e-fundresearch.com: Mr. Jason Pidcock, you are the fund manager of the Newton Asian Income fund (ISIN: GB00BOMY6Z69). When did you take over the responsibility of managing this fund?
Jason Pidcock: Since launch date of fund – 30 November 2005.
e-fundresearch.com: What is the current size of the fund?
Jason Pidcock: £4.2 billion / Euro 5 billion.
e-fundresearch.com: Do you also manage other funds or mandates?
Jason Pidcock: Yes, a number of core Asian funds – retail and institutional clients from around the world.
e-fundresearch.com:What is the total amount of assets you manage currently?
Jason Pidcock: As a team we manage about £6.5bn of assets.
e-fundresearch.com: How long have you been in the business as a fund manager?
Jason Pidcock: Exactly 20 years – began in December 1993.
e-fundresearch.com: What are the main steps in your investment process and in which area is your competitive edge to add value to investors?
Jason Pidcock: We seek to maximize total return by investing with a medium term – long term mindset in equities in the Asia Pacific (excluding Japan) region, using a thematic framework.
e-fundresearch.com: Which benchmark is most relevant and how should investors compare the fund vs. benchmarks or peer groups?
Jason Pidcock: This fund is measured against the FTSE All World Asia Pacific ex Japan index. Investors can compare the fund with this index or the peer group on systems such as Bloomberg.
e-fundresearch.com: Which performance did you achieve for the fund YTD and over the past five calendar years in absolute terms and relative to relevant benchmark or other reference indices?
Jason Pidcock: The fund is flat YTD (to 4/12/13) and up 136.3% since 31/12/08 in sterling / 173.09% in Euros. The index is up 2.67% YTD and is up 97.93% since 31/12/08 in Sterling / 128.44% in Euros.
e-fundresearch.com: What motivates you in your job?
Jason Pidcock: I want to make as much money as possible for clients – doing so by investing in the Asia Pacific region is very interesting.
e-fundresearch.com: Which other profession would you have considered apart from becoming a fund manager?
Jason Pidcock: I have never considered any other profession – I bought my first shares at age 13 in 1984 (British Telecom when it was privatized) and knew from then what I wanted to do.
e-fundresearch.com: Thank You!
