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Printed: 21 September 2026 6:05 PM

9 Aug 2019 - Performance Report: Bennelong Long Short Equity Fund

By: Australian Fund Monitors
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Report Date09 August 2019
ManagerBennelong Long Short Equity Management, a Bennelong boutique
Fund NameBennelong Long Short Equity Fund
StrategyEquity Market Neutral
Latest Return DateJuly 2019
Latest Return6.92%
Latest 6 Months6.15%
Latest 12 Months0.19%
Latest 24 Months (pa)4.41%
Annualised Since Inception15.17%
Inception Date01 January 2003
FUM (millions)AU$386.2
Fund OverviewBennelong Long Short Equity Management applies a qualitative stock selection process to construct a diversified portfolio of paired securities based on relative value. The Bennelong Long Short Equity Management strategy invests primarily in the S&P/ASX 100 and is dollar neutral at cost.

In a typical environment the Fund will hold around 70 stocks comprising 35 pairs. Each pair contains one long and one short position each of which will have been thoroughly researched and are selected from the same market sector. Whilst in an ideal environment each stock's position will make a positive return, it is the relative performance of the pair that is important.

As a result the Fund can make positive returns when each stock moves in the same direction provided the long position outperforms the short one in relative terms. However, if neither side of the trade is profitable, strict controls are required to ensure losses are limited.

The Fund uses no derivatives and has no currency exposure. The Fund has no hard stop loss limits, instead relying on the small average position size per stock (1.5%) and per pair (3%) to limit exposure. Where practical pairs are always held within the same sector to limit cross sector risk, and positions can be held for months or years.

The Bennelong Market Neutral Fund, with same strategy and liquidity is available for retail investors as a Listed Investment Company (LIC) on the ASX.
Manager CommentsThe Bennelong Long Short Equity Fund returned +6.92% in July, outperforming the ASX200 Accumulation Index by +3.98% and taking annualised performance since inception in February 2002 to +15.17% versus the Index's +8.55%. The Fund's Sortino ratio of 1.48 versus the Index's 0.50 and down-capture ratio of -163.51% highlight the Fund's capacity to perform well in falling markets.

During the month the Fund experienced a favourable balance of fundamental news. In addition, Bennelong noted appetite for higher yield stocks moderated, which was a tailwind for returns. They believe the elimination of the dividend in two ASX200 companies experiencing operating headwinds is a reminder that yield is no certainty in the equity markets.

At the sector level Financials were the Fund's top contributor while Consumer Discretionary was the greatest detractor. The number of positive pairs exceeded the negative. The contribution of the Fund's negative pairs was modest.
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