SVS Sanlam North American Equity Fund

We believe growing companies exposed to longer-term secular growth drivers that create value and which trade at a discount to intrinsic value will outperform over the longer term.

Our approach works as we focus on business that are benefiting from or focused on thematic secular growth drivers – in other words, they are in the ‘right’ part of the equity market. However, we will only buy those companies if that growth potential is not fully reflected in the valuation. It is also important that the companies demonstrate a record of value creation or we believe have the potential to create value.

At the stock level, our internally developed artificial intelligence platform helps us to identify North American companies which have exposure to longer-term thematic secular growth drivers.

Environmental, Social and Governance

Active and ongoing engagement with companies rather than outright exclusion. We believe that over the long term, integration of robust ESG policies make good business sense.

• We have always been mindful of issues which may impact the sustainability of returns over the medium to long term
• ESG issues are considered when they may have a material impact on investment risk or return

• All teams have access to the detailed ESG reports so include this risk analysis as part of their due diligence
• Comparable company scores allow for best-in-class analysis at the sub-industry, sector and regional level
• Quarterly investment committee meetings review ESG reports on each fund, looking at the overall score and challenging on the riskier or more controversial holdings.