Imara launches Balanced Fund to expand unit trust range

Imara Asset Management South Africa has expanded its boutique unit trust range with the launch of the Imara MET Balanced Fund.

The unit trust fund opened on 27 August.

The Imara newcomer is categorised as an SA multi-asset high equity unit trust product and complies with prudential investment guidelines for pension funds.

Lara Warburton, managing director of Illovo-based Imara Asset Management SA, commented: “We anticipate a good response from investors in view of the reputation of Imara investment products and the continuing trend to balanced fund investment. Over the past year, 83% of new local fund inflows across the unit trust industry went into multi-asset funds.”

The new fund offers investors inflation-beating, long-term capital growth with a moderate risk profile and can be used as a complete investment portfolio for investors in retirement annuities and pension and provident funds.

Warburton noted: “With a minimum lump sum investment of R5 000 – or R500 monthly – this is a great fund for investors looking to build up a long-term capital requirement, while delivering exposure to different asset classes such as equities, bonds, property and cash, both locally and offshore.

“The balanced fund’s strategy will be shaped by the successful Imara Asset Management house view and the fixed income management expertise of our associates at Atlantic Asset Management.”

The flagship Imara fund driven by the asset manager’s house view is the Imara MET Equity Fund. It has achieved annualised returns in excess of 20% over the past one, three and five years, and has outperformed the benchmark All Share Index over three and five years.