FSSA Asia Focus Class B - Accumulation (GBP)

Martin Lau and his team have built an impressive track record investing in the shares of Asian companies. Our research shows they've done well by focusing on the prospects of individual companies, rather than taking a view of the wider economic environment.

The team are conservative in the way they manage money. They invest in companies they think will see consistent demand for their products or services and prosper over the long term, rather than chasing short-term fads. We expect the fund to hold up relatively well when markets are rocky, but it might lag behind when they rise strongly.

The chart to the right initially shows Martin Lau's track record managing the FSSA Asian Equity Plus Fund. It subsequently shows the performance of the FSSA Asia Focus Fund since launch.

The team's investment philosophy is founded on stewardship. When they make an investment, they see themselves as part-owners of the business. So they engage with companies to make sure they are run in a way that'll benefit all shareholders, and also consider environmental, labour and other governance issues.

The team looks for high-quality companies. The main source of investment ideas is from visiting different countries and companies. The team are based in Asia, so they can visit companies and hear about their plans first-hand. It also gives them an insight into how markets are changing and makes it easier to find companies that could benefit.

The team want to find companies with a competitive advantage, like a well-known brand or large share of their market. They should also be financially strong.

The team aim to hold on to their investments for many years. Their approach is quite conservative and they aim to limit losses in a falling market, but this isn't guaranteed. The fund mainly invests in larger Asian companies, as well as some medium-sized companies with greater growth potential.