Peter Cooper

Cooper Investors Pty Limited is delighted to announce the opening of the Cooper Investors Global Endowment Fund to external investors as at 1st July 2019.

As a wholesale unit trust the Fund is the first new product launched by Cooper Investors in 5 years and the strategy has been run successfully with internal capital for over 2 and a half years.

The Fund is managed by the Global Equities team applying the CI Way investment philosophy and VoF investment process. It provides exposure to high quality global companies with attractive investment propositions, leveraging the intensely researched Watchlist run by the Global team.

The portfolio is constructed with the explicit intention to have lower volatility than global equities markets and to outperform in periods of market weakness and is intended for those investors who are retirees, charities and foundations.

Peter Cooper, founder and Chief Investment Officer of Cooper Investors explains the appeal of this type of portfolio: “This Endowment mindset way of investing is one of the biggest investment trends we’ve seen in the marketplace. Investing in a lower risk portfolio that aims to protect capital yet still experiencing market or above market returns over the longer term is highly desirable for those investors in pensions phase or for charities and foundations.”

The Fund is intended to be both diversified and concentrated, and managed with a long term time horizon. Relatively little regard will be paid to industry benchmarks though for measuring of volatility and downside capture the Manager refers to MSCI All Countries World net dividends in local currency [the “Reference Index”].

As at 30 June 2019 the Strategy has achieved:

• Annualised absolute return (gross) since inception of +16.2%
• 1 Year absolute return (gross) of +14.3% (versus Reference Index +6.1%)
• Volatility approximately 88% of the Reference Index
• Downside capture of 62% of the Reference Index (monthly compounded annualised returns)

The Fund seeks to invest in sustainable businesses with sound governance practices and the Fund will not invest in companies whose primary business is the production of tobacco, controversial weapons or gambling. Example holdings include Givaudan SA, IDEX Corporation and American Water Works Company, Inc

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There is a growing interest in Australian fund managers with a global equity capability.

The Melbourne-based specialist global equities fund manager Cooper Investors’ expansion into the retail market has gained further impetus with its two long-only global funds now available on two more platforms.

The addition of the Netwealth and the FirstWrap platforms takes to eight the number of platforms now offering Cooper’s two global funds – the Cooper Investors Global Equities Fund (hedged) and the Cooper Investors Global Equities Fund (unhedged).

Cooper Investors, which has $13 billion in assets under management, is also available to planners on the Macquarie Investment and Super platforms, as well as BT Wrap, BT Panorama, Asgard, HUB24 and Powerwrap.

Cooper’s latest performance report shows that the hedged fund produced a net return of 12.25 percent for the five years to 30 June 2018 compared with a 10.62 per cent return for the benchmark index, the MSCI World Index. The unhedged fund had a 14.13 per cent return over the same period, ahead of the index at 13.95 per cent.

The funds, which have been rated by Zenith Investment Partners and Lonsec, have attracted strong interest in the institutional market since their inception in 2004 (hedged) and 2008 (unhedged), prompting Cooper’s decision to take them to the retail market.

Andrew Hall, Cooper’s senior retail sales manager, says there is a growing interest in Australian fund managers with a global equity capability. Both financial advisers and their clients understand the need for diversification, and the fact there are local fund managers with proven track records to offer this investment option.

“These two funds, with their history of outperformance, offer the retail market the opportunity to get exposure to long-only funds that are underpinned by Cooper Investors’ VoF research philosophy, standing for value latency; operating, industry and strategic trends; and focused industry and management behaviour.”

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Peter Cooper

Cooper Investors, the Melbourne-based specialist global equities fund manager, is taking its investment philosophy to the world of philanthropy with its decision to support OzHarvest, Australia’s leading food rescue charity.

Cooper Investors Founder and Chief Investment Officer, Peter Cooper, says the values that the fund manager looks for in companies, such as authenticity and focussed management, is very evident in how OzHarvest operates, and this is “why we are firmly committed to this charity”.

Cooper Investors recently organised a lunch, using rescued food, to spread the OzHarvest story to Melbourne’s business and philanthropic community.

Cooper says the involvement of Woolworths, now in the third year of its partnership with OzHarvest, highlights the important links between the business and philanthropic world.  The relationship is, in fact, a three-way one with Cooper Investors, an active fund manager, on the register as a shareholder of Woolworths.

“We are values-based investors and we love backing people who think like owners, and both Woolworths Managing Director Brad Banducci and OzHarvest Founder and Chief Executive Officer Ronni Kahn fit this mould. They exude focussed management behaviour, and that’s a key attribute we look for in companies in which we invest and in charitable organisations that we support.

Authenticity is one of Cooper Investor’s five cultural values and the team is constantly searching for companies whose management and team share similar values.

“When you appreciate Woolworths’ commitment to OzHarvest, to the fact food is being ‘rescued’ currently from more than 300 of its stores around Australia and contributing about 30 per cent of the food collected, then you know you are backing a business that backs the community.

“Reducing food waste – its estimated about one-third of all food produced in Australia is wasted – is clearly a critical issue for Woolworths’ customers. So, when the company gets involved in reducing food waste and meeting a community need, then its aligning its long-term interests with its customers.

“That’s a powerful message, and, as an active fund manager, it’s another compelling reason to be on the share register.”

Cooper Investors contributes financially to OzHarvest via its employee-run philanthropy fund and Peter Cooper’s family foundation, the Maitri Foundation.

OzHarvest, the brainchild of Kahn, was established 14 years ago, and today delivers about 125 tonnes of food weekly to 1300 charitable organisations for distribution to the three million Australians Kahn says suffer from “food insecurity”.

