Imagine a publicly listed investment company (LIC) where you get access to Australia’s premium fund managers without having to pay management or performance fees? And on top of that, imagine if that same LIC actually gave 1% of its assets each year to Australian charities that exclusively support Australia’s future generation?
This LIC exists, and it was launched on the Australian Securities Exchange in September 2014 as Future Generation Investment Company Limited (ASX: FGX). FGX gives investors the unique opportunity to gain unprecedented access to a group of prominent Australian fund managers in a single investment vehicle and alsosupport Australian children’s charities, with a focus on children at risk.
Given its dual purpose of delivering shareholder value and also supporting Australian children at risk, a number of high profile businessmen and philanthropists have shown their support by
investing, including Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest, Alex Waislitz and David Smorgon.
The portfolio has performed strongly now that it has been invested with 14 of Australia’s leading fund managers. In its maiden half year results FGX demonstrated it is on track to delivering $1.6 million to charities at year end, with $618,000 already allocated. FGX’s investment objectives are to provide a stream of fully franked dividends, achieve capital growth and to preserve shareholder capital.
The allocation to the managers has been structured to provide a spread between three broad equity strategies: long equities, absolute bias, market neutral and cash. The long equities portion
of the portfolio includes exposure to large cap, mid cap and small cap stocks with an overweight position in mid and small cap stocks. The company is currently 48.4% long equities, 20.0%
market neutral, 16.1% absolute bias and 15.5% cash.
The fund managers creating this wealth are:
• Paradice Investment Management
• Bennelong Australian Equities Partners
• Regal Funds Management
• Bennelong Long Short Equity Management
• Wilson Asset Management
• Watermark Funds Management
• Eley Griffiths Group
• Cooper Investors
• Optimal Fun Management Australia
• Sandon Capital
• Discovery Asset Management
• LHC Capital
• Smallco Investment Manager
• Lanyon Asset Management
Beyond the unique opportunity in having exposure to Australia’s leading fund managers, FGX contributes wealth of a different kind: giving back to Australian children at risk. An LIC supporting
Australia’s future generation.
It’s a unique opportunity for investors to give back to our children’s future. Effectively, you’re getting the best managers in Australia providing capacity to the company in the managed funds at no
cost – and all the other service providers, such as the share register, directors, lawyers and tax advisers, are donating their time. The Australian children’s charities that shareholders are making
an impact for are:
• Act For Kids
• Australian Children’s Music Foundation
• Australian Indigenous Education Foundation
• Debra
• Diabetes Kids Fund
• Father Chris Riley’s Youth Off the Streets
• Giant Steps
• Kids Helpline
• Lighthouse Foundation
• Mirabel Foundation
• Raise
• United Way
• Variety
• Youth Focus
These charities play a significant part in nurturing and protecting Australian children at risk – from child homelessness to indigenous education to emotional support and counselling. The capital FGX will be providing each year will make a measurable contribution to their work. The Australian investment community showed tremendous support for FGX during the initial $200 million capital raising and when it first launched on the ASX.
The success of the initial raising reflected the strength of the investment offering as a win-win-win: a win for the investment community, a win for investors, and most importantly, a win for
Australia’s future generation. FGX is the first company of its kind to be listed in Australia. It has the dual objectives of providing investors with diversified exposure
to Australian equities and making a financial contribution to Australian children’s charities. The success and appetite for this innovative approach shows this is just the beginning in Australia.
The Fund goes beyond corporate social responsibility where companies use their profits to support the community in which they are based. It is geared and structured for giving as well as wealth creation and we hope this LIC will also inspire the next generation of Australian corporate philanthropy.
We believe investing for our shareholders can also be about investing in the future generation of Australia. We are deeply privileged to have the best of the best on board, which means, we will be creating wealth for our investors, and also supporting Australia’s future generation.