Charles Story

Australian equities investment manager, WaveStone Capital, has strengthened its team with the appointment of Charles Story as Director and Portfolio Manager.

Story brings more than two decades of industry experience, including over 14 years as a Portfolio Manager with Solaris Capital, where his responsibilities spanned the long-only, longshort, and income strategies. Prior to this, he was employed with Goldman Sachs, gaining experience in their London, Singapore, and Tokyo offices.

Commenting on the appointment, WaveStone Director and Portfolio Manager, Raaz Bhuyan, said he was excited to welcome someone of Story’s calibre and expertise to the WaveStone team.

“Our goal is to attract the right talent who can grow with us and deliver on our commitment to active investing that achieves competitive, long-term performance for our clients,” Mr Bhuyan said.

“Charles embodies these attributes, with a skillset that complements our existing team. He has more than 20 years of experience in Australian equities and risk management, with proven expertise in managing both long and long/short strategies.

“Charles adds to the depth and breadth of our investment team and understands the collaborative culture of a boutique investment firm.”

Story commenced in role earlier this month, relocating from Brisbane for the appointment.

Commenting on his appointment, Story said: “WaveStone’s values and approach align closely with my own. I am excited to be joining a cycle-tested, boutique firm that is passionate about delivering for its clients.”

The post WaveStone Capital strengthens leadership team appeared first on AdviserVoice.

The appointment deepens WaveStone’s investment capabilities, with Mr Bhuyan joining existing principals Graeme Burke, Catherine Allfrey and Ian Harding, who co-founded the business in 2006. As part of his appointment, Mr Bhuyan will also hold equity in the firm.

Prior to his appointment Mr Bhuyan was Deputy Head of Australian Equities – Growth Team at Colonial First State, where he worked with the Australian equities team for more than a decade, including Portfolio Manager for the Australian Share Fund, Australian Equities – Growth.

Before joining Colonial First State, Mr Bhuyan held a variety of senior research roles, including Senior Analyst at Wilson HTM, Head of Research at ING Barings in India and Vice President Research at DSP Merrill Lynch in India.

Mr Bhuyan said of his appointment, “I’m excited by the opportunity to join WaveStone, a successful Australian equities manager with a clear growth strategy operating under a flexible and agile boutique structure.”

WaveStone Chairman, Ian Harding said: “It is rare to be able to recruit the same savvy investor twice in your career.”  Adding to this, Mr Burke said: “Having worked effectively and collaboratively together at Colonial First State, we have first-hand knowledge of Raaz’s acumen, dedication and integrity knowing he will hit the ground running from day one.”

Ms Allfrey said: “Raaz’s decision to join WaveStone represents a new phase of growth for our business. The ability to attract a portfolio manager with credentials such as Raaz’s, is a true testament to the high quality, stable and sustainable business which the founding Principals have built.  We’re confident his extensive experience will resonate strongly with the market and importantly add value for our investors.”

WaveStone is an Australian equities manager that adopts an active, bottom-up investment approach and is attracted to innovative and high-growth stocks at reasonable prices. WaveStone products are the Australian Share Fund (long only), Dynamic Australian Equity Fund and Absolute Return Fund.

WaveStone is supported by Fidante Partners, the multi-boutique funds management arm of Challenger Limited.

The post WaveStone Capital appoints Raaz Bhuyan as Principal and Portfolio Manager appeared first on AdviserVoice.

Australian and New Zealand-focused equities manager WaveStone Capital has launched the
WaveStone Wholesale Australian Share Fund, a long-only fund designed to capture increasing
demand for quality and growth-styled portfolios.

Established in 2006 by three majority-owned principals – Ian Harding, Graeme Burke and Catherine
Allfrey – WaveStone Capital adopts an active, bottom-up investment approach with the new fund
aiming to outperform the S&P/ ASX 300 Accumulation Index over rolling three-year periods.

According to Ms Allfrey, the launch of the new style product into the institutional investment market
will be driven by WaveStone Capital’s attraction to innovative and high-growth stocks at reasonable
prices.

“Over the past 15 years, the principals have refined the investment philosophy via the establishment
of the WaveStone Absolute Return Fund then the Dynamic Australian Equity Fund – to great success,
and the same approach will now be applied to our new long-only fund,” she said.

WaveStone Capital implements a 15-factor quality regimen when assessing appropriate stocks to
identify businesses which exhibit a sustainable competitive advantage; operate in favourable industry
dynamics; and have potential to deliver above market earnings growth.

“We differentiate ourselves by adopting a resolute commitment to quality growth stocks – we apply
quality filters, together with growth and valuation tests before overlaying that assessment with risk
controls to construct higher conviction portfolios,” she said.

WaveStone has been managing a long-only mandate since 2007 under consistent investment
principles. Before fees, this portfolio has delivered 8.2% p.a. for the 7 years to 31 March 2014, versus
the S&P/ASX 300 Accumulation Index of 2.8% p.a. over the same period – a top quartile 5.4% p.a.
outperformance. Pleasingly, this performance was achieved with a volatility of approximately 20%
below the overall market.

The post WaveStone Capital unveils new long-only Australian equity fund appeared first on AdviserVoice.