Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Asset Management (SuMi TRUST), Japan’s largest asset manager, is seeding its new Japan Value Focus UCITS fund with JPY 1 billion of internal seed capital*. The fund will give UK and European institutional investors access to a Japanese value strategy that has outperformed the TOPIX Total Return benchmark since inception in 2016. 

The UCITs and underlying Japanese strategy is led by Zhangwenzheng Jing. Jing joined SuMi TRUST in 2017 and was appointed chief portfolio manager for the Japan Value Strategy in September 2024. 

The Japan Value Focus strategy seeks undervalued companies where SuMi TRUST’s research indicates a clear catalyst for re‑rating such as pending structural reforms, increasing shareholder returns or under‑appreciated competitive advantages. 

Since launch in April 2016, the strategy has delivered a gross of fees cumulative annualised return of 17.52% versus 12.55% for the TOPIX. The strategy is intended for family offices, wealth managers, multi-managers and pension funds. 

Zhangwenzheng Jing, Chief Portfolio Manager of the Japan Value Focus Strategy, said: “Japan’s shift away from deflation, continued corporate governance reforms and improving capital discipline have created tailwinds for value. Our process looks for mispriced cash‑flow strength plus a tangible catalyst. 

“As the largest asset manager in Japan we have better access to the senior management of Japanese companies, enabling us to conduct in-depth research and dialogue with them. Bringing this approach into a UCITS fund makes it easier for European investors to access the opportunity within a familiar structure.” 

*This is an approximate value due to possible exchange rate fluctuations.

ENDS

 

 

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