Investment Strategy
The strategy is based on a disciplined bottom-up stock selection of attractive smaller companies (market capitalisation up to 5bn EUR) based in Europe, but generally operating globally. Investments are made in established niche companies that achieve sustainable and above-average growth over long periods with high profitability. The decisive criteria are end markets with structural growth, high entry barriers and excellent management teams.
- Diversified portfolio of 70-90 stocks
- Use of information inefficiencies due to low coverage
- Long-term investment horizon and low portfolio turnover
- Benchmark-agnostic selection
Learn more about our investment philosophy in equity fund management
Fund data
| ISIN | LU2459037235 |
|---|---|
| WKN | A3DHL6 |
| Inception date | 01.04.2022 |
| Issue price | 69.94 EUR |
| Redemption price | 69.94 EUR |
| Fund volume | 624.34 Mio. EUR |
| Share class volume | 938,185.15 EUR |
| Currency | EUR |
| Minimum investment | - |
| Asset Manager | Joh. Berenberg, Gossler & Co. KG |
| Management company | Universal-Investment-Luxembourg S.A. |
| Custodian | State Street Bank Luxembourg S.C.A. |
| Use of income | Accumulating |
| End of financial year | 31.12. |
| Registration and Distribution | DE, FR, CH, LU, GB |
Costs
| Issue surcharge | none |
|---|---|
| Management fee p.a. | 0.87% |
| Custodian fee p.a. | 0.10% |
| Total Expense Ratio (TER) p.a. | 0.89% |
| Performance fee | none |
Monthly market comment
Skan performed well in the first half of the year with an 18% increase in net sales and a new record high in the order backlog. 4Imprint surprised the market with significantly higher profitability than expected. Uniphar underpinned its resilience with 4.9% organic sales growth at roughly flat margins, driven in particular by its diversified product portfolio and strategic investments in its digital platform. Despite 7% sales growth in the past quarter supported by the increasing number of medical procedures, especially in the U.S., Medistim's shares gave back some of their outperformance of recent months. Genovis disappointed with somewhat weaker sales growth of 8% year-on-year.
Portfolio Management
Peter Kraus, CFA, has been Head of Small Cap Equities at Berenberg since October 2017. He began his career in 2000 as an equity analyst for a corporate finance consultancy in Munich before moving to Deka-Investment in Frankfurt in 2003. There he worked as an analyst for European Small Cap stocks. In 2006 he joined Allianz Global Investors as fund manager for European Micro and Small/Mid Caps where he was instrumental in the success of the Small Caps team in subsequent years. Peter Kraus was responsible for the management of various European smaller companies funds as well as for the acquisition and management of major international institutional mandates. He is known for his stock picking skills which he has successfully proven for many years, especially in a European Micro Cap product. The product was already closed years ago due to its outstanding performance.
Katharina Raatz has been a portfolio manager at Berenberg since October 2017. She began her investment career as portfolio manager in DWS’ European Small Cap Team in 2013, where she was responsible for managing various European Small and Mid Cap retail funds and institutional mandates as well as for the single stock selection of French/ Italian small caps for DWS’ global equities platform. Moreover, she was responsible for managing professional international clients and deputy portfolio manager of DWS’ biggest Mid Cap retail fund. Katharina Raatz holds a Master of Science and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Mannheim and has been a CFA Charterholder since 2017.
Michael Schopf has been Portfolio Manager at Berenberg since January 2018. He began his career at Allianz Global Investors in 2007, and previously worked in the Private Banking sector of Deutsche Bank. In the European Mid/Small Cap team, he was responsible for several European equity funds. In addition to his portfolio management responsibilities, he also oversaw the stock selection of some Central European countries. Michael Schopf received the Bachelor of Arts with distinction and the Master in Finance from the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management. He is CFA Charterholder since 2011.
Johann Abrahams has been a small/micro cap portfolio manager at Berenberg since January 2020. Prior to this, he completed the Berenberg International Graduate Program with assignments in sell-side equity research, equity sales, ECM, syndicate, as well as quantitative and discretionary asset management. Johann Abrahams is a CFA Level III candidate and holds a BSc in Economics from the University of Mannheim and a MSc in Finance and Economics from the London School of Economics.
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 integral
components 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.