iM Global Partner announced that it has launched a new fund managed by its Partner Scharf Investments, the iMGP Global Concentrated Equity fund.
The fund will have a concentrated portfolio of around 30 stocks, that seeks to deliver outstanding long-term risk-adjusted returns using a value-focused, fundamental and bottom-up approach.
The strategy was first launched in the US in 2014 as the Scharf Global Opportunity Fund (WRLDX) and was rated 5 stars by Morningstar as at 30 April 2022. Since inception the fund has consistently been ranked highly and is currently in the top 10% of the 40-act Global Large Stock Value sector (as of 31 May, 2022). The new fund will use this same time-tested approach.
Based in Los Gatos California, Scharf Investments has been a Partner since April 2019, when iM Global Partner acquired a 40% stake in the company. It already manages the iMGP US Value fund.
Eric Lynch, Managing Director of Scharf Investments, said: “In our experience managing our 25-year top performing US Value strategy, we found we were consistently adding alpha from non-US holdings. However, we were sometimes frustrated that allocation limits prevented us from investing in select global stocks for clients. So in 2014 we extended our investment process and success into a global strategy. Great investment ideas are not constrained by geography and now neither are we.”
Philippe Uzan, Deputy CEO, CIO Global Asset Management commented: “We are very pleased to launch this new fund with Scharf Investments, a recognized leader in value equity management. Their exceptional track record reflects their capacity to combine quality and valuation criteria in a disciplined and proven approach.
The firm focuses on medium-term capital protection through stock selection which clearly differentiates them from a traditional value approach. “We believe the fund’s approach, which combines both value and quality, is particularly adapted to a late cycle market environment”, the statement says.
Jamie Hammond, CEO UK and Head of International Distribution said: “2022 has seen a bit of a rotation from growth to value and we are getting a lot of demand for value-oriented investments, particularly in the global space. Concentrated portfolios are also of strong interest to clients looking for an active approach to global equities and, combined with compelling capture ratios in both up and down markets, the strategy should be attractive to clients”.