(pictured:Â Sara Gilbert) AltaReturn, a US-based software and systems firm specialising in private equity and alternatives management, has set up in Asia Pacific with the recruitment of Sara Gilbert as director of operations, Asia. She is already looking to expand the presence. On her first trip to Australia last week after joining AltaReturn in May, Gilbert…
A quant study of the value of funds manager brands among institutional investors shows a massive difference in flows between managers with high product and firm-wide brand awareness and those with low awareness. eVestment has published a list of the top five managers for brand awareness in each size category which, it says, may surprise….
The New Zealand Superannuation Fund (NZS) took out a clutch of prizes in the Australasian Reporting Awards (ARA) held in Sydney last week. The fund continues its reign as one of the most transparent in the world. As well as earning the highest ‘gold’ rating for overall reporting quality, NZS won top spot in two…
(pictured: Rob Arnott) By Greg Bright All super funds should subscribe, for free, to the Research Affiliates regular research notes, ‘Fundamentals’. Sure, they will try to steer you to their own smart-beta strategies. But Rob Arnott, the firm’s founder, sometimes even questions his own funds. Last week, he questioned “value” at current prices in smart…
(pictured:Â Grant Hassell) AMP Capital NZ chief, Grant Hassell, will take on more control of the local investment and distribution teams under changes announced last week. But he will relinquish some of his fixed income duties. Following the organisational revamp, all NZ investment groups, except property and distribution, will now report directly to Hassell. Previously, some…
(pictured:Â Damian Hill and Ken Marshman) By Greg Bright REST Industry Super is searching for a new general manager investments. It is not a chief investment officer role; it is a general manager investments role. The distinction is important and it is the main reason the role is currently being filled, pending a new person, by…
(pictured:Â Carol Austin) Carol Austin, who recently finished a five-year stint as a guardian of the Future Fund, is setting up an organisation which will act as a source of investment and business information and advice for charities. The group, which she says is currently a “loose collective” of experienced investment people, will also potentially help…
(pictured:Â Chris Trevillyan) Australia’s potential GDP growth is better than most of its developed market peers over the next 10 years, according to the latest capital markets analysis by Frontier Advisors. But emerging markets are likely to perform better. The assessment was presented last week by consultants Chris Trevillyan, Alvin Tan and Anthony Michael, and included…
(pictured: Vanessa Stoykov) Evolution Media is developing another television series and a new web portal following its recent move into mainstream direct-to-consumer broadcasting with its ‘No More Practice’ reality TV show about investments on the Nine Network. Vanessa Stoykov, Evolution’s founder and chief executive, told a gathering at the Stone & Chalk technology hub in…
(pictured:Â Tim McGavin) Laguna Bay, the agribusiness manager, has had its first closing of $280 million raised for the Laguna Bay Agricultural Fund, to be invested in a portfolio of businesses across Australia and New Zealand. The manager is already the largest olive oil producer in Australia. The fund, which will have its final closing around…
