Investment Strategy
The fund management focuses on companies with convincing structural growth and high long-term earnings. These companies are based in the European Union, but often operate globally. Based on fundamental stock selection, companies are selected that achieve sustainable growth over long periods of time with high profitability. Investments are made primarily in large caps as well as high-growth smaller and medium-sized stocks. The decisive criteria for these business models are high entry barriers, end markets with structural growth and excellent management teams.
- Concentrated portfolio of about 50 stocks
- All cap approach, i.e. exploiting investment opportunities across all market segments
- Long-term investment horizon and therefore low portfolio turnover
- Benchmark-agnostic approach
Learn more about our investment philosophy in equity fund management
Further details on the opportunities and risks of this fund can be found in the sales prospectus.
Indexed performance
Performance in 12-month periods
Currencies
Sectors
Countries
Asset classes
Top Holdings
Monthly market comment
The stock markets have continued to soar in recent weeks. This was due to the latest dovish statements from the Fed and the BoE. The Berenberg Europe ex UK Focus Fund underperformed its benchmark in March. Dino Polska experienced a setback. The company presented disappointing figures and reported considerable pressure on personnel costs. After previously positive news about BE Semiconductor's new hybrid bonding machines, rumours about the scaling of the latest storage media have put pressure on the shares. Novo Nordisk performed well in March. This was due to a positive capital markets day for the company. SAP recorded a solid share price performance, with the topic of AI continuing to support the software sector. In March, we decided to buy an initial position in Schneider Electric. The company is one of the market leaders in the fields of electrical power distribution and industrial automation. In March, we sold Infineon. China is Infineon's most important growth driver. However, China is building up local semiconductor production with new local suppliers. This has dimmed the growth prospects.
Portfolio Management
Matthias Born
Matthias Born has been CIO Equities since 2017 and Head of Investments of Wealth and Asset Management since 2019. He started his career in 2001 at Allianz Global Investors (AGI), where he managed portfolios for European Small Caps, European growth stocks and German equities from 2002 to 2017. In his 16 years at AGI, he has built two very successful equity franchises and was responsible for client assets in the double-digit billions. Matthias Born has an excellent track record over two decades and received several awards for his outstanding and consistent performance. He studied at the University of Wuerzburg and holds a degree in Business Administration.
Martin Hermann
Martin Hermann has been a Portfolio Manager at Berenberg since October 2017. Before joining Berenberg, he was a Portfolio Manager and Vice President within the award-winning "Europe Equity Growth Team" at Allianz Global Investors. His responsibilities included Deputy Fund Manager for the International Equity Growth Fund. He started his career in 2010 as an Investment Trainee in the Graduate Program at Allianz Global Investors. Martin Hermann holds a Master in Investment Analysis and Corporate Finance from the University of Vienna and is CFA Charterholder.
Oliver Fritz
Oliver Fritz has been a Portfolio Manager at Berenberg since July 2017. Before joining Berenberg, Oliver Fritz worked in the Securities Division of Goldman Sachs, covering German-speaking equity and multi-asset clients. He started his career as a Sell-Side Sales at Mainfirst Bank. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics from Maastricht University and a Master's degree in Finance and Management from St. Andrews University.
Justus Schirmacher
Justus Schirmacher has been a Portfolio Manager at Berenberg since January 2019. He started his career at Goldman Sachs in 2014 as an equity analyst in the European Autos Team. Before joining Berenberg, Justus Schirmacher worked in the GS SUSTAIN team. Here, the focus was on identifying cross-sector companies with successful and sustainable business models that have strong competitive advantages and benefit from structural growth. Justus Schirmacher studied history at the University of Cambridge.
Consideration of ESG Elements
Identifying companies and business models that will be successful in the long term is the basis for good investment decisions. Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors are key factors in decision making and are therefore integralcomponents of the investment process.
CO₂-Intensity
The fund does not actively manage its carbon footprint, however, emissions data such as CO2 intensity are relevant parameters which can be used to assess the efficient management of a company and the extent of transition risks.
ESG Score
The data provider MSCI ESG uses an ESG score of 0 to 10 to assess the management of material ESG risks of portfolio holdings compared to competitors.
ESG Controversies Screen
Investments in the fund are monitored for ESG controversies and, with the help of MSCI ESG data, flagged according their severity. Thereby, potential ESG risks of investments are identified. In the case of an orange flag (severe controversy), we enter into an active exchange with the company. In the case of a red flag (very severe controversy), the company is excluded.
