Trust Audio Update

A Value View Episode 8: Celebrating 130 years

Simon Gergel CIO, UK Equities

11/04/2019

In his latest podcast, Simon Gergel, Portfolio Manager of The Merchants Trust, talks about the 130th anniversary of the Trust.

Simon reflects on how it all began in 1889, the Trust’s aims to provide an investment solution for individual investors then and now and how the Merchants of yesterday differs to the vehicle it is today. The Trust has lived through many major political and economic events over its lifetime and Simon looks back at this remarkable history and how this has shaped the Trust, which has diversified and adapted over time. Simon has been at the helm of Merchants for 13 years – a tenth of the Trust’s life – and talks about his own experiences as manager, particularly the importance of steady nerves and a focus on long-term fundamentals when managing Merchants through the financial crisis of 2008-9.

You can also access the podcast via:

iTunes (for iOS devices): https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/a-value-view/

Blubrry (for iOS & Android): https://www.blubrry.com/avalueview/

Trust Audio Update

A Value View Episode 11: Reflecting on a momentous 2019 and a look at what 2020 may hold

Simon Gergel reviews 2019 – a momentous year in terms of global market volatility and the polarisation of the UK market as investors heavily favoured higher-quality growth stocks. 2020 is starting out with more political certainty in the UK.

Trust Audio Update

A Value View Episode 10: Opportunity From Uncertainty

Simon Gergel reflects on what has been a fascinating year so far, with politics driving market volatility globally and the UK market becoming increasingly polarised. He talks about finding opportunities from this situation.

Trust Audio Update

A Value View Episode 9: What does it mean to be a value investor?

In his latest podcast, Simon Gergel, Portfolio Manager of The Merchants Trust, discusses what it means to be a value investor and how the team implements this across the Merchants portfolio of high yielding shares.

Edison Research: Celebrating 130th birthday with higher dividend

Simon Gergel highlights the Trust’s growing income stream, long-term capital growth and above-average dividend yield.

Edison Research 08.05.2019

Trust Audio Update

A Value View Episode 8: Celebrating 130 years

Simon reflects on how it all began in 1889, the Trust’s aims to provide an investment solution for individual investors then and now and how the Merchants of yesterday differs to the vehicle it is today.

Fund Focus on Merchants

In this Sunday Times article, journalist Holly Black looks at The Merchants Trust, summarising its investment remit, performance and dividend yield. The piece also quotes Simon Gergel on the merits of investing in the UK amidst current market uncertainty.

The Sunday Times 31.03.2019

Celebrating 130 years and looking to the future

The Merchants Trust is celebrating its 130th birthday in 2019. In this article, Simon Gergel looks back at how the Merchants portfolio has changed over time and how reaching 130 provides a sense of perspective. He also reviews his own experience at the helm of Merchants since 2006.

Alliance Trust Savings 26.03.2019

Trust Audio Update

A Value View Episode 6: Challenges and Opportunities

Listen in as Simon emphasises that market volatility, as witnessed in October, can give rise to opportunity. He notes that that any divergence in the share prices of different sectors and even different companies could enable investors to take advantage of potentially compelling valuations.

Trust Audio Update

A Value View Episode 5: Looking Forward, Looking Back

Simon takes a look back at the first half of the year, a fascinating period that’s been characterised by global political challenges. Simon also considers market prospects for the rest of 2018 and the factors that may have an impact.