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Fund Review: Bennelong Kardinia Absolute Return Fund
28 Mar 2014 - Australian Fund Monitors
AFM's updated Fund Review for the Bennelong Kardinia Absolute Return Fund for February 2014. The Fund is characterised by steady returns and very low risk. The Fund returned 2.69% during February and since inception (May 2006) the Fund has...
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28 Mar 2014 - Fund Review: Bennelong Kardinia Absolute Return Fund
By: Australian Fund Monitors
BENNELONG KARDINIA ABSOLUTE RETURN FUND
Attached is our most recently updated Fund Review. You are also able to view the Fund's Profile.
The Fund is long biased, research driven, active equity long/short strategy investing in listed ASX companies with an eight year track record.
Bennelong's Kardinia Long/Short equity fund returned 2.69% in February 2014, taking returns for the year to 10.27%, broadly in line with the Index return of 10.56%. Annualised returns since inception are 13.85% as compared to the Index at 4.88% and with a lower volatility of 7.76% pa as compared to 14.60% pa. At month-end the Fund's net exposure was 39.5%, with long exposure 75.4% and short exposures 35.9%.
The Fund also has a strong focus on capital protection in negative markets. Portfolio Managers Mark Burgess and Kristiaan Rehder have significant market experience, while the Bennelong Group provide infrastructure, operational, compliance and distribution capabilities.
For further details on the Fund, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Sean Webster
Research Manager
Laminar Credit Opportunities Fund
28 Mar 2014 - Australian Fund Monitors
Laminar Credit Opportunities Fund returned 0.57% during February and a creditable 11.93% for the prior 12 months with a volatility of 2.71%.
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28 Mar 2014 - Laminar Credit Opportunities Fund
By: Australian Fund Monitors
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Fund Overview | The portfolio of the Fund comprises primarily Investment Grade holding of 75% of the Fund's assets. Benchmark allocations are Australasia 50% to 100%, North America 0% to 50% and Europe 0% to 50%. Currency hedging may take place depending on benefits to the Fund. |
Manager Comments | The Fund's portfolio construction remains biased to the RMBS (residential mortgage backed security) sector. As at 28 February this comprised 71% of the assets within the portfolio. While there are different types of RMBS structures, our preferred vehicle is a full paid up capital structure where there is no reliance on LMI (lenders mortgage insurance). |
More Information | » View detailed profile of this fund |
Cor Capital Fund
27 Mar 2014 - Australian Fund Monitors
The Cor Capital Fund benefited from buoyant asset markets to return 2.34% during February with positive performances from all the underlying assets.
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27 Mar 2014 - Cor Capital Fund
By: Australian Fund Monitors
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Fund Overview | The Cor Capital Fund is a Multi- Asset Fund which combines a pre-determined strategic asset allocation with active but systemised rebalancing to generate returns and manage volatility whilst maintaining transparency and liquidity. The Fund strategy is not reliant on accurate market predictions, forecasts or timing for success. Returns are generated in a number of ways; 1) by maintaining sufficiently large positions in a diverse group of asset classes, 2) via the 'volatility harvesting' consequences of active rebalancing, and 3) from the offsetting behaviour of certain asset classes under specific conditions. The combined portfolio is expected to exhibit relatively low volatility and low turnover. In the interests of avoiding complexity, maintaining liquidity, and minimising reliance on third parties, the Fund strategy does not employ gearing, derivatives or short-selling. |
Manager Comments | During February the Fund's gold position continued to perform (+1.09% contribution) and equities recovered from a weak January (+1.16%). Fixed interest (+0.09%) and cash (+0.07%) were also positive. There were no portfolio adjustments for the month with all asset exposures within the limits defined by the Fund's active risk management strategy. |
More Information | » View detailed profile of this fund |
Pengana Asia Special Events (Onshore) Fund
26 Mar 2014 - Australian Fund Monitors
Pengana Asia Special Events (Onshore) Fund recorded 0.48% during February and 11.76% for the preceding twelve months with a very low standard deviation of 2.39%.
