Investment Philosophy

We invest in best-of-breed businesses for their quality, strategic competitive edge and value. We believe that a portfolio of businesses each containing these elements will provide us with a favourable return over time.

  • BOTTOM-UP INVESTOR
  • THINK LIKE A BUSINESSMAN BUYING ANOTHER BUSINESS
  • CONSIDER RISK AS MUCH AS RETURN
  • INVEST FOR SUSTAINABLE ORGANIC GROWTH IN QUALITY BUSINESSES
  • BUY GLOBAL BUSINESSES, EXPOSED TO EMERGING MARKETS
  • OPERATE WITH HIGH CONVICTION
  • NO BENCHMARK ORIENTATION
  • OVERVALUED BUSINESS REPLACED WITH A MORE ATTRACTIVE OVERALL PROPOSITION

FUNDAMENTAL PILLARS OF QUALITY: IDENTIFYING GLOBAL BEST-OF-BREED BUSINESSES

SUSTAINABLE ORGANIC GROWTH

  • Invest for organic growth
  • Frequent use of products
  • Resilience through recessions
  • Market share growth
  • Infinite potential
  • Wary of corporate actions

QUALITY MANAGEMENT

  • Standing of CEO, Chairman, CFO, Board
  • Record of consistent success
  • Business strategy
  • Business culture (energy, innovation, openness, honesty & integrity, ESG focus, etc.)
  • Success with execution
  • Shareholder orientation
  • Clear communication
  • Active voting

EFFICIENCY

  • Operating margin, development
  • Return on Invested Capital (and incremental ROIC)
  • Balance sheet strength
  • Reinvestment record and potential
  • Working capital management

FREE CASH FLOW GENERATION

  • Sustainable free cash flow generation (not cash-hungry business)
  • Cash conversion ratio (and trend)
  • Success of free cash flow allocation
  • Sustainable dividend growth
  • Success of buy-backs

INVESTMENT PROCESS: IDENTIFYING BUSINESSES WHICH MEET OUR QUALITY CRITERIA

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit."
Will Durant

FILTERING

  • Quantitative fundamental quality metrics
  • Qualitative analyst research
  • Portfolio manager research
  • Third party research

PORTFOLIO MANAGER

  • Research co-ordination
  • Macro and market research
  • Technical analysis for tactical cash allocation
  • Implementation

PORTFOLIO CONSTRUCTION

  • Best ideas
  • Attractive valuation
  • Sensible diversification

ANALYST COVERAGE & RECOMMENDATION

  • Ongoing analysis
  • Valuation
  • Performance
  • News Flow
  • Results
  • Corporate events

SELL DISCIPLINE

  • Long term intention
  • Better overall alternatives
  • Market or business overvalued
  • Strategic case changes

The specialist equity management division was established in 2009, and the team has over 100 years of combined experience.

The team only invests in best-of-breed companies that can clearly demonstrate quality, strategic competitive edge and value.

The team looks for companies with the following characteristics:
To identify businesses that meet the quality threshold, the team use the above criteria to narrow down the broad investment universe of over 2000 candidates to a core universe of 150 candidates, which are then monitored closely.

  • Good growth potential and the ability to deliver sustainable top-line growth
  • Management of the highest quality
  • Leaders in their field
  • Strong balance sheets
  • High returns on capital employed
  • Strong internal cash flow
  • Ability to grow dividends annually under all economic circumstances
  • An impressive performance record
  • Shareholder friendly
  • A sustainable compounder

In addition to the above criteria, there are a series of key characteristics a company should possess in order to be considered for investment. Characteristics such as an positive margin trend, levels of debt and dividend cover are also central to the team’s analysis.

*All sources as at 31 December 2019

OUR EQUITY MANAGEMENT TEAM

"We believe that - if we have identified a quality business, and we do not pay more than a fair value, then these businesses should provide favourable returns over time. Central to this philosophy is a ‘buy-to-hold and compounding’ mind-set, to be invested in those businesses for the longer term.”
Gerrit Smit, Fund Manager

Gerrit Smit

Partner - Head of Equity Management

Tom Jeffcoate

Director - Equity Management

Mark Sloan

Director - Equity Management

Nicky Muirhead

Director - Equity Management

Thomas Withington

Director - Equity Management

Sean Harper

Associate - Equity Management

Gerrit Smit

Gerrit is Head of the Equity Management team, he has overall responsibility for the business unit, along with its Portfolio Management and Equity Research functions.

Gerrit joined the Group in 2008 following over 25 years’ investment experience as Equity Analyst, Chief Investment Strategist and Chief Investment Officer for Sanlam’s International portfolios. He holds a Hons B.Com degree from the University of Stellenbosch and the University of South Africa and a PSM qualification from the Business School of the University of Stellenbosch.

