Whitman Asset Management has launched its first fund with a focus on growth opportunities in the UK small cap market.

The TB Whitman Small Cap Growth Fund replicates the existing strategy of portfolios managed by Whitman for current clients.

In July Whitman Asset Management was divested by The Whitman Group.

Along with a group of private investors, the management team of London-based Whitman Asset Management bought out 100% of the equity to form an independent asset management firm. 

The fund team will be led by Whitman chief investment officer Christopher Pease. He previously managed small cap funds at Sarasin & Partners and Henderson Investors. He will be joined by co-manager Joshua Northrop, who was previously a small cap specialist at Hargreave Hale.

The fund aims to seek long-term capital growth from investment in a portfolio of between 30-50 growth stocks in the smaller companies’ universe, typically with market capitalisations under £1.6bn. The predominant focus is on individual company analysis and selection

The offer period for the first fund will close on 8 December.

The asset manager said the fund (a UCITS OEIC) has already “received firm commitments” from investors of £15m. It is targeting £25m in the initial stages of the fund.

The fund will be available direct via Whitman, via T Bailey Fund Services or through the AllFunds, CoFunds, Aegon, AJ Bell or Hargreaves Lansdown platforms.

Araminta Le Flufy, CEO at Whitman Asset Management, said: “We are very excited by the early interest already shown by investors in the new Fund.  The combination of Christopher’s track-record, small initial size of the fund and the established team at Whitman is a powerful combination. We believe the timing for this launch is right, with the current valuations of UK smaller companies attractive on a historic basis within an asset class where alpha is easier to find.”