RQI Investors launches new strategy with UniSuper backing

UniSuper has seeded a new fund from RQI Investors, First Sentier Investors' quantitative manager.

The RQI Australian Diversified Alpha Long Short Fund has been introduced for institutional and select wholesale investors, receiving a $500 million seed investment from UniSuper.

The RQI Australian Diversified Alpha Long Short Fund invests in ASX 300 companies and targets risked adjusted returns of around 4-6% per annum above the benchmark, RQI Investors said.

RQI will use an "adaptive leverage approach" to long-short investing ranging up to 160% long and 60% short, while maintaining 100% market net exposure, and leverages its Diversified Alpha Strategy.

The fund is managed by lead portfolio manager Joanna Nash, portfolio managers Ron Guido and Wang Chun Wei, and head of investments David Walsh.

"We believe the fund has the ability to deliver strong excess returns with robust risk management through our evidence-based, systematic approach," Nash said.

"The use of our adaptive leverage long short process allows the exposure of the fund to vary up to 160/60 giving the flexibility to take account of changing market conditions."

RQI Investors chief executive Andrew Francis said the launch is testament to the firm's experience and expertise.

"Further, we are very fortunate to have secured the support and backing of one of Australia's largest and most sophisticated institutional investors," Francis said.

As at March 31, RQI Investors has about $25 billion in assets under management across its diversified alpha and value strategies.