NEWS
27 Jan 2015 - The Paragon Fund
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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 | Since inception the Paragon Fund has returned +37.5% after fees vs. the market (All Ordinaries Accumulation Index) +13.7%. Key drivers of the Paragon Fund performance for December included solid returns from industrial firms Qantas, Orora, Brambles and emerging healthcare firm Nanosonics, offset by falls across our smaller company holdings. At the end of December the fund had 27 long positions and 11 short positions. |
| More Information | » View detailed profile of this fund |
27 Jan 2015 - Fund Review: Insync Global Titans Fund December 2014
INSYNC GLOBAL TITANS FUND
Attached is our most recently updated Fund Review on the Insync Global Titans Fund.
CPD Points are now available for all AFM Fund Reviews. Read the review and answer 5 questions to earn half a point toward your continuing professional development.
We would like to highlight the following:
- The Fund's unit price increased by 2.57% in December. The performance was driven by positive contributions from our holdings in Oracle, Express Scripts, Reckitt Benckiser, Zimmer and Comcast as well as the weaker Australian dollar. The main negative contributors were Hugo Boss, BAT and Sanofi. The Fund continues to have no foreign currency hedging in place as Insync consider the main risks to the Australian dollar to be on the downside.
- The Global Titans Fund invests in a concentrated portfolio of 15-30 stocks, targeting exceptional, large cap global companies with a strong focus on dividend growth and downside protection.
- Portfolio selection is driven by a core strategy of investing in companies with sustainable growth in dividends, high returns on capital, positive free cash flows and strong balance sheets.
- Emphasis on limiting downside risk is through extensive company research, the ability to hold cash and long protective index put options.
For further details on the Fund, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Sean Webster
Research Manager
Australian Fund Monitors
Insync Global Titans Fund AFM Review - Dec 2014 (pdf format)
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.
24 Jan 2015 - Cor Capital Fund
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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 | The Fund Manager is pleased to report that the effects of recent energy, resources and currency volatility on Fund performance were relatively negligible and slightly positive. There were no changes to the portfolio at the asset class level during the month despite the year end approaching with higher volatility. |
| More Information | » View detailed profile of this fund |
23 Jan 2015 - Hedge Clippings
Over the last week both Switzerland and Denmark announced further cuts to their already negative interest rates.
US$7.3 trillion of government debt in the Eurozone, Switzerland and Japan has a negative yield. It used to be that when you lent someone money, even the government, you received interest. Apparently not any more.
For those investors that are still lending, or considering lending to governments, globally 52% of all government bonds currently yield less than 1%. Australian 10 year bonds are yielding significantly more than that at 2.6%, but even this is at an all-time low.
Not so long ago, a primary source of concern was inflation. Now it's deflation.
According to Merrill's 83% of global equity market capitalisation is underpinned (or should that be propped up?) by zero interest rate policies. Given that many pension funds around the world are limited, or not permitted to invest in equity markets due to the risk, they are between a rock and a hard place when it comes to asset allocation.
Of course this can't last forever. Eventually interest rates will rise. Given that bond markets are many, many times larger than equity markets, any shift from equities (and their stretched valuations) to bonds to chase yields is likely to be painful.
The issue is when? At present while the music is playing investors will have to keep dancing, but the issue is how long can the current environment last?
Probably sometime considerable time yet, but we do believe that there will, as they say, be tears before bedtime when it changes.
It will take people far, far smarter than yours truly to answer that, and for one fund manager's view on this and other topics watch this interview we recorded earlier this week with Morphic Asset Management's Jack Lowenstein.
Meanwhile if you haven't yet registered for our AFM/Deloitte lunchtime presentation "Looking Forward, Looking Back" to be held in Sydney on Thursday 12 February, please click here.
Specific results received this week include the following PERFORMANCE UPDATES:
Monash Absolute Investment Fund returned 0.80% during December bringing the 2014 return to 5.40% (ASX 200 Accum 5.61%) and a volatility of 8.10% (Index 10.95%).
The Aurora Fortitude Absolute Return Fund returned -0.74% during December with a volatility of 1.23%.
Optimal Australia Absolute Trust returned -1.53% in December, resulting in a 2014 annual return of 3.24% and volatility of 2.80%.
The Laminar Credit Opportunities Fund returned 0.64% over the month of December and has annual volatility of 0.63%.
Pengana Australian Equities Market Neutral Fund returned -3.90% during December.
The Totus Alpha Fund -2.30% during December bringing year to date return for 2014 to 12.85% with volatility of 9.14%.
FUND REVIEWS released this week, all with the potential for earning CPD points:
Aurora Fortitude Absolute Return Fund; Monash Absolute Investment Fund; Morphic Global Opportunities Fund; Bennelong Alpha 200 Fund
We have limited places available for our Deloitte "Looking Forward, Looking Back" lunchtime seminar on Thursday 12 February in Sydney. We'll have four of the best and brightest fund managers on hand, including Simon Shields, George Colman, John Corr and Monik Kotetcha to give you the benefit of their opinion. If you would like to attend, please register your interest here.
18 February 2015 in Sydney - Efficiency in a Regulated World
25-27 March 2015 - Digital Marketing for Banking and Financial Services Summit
Finally, and now for something completely different - on the eve of the Australia Day long week-end we hope you have a great day on Monday.
