Hereford Funds – Firth Asian Value Fund
January 2014
January 2014 Investment Review
In January 2014 the total return of the Fund after deducting all fees and expenses was -2.1%. By comparison the total return of the MSCI AC
Asia ex Japan Small Cap index was -1.7% and the total return of the MSCI AC Asia ex Japan index was -4.7%. Results for longer periods are
shown in the table below.
Key Information Hereford Funds – Firth Asian Value Fund
NAV A Shares (29/01/14):
Total Fund Size:
Strategy Assets:
Fund Launch Date:
$110.78
$69 million
$178 million (a)
31/05/11
Performance (%) (net of fees and expenses)
Jan
Feb
Mar
HFFAVF1
Small Cap2
Asia ex Japan
3
HFFAVF1
Small Cap2
Asia ex Japan
3
HFFAVF1
Small Cap2
Asia ex Japan
3
HFFAVF1
2
Small Cap
Asia ex Japan3
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
2011
-
-1.2
-2.4
-2.3
0.6
2.8
1.1
-8.5
-11.4
-9.9
-12.6
-16.3
-13.2
6.4
10.1
12.0
-5.9
-8.7
-8.3
0.8
-1.2
0.6
-19.7
-26.1
-20.2
-
-
-
-
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
2012
6.1
10.0
10.8
12.1
9.0
6.0
-1.4
-3.8
-3.1
-0.9
-1.7
0.0
-5.9
-7.8
-9.6
0.9
1.8
3.0
3.9
0.0
2.6
4.2
2.2
-0.5
3.1
6.7
7.0
2.2
-1.1
-0.3
-0.2
2.9
2.8
3.3
3.5
3.1
29.6
22.4
22.4
Jan
Feb
Mar*
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
2013
3.8
3.5
1.7
1.9
1.6
-0.1
2.0
0.5
-2.2
1.0
2.6
1.8
0.4
1.2
-1.3
-4.8
-8.7
-5.7
0.9
0.8
1.8
-1.9
-2.5
-1.5
2.9
6.2
5.4
1.0
2.7
4.4
0.7
-0.9
0.2
0.7
0.2
-1.1
8.7
6.9
3.1
Jan#
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
2014
-2.1
-1.7
-4.7
HFFAVF1
Small Cap2
Asia ex Japan3
Source: Bloomberg, Firth Investment Management
1. Hereford Funds – Firth Asian Value Fund 2. MSCI AC Asia ex Japan Small Cap USD Net Index
* Month end date used is March 28, 2013.
# Month end date used is January 29, 2014.
-2.1
-1.7
-4.7
Since Launch
10.8
-5.0
-4.1
3. MSCI AC Asia ex Japan USD Net Index (large and mid cap)
Nervousness about emerging markets dominated January’s news. Asia is sensitive to monetary conditions and capital flows and some countries
are worse off than others largely due to their weaker balance sheets. An article by George Magnus in Prospect magazine suggests that as well as
excessive credit and foreign capital flows, many emerging economies face a middle income trap. The one off gains from joining WTO,
urbanisation, better education etc. have largely occurred and a new development model with inclusive economic, political and legal institutions is
needed. This structural issue could very well be the heart of the matter.
Turning to the Fund, there was a reasonable amount of activity in January.
We increased target weights in seven holdings and added one new stock, a Korean manufacturer of office equipment. Typically, the target weight
increases are a function of a cheaper valuation or greater comfort in the fundamentals (e.g. another set of results since initial investment). HT
Media, an Indian newspaper, was increased from 1.5% to 2% target weight which completed the scaling in to a ‘normal’ position size a full seven
months after our initial investment in May 2013. In this case, we have had both more disclosure and a lower price to take advantage of and
hopefully this patience will pay off in the long run. Other target weight increases in January were due to a realisation that we might have been too
conservative with the very small but high quality part of the portfolio. Sun Hing Vision, a manufacturer of eyewear frames scores a 7/7 on our key
criteria and given the quality of balance sheet, management and cheap valuation we increased the target weight from 1% to 2%.
In January, we exited Ottogi (sauces and noodles) and Ajisen (Japanese quick service restaurants in China), which completes the gradual scaling
out of these two positions as valuations rose. Ottogi was under researched and had a stable business model and financials at the time of
purchase. It gradually rerated over our holding period of several years. Ajisen, by comparison, was held for less than a year as a recovery
opportunity. Although not under researched the stock was certainly unloved at the time of purchase and had since recovered from lows over
concerns about food quality and management.
We also trimmed positions in Clear Media, Allianz Malaysia, Daegu Department Store, Gome and some others. These are not necessarily stocks
we are about to exit. Some have had target weights reduced upon a review triggered by good performance. Although they typically still score well
and we expect to make our target return, the valuation risk has risen and we prefer to gradually reduce exposure into any momentum that comes
with rising prices. These might go from a 3% target weight to 2%. Generally, we try to take advantage of any price action and with a couple of
positions in January we sold into a spike in price to keep the position at target weight.
John McCartney
11 February, 2014
Source: Bloomberg, Firth Investment Management
*Both MSCI benchmark indices (Bloomberg: MSLUAAJN and NDUECAXJ) are net total return indices in USD. MSCI calculates net total return by reinvesting any
dividend income after deducting withholding taxes.
