LONDON (ShareCast) - (Sharecast News) - Liontrust Asset Management reported assets under management and advice of ?16.1bn as at 31 March in a trading update on Wednesday, making for an increase of 27% year-on-year.
The London-listed firm reported net inflows of ?492m in the three month period, and ?2.7bn for the year ended 31 March, which was an increase of 52% compared to the prior year.

It said net inflows had totalled ?136m for the period from 1 April to 9 April, with assets under management and advice of ?16.8bn as at close of business on 9 April.

Chief executive John Ions said Liontrust's board and management was "incredibly proud" of the way in which its people had adapted to the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic, and what the company had been able to deliver.

"Liontrust went into the pandemic in a strong position, and by maintaining the processes we have put in place over the past decade, we have been able to replicate how we work normally.

"This includes our fund managers and traders along with continuing to provide first-class service and communication.

"We have said many times in the past that performance is never predictable but process should always be."

Ions said that key to the firm's success in the quarter had been the "outstanding performance" by many of its funds over the long term, and since the pandemic impacted global markets in late February.

"All four funds managed by the economic advantage team are in the first quartile of their respective IA sectors over one and three years, and three of them are first quartile over five years.

"All eight of the equity and managed funds run by the sustainable investment team are first quartile over one, three and five years."

Liontrust's strong net inflows, even in the first few days of April, were described by Ions as "testament to the belief" of its clients in the firm and its funds, the power of its brand, sales and marketing and the assurance of its administration.

"We adapted our communications following the imposition of the lockdowns in the UK and continental Europe, hosting 11 webinars with fund managers from 19 March to 8 April.

"We have constructed a new content portal called Liontrust Insights to host the myriad views and ideas of all our fund management teams."

Ions said the pandemic was taking a "terrible toll" on human and economic life, but was showing, however, the ability to meet and then eventually overcome challenges through the "will, ingenuity and collaboration" of people and business.

"Sustainability has been rising up the agenda, and when we emerge from the lockdown there will be even more focus on investing in companies that contribute to and benefit from making the world cleaner, healthier and safer.

"This month, the sustainable investment team celebrated three years at Liontrust.

"The assets under management of the team have more than doubled over this period and they have delivered the market leading performance you would expect from a well-established team that has been managing sustainable funds for nearly 20 years."

As a business, Ions said Liontrust was focussed on integrating sustainability throughout the firm, adding that the current crisis period had reiterated the responsibility it had as investors and "guardians of people's savings".

"We also have a responsibility to the wider community - during the current lockdown, Liontrust will be giving extra support to our existing partners to provide enhanced help to the homeless, those people requiring food banks, young unemployed seeking jobs, the elderly and animal welfare.

"Our robust investment and working processes give me great confidence that Liontrust will navigate the pandemic successfully."

At 1508 BST, shares in Liontrust Asset Management were up 3.1% at 1,031.04p.

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