First Eagle Investment Management, LLC is a New York City-based firm that provides investment advisory services to investment companies, pooled investment vehicles, pension and profit sharing plans, charitable organizations government entities.
First Eagle Investment Management Background
First Eagle Investment Advisors has been a registered investment advisor since 1995. However, its origins date back to 1864 when the company was founded in Dresden as Arnhold Brothers. The company continued to grow, merging with S. Bleichroeder, and in 1937 it moved its headquarters to New York City. Previously known as Arnhold and S. Bleichroeder Advisers, LLC, the firm was renamed to its current name, First Eagle Investment Management, in 2009.
First Eagle is an independent firm that's owned by the holding company, First Eagle Holdings, Inc. According to the company, its largest investors throughout its history have been the Arnhold family and key employees.
First Eagle Investment Management Clients and Minimum Account Sizes
First Eagle Investment Management is only an option for individual investors who have a high net worth, which the SEC defines as an individual with at least $750,000 under management or a net worth that exceeds $1.5 million. In addition to high-net-worth individuals, First Eagle provides investment advisory services to mutual funds, private investment funds and institutional accounts. It's also the investment advisor to two registered investment companies, First Eagle Funds and First Eagle Variable Funds.
Account minimums at First Eagle range from $50 million to $200 million.
Services Offered by First Eagle Investment Management
First Eagle Investment Management provides investment advisory services, and it generally manages accounts on a discretionary basis. The company manages various types of portfolios, including equity, fixed income and multi-asset portfolios. It also manages various mutual funds and both launches and manages hedge funds.
First Eagle Investment Management Investment Philosophy
First Eagle says that its primary goal is to preserve capital while seeking attractive returns. The firm’s investment principles include “in-depth fundamental analysis, a flexible, benchmark-agnostic approach, a focus on absolute returns and the goal of providing our clients with a measure of capital preservation in market downturns.”
First Eagle believes that there's no "right way" to achieve certain investment goals, so it offers numerous strategies and funds that take a different approaches. The firm currently manages the following investment strategies:
- Global value: invests in global equity markets
- International value: invests in non-U.S. equity markets
- International small cap value: invests in small cap companies
- High yield: invests in high-yield, below-investment-grade instruments
- Gold: invests securities related to gold or issuers engaged in the gold industry
- U.S. value: invests primarily in domestic equity and debt instruments, as well as securities of non-U.S. issuers
- Global income builder: invests primarily in common stocks of U.S. and foreign companies and fixed income
Thus, First Eagle's investment decisions depend on the particular investment strategy chosen, as well as any restrictions or guidelines implemented by the client.
Fees Under First Eagle Investment Management
For separate account management, First Eagle typically charges clients an annual asset-based fee. In certain cases, the firm may also charge a performance-based fee. This fee is based on a percentage of the profits, a percentage of the increase in net asset value or a percentage of the profits beyond an agreed upon benchmark. A client’s exact fee arrangement will be laid out in his or her written agreement with the firm.
What to Watch Out For
Eagle Investment has two disclosures on reported on its 2021 Form ADV.
The firm also tells clients on the form that its services are "not intended to provide a complete investment program" and that it "assumes that investors will not invest all their assets" in one of its funds or accounts. It advises investors to further diversify their assets to decrease risk.
Opening an Account With First Eagle Investment Management
First Eagle makes it easy to apply for a new account. The application to open a new, non-retirement account is provided on the firm's website, under the tab “Documents and Forms.” Once filled out, the form must be wired or mailed to a regular mail address and an overnight address, both of which are provided on the application form.
For questions about setting up an account, you can call Shareholder Services at (212) 698-3300.
Where Is First Eagle Investment Management Located?
First Eagle Investment Management has its headquarters in New York. The office is located in midtown Manhattan on the Avenue of the Americas. The firm also has offices in London and Japan.
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