The Fund has a proven track record since it was launched in 1963.
Why Invest?
For more than 50 years, the Fund has invested across a variety of different industries.
We approach the purchase of equity shares in exactly the same way an owner would enter into a business transaction – with thought and with care.
People First
We believe that business is about people. Every year, we meet hundreds of teams to understand their ethos and motivation.
We are looking for first-rate people who are aligned, financially and emotionally, with the success of their businesses. We seek to invest in people we trust and admire.
Special Businesses
We are looking for special companies that have an edge or are market leaders. We are seeking undiscovered gems that are below the radar of larger institutional funds. Often, smaller companies are undervalued and offer greater upside potential.
Our Network
Our wide network gives us access to quality investment opportunities, including discounted placings, liquidity events, IPOs and blocks of shares. Brokers and intermediaries know that we are nimble and, for the right companies, we can invest almost immediately.
Investment Process
Every year, we meet hundreds of companies. Each company is carefully selected, one at a time – no matter how much effort it takes. We are known to be fussy and our due diligence is painstaking.
Our approach differs from the approach taken by many others. We are not index-huggers. In our view, investing differently may not guarantee success but blindly copying others guarantees mediocrity.
Confession
Is our self-imposed process rigorous and long winded? Yes it is! Is it time consuming but worth the effort? Yes, absolutely.
We put in a lot of effort to fully understand the business before we invest in any company. Having done that, it would be rather silly to let our efforts go to waste by pursuing a Buy on Monday, Sell on Wednesday strategy. Said differently, every purchase is undertaken with an intention to keep the company for many years. We think like owners and we act like owners.
Our Fund is one of UK’s oldest Funds and is living proof that a research focused stock picking works. What is surprising to us is that so few in our industry are willing to follow a time-tested formula - not because they are not intelligent, but because patience is a virtue not everyone is gifted with.
Reasons why hundreds of investors have invested in the Fund
A Select Portfolio
The portfolio is a collection of companies carefully chosen one at a time.
Risk is further minimised through wide diversification of industries.
Liquidity
The UCITS' open ended structure allows daily dealing – ensuring investors do not suffer from NAV discounts that often occur in investment trusts.
Governance
The Fund is FCA regulated and has several layers of oversight: ACD, Custodian and its own independent Board of Directors.
Fund Facts
Launch Date
8th August 1963
Service Providers
Fund Trustees: Northern Trust
Auditors: Grant Thornton
Structure
FCA regulated
UCITS - Unit Trust
UK domiciled
Daily dealing at NAV
Total Ongoing Charges: 1.1%
Fund Codes mentioned below.
Minimum Investment: £1000
Eligible for
ISA & Junior ISA
SIPP
IMA Category
IA UK Smaller Companies Equities
Codes: | SEDOL | ISIN | Dividends | Bloomberg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Accumulation Units | 0270892 | GB0002708922 | Reinvested | DISDISA |
Income Units | 0270892 | GB0002708922 | June & December | DISDISI |
We want to attract like-minded investors into our Fund - but only after they have fully understood what we do.
However, for the sake of clarity, we are keen to go one step further and clearly convey.... what we don't do.
We do not...
# Try to be too clever
We do not attempt to time the market.
Our style does not involve algorithms or any other forms of black magic.
# Hide behind the index
We do not hide behind any index or popular companies.
Benchmark composition does not influence our portfolio construction.
# Charge hidden fees
We do not charge entry or exit fee.
No performance fees either.
# Compromise
We do not invest in binary outcomes or businesses that we do not understand.
We are known for our no-nonsense approach.
Fund History
One of the UK’s oldest Funds
Greene & Co were stockbrokers who offered institutional broking and private client services. In 1963, the firm set up the Discretionary Fund (one of the first unit trusts in the UK) to provide a collective investment scheme for retail clients. The Fund management company remained a separate entity, though there were common directors and shareholders.
Genesis
Greene underwent several changes of ownership:
* Middleton first became Gerrard.
* Old Mutual acquired Gerrard in March 2000, in a deal valued at £525m, forming Gerrard Management Services.
* In 2003, Barclays Bank acquired the broking business from Old Mutual Plc.