PARTNER CONTENT
Anson Investments Master Fund (AIMF), the flagship fund managed by Anson Funds, was voted by Hedgeweek readers as Overall Multi-Strategy Fund of the Year at the 2024 Hedgeweek Americas Awards. Chief Investment Officer Moez Kassam outlines the firm’s flexible approach to investment and risk management allow it to protect and grow investor capital…
Investment approach
Anson aims to generate absolute returns with low downside volatility and low correlation to broad equity markets. “Our philosophy centers on minimizing exposure to market or geopolitical shocks,” says Moez Kassam, Chief Investment Officer of Anson Funds. “We aim to generate returns predominantly through astute security selection.”
The firm deploys capital to strategies that use a consistent approach to security selection, while retaining funds to capitalize on short-term opportunities. “We maintain a flexible approach, constantly evaluating market sentiment and seizing the most compelling opportunities,” Kassam explains. “Our extensive experience enables us to discern true signals from market noise. By dedicating significant resources to research and data analysis, we gain a deep understanding of market dynamics. This allows us to adapt our investment strategy swiftly and decisively.”
Risk management
Anson Funds prioritizes disciplined risk management to protect investor capital. “Preserving investor capital is our paramount concern,” Kassam emphasizes. “While aggressive strategies might yield short-term gains, they ultimately jeopardize long-term stability.” This includes managing leverage, minimizing concentration by considering both obvious and hidden correlations, and optimizing trade timing by gradually increasing position sizes to account for market fluctuations.
“In favorable market conditions, we often identify numerous promising issuers,” says Kassam. “By focusing on the highest-conviction opportunities, we can enhance returns without resorting to excessive leverage.”
“Market turbulence often reveals unexpected correlations across seemingly unrelated assets,” he adds. “Our concentration limits consider not only obvious relationships but also those hidden links that surface during periods of stress.”
“Experience has taught us that markets can defy logic for extended periods,” Kassam notes. “By scaling into positions gradually, we retain the flexibility to navigate market volatility and capitalize on emerging trends.”
Looking ahead
Anson Funds believes that by allocating capital across time-tested strategies while staying true to its core investment principles, it can continue to protect and grow investor capital. “We maintain a market-agnostic approach, deploying capital across proven strategies that align with our core strengths,” Kassam concludes. “This disciplined approach, we believe, will enable us to consistently protect and grow investor capital.”
Moez Kassam, Co-Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Anson Funds – Moez is a hedge fund manager, venture capitalist and entrepreneur. As Co-Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Anson Funds, he presides over $2bn in assets with exceptional results, regularly earning him a spot among the globe’s top performers by both Bloomberg and Barron’s magazines.
An active philanthropist, Moez sits on the boards of the Toronto Library Foundation, the Canadian Olympic Foundation and Ryerson University’s Technology Innovation Circle. The Moez & Marissa Kassam Foundation – dedicated to strengthening the health and vibrancy of vulnerable communities – is a regular benefactor of Doctors Without Borders, Toronto Foundation for Student Success and Camp Oochigeas, a summer camp providing memorable experiences for children affected by cancer. The Foundation’s generous contribution to Michael Garron Hospital is commemorated by the state-of-the-art Moez & Marissa Kassam Food Court, designed to nourish a burgeoning community of underserved patients, frontline workers, and medical staff.
Moez is an active member of the Young Presidents Organization and, in 2018, was honored to be counted among Canada’s Top 40 Under 40. He holds an MBA from London Business School and a BA from Western University. He resides in Toronto, Canada.
