Terrain Placement Services is a leading Australian advisor to international fund managers seeking to position and then fundraise from the Australian Pension Fund and Institutional Investment Markets.
We have a proven track record, working with our clients across all asset classes.
Our Services
Terrain believes in developing strong, long lasting relationships with our clients and is committed to helping them effectively position themselves in the Australian market and then achieve their fundraising objectives. We aim to add value from strategic planning, during market positioning, into the fundraising phase through to fund market intelligence and communication.
Strategic Review, Planning & Advice
Prior to our clients engaging with the Australian Institutional Market, Terrain assists them to prepare for market entry, including agreeing on the best strategy through which to make contact.
Direct Marketing
Terrain places great importance on preparing our clients for any virtual or marketing trip meetings. We believe that they should have a solid understanding of who they are meeting with, an agreed agenda for each meeting, as well as an appropriate post-meeting action plan to assist building their investment relationships.
Client & Investor Communications & Feedback
Terrain believes that clear communication and timely feedback are vital in developing an Australian market presence. Through honest and timely feedback from investors and advisors our clients are able to qualify those that are truly engaged, identify any issues that need to be addressed, identify new opportunities as investment preferences change and respond to the Australian market in a timely, efficient and effective way.
In all cases, when we discover anything that is of interest or importance to our clients we communicate back all appropriate intelligence to them in a timely manner.
We manage our communication with investors and Asset Consultants on two fronts:
- we communicate directly with them about our clients as mutually agreed during the marketing process; &
- periodically meet with them on an informal basis to ensure that we understand their broader investment needs and perspectives.
Our Market
The Australian Institutional Market is one of sophistication and integrity. With over A$3.5 trillion under management (31 March 2024, APRA) it is the 4th largest global pool of pension funds.
Australia is still the 4th largest pool of pension funds in the world. The 15th annual Mercer CFA Institute Global Pension Index released on 17-Oct-23 ranked Australia’s retirement income system as 5th among systems around the globe – up from sixth place in 2022.
It is essential that international fund managers understand the following key influences on Australian market:
- Investors take time to build relationships with new managers of interest and expect access to key investment team decision-makers;
- Asset Consultants assist their clients’ selection of investment strategies and managers.
- Focus on Costs leads to downward pressure on fees driven by the Australian Regulator and competition.
In order to successfully position and fund raise in Australia, it is critical to understand:
- who really is the key influencer in the investment decision making process for each fund?
- the strategies and structures that investors prefer?
Our Philosophy
Terrain’s philosophy is that our relationships within the Australian Institutional Market are as critical as the pedigree of the managers we represent. Paramount to adding value, is that we act as both a screen and channel into the Australian market.
In acting as an access point, we:
- qualify managers, their strategies & track records to ensure that they are likely to be of interest to the Australian investor;
- prepare the managers to ensure that their strategies have characteristics that are acceptable to Australian investors; &
- manage our clients’ expectations from entry into the market & throughout the investment process.
By maintaining this philosophy, Terrain believes that we maximise the value we deliver to fund managers that approach us and those that we choose to develop a long term relationship with.
Our Clients
Terrain’s current and historical client base represents a broad range of investment strategies across numerous asset classes and geographies.
We are experienced in representing, both boutique and global investment managers, across:
- equities
- real estate
- infrastructure
- timberlands
- credit / fixed income
- private equity