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Monday, 14 April 2025: First Sentier Investors, a leading global investment manager, has today announced it will apply to list its first Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) on the ASX, the First Sentier Geared Australian Share Fund Complex ETF (The Fund, ASX:LEVR)1, which is expected to commence trading mid-May 2025.
LEVR will provide Australian advisers and investors an additional way to access the First Sentier Geared Australian Share Fund, which aims to deliver long-term growth by actively gearing a selection of ASX100 companies characterised by strong balance sheets, ability to grow cash flows and liquidity.
Commenting on the upcoming listing, Head of Australian Equities Growth at First Sentier Investors Dushko Bajic said: “We are pleased to bring LEVR to market next month to provide investors with flexibility to access our team’s active investment approach via the ASX”.
“Our experienced investment team has been actively managing the First Sentier Geared Australian Share Fund since its launch in 2023, growing funds under management to AU$155 million.2 LEVR will offer additional access to the Fund through an ASX quoted structure, for investors seeking to invest in an actively managed, geared portfolio of Australian shares”.
David Wilson, Deputy Head of Australian Equities Growth and Portfolio Manager at First Sentier Investors said: “Our team has more than 25 years’ experience of gearing through both rapidly rising and falling markets. We believe the ASX 100 is the perfect hunting ground for an actively managed, geared strategy – even when markets are volatile – with a number of high-quality growing companies capable of compounding earnings growth and providing opportunities”.
“By borrowing at a low institutional interest rate to invest, LEVR aims to compound the long-term growth of rising markets, offering the potential for amplified returns and franking credits.
“Given LEVR’s gearing levels, it’s a high to very high-risk fund with the potential for amplified losses in falling markets, but without the hassle of servicing margin calls. That’s why we’re focused on high quality, liquid companies with conservatively geared balance sheets to help manage this risk”.
Harry Moore, Chief Commercial Officer at First Sentier Investors said: “We’re looking forward to listing LEVR, which provides clients the opportunity to access the expertise of our long-standing Australian Equities Growth Investment Team and one of Australia’s largest and longest-running geared share managers.”
“Given the increasing demand for ETFs, we’re excited to provide our clients with an additional way to access our active investment approach via this structure and expand our offering to new clients who may not have traditionally considered investing via managed funds. We will continue to assess opportunities to meet evolving client needs and broaden access to our suite of investment strategies”.
1 Subject to the application for the quotation of the units in the Fund being approved.
2 As at 31 March 2025, First Sentier Geared Australian Share Fund (APIR: PIM7590AU), funds under management include the geared component of the portfolio.
Media enquiries
Emma Brien
Senior Communications Manager
M +61 473 761 094
emma.brien@firstsentier.com
Laura Brouwers
Communications Specialist
M +61 439 183 715
laura.brouwers@firstsentier.com
About First Sentier Investors
First Sentier Investors is a global asset management group focused on providing high quality, differentiated and relevant investment capabilities to deliver exceptional investment performance for our clients. Today, across the First Sentier Investors Group, we manage A$217.9 billion* in assets across global and regional equities, cash and fixed income, infrastructure and property, and alternative credit.
We are home to investment teams and brands such as AlbaCore Capital Group, FSSA Investment Managers, Igneo Infrastructure Partners, RQI Investors, and Stewart Investors. All investment teams operate with discrete investment autonomy, according to their investment philosophies and based on responsible investment principles.
Our organisation was acquired by Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc in August 2019. We operate as a standalone global investment management business with offices across Europe, the Americas, and Asia Pacific.
We are a globally Certified B Corporation and signatory to the UK Stewardship Code.
*N.B. First Sentier Investors’ gross AUM, inclusive of associated strategic partnership with AlbaCore Capital Group, as of 31 December 2024.
Important information
This media release is intended for information only, aimed solely at the media and should not be further distributed to individual and/or corporate investors, and financial advisers and/or distributors. The information included within this document and any supplemental documentation provided should not be copied, reproduced or redistributed without the prior written consent of First Sentier Investors.
This material has been prepared and issued by First Sentier Investors (Australia) IM Ltd (ABN 89 114 194 311, AFSL 289017) (FSI AIM), which forms part of First Sentier Investors, a global asset management business. First Sentier Investors is ultimately owned by Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc (MUFG), a global financial group. References to “we” or “us” are references to First Sentier Investors. Some of our investment teams use the trading names FSSA Investment Managers, Stewart Investors, Albacore Capital, Igneo Infrastructure Partners and RQI Investors. A copy of the Financial Services Guide for FSI AIM is available from First Sentier Investors on its Australian website.
Any advice in this material is general advice only. It does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making an investment decision you should consider, with a financial advisor, whether this information is appropriate in light of your investment needs, objectives and financial situation. The information in the material does not constitute an offer of, or an invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities or fund.
The product disclosure statement (PDS) or Information Memorandum (IM) (as applicable) for the First Sentier Geared Australian Share Fund, ARSN 667 151 037 (Fund), issued by The Trust Company (RE Services) Limited (ABN 45 003 278 831, AFSL 235150) (Perpetual), should be considered before deciding whether to acquire or hold units in the Fund(s). The PDS or IM are available from First Sentier Investors. The target market determination (TMD) for the Fund is available from First Sentier Investors on its website and should be considered by prospective investors before any investment decision to ensure that investors form part of the target market.
MUFG, FSI AIM, their respective affiliates and any service provider to the Fund do not guarantee the performance of the Fund or the repayment of capital by the Fund. Investments in the Fund are not deposits or other liabilities of MUFG, FSI AIM, their respective affiliates or any service providers to the Fund and investment-type products are subject to investment risk including loss of income and capital invested.
Any opinions expressed in this material are the opinions of the individual author at the time of publication only and are subject to change without notice. Such opinions: (i) are not a recommendation to hold, purchase or sell a particular financial product; (ii) may not include all of the information needed to make an investment decision in relation to such a financial product; and (iii) may substantially differ from other individual authors within First Sentier Investors.
Reference to specific securities (if any) is included for the purpose of illustration only and should not be construed as a recommendation to buy or sell the same. All securities mentioned herein may or may not form part of the holdings of a First Sentier Investors portfolio at a certain point in time, and the holdings may change over time.
We have taken reasonable care to ensure that this material is accurate, current, complete and fit for its intended purpose and audience as at the date of publication. No assurance is given or liability accepted regarding the accuracy, validity or completeness of this material and we do not undertake to update it in future if circumstances change. No part of this material may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of FSI AIM.
Any performance information has been calculated using exit prices after taking into account all ongoing fees and assuming reinvestment of distributions. No allowance has been made for taxation. Past performance is not indicative of future performance.
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