M&G hands Tomlins European bond portfolio

Asset management firm M&G has today announced James Tomlins has been handed the lead manager role for its European High Yield Bond fund.

Tomlins, who joined from Cazenove over the summer, will be assisted by current lead manager Stefan Isaacs. Isaacs, a Euro Stars A-rated manager, will act as a deputy manager on the fund.

Meanwhile, Tomlins will also serve as a deputy to Isaacs on the company’s European High Yield Corporate Credit Bond fund. This fund has around €1.27 billion in assets under management.

M&G said, while Tomlins will report to Isaacs, the pair are expected to work in collaborative way in managing the respective portfolios.

Commenting on the appointment, Jim Leaviss, Head of M&G Retail Fixed Interest, said: ‘Since James joined M&G in June 2011, he has brought extensive experience of investment in European credit, particularly in the High Yield market.’

‘He’s helped execute high yield ideas across the fixed interest fund range and investors will benefit from his depth of relevant experience.’

Over the past three years, the M&G European High Yield Bond fund has returned 70.8%, while its benchmark, the BofA Merrill Lynch Global High Yield All Europe Currency, has risen by 93.9%.The European High Yield fund is domiciled in the UK registered for sale in a number of countries across Europe.

Meanwhile, over the same period, the M&G European Corporate Bond fund has achieved total returns of 29.91%. This was while its benchmark, the FTSE Euro Corporate Bond TR, rose by 23.89%.