Founder of Stagecoach reveals £400m investment portfolio

Family-owned Souter Investments has a 14 per cent stake in Stagecoach, as well as undisclosed stakes in a number of other firms including insurance business esure and price comparison site gocompare.

Stagecoach, the bus and rail operator set up by Mr Souter and his sister Ann Gloag, makes up 50 per cent of Souter Investments, and the remainder of the portfolio includes financial services, healthcare and biofuels, and stretches from Scotland to New Zealand.

Mr Souter, who is Stagecoach chief executive, said the vast majority of the investments have proved resilient over the economic downturn and have grown from a value of 250m in 2007 to 400m today.

The strong growth reflected the performance of Stagecoach, which was listed on the stock exchange in 1993 and has delivered a total shareholder return of 121 per cent over the last five financial years.

On the investment company he set up with private equity businessman Andy Macfie, Mr Souter said: "Like many entrepreneurs, I have historically been discreet about my family's investment portfolio.

"However, given the extent of the portfolio and an increasing level of public interest, I have decided that, going forward, we should produce a report on activities on a regular basis."