Stanbic IBTC Asset Mgt Maintains Spot as Nigeria’s Largest Mutual Fund Firm

By Quantitative Financial Analytics

The assets of Stanbic IBTC Asset Management have recorded a significant increase by 24 percent in the first quarter of 2017 to cement its position as Nigeria’s largest mutual fund company by asset, Quantitative Financial Analytics reports.

Assets under management stood at N107.4 billion as at March 31, 2017, up from N86.8 billion the previous year end.

Also, its nearest rival, FBN Asset Management, grew its assets by about 21 percent to N39.4 billion, according to analysis of latest available information by Quantitative Financial Analytics Ltd.

Stanbic IBTC Asset Management now overseas 41.53 percent of total mutual funds’ Asset Under Management (AUM) as at March 31, 2017.

Stanbic IBTC Asset Management has at least one fund in each category of mutual funds in Nigeria which enables the fund management company to offer market synergies and diversification for its clients

The fund management company has seen substantial investor interest in an array of its mutual funds over the years.

In particular, Stanbic IBTC Money Market fund has seen significant growth in net flows year after year since inception. Investment performance has also been solid especially with Stanbic IBTC Absolute fund.

The Stanbic IBTC Money Market fund currently offers the highest yield among money market funds and is also the largest mutual fund by assets in Nigeria. It currently has an AUM of N83.1 billion which represents 32.14 percent of total mutual fund assets in Nigeria.

Stanbic IBTC’s fund family is next to none in terms of reporting and transparency. While the prices of its mutual funds are readily available on its web site daily, the fact sheets of the funds are also easily accessible and comprehensible. The company is about the only one that indicates the risk profile of its funds on its fact sheet on a risk continuum ranging from 1 to 5, (5 being the highest risk). This information helps investors in selecting funds that match or are in tune with their risk appetites and tolerance levels.

The company has won a whole lot of accolades because of its skilful fund management.

In 2015, the company won three Global Banking and Finance Review Awards- “Best Asset Management Company in Nigeria award”, Best Mutual Fund Provider in Nigeria, 2015 and Best Non-Pension Fund Manager in Nigeria.

Only recently, the company launched two new mutual funds- Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund and Stanbic BTC Pension ETF 40, bringing the number of mutual funds being managed by the company to 13, including the Umbrella Funds.

“As the market leader in Nigeria, we are aware of our responsibility to continuously provide unparalleled solution and services to Nigerians in a very cost effective and timely manner” said Mrs Bunmi Dayo-Olagunju Chief Executive of Stanbic IBTC Asset Management.

Too Big to Fail Concern

The only concern about the fund manager is the fear of “too big to fail”, meaning that should Stanbic IBTC Asset Management sneeze, the Nigerian mutual fund industry might catch cold or even fever given the size of its stake in the industry.

That fear has been allayed by many experts who have opined that the too big to fail hysteria does not directly apply to asset management companies since they do not engage in lending or trading in exotic and high risk derivatives which were the triggers of the 2008 financial crisis.