About Us
This page covers
- Who we are
- Team
- Approach and thinking
Who We Are
Sterling Investments is an independent fund management company based in the United Kingdom.
We intend to deliver capital growth by investing in good but undervalued businesses, led by first-rate people.
Restaurant owners should eat their own food. We believe in what we do and invest in the fund ourselves.
Meet our team
Our working atmosphere is calm allowing everyone to focus on tasks at hand – not waste time on politics and game playing.
We are a unique collection of independent thinkers who “talk directly” and thrive in a culture of camaraderie.
Each of us has a different skill set and style (yes we disagree and often) but our trust binds us together.
We all love what we do and that gives us the energy to compete at the highest level.
Business is about people. Every business is only as good as the people in it.
Melwin is the founder of Sterling and has looked after the Fund since October 2017. He analyses every company like a business, not a trading share and invests only in people he respects and admires. His 25-year career includes roles in private equity, family office, and hedge fund.
He holds the IMC and a Bachelor of Engineering degree. He is also a member of the CFA UK Society.
Pourus qualified as a Chartered Accountant and started his career at Standard Chartered Bank in India. He then worked for 18 years at Bank of America Merrill Lynch UK, and his last role was Managing Director (Asia Pacific). He then worked for 7 years with Investec Bank Plc. He is a passionate investor himself and evaluates companies through the lenses of an auditor and corporate lender.
Tony has been a compliance officer for UK-regulated investment management companies since joining Progressive Asset Management in 1997. Prior to that, he worked for the Listing Department of the London Stock Exchange (now part of the FCA) where he progressed to Head of Compliance. He is a Chartered Accountant and has a degree in Classics from Oxford University.
Shweta monitors corporate actions and supports the investment and operation team. She followed her passion for physics and completed Master of Science (Physics). She has worked in multiple industries in various roles before joining the team.
Richard’s 20-year career spans across the British Business Bank (National Security Strategic Investment Fund), Foreign Office and HM Treasury. He believes there is a massive opportunity for allied capital to be invested in UK-based companies, in-turn driving GDP and productivity. Richard holds a Master’s Degree in Economics and an MBA. For details about the Sterling Glen Technology Venture Capital Fund please email.
Madhurima merges her extensive business experience with digital marketing knowhow to drive our online presence. With a postgraduate degree in retail marketing she promotes the company’s mission of spreading financial literacy. Her expertise includes crafting compelling content strategies and leading our digital outreach.
Robin has been an active investor since 1971. He has been a director of his family office and investment company El Oro Group since 1980 and Chairman since 1994. In his 50 years as an investor, he has gained an encyclopaedic knowledge of all sectors and seen multiple business cycles. He has a BA Hons and MA from Oxford University.
Our Approach
As shareholders, we see ourselves as co-owners of the company and co-partners with the management. Very much like a partner, we are open and straightforward in our communications.
Management teams know where we stand, admire our candid and analytical rigour. Sometimes conversations get tough but those are strictly “within the family”.
Trust
We limit our dealings to people we trust. Whether it is life, business, or investing, trust underpins everything we do. Our core ethos is dictum meum pactum (my word is my bond).
Care
Investors entrust us with their money and we are mindful of our fiduciary duty. We invest with thought, and with care. Put simply, we treat investors the way we would like to be treated.
Patience
We’re here to deliver sustainable long-term value, not short-term trading profits. We act only when the right opportunity emerges and “do nothing” when nothing needs to be done.
Business is all about people
We believe the right talent in the right place can make a dramatic difference to the long-term value of any company. We undertake site visits to identify first-class operators and conduct reference checks.
We want to invest alongside superior management teams who understand the importance of culture, people, capital allocation and shareholder value. Hence, we take the time and effort to understand the management’s ethos and motivation. We really want to invest in people we trust and admire.
Adding value... what is a business worth?
We are investors and see ourselves as allocators of capital – we do not wish to be involved in the day-to-day running of any business.
However, over sixty years, the team has studied hundreds of companies and has the capability to value different businesses and sum of parts.
We often know what has worked for other companies and can advise on how to address the gaps. Leaders have found our experience handy – especially during tough times when others have abandoned them.
Partner and network
Our CEOs know their businesses backward and need none of our interference in their day-to-day operations. However, our network and experience is likely to be different and we will help those who value our inputs. We are also able to introduce non-executive directors, advisers, or key recruits who will join because of our association.
We have led investment rounds and become cornerstone investors, significantly accelerating fundraising’s momentum. There is no hiding – we want our companies to succeed and when required, we will dial numbers and put our network to work. We can get the job done.
Honesty in business
Running a business is tough. We run one ourselves and can corfirm!
During all times, we expect the management to run their businesses ethically – not make up numbers or attempt to satisfy short-term market expectations. This may be tempting but pointless (trust us). Instead, they must run their businesses with a long-term mindset, communicate openly and keep all stakeholders in mind. Always.
If the leader is ever doubtful about their behaviour, we offer a simple test. They should stare themselves in the mirror and ask one simple question: Would mum be happy to know this?
We are a growth Platform for
Non-core Funds
Large asset managers have a long tail of uneconomical sub-scale funds. Most also fail the consumer duty test.
We have developed a solution, which is a win-win for all parties.
Fund Managers
Sterling has a ready set-up and provides
an easy plug and play solution for other entrepreneurial Fund Managers.
While the Sterling team deals with all compliance and operational matters, the Fund Manager focuses on investing.
Family Office
We have an intimate first-hand understanding of Family Offices.
Our regulatory infrastructure and relationships with service providers allow a simple one-stop solution. If required, a bespoke Family Fund can also be created.
Careers
Current Opening in Marketing and Sales
We are a boutique and will succeed only if we really add value for our clients. Hence, it is important to have people from different backgrounds in the team – but who share that same ethos.
The firm is entrepreneurial so success is shared. In a world where rule books are getting thicker but honesty quotient is getting thinner, we believe integrity is at a premium. We are proud of our work and it is a privilege (and fun) to work with fantastic colleagues. We love Mondays.
Over the past decade, Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) have had a tremendous ride. In our view, the asset management industry is now re-entering a phase where nimble boutiques will, once again, have an edge. Clients are wary of large firms and are increasingly asking very pertinent questions such as:
Is value being delivered?
Is the manager aligned with the investor or their firm?
Are decisions being taken for the long-term?
Our answer to such questions is a resounding“Yes.”
We are currently looking for a like-minded person to focus on marketing and sales. We are flexible on time and location but our main ask is that you love what you do.
If you do love your craft, give us a try. We are a great bunch. Call your contacts and check us out. We are sure you will hear amazing things.