Geneva-Headquartered Argos Takes Aim At UK Market, Eyes Expansion

Anna Hallissey

15 January 2014

Swiss firm is to expand its operations in the UK in a move towards what it calls the “centre of the investment management world”.

The Geneva-based specialist boutique investment firm aims to open an office in the UK in “due course”, a spokesperson for the business told this publication. It also hopes to similarly grow in France and Luxembourg, despite initial focus on the institutional market in its home country.

“London remains the centre of the investment management world and so having a strong presence in both centres is an important part of our future strategy,” said chief executive Jean Keller in a statement.

“Our view is that a two centre approach will offer us a competitive advantage - the best of both worlds,” she added.

Argos was founded in 2005; it is a specialist boutique investment firm which manages a number of specialist high conviction investment strategies including European microcap fund “Argonaut”. This fund is co-managed by two UK European micro-cap specialists, Philip Best and Marc St John Webb.

Best who started his career at Warburg’s, leads a team of 14 investment professionals operating out of Geneva. It also partners with external specialist managers such as Aubrey Capital Management of Edinburgh.