News

Factor manager Research Affiliates appears to be charging in where value managers are still nervous to tread, with a big call on the state of global markets and where the main opportunity lies – UK equities. Mike Aked, Research Affiliates director of research for Australia, said last week (March 17) that the firm had identified…

The biggest single investment category for major impact investors around the world is climate related, as it is for more general ESG investing. But “true impact investing’ is different. Another global webinar this month focusing on what climate change means for investors and managers was organised by US impact advisory group Tideline. Speakers included London-based…

After five years operating as a wholesale and institutional manager, the Wellington-based Lighthouse Investment Funds has signalled the broader market with a new retail international shares offering launched this month. Flying under the colours of fund-hosting business Implemented Investment Solutions (IIS), the Lighthouse Global Equity Fund mirrors the firm’s long-running offshore shares strategy first established…

The voices of women are swelling to a national rallying cry for justice and equality, Kara Keys, the chair of Women in Super, told sold-out lunches for the organisation last week. The guest speaker told them how to join in that cry. Keys, a trustee of Cbus and director of AIST, was introducing one of…

Chant West’s 2021 Super Fund Awards will be held, live and in person, at the Ivy Ballroom in Sydney on the evening of May 26, it was announced last week. The Chant West Awards, an important black-tie event in the institutional investment world’s annual calendar, were held virtually last year, along with most other industry…

In the face of a surge of interest among institutional investors in the carbon management of their portfolios, asset consultancy Frontier has explored ways asset owners can take a top-down approach to carbon exposure to work with more obvious bottom-up strategies. Most asset owners now actively manage their exposures to climate change risks within their…

NSW Treasury Corporation, the state government’s $105 billion investment management offshoot, has commenced a restructure among its investment professionals, with 12 positions recently being advertised. The positions, which report up to previously announced heads of department, have been posted in the careers section of the TCorp website, with nine of the 12 being re-posted last…

NAB Asset Servicing is expected to be confirmed as the asset servicing partner of the combined LGIAsuper and Energy Super following competitive pitches between the incumbents of both funds. Thomas Murray was adviser to the new $20 billion fund. The win is a major victory for NAB Asset Servicing (NAS). It is the biggest contested…

The Australasian asset management industry has received a gender diversity boost this week with the launch of a new high-profile group looking to grow the influence of women in the sector. According to a release, the Australia and NZ chapter of the Bloomberg Women’s Buy-side Network (BWBN) “aims to inspire next generation investors, elevate female…

The NZ Superannuation Fund (NZS) has put new money in two US alternative asset strategies including a hedge fund operated by legendary firm Citadel and a direct private equity play in the communications infrastructure market.

Fullgoal Asset Management, one of China’s first fund managers to attract offshore shareholders, is widening its international distribution base. It has joined with third-party marketing firm 3PD for Australasia. A subsidiary of Shanghai-based Fullgoal Fund, which was established in 1999 and has about US$151 billion (A$195 billion) under management, as at December last, Fullgoal has…

Mantis Funds, Australia’s latest multi-affiliate manager, launched last year by Timothy Cheung and Damien Hatfield, has strengthened its governance alongside its fund manager portfolio. Rodney Green, a founder of what is now known as Pacific Current Group, a pioneer in the multi-affiliate space, is to join the board of Mantis Funds. As co-founder and managing…