Global Thematic Focus Fund

The Zurich Investments Global Thematic Focus Fund is a high conviction, long-term strategy designed to benefit from structural change through themes. The manager uses a distinctive thematic approach that identifies emerging trends in the global economy and invests in stocks poised to benefit as a result.

How the fund works

The Zurich Investments Global Thematic Focus Fund invests in a focused portfolio of securities with high growth potential that are listed on international stock exchanges. 

Based on the biggest structural changes of the next decade, the strategy consists of three to six high conviction investment themes. These translate into a portfolio of typically 35-50 global stocks directly anchored to these themes rather than constructed relative to a benchmark.

The Fund aims to:

  • provide investors with long-term capital growth by investing in securities listed on international stock exchanges.
  • outperform the MSCI World (ex-Australia) Index in $A (net dividends reinvested) by 3% p.a. (gross of fees) over a period of five or more years.

Click on the thumbnails below to learn more about the Global Thematic Focus Fund:

Zurich Investments provides exclusive access to specialist managers recognised as being amongst the best in their area of expertise. The Zurich Investments Global Thematic Share Fund is managed by our strategic investment partner, Lazard Asset Management Pacific Co. (Lazard). Tracing its origins back to 1848, Lazard is known for its global perspective on investing and years of experience with global, regional and domestic portfolios. With more than 300 investment personnel worldwide, Lazard offers investors including Australian superannuation funds an array of equity, fixed income, and alternative investment solutions. Lazard operates from a network of local offices in more than thirteen different countries worldwide.

The investment team analyses the major changes taking place around the world and identifies themes which represent a distinct investment opportunity. All themes are methodically researched and tested in order to establish their validity and the portfolio typically includes 3-6 themes at any time.

The Global Thematic Strategy employs a fully integrated sustainability approach aligned with societal goals and low carbon footprint.

 


Nicholas Bratt
Portfolio Manager

Steve Wreford
Portfolio Manager

John King
Portfolio Manager

Rugsit Kanan
Portfolio Analyst
 

Performance returns quoted are compound rates of return calculated on exit prices and assume reinvestment of distributions. Returns are calculated net of all ongoing fees and any taxes payable by the fund. The benchmark return shown is a gross return. Figures shown are rounded to two decimal places.

The full name of the benchmark used in the table is MSCI World (ex-Australia) Accumulation Index in $A (net dividends reinvested).

*Inception date is 5 November 2020

Learn more about the key themes in the Fund by watching the below short videos:


Click on the thumbnails below to learn more about the Global Thematic Share Fund Themes:

September 07, 2021

Insights from our Partners: The Seven Sins of Thematic Investing

Lazard Asset Management’s Global Thematic Equity team shares its decades of experience in identifying and avoiding the seven sins of thematic investing.


Recommended by

The Global Thematic Focus Fund is recommended by these leading research houses:

Recommended
Recommended products are deemed strong investments within their respective asset class, typically rating first quartile on most criteria.1


Other portfolios in this strategy

Global Thematic Share Fund

1 The Zenith Investment Partners (ABN 27 103 132 672, AFS Licence 226872) (“Zenith”) rating (assigned ZUR4756AU November 2022) referred to in this piece is limited to “General Advice” (s766B Corporations Act 2001) for Wholesale clients only.  This advice has been prepared without taking into account the objectives, financial situation or needs of any individual, including target markets of financial products, where applicable, and is subject to change at any time without prior notice.  It is not a specific recommendation to purchase, sell or hold the relevant product(s).  Investors should seek independent financial advice before making an investment decision and should consider the appropriateness of this advice in light of their own objectives, financial situation and needs.  Investors should obtain a copy of, and consider the PDS or offer document before making any decision and refer to the full Zenith Product Assessment available on the Zenith website.  Past performance is not an indication of future performance. Zenith usually charges the product issuer, fund manager or related party to conduct Product Assessments. Full details regarding Zenith’s methodology, ratings definitions and regulatory compliance are available on our Product Assessments and at https://www.zenithpartners.com.au/our-solutions/investment-research/regulatory-guidelines/ 

Important information: This information is current as at July 2023 and may be subject to change. It is derived from sources believed to be accurate as at this date. Zurich Investment Management Limited (Zurich Investments) ABN 56 063 278 400, AFSL 232511, GIIN XYY9MQ.00000.SP.036, is the issuer and responsible entity of the Zurich Investments Global Thematic Focus Fund ARSN 641 121 360.

This information does not take into account an investor’s personal objectives, financial situation or needs and an investor should consider these factors and the appropriateness of the information and consider seeking advice specific to their individual circumstances from an appropriate professional.

Investors should also consider the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for the product available at zurich.com.au or by calling 131 551 in deciding whether to acquire or to continue to hold the product. Furthermore, this product has been designed to meet certain objectives, financial situations and needs, which are described in its Target Market Determination available at zurich.com.au/tmd. The information is a summary only and there are relevant conditions and exclusions that are explained in the PDS.

Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Investments are subject to risk – returns can go up and down and may be positive or negative.

Any performance returns quoted are compound rates of return calculated on exit prices. They include growth and distributions (assumes reinvestment of distributions), are net of fees and taxes and are rounded to two decimal places. Any benchmark returns shown are gross returns.