Team ethos key for abrdn Asia Focus plc as pioneer Hugh Young retires

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(Image credit: Abrdn)

After almost 40 years with Aberdeen Asset Management (now abrdn) – including 28 years founding and running abrdn Asia Focus investment trust (AAS) – venerable Asia hand Hugh Young is finally to hang up his managerial boots, or at least leave them on the step for his teammate and successor Gabriel Sacks to step into. 

They’re undoubtedly big boots to fill. Morningstar data shows that AAS has produced annualised returns of almost 12% since launch in 1995, compared with 4.5% from the MSCI AC Asia ex Japan Small Cap benchmark index. Put another way, £1,000 invested in AAS in 1995 would now be worth almost £22,000, versus £3,400 from the benchmark. 

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