Comgest has been investing in China for over 20 years, and the long-term promise of Chinese growth seems destined to be tempered with the price of high volatility. Geopolitical risks, an underdeveloped regulatory market and the ongoing cycles of Covid-related lockdowns have all led to waves of volatility that can lash investors. In our view, Comgest's disciplined stock-picking approach can help investors navigate the choppy waters of the Chinese market.

As Japan lifts Covid restrictions later than in the West, Richard Kaye, Japanese Equity Portfolio Manager & Analyst, believes investors can look forward to a strong recovery in 2022. In his view, the Comgest Growth Japan Fund is well-positioned to benefit from the reopening of Japan’s economy. In particular, he expects several holdings to see their profitability boosted in the near-term and beyond.

In March 2021, we wrote about the post-2020 global “K-shaped recovery”, noting the rapid Covid-driven rise of the digital economy and the slippery slope on which some structurally deficient industries found themselves. Over the past year, we’ve witnessed some economic speed bumps in the form of environmental, supply chain and inflationary pressures. So where does Comgest see this roller coaster of a recovery headed now?

Many European companies are raising a “red flag” for inflation. Alistair Wittet, European Equity Analyst & Portfolio manager, argues that inflation matters significantly less for quality growth companies than it does for others. The pricing power strength and sound balance sheets of these companies provide a shield against inflation.

Building a successful gaming franchise is extremely difficult, as evidenced by the challenges faced by both Google and Amazon in developing successful games in-house. Global Equity Team Analyst and Portfolio Manager Richard Mercado argues that some of the leaders in the sector have managed to fuse their creative and business cultures into Comgest-worthy quality growth companies.

The ways in which companies responded to the pandemic provide important clues for investors about their culture and governance and ultimately their long-term sustainability. In this paper some of our regional Portfolio Managers and Analysts explore actions taken by some of their underlying investments.