AFM Fund Profile — Forager Australian Shares Fund (ASX: FOR)

Fund & Manager Details

Key Facts

Fund Type: Single Discretionary/Quantitative: Discretionary
Strategy: Equity Long FUM (millions): AU$173.7m
Style: Value Fund Inception Date: Since 30 October 2009
Geographic Mandate: Australia Latest Return Date: October 2024
Fund Domicile: Australia Investor Type: Retail
Status: Open Reporting Status: Current

Manager Details and Fund Description

Manager: Forager Funds Total FUM for all funds: AU$496.3m
Manager Overview:
Forager Funds Management was launched by Steven Johnson in 2009 as Intelligent Investor Funds Management, as part of the Intelligent Investor group which provided value investing advice to retail investors through a subscription based publishing business for the previous 10 years.

In 2014 the Intelligent Investor publication was sold to new management, and the investment manager was renamed Forager Funds Management. The investment manager has grown and has six investment staff across both the Australian fund (which is listed on the ASX) and the Global fund.

Steven Johnson, Forager's Chief Investment Officer has been a director and shareholder of Forager since inception and was previously a director and shareholder of Intelligent Investor. Prior to that he worked at Macquarie Group and UBS. Steven has a Bachelor of Economics (Econometrics and Finance) from the University of New South Wales and is a CFA charter holder. His experience is focused on value investing, and includes writing research and providing investment recommendations for Intelligent Investor, and as Chief Investment Officer of Forager Funds Management since inception.
Fund/Strategy Overview:
The Fund is permitted to invest in any ASX-listed security and hold unlisted securities (up to 10%) and as much cash as is deemed appropriate.

The aim to maximise the Fund's expected return whilst taking calculated risks. There is a focus on avoiding permanent capital losses although accept that there are risks of investing in deep value stocks when undertaking research.

The Fund is a concentrated portfolio of 20-30 stocks and is structured as an LIT.
Other funds operated by manager:
Forager International Shares Fund

Investment Details

Investment Terms

Minimum Investment: Minimum Additional Investment: Minimum Term: Investment Frequency:
AU$20,000 AU$1,000 1 Weekly
Regular Savings Option: Regular Savings Min. Amount : Regular Savings Max. Amount : Regular Savings Freq.:
No  
Redemption Notice: Redemption Frequency: Notes:
Weekly
Distributions: Distribution Frequency: Last Distribution Date: Last Distribution Amount:
Yes Annually 30 June 2014 AU$0.08487

Structure

Offshore/Onshore: Fund Structure: Share Classes: Trustee/Responsible Entity:
Onshore LIC AU$ The Trust Company (RE Services)
Administrator: Prime Broker: Custodian: Legal:
White Outsourcing N/A White Outsourcing MinterEllison

Fund Fees

Management Fee: Performance Fee: High Water Mark: Hurdle:
1% 10% Yes 8% per annum before the deduction of any fees, costs, expenses or taxes
Buy Spread: Sell spread: Early Redemption Fee: Fees Notes:
0.250% 0.250% No

Performance & Risk

Returns

Latest Return Date: Latest Result: Fund Inception Date: Annualised Return:
October 2024 1.58% 30 October 2009 9.85%
Latest 3 Months: Latest 6 Months: Latest 12 Months: Latest 2 Years p.a.:
6.20% 9.10% 30.12% 14.30%
Latest 3 Years p.a.: Latest 4 Years p.a.: Latest 5 Years p.a.: Latest 7 Years p.a.:
-0.55% 10.54% 8.10% 4.34%

Performance Statistics

% Positive Months (S.I.): Average Return: Average +ve Return: Average -ve Return:
59.44% 0.96% 3.98% -3.46%
Best Month: Worst Month: Up Capture Ratio (S.I.): Down Capture Ratio (S.I.):
20.57% -39.71% 71.35% 90.16%
Largest Drawdown (S.I.): Longest Drawdown (S.I.): Current Drawdown (%): Current Drawdown (Months):
-54.17% 35 months -3.02% 34 months

Risk

Annualised Standard Deviation (S.I.): Downside Deviation (S.I.): Sortino Ratio (S.I.): -
19.76% 13.57% 0.52 -
Sharpe Ratio (12 months): Sharpe Ratio (3 years): Sharpe Ratio (5 years): Sharpe Ratio (S.I.):
2.96 -0.10 0.37 0.47
Please note, Sharpe and Sortino ratios are calculated using the Australian Risk Free Rate

Ranking, Research & Availability

Fund Quintile in its Peer Group (Equity Long - Small/Mid Cap - Australia) as at August 2024

AFM's Quintile Rankings show performance and Key Performance Indicators (KPI's) of Forager Australian Shares Fund (ASX: FOR) compared to a peer group of funds with a similar strategy and geographic mandate. Each green square places a fund in one quintile (or 20%) of its peer group - five indicating that the fund is in the top (best) quintile for the corresponding KPI.

As a reference point the equivalent "quintile" performance of the peer group's underlying market index is also indicated by the red dot.

1 Year
3 Year
5 Year
7 Year
Forager Australian Shares Fund (ASX: FOR)
ASX200 Total Return

External Research and Ratings: As reported by each Fund Manager.

No external fund ratings provided

Availability:As reported by each Fund Manager.

