Fund Management

John Pennink, LLB, CFA

John Pennink joined Asset Value Investors in 1999. He worked closely with John Walton on British Empire Trust and the endowment portfolios for 6 years. He has been joint manager of British Empire Trust since 2001 and is now the sole manager.

John spent 3 years as a fund manager in Hong Kong with Regent Pacific from 1994 to 1997. He then spent two years investing in emerging European markets while based in Moscow with Regent Pacific and EPIC Securities.

John has a law degree from the University of British Columbia and qualified as a Chartered Financial Analyst in 1999.

Mark Townsend, MSc, FRICS

Mark Townsend is the Fund Manager of the European Asset Value Fund (TEAVF) which he has managed since inception in 1994.

Previously, Mark worked for Pearl and Norwich Union as a Fund Manager gaining special expertise in the European Property sector.

Mark is a graduate of both Portsmouth and Reading Universities and has an MSc and FRICS qualification.

Joe Bauernfreund, BSc, MSc

Joe joined Asset Value Investors in July 2002 as Investment Analyst, following completion of a Masters in Finance from the London Business School. Joe is joint manager with John Pennink on some of the client portfolios as well as supporting the manager of British Empire Securities and General Trust plc.

Prior to joining Asset Value Investors, Joe worked 6 years for a real estate investment organisation in London.

Operations

Meteora Partners LLP

A team of specialists effectively taking on all the functions of a COO, CFO, and CO, including finance & accounting, operations, compliance, and human resources.

Business Development

Kimmberly Lau, BA (Finance)

Kimmberly joined AVI in October 2003 as Business Development Director. She is responsible for the firms various asset gathering strategies, working closely with the managers of the client portfolios.

Kimmberly has spent seven years in sales and research specializing in emerging markets with Commerzbank and Wood & Company. Prior to that, she was a management consultant in Central Europe.

Kimmberly has a degree in Finance and Economics from Oregon State University.

Investment Research

Scott Beveridge, BSc (Actuarial Science)

Scott joined AVI in October 2005 as Investment Analyst. He works closely with the Fund Managers to provide analysis of the current investments and potential investments in the portfolio. Scott is focused on the property strategy.

Scott has two years investment analyst experience with Fundamental Data doing quantitative analysis. He has a degree in Actuarial Science from University of Kent, Canterbury.

Shantanu Basu, MBA (Chartered Accountant)

Shantanu joined AVI in May 2009 as Investment Analyst following completion of an MBA from the University of Edinburgh. He works closely with the Fund Managers to provide analysis of the current investments and potential investments in the portfolio focused on the global strategy.

Previously, Shantanu was a Business Analyst at Larsen & Toubro Infotech, an Account Executive at KPIT Cummins Infosystems and worked in internal audit at Tata Motor Finance.

Trading

Francesca Eady, ASI

Francesca joined Asset Value Investors in 1989. She became head of trading in 1999, and is responsible for the firm's intensive activity in the accumulation and disposal of shareholdings.

Daniel Sadler, BBS (Finance)

Daniel joined Asset Value Investors in October 2003 to provide ongoing trade support and now is responsible for the firms trading activities alongside the head of trading. He previously worked at Sovereign Asset Management in Auckland.

Daniel graduated from Massey University in 2002 with a degree in Business Studies majoring in Finance.

Office Management

Nicola Cowman, BA (Business Studies)

Nicola joined AVI in April 2004 as Office Manager and is responsible for the operations of the office. She also provides support to the fund administration side of the business.

Nicola graduated from Derby University with a degree in Business Studies in 1995.

Kirsten Hughes, BBus (International Business)

Kirsten joined AVI in February 2010 as an administration assistant to provide general secretarial support and assist the co-ordination of office management activities.

Kirsten graduated from Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Australia with a degree in International Business in 1993.

Founder

John Walton, BSc (Econ), ASIP

John Walton founded the business in 1985 as the company responsible for the management of British Empire Securities and General Trust plc (British Empire), and personally managed the portfolio from then until 2001. He managed an endowment portfolio from 1994 to 2006.

He graduated from University College, London University (UCL) in 1968 with a degree in Economics; he was Head of Investment Research at a major London investment bank; an acquisitions analyst for a quoted property company; and in 1975 Investment Manager and later Director of Investments for the London operations of a Canadian Life company. By 1987 John was involved full time as MD of Asset Value Investors and its client funds.