Hereford Funds – Firth Asian Value Fund
October 2013
October 2013 Investment Review
In October 2013 the total return of the Fund after deducting all fees and expenses was 1.0%. By comparison the total return of the MSCI AC Asia
ex Japan Small Cap index was 2.7% and the total return of the MSCI AC Asia ex Japan index was 4.4%. Results for longer periods are shown in
the table below.
Asia ex Japan equities and currencies continued to recover from the lows of June and August and brushed off the United States’ budgetary
problems. India’s new central bank head has apparently succeeded in steadying its currency while also providing easier liquidity conditions for the
banking system. Moody’s lifted the Philippines government rating to investment grade, while Malaysia announced some initial measures to tackle
its fiscal deficit. However, Fitch put China’s sovereign debt rating on credit watch due to the rapid build-up of debt across the economy in recent
years.
The Fund enjoyed strong returns from two companies operating in China; Clear Media, the bus shelter advertising firm and Gome, an electrical
goods retailer. Gome announced a recovery in sales and profitability following restructuring over the last couple of years. Other Chinese retailers
that we watch report declining revenues and margins. Such stocks have experienced a severe de-rating in the last year or so as a result of lower
economic growth and intense competition, including new online-based players.
A second portfolio holding in India, an IT services provider, was purchased during the month. Meanwhile the holding in Ramayana, a mass
market department store operator in Indonesia, was sold completely having made a satisfactory positive return over a two and a half year holding
period. Consequently the portfolio has no remaining exposure to Indonesia, a result of stock specific decisions rather than a deliberate position on
the country.
In recent weeks we have twice voted against management of portfolio companies at extraordinary general meetings. In one case, a Korean
company that has been in the portfolio for five years now, we voted against proposals that if approved would have enabled the controlling
shareholder block to remove the internal auditor and reduce the independence of the board. As we understand it there is legislation pending in
Korea which would in future provide better protection for non-controlling shareholders. In the event, the company cancelled the EGM, presumably
because management expected to lose the vote. The company has received censure from the stock exchange authorities as a result. In the last
year a local institution has built a large stake in the company and has declared its interest in “influencing management”. It is our hope that this
encourages the controlling family to take action that will crystallise the significant latent value in the company. We’ll report on further
developments.
In the case of a Singapore-listed retailer, the company was seeking approval for a stock buyback. Ordinarily we would vote in favour. But we were
concerned about a number of aspects of the company’s rationale and mechanism for the buyback, including the following statement: “The
Directors believe that a Share Buyback by the Company will help mitigate short-term market volatility, offset the effects of short-term speculation
and bolster shareholder confidence”. We wrote to the Chairman explaining our concerns but did not receive a response until after the vote. In
recent days we have been able to discuss the buyback with the company’s CEO and CFO and are more comfortable with the company’s
intentions.
Key Information Hereford Funds – Firth Asian Value Fund
NAV A Shares (31/10/13):
Total Fund Size:
Strategy Assets:
Fund Launch Date:
$111.57
$66 million
$181 million (a)
31/05/11
Performance (%) (net of fees and expenses)
Jan
Feb
Mar
HFFAVF1
Small Cap2
Asia ex Japan3
HFFAVF1
Small Cap2
Asia ex Japan
3
HFFAVF1
Small Cap2
Asia ex Japan
HFFAVF1
3
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
7.2
7.7
4.0
Since Launch
2
Small Cap
Asia ex Japan
3
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.
11.6
-2.6
1.6
3. MSCI AC Asia ex Japan USD Net Index (large and mid cap)
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
42
0
2
10
3
0
11
11
1
4
16
Sectoral breakdown
Consumer Discretionary
Consumer Staples
Financials
Health Care
Industrials
Information Technology
Materials
Others
Cash
% of assets
47
8
3
0
11
9
3
4
16
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.