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26 Mar 2014 - Pengana Asia Special Events (Onshore) Fund
By: Australian Fund Monitors
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Fund Overview | The Fund seeks to profit from trading securities which are primarily subject to corporate events or from trading-related securities which the Investment Manager believes are mispriced by the market. The Fund invests in securities that are listed on Asian stock markets and other markets where related securities may be listed and in securities which are listed on markets outside of Asia where more than 70% (by assets or earnings) of the underlying business originates from an Asian country. The Fund aims to generate consistently positive returns which have a low correlation to the Asian stock markets. The objective is to generate 10-20% pa with a standard deviation of 6-10% |
Manager Comments | Over the last year the Fund's maximum drawdown is 0.92% (6.72% ASX 200 Acc) and the Fund's Sharpe and Sortino ratio are notable at 3.56 and 7.43 respectively. In terms of commentary the Manager notes that 'Intra month volatility presented good trading opportunities in the holding company universe, with a number of structures either trading at 52 weeks highs and lows. Such discount dislocations are usually common during earnings season, as was the case in Hong Kong and Japan, or when market volatility swings significantly (as measured by VIX). Within M&A, deal volume in February was the strongest in 6 months, with average deal size being US$990 million. One key theme that emerged in Asian M&A during the month was optionality (price bump opportunities).' |
More Information | » View detailed profile of this fund |
KIS Asia Long Short Fund
25 Mar 2014 - Australian Fund Monitors
KIS Asia Long Short Fund returned 1.76% during February and 15.99% (10.56% Index) for the previous twelve months with a volatility of 2.71% as compared to 11.49% for the ASX 200 Acc Index.
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25 Mar 2014 - KIS Asia Long Short Fund
By: Australian Fund Monitors
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Fund Overview | Variables such as earnings surprise; stock price versus fundamental valuation; dividend policy; management composition, are used in addition to other fundamental and technical indicators to build a factual and analytical foundation to the composition of the long/short portfolio. KIS uses a discretionary approach in their investment strategy and they do not rely on large amounts of leverage. The investments are predominantly in liquid, transparent markets. |
Manager Comments | The Fund has notable risk statistics with a twelve month Sharpe ratio of 4.55 (0.71), Sortino ratio of 46.28 (1.08) and maximum drawdown of -0.06% (-6.72% Index). Up and Down Capture ratios are 0.31 and -0.55 respectively. The Manager strategy comments are 'Long Short - This portfolio contributed 111bp. The largest contributor to the P&L this month was Stockland which contributed 23bp of the returns. In February 54% of our long and short ideas, i.e. excluding hedges, were winning. In addition to this, the average profit we made on a winning idea was 1.5 times the size of our average loss. Special Situations - This portfolio contributed 72bp this month.' |
More Information | » View detailed profile of this fund |
Auscap Long Short Australian Equities Fund
24 Mar 2014 - Australian Fund Monitors
Auscap Long Short Australian Equities Fund had strong performance during February to return 5.32% (ASX 200 Acc 4.97%) bringing annual returns to an impressive 58.90% (Index 10.56%).
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24 Mar 2014 - Auscap Long Short Australian Equities Fund
By: Australian Fund Monitors
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Fund Overview | The Fund focuses on fundamental long and short investments. The Fund may utilise a multi-strategy approach if short term opportunities to increase returns, hedge the portfolio, protect capital or minimise volatility are found. The Fund is a high conviction fund and the combined portfolio will typically have 25-45 positions, investing primarily in stocks in the ASX200. The Fund may be net long, short or neutral depending on the strategies employed at the time. The Fund may hold cash so that it is in a position to take advantage of market volatility and compelling investment opportunities as and when they arise. The Fund may be geared up to 200% gross long or short and up to 150% net long or short. |
Manager Comments | The Fund's average net exposure over the month was 78.2% with 33 long positions and 5 short positions. The Fund's biggest stock exposures at month end were spread across the consumer discretionary, financials and telecommunications sectors. The Manager's monthly commentary discusses their approach to long and short investments. This Report is available on our website under the Auscap Profile. |
More Information | » View detailed profile of this fund |
Intelligent Investor Value Fund
21 Mar 2014 - Australian Fund Monitors
Intelligent Investor Value Fund returned 0.48% in February and a very sound 31.94% for the year to end-February (ASX 200 Acc Index 10.56%).
