• SJP appoints Acadian as the new investment adviser to the fund, replacing the existing manager line up
  • The fund will be renamed the St. James’s Place Global Lower Carbon Equity Unit Trust, reflecting its lower carbon footprint to the MSCI ACWI
  • The fund will have an active, systematic investment approach

 

23 February 2026: St. James’s Place (SJP) today announces a series of changes to the St. James’s Place Global Equity fund as part of the ongoing development of its investment proposition.

New manager line-up and systematic approach

SJP will appoint Acadian Asset Management as the new investment adviser to the fund, replacing the current adviser line-up.

The strategy will utilise Acadian’s long-standing pedigree in active, systematic investing. Its quantitative process utilises a broad range of deeply researched fundamental factors and signals to assess companies and build a well-diversified portfolio, with the intention of supporting the fund’s objective of achieving capital growth over a term of five years or more.

The fund will continue to be benchmarked to the MSCI All Country World Index.

Enhanced sustainability disclosures and name change

SJP is updating the fund’s sustainability disclosures to provide greater clarity on how the fund seeks to maintain a lower carbon footprint than the benchmark index. These features have been part of the fund since 2021; the enhanced disclosures are designed to further improve transparency for clients.

To reflect this, the fund will be renamed: St. James’s Place Global Lower Carbon Equity Unit Trust (previously the St. James’s Place Global Equity Unit Trust).

Commenting on the changes, Justin Onuekwusi, Chief Investment Officer at St. James’s Place, said:
“These changes reflect our continued commitment to evolving our investment shelf to improve long term client outcomes. We have a strong conviction in Acadian’s approach and believe this change will support better investment outcomes for clients. By moving to an active, systematic investment approach and enhancing sustainability disclosures, we are strengthening the fund’s ability to capture global equity opportunities while maintaining a clear focus on lower carbon intensity.”

Kelly Young, Chief Executive Officer at Acadian, added: “We’re proud to partner with SJP in supporting their investment objectives with our disciplined, systematic approach. This is the culmination of an extensive and productive dialogue between SJP and Acadian on the optimal solution to meet the unique needs of the U.K.’s largest wealth management provider. I’m thrilled about the opportunity to work together and to continue to collaborate in service of SJP’s investors.”