News
Performance Report: Loftus Peak Global Disruption Fund
29 Jan 2020 - Australian Fund Monitors
The Loftus Peak Global Disruption Fund outperformed AFM's Global Equity Benchmark by +5.87% over the December quarter and by +8.03% over CY2019. Since inception in November 2016, the Fund has returned +21.95% p.a. versus the Index's +15.96%.
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29 Jan 2020 - Performance Report: Loftus Peak Global Disruption Fund
By: Australian Fund Monitors
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| Fund Overview | The investment process involves a combination of top-down analysis with fundamental bottom-up qualitative and quantitative research to derive a risk-adjusted discounted cash flow (DCF) valuation of companies in the target universe. The investment team will generally buy stocks from the pool of securities that are trading below Loftus Peaks' valuation and sell them when they are trading above Loftus Peak's valuation. The approach allows for both fundamental accounting information as well as market-oriented inputs to be factored into the portfolio construction process. Loftus Peak's model typically does not rely on leverage to deliver investment returns and specifically takes into account risk in the valuation process. Capital preservation can be managed by holding up to 50% cash. Index and currency options and futures may also be used to manage risk. |
| Manager Comments | The Fund's holdings were strong in December, however an adverse movement in the currency impacted performance by -3.5%, leaving the Fund flat for the month. Loftus Peak noted rhetoric around trade wars softened from both sides, with China pure-play stocks such as Tencent and Alibaba rebounding and companies with exposure to China (Qualcomm, Tesla) also recording good returns. The manager's decision to deploy cash in October on weakness in key names was beneficial. Top contributors over the month included Tencent, Apple and Tesla. Key detractors included Vmware, Nutanix and Roku. The fund was 95% invested in 22 holdings with the balance in cash at month-end. |
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Performance Report: Insync Global Quality Equity Fund
29 Jan 2020 - Australian Fund Monitors
The Insync Global Quality Equity Fund returned +37.24% over CY2019, outperforming AFM's Global Equity Benchmark by +10.05% and taking annualised performance since inception in October 2009 to +13.74% versus the Index's +11.63%.
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29 Jan 2020 - Performance Report: Insync Global Quality Equity Fund
By: Australian Fund Monitors
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| Fund Overview | Insync employs four simple screens to narrow the universe of over 40,000 listed companies globally to a focus group of high-quality companies that it believes have the potential to consistently grow their profits and dividends. These screens are: size of the company, balance sheet performance, valuation and dividend quality. Companies that pass this due diligence process are then valued using dividend discount models, free cash flow yield and proprietary implied growth and expected return models. The end result is a high conviction portfolio typically of 15-30 stocks. The principal investments will be in shares of companies listed on international stock exchanges (including the US, Europe and Asia). The Fund may also hold cash, derivatives (for example futures, options and swaps), currency contracts, American Depository Receipts and Global Depository Receipts. The Fund may also invest in various types of international pooled investment vehicles. |
| Manager Comments | The Fund fell in line with the market in December, returning -0.35%. Positive contributors included London Stock Exchange, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Booking Holdings and Apple. Detractors included Walt Disney, Intuit, PayPal and Facebook. The Fund continues to have no currency hedging in place as Insync consider the main risks to the Australian dollar to be on the downside. |
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Performance Report: Bennelong Emerging Companies Fund
28 Jan 2020 - Australian Fund Monitors
The Bennelong Emerging Companies Fund returned +86.64% after fees over CY2019, outperforming the ASX200 Accumulation Index by +66.24% and taking annualised performance since inception in November 2017 to +36.43% versus the Index's +10.47%.
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28 Jan 2020 - Performance Report: Bennelong Emerging Companies Fund
By: Australian Fund Monitors
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| Fund Overview | The Fund may invest in securities expected to be listed on the ASX within 12 months. The Fund may also invest in securities listed, or expected to be listed, on other exchanged where such securities relate to ASX-listed securities |
| Manager Comments | The Bennelong Emerging Companies Fund returned +86.64% after fees over CY2019, outperforming the ASX200 Accumulation Index by +66.24% and taking annualised performance since inception in November 2017 to +36.43% versus the Index's +10.47%. As is expected of a fund investing in micro and small caps, these returns have been achieved with significantly higher volatility than the market. Over the December quarter the Fund returned +2.87% versus the Index's +0.68%. The largest contributors to quarterly performance were Viva Leisure and BWX, while the biggest detractor was Prospa. They discussed these stocks in some detail in their September quarterly report. Bennelong noted that, while performance through the year was very strong, they continue to find select opportunities among emerging companies that they believe should position the fund for decent returns over time. They also emphasise that investors should not expect future returns to be as good as they were in 2019. |
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Performance Report: Surrey Australian Equities Fund
28 Jan 2020 - Australian Fund Monitors
The Surrey Australian Equities Fund fell in line with the market in December, returning -2.90%. Over CY2019 the Fund rose +19.54% with a volatility of 12.04%.