Kind regards,
Chris
CEO, AUSTRALIAN FUND MONITORS
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23 Jan 2015 - Pengana Australian Equities Market Neutral Fund
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| Fund Overview | Following a review, Pengana Capital Limited have decided to change the investment team for the Pengana Australian Equities Market Neutral Fund. The new investment team will continue to manage the Fund in accordance with the Fund's current investment objectives. We expect to be able to advise the details of the new investment team within the next 2 to 3 weeks. Investors will not be exposed to investment performance risk during the transitionary phase. The assets of the Fund will be liquidated into cash pending the appointment of the new investment team. Following the appointment of the new investment team, the cash will then be reinvested into equities. Pengana Capital will issue an updated Product Disclosure Statement when the new investment team is formally appointed which we estimate to be in 2 to 3 weeks. There will be no change to the product features other than the investment team change and we envisage only minor refinements to the investment process and investment guidelines of the Fund, which will be disclosed in an updated Product Disclosure Statement. The Fund's Product Disclosure Statement has been withdrawn and, until the updated Product Disclosure Statement is issued, the Fund is closed to all applications. Any application requests received after 2pm on Thursday 15 January 2015 will not be processed and will be returned with all application monies. Withdrawals will continue to be processed as normal and payment made in accordance with instructions. Existing investors do not need to take any action at this time. We will advise them once the new investment team is appointed and the updated Product Disclosure Statement is issued. Should you require any further information at this time, please contact your Financial Adviser or Pengana's Client Services team: Phone: 02 8524 9900 Email: clientservice@pengana.com |
| Manager Comments | Value was the worst performing factor over the quarter followed by Momentum, Quality and Revisions. Falling risk appetite continued to gather momentum over the quarter and was accentuated by falling market volatility and trade volumes over December. The fund benefitted from its short position in the iron ore exposed names of Arrium and Mount Gibson and its net short to the energy sector with Santos and AWE in particular adding value, however the long exposure to Lonestar Energy detracted value from the portfolio. The net short to mining services companies detracted value for the quarter in spite of their deteriorating outlook as miners and now oil and gas companies look to lower CAPEX budgets. Sharp falls, followed by strong rallies from the likes RCR Tomlinson and Skilled group were examples of a sector where performance was highly variable and volatile. The Consumer discretionary sector was a poor performer with the fund exposed to both Flight centre and STW communications at the time of both their profit downgrades. The model has identified Harvey Norman, Nine Entertainment and Dick Smith as core long positions representing both value and positive earnings momentum within the consumer sector. Peet is one of the fund's top holdings as it trades at a 13% discount to NTA, is exposed to the improving development market in Queensland and delivered solid margin expansion and EPS growth in FY14. It screens positively across most of our metrics especially within the property sector. Paladin energy now screens very poorly across all our Valuation and Quality metrics and is one of the largest short positions in the fund. |
| More Information | » View detailed profile of this fund |
23 Jan 2015 - Fund Review: Morphic Global Opportunities Fund December 2014
MORPHIC GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND
Attached is our most recently updated Fund Review on the Morphic Global Opportunities Fund.
CPD Points are now available for all AFM Fund Reviews. Read the review and answer 5 questions to earn half a point toward your continuing professional development.
Key points include:
- The Fund is a global equity long/short manager with a long bias and a macro-economic overlay. The mandate allows the Fund to short sell, use derivatives and invest in assets such as commodities & currencies.
- Morphic's philosophy is that only funds with flexible investment and hedging strategies will be able to deliver acceptable, steady, real, absolute returns over the investment cycle.
- The Fund is an early stage, boutique, Sydney-based fund established in 2012 with experienced CIO's, and an investment team of 6 including a risk manager.
- The Board has a majority of independent members with significant risk and investment experience.
For further details on the Fund, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Sean Webster
Research Manager
Australian Fund Monitors
23 Jan 2015 - Totus Alpha Fund
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| Fund Overview | The Fund is a long/short investment fund principally investing in listed entities, commodities, futures and options in Australia and internationally. The Fund is not a market neutral fund and accordingly may switch between net long positions and net short positions. The Fund may use short sales and derivatives. Gearing may be used to enhance returns and the Fund may be geared in excess of 100% of the Fund's Net Asset Value. There is a limit to net exposure of 150%. |
| Manager Comments | This annualised return was comfortably ahead of the broader Australian market return of 5.3% including dividends. In a year in which many asset classes experienced an uptick in volatility it is pleasing that the fund was able to deliver absolute returns from both the long (+7%) and short (+6%) side of the book. It is also pleasing that the contribution to returns was relatively broad based with no single stock or theme impacting returns by >5% during the year. Top contributors to performance in December were the short positions in LNG Limited +1.42% (Promoter) and Metcash +1.09% (Structural Change). Long position in 1-Page added 0.69% (Online). Biggest detractors from performance were long positions in Estia Health -3.62% (Ageing Population) and Flight Centre -0.57% (Scarce Growth), whilst the short position in a litigious stock promoter detracted -1.30%. |
| More Information | » View detailed profile of this fund |
22 Jan 2015 - Fund Review: Monash Absolute Investment Fund Dec 2014
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
22 Jan 2015 - Laminar Credit Opportunities Fund
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| Fund Overview | The Fund may also invest in derivatives for hedging purposes. 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 portfolio composition of the Fund did see some change over the year. Although the allocation to residential mortgage backed securities (RMBS) was roughly the same, falling from 67% to 65%, the allocation to short dated loans increased from 10% to 19%. Laminar will continue to focus on short dated assets in 2015. These assets are a major contributor to the low credit duration of the Fund (2.2 years as at 31 December) and have provided stability to the unit price when market volatility increased in late 2014 and other assets experienced some negative returns. |
| More Information | » View detailed profile of this fund |
