ZADIG AM / OUR PHILOSOPHY
Zadig (European Equities Long/Short)
The significance of the name ‘Zadig’ is fundamental to our company philosophy.
Zadig Asset Management takes its name from the protagonist of the novel ‘Zadig, or the Book of Fate’, written by the French Enlightenment philosopher Voltaire. Voltaire’s name was chosen by our main partner, Laurent Saglio, for his previous fund.
Zadig, a young man blessed with a good education, overcomes the trials and tribulations that life engenders on his travels. At the end he rules over a glorious empire: “The whole country was sway’d by Love and Justice.” The novel underlines Voltaire’s enlightenment belief that if a man is endowed with good sense, patience, ingenuity and courage, this will ensure his eventual triumph of wisdom over destiny.
Zadig Asset Management’s rational and cautious approach to investment pays homage to its namesake and is key to our team’s success. Our research efforts allow us, like Zadig’s character, to overcome markets’ irrational moods in delivering superior returns to our investors. Our investment principles are founded upon buying quality assets on low valuations and building a risk-controlled and diversified portfolio. Only the strongest investment cases survive our Darwinian investment approach.
Memnon (European Equities Long Only)
‘Memnon, or Human Wisdom’, a short novel by Voltaire, was the title of the first edition of ‘Zadig, or the Book of Fate’. The story of a gentleman who wishes to become infinitely wise, but has to learn the hard way to become a realist.
The art of investment is to know the principles but to apply them wisely and let common sense and realism prevail in stock picking.
Please click on the links below to read these two short stories by Voltaire: