Frederic Lecoq

Explores and mines for mineral properties

Gryphon Investment Counsel is a GARP manager. Their investment philosophy is based on the idea that value can be added to client benchmarks by both security selection and by actively managing the asset mix. Their investment process begins by developing a broad-based macroeconomic view of the world. This involves developing forward estimates and price levels for key North American markets, forecasts of both long- and short-term interest rates, GDP, inflation and other macroeconomic factors. Based on these forecasted variables, a range of independent scenarios is developed and assessed for the likelihood of occurrence. This forecasting technique assists in determining the return and risk profile for individual asset classes. In general, the firm tends to invest in the stocks of large-cap companies in the finance and commercial services sectors. Gryphon offers the following strategies: balanced, Canadian equities, foreign equities and fixed-income. The firm's Canadian equity portfolios are built using a fundamental stock selection approach. They seek to identify growth potential by focusing on specific financial and industry variables that vary in significance depending on the stage in the economic cycle. The portfolio seeks to capitalize on economic and financial market themes that are expected to outperform in the next 12 to 18 months. Their investment process develops estimates and price levels for key North American markets, forecasts of both long and short-term interest rates, GDP, inflation and other macroeconomic factors. These themes are used as a basis for the specific over/under-weightings of TSX sectors. Individual security selection is driven by bottom-up fundamental analysis of earnings, cash flow, balance sheets and industry dynamics. The firm's foreign equity investment approach is based on qualitative judgment that is enhanced by computer-generated screening. The process focuses on stock selection and primarily employs a company specific, bottom-up process. Approximately 80% of the research performed is company specific. The remaining 20% is derived from a top-down, macro-overlay that considers broader sector, regional, economic and political considerations. Gryphon seeks to identify the most attractive global growth companies that are not only best-in-class but are also attractive investments based on absolute valuation criteria. Gryphon also offers a focused, all-cap growth portfolio that has a long-term investment horizon. Gryphon's balanced fund management approach seeks to identify, in advance, the potential rewards and risks of the complete portfolio structure and balance the diversification trade-offs in a risk-aware portfolio management style. They use a top-down approach to evaluate the world's major economies and then narrow their search to North America and then to Canada. The firm sets the weights for Canadian, US and EAFE equities, bonds and cash. The asset mix is continuously reviewed based on stock selection and the term structure of the bond portfolio. Gryphon's fixed-income strategy is based on a top-down approach that begins with a consideration of economic analysis, supply and demand pressures in the credit markets and fiscal and monetary policy. They focus primarily on the US and Canada. Gryphon also considers technical factors such as dealer inventories and near-term new issue supply. On a continuous basis, they forecast multiple interest rates scenarios for the upcoming 6 to 12 months, as well as, the yield curves associated with each scenario. A duration range is set based on their view of the interest rate scenario that is most likely to occur over the period. The alternate scenarios are used to define and quantify the risk associated with this duration setting and to modify it accordingly. After the duration range has been set, portfolios are structured with bonds that offer the best risk return profile within the duration range. At this stage, Gryphon uses optimization techniques and proprietary modeling software to set the optimal duration. Portfolios are continuously reviewed to ensure that the acceptable risk/reward relationship is maintained. The level of risk chosen depends on the incremental rates of return expected to be earned or foregone for portfolios of higher and lower risk and the client's specific risk tolerance level.

Provides hydroelectric solutions