Country breakdown
Hong Kong/China
Indonesia
India
Korea
Malaysia
Philippines
Singapore
Taiwan
Thailand
Others
Cash
% of assets
41
4
10
3
1
12
11
1
4
14
Sectoral breakdown
Consumer Discretionary
Consumer Staples
Financials
Health Care
Industrials
Information Technology
Materials
Others
Cash
% of assets
45
8
3
12
11
3
4
14
Investment Objective
Hereford Funds - Firth Asian Value Fund is to generate long term capital growth from a portfolio of listed company securities in Asia (ex-Japan). The Compartment will
follow a value-based investing approach and will have a bias towards smaller capitalisation stocks.
The Compartment will directly invest primarily in shares of companies located in, incorporated in, headquartered in, listed on exchanges in or with significant
operations in or significant income derived from Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, the PRC, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand. The
Compartment may also directly invest in smaller or developing economies in Asia such as Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Pakistan, Sri Lanka or Vietnam. The
Compartment will not invest in China A Shares when investing in the PRC.
The Compartment will directly invest actively in a diversified portfolio of listed equity securities. The Compartment will generally only invest in securities admitted to
official listing on a recognized stock exchange, or dealt in on another regulated market. Although the Compartment intends to invest in a portfolio of not less than 40
stocks and not more than 100 stocks, it is not restricted in or subject to any material concentration or diversification restrictions, and may hold a more limited number of
investment positions.
The Compartment will typically be near fully invested but may hold liquid assets on an ancillary basis. Under normal market conditions, investment in liquid assets and
debt instruments of any kind will not exceed 15% of the Compartment's net assets. In exceptional market circumstances and on a temporary basis only, this limit may
be increased to 100% with due regard to the principle of risk spreading.
The Investment Manager intends to meet the Fund’s objective primarily through stock selection and country allocation. Typically stocks will be bought and held. This is
not a trading strategy and it is not intended to attempt to time general market movements. While portfolio returns will be measured against the Benchmark Index,
portfolio management will not be constrained by reference to the index.
Fund Codes
Bloomberg
ISIN
Reuters
Sedol
Valoren
WKN
HFIRASA LX *
LU0618975774
NA
B64KS81
12853411
A1H9V4
* Share Class A
Fund Details
Dealing Day
Dividends
Investment Manager
Promoter
Fund Administrator
Custodian
Legal Advisers
Auditor
Daily
None - income accumulated within the fund
Firth Investment Management Pte. Ltd. 180 Cecil Street, #13-03 Bangkok Bank Building, Singapore
VP Bank (Luxembourg) S.A., 26 Avenue de la Liberté, L-1930 Luxembourg
VPB Finance S.A., 26 Avenue de la Liberté, L-1930 Luxembourg
VP Bank (Luxembourg) S.A., 26 Avenue de la Liberté, L-1930 Luxembourg
Elvinger, Hoss & Prussen, 2 Place Winston Churchill, L-1340 Luxembourg
Deloitte, 560 Rue de Neudorf, L-2220 Luxembourg
Annual Management Charge
Share Class A
Share Class D
(b)
1.5%
2.0%
Annual Management Charge
Performance fee:
High water mark?:
Hurdle rate:
10%
Yes
MSCI AC Asia ex Japan Small Cap USD Net
Minimum Investment
Share Class A (b)
Share Class D
$100,000 initial / $10,000 subsequent
$10,000 initial / $1,000 subsequent
Order Transmission Information
Original Applications To:
VPB Finance S.A.
attn. Fund Operations / TA-HFF
P.O. Box 923
L-2019 Luxembourg
or, for transmissions via courier service,
26, avenue de la Liberté, L-1930 Luxembourg
Subsequent Applications Only Via Facsimile:
VPB Finance S.A.
attn. Fund Operations / TA-HFF
Fax: (+352) 404 770 283
Tel: (+352) 404 770 260
e-mail: [email protected]
(a) This refers to the total assets to which the Investment Adviser applies the reference strategy.
(b) Share Class A: these shares have UK reporting since launch and are registered with the BaFin for public distribution in Germany from 17/10/12.
Germany – Paying Agent as defined by German Regulation:
Marcard, Stein & Co – Ballindamm 36, 20095 Hamburg; Phone: +49/40.32.099.556, Fax: +49/40.32.099.206
(c) Share Class D: these shares have not yet been launched.
This document is for information purposes and internal use only. It is neither an advice nor a recommendation to enter into any investment.
Investment suitability must be determined individually for each investor, and the financial instruments described above may not be suitable for all investors. This
information does not provide any accounting, legal, regulatory or tax advice. Please consult your own professional advisers in order to evaluate and judge the matters
referred to herein.
An investment should be made only on the basis of the prospectus, the annual and any subsequent semi-annual-reports of HEREFORD FUNDS (the "Fund"), a
société d'investissement à capital variable, established in Luxembourg and registered under Part I of Luxembourg law of 20 December, approved by the Commission
de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF). These can be obtained from [the Fund, 26, avenue de la Liberté, L-1930 Luxembourg or from VPB Finance S.A., 26,
avenue de la Liberté, L-1930 Luxembourg and any distributor or intermediary appointed by the Fund].
No warranty is given, in whole or in part, regarding performance of the Fund. There is no guarantee that its investment objectives will be achieved. Potential investors
shall be aware that the value of investments can fall as well as rise and that they may not get back the full amount invested. Past performance is no guide to future
performance.
The information provided in this document may be subject to change without any warning or prior notice and should be read in conjunction with the most recent
publication of the prospectus of the Fund. Whilst great care is taken to ensure that information contained herein is accurate, no responsibility can be accepted for any
errors, mistakes or omission or for future returns.
This document is intended for the use of the addressee or recipient only and may not be reproduced, redistributed, passed on or published, in whole or in part, for any
purpose, without the prior written consent of HEREFORD FUNDS. Neither the CSSF nor any other regulator has approved this document.