Special Situations Fund

Bid Price472.300pas of 01/08/2025
Offer Price476.260pas of 01/08/2025
Fund launch date
Fund size£1,495,098,147.01
Number of holdings52

The Fund

The Fund has been managed since launch in November 2005 by Anthony Cross, who was joined by co-managers Victoria Stevens and Matt Tonge in 2023. The multi-cap Fund uses the Economic Advantage process to invest across the FTSE 100, FTSE 250 and the AIM indices to deliver capital growth over the long term (5 years or more). The process seeks to identify companies with a durable competitive advantage. All smaller companies in the Fund must have a minimum 3% equity ownership by senior management.

You are able to redeem your investment from the Fund at any time and there is no exit fee for doing so.

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Past performance does not predict future returns. You may get back less than you originally invested. Reference to specific securities is not intended as a recommendation to purchase or sell any investment. 
Key Information
Manager Inception Date of Fund
-
Managed by Current Team for
-
Class Launch Date
-
ISIN code
GB00B57H4F11
Comparator Benchmark 1
FTSE All Share
Comparator Benchmark 2
IA UK All Companies
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Additional Information
Minimum initial investment
-
Minimum additional investment
-
Ex-dividend date
-
Distribution date
-
Sedol code
B57H4F1
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Charges
Initial charge
0.00%
Charges
0.81%
Included within the OCF is the Annual Management Charge
0.75%
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Awards and ratings

Morningstar Fund Rating: 5

Morningstar Rating: 5

Morningstar Analyst Rating

Morningstar Analyst Rating: Bronze

Square Mile Rated AA

Square Mile Rating: AA

Rayner Spencer Mills

RSMR Rated Fund

Fund Calibre Elite Rated

Fund Calibre Elite Rated Fund

Meet the team

Anthony Cross joined Liontrust from Schroders in 1997 and launched the UK Smaller Companies Fund a year later. Anthony, who has managed the UK Smaller Companies and Special Situations funds since launch, was joined by Julian Fosh* in 2008. Julian had previously managed funds at Scottish Amicable Investment Managers, Britannic Investment Managers, Scottish Friendly Assurance Society and Saracen Fund Managers. Victoria Stevens and Matt Tonge joined the team in 2015, and became managers of the Special Situations Fund in 2023. Victoria was previously Deputy Head of Corporate Broking at FinnCap, while Matt had spent nine years on the Liontrust dealing desk, latterly winning an industry award for his work in mid and small cap stocks.

Economic Advantage team

Our Investment Process

The Fund has hallmarks of a ‘quality’ style of investing – companies generating high, consistent returns with strong solvency or balance sheets. Quality companies will often outperform in difficult economic conditions. There is a tilt away from companies characterised as ‘value’ – typically companies whose shares appear cheap when assessed on measures of tangible asset value. Value companies often perform well when interest rates rise.

The process seeks to identify companies that possess intangible assets which produce barriers to competition and provide a durable competitive advantage that allows the companies to defy industry competition and sustain a higher than average level of profitability for longer than expected.

In the fund managers’ experience, the hardest characteristics for competitors to replicate are three classes of intangible asset: intellectual property, strong distribution channels and significant recurring business.

Other less powerful but nonetheless important intangible strengths include franchises and licenses; good customer databases and relationships; effective procedures and formats; strong brands and company culture

These intangible assets produce barriers to competition, protect margins and are capable, in the opinion of the fund managers, of reaping a financial advantage in the form of cash flow returns in excess of the cost of capital. A company that consistently generates excess cash flow returns will benefit from compounding as it reinvests this excess return into the business.

Every smaller company held in the Economic Advantage funds has at least 3% of its equity held by senior management and main board directors. Companies are also assessed for employee ownership below the senior management and board and changes in equity ownership are monitored.

Past performance does not predict future returns. You may get back less than you originally invested. Reference to specific securities is not intended as a recommendation to purchase or sell any investment. 

Performance

As the share class has been in existence for less than one discrete year as at the previous quarter end, there is insufficient data to provide an indication of past performance.

Discrete performance (%)

As at previous quarter 12 months ending:Jun 2025Jun 2024Jun 2023Jun 2022Jun 2021
Liontrust Special Situations-3.912.96.8-11.024.6
IA UK All Companies8.712.66.2-8.527.7
FTSE All Share11.213.07.91.621.5
Quartile Ranking43333

Source: FE fundinfo as at 31/07/2025. Performance figures are shown in GBX. Total return performance figures are calculated net of costs and charges, on a bid price to bid price basis (mid to mid for OEICs) with net income (dividends) reinvested. Where applicable the quartile rank is for the primary share class within the sector. If your investment is made in a currency other than that used in the past performance calculation the return may increase or decrease as a result of currency fluctuations.

