Australian Funds

Acadian Asset Management is a leader in active, data-driven, and systematic investment strategies. By combining quantitative modelling with fundamental insights, Acadian can take advantage of short-term market inefficiencies and long-term behavioural trends.

ABOUT ACADIAN ASSET MANAGEMENT

Acadian applies fundamental insights to find attractive and unique investment opportunities within global markets. Acadian is driven by the discipline and conviction of 30 years of investment experience coupled with investment decisions based on empirical evidence and processes that are repeatable and transparent. An experienced team of over 100 investment professionals apply fundamental insights in a systematic way, employing a quantitative, active, and bottom-up investment process. 

Headquartered in Boston, Acadian has wholly owned affiliates located in Sydney, Singapore, Tokyo and London. The firm manages risk-controlled, factor-driven equity and multi-asset portfolios on behalf of pension funds, endowments, foundations, governments, and other institutions around the globe.

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INVESTMENT APPROACH AND PROCESS

We believe that markets are inefficient and individual stocks don’t always act in the way that is expected of them. We seek to exploit these inefficiencies by using a combination of quantitative modelling and fundamental insights to identify short-term market inefficiencies and long-term behavioural trends. This process allows Acadian to unearth high-quality stocks that have been undervalued by the market but have the potential to produce compelling returns over the long term.

We are a pioneer in the use of data and technology to capture the maximum amount of information in the most objective way possible. Our systematic and quantitative approach has two advantages: it allows for a larger investment universe from which to uncover opportunities; and it provides a disciplined, objective lens through which to view companies that eliminates the disadvantage of portfolio managers forming an emotional attachment to a given stock.

Ultimately, we believe that a successful investment process must be founded on high-conviction core beliefs that can steer the best course through various market environments. We see our exceptional stability, expertise, and conviction as critical components of our efforts to delivering value to clients over the long term.

By analysing large volumes of fundamental company data, Acadian can discover new insights and find hidden value across a broader investment universe. The robust and disciplined investment process is repeated daily.  

 

FUNDS

AUSTRALIAN EQUITIES

Acadian Australian Equity Long Short Fund

A long/short Australian equity fund that uses systematic expertise to unearth undervalued stocks and deliver compelling long-term returns

Acadian Wholesale Australian Equity Fund

A long-only Australian equity fund that uses systematic expertise to unearth undervalued stocks and deliver compelling long-term returns

Acadian Wholesale Geared Australian Equity Fund

A geared Australian equity fund that leverages its exposure to equity markets while using systematic expertise to unearth undervalued stocks

ALTERNATIVE INCOME

Acadian Defensive Income Fund

A cash-like portfolio combined with a market neutral equity component -that aims to provide fixed-income like returns with controlled equity exposure
Australian Equity High Yield Fund
An Australian equity fund that seeks to invest in stocks listed on the Australian Securities Exchange that exhibit an attractive and sustainable dividend yield, while reducing the total volatility compared to the index

GLOBAL EQUITIES

Acadian Global Equity Long Short Fund

A long/short global equity fund that uses systematic expertise to unearth undervalued stocks and deliver compelling long-term returns

Acadian Wholesale Geared Global Equity Fund

A geared Global equity fund that leverages its exposure to equity markets while using systematic expertise to unearth undervalued stocks

Acadian Global Managed Volatility Equity Fund

A long-only global equity fund that aims to deliver similar returns to an indexed investment at significantly lower risk

Acadian Wholesale Sustainable Global Equity Fund

A long-only socially responsible global equity fund that uses systematic expertise to unearth attractive investment opportunities and reduce exposure to carbon intensive companies

 

 

TEAM

Andrew Hair

Head of Asia Pacific

Andrew joined Acadian Asset Management Australia in 2007 to lead the institutional side of the Australian business and became chief executive officer of AAM-Australia in 2012. He also is a member of Acadian’s Responsible Investing Committee. Prior to joining Acadian, Andrew was a senior business development manager at MLC Implemented Consulting. Previous to that, he spent a number of years at Mercer London, progressing to become a senior asset consultant. Andrew’s education includes a BSc (First Class Hons) in mathematics from the University of Leicester and University of Texas. Andrew is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He also holds the Investment Management Certificate (IMC).

