About UK Smaller Companies
The Martin Currie UK Equity Team offer a diverse suite of products across the capitalization spectrum driven by the power of investing in undervalued companies with superior quality metrics, management and sustainable cash flow profiles.
We are long term, active UK equity stock pickers. As traditional UK equity investors we adopt a commonsense approach in what we do – long only, profitable, UK listed, direct equity investment. Our rigorous fundamental research process enables us to identify the very best opportunities within the universe whilst keeping the spotlight on balance sheet quality, business model sustainability and valuation. We apply a naturally sceptical approach to our asset valuation process, maintaining awareness of the bear case scenario and the impact to investor returns. With no intentional style bias our portfolios offer high quality exposure across the capitalization spectrum managed in a collaborative environment from the heart of Leeds, UK.
ESG analysis is conducted and embedded into our research process. Our focus on materiality, engagement, and ultimately valuation enables us to integrate our proprietary ESG scoring system into the stock-selection process through appropriately adjusting company cash flow forecasts.
Our UK Smaller Companies portfolios are aligned to the same overarching common-sense philosophy applied by the team. We believe that high quality UK companies generating sustainable cash flows and trading on reasonable multiples offer significant potential to outperform the broader market over the long term.
Small cap equities are under researched relative to the broader market, uncovering market anomalies and great mispricing opportunity within emerging and disruptive industries where management often have "skin in the game." Our focussed approach provides investors with style agnostic exposure to an asset class that not only has generated historical returns superior to that of their large cap counterparts, but also offers a unique opportunity to benefit from buoyant M&A activity.
The Martin Currie UK Equity team have been managing UK Equity portfolios since 1995, making them the longest tenured team across all IA sectors. Based in Leeds away from the “noise” of London the team operate in a collaborative manner where desk-based discussion and challenge is encouraged.
The results are rigorously scrutinised investment theses presented in high conviction portfolios of reasonably valued, quality UK companies.
| Portfolio characteristics | UK Smaller Companies |
|---|---|
| Long-Term objective | To grow in value by more than the Numis Smaller Companies ex-Investment Trusts Index over a three to five-year period net of fees and costs |
| Benchmark | Numis Smaller Companies ex-Investment Trusts Index |
| Allocation | UK listed shares |
| Market capitalisation | £100m - £1bn |
| Style | Diversified with a focus on quality fundamentals |
| Number of stocks | 30-50 |
| Portfolio turnover | 20-40% |
| Inception | September 2012* |
*The investment philosophy and process were repositioned in September 2012
How to invest
Please contact us to discuss the most appropriate investment to meet your requirements.
How to invest
Martin Currie is a Specialist Investment Manager of Franklin Resources Inc, operating as Franklin Templeton.
Franklin Templeton is responsible for the sales and client service of our funds for financial advisers and individual investors.
If you would like to find out more about these funds, please visit the Franklin Templeton website.
Alpha generation
Proven philosophy to exploit under-appreciated profit growth
Sustainable growth
Targeting high quality businesses with sustainable growth at attractive valuations
Stock driven
A diversified portfolio in which stock-specific insights drive returns
Managed risk
Portfolio informed by proprietary investment research and sophisticated risk analytics
Long term investing
Compounding investor returns over multi-year holding periods
ESG analysis fully integrated
All Martin Currie portfolios focus on Stewardship
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Investors committed to UK Equities
Investing in UK Equities need not be complicated. Read how our experienced UK Equity team instil pragmatism in the roots of their long-term philosophy here.
Richard Bullas
- Job title
- Co-Head, UK Equities (Small & Mid-Cap)
- Experience
- 23 years
Ben Russon
- Job title
- Co-Head, UK Equities (Large Cap)
- Experience
- 23 years
Dan Green
- Job title
- Portfolio Manager & Research Analyst
- Experience
- 13 years
Marcus Tregoning
- Job title
- Portfolio Manager & Research Analyst
- Experience
- 17 years
Will Bradwell
- Job title
- Portfolio Manager & Research Analyst
- Experience
- 11 years
Jo Rands
- Job title
- Portfolio Manager & Research Analyst
- Experience
- 19 years
Courtney Westcarr
- Job title
- Research Analyst
- Experience
- 7 years
Small cap equities are under researched relative to the broader market, uncovering market anomalies and great mispricing opportunity within emerging and disruptive industries where management often have "skin in the game."
Related insights
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Martin Currie announces Head of UK Business Development
Martin Currie is pleased to announce it has bolstered its distribution team with the appointment of Mark Elliott as Head of UK Business Development.
- Date published
- 3 Apr 2023
- Tag
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Martin Currie announces new leadership roles within its Leeds-based UK Equity team
Martin Currie is delighted to announce that Ben Russon and Richard Bullas will co-head Martin Currie’s UK Equity team effective 1 October 2022.
- Date published
- 5 Sep 2022
- Tag
- UK Equity
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UK Equities: Where next?
Despite a turbulent start to 2022 there are green shoots appearing in UK Smaller Companies, according to Martin Currie UK Equity’s Dan Green. Read his views on the opportunities arising in the sector here.
- Date published
- 22 Feb 2022
- Tag
- UK Equity
Regulatory information and risk warnings
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Martin Currie Inc, incorporated in New York with its registered office at 280 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017 and having a UK branch registered in Scotland (no SF000300), Saltire Court, 20 Castle Terrace, Edinburgh EH1 2ES Tel: (44) 131 229 5252 Fax: (44) 131 222 2532 www.martincurrie.com, is registered with the Securities Exchange Commission as an investment adviser for the purposes of the Investment Advisers Act 1940 and is also authorised and regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority. Martin Currie Inc. operates under the International Adviser Exemption with the Ontario Securities Commission (‘OSC’) and is therefore currently not required to be registered as a portfolio manager for the purposes of MI 31-103.
For the avoidance of doubt, nothing excludes, limits or restricts our obligations to you under the UK Financial Services and Market Act 2000, the Investment Advisers Act 1940, National Instruments or any other applicable law or regulation.
The opinions and views in this website do not take into account your individual circumstances, objectives, or needs and are not intended to be recommendations of particular financial instruments or strategies to you. This website does not identify all the risks (direct or indirect) or other considerations which might be material to you when entering any financial transaction. You should consult with your professional advisers before undertaking any investment activity. The information provided on this website should not be treated as advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any particular security or other investment. The information on this website has not been reviewed by any competent regulatory authority.
Regulatory information and risk warnings
Past performance is not a guide to future returns
This information is issued and approved by Martin Currie Investment Management Limited (‘MCIM’). It does not constitute investment advice. Market and currency movements may cause the capital value of shares, and the income from them, to fall as well as rise and you may get back less than you invested.
The analysis of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors form an important part of the investment process and helps inform investment decisions. The strategy does not necessarily target particular sustainability outcomes.
The information provided should not be considered a recommendation to purchase or sell any particular security. It should not be assumed that any of the security transactions discussed here were, or will prove to be, profitable.
The views expressed are opinions of the named manager as of the date of this document and are subject to change based on market and other conditions and may differ from other portfolio managers or of the firm as a whole. These opinions are not intended to be a forecast of future events, research, a guarantee of future results or investment advice.
The information contained has been complied with considerable care to ensure its accuracy. However, no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made to its accuracy or completeness. Martin Currie has procured any research or analysis contained in this recording for its own use. It is provided to you only incidentally and any opinions expressed are subject to change without notice.