, Luciano began exploring other options for VGI in the second half of last year, holding talks with several potential partners.
“We’re both former accountants and ended up investing,” Luciano says. “And as a result, we both have very strong fundamental investing capabilities.”Given events leading up to the deal, an obvious question remains: why would Regal actually want to go public given VGI’s experience? “The larger funds management organisations get, the more the founders or the key investor gets dragged into everything but investing,” Luciano says.
“And current conditions in the markets and the economy remind me very much of 2001 when I had one of my best years of returns.” VGI shares surged more than 10 per cent in trade on Monday, before settling about 5.5 per cent higher at $4.60.