The Bulls are celebrating

The Raging Bull Awards celebrates top performers of the industry across a range of sectors and acknowledges investment managers in terms of top outright performers, best risk-adjusted performers and the best unit trust management companies.

The 2018 Raging Bull Awards gala event announced the winners who out performed their peers. There were numerous challenges facing asset managers and investors, during 2017 all of which were exacerbated by the tough economic conditions which we faced in South Africa.

Raging Bull winners

Herewith the list of the 2018 Raging Bull Awards winners.

Top of the pile

One of the most sought after Raging Bull Awards is the South African Management Company of the Year. 

This year, this award was won by Allan Gray. FAnews spoke to Tamryn Lamb, Joint Head of Institutional Client Servicing at Allan Gray, to find out more about what the award means to them and the preparation that goes into winning this award. 

“To be named South African Management Company of the Year is an honour for us but it is also incredibly humbling as we operate in a highly competitive industry against companies that we respect very highly,” said Lamb. 

She added that while Allan Gray was happy to win the award, the message to clients is simple. “Do not use the fact that the company has won awards such as this as a motivation to do business with them. Rather, clients should look at the structure of the company as an indicator as to whether that company will achieve the goals that clients are looking for,” says Lamb. 

Allan Gray also won other awards on the evening. 

The Allan Gray-Orbis Global Equity Feeder Fund won a Raging Bull Award for the Best (South African Domiciled) Global Equity General Fund and the Allan Gray-Orbis Global Optimal Fund of Funds won awards for the Best (South African Domiciled) Global Multi-Asset Low Equity Fund on a Risk-Adjusted Basis and the Best (South African Domiciled) Global Multi-Asset High Equity Fund on a Risk-Adjusted Basis. 

The Allan Gray Stable Fund won an award for the Best South African Multi-Asset Low Equity Fund. 

Another top performer

While the Raging Bull Awards are the awards that every investment company aspires to win, there were other awards given out at the ceremony for top achievers in their category. 

The Sanlam Investment Management Enhanced Yield Fund won an award for the Best South African Interest-Bearing Short-Term Fund. The Sanlam Global Property Fund won an award for Best (FSB-Approved) Offshore Global Real Estate General Fund. 

FAnews spoke to Melville du Plessis, a Portfolio Manager at Sanlam to find out their reaction to winning the awards. 

“It is always great winning awards such as this, and Sanlam is happy that the hard work that the team put into managing these funds is being recognised. We do not tell clients that we hope to win awards; our main aim is to deliver on the promises that we make to them,” said Du Plessis. 

The awards that the company won was calculated on the performance of a fund in a market that had a lot of volatility. Du Plessis pointed out that this volatility was felt by the company; however, this is the time when there are a lot of opportunities. “We are optimistic that this year will be a positive year. The future looks good,” concluded Du Plessis.

Our congratulations to the winners, and especially to Allan Gray and Investec. It takes hard work and patience to consistently outperform one’s peers.

Editor’s Thoughts:
There is a lot of optimism that 2018 will be a good year for the investment industry. While this has a lot to do with political movements, of which there may be many in 2018, a lot of this confidence is driven by consistency. It seems as if the key to success is for advisers, insurers and fund managers to do what they know best well. Please comment below, interact with us on Twitter at @fanews_online or email me your thoughts jonathan@fanews.co.za.