F&C Stewardship funds awarded ‘A' rating

The ethically screened Stewardship Growth and Stewardship Income funds, managed by F&C, have each been awarded new "A" ratings from Standard and Poor's Fund Research following the appointment of Catherine Stanley as lead manager on 1 June 2009.

Catherine has nearly 18 years' investment experience and brings a wealth of knowledge and understanding of the small and mid cap universe in particular, which ideally suits the Stewardship mandates given their ethical screening gives them an overweight exposure to stocks outside of the FTSE 100.

S&P were particularly impressed with Catherine's clarity in how she wanted to manage the funds going forward and the stability of the independent Committee of Reference, which oversees the ethical policies and screening at the heart of the Stewardship process. S&P commented "We acknowledge Catherine's track record on small/mid cap mandates (an area where these funds are likely to be focused) and the experience she will be drawing on to help her stock selection further up the cap-scale. As a result, the committee felt both funds worthy of an A (New) rating".

Fund manager Catherine Stanley added: "This is an important endorsement for both the investment process and ethical screening approach on these flagship funds. The long-term emphasis remains one of managing a portfolio of high quality companies that meet the standards expected by ethical investors".

The pioneering Stewardship Growth fund, the first retail ethical fund launched in the UK, is currently celebrating its 25th anniversary. The Stewardship Income fund followed in October 1987 and forms part of F&C's growing suite of socially responsible products and mandates, which includes the Stewardship International fund, the F&C Ethical Bond Fund and the F&C Global Climate Opportunities Fund.