1. Ryan Hughes, fund manager, Apollo Multi Asset Management:
Hermes Asia ex Japan Equity fund
Fund manager: Jonathan Pines
Fund size: £1bn
“The key thing about this fund is its flexibility to aggressively move across the region looking for the best opportunities. As the performance of individual countries across the region polarises, it’s important to be able to adjust the portfolio to reflect this and the contrarian approach is very well suited to this.
“With some of the successful funds of old now so big, the nimble nature of the fund enables manager Jonathan Pines to really be able to take advantage of all opportunities regardless of location or size.”
2. Ian Aylward, head of multi-manager research, Aviva Investors:
First State Asia Pacific Leaders fund
Fund manager: Angus Tulloch
Fund size: £7.3bn
“This has been a long term favourite of ours and currently comprises the bulk of our Asia excluding Japan exposure. It is a truly outstanding fund, outperforming over many years under a team led by the excellent Angus Tulloch.
“We like the team stability, consistent philosophical focus on quality names and the steady nature of the alpha generation.”
3. Caspar Rock, chief investment officer, Architas Multi Manager:
Hermes Asia ex Japan Equity fund
Fund manager: Jonathan Pines
Fund size: £1bn
“We like relative value and they are quite a wonkish bunch of accountants running it. It’s very, very balance-sheet oriented and quite value oriented. Not deep value, but value focused. I think you’ll get some decent downside protection and that’s very important.”
4. Robert Burdett, co-head, F&C Asset Management multi-manager team:
BlackRock BGF Asian Growth Leaders
Fund manager: Andrew Swan
Fund size: $109.7m
“Andrew Swan was poached from Asian investment pioneers JP Morgan, where he was a rising star and potential future regional leader, to build a world class fund management team in the region. He has chosen to do so by leading from the front, by example through this fund.
“His impressive results from the start bode well for BlackRock and we were delighted to get an early look at his process and vision and to back BlackRock’s commitment with our own conviction at an early stage as his new track record is being created.”
