Written: 19 July 2022

Author: Jono O'Grady

3 min read

Meet boutique manager Mint Asset Management

Mint Asset Management is a boutique funds management business based in Auckland, New Zealand. The business was founded by Rebecca Thomas in 2006, current Mint CEO, and has gone from strength to strength. So, what are the keys to Mint’s success? Let’s explore Mint Asset Management:

Boutique manager

Mint stays true to a boutique funds management model. The business is majority owned by staff and manages investments for both staff and customers. The result is a business in which staff are motivated to perform, and a high degree of integrity:

‘We act with integrity, respecting other people’s money and the value of our personal reputation. We do business in a clear, transparent way where our investors best interests are put first.’

Strong leadership

One of the clear strengths of Mint is strong leadership, with Mint’s founder Rebecca Thomas still at the helm as CEO. Rebecca works with the leadership team and the board to ensure Mint continues to deliver on the original vision that drove the firm to be established. Rebecca comes from a strong industry background, with experience as CEO of the London-based funds management firm Johnson Fry and Group CEO of Legg Mason, and CIO of ING (NZ).

Mint has a focus on supporting women in finance, and financial literacy, and this is clearly seen in the breadth of staff within the business and their active role in promoting financial literacy.

Responsible Investing

Mint focuses on responsible investing across all their funds and recently launched an SRI New Zealand Equity Fund to the retail market in 2021. The fund was nominated for Best New Ethical Fund, the Mint New Zealand SRI Equity Fund, at the Mindful Money Awards 2021.

Mint is also a signatory to PRI, the principles for responsible investing, a global initiative which promotes responsible investing across the financial sector.

Corporate Responsibility

The focus on corporate responsibility is backed up by the way that Mint does business – they have recently become Toitu CarbonZero certified, a tremendous achievement and a demonstration of their personal commitment to emissions reduction. It demonstrates that not only are Mint interested in sustainability from an investment perspective, but they are also interested in sustainability from a company behavioural perspective. Being certified as Toitu Carbonzero means Mint have measured, managed and offset their business carbon emissions, as well as committed to clear goals for carbon reduction.

Mint Asset Management is committed to operating in an emissions efficient environment and considers the management of its (GHG) emissions to be a key component of its sustainability objectives. Mint aims to conduct itself in an environmentally aware and sustainable fashion and to contribute to the national emissions reduction targets.

Mint has committed to reduce the intensity of their carbon emissions in all emissions categories by 20% per $ revenue by the year 2026. For information about Mint’s carbon reduction efforts you can read their public disclosure here.

Awards

Mint has won several awards in recent times and several category nominations including:

• Nominated for Best New Ethical Fund, the Mint New Zealand SRI Equity Fund, at the Mindful Money Awards 2021.
• Good Returns Powered by Research IP 2019 - Boutique Fund Manager of the Year.
• Mint Australasian Equity Fund finalist for New Zealand Fund Manager of the Year, Domestic Equities, New Zealand. Morningstar Awards 2021(c).

Investment offering

Mint has 4 funds available on the Flint platform, each with a different investment objective. The business focuses on a targeted group of investment strategies, and portfolios are managed by a group of highly experienced investment managers. The investment team at Mint has a combination of international and domestic experience meaning that both retail and institutional investors are well catered for.

Here is a summary of each of the funds available on the Flint platform:

Mint Australasian Property Fund

Investment Objective:

The Fund typically invests in New Zealand and Australian listed property securities and has an investment objective of outperforming the S&P/NZX All Real Estate (Industry Group) Gross Index by 1% per annum, before fees, over the medium to long-term.

Mint Diversified Income Fund

Investment Objective:

The Fund invests across a number of asset classes both in New Zealand and internationally. These include cash, fixed interest, listed property, and equities. The objective of the Fund is to deliver a total return (through a combination of income and capital growth) in excess of the Consumers Price Index (CPI) by 3% per annum, before fees, over the medium to long-term. The relevant market index for the Fund is a composite index derived from the underlying asset classes of the Fund.

Mint Diversified Growth Fund

Investment Objective:

This Fund aims to provide capital growth over the long-term. The Fund invests primarily in New Zealand and international equities, but will also hold cash and fixed interest securities. The objective of the Fund is to deliver returns in excess of the Consumers Price Index (CPI) by 4.5% per annum, before fees, over the medium to long-term. The relevant market index for the Fund is a composite index derived from the underlying asset classes of the Fund.

Mint Australasian Equity Fund

Investment Objective:

The Fund typically invests in New Zealand and Australian listed equities and has an investment objective of outperforming the S&P/NZX50 Gross Index by 3% per annum, before fees, over the medium to long-term.

Mint is a well-regarded fund manager for investors wanting an active investment management approach.

Happy investing!

Flint

IMPORTANT NOTICE AND DISCLAIMER:

All content shared is of a general nature, current to the time it was penned, and is not financial advice. Before making any investment decisions, please be sure you have completed full due diligence. This should include reading the product disclosure statement (PDS), considering fees and taxation, identifying your time horizons, and understanding the performance history and reputation of the investments you are considering.

Please note: When investing you are not guaranteed to make money (and on occasion you may lose some or all of the money you began with). Seek independent advice to establish if an investment is suitable for your financial situation and long-term wealth generation goals.

References

Product disclosure statement, Mint 'our story,' Toitu Carbonzero,