JPMorgan has featured in the shortlist for this group numerous times, being placed fourth in 2006 and second in 2007. This year, it has finally come out on top as Investment Trust Group of the Year 2008.

JPMorgan Asset Management can trace its history back more than 150 years, but for much of that time it was known as Fleming Asset Management.

In its current form, as JPMorgan Asset Management, it has over US$1.2 billion under management and is the largest manager of investment trust portfolios, with expertise spanning all key asset classes and investment markets, offering investors a comprehensive, high-quality range of trusts.

A fine tradition
As head of investments David Barron points out, 'We manage some of the oldest investment trusts in the UK. JPMorgan American turned 127 in January, Mercantile is 124 this year and the JPMorgan Overseas Investment Trust is about to turn 121.’

The group also has the largest range of investment trusts under its care. With 19 investment trusts currently under management, the group has a very experienced team – with many of the members having been long-standing employees. JPMorgan doesn’t believe in the “star manager” culture, but instead focuses on providing investors with a reliable and trustworthy team.

The group’s range of trusts have performed consistently well, an achievement that is all the more noteworthy as it comes across a range of generalist and highly specialist single market and regional funds. JPMorgan prides itself on being at the forefront of new product developments that benefit the private investor.

‘We believe that nothing beats local knowledge. So we have investment teams networked across more than 15 cities around the world, connected by investment hubs in London, New York, Tokyo and Hong Kong,’ says Barron.

Sustained performance
The runner-up this year is long-established investment house, and winner for the past two years, Baillie Gifford. As long-term investors with an affinity for growth, the group is confident of the possibilities presenting themselves in the current climate.

Baillie Gifford believes that its stable management, well-developed and successful investment approach and long-term thinking and experience to back its investment judgement offer investors a long-term advantage in a short-term obsessed market.

Taking third place is Henderson Global Investors, which manages the portfolios of a total of 12  investment trusts and companies.

Established in 1934 to administer the estates of Alexander Henderson, the investment house now has an experienced group of investment managers that invest in every major market around the globe.