Speakers and topics


US small cap value: why now? 

First Eagle US Small Cap Opportunity Fund

Bill will discuss why US small cap value is a compelling investment opportunity for UK investors. He will explain how active management adds value in small cap investing, how his team seeks to exploit inefficiencies in the small and microcap segment of the US market and why current market dynamics may create an opportune environment for the asset class  


Head of small cap team and portfolio manager
First Eagle Investments

Bill is head of the small cap team and portfolio manager of the small cap strategy. Prior to joining First Eagle in April 2021, Bill was portfolio manager of the Small Cap Opportunistic Value strategy at Royce Investment Partners, where he worked for 18 years.

Why resiliency matters in Continental European equities

MFS Meridian Funds – Continental European Equity Fund

Time in the market can deliver more value, and is far easier, than timing the market. That’s why resiliency and quality matter when investing in companies for the long-term. With Continental European equities currently offering attractive valuations, Ben will share insights on making the most of this asset class from both a top-down and fundamental perspective.

Equity institutional portfolio manager
MFS Investment Management

Ben is an institutional portfolio manager at MFS IM. In his role, he participates in the research process and strategy discussions, assesses portfolio risk, customises portfolios to client objectives and guidelines and manages daily cashflows. He also communicates investment policy, strategy and positioning. He joined MFS in 2014 and is based in London.

A more positive outlook for Japanese small caps 

Polar Capital Japan Value Fund

It was only six months ago that Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index reached a high not seen for 30 years. The market still sits on a foundation of strong corporate earnings and Polar Capital believes there are plenty of undervalued assets to be found. As we have seen recently, the path ahead is unlikely to be a straight line, but there are strong indications that the direction of travel, in the medium and long term, is going to be upwards. While the outlook for Japan is strong, at Polar Capital they feel the outlook for small-cap Japan is even stronger.

Co-manager, Polar Capital Japan Value Fund
Polar Capital

Chris joined Polar Capital in 2012 as a Japanese equity analyst, prior to which he gained five years’ experience working in accountancy.

Seizing the opportunity in emerging markets 

Robeco Emerging Stars Equities Fund

Emerging markets have long been the engine of global economic growth, offering vast opportunities to investors. Currently, the valuation spread between emerging and developed markets is at levels last seen 20 years ago, right when emerging markets began to outperform their developed counterparts. Jaap will discuss why now is the time to seize investment opportunities in EM.


Portfolio manager
Robeco

Jaap is lead portfolio manager of Robeco’s Emerging Emerging Stars Equities Fund. Over time, he has been responsible for the investments in South America, Eastern Europe, South Africa, Mexico, China and Taiwan. He also coordinates the country allocation process. He started his career in the investment industry in 1994 at Robeco's quantitative research department and moved to the emerging markets equity team in 2000

Fixed income impact investing in the new regime

Wellington Global Impact Bond Fund

The investment regime has changed for fixed income investors. Today, an active and pragmatic approach may be ever more necessary. Join Will as he discusses the new investment paradigm and how through sector rotation and careful security selection Wellington seeks to outperform core fixed income markets, and how it does all this by investing in impact issuers, enabling clients to align their values and financial goals without compromise.

Investment specialist
Wellington Management

Will works closely with fixed income investors to help ensure the integrity of their investment approaches. This includes meeting regularly with investment teams and overseeing portfolio positioning, performance, and risk exposures as well as developing new products and client solutions and managing business issues such as capacity, fees, and guidelines. He also meets with clients, prospects, and consultants to communicate our investment philosophy, strategy, positioning, and performance. Will has a particular focus on Wellington’s sustainable and impact fixed income approaches.