FirstChoice adds new gearing options

ColonialFirstState (CFS) has enhanced the investment menu of its platform FirstChoice by adding three new geared options.

The internally geared funds are part of CFS’ addition of 12 new funds to the platform following investor and adviser demand.

Of the three funds, the CFS Colliers Geared Global Property Securities Fund has been described as unique in the market for providing gearing and global property together in one offering.

The second fund, the FirstChoice Geared Boutique Australian Share Fund, is a multi-manager portfolio providing investors with access to five boutique or emerging managers.

The third fund, the Acadian Geared Global Equity Fund provides investors with access to a leading quantitative value manager with a fixed level of gearing targeted at 55 per cent.

CFS general manger of product and investment services Alan Kenny said the three new geared options would be of particular interest to superannuation and self-managed superannuation fund investors.

“Trustees of superannuation funds can’t borrow in their own name, but their investors can invest in managed funds with internal gearing,” he explained.

Kenny added that the three new funds provided new gearing choices across the main growth asset classes.

“Investors are able to get access across Australian equities, global equities and global property securities.”