Durable Value Investing
The Tourbillon Investment Partnership is a long-only public equity fund using a fundamental, value-oriented approach to find durable businesses globally, with very significant concentration in our 10 largest holdings. Our objective is to deliver superior real returns over the long term without taking undue risk.
Philosophy
Three simple ideas, taken seriously
Our mandate is broad, but the qualities we look for in an investment are rare. We focus on three mental models which we believe help us identify durability: fulcrum assets, symbiotic loops, and outlier management.
Literally, the term means 'the point about which a lever turns’. These are businesses which provide a critical product or service within the value chain in which they operate. This leads to scarcity value and customer loyalty, supporting durable cash flows.
Fulcrum
Assets
For a business to generate durable cash flows, it must create value for all its stakeholders: customers, suppliers, employees, and regulators included. Companies with these qualities often form a virtuous cycle where growth leads to improving outcomes, a symbiotic loop.
Symbiotic
Loops
Stewardship is vital for sustainable value creation. If a company earns, say, a 20% return on capital, management will have been responsible for redeploying all the capital initially in the business within four years. Outlier managers think long-term, and act like owners.
Outlier Management
Principles
Our core value is shared ownership
Clients
We see our clients as partners who share our philosophy. We are invested alongside clients, on the same terms.
Owners' yield
We value companies like owners, based on long-term distributable cash flows.
Shared ownership
Investments
We are long-term owners of the businesses in which we invest and look to partner with management who share our philosophy.
Portfolio management
Ben and Ramesh are equal owners of the portfolio and of the business. We think this leads to higher quality decisions.
Giving
We pledge to share a portion of our profits with charitable causes, and look to foster long-term partnerships.
What makes us different
We define quality by durability, which we identify using an unconventional first-principles approach rather than relying on backward looking quantitative metrics.
Approach to quality
We are value investors in a durable universe. We value stocks on distributable cashflows (‘owner earnings’). We are not looking to sell assets at a higher price based on multiple expansion.
Absolute value
We are not constrained by country, sector or size. This allows us to invest in only the most compelling investment opportunities globally.
Unconstrained
Our business ownership mentality and aligned client base allow for an ‘indefinite’ time horizon.
Time horizon
We will limit our size to focus on client experience. Our simple fee structure aligns our interests with long-term results. We are significantly invested alongside clients, on the same terms.
Aligned
We have a giving pledge and commit to donating a portion of our profits to charitable causes.
Giving
Durable businesses, by definition, need to be sustainable. We have a history of constructively engaging with the companies we have invested in.
Durability and sustainability
Over 70 years cumulative experience managing several billion USD on behalf of predominantly institutional clients.
Experience
Foundational Documents
Although our form is corporate, we view our clients as partners in the business. This requires shared values as well as honest communication. These foundational documents outline our philosophy, our goals, and our limitations. Though certain elements of our business will evolve, these bedrock principles will not.
Our partners' trust is our most important asset. This document lays out the values we have as a business.
The relationship we wish to build with our clients is one of partnership. This document outlines our investment philosophy, our objectives and our limitations.
We look to invest in durable businesses, which by definition need to be sustainable. This document outlines our approach to sustainability.
People
Ben Beneche, CFA
Prior to founding Tourbillon, Ben was senior portfolio manager and co-lead of international equities at Pictet Asset Management. For 10 years, he managed all-cap international equity portfolios where he was primarily responsible for investments in Japanese and Asia-Pacific listed businesses. He began his career in 2008 as an analyst focused on US equities and the energy sector.
Ben has a degree in Economics and Economic History from York University (first class honors) and is a CFA charterholder. He bought his first stock when he was 16 and hasn’t looked back.
Co-founder & Portfolio Manager
Ramesh Narayanaswamy
Prior to founding Tourbillon, Ramesh was a partner and portfolio manager at Veritas Asset Management. Over 11 years, he held roles spanning global fundamental equity research as well as portfolio management. Prior to that, he spent 5 years at Fidelity Management & Research where he was a global industrials and utilities analyst as well as sector portfolio manager.
Ramesh has a degree in Computer Science & Engineering from Cochin University of Science and Technology and a post-graduate degree in management (MBA) from Indian Institute of Management Bangalore. He was formerly an independent software developer and consultant.
Co-founder & Portfolio Manager
Gurdeep Bumbra, CFA
Prior to joining Tourbillon as Managing Director of Client Partnerships and Operations, Gurdeep was a senior investment professional at Pictet Asset Management for almost two decades. During this time, he managed European, Emerging Market, and International Equity portfolios. More recently, he was Head of Research for the Developed Equities division. Gurdeep has extensive experience in managing and building teams, as well as in client-facing activities. Gurdeep began his career at Gartmore Investment Management as an equity analyst.
Gurdeep has a degree in Accounting & Finance from University of West of England (first class honours) and is a CFA charterholder.
Managing Director
Simon Todd
After graduating in Modern History from Brasenose College, Oxford University, Simon joined UBS as an equity analyst at Phillips & Drew Fund Management in London. He moved to MFS Investment Management in 2000, working in Boston before returning to the U.K. to help build the MFS London office. For MFS, and subsequently for Majedie Asset Management and Marathon Asset Management, he managed institutional global equity portfolios, in addition to regional accounts in Europe, North America and Japan.
In recent years, Simon has lived in Europe, travelling and studying.
Chairman
Contact
Office
Tourbillon Investment Management Ltd.
4th Floor
16 Kingly Street
London, W1B 5PT
UK