The investment management company 1 Asset Management has launched a new open-ended investment fund for informed investors – IAM Global Thematic Equity Fund. It is an actively managed equity fund that invests in companies aligned with long-term trends that significantly contribute to global economic development – from artificial intelligence and robotics to clean energy and health innovations.

“This is a fund investing in themes that we believe will drive economic growth over the coming decades. While we currently focus on several priority areas, these may evolve or expand in response to changing circumstances. The key is to identify promising trends at an early stage and make well-grounded investment decisions,” says the fund’s portfolio manager Henrikas Misiūnas.

The fund aims to build an equity portfolio that, over time, delivers returns exceeding the market average by investing in publicly listed companies associated with carefully selected long-term themes and trends.

Historical data shows that well-selected themes can generate outstanding returns. The most successful thematic funds and investors who have identified strong trends early have significantly outperformed the market. To invest thematically in a meaningful way, one must distinguish long-term structural shifts from short-lived fads. Thematic funds offer the opportunity to invest globally – beyond geographic or sectoral constraints – and focus on what truly drives economic progress. For investors, this is a chance to be where the future is being shaped.

“With S&P 500 valuations currently near historical highs, many major banks forecast that the index’s average annual return over the next decade may not exceed 5%. In such an environment, passive investing becomes less appealing. Investors are increasingly seeking higher returns in less liquid asset classes, such as private equity or venture capital. However, with a proper selection process, a publicly listed equity portfolio can generate returns comparable to or even exceeding those of private capital. IAM Global Thematic Equity Fund focuses on companies operating at the core of promising growth themes,” notes the fund’s Investment Director Antanas Jason Leitzinger.

IAM Global Thematic Equity Fund abandons traditional country- or sector-based allocation. Company selection is based both on fundamental financial analysis and the company’s ability to contribute to the development of the target theme. The portfolio is reviewed and updated regularly to respond to market and thematic changes.

Equities remain one of the most reliable asset classes, historically delivering average annual returns of 9–10%. Unlike deposits or bonds, which often fail to beat inflation, high-quality equities help preserve and grow real purchasing power. Publicly listed equities offer transparency, liquidity, and no predefined return ceiling. Growth-oriented companies reinvest profits into expansion, innovation, and efficiency – creating a powerful compounding effect over time.

1 Asset Management is a Lithuanian central bank-licensed investment management company providing services to institutional and private investors, with a focus on niche asset classes and value creation strategies. The company currently invests in modern student housing, heritage and airport-adjacent hotels, veterinary clinics, forests, private debt across the CEE region, and large-cap companies listed on US stock exchanges. Thus, the thematic investment approach is nothing new for the firm – it has long been embedded in 1 Asset Management’s strategy. From private education funds to student housing and airport hotels – these are all examples of thematic investing. IAM Global Thematic Equity Fund expands this philosophy to a global scale through the public equity markets.