Henderson renames Horizon fund following merger

Henderson has merged the New Star European Growth offshore Oeic into the Henderson Horizon Sicav and renamed the vehicle Henderson Horizon European Growth fund.

The €92.5m (£76m) portfolio is run by Richard Pease and Simon Rowe, using an investment process looking for quality businesses on attractive valuations.

Pease says: "In these markets it is important to us as fund managers to ignore the market noise and concentrate on good companies. Many investors overlook the fact that the travails of the last few years have forced efficiencies across many companies and it is only fair that shareholders should now benefit.

"Paradoxically, gloomy headlines regarding belt-tightening and possible economic slowdown play into the hands of companies as employees are less aggressive in wage demands. With costs held in check, more revenue drops down to the bottom line.

"Good companies, however, have a habit of doing well irrespective of the economic situation and obsessing about market movements can distract investors from good investment opportunities.

"Within the Henderson Horizon European Growth fund we try to focus on companies that operate in niche markets or are the quality players in what they do. These are the sort of companies that we know have the product and wherewithal to survive a downturn and profit from a recovery."

Henderson acquired the New Star business in April last year and has since undertaken a rationalisation of the respective fund ranges.