e-fundresearch: Mr Sreejith Banerji you ate the portfolio manager of Vontobel Fund – Global Trend Future Resources (ISIN: LU0384406327). Since when are your responsible for the fund management?
Banerji: I am portfolio manager of the fund since its inception in November 2008.
e-fundresearch: Which benchmark do you adhere to?
Banerji: As the fund is thematic in nature, we have an internal benchmark composed of stocks relevant to the future resources theme.
e-fundresearch: Are you also responsible for other funds at the moment?
Banerji: I also manage the Raiffeisen Fund – Future Resources.
e-fundresearch: What is the total volume that you manage in all your funds?
Banerji: The volume is approximately 200 million euros.
e-fundresearch: Regarding the performance: which performance did you achieve since the beginning of the year and in the years 2006-2010? Absolutely and relatively to the relevant benchmark?
Banerji: During the last six months the Vontobel Fund – Global Trend Future Resources posted an absolute negative return of 4.0%, against a negative return of 2.6% from the MSCI World Index.
From November 17, 2008 (inception date) until the end of 2010, the fund achieved an absolute return of +88.9%, outperforming the MSCI World Index by about 42%.
e-fundresearch: How content are you with your own performance in the last years and this year?
Banerji: Performance in an absolute and relative sense has been very strong since the launch of the fund, particularly in 2009 and 2010. The performance has lagged slightly year to date and we are looking to improve that in the second half of the year.
e-fundresearch: How are you able to deliver added value for your investors with your performance?
Banerji: I have a 20 year background that is relevant to the future resources theme. In the 1990s, I studied chemical engineering at university and worked in the oil and gas industry. Since 2000, I have worked in the financial sector as an analyst and portfolio manager, responsible for resource sectors. A combination of industry and investment experience allows me a greater insight into the companies that I invest in.
e-fundresearch: How long have you been a fund manager already?
Banerji: I have worked as a portfolio manager for five years.
e-fundresearch: What were your biggest successes and your biggest disappointments in your career as fund manager?
Banerji: Making money for my clients is very important to me. I am very satisfied with the successful performance so far. However, I am disappointed that I could not have a better performance in the first half of 2011.
e-fundresearch: What kind of capital market situation do we have at the moment? How do you act in this environment?
Banerji: Risk aversion seems to be the major influence on the market presently. Sovereign debt risk in developed countries is a big concern. We are making a strong effort to understand how our investments will behave in different market scenarios.
e-fundresearch: What are the special challenges in this environment?
Banerji: There is a lack of visibility on how politicians will find solutions to the sovereign debt problem.
e-fundresearch: What objectives do you have till the end of the year and in the mid term for the upcoming 3 to 5 years?
Banerji: My goal is to outperform the benchmark.
e-fundresearch: Do you model yourself on someone? Any ideals?
Banerji: I like to take the best aspects from different people.
e-fundresearch: What motivates you in your job?
Banerji: The challenge of generating good performance.
e-fundresearch: What else do you want to achieve or do you have any further aims as a fund manager?
Banerji: It is important for me to generate value for my clients.
e-fundresearch: What other profession would you have taken interest in, apart from becoming a fund manager?
Banerji: I am interested in photography.
e-fundresearch: Thanks you for the interview!
