Recently established niche third-party fund marketing firm, Zanoma Investment Partners, has secured a new client for the NZ market with Australian-based sustainable active equities manager Alphinity.
In a freshly-inked agreement, Zanoma, headed by Tony Klein, will represent the Alphinity Sustainable Shares Fund (SSF) to NZ investors.
Headquartered in Sydney, Alphinity offers a suite of Australian and global equities funds including the environmental, social and governance (ESG) flavoured SSF.
According to the fund description, the SSF targets ASX-listed companies that “support social priorities without compromising investment returns”.
Klein launched Zanoma this January in association with Heathcote Investment Partners to bring offshore ESG funds to NZ.
Alphinity joins two other Australian managers – Nanuk and Artesian – in the Zanoma stable.
In a statement, Klein said: “We believe that there is a growing consumer demand and an opportunity to provide the industry with quality onshore and offshore investment capabilities that are fully committed to the area of sustainable investing. Incorporating this capability does not need to mean foregoing investment performance as it has access to quality active fund management expertise. We are bringing this expertise to New Zealand. Alphinity has a depth of experience and an outstanding track record.”
Since inception in 2010 to the end of March this year, the Alphinity SSF returned an annualised 10.4 per cent net of fees against 8.7 per cent for the benchmark S&P/ASX 300 index.
More broadly, the manager “seeks to identify and invest in attractively valued, quality companies in, or about to enter, an earnings upgrade cycle”, the Alphinity website says.
Late last year the firm boosted its responsible investing heft after hiring Jessica Cairns in the newly-created position of ESG and sustainability manager.
A release at the time said the appointment backed “Alphinity’s efforts to more deeply integrate ESG-related matters across its domestic and global equities funds, including the high-performing Alphinity Sustainable Share Fund”.
Prior to joining Alphinity, Cairns spent four years at Australian toll road operator, Transurban, as a senior sustainability adviser.
And this week another ESG specialist manager will get an airing in NZ as the UK-based WHEB Asset Management presents at The Investment Store third-party manager roadshow.
WHEB describes itself as a “positive impact investor focused on the opportunities created by the transition to a zero carbon and sustainable global economy”.
The Investment Store, headed by Matthew Mimms, is introducing (via video as per COVID restrictions) WHEB portfolio manager, Ted Franks, to discuss the group’s take on impact investing. Australian manager Pengana fronts the WHEB Sustainable Impact Fund in this part of the world.
Devon Funds, Australian fixed income manager, Bentham Asset Management, and local consultancy firm Makao Investments also feature in The Investment Store show to air in Wellington, Christchurch and Auckland this week.
In Australia, both Alphinity and Bentham are represented by the multi-affiliate business, Fidante Partners, which itself is part of the ASX-listed Challenger.