Jean Christophe De Beaulieu

Senior Vice President, Head Of Investments, Australia

J.C. joined Acadian in 2017 as a consultant before joining Acadian Australia in his current role in 2018. Prior to joining Acadian, J.C. was a managing director and head of active emerging market equity portfolio management at State Street Global Advisors. In this role, he drove the top-down and bottom-up research agenda while managing a global team of investment professionals. He also represented active long-only and long/short emerging and frontier equity strategies with clients and consultants. Prior to taking this leadership role within the group, J.C. was a portfolio manager on the core active EM equity team in Boston and Paris, developing and managing a wide range of strategies. J.C. started his career in Paris, at the CCF (now HSBC) fixed income derivative proprietary desk. J.C. earned an Advanced Master in financial techniques from ESSEC, a D.E.A. in numerical analysis from Pierre and Marie Curie University and Ecole Polytechnique, and an M.S. in mathematics from Pierre and Marie Curie University. He is a CFA charterholder and member of CFA Society Boston.

Katrina Khoupongsy

Senior Vice President, Portfolio Management And Research

Katrina joined Acadian Asset Management Australia in 2009. She is a member of the Portfolio Management Team, focusing on Australian equity strategies. Prior to joining Acadian, Katrina was a senior quantitative analyst at ING. Previous to that, she held various quantitative roles at IFS Equities, BT Funds Management, Country Investment Management, and Mercantile Mutual Investment Management. Katrina holds a Graduate Diploma in applied finance and investments from Securities Institute of Australia and a Bachelor’s in mathematics and finance (Hons) from University of Technology, Sydney. Katrina is a CFA charterholder.

Ryan Taliaferro, Ph.D.

Senior Vice President, Director, Equity Strategies

Ryan joined Acadian in 2011 and currently serves as director of equity strategies. Previously, he was the lead portfolio manager for Acadian’s Managed Volatility strategies. Prior to joining Acadian, Ryan was a faculty member in the finance unit at Harvard Business School, where he taught corporate finance and asset pricing. Earlier, he was a consultant at the Boston Consulting Group. Ryan earned a Ph.D. in business economics (finance) from Harvard University and an M.B.A. in finance and economics from the University of Chicago. He also holds an A.M. in economics, and an A.M. and A.B. in physics from Harvard University.

Mark J. Birmingham

Senior Vice President, Lead Portfolio Manager, Managed Volatility

Mark Birmingham is a senior vice president and lead portfolio manager for Acadian's Managed Volatility strategies. Before joining Acadian in 2013, he was a vice president and quantitative analyst within the Quantitative Investment Group at Wellington Management Co. Mark also served as director, U.S. Equity Sales and Trading at Nomura Securities International, Inc. prior to his work at Wellington. He earned an A.B. in computer science from Princeton University. Mark is a CFA charterholder and a member of CFA Society Boston.
Matthew Picone

Matthew Picone

Vice President, Portfolio Manager

Matthew joined Acadian Asset Management Australia in 2007. He is a member of the Portfolio Management Team, focusing on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) implementation. Matthew has been a key driver of ESG research and implementation at Acadian for a number of years. He has been a member of ESG Research Australia since its inception and sits on the PRI Australian Advisory Committee. He's also a member of Acadian's Responsible Investing Committee. Prior to joining Acadian, Matthew worked as an investment analyst focusing on renewables within the Global Resources team at Colonial First State Global Asset Management. He has also held roles at CFS Firstchoice and Commonwealth Bank Institutional Banking (Natural Resources). Matthew is a CFA Charterholder.

Brendan O. Bradley, Ph.D.

