Company Summary
Aberdeen Asset Management PLC is a global investment management group, managing assets for both institutional and retail clients from offices around the world
Our mission is to deliver strong fund performance across diverse asset classes in which we believe we have a sustainable competitive edge.
Listed on the London Stock Exchange, we manage currency, fixed income and equities in segregated, closed and open-ended pooled structures. We also run a sizeable European property business.
Over two decades we have expanded through a combination of organic growth and acquisition, first in the UK, then by seeking selectively to manage and/or market funds in countries in which we already invest.
We operate flat management structures to facilitate local decision-making, underpinned by clear lines of control and central reporting. A central executive committee consisting of the heads of all the main business lines reports to the board of directors.
Our house style is fundamental and process-driven. Active management is the bedrock of our equity process; a similar approach characterizes currency and fixed income management, with alpha generated by identifying market inefficiencies. In property, the focus is on high risk-adjusted returns through advanced portfolio modelling and, again, active management.
We offer both segregated and pooled structures.
Segregated: Our stance is to be flexible toward client mandate requirements while being true to our distinct investment style and process. As such, we work closely with intermediaries such as consultants and plan sponsors, for example on the currency and fixed income side to establish a client’s asset-liability profile, providing customized benchmarks and reporting as necessary.
Pooled: We run pooled investment vehicles on the same basis as our segregated structures, hence many institutions use them particularly for small investment mandates in more esoteric areas. The range includes:
• UK domiciled unit trusts & OEICs*
• SICAVs, OEICs & FCPs in Luxembourg & Dublin*
• Singapore, Australia & Thailand domiciled unit trusts*
* Certain vehicles not available to Canadian investors.
Source: Aberdeen Asset Management
Unique Value Proposition
Active management: Our aim is to add value by identifying good quality securities, defined chiefly in terms of management and business model, which are attractively priced. Stock selection is the key source of equity alpha. We downplay benchmarks in portfolio construction since these provide little clue to future performance.
Proprietary research: Our equity managers always visit companies before investing, making thousands of visits annually to existing and prospective holdings. Every contact is documented in detail. If a security fails our screens, we will not own it, irrespective of its index weight.
Long-term focus: Strategies are simple: buy-and-hold; add on the dips; take profits on price run-ups. This reduces transaction costs and keeps portfolios focused. We rarely focus on short-term returns.
Team approach: We employ over 90 equity investment professionals based globally. Portfolio decisions are made collectively, and we avoid cultivating ‘star’ managers. Cross-coverage of securities also increases objectivity and lessens reliance on individuals.
Source: Aberdeen Asset Management
AUM ($Bil)
501.5
Year Founded
1983
Key Personnel
Simon Troughton, Chairman
Martin Gilbert, CEO
Hugh Young, Head of Equities
Address
161 Bay Street, 44th Floor
TD Canada Trust Tower
Toronto, Ontario
M5J 2S1