The region itself, whether via sovereign wealth funds, family offices or bank intermediary networks, is a major source of capital for African and Indian products, and we have recently increased our distribution presence on the ground to build on this opportunity.
Explain the challenge of getting funds on platforms, and which ones Ashburton has a presence on?
Platforms are an important enabler for us in terms of selling our funds.
While we are currently refining our strategy for platforms in the UK, Europe and the Middle East, the environment is not without its challenges for a smaller firm like us.
For new funds, in particular, there is a need to manage the tension between being able to evidence sufficient demand and the need to get on to the platform to create that demand.
More advisers are purchasing our funds via offshore platforms, such as those provided by Moventum in Luxembourg or Praemium in Jersey.
Our funds are also available selectively on open-architecture platforms such as Old Mutual and other insurers, and we have recently agreed terms with Hargreaves Lansdown.
We have good coverage via the international platforms of South African providers and are pursuing efforts to make our product as accessible as possible on the relevant platforms.
Which products are selling well at the moment?
Multi-asset investing has enjoyed a renaissance since the credit crisis, and we anticipate this trend will continue.
In our core South African market, which is also moving down an RDR road, regulatory and governance pressures are seeing a similar shift to advisers recommending outcome-based solutions as opposed to pure product push, playing to our strengths as a multi-asset specialist.
India, in particular, has captured the investment community’s imagination since the change in political leadership there a year ago, and we are experiencing a great deal of interest in this area.
