About Us

CLEAR. CONCISE. UNCOMPLICATED

OUR COMPANY

Rootstock Investment Management is a focused global fund manager, founded in 2009. We are active managers with a well-defined investment philosophy and a rigorous investment process. As long-term investors, we hold a single investment view across all our portfolios. We endeavour to keep our affairs clear, concise, and uncomplicated.


Investments

CLEAR. CONCISE. UNCOMPLICATED

Our investment philosophy

Rootstock Investment Management seeks to achieve real long-term wealth appreciation. We believe that equity is the only credible vehicle able to achieve this goal over time. We also believe that high-quality businesses, purchased at a fair price, will generate shareholder returns similar to that of the internally generated underlying business. Purchasing these businesses for less than their intrinsic value, as we aim to do, serves to enhance shareholder returns. High-quality businesses are exceedingly rare. Accordingly, we own between 20 and 25 companies that meet our stringent investment criteria – non-cyclical businesses with sustainably advantaged competitive positions, high returns on capital, excellent management teams and growing opportunity sets.

Our operating principles

Our in-house research provides us with a deep understanding of the businesses we hold, their respective markets’ underlying dynamics and the resultant risks inherent in their operations. We spend time developing detailed knowledge of business models, competitors, intrinsic profitability, the strength of moats and customer satisfaction for all the businesses we own. We are fundamentally business analysts and base our investment decisions on the durability of a business, not merely its price. Rootstock’s long-term focus allows us to look through adverse shorter-term developments that may negatively affect financial results.

Our track record

While our concentrated portfolio may lead to volatile short-term investment performance, our differentiated approach has allowed us to generally outperform our benchmark and remain in the top decile amongst our peers.
See our Funds page for more detail.


Team

CLEAR. CONCISE. UNCOMPLICATED

THYS DU TOIT

Thys founded Rootstock in 2009 and serves as Chairman of the board. He has over 30 years of investment experience and provides invaluable guidance to the team. Thys holds an BSC and MBA degree.
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JOHAN BARKHUYSEN

Johan serves as Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer. He has been with Rootstock since 2009 as part of the founding team. He oversees all investment research and portfolio management activities. Johan holds a B.Comm Hons. degree and is a CFA Charterholder.
LinkedIn profile

FRANCOIS MALAN

Francois serves as Chief Operating Officer. He joined Rootstock in 2009. He is a member of the investment committee and responsible for all trading activities. Francois holds a B.Comm Hons. degree and is a CFA Charterholder.
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DEVON SMITHERS

Devon is an investment analyst with four years of investment experience. He joined Rootstock in 2016. Devon has a M.Comm Econometrics degree and is a CFA Charterholder.
LinkedIn profile

ANIKA KOTZE

Anika is head of fund and client administration. She joined Rootstock in 2022. Anika holds a B.Comm Hons. degree in Mathematical Sciences with focus area Financial Risk Management.
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THYS VAN ZYL

Thys serves as the Client Relationship and New Business Development Manager. He joined Rootstock in 2022. Thys holds a B.Comm in Investment Management and is a registered member of the South African Institute of Stockbrokers with 10 years of investment experience.
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RETHA DE VILLIERS

Retha joined Rootstock in 2018. She manages the accounting and HR business functions and assists with fund administration. She is a qualified Chartered Accountant.
LinkedIn profile


Terms & Conditions

ACCEPTANCE

With your first visit to our website, these conditions will become effective and they constitute a prevailing binding agreement between Rootstock and yourself. Each time you access our site, the current version of these conditions will apply automatically.

INFORMATION ONLY

All information on our website is only intended as general information about Rootstock, our products and our services. No information on this site should be seen as an offer to do business with us. From time to time, information will be supplied on our objectives and future plans, income, dividends and other fund information. This information should not be treated as professional or investment advice of any kind.

DISCLAIMER

Information contained on our website is updated regularly. Due to the nature of the information posted, it becomes outdated quickly. We therefore caution you to independently corroborate the correctness of information on the website. Rootstock does not accept liability resulting from reliance on outdated information.

Although we have taken care to ensure that the content on this site is accurate and that you suffer no loss or damage as a result of your use of this site, the online services and the website are provided "as is" and entirely at your own risk. You assume full responsibility for any risk or loss resulting from your use of this site and your reliance on the material and information contained on it.

Your Privacy & Security

We are committed to keeping your information confidential and have ensured that the necessary information security systems and processes are in place to guard against breaches in confidentiality. We only use your personal information to improve our services to you and do not sell, rent or trade your personal information to anyone, unless disclosure is required under law. This website gathers and analyses pooled information on our visitors’ routine visits and may contain links to other websites. Rootstock is not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of such other websites.

Should you wish to access your personal and financial information on our website, unauthorized access is prevented by placing your information on the secure area of the website. You will be required to enter a unique User Name and Password each time you want to access your account.

Information Feeds

We may use the services of other organisations to provide information on our website. We have no control over this information and make no representations or warranties of any nature as to its accuracy, relevance or correctness. Such information is provided "as is" and Rootstock will not be directly or indirectly liable for any damages that may arise from your reliance on it. Some data shown on the site is delayed by a maximum of 2,5 days.

Intellectual Property

We retain the copyright and other intellectual property rights in all material, including logos and other graphics and multimedia works published on or via the site.

Software

No warranty is given that any files, downloads or applications available via this site are free of viruses which has the ability to corrupt or affect the operation of your computer, database, network or other information system.

Transmission of Information

Information transmitted via the internet, including e-mail, is vulnerable to unlawful access or monitoring. Users shall bear all risk of transmitting such information in this manner.

Complaint Resolutions

Please see our Complaint Resolutions Policy.

Conflict of Interests

Please see our Conflict of Interests Policy.

Jurisdiction

Any use of the website, shall be subject to South African law and only South African courts shall have jurisdiction to hear disputes arising there from.

Promotion of Access to Information

The Promotion of Access to Information Act, No 2 of 2002 was enacted to give effect to the constitutional right of access to any information held by any private or public body that is required for the exercise or protection of any rights. Certain requirements, however, have to be met for access to any information being granted. The Act requires that a manual be prepared to assist people in exercising their right of access to information. Please see our Promotion of Access to Information Manual.

Our Address for Notices & Service of Legal Process

  • Rootstock Investment Management
  • 8 Helderberg Street
  • Stellenbosch
  • 7600
  • South Africa

Company Registration Details

Rootstock Investment Management (Pty) Limited, with registration number 2008/013785/07, is a company duly incorporated according to the Laws of the Republic of South Africa, and has been approved by the Financial Services Board as a Financial Services Provider in terms of the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act 37 of 2002, FSP License Number 36572.

General

If you have any questions or do not understand anything in these conditions please send an email to christelle@complianceservices.co.za and we will respond to you as soon as possible.

CONTACT

T.
+27 21 883 2655

PHYSICAL ADDRESS

8 Helderberg Street
Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa

Postal ADDRESS

PO Box 722
Stellenbosch, 7599,
South Africa

GPS COORDINATES

-33.9397726,18.8622438
S 33 56 23, E 18 51 44
S 33 56.383, E 18 51.733