Legg Mason Asset Management Australia has once again leveraged the strength and consistency of its investment processes emerging as a back-to-back winner of the Money Management/Lonsec Fund Manager of the Year Award.
Legg Mason was assessed as the overall winner on the back of three of the firm’s winning their respective categories – Global Emerging Market Equities, Australian Fixed Income and Global Fixed Income.
It was the third time in four years that Legg Mason had been named Fund Manager of the Year, having previously taken the laurels in in 2015 and 2017.
In 2016 Macquarie Investment Management managed to seize the title from Legg Mason Asset Management Australia while 2014 saw Lazard Asset Management rewarded with the top prize.
Hyperion Asset Management turned out to be the best Fund Manager of the Year according to Money Management/ Lonsec in 2013, ending a prior four-year run of another gold medallist, Schroeder Investment Management.
Legg Mason’s country head, Andy Sowerby said the success of the business had been enabled by a high level of expertise and the specialisation of the independent affiliates operating under Legg Mason’s umbrella.
“We can bring to the market something that we think is quite unique: multiple businesses, multiple asset classes and multiple specialisations,” he said.
Each of the investment specialists, which included Western Asset, Martin Currie, Brandywine Global and QS Investors, proved once again, their ability to deliver positive performances across asset classes as well as offering the highest quality of their respective investment teams.
The businesses have been also appreciated by the independent research houses which highly recommended its products, Legg Mason said.
Fund Manager of the Year finalist, Blackrock which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, said it owed its success to its clients’ trust which allowed the company to build continued success and stable relationships.
BlackRock’s head of Australia, Dominik Rohe said: “We offer a breadth of products in the market to help Australian investors achieve their financial goals.
“There are a variety of trends reshaping the asset management industry, including: rapid advancements in technology, heightened regulatory scrutiny, and changing priorities of investors, who are demanding better performance and value for the fees they pay.
“We feel that BlackRock is uniquely positioned to respond to these challenges.”
A proud history of identifying and partnering with quality boutique asset managers which offered high-grade investment solutions to institutions, financial advisers and direct investors has underpinned the success of Bennelong Funds Management which has been also nominated for the top prize.
As of 30 November, 2017, the firm managed 13 funds in Australia and had more than AU$8.3 billion in funds under management.
