Updated:
Ophir Asset Management
Ophir Asset Management was co-founded in 2011 by portfolio managers Andrew Mitchell and Steven Ng, who had previously built track records at Australian...
Ophir Asset Management
Ophir Asset Management was co-founded in 2011 by portfolio managers Andrew Mitchell and Steven Ng, who had previously built track records at Australian equities boutiques. The firm operates as a dedicated long-only manager focused on the ASX small-cap and mid-cap universe, a segment often under-researched by larger institutions. Ophir manages its flagship Ophir Opportunities Fund, which targets companies with market capitalizations between A$150M and A$2B at time of purchase, though it can hold stocks that grow beyond that range. The portfolio typically holds 25 to 35 positions across sectors including financials, healthcare, industrials, and consumer discretionary. The firm does not disclose a current AUM publicly, but prior filings suggest assets under management in the hundreds of millions of Australian dollars. Ophir's investment process screens for sustainable competitive advantage, management quality, and valuation discipline. The firm employs a lean team of investment professionals based primarily in Sydney, with offices also listed in New York and Greenwich, though the Australian operation remains the core. In late 2023, Ophir reportedly closed its flagship fund to new investors after strong inflows, a move cited as capacity management rather than a capital raise (per the Australian Financial Review, 2023). No adjacent vehicles like a hedge fund or private equity arm are publicly documented. What distinguishes Ophir structurally is its strict capacity discipline and niche specialization in Australian small-caps, a segment with limited active manager competition. The firm does not use leverage, short selling, or derivatives for its main strategy, presenting a clean long-only equity exposure to allocators seeking market beta with alpha from stock selection in a less efficient market tier.
General information
Firm type
Asset Manager
Year founded
—
AUM
A$500M–A$1B (Altss estimate)
Location
Region
Oceania
Country
Australia
City
Sydney
Corporate office
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Additional offices
New York, United States · Greenwich, United States
Principals
Andrew Mitchell
Director & Portfolio Manager
Steven Ng
Director & Portfolio Manager
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who leads investment decisions at Ophir Asset Management?
Andrew Mitchell and Steven Ng serve as co-portfolio managers for the flagship Ophir Opportunities Fund. Both have been with the firm since its founding in 2011 and share responsibility for stock selection and portfolio construction. They are supported by a small team of analysts, though the firm does not publicly list the full team.
What investment universe does Ophir target?
Ophir focuses on Australian small and mid-cap companies with market capitalizations typically between A$150M and A$2B at the time of initial purchase. This universe is less covered by large institutional fund managers, which Ophir views as a source of potential alpha from superior research and conviction.
How concentrated is Ophir's portfolio?
The firm typically holds between 25 and 35 positions in the Ophir Opportunities Fund, which is a concentrated portfolio relative to many Australian equity funds. The managers avoid excessive diversification, arguing that conviction in top ideas drives outperformance.
Does Ophir use leverage or derivatives?
Per public filings and fund documents, the Ophir Opportunities Fund operates without leverage, short selling, or derivatives as core tools. The fund is a pure long-only equity strategy, providing straightforward beta exposure with a focus on alpha from stock selection.
What is Ophir's approach to capacity management?
In late 2023, Ophir closed its flagship fund to new investors, a move reported as self-imposed capacity discipline. The firm stated the closure was intended to protect existing investors' returns by preventing asset bloat that could dilute performance in the small-cap space. This suggests a focus on performance over asset growth.
Is Ophir affiliated with any larger financial group?
Ophir Asset Management is an independent boutique. It is not part of a bank, insurance company, or global asset manager. The founders Mitchell and Ng own the firm, which remains private.
What sectors does Ophir typically avoid?
The firm does not publish a strict exclusion list. However, given its small-cap focus it naturally avoids large-cap, commodity-exposed mining and energy companies that dominate the broader ASX. Its disclosed holdings skew to financials, healthcare, industrials and consumer-facing businesses.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
Need institutional-grade insight on registered investment advisers?
Altss delivers:
Prefer a guided tour?
We’ll walk you through: