Liontrust Asset Management has reported a drop in inflows compared to the same time last year, but said in its latest update it had seen a "strong start" overall as fund performance improved.
Net inflows between 1 April and 30 June 2014 were £190m - 37% lower than the £302m reported during the same period last year.
A lack of high profile fund launches - the firm's Global Strategic Bond fund, launched in early 2013, attracted £179m alone in the second quarter of 2013 - is the main reason, with total inflows above last year's when the launch is excluded.
The firm added assets under management had reached £3.8bn by the end of June. Among the retail funds, the Economic Advantage strategy had the most AUM, at £1.84bn, while the Macro Thematic and Cashflow Solution held £624m and £304m respectively.
Crucially for the group, the funds performed strongly, with seven out of eight of the actively managed UK retail funds in the first quartile of their respective IMA sectors since launch or fund manager inception.
Liontrust chief executive John Ions (pictured) said the firm has enjoyed a "strong start" to the financial year: "What is particularly pleasing is the improvement in recent fund performance. The benefit of applying distinct and robust investment processes to the management of our funds is shown by shorter term numbers moving more to their long-term trend. This comes after a difficult year in 2013 when quality companies were not rewarded.
“Our marketing campaign promoting our three equity income funds continues to generate interest among our clients, especially for the Liontrust Macro Equity Income Fund in the highly competitive UK equity income sector."
