Speakers & Topics

Fund Manager

Invesco Perpetual

Opportunities for European investing: Structural themes and attractive valuations
The immediate flow of macro economic data looks challenging with overall Euro area growth turning negative in the second quarter. Whilst we still believe that profit expectations remain over inflated, we still see opportunities for share price outperformance. Europe as a region has enjoyed a period of structural growth in profitability which has driven profits and dividends. These attractions are complemented by valuations that discount a lot of bad news and structural growth stories in the oil services sector that we are long term believers of. In addition, the perfect storm of macro headwinds that we faced in Q2 is abating removing some of the competitive pressures faced by Europe's dominant export sector.

Adrian joined the company in 2003 as a fund manager in the European Equities team, and is responsible for the management of a number of European small cap funds. Adrian began his investment career at Cazenove in 1994 and became a director of the company and vice- head of their European Equities team. In September 2003, Adrian joined hedge fund manager, Park Place Capital, as a European small and mid cap analyst. He holds an MA (Hons) in French from St And rews University.

Fund Manager

Jupiter Asset Management

Après le déluge
Excess returns in a challenging European environment
Amid volatile European equity markets, a robust investment process is more vital than ever for investors looking to generate excess returns. Cédric de Fonclare, manager of the Jupiter European Special Situations Fund, will be discussing his strategy of focusing on companies which offer sustainable, visible growth and the opportunities that current market conditions are presenting.

Cédric joined Jupiter in 1999 and has managed the Jupiter European Special Situations Fund (Unit Trust) since July 2005. He manages the Jupiter European Opportunities (SICAV), the CCR Centrale Croissance Europe and the Continental European component of Jupiter Global Managed Fund (Unit Trust) – as well as institutional monies. Cédric studied International Business Administration at Sorbonne University.

Investment Director

Scottish Widows Investment Partnership

Pricing Power in Europe and How to Find It
Pricing power, and the ability for certain companies to pass on cost inflation, is currently one of the most significant investment themes. Catie will explore the importance of pricing power in an inflationary environment, and illustrate how how it can best be identified.

Catie Wearmouth is an Investment Director in the European Equity team, responsible for managing the SWIP European Fund, Scottish Widows European Growth Fund, Scottish Widows European Select Growth Fund and the Lloyds TSB Offshore European Fund. Her sector research responsibilities within the team are for food producers & processors, beverages, household personal care, tobacco and utilities.

Prior to joining SWIP, Catie spent six years as an Investment Manager with Kempen Capital Management focusing on small and mid-cap companies. Her specific fund responsibility was for the Pan-European Socially Responsible Investment funds, which she helped establish at Kempen in 2002.

Catie has an MA Hons in English and Italian literature from the University of St Andrews and holds the MSc in Investment Analysis from the University of Stirling. Catie is an Associate of the CFA Society of the UK.

Vice President

Credit Suisse Asset Management

Investment Styles - making money across Europe in current market conditions

Raj will explain why he expects growth to outperform value as investors pay a premium in a slowing macro environment. He will also discuss his assumption that inflation will remain strong globally and how this can be positive for many sectors as it gives them pricing power. Current Investment themes will be looked at, including his latest views on Financials and whether companies with Emerging Market exposure will outperform.

Rajesh Tanna, Vice President, is a portfolio manager within the European Equities team. Raj has worked at Credit Suisse since 1998, initially working within the Risk Management team before joining European Equities. Raj has a BA in Economics & International Studies and an MSc in Management Science & Operational Research, both from the University of Warwick, and is a CFA Charterholder.