NEWS
12 Feb 2015 - Fund Review Monash Absolute Investment Fund January 2015
MONASH ABSOLUTE INVESTMENT FUND
- The Fund is a research driven, active equity long/short strategy investing in listed ASX companies.
- The Fund seeks to identify opportunities in the share market to make positive returns (long and short) irrespective of market conditions. It is style agnostic, as compelling investment opportunities exist across all investment styles from time to time. The Fund places a high priority on capital preservation, and has an absolute return focus in accepting market risk.
Sean Webster
Research and Database Manager
Australian Fund Monitors
6 Feb 2015 - Fund Review Supervised High Yield Fund December 2014
We would like to highlight the following aspects of the Fund:
- The Supervised High Yield Fund (SHYF) has a 5 year track record investing in fixed interest investments. The Investment strategy aims to deliver returns with zero correlation to equity markets by investing in debt securities with minimal default probability and offering a premium return above the risk free rate.
- The Fund is managed by Philip Carden whose experience in debt and capital markets spans 35 years, including time with JB Were's Capel Court Securities and Macquarie Bank, where he was the Executive Director responsible for the Debt Markets Division.
- SHYF is an Alternative Income fund which invests in Global and Australian debt markets, with all foreign currency receivables hedged back to Australian dollars.
- The Fund utilises a top down analysis of the economic environment and market to screen and identify debt market opportunities which it believes offer low risk with high yield. The next stage is the development of a risk matrix and investment strategy, following which detailed research is undertaken on specific investment opportunities which meet the pre-defined criteria established in the investment strategy.
- Prior to approving an investment for the Fund each potential investment is subject to two stress tests. The first of these is for credit and default risk, in which the investment is stress-tested to ensure that in a worst case economic environment it can repay 100% of its principal and interest obligations case scenario for the asset by examining the highest margin over the risk rate that the investment has previously experienced in a crisis situation. Any decline in value under the stress test that exceeds 10% of the Fund's value is avoided The second test examines market risk. In this case Carden looks at the worst case scenario for the asset by examining the highest margin over the risk rate that the investment has previously experienced in a crisis situation. Any decline in value under the stress test that exceeds 10% of the Fund's value is avoided.
Research and Database Manager
Australian Fund Monitors

6 Feb 2015 - 2015 Market Outlook: Looking Forward, Looking Back
2015 Market Outlook: "Looking forward, Looking back"
12 Feburary 2015: 12:00 - 2:00pm
2014 is now behind us, and the Australian equity market has essentially moved sideways since January. Interest rates have been on hold all year, and at record low levels of just 2.5%. The Aussie $ has finally cracked previous support, and if RBA Governor Glen Stevens has his way, has further to fall. Meanwhile the US market has continued to outperform, and YTD is up 7.6%.
By all accounts 2014 has been a difficult year for many investors, yet as at the end of November almost 60% of local fund managers had outperformed the market, while the best have returned over 20% since the start of the year.
So 2015 looms, with uncertainty probably being the major issue. Uncertainty about the markets, growth in the US and China, commodity prices, property and interest rates abound, while overshadowing all of those might be the performance of the government's handling of their first budget and the economy.
With that in mind, the subject of our first investor event in 2015 is aptly entitled "Looking forward, Looking Back". Join us to hear the opinion of four of our most respected fund managers reflect on 2014, and more importantly, provide their opinion on what the markets might hold in 2015, including:
- Simon Shields from Monash Investors,
- George Colman from Optimal Australia.
- Monik Kotecha, Insync Fund Managers; and
- John Corr from Aurora
Date: Thursday 12th February 2015
Time: 12:00 - 2:00pm (light lunch will be served)
Venue: Sydney CBD
Cost: Complimentary for Investors and Advisors
To assist with catering and other arrangement please RSVP here and we will forward your ticket with full details of the venue.
26 Jan 2015 - Fund In Focus - Morphic Global Opportunities Fund
Jack Lowenstein, the Joint CIO of the Morphic Global Opportunities Fund discusses the Fund's performance in December 2014 and condition of the market.
Watch AFM's other videos.
19 Dec 2014 - Fund In Focus - Morphic Global Opportunities Fund
Jack Lowenstein, the Joint CIO of the Morphic Global Opportunities Fund discusses the Fund's performance in November 2014 and condition of the market.
Watch AFM's other videos.
28 Nov 2014 - Efficiency in a Regulated World
INVESTMENT ADMINISTRATION CONFERENCE
Efficiency in a Regulated World
18 February 2015, Ivy Ballroom Sydney
This industry-leading event will bring together those shaping the future of investment fund administration in Australia to explore the key issues defining investment operations over the next five years.
The event will showcase the latest developments in efficiency, technology, strategy, reporting, processes, compliance and custodian relationships, with a focus on reducing costs and increasing returns for your fund.
This is a must attend for chief executive officers, chief operating officers, and senior operations staff from superannuation funds, funds managers, custodians and other providers.
Key issues to be examined include:
- Driving efficiency through the enhanced measurement, reporting and analysis of investment data
- Managing increasing data volumes - people, technology, value, compliance
- Implementing effective systems to support forecast growth in fund and member volumes
- Examining the ideal investment models for your fund
- Opportunities and challenges posed by new APRA reporting regulations
- New technology - tools to enhance the investment administration of increasingly diverse portfolios
- The changing relationship between funds and custodians
- Reducing costs and improving returns for funds administration
- Creating a profit centre from operations including securities lending
An Advisory Board comprising of the industry's top thought leaders is guiding the Investment Administration Conference. The Advisory Board includes:
- Peter Curtis, head of investment operations, AustralianSuper
- Lounarda David, investment operations manager, Sunsuper
- Stephen Huppert, partner, Deloitte
- Mark Neary, managing director Asia Pacific, Milestone
- Kyle Ringrose, head of investment operations, QSuper
- Rohan Singh, managing director, country head, Northern Trust
- Drew Vaughan, owner, Dymond, Foulds & Vaughan
View the full AGENDA and REGISTER before 15 December 2014 for early bird pricing.
For further information regarding registration please contact Elena Chatz, Conference Operations Manager.