No investment platforms supplied

News & Insights

Twitter bids, social media monetisation and control in volatile markets
3 May 2022 - Forager Funds Management
In this episode, CIO Steve Johnson & Senior Analyst Chloe Stokes discuss the bid for Twitter, social media monetisation, and control in volatile markets.
Read more...
American bourbon and business insights
5 Apr 2022 - Forager Funds Management
Haven't travelled in a while? Then join Steve Johnson and Gareth Brown in Chicago, as they reflect on their findings at a recent U.S. business conference.
Read more...
Supply chains, logistics and inflation
22 Mar 2022 - Forager Funds Management
In this video, Forager's Steve Johnson and Chloe Stokes discuss a topic that's been top of mind for investors: cost inflation and what it might mean for the future.
Read more...

Fund Documents

Manager's Report

Product disclosure/IM



Fund Performance

Historical Performance (all figures shown here are net of fees unless otherwise stated)

Year Jan % Feb % Mar % Apr % May % Jun % Jul % Aug % Sep % Oct % Nov % Dec % YTD %
2024 -1.07 4.43 1.59 1.24 -0.51 1.66 1.57 1.22 3.29 1.58 N/R N/R 15.93
2023 5.95 -4.62 -3.85 2.61 0.34 0.34 4.18 1.51 -0.54 -6.45 4.76 7.14 10.86
2022 -7.55 -7.48 2.86 -7.29 -9.60 -12.30 12.28 1.67 -6.53 7.58 5.75 -3.87 -24.54
2021 -3.05 4.07 1.21 13.23 0.26 1.62 5.01 2.58 0.45 1.57 -1.35 2.81 31.31
2020 2.46 -10.97 -39.71 20.57 18.04 -2.16 3.70 18.80 2.00 7.79 13.22 3.56 21.62
2019 0.98 4.46 -0.95 -2.02 -3.97 -1.46 6.67 -1.09 4.38 1.54 -3.22 -1.50 3.27
2018 -0.57 -3.18 -2.64 2.77 -0.97 1.91 -0.52 -1.90 -2.19 -6.16 -3.78 -3.68 -19.30
2017 7.20 1.29 1.60 1.16 1.16 1.00 2.32 -0.95 2.69 0.95 0.21 4.06 24.92
2016 -1.33 2.70 4.40 2.48 1.51 -3.92 6.99 3.25 4.50 -1.99 -4.65 1.76 16.08
2015 0.94 3.38 4.87 -2.42 3.13 -2.34 7.94 -4.46 -1.38 12.87 -2.97 0.22 20.06
2014 1.05 0.48 -1.28 -3.44 1.28 -0.15 6.70 2.56 -1.23 -2.06 -0.21 -1.15 2.21
2013 5.83 4.86 4.51 1.41 2.65 -0.69 10.45 1.13 4.77 2.50 -0.11 0.38 44.21
2012 1.53 8.90 5.02 2.17 -0.51 -2.64 8.70 0.44 2.83 -3.07 4.57 0.33 31.20
2011 1.58 0.47 -1.49 3.40 -5.39 -0.83 -1.00 -2.61 -7.20 9.89 -0.02 -4.62 -8.55
2010 -1.66 0.08 -0.34 4.60 -4.27 -4.40 4.97 -2.40 -2.80 -1.54 3.12 6.59 1.19
2009 N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R -0.69 2.52 1.81

Historical Financial Year Performance (all figures shown here are are percentage per month net of fees unless otherwise stated)

Year Jul % Aug % Sep % Oct % Nov % Dec % Jan % Feb % Mar % Apr % May % Jun % FYTD %
2024/2025 1.57 1.22 3.29 1.58 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 7.87
2023/2024 4.18 1.51 -0.54 -6.45 4.76 7.14 -1.07 4.43 1.59 1.24 -0.51 1.66 18.69
2022/2023 12.28 1.67 -6.53 7.58 5.75 -3.87 5.95 -4.62 -3.85 2.61 0.34 0.34 17.13
2021/2022 5.01 2.58 0.45 1.57 -1.35 2.81 -7.55 -7.48 2.86 -7.29 -9.60 -12.30 -27.92
2020/2021 3.70 18.80 2.00 7.79 13.22 3.56 -3.05 4.07 1.21 13.23 0.26 1.62 87.09
2019/2020 6.67 -1.09 4.38 1.54 -3.22 -1.50 2.46 -10.97 -39.71 20.57 18.04 -2.16 -18.36
2018/2019 -0.52 -1.90 -2.19 -6.16 -3.78 -3.68 0.98 4.46 -0.95 -2.02 -3.97 -1.46 -19.58
2017/2018 2.32 -0.95 2.69 0.95 0.21 4.06 -0.57 -3.18 -2.64 2.77 -0.97 1.91 6.50
2016/2017 6.99 3.25 4.50 -1.99 -4.65 1.76 7.20 1.29 1.60 1.16 1.16 1.00 25.17
2015/2016 7.94 -4.46 -1.38 12.87 -2.97 0.22 -1.33 2.70 4.40 2.48 1.51 -3.92 18.03
2014/2015 6.70 2.56 -1.23 -2.06 -0.21 -1.15 0.94 3.38 4.87 -2.42 3.13 -2.34 12.31
2013/2014 10.45 1.13 4.77 2.50 -0.11 0.38 1.05 0.48 -1.28 -3.44 1.28 -0.15 17.72
2012/2013 8.70 0.44 2.83 -3.07 4.57 0.33 5.83 4.86 4.51 1.41 2.65 -0.69 36.89
2011/2012 -1.00 -2.61 -7.20 9.89 -0.02 -4.62 1.53 8.90 5.02 2.17 -0.51 -2.64 7.75
2010/2011 4.97 -2.40 -2.80 -1.54 3.12 6.59 1.58 0.47 -1.49 3.40 -5.39 -0.83 5.11
2009/2010 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -0.69 2.52 -1.66 0.08 -0.34 4.60 -4.27 -4.40 -4.40