Agility during volatility behind Amplify’s success

Amplify Investment Partners’ commitment to investment returns, through partnerships with independent next-generation asset managers, has been rewarded with the Amplify SCI* Wealth Protector Fund winning the multi-asset low equity category at the 2021 Raging Bull Awards for straight performance over three years.

Amplify, which has a bouquet of long-only unit trusts and hedge funds managed by hand-picked, agile and independent asset managers, has seen most of its funds outperform peers and benchmarks, despite the volatility and uncertainty in local and global markets. “This speaks to our ability to pick good managers in the boutique space, and the ability of those fund managers to apply dynamic strategies during volatility,” says Marthinus van der Nest, Head of Amplify.

The Amplify SCI* Wealth Protector Fund, managed by Truffle Asset Management, is a multi-asset solution with a cautious risk profile. Its objectives are to provide capital protection over a rolling one-year period and generate income over the medium term at low levels of volatility. The fund’s exposure to South African and foreign markets is capped at 40% for equities, 60% for bonds and 50% for cash. The limit for foreign exposure (including Africa) is 40% and 20% for property. Its benchmark is CPI +3% over a three-year rolling period. The fund returned 10.64% (annualised) over three years against a benchmark return of 6.96% and a 4.96% return by its peers. Over one year, the fund returned 10.06% against 6.34% (benchmark) and 5.18% (peers).

Winning at the Raging Bull Awards “proves the point that smaller managers, with their agility, are able to adapt to the difficult markets we have had over the past three years”, van der Nest says. “That agility has shone through, as the fund managers have been able to adjust their portfolio, given the different information streams coming through the market, and this has given them an advantage and enabled them to protect client investments in volatile times.”

Marthinus van der Nest, Head: Amplify Investment Partners

*Sanlam Collective Investments Amplify Investment Partners (Pty) Ltd is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sanlam Investment Holdings and an authorised Financial Services Provider. Sanlam Collective Investments (RF) (Pty) Ltd is a registered Manager in terms of the Collective Investment Schemes in Securities. A schedule of fees can be obtained from the Manager. Maximum fund charges include (incl. VAT): Manager initial fee (max.): 0.00; Manager annual fee (max.): 1.00%; Total Expense Ratio (TER): 1.09%. The Manager retains full legal responsibility of the third party portfolio. The registered name of the fund is Amplify Sanlam Collective Investments Wealth Protector Fund. The full basis of the award is available from the Manager.