Cumulative performance (%)

As at previous day end1 month3 months6 monthsYTD1 year3 years5 years10 yearsSince Inception
Liontrust Special Situations2.48.8-2.00.7-4.39.229.393.8564.7
IA UK All Companies2.28.95.610.17.325.758.871.2226.8
FTSE All Share4.08.87.513.412.135.080.495.6267.8
Quartile Ranking32444442

Source: FE fundinfo as at 31/07/2025. Performance figures are shown in GBX. Total return performance figures are calculated net of costs and charges, on a bid price to bid price basis (mid to mid for OEICs) with net income (dividends) reinvested. Where applicable the quartile rank is for the primary share class within the sector. If your investment is made in a currency other than that used in the past performance calculation the return may increase or decrease as a result of currency fluctuations.

Current positioning

Top 10 Holdings (%)

GLOBALDATA PLC
3.40
ASTRAZENECA PLC
3.40
GSK PLC
3.30
RELX PLC
3.20
SHELL PLC
3.20
UNILEVER PLC
3.00
CRANEWARE PLC
3.00
BP
2.90
COMPASS GROUP
2.90
TP ICAP GROUP PLC
2.60

Sector Breakdown (%)

Industrials
25.00
Financials
14.60
Consumer Discretionary
13.30
Technology
13.20
Health Care
13.00
Consumer Staples
6.70
Energy
6.10
Real Estate
3.60
Others
2.50
Money Market
2.00

Geographic Breakdown (%)

UK
98.00
Money Market
2.00

Capitalisation (%)

FTSE 100 Index
43%
FTSE 250 Index
33.7%
FTSE AIM Index
20.9%
FTSE Small Cap (ex IT) Index
0.7%
Cash and Derivatives
1.7%

Fund Manager Insights

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KEY RISKS

Past performance does not predict future returns. You may get back less than you originally invested.

We recommend this fund is held long term (minimum period of 5 years). We recommend that you hold this fund as part of a diversified portfolio of investments.

  • Overseas investments may carry a higher currency risk. They are valued by reference to their local currency which may move up or down when compared to the currency of the Fund.
  • The Fund, may in certain circumstances, invest in derivatives but it is not intended that their use will materially affect volatility. Derivatives are used to protect against currencies, credit and interest rate moves or for investment purposes. The use of derivatives may create leverage or gearing resulting in potentially greater volatility or fluctuations in the net asset value of the Fund. A relatively small movement in the value of a derivative's underlying investment may have a larger impact, positive or negative, on the value of a fund than if the underlying investment was held instead.
  • Outside of normal conditions, the Fund may hold higher levels of cash which may be deposited with several credit counterparties (e.g. international banks). A credit risk arises should one or more of these counterparties be unable to return the deposited cash.
  • Credit Counterparty Risk: outside of normal conditions, the Fund may hold higher levels of cash which may be deposited with several credit counterparties (e.g. international banks). A credit risk arises should one or more of these counterparties be unable to return the deposited cash.
  • Diversification Risk: the Fund is expected to invest in companies predominantly in a single country which maybe subject to greater political, social and economic risks which could result in greater volatility than investments in more broadly diversified funds.
  • Liquidity Risk: the Fund will invest in smaller companies and may invest a small proportion (less than 10%) of the Fund in unlisted securities. There may be liquidity constraints in these securities from time to time, i.e. in certain circumstances, the fund may not be able to sell a position for full value or at all in the short term. This may affect performance and could cause the fund to defer or suspend redemptions of its shares. 
  • Smaller Companies Risk: the Fund may invest in companies listed on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) which is primarily for emerging or smaller companies. The rules are less demanding than those of the official List of the London Stock Exchange and therefore companies listed on AIM may carry a greater risk than a company with a full listing. 
  • ESG Risk: there may be limitations to the availability, completeness or accuracy of ESG information from third-party providers, or inconsistencies in the consideration of ESG factors across different third party data providers, given the evolving nature of ESG.

The issue of units/shares in Liontrust Funds may be subject to an initial charge, which will have an impact on the realisable value of the investment, particularly in the short term. Investments should always be considered as long term.

DISCLAIMER

This material is issued by Liontrust Investment Partners LLP (2 Savoy Court, London WC2R 0EZ), authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 518552) to undertake regulated investment business.

It should not be construed as advice for investment in any product or security mentioned, an offer to buy or sell units/shares of Funds mentioned, or a solicitation to purchase securities in any company or investment product. Examples of stocks are provided for general information only to demonstrate our investment philosophy. The investment being promoted is for units in a fund, not directly in the underlying assets.

This information and analysis is believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but is subject to change without notice. Whilst care has been taken in compiling the content, no representation or warranty is given, whether express or implied, by Liontrust as to its accuracy or completeness, including for external sources (which may have been used) which have not been verified.

This is a marketing communication. Before making an investment, you should read the relevant Prospectus and the Key Investor Information Document (KIID) and/or PRIIP/KID, which provide full product details including investment charges and risks. These documents can be obtained, free of charge, from www.liontrust.com or direct from Liontrust. If you are not a professional investor please consult a regulated financial adviser regarding the suitability of such an investment for you and your personal circumstances.