Winners Rationale

“The Nomura Japan Strategic Value Fund demonstrates how a disciplined, bottom-up value approach can succeed in the Japanese equity market,” said Audrey Raj, editor of Asian Private Banker. “Launched over two decades ago, the fund targets businesses whose true value isn’t fully reflected in the market, creating opportunities that others may miss.

“Its approach examines a company’s assets, earnings and overall business strength. This helps the team select high-quality companies at attractive valuations, setting the fund apart from more traditional value strategies.

“The fund has consistently outperformed its reference benchmark, TOPIX, across multiple market cycles, reflecting the strength of its disciplined investment process. Recent outperformance can be attributed to effective stock selection, even as growth stocks outpaced value stocks in the second quarter. 

“Defensive holdings in resilient sectors, paired with selective exposure to key growth areas, have supported performance, while keeping lighter positions in more sensitive industries has helped navigate style rotations.

“The Nomura Japan Strategic Value Fund showcases the power of disciplined, bottom-up research in the Japanese equity market. Its ability to combine rigorous valuation analysis with exposure to structural growth opportunities has allowed the fund to navigate market cycles with confidence, earning Nomura Asset Management the well-deserved Best Fund Provider – Japanese Equity award.”