Stewart Investors Asia Pacific Fund (UK OEIC) Quarterly Investment Report. 1 October 31 December 2017

Transcription

1 Stewart Investors Asia Pacific Fund (UK OEIC) Quarterly Investment Report 1 October Q 4

2 Contents Portfolio Overview 1 Performance 2 Commentary 3 Portfolio Allocation and Stock Holdings 4 Risk Analysis 5 Disclaimer 6 Risk Factors This document is a financial promotion for the Stewart Investors Asia Pacific Fund for retail and professional clients in the UK and professional investors elsewhere where lawful. Investing involves certain risks including: The value of investments and any income from them may go down as well as up and are not guaranteed. Investors may get back significantly less than the original amount invested. Currency risk: The Fund invests in assets which are denominated in other currencies; changes in exchange rates will affect the value of the Fund. Emerging market risk: Emerging markets may not provide the same level of investor protection as a developed market; they may involve a higher risk than investing in developed markets. Recommendation: This fund may not be appropriate for investors who plan to withdraw their money within five years. Reference to specific securities (if any) is included for the purpose of illustration only and should not be construed as a recommendation to buy or sell. Reference to the names of any company is merely to explain the investment strategy and should not be construed as investment advice or a recommendation to invest in any of those companies. For a full description of the terms of investment and the risks please see the Prospectus and Key Investor Information Document. If you are in any doubt as to the suitability of our funds for your investment needs, please seek investment advice.

3 Stewart Investors Asia Pacific Fund Portfolio Overview Investment Philosophy Our investment approach founded in 1988 is based on: - Stewardship - An absolute return mindset - Bottom-up analysis - Long-term thinking - Searching for quality companies - Finding sustainable and predictable growth - Strong valuation disciplines Investment objective and policy The Fund aims to grow your investment. The Fund invests in shares of companies based in or having significant operations in the Asia Pacific region including Australia and New Zealand excluding Japan. Derivatives may be used for efficient portfolio management. Fund Information Fund Launch Date 30 June 1988 Fund Size ( m) UK s Investment Association Sector Benchmark Asia Pacific Excluding Japan MSCI AC Asia Pacific ex Japan Index Number Of Holdings 47 Fund Manager(s) Research Rating^ Ashish Swarup/Tom Allen Morningstar :Bronze Fund Yield 0.1% ^ This does not constitute an investment recommendation and is not indicative of future results. Methodology available on rating provider s website. Available Share Classes ISIN Sedol Share Class GB Stewart Investors Asia Pacific Fund GBP Class A (Accumulation) GB00B50G1435 B50G143 Stewart Investors Asia Pacific Fund GBP Class A (Income) GB Stewart Investors Asia Pacific Fund GBP Class B (Accumulation) GB00B57XX416 B57XX41 Stewart Investors Asia Pacific Fund GBP Class B (Income) In order to limit the size of the fund and protect existing investors we are imposing an initial charge as UK regulation does not practically allow us to close the fund to new investments. An initial charge of 4% is being applied to all investments with effect from 1 February 2004, apart from any regular savings plans set up prior to 1 February The proceeds of the initial charge will be paid back into the fund until further notice. For further information Head of European & UK Wholesale Graham Fox +44 (0) graham.fox@firststate.co.uk Head of Middle East & Africa Ali Karmali ali.karmali@firststate.ae Sales Director - Europe & Third Party Distributions Marc Bishop +44 (0) marc.bishop@firststate.co.uk Sales Director - Europe Eva von Sydow +44 (0) eva.vonsydow@firststate.co.uk David Gaschik +44 (0) david.gaschik@firststate.co.uk Sales Director - South West & Midlands Carl Tomlin +44 (0) carl.tomlin@firststate.co.uk Sales Director - South England & Channel Islands Tom Burton +44 (0) tom.burton@firststate.co.uk Business Development Manager - Scotland, North of England & Ireland Ross Stewart +44 (0) ross.stewart@firststate.co.uk Senior Relationship Manager Matt Savage +44 (0) matt.savage@stewartinvestors.com Jimmy Burns +44 (0) jimmy.burns@stewartinvestors.com Relationship Manager Harry Gladstone +44 (0) harry.gladstone@stewartinvestors.com Christopher Ward +44 (0) christopher.ward@stewartinvestors.com Absolute return: a return provided by a share or portfolio which is not measured relative to another share or benchmark index. Bottom-up: analysis of a company focused principally on its management, franchise and financials rather than the broader industry in which it operates, or macroeconomic factors, such as economic growth. 1 STEWART INVESTORS ASIA PACIFIC FUND (UK OEIC) - QUARTERLY INVESTMENT REPORT 31 DECEMBER 2017

