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Overview
The Martin Currie Australia Value Equity strategy is designed for investors who seek to maximise the longer-term returns of the Value style.
To do this, the strategy provides investors with a diversified and contrarian exposure to our highest conviction Australian equity ideas with attractive valuation potential. Stocks are selected based on our proprietary Valuation research lens, with risk balanced through the addition of our Quality and Direction lenses.
Our extensive fundamental and quantitative experience has allowed us to design a multi-lensed investment process that specifically reflects the Australian market’s deeply ingrained structural inefficiencies such as its value-tilt, high concentration, franking credits, and propensity to be impacted by global equity factors. This deep understanding of the Value style, market behaviour and both expected returns & risk drives our contrarian positions, and helps us to avoid any ‘herd mentality’ or value traps.
MCA has been investing in Australian equities for more than 40 years, and we have over 15 years of experience in managing Value style strategies through very varied market cycles, including the COVID-19 impacted 2020.
Key Information
To provide an after-fee return in excess of the S&P/ASX 200 Accumulation Index over rolling five-year periods.
Portfolio characteristics | Australia Value Equity |
---|---|
Objective | Long-Term Growth |
Asset Class | Equities |
Style | Value |
Investable Universe | Australian listed securities |
Benchmark | S&P/ASX 200 Accumulation Index |
Market capitalisation | All cap |
Country limit | N/A |
Sector limit | Benchmark +/- 12% |
Security limit | Benchmark +/- 7% |
Number of stocks | Typically 33 |
Portfolio turnover | Typically 25% p.a. |
Forecast tracking error | We do not target tracking error but is typically 5% p.a. (ex ante) |
Inception | 26 October 2006 |
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"Within Australia’s unique market structure, a multi-lens approach can offer a better perspective of fair value than any one method can on its own."
Why Invest in Australia Value Equity
Long term capital growth
We have put the needs of accumulation clients at the heart of the product design for the Martin Currie Australia Value Equity strategy
Navigating the market’s structural inefficiencies
Our extensive experience in managing Australian equities for more than 40 years has allowed us to reflect the Australian market’s structural inefficiencies into our proprietary multi-lensed investment process
Active management to avoid herd mentality and value traps
A deep understanding of the Value style, market behaviour, and both expected returns & risk drives our contrarian positions
Investment Strategy
The strategy aims to maximise returns for longer term investors through:
- High conviction portfolio – An active portfolio of our 'best ideas' ASX-listed securities
- True value approach – Contrarian exposures to stocks with true Valuation potential, while balancing risks through our focus on Quality & Direction
- Proven investment process – Proprietary multi-lensed investment approach provides a broad perspective of expected return and risk
- Fundamental active ownership - Purposeful engagement with companies and client advocacy through proxy voting
- Experienced stock pickers with long term track record - Deep industry experience generating 'active insights'
Read more about how the Martin Currie Australia Value Equity strategy seeks to exploit the market’s behavioural biases and temporary mispricing and divergence from fair value in the Strategy Guide.

Investment Strategy
The strategy aims to maximise returns for longer term investors through:
- High conviction portfolio – An active portfolio of our 'best ideas' ASX-listed securities
- True value approach – Contrarian exposures to stocks with true Valuation potential, while balancing risks through our focus on Quality & Direction
- Proven investment process – Proprietary multi-lensed investment approach provides the broadest perspective of expected return and risk
- Fundamental active ownership - Purposeful engagement with companies and client advocacy through proxy voting
- Experienced stock pickers with long term track record - Deep industry experience generating 'active insights'


Reece Birtles
- Job title
- Chief Investment Officer, Australia
- Experience
- 31 years

Michael Slack
- Job title
- Head of Australian Equity Research
- Experience
- 33 years
OUR CAPABILITIES
Available Funds
We offer access to the strategy via segregated accounts and separately managed accounts.
Through our parent company, Franklin Templeton, investors are offered access to the below fund.