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28 Jan 2020 - Performance Report: Surrey Australian Equities Fund
By: Australian Fund Monitors
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| Fund Overview | The Investment Manager follows a defined investment process which is underpinned by detailed bottom up fundamental analysis, overlayed with sectoral and macroeconomic research. This is combined with an extensive company visitation program where we endeavour to meet with company management and with other stakeholders such as suppliers, customers and industry bodies to improve our information set. Surrey Asset Management defines its investment process as Qualitative, Quantitative and Value Latencies (QQV). In essence, the Investment Manager thoroughly researches an investment's qualitative and quantitative characteristics in an attempt to find value latencies not yet reflected in the share price and then clearly defines a roadmap to realisation of those latencies. Developing this roadmap is a key step in the investment process. By articulating a clear pathway as to how and when an investment can realise what the Investment Manager sees as latent value, defines the investment proposition and lessens the impact of cognitive dissonance. This is undertaken with a philosophical underpinning of fact-based investing, transparency, authenticity and accountability. |
| Manager Comments | The Fund's cash weighting totalled 11% at month-end with 29 individual stock holdings. The top holdings included Bravura Solutions, Cooper Energy, Corporate Travel, IMF Group and Xero Limited. From a macro/global perspective, Surrey noted two features that have emerged include an increasing shift toward gold and the rise in the oil price, both of which are correlated to increasing tensions in the middle-east. Surrey believe the Fund is well positioned for this uncertainty and the Fund's gold and energy weightings increasing materially at the start of January. |
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Performance Report: Harvest Lane Asset Management Absolute Return Fund
24 Jan 2020 - Australian Fund Monitors
The Harvest Lane Absolute Return Fund has returned +8.01% p.a. with an annualised volatility of 6.74% since inception in July 2013. In December the Fund returned -0.94% versus the ASX200 Accumulation Index's -2.17%.
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24 Jan 2020 - Performance Report: Harvest Lane Asset Management Absolute Return Fund
By: Australian Fund Monitors
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| Fund Overview | Harvest Lane Asset Management employs a conservative, highly selective and opportunistic approach. Using their extensive knowledge in the area of corporate actions, the Fund's managers assess each opportunity based on a thoughtful, diligent and disciplined process and invest where they believe an opportunity exists to generate above average investment returns relative to the risk incurred. Investment decisions are made without speculating on market direction, with rigid risk controls enforced to minimise the risk of large losses of investor capital. The Fund invests in securities that are predominantly listed on the ASX and occasionally in those listed in other developed markets. Equity swaps and other derivatives may be used at times to reduce risk. The fund typically holds high levels of cash in the absence of sufficiently attractive opportunities to deploy investor capital in accordance with its objectives. |
| Manager Comments | Harvest Lane noted that, aside from a partial deal break in Panoramic Resources after Independence Group withdrew its bid, the remaining softness in December was predominantly a result of widening spreads rather than fundamental catalysts. Consequently, should the Fund's current positions see their respective transactions complete then Harvest Lane expect a substantial portion of the underperformance to be recouped in time. Harvest Lane saw a steady stream of deals announced to market throughout the month, giving them the opportunity to add several new positions to the portfolio. Transactions in Konekt Limited and Bellamy's Australia closed towards the end of the month, carrying with them a healthy dose of franking credits which are in addition to the Fund's reported performance. Harvest Lane are encouraged by the current positions in the portfolio and believe 2020 offers a favourable outlook for merger and acquisition activity. |
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Performance Report: Glenmore Australian Equities Fund
24 Jan 2020 - Australian Fund Monitors
The Glenmore Australian Equities Fund returned +40.29% over CY2019 versus the ASX200 Accumulation Index's +23.40%. Since inception in June 2017, the Fund has returned +26.11% p.a. versus the Index's +10.74%.
