Pie Funds: Innovating Funds Management Down Under
Founded in 2007, Pie Funds has emerged as a pioneering investment management firm in New Zealand, setting itself apart through its unique approach to funds management and commitment to client success. Pie’s headquarters can be found in Auckland, New Zealand, but its global presence extends well beyond, with the investment team spread across its New Zealand, Australian and UK offices. Their ‘boots-on-the-ground’ approach ensures the team are closer to the detail, they deeply understand the markets they invest in, and it’s no surprise that they boast an impressive track record.
New Zealand owned and operated, Pie are expert active managers – skills refined and honed over Pie’s 17+ year existence enables the team to be dynamic, respond swiftly to changes in market conditions, sentiment or company news, aiming always to deliver superior long-term returns for their investors. Employing in-depth analysis and strategic asset allocation means they can identify undervalued assets, one of the core strategies Pie’s Founder and Chief Investment Officer, Mike Taylor, founded the company on. Looking after the wealth of their clients is an honour they take extremely seriously; so seriously, in fact, that their team invests over NZ$100m alongside their clients, and this is something they look for in the companies they invest in, too.
Central to Pie Funds’ success is its distinct investment philosophy, which emphasises a long-term perspective combined with a rigorous research process. The investment team, led by the Investment Leadership Team (Chief Investment Officer, Mike Taylor (NZ), Head of Australasian Equities, Michelle Lopez (AU), Head of Global Research, Guy Thornewill (UK) and Head of Fixed Interest, Travis Murdoch (NZ)), is dedicated to identifying and investing in high-quality opportunities with strong growth potential. The Leadership Team brings c. 100 years of experience in financial markets and, alongside their team, employs a bottom-up approach to stock selection. They meticulously analyse each company’s fundamentals, financial data, industry trends, and macroeconomic factors to inform their portfolio choices. As a result, the team have a deep knowledge of the companies they invest in, and like their own Founder’s success story, see the value in founder-led businesses play out again and again.
Pie places significant emphasis on providing an exceptional client experience and their client-centric approach is evident in the way Pie engages with its clients. Aside from their informative and highly subscribed monthly newsletter, Slice of Pie, investor updates, yearly regional roadshows and other market insights, Pie also encourages clients to visit their offices—a practice many clients embrace.
Pie offers a broad range of investment funds, KiwiSaver (New Zealand’s work-based retirement savings scheme) and Wealth advice services. Its investment funds include large and small-cap products, both in Australasia and Globally, alongside different diversified and conservative fund options. Pie’s newest products, a Property & Infrastructure and Fixed Income Fund, have seen good uptake and provide plenty of diversification. As Pie continues to evolve and expand its offerings, it remains steadfast in its mission to deliver market-beating returns and first-class service. With a solid foundation built on integrity and performance, Pie Funds is poised for continued success.