KEY POINTS:
What is it called and what sort of savings product is it?
The Mint Australia New Zealand Real Estate Investment Trust.
What is the company behind it?
Mint Asset Management is a niche funds management firm headed up by former ING chief investment officer Rebecca Thomas. This fund invests in listed property securities in Australia and New Zealand.
Who is the target market?
This is ideal for people looking for a mix of income and growth, generally with a lower volatility of returns than shares in the broader equity market.
What return does it offer?
This is a new, PIE-compliant fund with an investment objective of beating the gross return of the 90-day bank bill by 3 per cent.
When was it launched?
November 14, 2007.
What other products is it like or is it competing with?
This fund is competing with other unlisted managed funds that are on the market.
Is it long term, short term or medium term?
The recommended investment timeframe for a fund such as this is five years.
What is the fund's unique selling point?
One of the key selling points is that the portfolio manager, Shane Solly, has a good track record in managing these types of assets. Also, it intends investing in stocks listed on the Australian and New Zealand stock exchanges.
How strong a stomach do you need for it?
Mint describes it as a medium to high-risk trust because it is taking on equity risk.
What's the hitch?
A fund such as this is a pretty straight-forward investment. The biggest potential hitch is that share prices fall as well as rise, so there is the possibility the fund could make negative returns. However, listed property stocks have shown themselves to be steady performers over the market cycles and Mint actively manages the portfolio.
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