LEI: 549300XVXU6S7PLCL855

For immediate release

10 October 2024

Stock Exchange Announcement

LIONTRUST ASSET MANAGEMENT PLC

Trading Update

Liontrust Asset Management Plc ("Liontrust" or the "Company"), the specialist independent fund management group, today issues its trading update for the three months ended 30 September 2024 (the "Period").  

·    Net outflows of £1.1 billion in the Period (2023: £1.6 billion).

·    Assets under management and advice ("AuMA") were £26.0 billion as at 30 September 2024, a decrease over the Period of 4%.

Commenting, John Ions, Chief Executive Officer, said:

"The new government's large electoral mandate raised expectations of political and economic stability and a strong pro-growth agenda. The speculation and uncertainty around changes to taxation and reliefs in the lead up to the Budget on 30 October, however, have impacted investor confidence and fund flows for the whole industry including Liontrust. This has contributed to another quarter of net outflows as the challenging environment for active managers has continued for longer than anticipated.

Liontrust continues to improve the business to achieve our strategic objectives. We have strengthened data management, delivery and analysis through the implementation of a new enterprise portfolio management system. This will enhance the reporting and digital services we provide clients, provide significant benefits to our investment management and risk teams, and deliver productivity gains and efficiencies across the business.

The Global Equities team, led by Mark Hawtin, are now settled in at Liontrust and providing access to potential new clients for the Company internationally. The diversification of our fund range continues as we will be expanding the Irish-domiciled range for European investors.

Liontrust is deepening engagement with clients, which is essential to retain assets and return the business to positive net flows. The investment teams are presenting at an extensive range of Liontrust and third-party events across the UK and Europe this Autumn, including a discussion on the UK stock market and economy at the House of Commons last week and a Liontrust investment conference in November in London.

The Liontrust brand continues to be strong. Among financial advisers in the UK, Liontrust is rated as the 4^th best asset manager and 2^nd for brand familiarity (Source: UK Advisory Study conducted by Research in Finance July 2024). Liontrust is ranked as the 6^th best asset manager by wealth managers in the UK and 4^th for brand familiarity.

We deliver content and educational material that is valued by intermediaries and their clients, demonstrated by the digital engagement and feedback we receive. This includes Liontrust receiving the second-best score for an asset manager for educational literature from retail investors who are part of an industry consumer panel.

Despite the current difficult period for active managers, Liontrust is well positioned to drive the business forward. We have a clear and focused strategy that we continue to execute successfully. Liontrust has a strong brand, very good client engagement and relationships, and broadening distribution and fund range. We have excellent investment teams with proven processes. Furthermore, the operation of the business has been enhanced, improving our productivity and efficiencies."

Assets under management and advice

On 30 September 2024, our AuMA stood at £25,956 million and were broken down by type and investment process as follows:

Flows

The net outflows over the Period were £1,144 million (2023: £1,583 million). A reconciliation of fund flows and AuMA over the Period is as follows:

Key Fund Performance (Quartile ranking)

UK domiciled funds-

Irish domiciled funds-

Source: Financial Express to 30 September 2024 as at 7 October 2024, bid-bid, total return, net of fees, based on primary share class.

Past performance is not a guide to future performance, investments can result in total loss of capital. The above funds are all UK authorised unit trusts, OEICs, Irish authorised OEICs (primary share class) or UK listed investment trusts. Onshore funds use the Financial Express Investment Association sectors. Offshore funds use the FCA Recognised offshore sectors. Edinburgh Investment Trust Plc uses the AIC Investment Trust UK Equity Income sector.

MA Explorer funds had an objective change on 05/04/2023 and rankings are shown from then.

MA Dynamic Passive fund range, MA Blended fund range, Diversified Real Assets Fund and Russia Funds (suspended) are not included as are in an IA sector that is not rankable, GF Pan European Dynamic Fund is excluded because was recently launched. GF UK Equity, Internation Equity, US Equity and GF Tortoise are excluded as are closing.

Notice of Half Year Results Announcement

Liontrust confirms that it will be announcing its half year results for the six months ended 30 September 2024 on Thursday, 21 November 2024.

For further information please contact:

Teneo (Tel: 020 7353 4200, Email: liontrust@teneo.com)

Tom Murray, Colette Cahill, Jessica Pine

Liontrust Asset Management Plc (Tel: 020 7412 1700, Website: liontrust.co.uk)

Stephen Corbett: Head of Investor Relations

Simon Hildrey: Chief Marketing Officer

Singer Capital Markets (Tel: 020 7496 3000)

Corporate Broking: Charles Leigh-Pemberton

Corporate Advisory: James Moat

Panmure Liberum (Tel: 020 7886 2500)

Corporate Broking: David Watkins

Corporate Advisory: Atholl Tweedie

HSBC Bank plc (Tel: 020 7991 8888)

Corporate Broking: Simon Alexander, James Hopton

Corporate Advisory: Alexander Paul

Forward Looking Statements

This announcement contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and businesses and plans of Liontrust. These statements and forecasts involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend upon circumstances that have not yet occurred. There are a number of factors that could cause actual results or developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements and forecasts. As a result, the Liontrust's actual future financial condition, results of operations and business and plans may differ materially from the plans, goals and expectations expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.  Liontrust undertakes no obligation publicly to update or revise forward-looking statements, except as may be required by applicable law and regulation (including the Listing Rules of the Financial Conduct Authority).  Nothing in this announcement should be construed as a profit forecast or be relied upon as a guide to future performance.

Other information

The release, publication, transmission or distribution of this announcement in, into or from jurisdictions other than the United Kingdom may be restricted by law and therefore persons in such jurisdictions into which this announcement is released, published, transmitted or distributed should inform themselves about and observe such restrictions. Any failure to comply with the restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

ENDS