What are Fund Managers?
An fund manager is an individual or firm that advises clients on investment matters on a professional basis.
They tend to fall into two distinct categories:
- fund managers offering direct financial advice to individuals or businesses, or
- fund managers offering asset management for (typically) corporate clients, hedge funds and/or mutual funds.
Depending on the nature of their billing model, fund managers may charge fees calculated as a percentage (e.g., 1%) of assets under management (see: fee-only financial advisor), on a yearly basis, an hourly or on a “flat fee” basis.
Australian Fund Managers
See below for a list of major fund managers operating in Australia
AMP Capital Investors
AMP Capital Investors (AMP Capital) is one of Australia and New Zealand’s leading specialist investment managers, is a specialist investment manager with over $113 billion in funds under management.
Ausbil Dexia
Ausbil Dexia Limited is an Australian equities specialist with approximately $7 billion in funds under management.
AXA
AXA Australia and Alliance Capital US have joined forces to form an Australian investment operation, Alliance Capital Management
Australia, that will give Australian investors access to Alliance Capital US’ globally integrated style and proven performance.
Barclays Global Investors
Barclays Global Investors Australia Limited is the Responsible Entity of the Barclays Managed Investment Funds – Diversified Growth
BNP Paribas Investment Management (Australia) Limited
BNP Investment Management (Australia) Limited currently distributes the MFS Global Equity Trust to Australian investors.
BT Financial Group
BT Financial Group (BT) is the fifth largest investment manager in Australia with more than $95 billion under management
Challenger
Challenger Financial Services Group was born out of the merger between Challenger International and CPH Investment.
Challenger is one of Australia’s largest non-bank lenders with a mortgage book of over $20 billion, funding commercial loans as well as a range of residential mortgage products offered by a network of preferred lenders under their own brands. The company’s more recent acquisition of interests in the distribution and aggregation segment of the market have made it one of the largest mortgage industry participants, with a network of over 5,000 brokers and more than $72 billion in mortgages under administration.
Colonial First State
Colonial First State Global Asset Management is Australia’s largest asset manager of Australian-sourced funds. It manages more than $119 billion across a diverse range of asset classes including Australian and global shares; cash, fixed interest and credit’ property securities, hedge funds, direct property, private equity, infrastructure and global resources.
Credit Suisse Asset Management (Australia) Limited
Credit Suisse Asset Management is the asset management arm of Credit Suisse First Boston, part of the Credit Suisse Group, one of
the world’s largest financial organisations, being active in retail banking, private banking, investment banking, insurance and asset
management.
Globally, Credit Suisse Asset Management manages and advises on approximately A$434 billion (as at 31 March 2005) in funds for
its clients. They have been operating in Australia since 1990, and currently manage approximately A$19 billion (as at 31 March 2005)
on behalf of a range of clients including superannuation funds, government agencies, large companies and private individuals.
Investors Mutual Limited
Investors Mutual Ltd (IML) is a specialist Australian equity manager based in Sydney. Established in 1998, IML has grown steadily
since then to more than A$5.6 billion in funds under management as at 30 June 2005.
IOOF Investment Management Limited
IOOF Investment Management Limited (I00F) is a progressive, Australian funds management organisation, which was originally
founded in 1846.
Perennial Investment Partners Limited (Perennial) was launched in August 1999 as IOOF’s specialist investment management
company and a majority-owned subsidiary of the IOOF Group.Perennial offers investment expertise across all the major asset classes
including two styles of Australian equities, international equities, Australian and global fixed interest, cash and multi sector style
products. Additionally, Perennial manages a range of wholesale and retail unit trusts for IOOF.
Merrill Lynch Investment Managers
Merrill Lynch Investment Managers Limited is an Australian subsidiary of Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc. (Merrill Lynch). Through its
subsidiaries and affiliates, Merrill Lynch provides investment, finance, advisory and related services on a global basis. Merrill Lynch’s
Asset Management Group, known globally as Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, manages more than A$612 billion for clients
around the world, and approximately A$8 billion in Australia, as at 31 December 2004.
Perpetual
Perpetual Investment Management Limited (Perpetual Investments) is one of Australia’s leading investment managers, with over
A$26.7 billion in funds under management for more than 155,000 investors (as at 30 June 2005).
Perpetual Investments is part of the Perpetual Group, which has been in operation for over 115 years. Property is managed by
Perpetual James Fielding Limited (PJF). PJF is a joint venture between Perpetual and the James Fielding Group. PJF aims to
broaden the property securities investment offerings available to investors.
Platinum
Platinum Asset Management Limited (Platinum) is an Australian based fund manager that specialises in international equities.
Schroders
Schroder Investment Management Australia Limited (SIMAL) is part of the Schroder Group which, as at 31 March 2005, manages
investment assets of approximately A$265 billion worldwide.
In Australia, investment management has been a core business since 1961. As at 30 June 2005, SIMAL managed A$10.6 billion
across a broad range of asset classes.
UBS Global Asset Management
UBS Global Asset Management is a business group of UBS, one of the world’s leading financial services groups.
In Australia, it has been in operation since 1985 and is one of the larger Australian institutional asset managers, with over $29 billion under management
UBS Global Asset Management’s strong local presence and its integrated global network enable it to understand and meet the
domestic and international investment needs of Australian investors.
Vanguard Investments Australia
Vanguard Investments Australia Ltd was established in 1996. Vanguard Investments Australia has become Australia’s leading index funds manager with over A$60 billion in funds under management.
Zurich
Zurich Financial Services Australia Limited is a member of the Swiss based Zurich Group. Zurich offer an extensive range of
investment, life insurance, superannuation and general insurance products and services for individuals, small to medium-sized
businesses, larger companies and multi-national corporations. As of 2008 Zurich had over $6.5 billion under management
