Bridging the divide – Fund Distributor with Ashburton Investments

Peter Bourne, managing director of the Jersey-based international arm of Ashburton Investments, says the boutique fund manager is not constrained by geography as it continues to widen its distribution.

Bridging the divide – Fund Distributor with Ashburton Investments

|

Why is Ashburton Investments’ International arm based in Jersey, given that retail asset management is not a strong force on the island?

Ashburton was founded in Jersey more than 30 years ago.

During the intervening period, the business has evolved from its roots in discretionary portfolio management into a boutique fund management business.

We have built a successful track record in global multi-asset investing and have developed extensive experience in emerging markets, particularly Africa, India and China.

Talent and capital is mobile these days, and our expertise and offering is not constrained by geography.

Recognising the differing needs of our global target market, we offer investors both Jersey and Luxembourg UCITS funds, which are all managed out of Jersey but draw on specialist investment expertise from our teams in London and South Africa.

What is the ownership history and structure of the business?

Ashburton Investments is the investment management business of the FirstRand Group, one of Africa’s largest financial services companies.

FirstRand is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.

It provides a comprehensive range of products and services to the South African market, and niche products in certain international markets, through its portfolio of financial services franchises.

In 2011, the FirstRand Group consolidated its investment management businesses, including Ashburton (Jersey), into a single, focused investment management entity, which pulled together the existing skills, platforms and product development capabilities from across the group.

This new business, launched in June 2012, was named Ashburton Investments, reflecting the heritage and expertise of the Ashburton brand in Jersey, which now forms the international arm of our business.