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Printed: 21 September 2026 3:30 PM

15 Jan 2020 - Performance Report: Bennelong Long Short Equity Fund

By: Australian Fund Monitors
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Report Date15 January 2020
ManagerBennelong Long Short Equity Management, a Bennelong boutique
Fund NameBennelong Long Short Equity Fund
StrategyEquity Market Neutral
Latest Return DateDecember 2019
Latest Return2.36%
Latest 6 Months20.21%
Latest 12 Months15.17%
Latest 24 Months (pa)8.66%
Annualised Since Inception15.55%
Inception Date01 January 2003
FUM (millions)AU$390.6
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 rose +2.36% in December, outperforming the ASX200 Accumulation Index by +4.53% and taking annualised performance since inception in February 2002 to +15.55% versus the ASX200 Accumulation Index's +8.35%. Since inception the Fund has achieved a Sortino ratio of 1.55 versus the Index's 0.49 and a down-capture ratio of -186.2%, highlighting the Fund's capacity to significantly outperform in falling markets.

During the month, 20 out of 30 pairs were profitable, with no disproportionate individual pair contribution. Almost all positive pairs derived profit from the short side and vice versa loss-making pairs were driven by the long side. Portfolio activity included the introduction of a new pair in the materials sector.

The top performing pair for the month was long ALS (ALQ) / short Aurizon (AZJ), while the worst performing pair was long Brambles (BXB) / short Amcor (AMC).
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