Ecofin: convincing investors to utilise the utilities sector
A cyclical shift back to value investing convinced Ecofin that the time was ripe for a specialised fund
Launching the first global utilities long/short hedge fund in October 2004 posed an unusual challenge for Ecofin, the London-based asset manager and corporate finance house specialising in the utilities sector. With a unique investment vehicle, the managers had their work cut out in educating potential investors of the opportunities available in what is very much a niche sector.
"The sector aspect was a handicap at the beginning because a lot of investors were not allocating money to sector funds - not necessarily by choice - but due to a lack of opportunities," says Vincent Barnouin, managing director of Ecofin. "So we have spent a disproportionate amount of time on the marketing side...