The A$170m mandate to the Aikya Global Emerging Markets Strategy is the first secured by the UK-based investment boutique after being established by a team of highly experienced Emerging Markets investors in March 2020.

Aikya is an affiliate of Pinnacle Investment Management Group Limited (ASX:PNI) (Pinnacle). Pinnacle is a minority equity partner and provides distribution services and other non-investment support functions.

Aikya Portfolio Manager, Ashish Swarup, said the appointment demonstrates a high degree of confidence in Aikya’s well-established Emerging Markets investment processes.

“We are pleased to be partnering with a forward-thinking Australian superannuation fund, with a sound reputation for investment acumen and responsible investing,” said Mr Swarup.

“We follow a disciplined investment process that focuses on identifying businesses with the highest quality of stewardship, which requires deep understanding of the various jurisdictions where we invest. The team has many years’ experience investing in emerging markets, having worked together through previous market cycles.”

Pinnacle Investment Management Director, Institutional Distribution, Wes Campbell, also commented on the appointment.

“Aikya’s experienced investment team is a global leader when it comes to Emerging Markets and after just a few months since coming together as Pinnacle’s sixteenth investment boutique we are delighted to secure this major mandate,” said Mr Campbell.

“Importantly, legalsuper members can rest assured Aikya’s intensive focus on stewardship and ESG factors means funds will not flow into companies with negative social utility such as coal, gambling, tobacco and arms manufacturers.”

Legalsuper CIO, Norman Zhang, said: “legalsuper’s scale and agility allow us to pursue truly innovative investment opportunities and Aikya aligns well with this strategy. We are confident in their capability to protect capital and deliver healthy long term returns from socially responsible businesses in this asset class.”

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Zhang joins the Fund from his position as lead consultant for Media Super at Frontier Advisors. Prior to that he held management consulting and corporate finance roles at Ernst and Young Australia.

Commenting on his appointment, Media Super CEO, Graeme Russell, said: “We are delighted to have Norman join our team. Norman has a deep and comprehensive understanding of our Fund, its culture and our investment philosophy. He has outstanding capability and a reputation for cultivating strong relationships at executive, stakeholder and Board level.

Zhang added: “I am pleased to be joining Media Super at a time when the Fund is pursing strong growth. Media Super has produced strong outcomes over the past several years around investment performance and risk management.  I am excited to continue contributing to this momentum going forward, and bring new perspectives and insights to our Executive and Board thinking as we operate in an increasingly complex superannuation investments environment.”

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