Martin Currie Select Opportunities Fund
Contact Us
Please visit our contact page or speak to a member of our sales team, to discuss the most appropriate investment to meet your requirements and for more information on our investment capabilities.
Ross Kent
Investment Client Portfolio Manager
T: +61 (0)3 9017 8629
M: +61 (0)455 253 384
E: rkent@martincurrie.com.au
Felicity Walsh
Managing Director, Australia and New Zealand
M: +61 (0) 429 209 566
E: Felicity.Walsh@franklintempleton.com
Contact Us
Please visit our contact page or speak to a member of our sales team, to discuss the most appropriate investment to meet your requirements and for more information on our investment capabilities.
Ross Kent
Investment Client Portfolio Manager
T: +61 (0)3 9017 8629
M: +61 (0)455 253 384
E: rkent@martincurrie.com.au
Felicity Walsh
Managing Director, Australia and New Zealand
M: +61 (0) 429 209 566
E: Felicity.Walsh@franklintempleton.com
Contact Us
Please visit our contact page or speak to a member of our sales team, to discuss the most appropriate investment to meet your requirements and for more information on our investment capabilities.
Mel Bucher
Head of Global Distribution
T: +44 (0) 131 479 4748
M: +44 (0) 758 414 7720
E: mbucher@martincurrie.com
Danni Yang, CFA®
Investment Client Portfolio Manger, Global Long-Term Unconstrained
M: +44 (0) 7826548065
E: dyang@martincurrie.com
Contact Us
Please visit our contact page or speak to a member of our sales team, to discuss the most appropriate investment to meet your requirements and for more information on our investment capabilities.
Mel Bucher
Head of Global Distribution
T: +44 (0) 131 479 4748
M: +44 (0) 758 414 7720
E: mbucher@martincurrie.com
Contact Us
Please visit our contact page or speak to a member of our sales team, to discuss the most appropriate investment to meet your requirements and for more information on our investment capabilities.
Mel Bucher
Head of Global Distribution
T: +44 (0) 131 479 4748
M: +44 (0) 758 414 7720
E: mbucher@martincurrie.com
Mark Elliott
Head of UK Business Development
M: +44 (0) 207 0738 569
E: melliott@martincurrie.com
Tim Baker, CFA®
Associate Client Portfolio Manager
M: +44 (0) 7795238754
E: tbaker@martincurrie.com
Contact Us
Please visit our contact page or speak to a member of our sales team, to discuss the most appropriate investment to meet your requirements and for more information on our investment capabilities.
Mark Cho, CFA®
Head of Americas Distribution
Intermediary Sales/Wealth Management
T: +1 212 632 3292
E: mcho@martincurrie.com
Breanna Ellsworth, CFA®
Client Portfolio Manager, Distribution - US
T: +1 212 632 3293
E: bellsworth@martincurrie.com
Drew Comatos
Client Portfolio Manager, North America
Intermediary Sales/Wealth Management
T: +1 203 703 6472
E: dcomatos@martincurrie.com
Related Insights
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Martin Currie Australia strengthens team
Martin Currie Australia has bolstered its distribution team with the appointment of a new Client Portfolio Manager.
- Date published
- 29 Nov 2022
- Tag
- Cross-Strategy Australia
-
Martin Currie wins ‘Lonsec Sustainable Fund of the Year Award’
Leading investment research house Lonsec has named the Martin Currie Ethical Income Fund as the 2022 Sustainable Fund of the Year
- Date published
- 8 Nov 2022
- Tag
- Cross-Strategy Australia
-
Martin Currie crowned Australia’s Best Specialist ESG Fund for 2022
Martin Currie Australia is proud to be announced winner of Australia’s “Best Specialist ESG Fund” at the Hedge Funds Rock + Australian Alternative Investment Awards for the Sustainable Equity Fund distributed through Franklin Templeton Australia.
- Date published
- 5 Oct 2022
- Tag
- Cross-Strategy Australia
Important information
This information is issued and approved by Martin Currie Investment Management Limited (‘MCIM’), authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. It does not constitute investment advice. Market and currency movements may cause the capital value of shares, and the income from them, to fall as well as rise and you may get back less than you invested.
The information contained in this document has been compiled with considerable care to ensure its accuracy. However, no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made to its accuracy or completeness. Martin Currie has procured any research or analysis contained in this document for its own use. It is provided to you only incidentally and any opinions expressed are subject to change without notice.
The document does not form the basis of, nor should it be relied upon in connection with, any subsequent contract or agreement. It does not constitute, and may not be used for the purpose of, an offer or invitation to subscribe for or otherwise acquire shares in any of the products mentioned.
Past performance is not a guide to future returns.
The distribution of specific products is restricted in certain jurisdictions, investors should be aware of these restrictions before requesting further specific information.
The views expressed are opinions of the portfolio managers as of the date of this document and are subject to change based on market and other conditions and may differ from other portfolio managers or of the firm as a whole. These opinions are not intended to be a forecast of future events, research, a guarantee of future results or investment advice.
Risk warnings – Investors should also be aware of the following risk factors which may be applicable to the strategy shown in this document.
- Investing in foreign markets introduces a risk where adverse movements in currency exchange rates could result in a decrease in the value of your investment.
- This strategy may hold a limited number of investments. If one of these investments falls in value this can have a greater impact on the strategy’s value than if it held a larger number of investments.
- Smaller companies may be riskier and their shares may be less liquid than larger companies, meaning that their share price may be more volatile.
- The strategy may invest in derivatives (index futures) to obtain, increase or reduce exposure to underlying assets. The use of derivatives may restrict potential gains and may result in greater fluctuations of returns for the portfolio. Certain types of derivatives may become difficult to purchase or sell in such market conditions.