Basis Capital launches to retail market

Absolute return fund managerBasis Capital Managementhas had its successful flagship fund made available to the retail market, with bothBTandMacquarienow offering the product through their platforms.

The Basis Aust-Rim Opportunity Fund was taken on by both platforms after it received the thumbs up from two research houses and produced consistently outperforming returns.

Basis chief investment officer Steven Howell says the launch to the retail market comes as a result of the favourable ratings the fund has received fromInvestorWeb ResearchandLonsec.

Howell says the fund was given the highest possible rating by both research groups, and as it now has a three-year track record of performance, the fund is starting to be looked at more seriously.

Until now, Basis’ fund was only available to the wholesale investment market, including fund-of-fund investment and to high-net-worth investors, withColonial First StateandBTusing it as part of their alternative allocation.

Howell says Basis has been looking at the retail market for a year because investors are looking for a product that has a focus on absolute returns in all market conditions.

Over the past two years Basis has been able to achieve returns, according to InvestorWeb investment analyst Ben Davis, with an average return of over 13 per cent, with only 2.6 per cent volatility.

Basis has a focus on fixed interest, convertible bonds and market neutral strategies, a focus that Howell says differentiates it from the long short equity managers in the market.

Howell says that within six months, Basis will be releasing a new low duration bond alpha fund that will also be available to both wholesale and retail investors.