Third Link Growth Fund (Fund) has added three new Australian equity managers to its underlying portfolio: Australian Eagle Asset Management, Chester Asset Management and Firetrail Investments.
These new additions will seek to enhance the Fund’s active manager line-up, broadening diversification and bolstering the Fund’s long-term return potential.
Founder and Portfolio Manager of the Third Link Growth Fund, Chris Cuffe AO, welcomed the additions and added, “We’re thrilled to welcome Australian Eagle, Chester, and Firetrail to the Fund. Their inclusion strengthens what is now a stellar line-up of investment managers. By leveraging their expertise, we aim to enhance investment performance for our investors, while continuing to support our nominated charities through the generous rebate of all management and performance fees.”
Australian Eagle Asset Management joins the Fund, through its distribution partner, Montgomery Investment Management with the Australian Eagle Equities Fund. The Australian Eagle Equities Fund is built on an award-winning strategy[1] that actively invests in a portfolio of 25 to 35 large-cap Australian listed companies, targeting capital growth over the long term. The investment team, led by Chief Investment Officer Sean Sequeria, seeks high-quality, undervalued companies with the potential to deliver exceptional returns. They focus on identifying companies with strong fundamentals undergoing meaningful change that can enhance their earnings profile and hold investments long term to allow these qualities to be reflected in the share price.
“We’re proud to contribute to the Third Link Growth Fund with a strategy that has consistently delivered excess returns over more than two decades,” said Sean Sequeria, Chief Investment Officer at Australian Eagle Asset Management. “This is a rare opportunity to combine investing excellence with a greater purpose and supporting the community.”
Chester Asset Management brings its Chester High Conviction Fund, an Australian equities fund focused on a concentrated portfolio of high-conviction stocks, aiming to outperform the S&P/ASX 300 Accumulation Index. The strategy, which has been operating for over a decade, has delivered a strong seven-year performance track record and now manages over $1.5 billion in funds under management. Since 2013, the Fund has consistently outperformed the market by 5.8% per annum.[2]
The fund is supported by deep fundamental research and ESG integration and has received significant industry acclaim, including Money Magazine’s Best Australian Shares Fund (2023 & 2024) and Financial Newswire Fund Manager of the Year (2023). It is currently rated ‘Highly Recommended’ by Lonsec.
“We are thrilled to be part of the Third Link Growth Fund and support its dual mandate of returns and impact,” said Rob Tucker, Portfolio Manager at Chester Asset Management. “We are proud to contribute to a fund with such a meaningful purpose.”
Firetrail Investments joins the Fund with the Firetrail Australian Small Companies Fund, a high-conviction portfolio of the team’s most compelling small company investment ideas. The strategy is guided by deep-dive fundamental research and the belief that ‘every company has a price’. It targets companies outside the S&P/ASX 100, aiming to uncover under-researched opportunities with attractive long-term growth potential.
The Firetrail Australian Small Companies Fund[3] aims to outperform the S&P/ASX Small Ordinaries Accumulation Index over the medium to long term after fees. It holds a Highly Recommended rating from Lonsec and a Recommended rating from Zenith.
“Firetrail is excited to be partnering with the Third Link Growth Fund on what is a great initiative to deliver strong investment returns whilst simultaneously giving back to the community,” said Matthew Fist and Eleanor Swanson, Portfolio Managers at Firetrail Investments.
The Third Link Growth Fund now comprises the following underlying managers and access to the following funds.
- 1851 Capital – 1851 Emerging Companies Fund
- Australian Eagle Asset Management (via Montgomery Investment Management) – Australian Eagle Equities Fund
- Auscap Asset Management – Auscap Ex-20 Australian Equities Fund (Ex-20 Fund)
- Chester Asset Management – Chester High Conviction Fund
- Cooper Investors – CI Australian Equities Fund
- DNR Capital – DNR Capital Australian Equities High Conviction Fund
- ECP Asset Management – ECP Growth Companies Fund
- Eiger Capital – Eiger Australian Small Companies Fund
- Eley Griffiths Group – Eley Griffiths Group Mid Cap Fund
- Firetrail Investments – Firetrail Australian Small Companies Fund
- Greencape Capital – Greencape Capital High Conviction Fund
- L1 Capital – L1 Capital Catalyst Fund
- Lennox Capital Partners – Lennox Australian Small Companies Fund
- Pengana Capital – Pengana Emerging Companies Fund
The Third Link Growth Fund is a unique Australian equities fund of funds that donates its management fee, net of expenses, to charities, made possible by the generosity of its underlying managers, who rebate all management and performance fees. Since inception[4], the Fund has donated more than $23 million to non-profit organisations, while generating over 9.4% p.a net of fees in returns for its investors.
“We look forward to building strong relationships with these managers to drive long-term returns and deliver real social outcomes through ongoing charitable support,” said Cuffe.
For more information about the Third Link Growth Fund and its ongoing performance and charitable giving, please visit www.thirdlink.com.au
[1] Fundhost limited (ABN 69 092 517 987, AFSL 233045) is the responsible entity of The Australian Eagle Equities Fund (ARSN 647 519 542). While the Australian Eagle Equities Fund was established January 2025 it utilises the Australian Eagle Equity Strategy (Long Only) (Strategy) offered only to wholesale clients. Since 2005, the Strategy has outperformed the S&P/ASX 100 Accumulation Index by 3.56% per annum (gross of fees) (from inception to 31 March 2025).
[2] As at 30 April 2025
[3] ARSN 638 792 133 issued by Pinnacle Fund services Limited (ABN 29 082 494 362, AFSL 238371) as the Responsible Entity
[4] The Fund was registered on 12 March 2008, commenced operations on 18 April 2008, and commenced investing on 1 June 2008 as a multi-sector growth fund. In February 2012 the Fund’s investment strategy changed from multi-sector growth to Australian equities.