4 Performance Annual Performance (% in GBP) to 31/12/17 31/12/16 31/12/15 31/12/14 31/12/13 Stewart Investors Asia Pacific Fund MSCI AC Asia Pacific ex Japan Index Cumulative Performance (% in GBP) to Since Inception 10 yrs 5 yrs 3 yrs 1 yr YTD 6 mths 3 mths Stewart Investors Asia Pacific Fund MSCI AC Asia Pacific ex Japan Index Calendar Year Performance (% in GBP) to % % 24.6% 27.3% 15.8% -0.2% -4.1% 21.3% 9.2% 2.3% 1.5% 20.0% 16.9% -8.6% -15.0% 29.2% 21.8% 39.5% 54.2% -19.4% -33.4% Fund return Benchmark return These figures refer to the past. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. For investors based in countries with currencies other than GBP, the return may increase or decrease as a result of currency fluctuations. Since inception performance figures have been calculated from 30 June All performance data for the Stewart Investors Asia Pacific Fund Class A (Accumulation) GBP as at 31 December Source for fund - Lipper IM / Stewart Investors. Performance data is calculated on a net basis by deducting fees incurred at fund level (e.g. the management and administration fee) and other costs charged to the fund (e.g. transaction and custody costs), save that it does not take account of initial charges or switching fees (if any). Income reinvested is included on a net of tax basis. Source for benchmark - MSCI, income reinvested net of tax. 2 STEWART INVESTORS ASIA PACIFIC FUND (UK OEIC) - QUARTERLY INVESTMENT REPORT 31 DECEMBER 2017

5 Commentary Market Review Asia Pacific ex-japan markets continued to rise over the quarter in sterling terms. Major Activity During the quarter we bought Infosys (India: Information Technology), a software services company based in Bangalore, India, which has an impressive culture and business franchise that is among the highest quality Indian tech companies. We sold Hong Kong & China Gas (Hong Kong: Utilities) because of risks associated with its Chinese businesses and because the valuation was expensive. We sold LG Household & Health Care (South Korea: Consumer Staples) as we prefer other investment opportunities elsewhere in South Korea. We also sold both Bukit Sembawang Estates (Singapore: Real Estate) and Cathay Pacific Airways (Hong Kong: Industrials) on valuation concerns. Comment Infosys is the second largest Indian IT services company. It was founded in 1981 and grew rapidly as a key beneficiary of the outsourcing trend. The company's recent history has been a lesson on how not to handle succession. This has resulted in the return of the founder steward to chair the board of directors. We believe this is a positive and a necessary step to restoring the confidence in the company's clients and employees. The nature of the business is to drive efficiencies throughout the economy by the application of software across many industries. Infosys is a debt-free, cash-generative franchise, earning 'hard currency' (almost all of its customer base is in the US and Europe), which is valued quite reasonably. Outlook Companies continue to look expensive and we find it difficult to find quality companies trading at reasonable valuations. As the future is inherently unpredictable, most of our time is spent analysing history. We focus on the history of key people at investee companies, assessing their approach to business risk, capital allocation and indebtedness. We believe that the best way to avoid significant risk is to back management who are conservative, honest and have built resilient businesses. However, we continue to believe that the Asian region offers an attractive prospect for the long-term investor. We would argue it is home to many high quality companies and a significant number of world class stewards. 3 STEWART INVESTORS ASIA PACIFIC FUND (UK OEIC) - QUARTERLY INVESTMENT REPORT 31 DECEMBER 2017

