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Brian Souter
Brian Souter
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Souter Investments

Brian has always had a passion for business and an appreciation of the difference that managers can make in facing challenges and opportunities that all businesses face.

Following the flotation of Stagecoach Brian started to invest in a number of early stage companies.

As Brian would say however, not all his eggs were double yokers and in 2006 he decided to establish a professionally managed family investment office, under the leadership of Andy Macfie, an experienced private equity practitioner.

The strategy of Souter Investments has been to:

  • Create a diversified portfolio, whilst retaining Stagecoach Group as a core holding of the portfolio, targeting private equity opportunities but also making highly selective and limited allocations to other asset classes, such as private equity funds, listed equities and property.
  • Maintain an opportunistic investment approach, so as well as our focus of direct private equity investing, we can invest in selected listed stocks and stock market index tracker funds, in a very limited number of private equity funds, and in commercial and residential property situations, focussing on areas where we have an angle and/or where we have experience and knowledge.

In Souter Investments’ most recent review in 2019, Brian reported: “Our total portfolio, excluding Stagecoach, increased in value by 9% per annum over the 12 years ended March 2019. This compares against a 5% annual return on UK quoted equities over the same period.

“Although this does not sound like much of a difference, the compounding effect of this difference means that our portfolio is 55% higher in value than had we invested solely in the UK stock market.”

The private equity focus has borne fruit and Souter Investments has taken significant stakes in companies in a wide range of sectors including financial services, business services, industrial, healthcare, oil & gas, consumer products, telecoms, technology and transport.

souterinvestments.com
“Our total portfolio, excluding Stagecoach, increased in value by 9% per annum”
Sir Brian Souter, 2019

Souter Investments’ private equity portfolio has performed strongly from April 2007 to March 2019. Hover over figures to see results.

Souter Investments has performed strongly from April 2007 to March 2019. Hover over figures to see results.

55 unquoted investments (excluding a small number of early stage companies)

27 realisations

50% of private equity investment deals were led by Souter Investments

Average hold period of 4.5 years

Longest hold 15 years

Realised and unrealised IRR 18% per annum

55
55 unquoted investments (excluding a small number of early stage companies))
27
27 realisations)
50%
50% of private equity investment deals were led by Souter Investments)
4.5
years
Average hold period of 4.5 years)
15
years
Longest hold 15 years)
18%
per annum
Realised and unrealised IRR 18% per annum)

Following the flotation of Stagecoach Brian started to invest in a number of early stage companies.

As Brian would say however, not all his eggs were double yokers and in 2006 he decided to establish a professionally managed family investment office, under the leadership of Andy Macfie, an experienced private equity practitioner.

The strategy of Souter Investments has been to:

  • Create a diversified portfolio, whilst retaining Stagecoach Group as a core holding of the portfolio, targeting private equity opportunities but also making highly selective and limited allocations to other asset classes, such as private equity funds, listed equities and property.
  • Maintain an opportunistic investment approach, so as well as our focus of direct private equity investing, we can invest in selected listed stocks and stock market index tracker funds, in a very limited number of private equity funds, and in commercial and residential property situations, focussing on areas where we have an angle and/or where we have experience and knowledge.

In Souter Investments’ most recent review in 2019, Brian reported: “Our total portfolio, excluding Stagecoach, increased in value by 9% per annum over the 12 years ended March 2019. This compares against a 5% annual return on UK quoted equities over the same period.

“Although this does not sound like much of a difference, the compounding effect of this difference means that our portfolio is 55% higher in value than had we invested solely in the UK stock market.”

The private equity focus has borne fruit and Souter Investments has taken significant stakes in companies in a wide range of sectors including financial services, business services, industrial, healthcare, oil & gas, consumer products, telecoms, technology and transport.

Souter Investments pride itself on being flexible, getting involved in buy-outs and buy-ins and turnarounds using a variety of investment structures and providing management expertise as appropriate.

Current portfolio

Realised Investments

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