AJ Bell drops Merian UK Smaller Companies fund from favourites list

Replaced by Paul Marriage's smaller companies fund

AJ Bell has removed the £386.8m Merian UK Smaller Companies fund from its favourite funds list, citing the ‘corporate uncertainty’ around Jupiter Asset Management's acquisition of Merian Global Investors.

Following a review, the Merian fund has been replaced on the list by the Tellworth UK Smaller Companies fund run by Paul Marriage. Ryan Hughes, head of active portfolios at AJ Bell, said: "We have taken the decision to remove the Merian UK Smaller Companies fund from our favourite funds list due to the corporate uncertainty that has arisen over the takeover of Merian by Jupiter. "While lead manager Dan Nickols has committed to staying following the takeover, there is no clarity regarding the structure of the team." Jupiter shares boosted on £390m Merian GI acquisition deal Jupit...