Gartmore SICAV US Opportunities Fund shifts to Marsico

The Board of Directors of the Gartmore SICAV US Opportunities Fund has voted to transfer the SICAV’s investment management services to Marsico Capital Management, based in Denver, Colorado. The change, effective from 31st August 2007, follows the delegation by Gartmore Investment Ltd of the Gartmore US Opportunities Fund and Gartmore US Growth Fund to Marsico. The latest change was intended to ensure that the SICAV remained competitive in the marketplace. Marsico’s original appointment for the OEIC took effect on 29th June 2007, with the company replacing NWD Investments.

The Marsico approach combines both top-down macroeconomic analysis and bottom-up stock selection. In selecting stocks, industry veteran Cory Gilchrist, manager for both the SICAV and OEIC versions, looks for the following attributes: strong brand franchise and sustainable leadership, plus improving fundamentals, notably margins, market share and financial efficiency measures. He also examines the quality of the balance sheet, scale/distribution and the management team. Additionally, there is a focus on identifying transformational changes, such as new products/services, acquisitions or divestitures, new management teams and favourable regulatory developments.