e-fundresearch.com: Mr Thorsten Becker, you are the fund manager of the JOHCM US Small and Mid Cap Equity Fund (ISIN: IE00BQT49415, 'B' share class, euro; IE00BQT49639, 'B' share class, US dollar). When did you take over the responsibility of managing this fund?
Thorsten Becker: My co-managers, Arun Daniel and Vince Rivers, and I launched the fund on 30th September 2014.
e-fundresearch.com: What is the current size of the fund?
Thorsten Becker: The Fund was launched on 30 September with US$5 million.
e-fundresearch.com: Do you also manage other funds or mandates? (If yes) What is the total amount of assets you manage currently?
Thorsten Becker: Yes, we launched a vehicle for US-based clients in early September. Assets are obviously small at this very early stage (US$6.5 million).
e-fundresearch.com: How long have you been in the business as a fund manager?
Thorsten Becker: 18 years. Prior to joining JOHCM earlier this year, I spent 18 years at Fidelity Investments, most recently managing the global financial sector portfolios for Fidelity’s Pyramis Global Advisors.
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?
Thorsten Becker: As a team we operate with independent, sector-specific investment processes developed through our significant experience in global sector research and portfolio management. We collaborate to identify cross-sector investment themes and trends, and work individually to develop investment ideas for our respective sectors. We then reconvene collectively to assess risk, conviction and to size positions appropriately.
Our competitive edge resides in our commitment to deep sector expertise. This expertise keeps the three of us closer to our companies and to what drives our stocks; it enables us to identify changes in industry dynamics sooner and more accurately; and it enables us to invest in the long-term winners from those changes.
The strategy’s strengths are its ability to combine our detailed analytical insights borne of experience with pragmatism; the integration of market and cross-sector insights; the dynamic allocation of capital to the three of us based on conviction; strong sector-level networks and relationships; and multiple years of working together as a portfolio management team.