6 Portfolio Allocation and Stock Holdings Ten Largest Holdings as at Stock Name Country Sector Portfolio Weight (%) Index Weight (%) Tata Global Beverages India Consumer Staples Tata Consultancy Serv. Ltd India Information Technology Newcrest Mining Limited Australia Materials Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Singapore Financials Uni-President Enterprises Corp. Taiwan Consumer Staples Brambles Limited Australia Industrials Cyient Ltd India Information Technology MediaTek Inc Taiwan Information Technology AmorePacific Group, Inc. South Korea Consumer Staples Delfi Limited Singapore Consumer Staples Sector Breakdown Country Breakdown Consumer Staples 27.1% (5.1%*) Information Technology 17.4% (26.1%*) Industrials 10.9% (6.5%*) Health Care 8.6% (3.5%*) Materials 8.6% (7.0%*) Consumer Discretionary 7.2% (8.1%*) Financials 7.2% (26.4%*) Utilities 2.9% (2.7%*) Telecommunication Services 2.6% (3.7%*) Real Estate 0.1% (6.3%*) Other 0.0% (4.4%*) Cash and Cash Equivalents 7.5% (0.0%*) *Benchmark Weight Sector and Country classifications provided by Factset and Stewart Investors. India 30.1% (8.2%*) Taiwan 14.3% (10.6%*) Singapore 11.9% (3.5%*) Hong Kong 11.7% (9.3%*) Australia 7.5% (18.0%*) South Korea 6.4% (14.4%*) Sri Lanka 2.7% (0.0%*) Philippines 2.2% (1.1%*) Malaysia 2.0% (2.2%*) Other 3.7% (32.6%*) Cash and Cash Equivalents 7.5% (0.0%*) *Benchmark Weight Cash Equivalents may include T-Bills. Market Capitalisation Breakdown (GBP) % to 500m 500m to 1bn 1bn to 2.5bn 2.5bn to 5bn 5bn to 10bn 10bn to 50bn 50bn to 100bn 100bn+ Portfolio Weight Benchmark Weight Data source: For illustration purposes only. Portfolio weights may not add up to 100% as cash holdings are excluded and full coverage of stocks is not always available. This information is calculated by Stewart Investors. 4 STEWART INVESTORS ASIA PACIFIC FUND (UK OEIC) - QUARTERLY INVESTMENT REPORT 31 DECEMBER 2017

