Research capacity Fund managers participate in research activity and work closely with the share analysts. Analysis of shares is approached from two different perspectives. First, the company is evaluated in terms of strategy and operations, focusing on issues such as the company's approach to the industry it operates in. The company's competitive position in the industry is also evaluated. Forecasts of the company's financial prospects are entered into a comprehensive valuation database, where the attractiveness of the share relative to its peer group is ascertained.
Performance See the accompanying table.
Most of the funds are top performers, while as an institution Investec has been ranked second over three years, third over five years and fifth over one year, in the Ginsburg Malan and Carsons survey at the end of March. In the most recent Alexander Forbes survey of SA's largest pension fund managers, Investec Asset Management was rated first over all time periods. The product range See the accompanying table. In addition to a variety of local unit trust funds, Investec tailors global products which invest in first world countries and strong currencies. The company's products are primarily sold through financial intermediaries.