News

• Assets under management through Discretionary Portfolio Management (DPM) services were up 23% versus March last year to €2.32 billion. The steepest increases were registered in the most adventurous portfolio (111%), followed by the equity (71%), defensive (67%) and conservative (28%) portfolios.
• At the end of March, Banca March had almost 6,200 DPM contracts in place, clearly evidencing the trust placed in the bank by its customers. Assets under management in Banca March's delegated funds at the end of March stood at €698 million.
• A key product in the sustainable investing segment area is the delegated fund March Green Transition Bond. Launched in 2022 with investment policies aimed at protecting the environment and investing in sectors that support the environmental transition, the fund's AUM was up 16% to over €25 million.

 

Innovative, sustainable products

In line with the dynamic product innovation which is a hallmark of Banca March's advisory line, a top performer in the sustainable investing segment was the delegated fund March Green Transition Bond, a multisector, diversified fixed income fund which invests in projects that support the green transition, aimed at decarbonisation and protecting the environment, with a view to paring down the carbon footprint of the issuers comprising its portfolio. At the end of March, the fund's AUM stood at €25 million, up 16% versus a year ago.

Investment in megatrends

Banca March's discretionary portfolio management (DPM) services, which offer unparalleled added value, were launched in 2018 to provide customers with a selection of open architecture products which are actively managed to generate returns against any market backdrop. The growth figures reported evidence the strong investor take-up levels driven by the outstanding results obtained.

Since its launch in 2019, the Next Generation strategy has put in a highly dynamic performance. This discretionary management proposal is based on the global megatrends identified by the bank's team as key drivers of social and economic change: industry 4.0, sustainability and the environment, and demographics and lifestyle. Despite market turbulence in recent years, the Next Generation strategy has chalked up returns of over 43% over the last three years. Aimed at customers with an adventurous profile, it is 100% invested in equity funds with a diversified portfolio underpinned by the principles that comprise the bank's philosophy: prudence, long-term goals and shared growth with customers, employees and shareholders.

Another route to this value proposition is through the fund of funds March Next Generation F.I., a megatrend strategy with a minimum investment of just one share.

Alternative investments

The alternative investment solutions introduced by Banca March in 2019 through partnerships with major global asset management specialists continue to be a crucial component of the bank's investment proposals for its customers. The latest addition to these alternative solutions was the fund of funds March Alternative Strategies - launched by March Asset Management - which affords conservative investors access to a diversified portfolio of vehicles specialising in Long Short Equity, Global Macro, Credit/Relative Value and Event Driven strategies.

Dynamic Alternative Strategies is another of the bank's alternative investment strategies. Designed in partnership with Dynamic Beta Investments (DBI), it tracks the performance of a basket of hedge funds, comprising the 50 largest funds in the Event Driven, Equity Hedge and Relative Value strategies and 20 CTAs (Systematic global macro strategies).

At the end of March, the alternative investment strategies managed by Banca March accounted for a total of €349 million in assets under management.

The Banca March Product Area said: “Since the beginning of last year, we have seen a radical shift in the rules of play, moving into a scenario of inflationary pressure and the end of expansionary monetary policy. Now more than ever it is important to entrust the management of assets to specialists who are able to anticipate and harness opportunities to generate returns in complex, constantly changing scenarios. As well as the robust position of being Spain's most solvent bank, Banca March also offers dynamic product innovation across all customer profiles, from the most conservative saver to the most sophisticated investor, as well as responsible advisory services delivered by the best-trained professionals in the sector, the impeccable reputation and outstanding quality service which is our hallmark, and a leadership position in advisory technology, developing tools for customers and relationship managers to guarantee a state-of-the-art omnichannel advisory experience.”