Premier Miton has roped in Aberdeen Standard Investments European equities deputy head Will James to launch its first European equity income strategy.
James, who was a manager on the £663.8m ASI Europe ex-UK Income Equity fund, will work closely with Premier Miton’s equity team led by Gervais Williams (pictured) on the strategy.
Premier Miton said it would announce further details in due course but revealed the strategy would apply an active, bottom up, through-cycle approach to equity income investing, while making sure ESG factors are integrated throughout the process.
James’ fund will sit alongside Premier Miton’s existing range of equity income funds, which spans UK equity income and global sustainable equity income focused strategies.
James said as Europe recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic “the potential for dividends and dividend growth is as attractive as I can remember it in my years as an equity income fund manager”.
“Europe has been, and I believe will continue to be, an exceptional region in which active and engaged equity income investing can thrive.”
Premier Miton has been rapidly expanding its product range over the last year, acquiring Merian’s corporate bond team led by Lloyd Harris following its acquisition by Jupiter.
Earlier this year Premier added RWC manager Russell Champion to its European equities team to help Carlos Moreno and Thomas Brown launch their second fund later this year. The fund will have a sustainable bent and follow the same approach as the pair’s £2.2bn European Opportunities fund.
See also: Premier Miton bolsters European team with RWC hire as it plots second fund launch