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24 Jan 2020 - Performance Report: Glenmore Australian Equities Fund
By: Australian Fund Monitors
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| Fund Overview | The main driver of identifying potential investments will be bottom up company analysis, however macro-economic conditions will be considered as part of the investment thesis for each stock. |
| Manager Comments | The Fund returned -1.67% in December, outperforming the Index by +0.5%. Top contributors included Moelis Australia (+10.2%), Polynovo (+10.1%), Magellan Financial Group (+8.5%), NRW Holdings and Stanmore Coal. Key detractors included Jumbo Interactive (-27.3%), Phoslock Environmental Technologies (-10.1%), VGI Partners (-8.8%) and Opticomm (-7.0%). Glenmore noted there were no company announcements from VGI or OPC during the month, however both had been strong performers in 2019 and thus some retracement was not unexpected. Glenmore believe the main driver of strong performance in equities throughout 2019 was low interest rates, which continue to underpin demand for stocks. Despite the Fund's significant outperformance over the past 12 months, Glenmore continue to find undervalued stocks in their universe and feel optimistic about the prospects for the portfolio in the year ahead. |
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Performance Report: Insync Global Capital Aware Fund
24 Jan 2020 - Australian Fund Monitors
The Insync Global Capital Aware Fund ended CY2019 up +32.77% versus AFM's Global Equity Benchmark's +27.19%. Since inception in October 2009, the Fund has returned +11.21% p.a. with an annualised volatility of 9.45%.
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24 Jan 2020 - Performance Report: Insync Global Capital Aware Fund
By: Australian Fund Monitors
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| Fund Overview | Insync employs four simple screens to narrow the universe of over 40,000 listed companies globally to a focus group of high quality companies that it believes have the potential to consistently grow their profits and dividends. These screens are size of the company, balance sheet performance, valuation and dividend quality. Companies that pass this due diligence process are then valued using dividend discount models, free cash flow yield and proprietary implied growth and expected return models. The end result is a high conviction portfolio of typically 15-30 stocks. The principal investments will be in shares of companies listed on international stock exchanges (including the US, Europe and Asia). The Fund may also hold cash, derivatives (for example futures, options and swaps), currency contracts, American Depository Receipts and Global Depository Receipts. The Fund may also invest in various types of international pooled investment vehicles. At times, Insync may consider holding higher levels of cash if valuations are full and it is difficult to find attractive investment opportunities. When Insync believes markets to be overvalued, it may hold part of its resources in cash, or use derivatives as a way of reducing its equity exposure. Insync may use options, futures and other derivatives to reduce risk or gain exposure to underlying physical investments. The Fund may purchase put options on market indices or specific stocks to hedge against losses caused by declines in the prices of stocks in its portfolio. |
| Manager Comments | The Fund fell in line with the market in December, returning -0.61% after the cost of downside protection. Positive contributors included London Stock Exchange, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Booking Holdings and Apple. Detractors included Walt Disney, Intuit, PayPal and Facebook. The Fund continues to have no currency hedging in place as Insync consider the main risks to the Australian dollar to be on the downside. |
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Performance Report: Bennelong Australian Equities Fund
23 Jan 2020 - Australian Fund Monitors
The Bennelong Australian Equities Fund has returned +27.44% over the past 12 months versus the ASX200 Accumulation Index's +23.40%. Since inception in February 2009, the Fund has outperformed the Index by +3.0% on an annualised basis.
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23 Jan 2020 - Performance Report: Bennelong Australian Equities Fund
By: Australian Fund Monitors
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| Fund Overview | The Bennelong Australian Equities Fund seeks quality investment opportunities which are under-appreciated and have the potential to deliver positive earnings. The investment process combines bottom-up fundamental analysis with proprietary investment tools that are used to build and maintain high quality portfolios that are risk aware. The investment team manages an extensive company/industry contact program which helps identify and verify various investment opportunities. The companies within the portfolio are primarily selected from, but not limited to, the S&P/ASX 300 Index. The Fund may invest in securities listed on other exchanges where such securities relate to the ASX-listed securities. The Fund typically holds between 25-60 stocks with a maximum net targeted position of an individual stock of 6%. |
| Manager Comments | The Fund returned +4.12% over quarter, outperforming the Index by +3.44%. The main contributor to quarterly performance was the fund's outsized position in the healthcare sector, particularly its positions in Fisher & Paykel Healthcare and CSL. The other main contributor was the significant underweight stance to the underperforming banks. The largest detractor was Afterpay, which gave back some of the outperformance delivered in previous periods. Bennelong believe many of the social, political and economic uncertainties that overshadowed markets over 2019 remain. The Fund is selectively invested in a group of high quality growth stocks which include names like CSL and Fisher & Paykel Healthcare. Some general themes across the portfolio include: a growth bias, a significant weighting to global and offshore companies, underweight the top 20 stocks, underweight bond proxies such as utilities and teclo's, selective exposure to commodities and very little exposure to domestic cyclicals. |
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Performance Report: Bennelong Kardinia Absolute Return Fund
23 Jan 2020 - Australian Fund Monitors
The Bennelong Kardinia Absolute Return Fund rose +4.68% with a volatility of 5.05% over CY2019. Since inception in May 2006, the Fund has returned +8.74% p.a. with an annualised volatility of 7.03%.
