mallowstreet University Investment Focus: Opportunities in Emerging Markets

Speakers

• Nicholas Paul, MFS Investment Management Director, Investment Product Specialist

  Nicholas joined MFS in 2010. As an Investment Product Specialist, he communicates investment policy, strategy and tactics, performs portfolio analysis and leads product development.

  Prior to MFS, Nicholas spent 9 years as an Investment Product Manager and Consultant at Putnam Investments. His affiliations include the CFA Institute, CFA Society of Boston.

  Nicholas attended West Virginia University, BA, and Boston College, MBA, honors, Beta Gamma Sigma.

• Raheel Altaf, Artemis Fund Managers Fund Manager

  Raheel has managed the Artemis Global Emerging Markets Fund with Peter Saacke since launch in April 2015. A Cambridge graduate in electrical engineering, he joined Fidelity International in 2002 as a quantitative analyst. In 2007 he was promoted to portfolio manager for a range of funds which grew to $2.5 billion. He moved to Fulcrum Asset Management in 2011. In 2014 Raheel joined Artemis to help Philip Wolstencroft and Peter manage the SmartGARP® funds and institutional mandates.

• Alexis Freyeisen, UBS Asset Management Director, Equity Specialist, Global Emerging Market Equities

  Alexis Freyeisen is an Equity Specialist in the Global Emerging Markets and Asia Pacific Equities team, based in Zurich. He is responsible for the marketing and communication of Emerging Markets and Asian equity strategies.

  Prior to taking on his current role in May 2014, Alexis was an associate Equity Specialist in the global capabilities team covering a broad range of active equity strategies.

  Alexis joined UBS in March 2013 in the wealth management division as associate Discretionary Mandate Specialist. His responsibilities included the analysis and communication of all aspects of mandate characteristics to clients.

• James Donald, Lazard Asset Management Fund Manager and Head of the Emerging Markets Group

  James Donald is Fund Manager of the Lazard Emerging Markets Fund and Head of the Emerging Markets Group. Since joining Lazard in 1996, James has been instrumental in developing and coordinating the emerging markets activities at Lazard. He began working in the investment field in 1983. Prior to joining Lazard, James was a Portfolio Manager with Mercury Asset Management. He has a BA (Hons) in History from the University of Western Ontario. James is a board member of EMpower, a charity of investment professionals focused on adolescents, health care, and women’s issues in emerging markets countries, as well as a member of the 20-20 Investments Association, an investor group that is focused on emerging markets.

Program

1. 8:30 AM Registration, tea and coffee

2. 8:55 AM Welcome address & introductions

   Stuart Breyer, CEO of mallowstreet

3. 9:05 AM Rotating Investment Masterclass I: Emerging Market Equities: Opportunities in an Economic Up-Cycle | UBS Asset Management

   UBS will explore the current economic cycle for Emerging Markets. We will highlight the changing face of Emerging Markets, in particular, how returns are increasingly domestically driven and touch upon how China is transforming its economy and creating investment opportunities.

4. 9:50 AM Rotating Investment Masterclass II: Global Emerging Markets: Further to run? | Artemis Fund Managers

   Emerging markets have enjoyed another exceptional year helped by improving economic data, resilient currencies and a more positive outlook for earnings. We remain mindful of the challenges that could face emerging markets in 2018. First, China’s attempts to address risks in the financial system could have an impact on global growth. Second, central banks in developed markets will continue to normalise monetary policy. Third, geopolitical risks seem likely to dominate the headlines, with unpredictable consequences for sentiment. Yet there are good reasons to believe that emerging market equities may continue to be fuelled by the synchronised global economic recovery. Raheel Altaf, portfolio manager of the Artemis Global Emerging Markets strategy will discuss the opportunities and challenges facing investors in 2018.

5. 10:30 AM Coffee, tea, and networking

6. 10:50 AM Rotating Investment Masterclass III: Seeking rewards and controlling risks in emerging market equities | MFS Investment Management

   Pension funds interest in investing in dedicated emerging market equities continues to increase on higher expected future returns and attractive valuations compared to many developed markets. Given the volatility of this asset class, however, making such an allocation can consume a meaningful portion of a pension funds’ risk budget. In this session, Nicholas Paul will discuss how using a targeted active risk approach and adding quantitative inputs can mitigate some emerging market equity volatility whilst maintaining opportunities to improve long-term risk-adjusted returns.

7. 11:35 AM Rotating Investment Masterclass IV: The Value of Emerging Markets | Lazard Asset Management

   As the world recovers, so have equity valuations around the world. However, companies in the developing world continue to trade at a deep discount to developed markets despite their stronger returns on equity and greater leverage to a global recovery. The sheer size and diversity of the emerging markets universe means that return expectations will differ widely depending on an investor’s chosen investment strategy. Therefore, we believe that despite a generally positive outlook, it is important to select an investment style and strategy that is disciplined, well understood, and proven in order to best achieve a specified outcome. James Donald is one of the world's most significant emerging market investors, and presides over $60 billion of investments in this asset class at Lazard Asset Management as at 30 June 2017. James will give an overview of the factors shaping our thinking, and will talk about his current portfolio positioning.

8. 12:15 PM Lunch and networking

9. 12:45 PM End