Well, who saw that coming? Britain’s answer to Warren Buffett, as he has often been heralded, is to quit the investment company that helped make him one of the most influential fund managers in the UK.
Neil Woodford plans to leave Invesco Perpetual in April next year, and has stated his intention to begin his own fund management business. Commenting on his decision, Woodford said:
“My decision to leave is a personal one based on my views about where I see in long-term opportunities in the fund management industry.
“My intention is to establish a new fund management business serving institutional and retail clients as soon as possible after 29 April 2014.”
The City super-investor will still manage the funds during a six-month transition period, until handing over the Invesco Perpetual High Income and Income funds to Mark Barnett, while Ciaran Mallon is set to take over the equity components of the Monthly Income Plus and Distribution funds from Woodford with immediate effect.
After managing funds at Invesco totalling over £24bn, funds for his own management business will obviously be significantly less, even if we see an exodus of Invesco investors joining Woodford in his new fund. Which begs the question: will he buy into any or all of the shares he’s bought for his Invesco funds over the years, or will he begin a new investing strategy away from high-income shares?
