MAKING a very determined effort to get a firmer foothold in the

lucrative North American market is Edinburgh Fund Managers.

In significant moves yesterday it announced the ending of an existing

American relationship and the opening of its own office in Atlanta,

Georgia.

The Edinburgh company, which has an executive chairman in Mr Colin

Ross, is a subsidiary of the British Investment Trust, which in turn is

equally owned by British Coal Staff and the Mineworkers' pension funds.

It is currently managing more than #3400m.

The new operation has been named ''Edinburgh Fund Managers plc North

America'' and the role of its new office will be to service and

co-ordinate administration for clients. All investment management

activity will continue to be based in Scotland.

Claiming that the operation follows success in growing North American

funds under management to a level meriting a greater presence, the

company says it feels it has got the necessary critical mass and

currently manages more than $200m for clients in America.

While the existing partnership with Wilmington Trust Company has been

dissolved, the group will continue to manage the funds and be

responsible for the client service support.

Main board director Mr William Johnstone, based in Edinburgh, has been

put in overall charge of the new operation. Gloria Carlson, a former

Edinburgh Wilmington vice-president in charge of marketing and treasury,

is heading the new office.

''The North American market provides great opportunities,'' commented

Edinburgh Fund Managers managing director Mr Iain Watt. ''We have seen

an increase in interest since we began planning our own dedicated

US-based operation.''