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23 Jan 2020 - Performance Report: Bennelong Kardinia Absolute Return Fund
By: Australian Fund Monitors
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| Fund Overview | The Fund's discretionary investment strategy commences with a macro view of the economy and direction to establish the portfolio's desired market exposure. Following this detailed sector and company research is gathered from knowledge of the individual stocks in the Fund's universe, with widespread use of broker research. Company visits, presentations and discussions with management at CEO and CFO level are used wherever possible to assess management quality across a range of criteria. Detailed analysis of company valuations using financial statements and forecasts, particularly focusing on free cash flow, is conducted. Technical analysis is used to validate the Manager's fundamental research and valuations and to manage market timing. A significant portion of the Fund's overall performance can be attributed to the attention and importance given to the macro economic outlook and the ability and willingness to adjust the Fund's market risk. |
| Manager Comments | The Fund returned -2.84% in December, with health care and information technology stocks reversing the gains from last month. Positive contributors during the month included Lifestyle Communities, Rio Tinto, Magellan, Aerometrex and Charter Hall. Key detractors included SPI Futures, Paradigm, Goodman Group, EML Payments and Ecofibre. The Fund's net equity market exposure was held steady at 74.2% (83.6% long and 9.4% short), with the key changes being a new position in Aerometrex, increased weightings in BHP, Commonwealth Bank, CSL and Rio Tinto, partially offset by the sale of Paradigm, Ecofibre and Clover and four new short positions. |
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Performance Report: Bennelong Twenty20 Australian Equities Fund
22 Jan 2020 - Australian Fund Monitors
The Bennelong Twenty20 Australian Equities Fund rose +25.70% over CY2019 versus the ASX200 Accumulation Index's +23.40%. Since inception in November 2009, the Fund has returned +10.59% p.a. versus the Index's +8.30%.
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22 Jan 2020 - Performance Report: Bennelong Twenty20 Australian Equities Fund
By: Australian Fund Monitors
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| Fund Overview | The Fund is managed as one portfolio but comprises and combines two separately managed exposures: 1. An investment in the top 20 stocks of the markets, which the Fund achieves by taking an indexed position in the S&P/ASX 20 Index; and 2. An investment in the stocks beyond the S&P/ASX 20 Index. This exposure is managed on an active basis using a fundamental core approach. The Fund may also invest in securities expected to be listed on the ASX, securities listed or expected to be listed on other exchanges where such securities relate to ASX-listed securities.Derivative instruments may be used to replicate underlying positions and hedge market and company specific risks. The companies within the portfolio are primarily selected from, but not limited to, the S&P/ASX 300 Accumulation Index. The Fund typically holds between 40-55 stocks and thus is considered to be highly concentrated. This means that investors should expect to see high short-term volatility. The Fund seeks to achieve growth over the long-term, therefore the minimum suggested investment timeframe is 5 years. |
| Manager Comments | The Fund fell in line with the market in December, returning -2.14% versus the Index's -2.17%. Over the quarter the Fund returned +1.89% versus the Index's +0.68%. Bennelong point out the relative performance of the Fund versus the benchmark depends on the ex-20 sleeve of the portfolio. The largest contributors to outperformance over the quarter were Fisher & Paykel Healthcare and Viva Leisure. The main detractor over the quarter was Afterpay, which Bennelong noted gave back some of the outperformance delivered in previous periods. Bennelong believe many of the social, political and economic uncertainties that overshadowed markets over 2019 remain. They expect the ASX to produce reasonable returns over the medium term, albeit with ups and downs along the way. |
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