Zenith Investment Partners’ annual Fund awards took place last week at the Ivy Ballroom in Sydney. The awards recognised excellence in funds management across all major asset classes and disciplines, which is fundamental to raising the standards of funds management for the ultimate benefit of investors.
Magellan Asset Management took out top honours as Fund Manager of the Year. They were also awarded the Infrastructure and International Equities – Global sector awards. The Zenith judges praised Magellan’s investment team, quality of business, focus on retail investor outcomes, and integrated risk management framework, which equipped the manager to deliver outstanding risk-adjusted investment returns over a long period to underlying investors.
The Distributor of the Year was awarded to Pinnacle Investment Management for the fourth year running. Zenith was impressed by Pinnacle’s suite of high-quality investment boutiques across a range of asset classes, varying investor platforms and structures. Additionally, judges rated their high standards in reporting, access to investment professionals, effective education and communication of manager strategies, making them a deserving winner.
This year, in addition to the usual sector awards, Zenith introduced two new awards – Sustainable and Responsible Investments and Rising Star – in recognition of changes in the industry.
Zenith also introduced the Industry Contribution Award – awarded to Kerr Neilson, Chief Investment Officer and Co-founder of Platinum Asset Management. Mr Neilson is often referred to as Australia’s Warren Buffett for his investment prowess and, has been actively involved in the funds management industry for more than 30 years.
The Zenith Fund Awards rely on Zenith’s insights and leadership in assessing the capabilities and future potential of fund managers. Each finalist is a leader in their field and has displayed investment excellence across both qualitative and quantitative criteria over the last 12 months.
David Wright, a Managing Partner at Zenith, congratulated all finalists and winners for their outstanding achievements and their contribution to the industry.
“With many active managers under increasing pressure in today’s market, they need to be best practice and continually improve their investment teams and processes in order to compete. We have been extremely impressed with the number of managers who are pushing the boundaries to deliver better outcomes to Australian investors.”
About the Zenith Fund Awards
The prestigious awards judging criteria is multi-faceted and is not solely focused on performance. Funds must pass a rigorous qualitative and quantitative screening, which examines each manager’s investment philosophy, the expertise of the investment team, the investment process, portfolio construction, risk management in addition to performance.
Full list of winners
Here are the winners for each category:
- Australian Real Estate Investment Trust: Zurich Investments / Renaissance Asset Management
- Global Real Estate Investment Trust: Resolution Capital Limited
- Real Assets: AMP Capital
- Infrastructure: Magellan Asset Management
- Global and Diversified Fixed Interest: PIMCO Australia
- Australian Fixed Interest: Ardea Investment Management
- Exchange Traded Products: iShares by BlackRock
- Listed Investment Company: Metrics Credit Partners
- Alternative Strategies: Partners Group
- Multi Asset – Diversified: BlackRock
- Multi Asset – Real Return: Perpetual Investment Management Limited
- International Equities – Emerging Markets and Regional: Fidelity International
- International Equities – Alternative Strategies: Montaka Global Investments
- International Equities – Global: Magellan Asset Management
- Sustainable and Responsible Investments: BNP Paribas Asset Management / Impax Asset Management
- Australian Equities – Alternative Strategies: Solaris Investment Management
- Australian Equities – Small Cap: Fidelity International
- Australian Equities – Large Cap: AllianceBernstein
- Rising Star: Jamieson Coote Bonds
- Distributor of the Year: Pinnacle Investment Management
- Fund Manager of the Year: Magellan Asset Management
- Industry Contribution Award: Kerr Neilson
