell:146.80p Buy:146.80p Change: 1.70p (1.17%)
Prices as at 24 December 2024
Sell:146.80p
Buy:146.80p
Change: 1.70p (1.17%)
You can buy or sell holdings in this fund through a Stocks and Shares ISA, Lifetime ISA, SIPP or Fund and Share Account
Invest now
Prices as at 24 December 2024
Sell:146.80p
Buy:146.80p
Change: 1.70p (1.17%)
Prices as at 24 December 2024
You can buy or sell holdings in this fund through a Stocks and Shares ISA, Lifetime ISA, SIPP or Fund and Share Account
Invest now
The selling price currently displayed is higher than the buying price. This can occur temporarily for a variety of reasons; shortly before the market opens, after the market closes or because of extraordinary price volatility during the trading day.

Our view on this Fund

This fund is on the Wealth Shortlist of funds our analysts believe have the potential to outperform their peers over the long term. However, this is not a recommendation to buy.

Richard Bullas took over FTF Martin Currie UK Mid Cap in June 2020. He began his career working in accountancy before moving to Aviva as an analyst. He joined Rensburg Fund Management, which later became Franklin Templeton Fund Management, in 2000. Bullas became a fund manager in 2006 and has covered the UK smaller companies sector for most of that time.

Bullas has the support of a strong team at Martin Currie, and they collectively have a lot of experience. We still believe the fund is in good hands under Bullas who has been involved with the fund since 2013 and has a strong track record investing in higher-risk companies of a smaller size. As a result, the fund features on the Wealth Shortlist of funds chosen by our analysts for their long-term performance potential. As always, we will continue to monitor the situation and keep investors informed if our views change.

Our view on the sector

Businesses listed on the FTSE 250 Index are often called medium-sized companies or 'mid-caps'. While the FTSE 100 includes the UK's 100 largest companies, the FTSE 250 contains the next 250 largest companies. They're the main hunting ground for fund managers who run UK mid-cap funds. Medium-sized companies have made strong returns for long-term investors. But their performance tends to be sensitive to the health of the UK economy than larger ones. We think they've got the potential to deliver strong returns for long-term investors prepared to weather the increased volatility. They could add diversification to a portfolio focused on larger companies too.

Performance Analysis

Since Bullas became co-manager in 2013, the fund has performed well, comfortably beating the FTSE 250 (excluding investment trusts) index. Not all that performance can be attributed to him though, as until the beginning of 2020 Paul Spencer was the lead manager. We believe Bullas has the ability to continue the fund's long-term record of strong performance, although there are no guarantees.

Investment Philosophy

Bullas thinks the best investments are in high-quality companies with excellent long-term growth potential. He'll only invest in a company if he thinks its share price is lower than what this longer-term potential suggests it should be. He considers what could go wrong as well as right with a company.

Process and Portfolio Construction

Bullas and his team hunt for businesses with strong growth potential. Their process centres around two key pillars - quality and valuation. This sets a high bar for companies to make it into the fund and aims to mitigate three key risks; business, financial and management.

In terms of quality, the team looks for companies whose earnings are sustainable over the long run, such as those with brand power and hard-to-replicate advantages. Management teams are essential to a company's success so they must have a strong track record and be incentivised appropriately. These companies also need to be financially robust, so they avoid those with lots of debt.

Once the team has evaluated a company's quality, they assess its value. As long-term investors they typically forecast the potential share price returns over three to five years. If the share price is attractive enough to benefit from these returns, they will invest.

This fund invests in a relatively small number of companies, typically between 30-50. This means each one has the potential to make a meaningful difference to performance, both positively and negatively, which can increase risk. Companies are sold if they graduate into the larger FTSE 100, meaning only medium-sized companies are held in the fund but Bullas can invest in smaller companies within the index, which also adds risk.

question mark Manager Track Record Based on HL Quantitative Research

  • FTF Martin Currie UK Smaller...
  • FTF Martin Currie UK Mid Cap...
  • IA UK Smaller Companies
  • FTSE 250 Mid (X It) TR
FROM: TO:


Source: Refinitiv Lipper

Fund Track Record

23/12/19 to 23/12/20 23/12/20 to 23/12/21 23/12/21 to 23/12/22 23/12/22 to 23/12/23 23/12/23 to 23/12/24
Annual return -15.44% 20.40% -18.71% 10.05% -1.83%

Please remember past performance is not a guide to future returns. Where no data is shown, figures are not available. This information is provided to help you choose your own investments, remember they can fall as well as rise in value so you may not get back the original amount invested.

