Cazenove European fund

Andy Parsons, advice team manager at The Share Centre explains, what the Cazenove European fund can offer an investor looking to progress into overseas markets through exposure to European equities.

"Due to its close geographical proximity, access to information and brand awareness, for many investors investing in companies from Europe provides them with the natural progression into overseas markets.

"It also provides diversification that an investment portfolio based solely in UK companies could not provide. For example Demark is a world leader in alternative energy solutions and Germany has world class engineering companies and car manufacturers.

"Chris Rice, manager of the Cazenove European fund, has been at the helm since December 2002, and his track record during this time is impressive with the fund ranking within the first quartile on a 3 and 5 year cumulative basis.

"In terms of the portfolio's construction; overall the fund will generally hold between 70 -90 stocks. Around 60 - 80% of the fund is invested in large cap stocks, between 10 - 35% in mid caps and 10% in small caps. By having these distinct parameters, Rice has flexibility in his investment approach and the ability to produce a well diversified and blended fund.

"This fund is suitable for investors looking for a fund that offers a core portfolio of European equities, excluding the UK. It uses a combination of bottom-up stock picking along with tactical investing around various business cycles that ensures the fund is additionally viewed from a top down macroeconomic perspective."