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21 Mar 2014 - Intelligent Investor Value Fund
By: Australian Fund Monitors
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Manager Comments | The Manager's report covers the following holdings RNY Property Trust, Vision Eye Institute,Enero Group and Financial software provider GBST. |
More Information | » View detailed profile of this fund |
The Paragon Fund
20 Mar 2014 - Australian Fund Monitors
The Paragon Fund returned 3.80% for February, with a net exposure of 73.6%, and 21.72% for the previous twelve months.
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20 Mar 2014 - The Paragon Fund
By: Australian Fund Monitors
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Fund Overview | Paragon accepts that markets are not always efficient in pricing information into securities and that no one investment style works in every stage of the investment cycle. Subsequently Paragon adopts a top down thematic led approach to identify companies exhibiting sustainable or improving returns on capital driven by volume growth, pricing power and competitive advantages. Paragon utilises both quantitative analysis to provide probability weighted high/low/base case valuations and qualitative analysis in assessing management, the business model and likely direction of returns. Paragon will allocate assets to each investment opportunity based on a risk/reward profile. Positions have defined investment parameters and risk limits, which are then monitored on an ongoing basis. |
Manager Comments | Key drivers of the Paragon Fund performance for February included a combination of: Strong returns from core holdings G8 Education, Donaco, and an emerging Copper investment, and, Increasing the net equity exposure from 50% at the beginning of the month to 74% by month-end. |
More Information | » View detailed profile of this fund |
Insync Global Titans Fund
19 Mar 2014 - Australian Fund Monitors
Insync Global Titans Fund benefited from stronger equity markets during February returning 2.39% and 24.17% over the year with a notable down capture ratio of -0.84.
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19 Mar 2014 - Insync Global Titans Fund
By: Australian Fund Monitors
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Manager Comments | The Manager comments 'Despite the weaker US data, rising geopolitical tensions in the Ukraine and some economic uncertainties in China, markets chose to look through it all, seemingly comfortable in the belief that central banks around the world will come to the rescue again if necessary. The Fund's unit price increased by 2.4% in February. The solid performance was fairly broadly based across the portfolio, with the biggest positive contributions coming from our holdings in Reckitt Benckiser, BAT, GlaxoSmithKline, BSkyB and DirecTV. Small negative contributions came from Comcast, Safran and Zimmer Holdings. The Fund continues to have no foreign currency hedging in place.' |
More Information | » View detailed profile of this fund |
Pengana Australian Equities Market Neutral Fund
18 Mar 2014 - Australian Fund Monitors
Pengana Australian Equities Market Neutral Fund returned 2.90% during February with a net market exposure of 2.7% and 12.85% over the preceding twelve months.
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18 Mar 2014 - Pengana Australian Equities Market Neutral Fund
By: Australian Fund Monitors
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Fund Overview | The manager's investment approach is premised on the belief that fundamental factors (such as earnings, cash flow and profit growth) affect stock prices, but that the adoption of quantitative techniques (i.e. computer based models) provides an advantage in assimilating and analysing this information, and building an efficient portfolio. The Fund's portfolio is constructed to be 'Market Neutral' i.e. it aims to have little or no overall exposure to movements in the equity market. The aim of low exposure to market movements is to enhance the consistency of the portfolio's performance and to provide diversification from other market oriented investments. |
Manager Comments | The manager comments that 'One of the Funds' largest long positions in Sky City Network Television worked well with strong results driven by good advertising revenue and lower content costs. On the other side a short in Echo Entertainment worked against us as further expected earnings downgrades dissipated with result stabilising, while a change in CEO was viewed positively. Our Revisions factor dominated performance over the month with Quality, Value and Momentum factors also all positive.' |
More Information | » View detailed profile of this fund |