Investors Chronicle- In Homer’s Iliad, Troy was razed to the ground by Greek warriors, but Troy Asset Management aims to put up a much better defence for its investors. The boutique fund manager takes its name not from the ancient city but from Lord Weinstock’s British thoroughbred racehorse, winner of the 1979 Epsom Derby.
As chief executive of Troy Asset Management, Sebastian Lyon’s main concern is not to lose investors’ money. He used to work for GEC as one of the team running its pension fund but in 2000 was asked by GEC managing director Lord Weinstock to set up an independent management company to look after £36m of the family fortune, with a brief to look after it conservatively.
Troy’s three funds are open to investors who have £10,000 (or £7,200 in an individual savings account) to invest, and between them they have assets of £258m.
"It’s not an easy time to be a fund manager," admits Mr Lyon, who manages the conservative Trojan Fund and co-manages the more aggressive Trojan Capital Fund. "We will probably continue to be in a bear market for the next year or so."