Executive Vice President, Chief Investment Officer

Brendan joined Acadian in 2004 and is co-chief investment officer. Brendan has served as the firm’s director of portfolio management, overseeing portfolio management policy, and was also previously the director of Acadian’s Managed Volatility strategies. He is a member of the Acadian Executive Committee. Prior to Acadian, Brendan was a vice president at Upstream Technologies, where he designed and implemented investment management systems and strategies. His professional background also includes work as a research analyst and consultant at Samuelson Portfolio Strategies. Brendan earned a Ph.D. in applied mathematics from Boston University and a B.A. in physics from Boston College.
Gillian Savage

Gillian Savage

Senior Vice President, Relationship Manager

Gillian joined Acadian Asset Management Australia in 2008. She is a member of the Global Client Group focusing on clients and prospects in Australia. Prior to joining Acadian, Gillian was the global head of client service at Colonial First State Global Asset Management. Her professional background also includes various client service and marketing roles at CFS and, prior to that, at Deutsche Bank Asset Management in London and Australia. Gillian earned her B.A. in psychology from Macquarie University.
Gavin Boyd

Gavin Boyd

Senior Vice President, Relationship Manager

Gavin joined Acadian Asset Management Australia in 2014. He is a member of the Global Client Group focusing on clients in Australia. Prior to joining Acadian, Gavin led the institutional sales effort at Investec Bank in Australia. Previous to that, he was responsible for consultant relations and business development at AllianceBernstein. Before that, he worked both as a relationship manager and product specialist at Fidelity International in London and as an asset allocation manager in BGI’s Active Equity Team in London. Gavin holds a M.A. in economics development and international trade from the University of Reading, U.K. as well as a B.Sc. (Hons) in agricultural economics from the University of Reading, U.K. Gavin holds the Investment Management Certificate (IMC).
Mark Mukundan

Mark Mukundan

Vice President, Product and Wholesale Markets

Mark joined Acadian Asset Management Australia in 2019 and leads the product, client service and distribution efforts for our retail business. Before joining Acadian, he was an executive manager responsible for investment products at Colonial First State. Mark holds an M.S. in applied finance from Kaplan Professional and a B.S. in business administration, with a dual concentration in finance and marketing, from Macquarie University.

Joanna Nash, Ph.D.

Vice President, Portfolio Manager

Joanna joined Acadian Asset Management Australia in 2018. She is a member of the Portfolio Management Team, focusing on Acadian’s Australian equity strategies. Prior to joining Acadian, Joanna was a member of the Scientific Active Equities team at Blackrock/BGI. She was responsible for both active and index funds as well as new signal generation research for the Australian Model. She also served as the representative for the global sustainable investment platform for BlackRock for the Australia/NZ region. Joanna holds a Ph.D. in economics from Yale University, as well as a Master of Philosophy and a Master of Arts, both in economics, also from Yale where she was a Fulbright Scholar. She earned a Bachelor or Economics (Honours) as well as a Bachelor of Laws from the University of New South Wales in Sydney. Joanna is a CFA charterholder.
Zhe Chen

Zhe Chen, Ph.D.

Vice President, Associate Portfolio Manager, Research

Zhe joined Acadian Asset Management Australia in 2017. He is a member of the Research Team, focusing on Australian equity strategies. Prior to joining Acadian, Zhe was an analyst on the Quantitative Research Team at Macquarie Securities. Zhe holds a Ph.D. in empirical finance from Macquarie University, a Bachelor of Engineering in bioinformatics with First Class Honours and the University Medal from the University of New South Wales, and a Bachelor of Commerce in finance from the University of New South Wales.

Acadian Australia is a wholly owned subsidiary of Acadian Asset Management LLC (“Acadian”), a U.S. registered investment adviser regulated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Acadian is exempt from the requirement to hold an Australian Financial Services License under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth). Acadian is regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") under United States of America laws, which differ from Australian laws. This website is intended only to provide a summary of the subject matter covered. It does not purport to be comprehensive or to provide legal, taxation or other advice on the subject matter. No reader should act on the basis of any matter contained in this website without first obtaining specific professional advice.

The information on this web page is provided to you because Acadian Australia reasonably believes that you are a "wholesale client" within the meaning of that term under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) ("Corporations Act") and not any other class of persons. This information is not an advertisement and is not intended to induce retail clients to invest in any product. Retail clients who are interested in products referenced on this website should contact their financial adviser.

In Australia ‘Colonial’, ‘Colonial First State’, and ‘CFS’ are trademarks of Colonial Holding Company Limited and all of these trademarks are used on this website with consent.