Schroders : appoints Luke Biermann as manager of the Schroder UK Dynamic Smaller Companies Fund

Schroders has appointed Luke Biermann as the new manager of the Schroder UK Dynamic Smaller Companies Fund.

Luke has been a member of Schroders' Pan European Small and Mid Cap team for 10 years working as an analyst and fund manager. He has successfully managed the Schroder European Smaller Companies Fund for over five years, working alongside Andy Brough and the wider UK & European Small and Mid Cap team. Over a five-year period the fund has returned 22.8% annualised and has a first quartile ranking. Since taking over management in November 2011, the fund has returned 22.2% annualised compared to the benchmark which returned 19.2%.*

Luke will begin to work with Paul Marriage and John Warren with immediate effect to ensure a smooth transition before Paul and John leave Schroders in the fourth quarter of this year.

Luke will continue to work closely with Andy Brough and the other members of the six-strong Pan European Small and Mid Cap Team. Andy is responsible for the Schroder UK Smaller Companies and Luke will continue to be the lead manager on the Schroder European Smaller Companies Fund.

Rory Bateman, Head of UK and European Equities at Schroders, said:

'We are delighted to announce that Luke Biermann will assume responsibility for the Schroder UK Dynamic Smaller Companies Fund following a transition period. Luke's track record demonstrates outstanding portfolio management skills within the small cap universe and his investment style is ideally suited to the Dynamic Smaller Companies portfolio. Schroders has a depth of talent within our Equities business and we have every confidence that Luke will continue the success of the Schroder UK Dynamic Smaller Companies Fund in the years to come.'

For further information, please contact:

Charlotte Banks, PR Manager: +44 (0)20 7658 2589 / charlotte.banks@schroders.com

Note to Editors

For trade press only.

Source: Morningstar, Z class shares net of fees in GBP as at 31 May 2017. Peer group is IA - European Smaller Companies. *Luke took over the management of the Fund on 30 November 2011.

Source: Morningstar, Z class shares net of fees in GBP as at 31 May 2017. Peer group is IA - UK Smaller Companies

Schroder UK Dynamic Smaller Companies Fund risk factors: The fund can be exposed to different currencies. Changes in foreign exchange rates could create losses. Equity prices fluctuate daily, based on many factors including general, economic, industry or company news. Investments in smaller companies can be less liquid than investments in larger companies and price swings may therefore be greater than in larger company funds. In difficult market conditions, the fund may not be able to sell a security for full value or at all. This could affect performance and could cause the fund to defer or suspend redemptions of its shares. Failures at service providers could lead to disruptions of fund operations or losses. The counterparty to a derivative or other contractual agreement or synthetic financial product could become unable to honour its commitments to the fund, potentially creating a partial or total loss for the fund. A derivative may not perform as expected, and may create losses greater than the cost of the derivative. The fund uses derivatives for leverage, which makes it more sensitive to certain market or interest rate movements and may cause above-average volatility and risk of loss.

Schroder European Smaller Companies Fund risk factors: The fund can be exposed to different currencies. Changes in foreign exchange rates could create losses. Equity prices fluctuate daily, based on many factors including general, economic, industry or company news. Investments in smaller companies can be less liquid than investments in larger companies and price swings may therefore be greater than in larger company funds. In difficult market conditions, the fund may not be able to sell a security for full value or at all. This could affect performance and could cause the fund to defer or suspend redemptions of its shares. Failures at service providers could lead to disruptions of fund operations or losses.