BRISBANE ALTERNATIVE ASSET MANAGER SAYS SKY IS THE LIMIT AS IT HITS $3B

BLUE SKY Alternative Investments (ASX: BLA) has hit a major milestone, as it announced that its fee-earning assets under management now exceeds $3 billion.

The Brisbane-based company, which was founded 10 years ago by Mark Sowerby, confirmed it is one of the fastest growing funds management companies in Australia as it hit the $3 billion mark ahead of the end of financial year 2017.

It now expects its funds under management to be between $3.1 and $3.3 billion by 30 June.

"We have seen growing support across each of our asset classes in private equity and venture capital, private real estate, real assets and hedge funds," managing director Rob Shand (pictured) says.

"Investors are increasingly recognising the unique investment opportunities in private markets and Blue Sky's 10-year track record has positioned us well to capitalise on the increasing flow of capital to these classes."

The company is aiming to have its fund under management reach $5 billion by 2019 with a longer-term goal of $10 billion and it has institutional backing from Australian superannuation fund First State Super and Goldman Sachs.

Sowerby, who stepped down and handed over to Shand as MD last August, says the company is gaining momentum exponentially and is about to experience a phase of rapid and impressive growth.

"When I left the company, I did so because it was in a great position and we're really only seeing the tip of the iceberg, even right now, of what is possible," Sowerby says.

"It's a business that's structurally and incredibly strong and it's growing at 50 per cent per annum. 

"Everybody (at Blue Sky) wants to do it and they're going to kill it. That's Queensland talent genuinely taking on the world and winning and I'm really proud of them."

Never miss a story: Sign up to Business News Australia's free news updates

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram