Newswise — Today, Darden Capital Management (DCM), the student-run organization at the Darden School of Business that prepares students for careers in asset management and investment management, is adding a new fund to its portfolio.
The Rotunda Fund, approved by the Darden Board of Trustees, will use a sustainability investment strategy to achieve long-term financial returns. The new fund was founded by Darden Second Year Students Summer Kassir Haltli and Tack Richardson.
“The fundamental theory is companies that are best in class in sustainability will have a competitive advantage over their peers and will provide strong returns,” said Richardson.
He said the fund combines two elements of great importance to the Darden Community.
“It’s a new fund that marries investing and sustainability,” Richardson said. “Sustainability is important to Darden and to the current generation of students so the idea of creating this fund came naturally.”
DCM manages over $5 million in four funds, making it one of the largest programs of its kind. The Cavalier, Darden, Jefferson and Monticello Funds are managed independently and provide opportunities for students to develop skills in investment analysis and portfolio management.
The Rotunda Fund, which will be a new fifth fund, launches with $250,000 in seed money reallocated from the four existing funds. “The Darden School Foundation Board of Trustees has identified a number of various benchmarks as part of a phased-in approach,” Richardson said. “If we reach the goals, the Trustees have told us they will work to increase the amount of dollars under management.”
The recently named Rotunda Fund Senior Portfolio Manager for the coming year is First Year David Policano, and other portfolio managers for the fund are First Years Mason Antrim, Seth Chokel, and Sajju Khatiwada.
“We’re very excited about the Rotunda Fund,” said Haltli. “We’ve received great support from everyone with whom we’ve talked. DCM sees this as, among other things, a potential way of attracting to Darden the best students, who are interested in sustainability and investing.”
Founded in 1954, the University of Virginia Darden School of Business improves society by developing principled leaders in the world of practical affairs.
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