7 Risk Analysis Portfolio Risk Analysis - Ex-Post 3 Years Annualised to Risk Measure Value Risk Description Information Ratio The fund's excess return divided by its tracking error. It is designed to assess a portfolio's performance relative to its level of benchmark risk. The higher the fund's information ratio, the more excess return it generates for each unit of tracking error. Portfolio Standard Deviation 12.87% A measure of how much the returns of the fund vary relative to the arithmetical average. The higher the fund's standard deviation, the more its returns tend to deviate from the mean. Benchmark Standard Deviation 14.44% A measure of how much the returns of the index vary relative to the arithmetical average. The higher the index's standard deviation, the more its returns tend to deviate from the mean. Tracking Error 5.92% The standard deviation of the difference between the fund's returns and those of the index. The higher the fund's tracking error, the more its performance relative to the benchmark may vary. Portfolio Risk Analysis - Ex-Ante at Risk Measure Value Risk Description Dividend Yield (Fund) 2.03% The annual dividend yield paid per share divided by the share price. This factor measure the value of company shares according to the stream of dividend income resulting from share ownership. Dividend Yield (Index) 2.45% The annual dividend yield paid per share divided by the share price. This factor measure the value of company shares according to the stream of dividend income resulting from share ownership. Price to Book (Fund) 2.20 The ratio of the company's book value (the sum of shareholders' equity plus accumulated retained earnings from the P & L account) to its share price. This factor has been one of the most successful measures of the intrinsic value of company shares. Price to Book (Index) 1.94 The ratio of the company's book value (the sum of shareholders' equity plus accumulated retained earnings from the P & L account) to its share price. This factor has been one of the most successful measures of the intrinsic value of company shares. Price to Earnings (Fund) Annual earnings (adjusted for amortizations of intangibles, extraordinary charges and credits) per share divided by the share price. This factor measures the worth of a company's ability to support each share with after tax earnings. Price to Earnings (Index) Annual earnings (adjusted for amortizations of intangibles, extraordinary charges and credits) per share divided by the share price. This factor measures the worth of a company's ability to support each share with after tax earnings. Data source: Ex-Post information is calculated by Stewart Investors, Ex-Ante information is provided by Style Research. 5 STEWART INVESTORS ASIA PACIFIC FUND (UK OEIC) - QUARTERLY INVESTMENT REPORT 31 DECEMBER 2017

8 Disclaimer This document has been prepared for informational purposes only and is only intended to provide a summary of the subject matter covered and does not purport to be comprehensive. The views expressed are the views of the writer at the time of issue and may change over time. It does not constitute investment advice and/or a recommendation and should not be used as the basis of any investment decision. This document is not an offer document and does not constitute an offer or invitation or investment recommendation to distribute or purchase securities, shares, units or other interests or to enter into an investment agreement. No person should rely on the content and/or act on the basis of any material contained in this document. This document is confidential and must not be copied, reproduced, circulated or transmitted, in whole or in part, and in any form or by any means without our prior written consent. The information contained within this document has been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable and accurate at the time of issue but no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made as to the fairness, accuracy, or completeness of the information. We do not accept any liability whatsoever for any loss arising directly or indirectly from any use of this information. References to "we" or "us" are references to Stewart Investors. Stewart Investors is a trading name of First State Investments (UK) Limited and First State Investments International Limited. In the UK, this document is issued by First State Investments (UK) Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (registration number ). Registered office Finsbury Circus House, 15 Finsbury Circus, London, EC2M 7EB, number Outside the UK within the EEA, this document is issued by First State Investments International Limited which is authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority (registered number ). Registered office: 23 St. Andrew Square, Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH2 1BB, number SCO The fund is a sub fund of First State Investments ICVC ("Company") which is an investment company with variable capital incorporated in England and Wales. The Company is structured as an umbrella company. Each fund may issue different classes of share and within each class there may be different types of share. Detailed information about the Company and its sub funds is contained in the Prospectus and Key Investor Information Documents which are available free of charge by writing to: Client Services, Stewart Investors, 23 St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, EH2 1BB; or by telephoning between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday; or by visiting Telephone calls with Stewart Investors may be recorded. Representative and Paying Agent in Switzerland: The representative and paying agent in Switzerland is BNP Paribas Securities Services, Paris, succursale de Zurich, Selnaustrasse 16, 8002 Zurich, Switzerland. First State Investments (UK) Limited and First State Investments International Limited are part of Colonial First State Asset Management ("CFSGAM") which is the consolidated asset management division of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia ABN CFSGAM includes a number of entities in different jurisdictions, operating in Australia as CFSGAM and as First State Investments elsewhere. The Commonwealth Bank of Australia ("Bank") and its subsidiaries do not guarantee the performance of the fund or the repayment of capital by the fund. Investments in the fund are not deposits or other liabilities of the Bank or its subsidiaries, and investment-type products are subject to investment risk including loss of income and capital invested. 6 STEWART INVESTORS ASIA PACIFIC FUND (UK OEIC) - QUARTERLY INVESTMENT REPORT 31 DECEMBER 2017