Fund manager Standard Life Investments has announced that both its UK Equity Growth and the UK Ethical Fund have received prestigious 'AA' ratings from Standard & Poor's (S&P).
The news means that 8 out of 19 eligible funds now qualify for 'AA' ratings with a further 8 funds boasting 'A' ratings resulting in 84% of Standard Life Investments' eligible funds currently having an 'A' rating or above. On average, only the top 20% of funds within each sector achieve a rating.
Claire Marshall, Investment Director - Mutual Funds at Standard Life Investments said: "These awards recognise the robust and repeatable investment process and the team approach adopted by our award-winning fund managers. The UK Equity Growth Fund is managed by Karen Robertson, winner of the 2006 Lipper Citywire All Star Award for the UK Equity Income sector and the UK Ethical Fund is managed by Lesley Duncan, winner of the 'UK Marketed Class Ethical/SRI Europe Sector' over five years and out of 15 funds at the S&P UK Fund Awards 2006.
"Both of these funds have produced top quartile performance over 1, 2 and 3 years. The £200m UK Equity Growth Fund has returned 17% over the last 12 months and the £98m UK Ethical Fund has returned a very healthy 21% over the same period. I am delighted that this strong and consistent performance has been rewarded by Standard & Poor's in this way."
The awards further underpin Standard Life Investments position as one of the most highly rated fund management houses across the IMA UK Equity and Fixed Interest sectors.
The six other Standard Life Investments' funds that carry 'AA' S&P ratings are the UK Equity High Income, UK Opportunities, UK Smaller Companies, Corporate Bond, AAA Income and the American Equity Growth Fund. The ratings include all of Standard Life Investments' UK equity and corporate bond funds.
Source: Standard Life Investments
