Australian investment group EC Pohl & Co has acquired Leeds-based Sanford DeLand Asset Management, the company behind the TM SDL UK Buffettology and Free Spirit funds. The move marks another step in EC Pohl & Co’s expansion across the UK and EMEA markets following its earlier equity stake in Athelney Trust plc and the launch of its ECP Global Growth Fund in 2023.
The acquisition adds experienced UK fund managers and strengthens the group’s operational base in the region. Sanford DeLand will retain its existing investment team, led by Eric Burns, David Beggs, and Chloe Smith, who will continue managing both funds under their current approach. Founder Keith Ashworth-Lord will stay on during the transition period, set to conclude next year.
The deal gives EC Pohl & Co deeper access to UK retail and institutional investors while offering Sanford DeLand the scale and infrastructure of a larger parent company. Both firms aim to maintain continuity for existing fund investors as the integration proceeds.
