30 May 2024: Leading research house, Lonsec Research has awarded Brandywine Global’s Opportunistic Equity Fund a 'Recommended' rating, indicating the research agency has strong conviction the product can meet its investment objectives.
“This is the fund's first rating since its launch in Australia just last month and we are delighted to receive this recognition from local ratings agency Lonsec,” Felicity Walsh, Managing Director, Franklin Templeton Australia said.
"This is an important milestone for the strategy and to have Lonsec’s rating at this stage of our launch is testament to the strength of the investment process that has been in place for over 10 years," Walsh added.
In its report, Lonsec highlighted several key strengths of the manager’s investment process. "The rating reflects the well-experienced portfolio management team and their ability to leverage its internally generated stock research," said Lonsec.
The firm also earned praise for its "well-established and coherent macroeconomic research process" - a cornerstone of Brandywine Global's approach. By seamlessly integrating their robust macro analysis with comprehensive bottom-up company evaluation, the manager demonstrates a skill for identifying attractive investment opportunities across the capital markets.
The Brandywine Global Opportunistic Equity Fund invests in in 60 to 100 global companies, limiting stock position size to 5 per cent at purchase, and aims to outperform the MSCI ACWI (in AUD).
Lonsec was impressed with the experience of both portfolio manager and director of fundamental research James Clarke, and portfolio manager and research analyst Sorin Roibu.
"Specifically, Clarke and Roibu have comparable level of experience relative to other fundamental value peers, with both individuals having access to an adequate analyst capability with whom they have collaborated for a prolonged period of time," Lonsec noted.
Brandywine Global’s distinct investment approach combines top-down macroeconomic analysis with rigorous bottom-up fundamental research to identify undervalued companies. The strength of their investment process is evidenced by an impressive 10+ year track record managing global equities. Of particular interest has been the team’s ability to generate consistently strong returns in an environment where growth stocks have continued to outperform, all while staying true to the value philosophy.
"The manager's scale and heritage as a global asset manager focused on value strategies provides further support," Lonsec said. Lonsec commended the manager's overall ESG policy framework and disclosure which were aligned with peers.
"ESG has always been an important part of our process and we are pleased that Lonsec recognises this too," Brandywine Global portfolio manager and research analyst Sorin Roibu said.
According to Roibu “Brandywine Global takes its commitment to social responsibility seriously, and the Fund has a number of sustainability screens in place.”
Please read more about the Fund here.
Since 1986, Brandywine Global has provided a range of differentiated fixed income, equity, and alternative solutions to clients worldwide. Brandywine Global, a specialist investment manager of Franklin Resources, Inc., manages US$60 billion in assets under management as of 31 March 2024, with headquarters in Philadelphia and offices in Singapore and London.
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About Franklin Templeton
Franklin Resources, Inc. [NYSE:BEN] is a global investment management organization with subsidiaries operating as Franklin Templeton and serving clients in over 150 countries. Franklin Templeton’s mission is to help clients achieve better outcomes through investment management expertise, wealth management and technology solutions. Through its specialist investment managers, the Company offers specialization on a global scale, bringing extensive capabilities in fixed income, equity, alternatives, and multi-asset solutions. With more than 1,500 investment professionals, and offices in major financial markets around the world, the California-based company has over 75 years of investment experience and over A$2.4 trillion in assets under management as of 31 March 2024.
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Disclaimer
This publication is issued for information purposes only and does not constitute investment or financial product advice. It expresses no views as to the suitability of the services or other matters described in this document as to the individual circumstances, objectives, financial situation, or needs of any recipient. You should assess whether the information is appropriate for you and consider obtaining independent taxation, legal, financial or other professional advice before making an investment decision. Please read the relevant Product Disclosure Statements (PDSs) and any associated reference documents before making an investment decision. In accordance with the Design and Distribution Obligations and Product Interventions Powers requirements, we maintain Target Market Determinations (TMD) for each of our Funds. All documents can be found via www.franklintempleton.com.au or by calling 1800 673 776.
To make an initial investment in the Brandywine Global Opportunistic Equity Fund in accordance with the TMD, a retail investor must have received appropriate financial advice. Please call our Client Services team at 1800 673 776 to obtain the Application Form. Issued by Franklin Templeton Australia Limited (ABN 76 004 835 849, AFSL 240827). Franklin Templeton Australia Limited as Responsible Entity has appointed Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC as the fund manager of the Brandywine Global Opportunistic Equity Fund (ARSN 674 294 369).
Copyright © 2024 Franklin Templeton. All rights reserved. The ratings and recommendations referred to above are only the opinions of the research houses and are provided for information purposes only and are not advice. All ratings and recommendations are subject to change without notice. They do not take into account your circumstances or needs so you should consider your circumstances and seek professional advice before making an investment decision. The research houses accept no liability whatsoever in connection with the ratings and recommendations, subject to law. Contact the relevant research house or their website for additional information, such as their Financial Services Guide. The research houses may receive a fee from Franklin Templeton to review Franklin Templeton funds using comprehensive criteria.
The Lonsec rating issued for the Brandywine Global Opportunistic Equity Fund – May 2024 is published by Lonsec Research Pty Ltd ABN 11 151 658 561 AFSL 421 445 (Lonsec). Ratings are general advice only and have been prepared without taking account of your objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider your personal circumstances, read the product disclosure statement and seek independent financial advice before investing. The
rating is not a recommendation to purchase, sell or hold any product. Past performance information is not indicative of future performance. Ratings are subject to change without notice and Lonsec assumes no obligation to update. Lonsec uses objective criteria and receives a fee from the Fund Manager. Visit lonsec.com.au for ratings information and to access the full report. © 2024 Lonsec. All rights reserved.