Close

Tom Jeffcoate

Tom is a Director of Stonehage Fleming Investment Management and responsible for company research within the Equity Management team. Specialising in in-depth, bottom up research, he covers multiple companies across all sectors under the single global quality equity mandate.

Tom joined the Group in 2009 from ZAN Partners where he was a multi-asset Analyst and Trader. Prior to that he worked as an Equity Analyst at Sigma Capital having started his career with PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Performance Improvement Consulting business. Tom is a CFA charterholder and an associate of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment.

Close

Mark Sloan

Mark is a Director within the Stonehage Fleming Group specialising in in-depth, bottom up company research within the Direct Equity Management team.

Prior to joining Stonehage Fleming, Mark spent over 9 years at Investec Asset Management where he was a Global Equity Analyst and Sector Portfolio Manager. Previously, he worked at M&G Investments in both Pan-European and global equity analyst roles. Mark is a CFA Charterholder and graduated from Warwick University with a first class honours degree in economics.

Close

Nicky Muirhead

Nicky is responsible for company research within the Equity Management team. Specialising in in-depth, bottom up research, she covers multiple companies across all sectors under the single global quality equity mandate.

Nicky joined the Equity Management Team in 2019 from Bessemer Trust having previously worked at River & Mercantile Asset Management, Neptune and BlackRock/MLIM. She is a CFA charterholder and graduated from Oxford University with first class honours in Physics.

Close

Thomas Withington

Thomas is a Director within the Equity Management team, providing client-servicing support to Gerrit Smit, Head of the Equity Management team.

Thomas joined the Group in 2011, having previously worked as a Project Manager at Jabulani Rural Health Foundation. Prior to this, he worked as a Consultant at IQuad Group Limited in Cape Town, consulting on various government-initiated investment incentive programmes. Thomas holds a Bachelor of Business Science (Honours) degree from the University of Cape Town and is a CFA charterholder.

Close

Sean Harper

Sean is responsible for company research, supporting the Equity Management team.

Sean joined the group in 2018, having previously worked at Quilter Cheviot and Old Mutual Global Investors. Sean is a CFA charterholder, he holds the Investment Management Certificate (IMC), and he is an affiliate member of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment. He graduated with a first-class degree in BSc (Honours) Finance and Investment Banking.

Close

Stonehage Fleming At A Glance

WITH A HISTORY DATING FROM 1873

The largest international Family Office in the EMEA region

INDEPENDENTLY OWNED

c.50% of the business is employee owned

AN INVESTMENT BUSINESS

with nearly GBP13bn under management for individuals, families, charities and institutional-calibre clients

INVESTMENT CENTRE

located in London employing over 85 people

EMPLOYING OVER 570 PEOPLE

in 11 offices across 8 geographies

PROPRIETARY EXPERTISE

in Global Equity, Multi-Asset, Fixed Income and Private Equity

 

Our flagship investment capability is the Stonehage Fleming Global Best Ideas Equity strategy, which was launched in July 2009. The strategy has in excess of GBP2bn in assets under management. It is offered through a Dublin based UCITS fund (the Stonehage Fleming Global Best Ideas Equity Fund, launched in August 2013) or on a segregated basis in exceptional cases for portfolios in excess of GBP20m.

 

January 2019
February 2019
March 2019
April 2019
May 2019
June 2019
July 2019
August 2019
September 2019
October 2019
November 2019
December 2019
January 2018
February 2018
March 2018
April 2018
May 2018
June 2018
July 2018
August 2018
September 2018
October 2018
November 2018
December 2018
January 2017
February 2017
March 2017
April 2017
May 2017
June 2017
July 2017
August 2017
September 2017
October 2017
November 2017
December 2017
January 2016
February 2016
March 2016
April 2016
May 2016
June 2016
July 2016
August 2016
September 2016
October 2016
November 2016
December 2016
January 2015
February 2015
March 2015
April 2015
May 2015
June 2015
July 2015
August 2015
September 2015
October 2015
November 2015
December 2015
January 2014
February 2014
March 2014
April 2014
May 2014
June 2014
July 2014
August 2014
September 2014
October 2014
November 2014
December 2014
September 2013
October 2013
November 2013
December 2013
View Historic Prices
Display Download
Fund Name NAV Price NAV Price
(prev)		 Valuation Date
Stonehage Fleming Global Best Ideas Equity Fund 238.5592 238.8198 21 Jan 21
Stonehage Fleming Global Best Ideas Equity Fund 247.4348 247.7017 21 Jan 21
Stonehage Fleming Global Best Ideas Equity Fund 270.3831 272.5549 21 Jan 21
Stonehage Fleming Global Best Ideas Equity Fund 273.4910 275.6840 21 Jan 21
Stonehage Fleming Global Best Ideas Equity Fund 209.4981 209.7227 21 Jan 21
Stonehage Fleming Global Best Ideas Equity Fund 210.5559 212.2428 21 Jan 21
Stonehage Fleming Global Best Ideas Equity Fund 199.4330 199.6440 21 Jan 21
Stonehage Fleming Global Best Ideas Equity Fund 207.5015 209.1610 21 Jan 21
Stonehage Fleming Global Best Ideas Equity Fund 166.3847 167.1903 21 Jan 21