14 Nov 2014 - Fund In Focus - Morphic Global Opportunities Fund
Jack Lowenstein, the Joint CIO of the Morphic Global Opportunities Fund talks about how the
Fund performed in October 2014 and was positioned at the end of the month.
Watch AFM's other videos.
7 Nov 2014 - Wine Tasting with Global Investment Themes
Global Megatrends and Innovations not available in Australia
13 November at Sydney Royal Exchange
Insync Funds Management would like to cordially invite you to an evening presentation on some of the powerful global investment themes that will help to build your wealth offshore together with a tasting of some truly interesting wines from all corners of the world.
Join us and learn:
- In a post-GFC economy what are some of the mega-trends that will shape the global economy over the next decade;
- The importance of investing in the knowledge leaders who are driving product innovation in their respective industries;
- What exceptional opportunities can be found offshore to complement your Australian shares portfolio.
Venue: The Royal Exchange of Sydney, 1 Gresham Street , Sydney
Date: Thursday 13th November 2014
Time: 5.30 - 7.30pm
RSVP: Click here to RSVP or call David Johns from Insync Fund Managers on 0412 679 136

16 Sep 2014 - AIMA Australia Hedge Fund Forum
AIMA AUSTRALIA HEDGE FUND FORUM
16 September 2014 at the Softiel Sydney Wentworth
The AIMA Australian Hedge Fund Forum is a non-profit hedge fund conference organised by the industry for the industry, featuring quality Australian and international speakers sharing insights, reflections, war-stories and facts with hedge fund managers and investors.
Register now for the AIMA Australian Hedge Fund Forum - a non-profit hedge fund conference organised by the industry for the industry, featuring quality Australian and international speakers sharing insights, reflections, war-stories and facts with hedge fund managers and investors, including:
- How can Hedge Funds generate Alpha from Australia?
- Lateral insights into global investment opportunities
- ASIC presentation of survey findings with Q&A
- Family Office Investor Panel - How do Australian Hedge Funds access local & international Family Offices?
- Hedge Fund Investing - current landscape and challenges
- Asset Consultants and Advisors - how do we work with hedge funds?
I look forward to welcoming you to this very important industry event.
For all enquiries, please contact:
Michael Gallagher
General Manager, AIMA Australia
M: +61 (0)412 224 400, E: [email protected], W: www.aima-australia.org
To register for the conference please click here.

8 Sep 2014 - ARRIA Round Table - Brisbane
AARIA ROUND TABLE 2014
Tuesday 9 September 2014 in Brisbane
We operate in the area of "real returns" and are eager to help our network of IFA's that operate outside the traditional static buy and hold methodology. This has led me to meeting the Association of Real Return Investment Advisers (ARRIA).
The Group has been established as a not-for-profit entity run by advisers for advisers. ARRIA is an initiative based on feedback and insights from advisers regarding the challenges that they face in using Real Return investment strategies, which they believe are able to deliver tangible solutions to meet their client's objectives.
ARRIA is hosting a round table discussion on Tuesday 9 September, from 12pm to 4.30pm, in Brisbane and offers a valuable opportunity to meet with likeminded advisers. The agenda for the round table is as follows:
Round Table 1: Agenda
- What are the implications of developing Real Return outcomes for PI and the regulators?
- Panel discussion - which alternative "strategies" work when?
- Panel discussion - what are the new investment opportunities, "access" methods (e.g. LICs), strategies, asset classes and investment flavours?
- Tool time
- Open Forum
Click here to register for the Round Table event, or if you would like more information please contact:
Philip Reid | General Manager
Association of Real Return Investment Advisers Limited (ARRIA)
ABN 82 99 168 267 623
GPO Box 5025, Sydney NSW 2001
T 0411-828 097 E [email protected]
The next Round Table event to be held in Brisbane will be on Tuesday 9 December 2014.
As an association ARRIA aims to:
- assist in setting and maintaining a higher level of professional standards for all Real Return Investment Advisers and all relevant Stakeholders in the real return investment industry.
- create an environment where all Real Return Investment Advisers and all relevant Stakeholders can network in appropriate forums to advance the exchange of information, best-practice and compliance issues;
- create an environment where all Real Return Investment Advisers and all relevant Stakeholders can leverage industry resources;
- assist with the gathering and dissemination of resources in order to help facilitate:
- the collation and provision of information of interest or relevance;
- the development and / or access of appropriate tools;
- access to and sourcing of relevant and appropriate expertise;
- liaise and co-ordinate communications with government, regulatory bodies, other relevant industry associations and general service providers in the real return investment industry;
- whether undertaken with or without other participants; to promote, organise, conduct and/or participate in meetings, lectures, seminars, study groups, conferences, education, training and counselling courses for the purposes of increasing and advancing the knowledge and understanding of all facets and issues affecting or related to Real Return Investment Advisers and all relevant Stakeholders in the real return investment industry;
The operations of ARRIA are overseen by a Board, under the direction of the associations' corporate constitution and guidance of the directors. Both Directors and the Board are elected by the members on a rotation policy.
