The investment objective of the Fund is to achieve long-term capital appreciation through investment, both direct and indirect, in a diversified portfolio of Asia ex-Japan equity securities. The Fund aims to achieve its investment objective primarily through investment in equity securities of companies domiciled or exercising the predominant part of their economic activities in Asia ex-Japan. The investment process is focused on identifying and owning quality, long-term, sustainable growth companies; meaning businesses which can sustainably grow over economic and liquidity cycles. The Fund will generally invest in stocks of companies from the consumer, telecoms, infrastructure, internet or brand ownership sectors, which have market capitalisation of greater than US$500 million.

Among the concerns occupying markets in August were the hawkish Jackson Hole central bank conference, energy prices in Europe and tension around the Taiwan Straits. In Asia, the Indian economy remains an outlier where robust tax collections suggest a strong economic rebound from their COVID slump. The rest of the region remains in varying levels of slowdown. China’s persistence with its zero-COVID policy is baffling to us from a socio-economic lens. Yet looked at from the lens power politics and the mid-October National Congress meeting it seems logical. 

The fund slightly outperformed at 4.87% against a benchmark 4.57% in August, despite significant intra-month volatility. Activity remained muted, though we made small additions to South East Asia holdings.

Until mid-2021, stocks that fit the ESG theme were propelled higher irrespective of their valuations or whether they genuinely possessed ESG characteristics. Conversely, energy and other ‘anti-ESG’ stocks fell as investors shunned them. Valuations for anti-ESG stocks became cheap; disdain and pessimism prevailed. Triggers for upside were unknown and timing uncertain. 

Does this in any way chime with the situation for China? In our view, China is the new anti-ESG portfolio. We have some hunches for where things could go: the leadership may pivot to the economy after the National Congress is out of the way, adding to stimulus and further easing; bad news no longer impacting Chinese stocks that badly. But outcomes are uncertain. The current risk-reward scenario seems fair and hence my optimism. The macro risks are evident; if we believe the Fed officials, rates might stay higher for longer. That drives the US dollar higher, leading to capital outflows. Yet our view is that asset allocators should start layering into Asian equities. This extended period of pessimism could change and if that happens, marginal capital flows could mean significant upside for Asian equities.

JOHCM/MSCI/Bloomberg/Lipper. Please note the percentage growth of the Fund versus benchmark is shown as NAV performance only, dividends are not reinvested.

Data shown net of fees, net income reinvested. Benchmark: MSCI AC Asia ex Japan NR 12pm adjusted. Performance of other share classes may vary and is available on request. 

Past performance is no guarantee of future performance. The value of an investment and the income from it can fall as well as rise as a result of market and currency fluctuations and you may not get back the amount originally invested. Investing in companies in emerging markets involves higher risk than investing in established economies or securities markets. Emerging Markets may have less stable legal and political systems, which could affect the safe-keeping or value of assets. The Funds investment include shares in small-cap companies and these tend to be traded less frequently and in lower volumes than larger companies making them potentially less liquid and more volatile. 

Amongst other characteristics, the Fund promotes environmental and social characteristics and invests in companies that apply good corporate governance. JOHCM Funds (Ireland) Limited, the Fund’s manager, has therefore categorised the Fund as meeting the provisions set out in Article 8 of EU Regulation 2019/2088 on sustainability-related disclosures in the financial services sector (“SFDR”).  

Consequently, in looking for investments, JO Hambro Capital Management Limited (“Investment Manager”) seeks to avoid investing in companies which contribute to significant social and/or environmental harms, and thereby fail environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) key performance indicators. Consideration is given to environmental impacts, for example, whether a company is responsibly managing its carbon emissions and waste.  Companies are also reviewed for negative social impacts, such as mistreatment of employees or practices which undermine social integration. The Investment Manager uses these ESG performance indicators to assess and monitor its investments, as well as within the investment decision-making process. 

In addition to considering ESG key performance indicators, the Fund applies exclusions to support the avoidance of harms. In order to support the reduction of adverse environmental impacts of the Fund’s portfolio, and in particular its contribution to climate change, the Investment Manager excludes investments in thermal coal mining and unconventional oil and gas, as well as companies which derive 20% or more of their revenue from coal-based power generation or from oil and gas extraction and production. The selection criteria may not be disapplied or overridden by the Investment Manager. 

The exclusion criteria referred to above will be applied prior to making any investment and the Fund’s portfolio will be monitored for any investments which breach these exclusion criteria on a periodic basis. In order to apply this revenue-based exclusion, the Investment Manager will rely on data (and the ESG definitions aligned with that data) from ISS, or such other sources as the Investment Manager determines.  

Additionally, the Investment Manager recognises that ESG factors can create risks and opportunities for companies and as such incorporates ESG risks into their analytical framework and portfolio construction.  

In order to measure and monitor the environmental characteristics of the Fund, the Investment Manager will review the carbon footprint of the portfolio and environmental data published by its investee companies.  For the social characteristics of the Fund, the Investment Manager will review whether investee companies have implemented appropriate policies and structures to support sustainable business practices. 

Although the Fund may invest in companies which engage in economic activities that contribute to an environmental objective within the meaning of the EU’s Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR), the Investment Manager is currently not in a position to assess the proportion, as a percentage of the Fund’s portfolio, of investments in environmentally sustainable activities which are aligned to the EU’s Taxonomy Regulation (TR) (Regulation (EU) 2020/852) and amending Regulation (EU) 2019/2088.

This is due to a lack of reliable, timely and verifiable data for the Investment Manager to make a full and accurate assessment of the investments of the Fund against the TR’s Technical Screening Criteria in respect of climate change mitigation and climate change adaptation. It is also important to note that given the geographical focus of the Fund’s strategy, companies within the investment universe might not be under any obligation to provide the data required under EU legislation.

As a result, the Investment Manager is unable to determine whether the underlying investments in  the Fund contribute to climate change mitigation and/or climate change adaptation,or whether the Fund has investments in economic activities that qualify as environmentally sustainable pursuant to the TR. As such, it has been determined that, 0% of the Fund’s investments are in economic activities that qualify as environmentally sustainable under the TR.

The Investment Manager is keeping this situation under review and will revisit the TR disclosure requirements once sufficient data is available.
 

Investee companies must follow good governance practices. This requires investee companies to adhere to minimum standards in various areas including sound management structures, employee relations, remuneration of staff and tax compliance. The Investment Manager is a signatory to the UK Stewardship Code 2012. JOHCM has met the expected standard of reporting under the UK Stewardship Code in 2021 and has been approved as a signatory. As a signatory to the Code and the UNPRI, the good governance practices of investee companies are assessed by the Investment Manager prior to making an investment and periodically thereafter. 

The Fund uses the MSCI AC (All Country) Asia ex-Japan Index for performance fee calculation purposes only and it is not, nor is it intended to be, aligned and/or consistent with the environmental and social characteristics promoted by the Fund.