Speakers and topics
US small caps: fishing in a different pond
Alger Weatherbie Specialised Growth
George will lead a discussion on why investing in the US smaller cap equities, which are trading at a significant discount to US large caps, is timely and attractive. He will explain how the investment team source ideas, by fishing in a different pond using a multi manager approach.
How investing in overlooked ESG improvement can complement existing sustainable strategies and offer idiosyncratic returns
AB Global ESG Improvers Portfolio
Many sustainable strategies focus on companies that are already recognised for strong ESG credentials or leadership in key sustainability themes. This tends to lead to portfolios with similar style, sector and factor tilts. Global ESG Improvers is a complementary approach. AB selects stocks with improving ESG performance or growing exposure to sustainability themes. These companies offer rerating potential as the improving trends become recognised by the market. A sustainable portfolio built on ESG Improvement offers value characteristics that complement the quality/growth style of many sustainable strategies. Back tests show that improvements in ESG ratings offer an idiosyncratic source of alpha that can also complement core allocations.
The biological revolution
Baillie Gifford Health Innovation Fund
There is a revolution happening in biology. Our understanding of science is becoming more granular, allowing us to programme the code underlying life and driving a revolution in our experience as patients. We are on the verge of a paradigm shift away from sick care to a more preventative, personalised form of medicine.
Consistency over prognostication: focus on characteristics, don’t aim to be a macro expert
Robeco Boston Partners US Premium, Robeco Boston Partners Global Premium and Boston Partners Global Long/Short Equity
The market environment has varied significantly since the inception of Boston Partners in 1995. We have experienced recessions, inflation, both quantitative easing and tightening and, currently, a narrow market. Through all of these events, Boston Partners has been unwaveringly committed to the investment philosophy and process established at its inception, the Three Circles, never straying from its practice due to external, top-down factors. By sticking to its knitting, Boston Partners has produced competitive results in both up and down markets, with every strategy outperforming their respective benchmark since inception. Joseph will speak about the advantages of consistency through these environments and how valuable the consistency of Boston Partners approach has been for its clients, historically, and moving forward.
Finding quality in times of uncertainty
CCLA's focus is on finding quality businesses at attractive valuations which can grow their cashflows consistently. In an uncertain macro environment it prefers companies that can show resilience through the cycle and can benefit from long term structural growth trends. Two particular areas of focus are healthcare and industrials and during this session, Amy and Charlotte will examine the positive themes in each and how the firm's holdings are well placed to benefit. In addition, they will cover what tools can be utilised when engaging with companies to drive real world positive change.
Time to consider an allocation to sustainable infrastructure?
EdenTree Green Infrastructure Fund
Tommy will discuss the case for sustainable infrastructure and why now is a great time to invest in this $10trn global opportunity. He will also discuss how infrastructure is a genuine third asset class, providing diversification against inflationary headwinds and ongoing market uncertainty by investing in alternative sources of growth and income. Given no two companies are the same, he believes the best way to access this market is to invest in a diversified and balanced portfolio of innovative companies providing solutions with positive environmental outcomes.
Why are cash rates providing a real boost for liquid alternative funds?
iMGP Managed Futures Fund and SEI Liquid Alternative Fund
With interest rates rising globally, due to increased inflation, Greg will explore why this is a benefit to liquid alternative funds both tactically and strategically. Further, with increasing mentions of recession, he will discuss the diversification benefits that managed futures provide to client portfolios, which in his opinion give the best ‘bang for buck’ diversification benefits of any asset class versus bonds and equities.
UK equity income: are we nearly there yet?
Janus Henderson UK Responsibility Income
After a prolonged period of poor performance, have we finally reached a point when the UK can perform better? In this presentation Andrew and Jane will discuss why after a number of false starts UK equities are poised to rebound, as well as how the Janus Henderson UK Responsible Income fund can add valuable diversification to both an income and ESG portfolio.
Discovering quality compounders in European smaller companies
Jupiter European Smaller Companies Fund
Mark will discuss his approach to finding high-quality European smaller companies, and why he believes there are opportunities to make attractive long-term returns. Mark and his team seek cash-generative companies with proven business models that are exposed to long-term secular growth trends, and they build a concentrated portfolio of companies to hold for the long term.
Investing beyond the noise
Lazard Global Thematic Focus
It is easy to be distracted by short-term macro matters. But investors can be better served by taking a longer-term perspective focused on the structural changes reshaping the global economy. Steve will outline how he and his team incorporate the formative forces of today and tomorrow in their portfolio from the bottom up, arming investors with core, multi-thematic exposure to the structural investment opportunities of the next decade and beyond.
UK equities: a contrarian investor’s dream
UK Value Opportunities Fund
Matthew will outline how a peculiar set of circumstances has created a once in a generation opportunity for stockpickers in this out of favour asset class and explain how he is exploiting it in the Premier Miton UK Value Opportunities Fund.
Smaller emerging markets at a time of high inflation
Redwheel Next Generation Emerging Markets Equity Fund
The sharp tightening of monetary policy in advanced economies has often triggered financial stress in emerging markets, witnessed in the 1980s and again in the mid-1990s. The recent tightening cycle has played out differently. In response to rising inflation, EM central banks were quicker to act. Going forward, the re-jigging of global supply chains and electrification of industries might continue to exert inflationary pressure on the developed world while James expects smaller EM to be key beneficiaries of these trends.
Global equity income: edge through life-cycle investing
With more than three years of investing in global equities, against the backdrop of growing inflation, higher interest rates and volatile markets, global equity income fund manager, Niko de Walden, will talk about the advantages that the team and fund are able to exploit through its differentiated life-cycle investment process.
Only the best will do: quality growth investing and managing portfolio risk
Seilern World Growth
Quentin will discuss the quality growth investment philosophy and process that Seilern has successfully employed for more than 30 years. He will outline the benefits of running a concentrated portfolio of between 17-24 equities and explore how he manages risk within the portfolio through the lens of the healthcare sector.
Dare to be different: time for value
UBS UK Equity Income Fund
Value investing has a long-term pedigree and is well suited for the equity Income sector. It remains an unloved style and this is a big opportunity. All styles of active investing are cyclical and ‘value’ is cheap right now. Value is not just a style it is a tool for individual stockpicking and today’s opportunity set is unusually wide.