Equity Updates

 

GLOBAL EQUITIES QUARTERLY LETTER Q3 2020

Download Here

 

GLOBAL EQUITIES QUARTERLY LETTER Q2 2020

Download Here

 

GLOBAL EQUITIES QUARTERLY LETTER Q1 2020

Download Here

 

GLOBAL EQUITIES - 2020 ANNUAL LETTER

Download Here

 

GLOBAL EQUITIES QUARTERLY LETTER Q3 2019

World equity markets trod water over the third quarter. The MSCI World Index (including Emerging Markets and dividends) held onto the first half performance of +16.2% (US$ terms) over the nine months.

Download Here

 

GLOBAL EQUITIES QUARTERLY LETTER Q2 2019

World equity markets continued their positive trajectory during the second quarter. The MSCI World Index (including Emerging Markets and dividends) appreciated by a further +3.6% on top of the high base of +12.2% during the first quarter. This brought the first half performance to +16.2% (all data in US$ terms).

Download Here

 

GLOBAL EQUITIES QUARTERLY LETTER Q1 2019

The new year started off with a strong first quarter. The MSCI World Index (including Emerging Markets and dividends) appreciated by +12.2% (in US$ terms). This is the best first quarter return for over twenty years.

Download Here

8 January 2021

2020 is engraved in the annals of history as the year of COVID-19. Those investors who held tight through the year were rewarded. Those investors who were positioned in quality businesses with a sustainable growth orientation were rewarded even more so during the eventful GVC year.

Download Here

14 December 2020


"Nothing is more noble, nothing more venerable, than loyalty." - Marcus Tullius Cicero

Read Fund Manager Gerrit Smit’s latest Global Equity Perspective

Download Here

23 November 2020


"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." - Aristotle

Read Fund Manager Gerrit Smit’s latest Global Equity Perspective

Download Here

2 November 2020


Storms make the oak grow deeper roots.” - George Herbert

Read Fund Manager Gerrit Smit’s latest Global Equity Perspective

Download Here

19 October 2020


“Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” - John Lennon

Read Fund Manager Gerrit Smit’s latest Global Equity Perspective

Download Here

How to Invest

For more information on how to invest in the Stonehage Fleming Global Best Ideas Equity Fund, click on the link below.

Find out more about how to invest

Our Partners

The Stonehage Fleming Global Best Ideas Equity Fund is available for investment via the below platforms:

 

 

 

 

Social


If you would like to receive any of our subscriptions, please select from the list and enter your details below.

Thank you, your message has been received.

We save the personal data you provide us when you subscribe to our Insight pieces. We use the data solely in the scope required for this purpose. We do not make any further use of your personal data or provide this to any third parties. You can contact us to find out what data we have saved or if you would like to be removed from any distribution lists by sending an email to GBI@stonehagefleming.com.

Investment Management

Please Select

I confirm I am accessing the website from the country indicated.

 

I confirm I am accessing the website from the country indicated.

 

This site is not available in your jurisdiction. If you require further information about Stonehage Fleming Investment Management please contact us at enquiries@stonehagefleming.com.

 
Group Website

The following web pages contain information on Stonehage Fleming Global Best Ideas equity Fund. This fund is a collective investment schemes (CIS) managed by entities of Stonehage Fleming Investment Management Limited. This fund has not been approved by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) for distribution in or from Switzerland to Non-Qualified (retail) investors. The information contained in the following pages is only directed to "Qualified Investors" domiciled in Switzerland, in accordance with Article 10 of the Federal Act on Collective Investment Schemes of 23 June 2006 ("CISA").

