Plato Global Shares Income Fund delivered a 19.89% net return for the year, beating its global benchmark by 4.94 percentage points, while net assets climbed to A$340.0 million. The fund also launched its ASX-listed PGI2 access product as distributions and investor applications expanded sharply.
- 19.89% net return versus 14.95% benchmark performance
- A$37.242 million profit attributable to unitholders
- Net assets increased from A$95.556 million to A$340.017 million
- 6.44% distributed during the year after fees
- PGI2 listed on the ASX in May 2026
Plato fund beats benchmark by 4.94 percentage points
Plato Global Shares Income Fund delivered a 19.89% return after management fees for the year ended 30 June 2026, well ahead of the 14.95% gain in the MSCI World ex Australia Net Returns Unhedged Index. The result gave unitholders a 4.94 percentage-point advantage over the benchmark, while the fund distributed 6.44% of income after fees.
The performance translated into A$37.242 million of profit attributable to unitholders, up from A$15.124 million a year earlier. Dividend and distribution income rose to A$15.199 million from A$4.243 million, while net gains on financial instruments increased to A$24.136 million from A$11.585 million. Those gains were generated against a global equity market that was already rising strongly, rather than in a falling-market environment.
Net assets expand as applications outpace redemptions
Net assets attributable to unitholders more than tripled to A$340.017 million from A$95.556 million. The fund received A$247.207 million in applications during the year and paid A$32.613 million in redemptions, although the reported asset increase also reflected investment performance and distributions.
The growth was uneven across the unit classes. F Class net assets increased to A$86.734 million from A$26.252 million, while A Class net assets rose to A$252.587 million from A$65.919 million despite A Class redemptions of 96.5 million units. P Class assets fell to A$696,000 from A$3.385 million. The fund’s management fee rates are 0.85% for A Class, 0.49% for F Class and 0.20% for P Class.
PGI2 adds listed access to the global income strategy
On 19 May 2026, the fund launched PGI2 on the ASX as a dual-access product alongside the existing A Class units. The annual report identifies the A Class units as listed under ASX:PGI2, giving investors a listed route to a portfolio focused on global listed companies, listed futures and cash.
The report does not provide a full trading history for PGI2 because the product launched only weeks before year-end. That leaves liquidity, market participation and the relationship between the listed price and the fund’s underlying net asset value as practical questions for the new access point.
Foreign exchange remains a meaningful source of volatility
The portfolio held A$334.306 million in financial assets at fair value at 30 June, almost entirely listed equity securities. Information technology was the largest industry exposure at approximately 16% of the investment portfolio. The fund’s largest currency exposure was the US dollar at A$231.378 million, followed by the euro at A$50.268 million.
The fund’s sensitivity analysis indicates that a 10% adverse movement in the currencies in which it has exposure would reduce net assets by approximately A$29.601 million, assuming other variables remain unchanged. A 10% movement in equity and derivatives prices would affect net assets by A$33.431 million in either direction. The report also records A$3.368 million in futures notional exposure, while stating that derivatives are not used to gear the portfolio.
Bottom Line?
The headline return is strong, but the next test is whether PGI2 can convert the fund’s larger asset base into durable listed-market liquidity while global equity and currency exposures remain substantial.
Questions in the middle?
- Can PGI2 establish consistent trading liquidity and closely track the fund’s underlying net asset value?
- How much of the 6.44% distribution reflects recurring portfolio income rather than gains realised during a strong market year?
- Will the fund’s significant US dollar exposure amplify or dilute returns as currency markets move against the Australian dollar?