Aberdeen International fund managers
Not so long ago, when the Hang Seng Index was in the stratosphere and Wall Street wizards still reigned supreme, any institution extolling the benefits of a conservative investment strategy was likely to invite reactions ranging from sympathy to scorn.
Now, of course, in the wake of maelstroms, meltdowns, blowouts and bailouts, the 'safe and steady' approach to making money is once again back in fashion, and those content to stick with it are looking rather smart.
'As a house, we are buy-and-hold long-term investors and, as a rule, are very nervous about things we don't understand,' said Alex Boggis, Hong Kong-based director of Aberdeen International Fund Managers.
'We didn't understand these structured types of products so shied away from them, and we don't hold any US, UK or European financials in our global equity funds.'
The firm's approach, he explained, had always been to invest 'with very high conviction'. That meant focusing on the balance sheets of individual companies, and looking for quality management, steady growth and no sudden changes in policy.
'We are very consistent and have a low turnover of favoured holdings, only buying companies that we know are good and have high cash on their balance sheets,' Mr Boggis said. 'In that sense, you could say we are fairly contrarian.'