MICROEQUITIES DEEP VALUE FUND

Attached is our most recently updated Fund Review on the Microequities Deep Value Fund.

• The Microequities Deep Value Fund has a 5 year track record investing in ASX listed equities.  The Fund is a fundamental, research-driven Fund investing in equities with a market cap below $250m. The Fund uses a value philosophy based on the view that microcaps are often under-researched and under-valued.CIO Carlos Gil has over 15 years financial market experience across a broad range of equities.
• The Fund does not short, use derivatives or borrow i.e., it is long  only and is concentrated; usually with 15 to 20 companies across industrial sectors.
• Resource stocks are avoided.

If you have any questions in relation to the Fund Review or the CPD points, please do not hesitate to contact us.

ATTACHED FILESMicroequities Deep Value Microcap Fund Review July (pdf format)

This week Hedge Clippings attended the ARRIA Round Table in Sydney. ARRIA, for those not aware of the organisation, stands for the Association of Real Return Investment Advisors and acts as a resource for independent financial advisors looking for ways to improve returns and diversify risk for their clients.

It was the third such ARRIA Round Table event we have attended, and it was pleasing to note the expanding numbers of attendees, and as a result the level and depth of discussion and debate that ensued.

The points we tried to make at the meeting were twofold:

Firstly, what's in a name? It doesn't really matter what they're called - real return, absolute return, alternatives, or hedge funds - the end objective of each is to provide an attractive risk adjusted return, and appropriate diversification to underlying markets or asset classes.

The second point was that there's no silver bullet when choosing the ideal asset class, strategy or product as the universe is infinitely variable, and certainly not homogenous, as are the end investors' needs and objectives. Having said that we do believe that research, research and more research is the key to understanding any investment product's strategy and performance, rather than some simplistic rating or label applied to a product for marketing and distribution purposes.

Inevitably the subject of fees raised its head, as it so often does, with the usual opinions and concerns. Tim Farrelly, probably quite correctly, claimed that over the past half century or so the wealth management industry (and specifically hedge funds) had done more to improve the wealth of those in the industry than the wealth of the investors for whom they were investing.

In our opinion that misses the point about research and manager selection. There are undoubtedly fund managers that don't deliver value, just as there are some who deliver excellent value. Bundling them into one basket and avoiding them all risks reverting to index or ETF type products that provide long term market returns, complete with the market's volatility, albeit at very low fees. The solution comes from doing the research, both quantitatively on performance and risk, and qualitatively on the product, manager, strategy and processes.

Following on from last week's Hedge Clippings, we referred to fund manager Jonathan Rochford's article "The Great Fee Debate - Resetting Manager and Investor Expectations". What did occur to us in this debate is the structure and alignment of interest that fees can create - or for that matter obscure - depending on the strategy, structure and size of the fund involved.

There is a strong argument that funds with assets under management (AUM) well into the multi billions do not require management fees of over 1% in addition to a performance fee of 10% or 20%. Without necessarily singling them out, in Magellan's results announced today, they indicated that the total capacity of their combined funds was potentially $50 billion. Whilst Magellan's average management fee might well be lower than their stated 1.35%, this plays into Tim Farrelly's argument pretty easily.

It is encouraging to note that some smaller managers, such as Monash Investors, are proposing to lower their management fee as AUM increases, and will achieve their alignment of interest with investors through co-investment and performance incentives.

There's a myriad of why's and where fore's in the great fee debate, including the fees on LIC's, structure and others, not forgetting of course that if the manager is performing to expectations, why shouldn't they benefit from the successful business they've built? There are few complaints about the profits made in other industries, with the exception perhaps of banking, but let's not go there.

Specific results received this week include the following PERFORMANCE UPDATES:

Bennelong Kardinia Absolute Return Fund returned 1.07% during July bringing annual performance to 7.02% with a volatility of 4.29%.

Returning a performance result of 12.50% in July (Index 4.40%), the Paragon Fund brings annual returns to 43.65% (Index 16.54%).

The Optimal Australia Absolute Trust returned 1.03% during July and 6.37% for the previous twelve months with a standard deviation of 1.69%.

AFM are now accredited by the Financial Planning Association of Australia to issue CPD points for FUND REVIEWS.
This week's updated reviews include:

Supervised High Yield Fund, Alpha Beta Asian Fund and also Monash Absolute Investment Fund

Read the most recent Fund Review for any of our research clients, and then answer 5 straightforward questions, these are presented in multiple choice format. An 80% or more success score will provide 0.5 CPD points, with a certificate provided as proof of completion. There is no charge for this service.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Wednesday 27 - Friday 29 August Money Management's Platforms and Wraps conference in the beautiful Hunter Valley, NSW. Covers the latest industry trends and innovation, while also exploring technology iniatives, client segmentation, data ownership, analytics, marketing and distribution, regulatory reform and consolidation. Pre-conference golf and wine tour of Hope Estate included. Special rate for fundmonitors.com members.

