2020 was a year of crisis. In response, Aura Group focused on risk management, increased investor communications and returned as much capital (over $100M!) as we could, to give our Limited Partners liquidity. In hindsight, we were extremely fortunate to be positioned largely in investments with a technology bias.
2021 has gone by in a flash, and was a year still plagued by the COVID-19 pandemic, with global borders shut and many cities affected by lockdowns. Whilst equity markets and other risk assets have continued to rise in value (in some cases to bubble-like conditions), inequality, trade and political unrest continue to grow. Business conditions remain difficult to navigate with supply chain and inflationary pressures still looming. Many families remain separated with mental and physical health threats still prevalent (and new ones emerging ie Omicron). Technology continues to play an integral role in connecting people and facilitating global growth.
At Aura Group, 2021 has turned out to be a year of a renewed sense of community. Google dictionary defines this as the condition of sharing or having certain attitudes and interests in common. With this context in mind, we’ve recently spent time refining our corporate mission, which we are proud to announce:
Innovate. Sustain. Grow.
To help families and institutions achieve their financial objectives through innovative and sustainable investments.
As you can see, we put “families” first, to recognise they are our lifeblood, whether they are staff, founders or our community of investors (and directly or indirectly through intermediaries or institutions).
We also wanted to stay true to our entrepreneurial culture and our vision of building trust that lasts generations. Therefore it is important to ensure our actions take into account sustainability to engender long-term thinking.
To keep us on track we have become members of the PRI (Principles for Responsible Investment) and will adopt their benchmarking framework going forward.
Thinking with this framework has begun to serve us well. Over 2021, Aura Group’s overall gross Funds Under Management and Advice grew to approx. A$1b (up 25% yoy) on an ownership-adjusted basis (or approximately $1.57b (up 21% yoy) on gross basis). Our core Funds Under Management grew from $500m to over $674m (up 26% yoy) net of capital returns and distributions to investors so far in 2021.
Importantly, your capital is deployed to over 60 portfolio companies globally that employ over 10,000 families. Indirectly, your capital is playing a fascinating role in the wider community including the following:
Facilitating ~8% of all new mortgages settled in Australia
Processing of over $0.5b of digital asset trades per month
Sold custom clothing to 60,000 unique clients
Performed over 210,000 flu vaccinations in 2021
Provide gym health and fitness solutions to over 200,000 members
Handles over 5m last mile deliveries a month
Provision of software analytics to over 3,500 sporting teams globally
Portfolio administration of over $9b of investments
Provide alternative financing to over 1,000 small businesses
Provided affordable healthcare to over 1m dental patients
Sold $6b of homes in 2021
As 2021 draws to a close we have a lot to be grateful for. I want to take this time to thank you, our valued community of investors, founders, staff, shareholders and advisors, for your continued loyalty and support.
As for 2022, we look forward to continuing to bring you innovative and sustainable ways to build wealth over the long term. We are also accelerating our digital strategy via our Aura Group Marketplace which is currently in live beta and our partnership with Leonie Hill Ai to offer institutional-grade digital assets which we truly believe is the future.
On behalf of myself and the entire Aura Group team, Happy Festive Season and we look forward to seeing you in 2022.
Best regards,
Calvin Ng
Managing Director
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Aura Group subsidiaries issuing this information include Aura Group (Singapore) Pte Ltd (Registration No. 201537140R) which is regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore as a holder of a Capital Markets Services Licence, and Aura Capital Pty Ltd (ACN 143 700 887) Australian Financial Services Licence 366230 holder in Australia.