Harriet Hall

Had a really interesting chat with Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM)'s Michael Marks about the exec pay and UK listings debate and the key issues the fund group has on its radar heading into AGM season. #AGM #ESG #assetmanagement https://lnkd.in/e8TUUwA9

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My latest investigation before the Xmas holidays for Investment Week is finally out! I analysed the world of investment trust NEDs, their relationship to private company valuations, and whether their level of skills and training is enough to effectively accept or challenge private valuations. Over a year of work, countless on- and off-the-record conversations and an ever-increasing demand for private market opportunities later, and here it is!

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The Financial Times #investmenttrust special was the best SWOT analysis of the sector I’ve seen. Simon Edelsten’s piece on whether trusts are still relevant was a timely reminder that wider than average discounts are nothing the sector hasn’t weathered before. And there’s always been competition: I recall #ETFs and passives being discussed in the trust sector 20 years ago, although that was before they started dominating the Best Buy tables. Now, #LTAFs are part of the conversation too. As ever, it should be each product on its own individual merits and this is a deeply cyclical sector. I loved Moira O'Neill on #dividendheroes, but it was her piece on ‘an industry under siege’ which really nailed both the threats and the opportunities. abrdn Investment Trusts Christian Pittard discusses the unique benefits of the sector, but also points out that sorting out the #costdisclosure rules is only part of the story - though crucial. He believes the sector also needs fresh thinking and innovation, while Ben Conway thinks a new constituency of buyers needs to be found. Wonderful to see Katya Gorbatiouk quoted, who is a powerhouse and incredible champion of the sector. And the whole section was underpinned by incredible #data from The Association of Investment Companies (AIC). A must read. https://lnkd.in/etQ9Vy78 Annabel Brodie-Smith Nick Britton, CFA, MCSI Vanessa Booth Louise Bouverat Fergus McCarthy Xavier Meyer Duncan Young Marianna Hunt Rachel Cashmore Jason Tse, CFA Nathan Brooker James Pickford

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Proud day at Schroders Capital as we publish our latest Sustainability and Impact report. ✅🌍      Documenting our journey towards achieving decarbonisation and societal progress, this report showcases how our commitments in private markets are not only fulfilling clients' return expectations but also driving meaningful change.      Key highlights include:   - $12.6 billion investment in renewables by Schroders Greencoat LLP 🍃   - 64% of our private equity GPs were UN Principles Responsible Investment signatories in 2023 🌐   - To date, $817 million has been invested by Schroders Capital in Insurance-Linked Securities to contribute to reducing the 'insurance protection gap' - Impact investing specialist BlueOrchard Finance Ltd invested around $1 billion across 175 transactions 🌿    Read the full press release here: https://lnkd.in/eYnYBm2e    #Sustainability #ImpactInvesting #SchrodersCapital 

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My latest feature explores whether the advice industry is open to making sustainable financial planning the default, especially with the Sustainability Disclosure Requirements (SDR) coming into force. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this one for me! Read it over at Professional Adviser here: https://lnkd.in/eGfRqvHF

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So what of smaller companies? Why bother considering small and mid-cap equities with many uncertainties and the prospect of ‘safe’ mid-single digit returns from bonds and gilts? Stuart Widdowson, Odyssean Investment Trust Odyssean Capital LLP explains why #uk #smallcap #specialsituations

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More top investors are backing pay rises for Britain's chief execs. Rathbones Asset Management's David Coombs told Financial News he voted to hike Smith & Nephew CEO Deepak Nath's pay to $11.8m. “Smith & Nephew lost their CEO because they couldn’t pay him alongside the US equivalent. If you’re going to compete in a global market you have got to be able to attract talent,” Coombs said. Meanwhile, LINDSELL TRAIN LIMITED backed a £13m pay deal for LSEG (London Stock Exchange Group) boss David Schwimmer. Nick Train told FN: “Even in the UK, where there is arguably a more mature corporate sector, you still want businesses to be run with an entrepreneurial mindset. We want hungry, ambitious entrepreneurs to be running the companies we invest in.” #execpay #remuneration #UKequities #assetmanagement https://lnkd.in/e2v6sTZV

