The Manulife Global Fund – Dragon Growth invests in China and Hong Kong equities focusing on under-researched ideas, seeking long-term capital appreciation.

The Manager has a well-established and proven investment process that uses its proprietary GCMV analysis framework helps identify competitive advantages, solid financial profiles, earnings catalysts, and management teams that have created cash value for shareholders. We also see evidence of a robust portfolio risk management process, which utilizes statistical tools to ensure stringent active risk monitoring.

The fund incorporates ESG in its investment process, although emphasizing its use as a risk management tool than a critical source of value-adding performance. Stewardship activities are constrained partly due to the development of ESG and transparency levels in greater China.

Divestment decisions are somewhat subjective, especially when ESG factors are considered. Perhaps lack of transparency can be a given reason. The policies provide fund managers flexibility to hold onto lower ESG scored companies pending future improvement.

The fund has generated robust performance with +301 basis points on a one and three annualized net return vs. a benchmark.

This fund has been reviewed by four industry veterans of the Benchmark judging committee.