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2 May 2019 - Performance Report: Harvest Lane Asset Management Absolute Return Fund

By: Australian Fund Monitors
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Report Date02 May 2019
ManagerHarvest Lane Asset Management
Fund NameHarvest Lane Asset Management Absolute Return Fund
StrategyEquity Market Neutral
Latest Return DateMarch 2019
Latest Return-2.01%
Latest 6 Months0.10%
Latest 12 Months10.96%
Latest 24 Months15.59%
Annualised Since Inception8.61%
Inception Date01 July 2013
FUM (millions)AU$12
Fund OverviewThe Fund aims to deliver a return of greater than 10% p.a. after all fees and charges over a 3 year period with low or no correlation to the Australian equity market. By focusing on select takeover and corporate activity the fund aims to achieve this whilst also exhibiting lower than average volatility than the market.

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 CommentsThe Harvest Lane Absolute Return Fund has returned +10.96% over the past 12 months with a volatility of 7.89%, and +8.61% p.a. since inception with an annualised volatility of 7.07%. By contrast, the ASX200 Accumulation Index has returned +12.06 with a volatility of 10.65% over the past 12 months and +9.24% p.a. with an annualised volatility of 10.93% since the Fund's inception. The Fund's primary strength is in protecting investors' capital against the market's downside, this is evidenced by the Fund's Sortino ratio of 1.59 versus the Index's 0.99, average negative return of -1.47% versus the Index's -2.45%, maximum drawdown since inception of -6.46% versus the Index's -13.73% and down-capture ratio of -35.58% (a negative down-capture ratio indicates that, on average, the Fund has risen during the months the market has fallen). However, the Fund has also proven itself capable of achieving superior risk-adjusted returns over the long-term; Sharpe ratio of 0.94 versus the Index's 0.69.

After a strong start to 2019, the portfolio lost some ground in March returning -2.01%. Harvest Lane say the loss came from a rare deal break in Eclipx Group (ECX.ASX). The remainder of the portfolio largely traded in line with expectations as the positions matured across their respective transactions.

Harvest lane noted March saw yet another month of strong deal flow which underpins their expectations that the portfolio can keep achieving new highs before long. Five new positions were added during the month. Some positions were entered on the back of entirely new transactions being announced whereas others reflected prior monitored opportunities that simply offered better entry points on a risk-adjusted return basis.
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