ClearBridge Investments wins Zenith Fund Award for infrastructure excellence

Matt Bushby

ClearBridge Investments Limited, has been awarded the prestigious Zenith Fund Award in the infrastructure category for 2024.

The annual Zenith Fund Awards recognise outstanding performance and leadership across all asset classes in the funds management industry. These awards are considered a hallmark of excellence, setting a high standard in investment practices to benefit investors and drive innovation within the industry.

Each award is based on Zenith’s long-term assessment of key factors, including:

• strength of the organisation and investment team
• investment philosophy
• security valuation and selection process
• portfolio construction
• risk management practices
• fee structure.

“We are incredibly honoured to receive this prestigious award,” said Matt Bushby, Head of APAC Business Development at ClearBridge. “It’s a testament to our specialised investment team and their dedication to a disciplined investment process, which leverages the understanding that asset valuations ultimately reflect long-term cash flows. This award acknowledges our focus on infrastructure assets that aim to deliver more predictable and stable cash flows over time.”

“Global listed infrastructure continues to offer compelling opportunities. Infrastructure as an asset class provides resilience, with the advantages of liquidity and cost-efficiency that come from investing in listed markets. Our team in Australia is dedicated to identifying value within global infrastructure securities, such as publicly traded shares of companies in electricity, water, and transportation sectors. As active managers, we believe the flexibility in the listed infrastructure market enables us to respond to market dynamics and create meaningful value for our investors.”

ClearBridge originally launched their first global listed infrastructure strategy in 2006. The ClearBridge RARE Infrastructure Value Funds (Hedged & Unhedged) and ClearBridge RARE Infrastructure Income Funds (Hedged & Unhedged), continue to be recognised by earning ‘Highly Recommended’ ratings from Zenith Research in 2024.

Shane Hurst, Portfolio Manager at ClearBridge, said “Our approach to listed infrastructure is underpinned by deep research and active management. We look to invest in companies that benefit from long-term, stable cash flows, providing our investors with both capital appreciation and income. This award acknowledges our commitment to delivering superior investment outcomes for our clients.”

As ClearBridge continues to expand its investment capabilities, the firm remains committed to delivering high-quality, risk-adjusted returns for its investors worldwide.