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Channel Capital expands into the US in search for opportunities
Channel Capital this week announced its expansion into the massive US asset management market, partnering with respected industry leader, Des Mac Intyre, formerly CEO of the US$600 billion ($770 billion) Mellon Investments Corporation.
Since its founding in 2013, Channel Capital has grown into a A$16 billion asset manager, incubating investment talent while providing important back-office, distribution, and marketing support. The group’s growing stable of managers expanded to ten in 2021, including specialist boutique managers from Bell Asset Management to Sage Capital and Jamieson Coote Bonds.
The partnership with Mac Intyre, named Eolas Capital, points to an acceleration in the group’s recent growth, capitalising on the buoyant conditions across global capital markets and the increasing decentralisation of the global economy.
According to Mac Intyre, Eolas means “knowledge and experience” in Gaelic, describing exactly what the team is seeking to provide to emerging investment managers the world over. 2020 has proven the importance of agility and the need for differentiated investment ideas that challenge the status quo. The ubiquity of Zoom, Teams and Webex has increased the ability for Australian companies to expand on a global scale, however, nothing beats feet on the ground, particularly in the highly competitive US markets.
Mac Intyre brings exceptional depth of experience, combining 30 years spent in financial markets, including as chairman and CEO of Mellon Investments, with executive positions at the likes of Bridgewater Associates and General Motors Asset Management. It is this diverse experience in varying, diverse business cultures that gives Channel managing director Glen Holding confidence, stating that “Channel’s platform has helped build durable investment managers in Australia for nearly a decade, and we’re confident that with Des as our partner, we will expand successfully in the United States.”
This announcement follows a line of partnerships made by Channel Capital in recent years, backing high-quality specialists in various sectors, but predominantly domiciled in Europe and Australia. The group has diversified across both public and private markets, offering advisers and HNW investors exposure to specialist global equities through small- and mid-cap specialist Bell Asset and long-short manager L1 Capital, leading bond manager Jamieson Coote, and long-short equities through Sage Capital. More recently the group has been expanding into the in-demand private sector, partnering with Conscious Investment Management for an impact investment strategy, Revolution for private debt and Capital Dynamics.
“I’m excited and energized by the opportunity to embark on an entrepreneurial venture with Channel Capital,” said Mac Intyre, managing director of Eolas Capital.
