Jupiter urges its fund managers to speak out on the Brexit vote

Jupiter Fund Management boss Maarten Slendebroek has urged his fund managers to break ranks and wade into the debate about Britain’s EU referendum in an endorsement of business leaders speaking out on the issue.

The Dutchman cannot vote in the referendum and said the executive team would “not come down on one side or the other” but encouraged staff running billions of pounds for customers to “speak out” on the issue.

“Our fund managers can speak up and we probably have as many pros as we do the other side,” he said. “That’s the whole spirit of Jupiter.”

The funds group reported a full set of rising assets, revenues and profits for the full year ending December 2015 and added that the first two months of this year had started well with net inflows.

Net inflows rose to £1.9 billion from £900 million last year, while pre-tax profits increased to £164.6 million from £160 million.

The dividend rises a quarter to 25.5p.

New offices are set to open in Italy and Spain as the group seeks to tap a more international investor base.