Square Mile Investment Consulting and Research removed a group of three BNY Mellon funds from its Academy of Funds following Paul Brain’s move from lead fund manager to deputy chief investment officer of multi-asset.
The strategies, including the BNY Mellon Global Dynamic Bond, BNY Mellon Sustainable Global Dynamic Bond and BNY Mellon Global Dynamic Bond Income fund, were placed under suspension in June 2023. Ella Hoxha, formerly at Pictet, took over as fund manager in December of last year.
See also: View from the top with BNY Mellon’s Matt Oomen
Square Mile stated that after meeting with Hoxha and discussing the changes to the portfolios, its team believes “it will take time to fully appreciate the impact of those changes”. In addition, Square Mile found the medium-term returns “not in line with expectations”, resulting in the funds’ removals.
Jupiter Value funds, including the AAA-rated Jupiter UK Special Situations fund and A-rated Jupiter Global Value Equity fund, were suspended after Ben Whitmore and Dermot Murphy announced their departure for July 2024 to create their own investment boutique. While JO Hambro Capital Management’s Alex Savvides will take on the UK equities portion of the funds, there is still discussion over the global equity assets and whether they will transfer with Whitmore, Square Mile said.
Despite the three funds dropped from BNY Mellon, the BNY Mellon Futurelegacy fund range gained a responsible Positive Prospect rating. The group of five funds are managed by Newton Investment Management and launched in February of last year.
“In what is an under-represented area of the market, Square Mile believes this range has all the attributes necessary to provide competitive long-term returns while following the team’s sustainable investment approach,” Square Mile stated.
The Brown Advisory Global Leaders fund was awarded an AA rating, managed by Mick Dillon and Bertie Thomson. The fund, launched in 2015, comprises 30 to 40 holdings which Square Mile claims is “differentiated from its peers and a very solid offering for long-term investors”.
Aikya Global Emerging Markets gained a Responsible A rating while Rathbone Greenbank Multi-Asset portfolios obtained a responsible recommended rating.
Three strategies, the CT UK Social Bond fund, Artemis SmartGARP Global Emerging Markets Equity fund, and WS Montanaro UK Income fund retained their ratings despite changes in management.
In total, Square Mile conducted 52 interviews with 31 asset management groups in the month of January.
