Key Takeaways
- • iM Global Partner manages approximately USD $45 billion in assets under management as of end-June 2024, operating as a global asset management network connecting investors with boutique managers across equities and fixed income.
- • DBMF (iMGP DBi Managed Futures Strategy ETF) trades on the New York Stock Exchange with a current price of $31.41 as of the report date, featuring an expense ratio of 0.85% and listed as an actively managed alternative systematic trend ETF.
- • The fund replicates pre-fee performance of leading CTA hedge funds through highly liquid futures contracts, with the stated objective to outperform through fee/expense disintermediation relative to traditional managed futures hedge fund structures.
- • iM Global Partner expanded its managed futures offering into the European UCITS ETF market, broadening distribution channels beyond its existing U.S.-listed product to provide European clients access to the managed futures strategy.
- • DBMF allocates up to 20% of assets pursuant to its managed futures strategy, with the ETF structure providing retail and institutional investors access to alternative investment exposure traditionally available only through higher-fee hedge fund vehicles.
Summary
The DBMF fund's core investment thesis centers on replicating the pre-fee returns of leading commodity trading advisors (CTAs) and managed futures hedge funds through exposure to highly liquid futures contracts. This structure enables the fund to capture managed futures performance while reducing the fee drag typically associated with traditional hedge fund vehicles. The fund deploys up to 20% of its assets pursuant to its managed futures strategy, providing systematic trend-following exposure across multiple asset classes and geographic markets.
iM Global Partner has strategically expanded its distribution capabilities by launching a UCITS-compliant version of the managed futures fund in European markets. This move reflects institutional investor demand for alternative strategy access within regulated European fund structures, while the NYSE-listed DBMF continues to serve U.S. and international investors. The product positioning targets both institutional and retail investors seeking alternatives to direct hedge fund investment, leveraging the ETF wrapper to provide daily liquidity and transparent pricing relative to traditional fund structures.
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