ATRAM launches global PERA feeder funds

ATRAM has launched two global feeder funds under the Personal Equity and Retirement Account program, broadening Filipino retirement investors’ access to international markets through strategies managed by Fidelity International and BlackRock.

ATRAM said the ATRAM PERA Global Feeder Funds are the first globally invested solutions offered through the Philippine PERA framework.

The launch expands the retirement investment choices available to Filipinos who want to diversify beyond domestic markets while maintaining a long-term savings approach.

PERA is a voluntary retirement savings program established under Republic Act No. 9505, or the Personal Equity and Retirement Account Act of 2008. It is intended to supplement retirement benefits from the Social Security System, the Government Service Insurance System, and employers.

The program provides a tax credit equivalent to 5% of qualified contributions, tax-exempt investment income, and tax-free distributions that meet retirement withdrawal requirements.

Since Jan. 1, 2023, the maximum annual contribution eligible for PERA incentives has been PHP 200,000 for locally employed and self-employed contributors and PHP 400,000 for overseas Filipinos.

Tax-free retirement distributions may generally be made after a contributor reaches age 55 and has made qualified contributions for at least five years.

ATRAM said longer life spans and changing financial needs have made personal retirement planning increasingly important.

Government pensions and employer-sponsored plans provide an essential foundation, but individuals may need additional savings and investments to prepare for life after work, the company said.

The new funds combine PERA’s retirement-focused structure with professionally managed portfolios investing across global markets.

“Retirement planning should be accessible to every Filipino,” said Deanno Basas, President of ATRAM Trust Corporation. “Through the ATRAM PERA Global Feeder Funds, we are expanding the investment options available under PERA and helping more Filipinos build long-term financial security through globally diversified solutions.”

ATRAM said the launch builds on its long-standing efforts to promote retirement preparedness and make long-term investing more accessible.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has listed ATRAM among the country’s PERA administrators, which oversee contributors’ accounts and provide information on eligible investment products.

Rather than develop entirely new investment strategies, ATRAM placed two established global solutions from its existing platform within the PERA framework.

The company said this approach gives retirement investors access to strategies that have operated through different market cycles.

The ATRAM PERA Global Dividend Accumulation Feeder Fund is designed for investors beginning their wealth-building journey and maintaining a long investment horizon.

The feeder fund invests in the Fidelity Global Dividend Fund, which focuses on income-producing companies from different countries and industries.

Fidelity said the underlying strategy emphasizes sustainable dividends, predictable cash flows, manageable debt, and the potential for long-term capital growth.

Instead of distributing dividend income to investors, the ATRAM fund automatically reinvests the proceeds to support compounding and long-term capital appreciation.

The ATRAM PERA Global Allocation Feeder Fund is designed for more experienced investors seeking a balanced retirement portfolio.

The fund invests in the BlackRock Global Allocation Fund, which combines global equities, fixed-income securities, cash, and other permissible assets in one portfolio.

BlackRock said the underlying fund normally invests at least 70% of its assets in global equities and fixed-income securities, with allocations adjusted according to market conditions.

ATRAM said the diversified strategy is intended to combine growth opportunities with the flexibility to respond to changing markets.

Both PERA feeder funds have an inception date of July 15, 2026, and are denominated in Philippine pesos, according to the Trust Officers Association of the Philippines’ UITF database.

The database classifies both products as aggressive investments and lists a minimum initial and additional participation of PHP 100.

Each fund carries an annual trust fee of 1.5%, with no minimum holding period or early-redemption fee listed.

ATRAM said it selected the strategies because of their suitability for disciplined, long-term retirement investing.

The company said the funds are intended to help investors remain invested across market cycles instead of continually monitoring markets or trying to time investment decisions.

The two products serve different stages of an investor’s retirement journey — from those beginning long-term wealth creation to those seeking a more balanced and broadly diversified portfolio.

ATRAM said the launch supports its broader goals of promoting financial inclusion, improving retirement preparedness, and helping Filipinos take greater control of their financial futures.

The ATRAM Group describes itself as the leading independent asset and wealth manager in the Philippines.

As of the end of April 2026, the group managed approximately PHP 488 billion in assets, according to figures supplied by the company.

ATRAM also estimated that it held approximately 45% of the Philippine global feeder fund market.

The company said it has received multiple asset-management awards and provides investment solutions tailored to the requirements of individual and institutional clients.

ATRAM operates through ATR Asset Management Inc. for mutual funds and ATRAM Trust Corp. for unit investment trust funds, trusts, and investment management services.

The two entities provide retail, institutional, fund-management, and investment-advisory services.

ATRAM’s headquarters is at the 8 Rockwell Building, Rockwell Center, Makati City.

Additional information about the ATRAM PERA Global Feeder Funds is available through the company’s official website.