Souter Investments Keeps Deal-Making Steady Despite Global Market Volatility

On June 25, Bloomberg reported that Souter Investments is making deals continuously despite global market fluctuations. The family office of Brian Souter, co-founder of Stagecoach, has no plans to slow down. While international markets swing and many money managers retreat, Souter’s firm stays sharp. Last month, it co-invested with Horizon Capital to acquire a majority stake in ERA Group. The Edinburgh-based office now eyes further deals. With £388 million in assets, Souter, 71, believes in staying active across the cycle. “We don’t dip in and dip out,” he said, reaffirming his long-term investment outlook and refusal to follow trends.

Souter Investments Takes the Long View in Private Equity

Souter Investments has always focused on long-term thinking. Brian Souter built Stagecoach by betting against the norm, and he takes the same approach with his family office. His firm avoids large buyout funds, choosing instead to invest directly or alongside smaller firms. That gives them greater control. They can decide how involved to be, when to exit, and where to reinvest. Their recent move into ERA Group reflects this approach, targeting opportunities under the radar of bigger names like Blackstone. Souter’s method shows discipline. Even in uncertain times, his strategy remains clear and consistent.

The firm’s investments span multiple sectors. From financial services and energy to health care, it has diversified far beyond transport. Stagecoach once made up most of Souter’s wealth. But in early 2022, it represented just 16% of total assets. This shift wasn’t an accident, it was deliberate and steady. Souter noted, “It has been very successful as a policy.” His decision to reduce concentration and spread risk helped protect his fortune. That same year, Deutsche Bank’s DWS Infrastructure acquired Stagecoach in an all-cash deal. Souter and his sister Ann Gloag received around £120 million.

A Unique Approach to Wealth: Inside the Souter Investments Philosophy

Souter Investments is not like typical institutional investors. Most private equity firms work with fixed time frames. They enter deals and aim to exit in five to seven years. Souter’s firm doesn’t follow that pattern. Some of its holdings go well beyond a decade. That’s because the firm isn’t under pressure to deliver quick returns to outside investors. It manages the Souter family’s wealth, and that allows for patience. They often take board positions and stay close to company operations. This hands-on approach offers more influence and deeper insight.

While geopolitical uncertainty makes others nervous, Souter Investments sees possibility. Managing director Calum Cusiter says their “risk antenna” is simply more alert now. The firm doesn’t avoid risk, it studies it closely. That has become a growing advantage as family offices rise in global finance. They are faster, nimbler, and more flexible than large institutions. According to BlackRock, over half of 175 family offices say geopolitics now plays a critical role in their decisions. For Souter’s team, that doesn’t mean pulling back, it means adapting, staying ready, and spotting hidden value.

A Steady Hand in an Unsteady World

Souter Investments stands out for its focus, patience, and independence. It doesn’t chase headlines or compete with the biggest names in private equity. Instead, it looks for value in places others overlook. This philosophy is rooted in Souter’s own story. From his days as an accountant at Arthur Andersen to building Britain’s largest bus company, he’s always trusted careful judgment over hype. And when he started the family office nearly two decades ago, he did so with that same clarity. The firm has now made over 50 deals. Many of them stretch across industries and geographies. 

Alongside these, Souter has also given back, channeling around £25 million from the Stagecoach deal into his foundation, which oversees over £100 million in assets. That giving is also part of his legacy. But from a business view, the best decision after starting Stagecoach, in his own words, was creating the family office. In an environment that constantly shifts, from Trump-era tariffs to unrest in the Middle East, Souter Investments continues to prove one thing. A long-term vision, sharp instincts, and patient capital can still win in today’s fast-moving world.