The asset manager’s latest trading update, published today, revealed AUM grew by 61%, from £6.5bn the year before.
This was boosted by £1bn of net inflows, including £906m into UK retail assets, £76m into multi-asset and £46m into offshore funds. However, it lost £24m from its institutional assets.
Between 1 January and 31 March alone, the firm saw a positive inflow of £255m, despite falling market indices subtracting £336m during the quarter.
The firm’s acquisition of Alliance Trust Investments (ATI) in April 2017 added £2.5bn to annual inflows. The acquisition, which saw ATI’s sustainable investment team rebranded under the Liontrust umbrella, saw AUM in the firm’s sustainable strategies grow by £500m over the year to £3bn.
John Ions, chief executive at Liontrust (pictured), said: “It has been a very successful and transformational year for Liontrust. We have delivered £1bn of net inflows and a 61% growth in our AUM, reflecting the power of both our fund management and distribution capability and the investment we have made in these areas over the past few years.”
Ions also said the recruitment of the fixed income team of David Roberts and Phil Milburn from Kames in August and Donald Phillips from Baillie Gifford in February demonstrates that the firm is “well positioned to attract leading industry talent”.
