Justin Jacobsen, CFA

Portfolio Manager

Justin is the Portfolio Manager of the Pender Alternative Absolute Return Fund. He joined Pender in August 2021.

Justin most recently worked as a Senior Portfolio Manager at one of Canada’s largest pension fund managers. During his four-year tenure, he was responsible for managing a high-yield focused credit strategy, generating returns for the underlying pension funds. Justin has also spent 11 years at a highly regarded Canadian investment firm. He worked in progressive roles as a member of the firm’s fixed income team. His investment research contributed to the Absolute Return and High Yield Bond strategies at the firm.

Justin’s investment approach is centered around his quick response to market dynamics, taking advantage of opportunities and reacting to increased risk. The key is intelligent security selection across capital structures and markets, supported by active investing, as experienced and applied through multiple market cycles. He has demonstrated the patience and discipline to hold a high quality but out-of-favour security, while constantly re-evaluating his investment thesis in response to new information. Justin is focused on uncovering the best risk-adjusted opportunities in every market cycle and dynamically adjusts portfolio positioning for market environments to protect and grow capital. He utilizes strategies such as distressed credit investing, event-driven trading, capital structure arbitrage, and actively works with management teams to help shape positive outcomes for the securities held.

Justin graduated with a BA in Honours History from Western University and an MBA in Finance from Washington State University. He earned his Chartered Financial Analyst designation in 2012.

Having lived in Victoria for four years, Justin relocated back to his home city of Vancouver with his wife and two children. He is an outdoor enthusiast, who enjoys skiing and playing golf whenever he can.

Recent posts
Pender Alternative Absolute Return Fund – January 2023

Highlights January 2023 was the strongest start to the year for credit since 2019 and the second strongest year since 2009. We added or established positions on bonds issued by SECURE Energy Services Inc. (TSX: SES), Superior Plus LP (TSX: SPB) and Keyera Corp. (TSX: KEY). In the new issues market, we participated in bonds […]

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Pender Alternative Absolute Return Fund – December 2022

Highlights The Fund added to loan exposures, participating in the TransDigm Group Incorporated (NYSE: TDG) new term loan, and added a position in Maxar Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq: MAXR) 2027 bond. We exited our position in Open Text Corp. (TSX: OTEX) unsecured bonds on strength. The Fund entered the commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) market, buying a […]

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Pender Alternative Absolute Return Fund – November 2022

Dear Unitholders, The Pender Alternative Absolute Return Fund finished November with a return of 0.3%[1], bringing year-to-date performance to 5.1%. November was one of the more difficult market environments for the Fund to navigate, as a market that is historically not cheap experienced sharp rallies. The high yield market was up for a second consecutive […]

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Pender Alternative Absolute Return Fund – October 2022

Highlights There was a significant bounce in most asset classes, as dip buyers emerged following significant repricing from mid-August to mid-October Large macro moves have created pockets of dislocation within credit markets, especially between Investment Grade and High Yield credits We believe that a large driver of the divergence between investment grade and high yield […]

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Pender Alternative Absolute Return Fund – September 2022

Highlights: September proved to be another challenging month for markets. It was the third worst month for the high-yield market since 2008. Early September presented the Fund with some good relative value trading opportunities. If there were a significant spread-widening event for large, well-capitalized Canadian banks, we expect to be buyers on weakness. It was […]

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Pender Alternative Absolute Return Fund – August 2022

The Fund has marked one year since its inception and we are happy to now report the performance of the Fund. The Pender Alternative Absolute Return Fund finished August with a return of 1.5% bringing year to date performance to 2.9%[1]. Credit markets experienced a sharp reversal in August with a very strong tone in […]

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