Al Clark

Australian investors’ increasing appetite for international equities has led Nikko Asset Management Australia to offer the Nikko AM Global Share Fund, the company announced today. According to Rainmaker Information, Australians’ allocation to international equities increased by 16.8% over the year to 31 March 2015[1].

Nikko Asset Management has been actively expanding its existing investment capabilities in recent years. The most recent addition was the highly experienced global active equity team headed by Will Low in August 2014. The global multi-asset team headed by Al Clark joined the group in March 2014 and the Asia ex-Japan equity team headed by Peter Sartori joined in October 2013 (links to relevant news releases are provided below).

“In recognition of the demand for high performing, concentrated global equity capabilities, we are continuing to deliver more of the firm’s global expertise to the local market. This demonstrates one of the benefits of being part of a global asset manager,” said Sam Hallinan, Managing Director of Nikko Asset Management Australia. “The track record that Will Low and his five colleagues have assembled demonstrates that they are exceptionally qualified as active global equity managers and we look forward to their contribution to our Australian business.”

In 2001, while at BlackRock, Low formed and led an EAFE[2] team that was known for its strong alpha track record. In 2011, Low joined Scottish Widows Investment Partnership, where he led the formation of a global equity team that included Stephen Corr, James Kinghorn, Greig Bryson, Iain Fulton and Johnny Russell. From its inception, the team provided an excellent alpha track record in global equities in addition to continuing to manage EAFE mandates[3].

The team of six manages benchmark-agnostic, long-only global equity portfolios and has 19 years’ average industry experience.  Based in Edinburgh, Scotland, the team works closely with Nikko Asset Management’s full-service European headquarters in London. Using its research insights and its proprietary ranking process, the team is able to harness alpha from companies across the geographical and market capitalisation spectrum via an overall investment process that is disciplined, accountable and genuinely team-based.

“Our process delivers a high active share, differentiated global equity solution that aims to provide superior returns to clients as a result of investing in a narrower group of stronger performing companies than is represented in overall benchmarks,” Low commented. “We concentrate on well-researched, high-conviction ideas to deliver alpha in global equity strategies for our clients.”

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