Van Eyk and Macquarie develop joint blueprint

Macquarie Funds Managementandvan Eyk Researchhave partnered to launch a range of pre-blended multi-manager investments called the van Eyk Blueprint Series of Funds.

To be available to retail investors through master trusts and wraps as well as institutional investors directly, the Blueprint Series will offer investments in both multi-asset class and single asset class options.

The funds aim to address a perceived need in the market to relieve advisers from having to construct and blend their own portfolios.

Macquarie and van Eyk claim the funds will also provide clients with access to a broader range of investment managers than they normally have access to.

The partnership will see Macquarie, the responsible entity, be accountable for building and managing the investment products, while van Eyk Research will contribute its capabilities in fund manager research and portfolio construction.

Macquarie Funds Management division director Fiona Dunn says Macquarie believes that multi-manager investment funds should offer a total, simple investment solution.

“Many users of master trusts and wrap platforms are looking for greater efficiency when constructing their portfolios,” Dunn says.

“The pre-blending of managers simplifies the portfolio construction process for investors, and provides diversification of investment styles.”

The initial stable of funds in the Blueprint Series will include high growth, balanced, capital stable, Australian share and international share options.

The funds will be actively managed and employ tactical asset allocation, dynamic style management, currency overlays, credit tilts and interest rate views.

“This compares favourably to most other offers that rebalance to a strategic asset allocation and style neutral manager configuration,” van Eyk Research director Mark Thomas says.

The products can also be ‘white labelled’, which van Eyk says provides an appeal to dealer groups looking for a default investment option.