Each quarter Fundscape publishes the Pridham Report with quarterly updates of sales and asset trends in the UK fund industry.
Unfortunately, the report is only available for those asset managers in the industry who take part by supplying data, and fund houses are bound by a confidentiality agreement to prevent sensitive sales figures being distributed.
Only those who submit up-to-date figures are privy to the full report, while we mere mortals are provided only with the top 10 managers by gross and retail sales and a small amount of commentary from Helen Pridham, director of Fundscape and author of the report.
On Fundscape’s website Jonathan Willcocks, managing director, global sales at M&G Investments, says: “The Pridham Report provides a unique insight into the mutual funds landscape in the UK. Its detailed analysis of fund flows, trends and especially commentary from asset managers delivers an unparalleled inside view of what is going on in our industry. The output is invaluable for us at M&G.”
Top of the pops
Given that M&G have topped the net retail sales table for the past 14 quarters, the firm is likely to be very chuffed each time the report comes out. But the ‘unparalleled view’, like plenty of other data in the financial services industry, is privileged information.
Fundscape explains: “The Pridham Report is entirely transparent, which means fund groups are able to see commercially sensitive data of other fund groups. For that reason there are restrictions in place and groups must provide data in order to subscribe.
“It provides a level playing field for all fund groups. It also means (with the exception of platforms, which also provide data) that industry insiders such as advisers, consultants and other interested industry stakeholders cannot subscribe. All fund groups are asked to sign a confidentiality agreement to protect their interests.”
So it is a private party and we are not invited.
Still, some interesting nuggets can be found in the limited information we do have access to. For more, click through to the next page…