Small and mid-cap focus keeps Plackett at the top

FUND MANAGER FOCUS

As a manager focusing on small and mid caps, BlackRock's Richard Plackett has no doubt seen his fair share of special situations through the volatile markets of the past few years.

Plackett, who has one of the best track records in his space, has used this expertise at the lower end of the market-cap spectrum to deliver strong excess returns over IMA UK All Companies peers over the past 12 months. BlackRock’s £969m UK Special Situations fund has climbed 21.8% over the 12-month period, against an 11.2% rise for the peer group. The manager’s performance over three years is more impressive, sitting top quartile over the period despite the sharp decline for his universe during the financial crisis. What is the process and investment philosophy behind your UK Spec...