“To achieve what we do the commitment of businesses such as Woolworths and Cooper Investors is invaluable. But it’s not just the time and money they give. It’s the palpable enthusiasm they have for our cause which ripples across the broader business community, enticing more people and companies to commit to our cause.”

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The funds are now available to financial planners on the Macquarie Investment Manager/Consolidator and Macquarie Super Manager/Consolidator platforms.
This continues the growth of platform providers now offering Cooper Investors’ global funds, with the others being BT Wrap, BT Panorama, Asgard, HUB24 and Powerwrap.

Cooper’s latest performance report shows that the unhedged fund produced a net return of 20.50 per cent for the 12 months to 28 February 2018 compared with a 17.21 per cent return for the benchmark index, the MSCI AC World Index. Over the past five years, the fund has shown an average annual return of 16.10 per cent.
The funds, which have been rated by Zenith Investment Partners and Lonsec, have attracted strong interest in the institutional market since their inception in 2004 (hedged) and 2008 (unhedged), and are now available to retail investors.

Andrew Hall, Cooper’s senior retail sales manager, says there is a growing appreciation of Australian fund managers who have the capabilities to offer global equities.  The long, proven track record and focus on investing for Australians is being recognised by financial advisers and their clients.

“These two funds, with their history of outperformance, offer the retail market the opportunity to get exposure to long-only funds that are underpinned by Cooper Investors’ VoF research philosophy, standing for value latency; operating, industry and strategic trends; and focused industry and management behaviour.

“Apart from our unique investment philosophy, we also place a high value on having direct relationships with the companies we invest in, with the 16 analysts comprising the Australian and international investment teams making more than 1000 company visits a year.”

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Peter Cooper

Cooper Investors, the Melbourne-based specialist global equities fund manager, has appointed Equity Trustees to be the Responsible Entity (RE) for its two global funds in response to strong interest from advisors and their clients.

Cooper Investors, which has funds under management of approximately $11 billion, will now be positioned to offer investment in its two global funds, the CI Global Equities Fund and the CI Global Equities Fund (unhedged), to retail investors via platforms.

Cooper Investors, which has funds under management of approximately $11 billion, will now be positioned to offer investment in its two global funds, the CI Global Equities Fund and the CI Global Equities Fund (unhedged), to retail investors via platforms. Currently, those funds are only available by direct investment to wholesale investors. Cooper Investors Managing Director, Peter Cooper, says: “There has been strong interest in our global funds among high net worth investors and their financial advisers, and in

Cooper Investors Managing Director, Peter Cooper, says: “There has been strong interest in our global funds among high net worth investors and their financial advisers, and in response we have taken steps to make it easier for them to invest in these two products.”“In taking this initiative, we were conscious that, as a specialist global equities fund manager, we must maintain our focus on investing. We believe the appointment of Equity Trustees as the RE is the best way to facilitate this investment offering to a wider audience at this time.”

“In taking this initiative, we were conscious that, as a specialist global equities fund manager, we must maintain our focus on investing. We believe the appointment of Equity Trustees as the RE is the best way to facilitate this investment offering to a wider audience at this time.”Cooper Investors, which began operations in 2001, manages six pooled wholesale trusts invested in both domestic and international equities for a wide range of clients, including large pension and superannuation funds, listed Australian companies, religious institutions, governments, school endowments, charities and high net worth families.

Cooper Investors, which began operations in 2001, manages six pooled wholesale trusts invested in both domestic and international equities for a wide range of clients, including large pension and superannuation funds, listed Australian companies, religious institutions, governments, school endowments, charities and high net worth families.Equity Trustees Executive General Manager, Corporate Trustee Services, Harvey Kalman, says he is pleased to be partnering with Cooper Investors and working with them to improve access to their funds. Appointing an independent RE is a move that provides investors with a framework familiar in overseas jurisdictions.

Equity Trustees Executive General Manager, Corporate Trustee Services, Harvey Kalman, says he is pleased to be partnering with Cooper Investors and working with them to improve access to their funds. Appointing an independent RE is a move that provides investors with a framework familiar in overseas jurisdictions.“Appointing an independent RE demonstrates to potential investors that the manager is willing to invest in their business by providing

“Appointing an independent RE demonstrates to potential investors that the manager is willing to invest in their business by providing clear delineation between the role of fund manager and fiduciary responsibilities.  While fund managers focus on investment management, the role of the RE is to take care of protecting investor interests and compliance.

“This has to be a clear benefit for investors – a manager that has made the decision to have an independent RE makes a commitment to an independent trustee that is always at arm’s length to the commercial objectives of the business,” Mr Kalman says.To further support the wider availability of its funds, Cooper Investors has appointed Andrew Hall to lead its Retail Distribution capability.

To further support the wider availability of its funds, Cooper Investors has appointed Andrew Hall to lead its Retail Distribution capability.Hall brings a broad experience in retail investing to the group, having worked closely with financial planners, dealer groups, investment platforms and retail research houses over his career.

Hall brings a broad experience in retail investing to the group, having worked closely with financial planners, dealer groups, investment platforms and retail research houses over his career.For the past

For the past decade he worked for K2 Asset Management as Head of Distribution, where he initiated and implemented its successful move into the retail market, and before that at the BT Financial Group.

“It’s an exciting time to be joining Cooper Investors as it increases the availability of its global funds. Cooper Investors has built an enviable reputation in the wholesale market since inception in 2001, and is now able to give retail investors the same opportunity to tap into its global offerings.

“Cooper Investors has been investing in international equities for the past 10 years, and now retail investors can benefit from the investment teams’ experience.”

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