Principle Capital calls in Bell Pottinger

Principle Capital Holdings, the investment manager, has hired Bell Pottinger Corporate & Financial (BPCF) as it seeks to grow its UK media profile and market its investment funds. BPCF will provide financial and corporate public relations and investor relations advice to Principle Capital Holdings and four of its managed funds: Principle Capital Investment Trust plc, South African Property Opportunities plc, PME African Infrastructure Opportunities plc and Principle Energy Ltd. The account will be led by BPCF Directors Ben Woodford and Mike Davies.

Principle Capital currently has around £200m under management with stakes in a variety of UK listed companies, including Photo-Me International, Blacks Leisure and Luminar Leisure. The firm's founder, Brian Myerson, who has a long and distinguished record in fund management, is regarded by many in the City to be the father of modern shareholder activism.

Bell Pottinger has been retained to raise the profile of the Principle Capital Holdings brand, to maximise coverage for new fund launches and to manage publicity where it becomes necessary for Principle to take action to press for change in the companies in which it invests.

Commenting on the win, Mike Davies said: "We are delighted to be advising one of the UK's top activist investment houses, and to be working with one of the leading activist fund managers in Bryan Myerson. Bell Pottinger's ability to provide high level and integrated investor relations and PR advice is perfectly suited to the aims and objectives of modern investment managers. And, as has already shown in our work during the recent tussle with Photo-Me, this expertise has helped Principle achieve a beneficial outcome over the past two weeks."

For more information contact Ben Woodford or Mikes Davies at Bell Pottinger Corporate & Financial on 020 7861 3232 or visit www.bpcf.co.uk