OVERVIEW

Australian Students Asset Management (ASAM) is a Public Ancillary Fund registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission. Committed to ethical investing, ASAM invests in ESG-compliant firms while donating 4% of its assets under management to registered Australian charities at the end of each financial year.

As a long-only fund, ASAM seeks to benefit from the long-term growth of Australian companies. It aims to deliver attractive returns by identifying and investing in undervalued opportunities within the ASX 300.

Investment Philosophy

At ASAM, we follow a value investing approach, believing that investing in great businesses with a margin of safety leads to superior long-term returns. Our focus is on identifying cash-generative companies with strong balance sheets that are positioned to benefit from structural growth trends.

While our investment mandate remains broad, we see equities as the most compelling asset class for generating alpha, given the diverse range of market participants and their varying objectives.

Investment Process

  1. Our investment process begins with Quantitative, Qualitative, and ESG screening of companies within the ASX 300.

  2. We employ a blended top-down and bottom-up approach to identify stocks trading below fair value.

  3. Each team conducts in-depth research and develops a stock pitch over a semester guided by industry mentors. At the end, teams present their pitches to a panel of experts and receive invaulable feedback.

  4. Final investment decisions are made by the Investment Committee, determining which stocks are added to the portfolio.

  5. Positions are exited when the investment thesis is disproved or the stock price falls below the stop-loss level.

portfolio construction

We aim to invest no more than 10% into 1 idea and 40% into any 1 GICS industry sector.

risk management process

At ASAM, managing downside risk is a top priority. We utilise a risk-weighted approach to determine position sizing, ensuring disciplined portfolio construction.

Our risk weight calculator incorporates key inputs such as volatility and scenario analysis to assess potential risks and allocate capital accordingly. This systematic approach helps maintain a balanced and resilient portfolio.