Premier Miton Investors has hired Will James to manage a new European equity income fund, working closely with the equity team led by Gervais Williams.
James was previously deputy head of European equities at Aberdeen Standard Investments and managed the ASI Europe ex UK Income Equity fund.
Neil Birrell, chief investment officer at Premier Miton, said: “Will is an experienced and highly regarded European equity income fund manager and has built a very strong track record for performance in this area.
“The addition of Will is another example of our intention to continue to develop and grow our business and gives us the opportunity to offer our clients a broader range of high quality, relevant, active investment funds.”
2020 was a difficult year for income investors and Premier Miton believe that the new fund can capture the dividend opportunities that European equity markets have to offer post-Covid.
The new fund will apply an active, bottom-up, through-cycle approach to equity income investing and will complement Premier Miton’s existing range of equity income strategies. Further details of the fund will be announced in due course; it is subject to regulatory approval.
James added: “This is a fascinating time to be a European equity income manager and, as the recovery comes through in Europe, 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."