Blackwattle Investment Partners, a new market entrant, has launched and plans to launch its first four investment portfolios in July 2023.
With up to $60 million in seed capital secured over six years, Blackwattle Investment Partners aims to provide investors with a variety of options by offering four investment portfolio allocations right from the start.
A diversified fund manager is equipped with a solid foundation and management structure. A five-person board ensures efficient decision-making, while third-party governance led by independent chairperson-led ESG and investment boards adds a layer of expertise and oversight.
The team has assembled a team of highly respected portfolio managers to manage their various funds, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to the table. Long Short 130/30 Quality and Large Cap Quality Funds are led by Ray David and Joe Koh, who together have more than 40 years of investment experience. They most recently held positions at Schroders in Australia, where they played a key role in managing a portfolio of over $12 billion using similar strategies.
Tim Riordan and Michael Teran lead the Mid Cap Quality Fund, having previously managed a similar $2.2 billion fund in Aware Super, Australia’s 5th largest super fund. In particular, Tim brings significant experience as the former Head of Direct Equity at Aware, overseeing a team of 11 and managing over $3.5 billion in assets.
The Small Cap Quality Fund is managed by Robert Hawksford and Daniel Broeren, who both have more than 40 years of investment experience at prestigious institutions such as Ellerston and Watermark.
With this team of experienced professionals, Blackwattle Investment Partners ensures that their funds are guided by experience, market knowledge and a track record of success.
“We want to do things differently, do things better,” said Blackwattle CEO and CIO Michael Skinner, who partnered with former Citi equity sales director Jared Rubin as CEO; Matthew Dell, former CEO of Pinnacle Distribution, who brings more than 25 years of experience to the CEO role; and former head of investment sales at Maggie Mills Zurich, who acts as head of distribution.
“We flipped the traditional model and de-risked the key person. We do not believe in a centralized leadership style. everyone is a meaningful shareholder and we are all partners together,” said Michael Skinner.
“We invest alongside our investors and clients, with personal capital and corporate profits reinvested in our portfolios, there is no personal trading,” Mr Skinner said.
“Having such significant ‘in the game’ means we are 100 per cent aligned with our clients’ overall interests, which is rare in the Australian funds management industry,” he added.
“We have assembled the best investment talent in Australia. Each member of our team has an outstanding investment record and an average of 20 years of experience.”
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