BAEP appoints Senior Investment Analyst for new microcap fund

Bennelong Australian Equity Partners (BAEP) has announced that it's launching a new fund, the Bennelong Emerging Companies Fund, which will be open to both retail and wholesale investors.

To coincide with the launch, BAEP has appointed senior investment analyst, Josh Clark, to work with the existing investment team in its management of the new fund, effective July 2017.

Clark was previously an analyst at Ausbil Investment Management for five years, where he worked exclusively for the microcaps team for the past three years. Prior to joining Ausbil in 2012, Clark worked as a quantitative analyst at Bell Potter Securities. He also has financial markets experience from his former role at Colonial First State working within the institutional clients & alternate products team.

The new fund will invest predominantly in micro and small cap stocks listed on the ASX. It will be managed with the same investment approach that is behind BAEP's existing Australian equity funds.

Commenting on Clark's appointment at BAEP, chief investment officer, Mark East, said: "After some time looking for the perfect fit, we are fortunate to have been able to recruit Josh. We believe his experience in the microcap space complements that of the existing team, particularly as we come to manage the new microcaps fund."

Investment director, Julian Beaumont, added: "We have been considering the possibility of a microcap fund for some time and being able to recruit Josh, with his specialist expertise in the microcap space, now gives us the final piece in the jigsaw. We believe we have the right team to make a success of the new microcap fund."

Further details about the new fund will be made available closer to its launch.