Tuesday 26 August in Melbourne and also Tuesday 9 September in Brisbane , from 12pm to 4.30pm - ARRIA is hosting a further round table discussion, providing a valuable opportunity to meet with like-minded advisers. Free to Financial Advisors.

If you would like your Event listed in our calendar, please contact us.

This week's Now For Something Completely Different we say a sad farewell to Robin Williams, who made us laugh, he made us cry and bought so much joy to the world. Now go out and make your life spectacular, like he did.

Best wishes,

Chris
CEO, AUSTRALIAN FUND MONITORS

Connect with me on LinkedIn Twitter Facebook

Australian Fund Monitors are helping to raise awareness to support research into prevention and cure for cerebral palsy.  For more information visit www.cpresearch.org.au or contact me by email.

MONASH ABSOLUTE INVESTMENT FUND

Attached is our most recently updated Fund Review. You are also able to view the Fund's Profile

• The Fund is a research driven, active equity long/short strategy investing in listed ASX companies.
• The Fund seeks to identify opportunities in the share market to make positive returns (long and short) irrespective of market conditions. It is style agnostic, as compelling investment opportunities exist across all investment styles from time to time. The Fund places a high priority on capital preservation, and has an absolute return focus in accepting market risk.

ATTACHED FILESMonash Absolute Investment Fund Review July (pdf format)

AIMA Australia Education Forum

Presented by: AIMA Australia

Thursday 14th August 2014 from 12:15 - 2:00pm, Sydney, NSW

Topic

The next AIMA Australia education forum will be held on Thursday 14th August. The forum will discuss regulatory, tax and other issues, as well as current observations and insights associated with a range of hedge fund investment products, including Australian unit trusts, Cayman funds, UCITS and listed investment companies.

It is a "must attend" event for hedge fund managers reviewing their current products or considering development of new products.

Date and Time

Thursday 14th August, a light lunch will be available from 12.15 - 12.45pm, with the forum to commence at 12.45pm and finish before 2pm. Please note that food and drink cannot be taken into the theatre, so please arrive early if you wish to eat.

Speakers

Nikki Bentley, Partner, Henry Davis York

Nikki has extensive experience advising fund managers, product issuers and service providers on all aspects of their businesses. She specialises in business establishment and structuring, product development, Australian financial services licences, funds management business acquisitions, wholesale and retail product disclosure, distribution and compliance.

With more than a decade's funds management experience in private practice, government and as an in-house lawyer, Nikki's practice spans the range of funds management products, advising on alternative investment products, Australian and international equities trusts, property trusts, debentures and cash management trusts.

Nikki recently advised on the establishment and offering of capital guaranteed offshore alternate investment vehicles to Australian and New Zealand retail investments raising in excess of AUD$1.4 billion; the formation of an Australian subsidiary of a large UK financial services group and advising a group of institutional investors on range of structures that would allow them to access private equity and illiquid investments costs effectively.

She is the Honorary Legal Counsel and Chair of the Regulatory Committee for the Australian branch of the Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA) and is a member of the Investment and Financial Services Council (FSC) Regulatory Issues and Product Rationalisation working groups.

Nikki is recognised as a leading lawyer in the areas of Financial Services Regulation and Investment Funds by Chambers Asia Pacific 2014, 2013 and 2012. She has also been listed as an expert in Funds Management in Best Lawyers since 2013.

Allan Mortel, Director, Taxation, Moore Stephens

Allan has over 15 years? experience providing tax advice on a wide range of corporate tax, international tax, Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) matters to privately owned businesses, multinationals and listed companies.

He is an industry expert in the financial services and not-for-profit sectors, writing articles on tax issues and making submissions on taxation reform for both these sectors. He has also presented the annual tax updates at the Property Funds Association (PFA) Research and Compliance Roadshows and the Hedge Fund Operations Forums in Sydney.

Allan is the Chairman of the Moore Stephens Australia Tax Group and a member of the Moore Stephens Australia Asian Markets Group.

Host

UBS AG, Theatre, Level 4 Chifley Tower, 2 Chifley Square, Sydney

(please note - entrance is via the Bent Street lifts, not the main foyer)

RSVP deadline

Tuesday 12th August. There is a limit of two attendees per organisation.

If you would like to attend this education event, please click here to register. If you have any specific regulatory issues you would like Nikki to cover if time allows, please include them in the box provided on the registration form.

ALPHA BETA ASIAN FUND

ATTACHED FILESAlpha Beta Asian Fund June 2014 (pdf format)