Martin Currie (Holdings) Ltd (Bermuda) was created in October 2007 as the parent company of Martin Currie Ltd, the holding company of five wholly owned, fully operational subsidiaries. The companies are:
Martin Currie Investment Management Ltd (investment management services for all non-US clients, including pension funds and charities)
Martin Currie Inc (investment management services for North American clients including pension funds, foundations and mutual fund clients)
Martin Currie Unit Trusts Ltd (authorised Corporate Director of a UK open-ended investment company)
Martin Currie (Bermuda) Ltd (manages offshore investment funds)
Martin Currie Investor Services Inc (US broker/dealer registered with FINRA)
Locations:
Edinburgh (investment team and head office)
London
New York
Shanghai
Date of incorporation of Parent company:
Partnership founded in 1881, incorporated as Martin Currie Ltd in 1985 and Martin Currie (Holdings) Ltd (Bermuda) created in October 2007, the parent company of Martin Currie Limited
Martin Currie is a specialist active equity manager. From its headquarters in Edinburgh, the company manages £13.7 (US$27.1) billion for clients around the world, including financial institutions, charities, foundations, pension funds and investment trusts. Collective funds include a UK Oeic, Luxembourg Sicav and a range of hedge funds.
Martin Currie describes itself as 'The Big Boutique'. In practice, this means having the solidarity, professionalism and robustness of process of a large company, combined with the distinctiveness, client focus, and personal ownership of a small company.
What makes Martin Currie different?
Employee-owned Martin Currie is a private company, owned and managed by directors and staff. We are committed to remaining independent. We believe that is the foundation on which we will develop as a specialist investment management business.
Specialist investment manager Martin Currie is a specialist, active equity manager. This means clients often appoint Martin Currie to manage a specific portion of their overall funds. For example, Martin Currie would be given a brief to run an international equity portfolio with a specific style and risk/return profile to complement the approach of their other managers.
Reflecting its positioning as a specialist investment manager, Martin Currie has been developing its business in alternative investments. It has launched a range of hedge funds and continues to be progressive in the development of its specialist funds investing in China.
Client focus Martin Currie regards their dedication to client service as one of the key credentials that sets them apart from their peers.
Who are Martin Currie's clients? Martin Currie's clients include financial institutions, pension funds, intermediaries, charities, foundations and investment trusts from around the world.
What products does Martin Currie offer?
For clients around the world:
Specialist equity portfolios (pooled and segregated)
o Global, International ex US, Global emerging markets, Japan, Japan mid-cap, Pan-European, Pan-European mid-cap, Asia ex Japan, China, Pan-Asia, UK Active, UK Equity Income and North America.
Hedge funds
Specifically for individual investors and intermediaries in the UK:
Investment trusts
An Oeic fund consisting of 11 sub funds
Specifically for investors and intermediaries in Europe:
A Sicav fund consisting of eight sub funds
What is Martin Currie's investment philosophy and process?
Martin Currie is an active investment manager. The investment team works on a single floor of the Edinburgh headquarters, and is organised in a way that allows the managers to identify and exploit change at an early stage in clients' portfolios.
Martin Currie's investment process begins and ends with its clients. Product managers are directly responsible for ensuring that portfolios meet clients' needs. To do this, they integrate the views of sector research managers, risk managers and regional research to choose the best stocks for each client's portfolio. An in-house system for ranking stocks, known as the Dynamic Stock Matrix, is used to identify change and add discipline to stock selection.
How has Martin Currie grown?
In March 2007 we announced our results for the period to 31 December 2006. Highlights include:
Pre-tax profits rose to £16.1 million
Record revenue of £80.4 million
The roots of this success go back to 2001, when Martin Currie recruited a new chief executive, Willie Watt, from private equity firm 3i group. With a clear vision for the business and an ambitious strategy for growth, the company underwent an extensive programme of change. This included:
Refocusing the business by concentrating exclusively on managing active equity portfolios;
Strengthening and reorganising our investment team;
Developing the company's range of products;
Re-branding Martin Currie to reflect the renewed vibrancy of the business; and
Reinvigorating the business culture.
What are Martin Currie's ambitions?
The company aims to develop its business in ways compatible with being 'The Big Boutique'. "We don't intend becoming the biggest, but we do intend to be the best." - Willie Watt, chief executive.
