The fund seeks capital appreciation by investing in small-size international companies outside the United States.
The fund’s investment process starts with a list of companies included in the benchmark index. The research team narrows the investable universe using financial screens and quantitative research that meet hurdles on return on capital and historical earnings growth rates.
Next, the team with the help of qualitative analysis and competitive review identifies companies with sustainable business models and durability of earnings.
The fund favors companies that are trading at reasonable prices to their long term earnings estimate.
The diversified fund has about 25% of its assets invested in Japan and about 35% invested in France, U.K., Germany, Australia, Switzerland and Italy.