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Join the Premier Miton webinar with CIO and lead manager of the Premier Miton Diversified Fund range, Neil Birrell, who will share his views on markets, including why he is now viewing #UKequities in a more negative light, the funds' strategic asset allocation and where the investment team are finding opportunities for growth. For Investment Professionals only. Capital at Risk. #investmentwebinar #diversifiedfunds #multiasset

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Thanks to all our speakers for joining us today as we continued our discussion on the progress being made in accessing private markets in the UK wealth management space at Investment Week's latest Focus event. Thanks to Mark McFee at Research in Finance for delivering the keynote address on UK retail appetite for private assets and James Lowe, CFA and Anthony Leatham for taking part in our panel discussion on how they see this area developing in the future. #privateassets #wealthmanagement #portfoliomanagement

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NEW: Hype is a problem in thematic investing. Managers in the healthcare, tech and energy sectors discuss how they deal with their sectors being in and out of favour. #thematicinvestment #thematics #esg #renewables #cleanenergy #healthcare #technology https://lnkd.in/ehSHKUmx

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Gilt yields have risen sharply over the last few months - a challenge for the UK government, but we think less dramatic for UK pension schemes now better positioned to weather the changes. There is an opportunity for Trustees to lock in better funding positions, pro-actively reduce risk, and narrow the funnel of outcomes to achieve their end game. As ever, robust governance is key to navigating these waters. Read the below article from Aqib Merchant, FIA for more insights: https://lnkd.in/esBXQjNg

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The Financial Services Forum session this morning, "The Ins and Outs of Brand Refreshes" was particularly timely, given the recent brand updates by J.P. Morgan and BNY. Virginie Dafforn-Gorgemans from Arbuthnot Latham, Paul Martin from St. James’s Place and Michel van Oorschot from T. Rowe Price shared the experiences of refreshing their brands. The session was moderated by Lucian Camp, brand and marketing consultants. Key takeaways from this session: 🚀 When should you refresh your brand? If your brand feels outdated, doesn’t reflect your values, or blends into the competition (the 'sea of sameness' in B2B FS), it’s time for a change. J.P. Morgan refreshed their brand to better reflect their purpose, while BNY simplified their branding for better recognition. 💹 Why? A brand refresh can inspire employee engagement and build a foundation for growth. Your employees are your best advocates. And according to Ehrenberg-Bass Professor John Dawes, only about 5 percent of B2B customers are actively looking to buy at any given time. Your brand needs to stay top-of-mind for when they are ready to purchase. 🖼 Refresh to avoid fragmentation: Employees creating their own branded assets can harm your brand. 🎖 Measure Impact: While brand can be hard to measure in the B2B context, use proxies if needed: brand mentions, digital metrics, PR, and internal advocacy. Something is better than nothing. 📚 The Process: Conduct thorough research, involve stakeholders, and align the new brand with company vision and audience expectations along the way. Three lessons learned from the refreshes: 1. Find an agency you can partner with. 2. Take time on the internal journey. 3. Balance agility with thoughtfulness. Thank you to all the speakers and moderator for sharing their experiences and to everyone at the Financial Services Forum and at Cardano for organising and hosting this session.

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Global commodity prices are in an upswing, and we think they have passed the trough for the cycle. Demand appears to be lifting and the supply-side is ‘super-squeezed’. So, what’s next? HSBC’s Paul Bloxham and Jamie Culling explore. To find out, read our free to view report here 👉 https://grp.hsbc/6048evV0O #HSBCResearch #Research #Commodities #ThoughtLeadership

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So important for Schroders to be part of this crucial Financial Times debate - 'How to reboot Britain's capital markets' - https://shorturl.at/MtqSv. Peter Harrison, Schroders Group Chief Executive, said: "The amount of money which is flowing into people's savings is nothing like sufficient to provide for them in retirement. But even when it gets into their pension pots it's then directed to low returning assets that are low risk." #investment #london #capitalmarkets #pensions #economicgrowth

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