How is Govett doing?

By THIS IS MONEY
Updated: 19:00 EST, 11 December 2000

I want to find information on Govett management funds. How do their UK Equity and General funds compare with Abbey National and others? I cannot find anything about them on the internet. JG.

Anna Bowes, independent financial adviser from Chase de Vere, says: Govett is now known as AIB Govett (since it was acquired by Allied Irish Banks) and its website is at www.aibgovett.com. A site reconstruction is almost complete and it gives lists of products and funds plus performance figures over five years. (Or you can tel, 0207 378 7979.) Its UK smaller companies fund, Safeguard fund and UK Blue Chip fund have all under-performed their sectors over the last five years so we would not leap to recommend them on the basis of these results. Better choices include Merrill Lynch's UK Dynamic fund, an onshore version of one its offshore funds that has shown strong performance, or HSBC's Growth and Income fund. If you don't mind a bit more risk consider Gartmore's UK and Irish small companies fund - it is a bit more volatile than the above but has performed well.

For comparisons, check the websites of fund management companies in which you are interested. Comparison tables for all the funds in individual sectors are hard to get - generally you have to pay for this information. Independent financial advisers should have it and will be able to interpret it for you, but remember past performance is no guide to future performance.