Information about the fund

Fund manager biography

manager photo
Manager Name: Richard Bullas
Manager start date: 2 September 2013
Manager located in: TBC

Richard Bullas is a portfolio manager at Franklin Templeton Fund Management. He is co-manager on the Franklin UK Smaller Companies Trust and manages the Smaller Companies portion of the Franklin UK Managers? Focus Fund. Richard has worked with the fund management team for over 12 years, joining Franklin Templeton Fund Management via the acquisition of Rensburg Fund Management in 2011. Mr. Bullas joined the team in 2000 as a Trainee Fund Manager, supporting the fund managers on a range of equity unit trusts while studying for his professional investment qualifications (IMC and Chartered MCSI). After 3 years he was appointed Assistant Fund Manager, assisting and reporting to the investment director, specifically on the management of the Franklin UK Smaller Companies Trust and the Franklin UK Manager?s Focus Fund. From 2006 he was made Fund Manager and Associate Director while at Rensburg, co-managing 2 UK Equity Mandates as well deputy fund manager on the Franklin UK Select Growth Trust and Franklin UK Manager?s Focus Fund. Mr. Bullas investment approach focuses heavily on individual company analysis, identifying quality undervalued companies that have the potential for long term outperformance. Richard has covered the UK smaller companies sector for 12 years and has considerable experience researching and analysing smaller companies. Prior to joining Rensburg Fund Management (now Franklin Templeton Fund Management) Mr. Bullas worked at AVIVA Plc as a Market Analyst in the life and pensions department. Prior to that he spent a short time working at a Chartered Accountants, for the Audit Team. Mr. Bullas holds a B.Sc. (Hons) degree in business and management studies from Bradford University School of Management, graduating in 1998. He holds the IMC (Investment Management Certificate) and is a Chartered MCSI (Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment).

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Manager Name: Mark Hall
Manager start date: 1 June 2013
Manager located in: Leeds

Mark Hall is a member of the highly-regarded Franklin UK Equity Team. He specialises in multi-cap UK equity analysis and investment and has been lead manager of the Franklin UK Select Growth Fund since 2001 and joint manager of the Franklin UK Managers' Focus Fund since its launch in 2006. Mark joined Franklin Templeton Investments when it acquired Rensburg Fund Management in January 2011. After training as an accountant, Mr. Hall joined BWD Rensburg in 1988 as a Smaller Companies investment analyst, subsequently managing private client discretionary portfolios. Mark became fund manager of the BWD Equity Growth Trust in 1997, investing in the UK All Companies Sector. In 2001 he became the lead manager of BWD Aggressive Growth Trust, (which was subsequently renamed Rensburg UK Select Growth Trust). In October 2011, the Rensburg unit trust range was merged into subfunds of the Franklin Templeton Funds OEIC and renamed to reflect the Franklin Templeton brand, they kept the same objective, managers and investment process. Under Mr. Halls tenure as manager, Franklin UK Select Growth Fund has held an OBSR Fund Rating for five consecutive years (as at 30 June 2011). Mr. Hall holds a B.A. (Hons) geography with additional economics from Exeter University. He also holds an Investment Management Certificate (IMC) and is a Fellow of the Securities Institute (FSI (Dip)).

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Manager Name: Paul Spencer
Manager start date: 1 February 2006
Manager located in: Leeds

Paul Spencer, Lead Manager of the Franklin UK Mid Cap Fund and joint manager of the Franklin UK Managers' Focus Fund. A member of the Franklin UK Equity Team, he specialises in UK mid-cap equity analysis and investment. Mr. Spencer joined Franklin Templeton Investments when it acquired Rensburg Fund Management (now Franklin Templeton Fund Management) in January 2011. Mr. Spencer started his investment career in 1987, when he joined BWD Rensburg, within the next 8 years Paul progressed through the ranks becoming head of research. In 1991, he assumed responsibility for the BWD UK Smaller Companies Trust, leaving in 1995 to join Granville Davies Limited as a director and Small and Mid Cap analyst. In 1999, Paul joined TD Waterhouse, where he was head of research, specialising in small and mid cap investment analysis. He returned to Rensburg in 2006 to manage the Rensburg UK Mid Cap Growth Trust (now Franklin UK Mid Cap Fund). During his tenure as fund manager of the Franklin UK Mid Cap Fund, Paul has received a number of awards for investment excellence, including the Moneywise Best UK All Companies Fund in 2008, 2009 and 2010, Money Observer Best UK Small/Mid Cap Fund 2009 and Best UK All Companies Fund over three years from Lipper in 2009. Mr. Spencer holds a B.A. (Hons) economics from Nottingham University. He is a Fellow of the Securities Institute (FSI).

Data policy - All information should be used for indicative purposes only. You should independently check data before making any investment decision. HL cannot guarantee that the data is accurate or complete, and accepts no responsibility for how it may be used. Benchmark data provided subject to this disclaimer.
You can buy or sell holdings in this fund through a Stocks and Shares ISA, Lifetime ISA, SIPP or Fund and Share Account
Invest now