22 April 2025
Ashoka WhiteOak Emerging Markets Trust plc
(the `Company')
Monthly Update - March 2025
The Company's monthly factsheet as at 31 March 2025 is now available: https://awemtrust.com/factsheet/
The Fund was down 1.0% in 1Q CY2025, underperforming the benchmark by 0.90%. The key contributors include Alibaba (+50.5%), Hong Kong Exchanges (+14.9%), and Prosus (+12.4%), whereas TSMC (-18.5%), Inventurus Knowledge Sol. (-22.7%), and Intl. Gemmological Institute (-32.0%) were the key detractors.
Market Review
In Q1 2025, the MSCI EM index was down 0.1%. It outperformed other global indices like the US equities (S&P 500) and MSCI World which returned -7.2% and -4.7%, respectively.
For the quarter, Consumer Discretionary and Communication Services outperformed, while Information Technology and Utilities underperformed. Large caps outperformed mid and small caps this quarter. Among major EM markets, China and Brazil outperformed, while Taiwan and Indonesia underperformed.
Top 10 Holdings
Top 10 holdings (as at 31 March 2025)
Country
% of NAV
TSMC
Taiwan
7.8
Alibaba Group Holding
China/HK
4.1
Tencent Holdings
China/HK
2.7
OneSource Specialty Pharma
India
2.4
Naspers
South Africa
2.4
Samsung Electronics
South Korea
2.2
Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing
China/HK
1.8
Inventurus Knowledge Solutions
India
1.5
CIE Fin. Richemont
Switzerland
1.4
SK Hynix
South Korea
1.1
Total
27.4%
Key Contributors
Q1 2025 Key Contributors
Ending Weight (%)
Total Return (%)
Contribution to Return (bps)
Alibaba Group Holdings
4.1
+50.5
+63
Hong Kong Exchanges
1.8
+14.9
+25
Prosus N.V.
1.0
+12.4
+23
Naspers Limited
2.4
+7.8
+18
Hermes International
0.6
+5.2
+17
Key Detractors
Q1 2025 Key Detractors
Ending Weight (%)
Total Return (%)
Contribution to Return (bps)
TSMC
7.8
-18.5
-149
Inventurus Knowledge Sol.
1.5
-22.7
-43
Intl. Gemmological Institute
0.5
-32.0
-36
Delta Electronics
0.9
-19.9
-22
Cigniti Technologies
0.4
-18.6
-21
Source: Factset. Past performance does not predict future returns. The performance calculation is based on GBP. Currency fluctuations will also affect the value of an investment.
About Ashoka WhiteOak Emerging Markets Trust plc
Ashoka WhiteOak Emerging Markets Trust plc (AWEMT) is a UK investment trust seeking to achieve long-term capital appreciation primarily through investing in a multi-cap portfolio of equities that provide exposure to global emerging markets. Advised by White Oak Capital Partners Pte. Ltd, founded by Prashant Khemka with leading Emerging Markets investment experience. White Oak Capital Group has delivered an exceptional track record for its other strategies, and has £5.0 billion in assets under management or advisory4. Analytical approach integral to disciplined research process underpinned by proprietary frameworks OpcoFinco™ for valuation and ABLEx™ for ESG research. The team at WhiteOak believes that emerging markets present potential for higher alpha. EM markets remain under-researched and inefficient. AWEM leverages WhiteOak's investment approach to capture the higher alpha potential in these markets. No fixed management fee. Manager remuneration is aligned with alpha generation and hence shareholders' interest. The Investment Manager is remunerated solely as a function of outperformance over the benchmark.
4 Data as at 31 March 2025. AUM data refers to aggregate assets under management or investment advisory for WhiteOak Group.
Further Information
For further information on the Company's investment strategy and portfolio construction approach as well as details of the portfolio market cap, regional and sector composition please refer to the latest factsheet.
Investment Objective
To achieve long-term capital appreciation, primarily investing in equity and equity-related securities that provide exposure to global emerging markets.
Summary of Investment Policy
The Company shall invest primarily in securities admitted to trading on any stock exchange (which may include stock exchanges in Developed Markets) that provide exposure to companies that are domiciled in Global Emerging Markets (EMs), or that are domiciled in Developed Markets but at the time of investment, derive a majority of their economic value, revenues or profits from, or whose assets or cost base are mainly located in EMs.
The Company's LEI is 254900Z4X5Y7NTODRI75
- Ends -
For further information:
Company Secretary
AWEMT.Cosec@jtcgroup.com
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7409 0181
WhiteOak Capital Partners Pte Ltd.
Prashant Khemka
Via Burson Buchanan
Fadrique Balmaseda
Ben Hayward
Marex
Mark Thompson
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7016 6711
Eddie Nissen
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7016 6713
Burson Buchanan
Henry Harrison-Topham
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7466 5000
Henry Wilson
AWEM@buchanancomms.co.uk
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