By clicking on the button "I agree" you certify that: 1) you are domiciled in Switzerland 2) you are a ‘Qualified Investor’ in accordance with ‘CISA’. A ‘Qualified Investor’ is defined as:

  • Regulated financial intermediaries such as banks, insurance companies, fund management companies and asset managers of collective investment schemes
  • Public entities and retirement benefits institutions with professional treasury operations
  • Companies with professional treasury operations
  • Independent (unregulated) asset managers who act under discretionary management mandates for HNW individuals who have each opted to be considered as Qualified Investors
  • This information is not directed at any US person or any person in the US and the information does not constitute an offer or solicitation to buy or sell, or an invitation to buy or sell shares of any Stonehage Fleming fund to any US person or to any person in the US

We have appointed ‘ARM Swiss Representatives SA’ as our Swiss representative for these funds. The paying agent in Switzerland is Banque Heritage S.A. The Prospectus and the Articles, KIIDs and additional documentation including the annual and semi-annual report can be obtained free of charge from the representative in Switzerland. Full contact details are contained within the fund documentation.

 

This site is not available in your jurisdiction. If you require further information about Stonehage Fleming Investment Management please contact us at enquiries@stonehagefleming.com.

 
Group Website

I confirm I am accessing the website from the country indicated.

 

The following web pages contain information on Stonehage Fleming Global Best Ideas equity Fund. This fund is a collective investment schemes (CIS) managed by entities of Stonehage Fleming Investment Management Limited. This fund has not been approved by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) for distribution in or from Switzerland to Non-Qualified (retail) investors. The information contained in the following pages is only directed to "Qualified Investors" domiciled in Switzerland, in accordance with Article 10 of the Federal Act on Collective Investment Schemes of 23 June 2006 ("CISA").

By clicking on the button "I agree" you certify that: 1) you are domiciled in Switzerland 2) you are a ‘Qualified Investor’ in accordance with ‘CISA’. A ‘Qualified Investor’ is defined as:

  • Regulated financial intermediaries such as banks, insurance companies, fund management companies and asset managers of collective investment schemes
  • Public entities and retirement benefits institutions with professional treasury operations
  • Companies with professional treasury operations
  • Independent (unregulated) asset managers who act under discretionary management mandates for HNW individuals who have each opted to be considered as Qualified Investors
  • This information is not directed at any US person or any person in the US and the information does not constitute an offer or solicitation to buy or sell, or an invitation to buy or sell shares of any Stonehage Fleming fund to any US person or to any person in the US

We have appointed ‘ARM Swiss Representatives SA’ as our Swiss representative for these funds. The paying agent in Switzerland is Banque Heritage S.A. The Prospectus and the Articles, KIIDs and additional documentation including the annual and semi-annual report can be obtained free of charge from the representative in Switzerland. Full contact details are contained within the fund documentation.

 

This information is directed only to Canadian residents that are "accredited investors" as defined under section 1.1 of National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions and "permitted clients" as defined under section 1.1 of National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. This information is not, and under no circumstance to be construed as, an offering memorandum, an advertisement or a public offering of any securities described herein in any province or territory of Canada (each, a "Canadian Jurisdiction"). Under no circumstances is this information to be construed as an offer to sell securities or the provision of advice in relation to any securities. Any offer or sale of any securities described in this information will be made pursuant to the definitive private placement documents for the securities. In addition, any offer or sale of, or advice on, any securities described in this information will be made only by a dealer or adviser registered or relying on an exemption from registration in the applicable Canadian Jurisdiction. No Canadian securities regulatory authority has reviewed or in any way passed upon the information contained in this website or the merits of any securities described in it, and any representation to the contrary is an offence.

By clicking on the button "I agree" you certify that you are an accredited investor as defined under section 1.1 of National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions and "permitted clients" as defined under section 1.1 of National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations.

 

This information on this website is only intended for a) Qualified Clients, within the meaning of that term in the Israeli Investment Advice, Investment Marketing and Portfolio Management Law 1995, OR b) Qualified Investors within the meaning of First Addendum to the Israeli Securities Law 1968. It is not intended for any other type of investor. If you are unsure about whether you meet the criteria as a Qualified Client or Qualified Investor, please seek legal advice prior to reviewing this information.

By clicking on the button "I agree" you certify that you are a) a Qualified Client, within the meaning of that term in the Israeli Investment Advice, Investment Marketing and Portfolio Management Law 1995, OR b) Qualified Investors within the meaning of First Addendum to the Israeli Securities Law 1968.

 

This site is not available in your jurisdiction. If you require further information about Stonehage Fleming Investment Management please contact us at enquiries@stonehagefleming.com.

 
Group Website

The information given and services referred to are not directed at any person in any jurisdiction where (by reason of that person's nationality, residence or otherwise) the publication or availability of this information is prohibited. This information does not constitute an offer or solicitation to buy or sell, or an invitation to buy or sell shares of any Stonehage Fleming fund to any US person or to any person in the US.