Speakers and topics

abrdn invests to help clients create more. More opportunity. More potential. More impact. It offers investment expertise across all key asset classes, regions, and markets so that clients can capture investment potential wherever it arises. By combining market and economic insight with technology and diverse perspectives, it looks for optimal ways to help investors navigate the future and reach their financial goals. And by putting environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations at the heart of its process, it seeks to find the most sustainable investment opportunities globally.

Baillie Gifford’s sole business is investment management. Since the company was founded in 1908 it has been a partnership. Today, it is owned by 57 partners all of whom work in the business. It currently manages or advises on some £225.6bn (as at 31 Dec '23) on behalf of clients worldwide.

For more than 30 years, Comgest has been focused on one objective: delivering quality growth over the long term. To do this it invests in companies with durable competitive advantages that are able to compound shareholder value at rapid rates, for an extended period of time. It believes sustainable earnings per share growth leads to above-average investment returns at below-average risk. The continuity of its team, style and approach is its greatest asset. As an entirely independent firm, it maintains a strong partnership culture. The majority of employees are also shareholders of the business, which helps align its actions with its clients’ interests. It thinks, acts and invests globally. Its products provide access to its best ideas across international equity markets, unconstrained by benchmarks.

Downing Fund Managers (DFM) is a boutique of established investment managers offering specialist portfolios that it believes have the potential to offer attractive long-term returns. DFM is part of Downing LLP, which manages £2bn (as at 31 Mar '24) of assets across a series of single strategy funds, multi-asset funds of funds, investment trusts and tax-efficient products. DFM’s roots lie in a value-focused private equity investment approach. This has now broadened out into a diverse mix of strategies and a selection of mandates all different to, yet complementary to, each other. The 16-strong DFM team runs more than £587m of publicly listed assets (as at 31 May '24).

Established in June 2024, L&G’s asset management division combines deep expertise in asset management and origination with global distribution capabilities to deliver positive outcomes for clients. As a global investor, it is present where its clients need it – from Hong Kong and Singapore, to major European financial hubs, to Chicago – operating under the Legal & General and LGIM brands. It provides investment solutions across the full spectrum of asset classes, ranging from index-tracking and active funds to liquidity and liability-based risk management strategies. Through its private markets platform, it utilises its rich heritage and extensive network of partners to offer access to a wide range of purposeful alternative investment opportunities, including specialist real estate, clean energy, infrastructure, venture capital, unlisted equities and private credit. Its division is underpinned by its enduring commitment to responsible investment, dedicated to creating long-term, sustainable value for clients and partners.

Globally, M&G Investments manages £313bn (as at 31 Dec '23) on behalf of individual and professional investors, including banks, pension funds, insurers, sovereign wealth funds, family offices, charities and advisers. It is among the largest managers of private assets in Europe. It is also recognised for its global fixed income expertise, a long track record in multi-asset solutions and a strong heritage in innovating in equities, including a growing range of sustainability-driven thematic equity funds.

Tracing its history to 1928, Wellington Management is one of the world’s largest independent investment management firms, serving as a trusted adviser to more than 2,250 clients in more than 60 countries. The firm manages more than £950bn for pensions, endowments and foundations, insurers, family offices, fund sponsors, global wealth managers and other clients. As a private partnership whose only business is investment management, the firm is able to align its long-term views and interests with those of its clients. The firm offers comprehensive investment management capabilities that span nearly all segments of the global capital markets, including equity, fixed income, multi-asset, and alternative strategies. With more than 900 investment professionals located in offices around the world, Wellington pairs deep multi-disciplinary research resources with independent investment teams operating in an entrepreneurial 'boutique' environment (data as at 31 Dec '23).