www.wealthandfinance-news.com 4 Wealth & Finance International - 2017 Finance Awards Founded in 1999, EI Sturdza is a $3bn multi- boutique asset manager born out of the Geneva- based Banque Eric Sturdza group. Over recent years, assets under management (AUM) growth across the global fund management sector has continued to rise and with it, the choice of investment products from active and passive to pure quantitative strategies. As such, firms such as EI Sturdza find that differentiation is central to achieving success. The firm, which runs 11 UCITS equity and fixed income funds spanning global markets, takes a unique approach when compared to conventional asset managers, by providing its portfolio managers with full independence to manage their portfolios, whilst EI Sturdza is responsible for portfolio and operational oversight, risk management, compliance and legal, as well as marketing, distribution and client relations. By outsourcing fund administration, custody and legal services and not imposing the constraints of an in-house view, its investment teams can focus exclusively on investment decisions. It is a model that aims to provide economies of scale and best execution to end-clients, while also giving them peace of mind that they are focusing on what really counts. Alongside this innovative approach, the firm has also continued to partner with others in pursuit of this goal, recently forming a strategic alliance with Johann & Graemiger Partners, a local fund distributor in Zurich, to communicate the value of its fund offering in the German speaking regions of Switzerland. With roots in Geneva through Banque Eric Sturdza, Switzerland, is a core part of EI Sturdza’s business and client base, enabling the firm to cement its presence in the region. Collaboration is at the heart of the firm’s success, and this applies to both its industry peers and its staff. While state-of-the-art technology has become essential - underpinning investment models and mitigating risk - the importance of identifying talent should not be underestimated. With the rise of ETFs and other index tracking products, some investors now place less emphasis on investment talent. Unlike other firms, for EI Sturdza the need to identify and develop exclusive relationships with world class investment managers that hold outstanding track records has remained unchanged. A strategy that identifies investment talent in their local markets appears to be paying dividends for the business, with its Strategic China Panda Fund led by a highly experienced, Hong Kong based portfolio manager, Lilian Co, returning more than 58% to investors in 2017 alone (at 31 October). Within the financial market, recent high profile geopolitical events in Europe and North America in 2016, and a string of natural disasters in 2017, reminded us all of the value of effective risk management. EI Sturdza believes risk management is not a “box-ticking” exercise, it is much more. For EI Sturdza the first layer of risk management is embedded within the investment strategies of each individual investment team, which involves proactive forward-looking risk analysis. The second layer includes operational risk, regulatory compliance across multiple jurisdictions and market risk. However, EI Sturdza does not intervene directly in the positions of the portfolios; rather the firm monitors and enforces compliance within the strategy’s guidelines. This ensures excellence for clients and means that they can rest assured that their money is in safe hands. Looking forward, EI Sturdza’s commitment to nurturing talent and providing investment teams with the independence they need to make returns will remain unchanged. Yet its approach to new, innovative investment strategies will move with the market to provide investors with cutting edge funds spanning global equity and fixed income markets. EI Sturdza Investment Funds is a fast growing, independent investment fund company with a proven track record of offering high conviction, award winning strategies to institutional and private clients globally. We profile the firm to explore the secrets behind its phenomenal success. EI Sturdza Investment Funds FI170018 Company: EI Sturdza Investment Funds Contact: Adam Turberville Email:
[email protected] Address: 3rd Floor, Frances House, Sir William Place, St Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1 1GX, Channel Islands Phone: T +44 1481 722 322 Website: www.eisturdza.com