Boutique Australian-owned fund manager, Prime Value Asset Management, has appointed a new director of distribution.
Julia Desimone will cover a diverse range of investments across listed equities, property and alternative assets at the firm.
She joins Prime Value from Investors Mutual where she was state manager for Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia. She previously held senior distribution roles at Dimensional Fund Advisors for three years and Ausbil for eight years.
Commenting on her appointment, Desimone said: “Prime Value is rare, an Australian-owned boutique with a history of playing to its strengths across different investments. It has shown it can create best-of-breed investments and add value to investor portfolios.”
She said the firm is attracting interest from investors into its alternative assets and property investments strategies, including its Citrus Trust, Dairy Trust, Growth Infrastructure Fund and Private Equity Fund.
“Prime Value has built several compelling alternative asset offerings, including a very attractive Dairy Trust with some of the best dairy farmland in Australia. The firm also has a long history of successful property investment funds.”
Prime Value chief executive, Yak Yong Quek, said: “Julia has a strong track record of serving the intermediaries market and we believe she will be a good fit with our diverse product offering, and our boutique culture of stewardship and building wealth together.”
The firm was formed in 1998 as a family office and now has $3 billion in assets under management in combination with sister company Shakespeare Property Group.
In November, it launched its latest alternative assets fund, the Prime Value Retirement Living Fund 2, which is available for wholesale, high-net-worth investors and family offices. The fund will invest in four A-Grade villages in Victoria, comprising approximately 900 dwellings.
It is part of an expansion of investment solutions, which has seen Prime Value introduce funds in direct property, income securities and alternative assets including dairy farms, in addition to its flagship Australian equities funds, over the last 10 years.