Ashburton ranked top in Globa Asset Allocation by PlexCrown - 25 October 2011
Also placed first in USA Equity, Europe Equity and Japan Equity categories
Ashburton achieved another successful quarter in the latest PlexCrown ratings for FSB-approved offshore collective investment schemes. 
Ashburton was named top offshore investment manager in the Global Asset Allocation category for the third quarter of 2011 by the PlexCrown Fund Ratings’ survey. They were also placed first in the USA Equity, Europe Equity and Japan Equity categories. Ashburton was runner-up in the overall offshore category, beating the likes of Investec, Standard Bank, Alexander Forbes and Allan Gray Orbis.
Three of Ashburton’s five asset management funds – the Global Euro Asset Management, Replica Euro Asset Management and Replica Dollar Asset Management Funds – received the maximum five PlexCrowns in the independent ratings by South Africa’s leading retail unit trust fund-rating agency.
Capping this excellent performance was the recognition by PlexCrown of Ashburton’s Replica Euro Asset Management Fund as the leading fund in the Global Asset Allocation category.
According to Managing Director, Peter Bourne, the achievements reaffirm the value of Ashburton’s rigorous and multi-disciplinary investment process, particularly during challenging economic times. “For the first time in this phase of this protracted crisis, that has its roots in the Lehmans firestorm of 2008, emerging markets have been dragged into the fray,” Bourne said, “South African investors have also experienced some rand weakness, which has highlighted the opportunity that is afforded by a diversified, global approach to wealth preservation.”
Tristan Hanson, Head of Asset Allocation, concurs. “It has been a particularly challenging period for investors in recent months. More so than usual, market direction has been driven by political decisions, which creates great uncertainty. In such an environment, a flexible and unconstrained approach is essential for managing risk.”
Both agree that while concerns in Europe, the US and China still need to be resolved, and volatility is likely to remain high for some time, the recent sell-off in markets creates opportunities and presents the possibility of better returns ahead.
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