Hardman & Co Monthly: May 2025
Feature article:Attractive asset managers - Radical derating presumes things only get worse
The UK asset management sector has been significantly derated over the past couple of years. It has faced the dual problem of a shift towards passives and to private assets and away from traditional listed equities and bonds. However, the sector’s assets haven’t collapsed; its margins have proved relatively robust and its profits fairly stable, even against all the rising costs. The clear implication, to us at least, is that the lowly rating the sector now sits on assumes that the twin asset shift threat will continue and will eventually crater its profits. In our view, this seems far too apocalyptic an assumption. The Trump upheavals may well upset the trend to passives – with such a substantial proportion of wealth now exposed to just a few mega US stocks – and the long bull run of private equity seems unlikely to continue in an era of higher interest rates. Relentless extrapolation is a dangerous game in investment.
Accesso Technology Group is engaged in the development and application of ticketing, mobile and eCommerce technologies, and virtual queuing solutions for the attractions and leisure industry. Co.'s solutions include accesso LoQueue, accesso Passport, accesso Siriusware and accesso ShoWare. Co. primarily has operations or customers in the U.K., the U.S., Canada, Italy, Germany, Australia, Brazil, and Mexico.
Apax Global Alpha is a closed-ended investment company that invests in a diversified portfolio of private equity funds and derived investments in debt and equities. As of Dec 21 2017, Co. targeted an annualized Total Net Asset Value Return across economic cycles of 12-15%, net of fees and expenses. Co.'s investment activities are managed by Apax Guernsey Managers Limited (the Investment Manager) under a discretionary investment management agreement. The Investment Manager obtains investment advice from Apax Partners LLP (Apax Partners). Apax Partners advises on investments globally in companies across four sectors: Tech & Telco, Services, Healthcare and Consumer.
Arbuthnot Banking Group is primarily involved in banking and financial services. Co. is organized into three main operating segments: Retail banking (associate), which incorporates household cash management, personal lending and banking and insurance services; U.K. Private banking, which incorporates private banking, commercial banking and wealth management; and Group Centre, which is comprised in Co.'s Group Centre management. As of Dec 31 2016, Co.'s total assets were £1.27 billion.
Chesnara is a holding company, engaged in the management of life assurance and pension policies. Co.'s segment are CA, S&P, Movestic, and Waard Group. The CA segment is part of Co.'s U.K. life insurance and pensions run-off portfolio. The S&P segment is responsible for conducting both unit-linked and non-linked business, including a with-profits portfolio. The Movestic segment is responsible for conducting both unit-linked and pensions and savings business and providing some life and health product offerings. The Waard Group segment provides life policies, although also includes unit-linked policies and some non-life policies, covering risks such as occupational disability and unemployment.
H&T Group is a holding company. Through its subsidiary, Harvey & Thompson Limited, Co. is engaged in pawnbroking, gold purchasing, retail of jewellery, cheque cashing, unsecured lending and other related services.
ICG Enterprise Trust is an investment trust. Co. is a private equity investment company focused on buyouts in developed markets. Co. invests in private equity funds and also directly in private companies. As of Jan 31 2017, Co.'s total investment portfolio amounted to £594.3 million.
Volta Finance is a closed-ended investment company with the objective of investing, among other asset types, in the following main asset classes: Collateralized Loan Obligation, Synthetic Corporate Credit, Cash Corporate Credit and ABS. Co. has appointed AXA Investment Managers Paris S.A., as its Alternative Investment Fund Manager to manage the investments of Co.
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