Jason Holzer and Borge Endresen of AIM European Small Company Fund

Quick Take: Riding the recent wave of small-cap outperformance, the $75.7-million AIM European Small Company Fund/A (ESMAX) has delivered impressive returns. For the one year through June, the fund soared 56.1%, versus a 47.1% climb by its benchmark, the MSCI Europe Small Cap Index. By comparison, the regional market/developed fund peer group gained 29.6% over that period.

For the three-year period through June, the fund gained 23.7%, annualized, versus a 14.5% rise by the index, and a 3.4% gain by its peers. Portfolio managers Jason Holzer and Borge Endresen are firmly in the growth camp — they insist on stocks with double-digit annual growth with the potential for continued strong earnings growth.

The fund is somewhat less volatile than its peer group, as illustrated by the fund’s standard deviation of 17.7%, compared with 18.4% for its peers. However, the fund’s 2% expense ratio slightly exceeds the peer group average of 1.93%.

Holzer has managed the fund since inception in August 2000. Endresen joined the management team in 2002, but had worked as a senior analyst on the fund since its inception.

The Full Interview:

S&P: What kind of stocks do you invest in?

HOLZER: We are purely bottom-up investors, seeking small-cap European companies with above-average annual growth rates — typically in double-digits — and catalysts for further earnings growth. We also like firms with quality management teams and strong cash flows.

S&P: Small-cap stocks have been outperforming large-caps in Europe, especially in 2003. Why has this happened? Do you expect this outperformance to continue?

HOLZER: In Europe, as in the U.S., there was an indexing craze during the late 1990s, particularly for large-cap stocks. This mania for large-caps was accentuated in Europe due to the introduction of the euro, which allowed fund managers to purchase stocks outside their home countries. Initially, they gravitated towards large-cap names. Since then, small-cap equities in Europe have undergone a valuation catch-up. In 2001, European small-cap stocks were trading at a 50% discount to European large-caps. Today, that discount is about 10%. By contrast, small-caps in the U.S. are now trading at a premium relative to large-caps.

ENDRESEN: To illustrate the potential upside for European small-cap stocks, our fund’s average forward p/e is only 12 and its average earnings growth rate is about 20%.

HOLZER: We also believe the earnings estimates for our companies have been understated, since many of our stocks have no or little brokerage following. Despite the recent price gains, we believe small-caps in Europe remain attractive. However, we do not expect small-caps to continue to outperform large-caps.

S&P: How large is your pool of possible investments?

HOLZER: Our universe of European companies with market caps between $50 million and $3 billion is quite large — about 3,500. But with our focused growth criteria, we actively analyze only about 200 to 250 stocks.

S&P: What are your top holdings?

HOLZER: As of June 30, 2004, our ten-largest positions were Option International NV, a Belgian wireless technology firm, 2.3%; Puma AG Rudolf Dassler Sport, the German sports apparel manufacturer, 2.3%; Savills Plc, a British property agent, 2.1%; Meda AB, a Swedish specialty pharmaceuticals company, 1.7%; Anglo Irish Bank Corp. PLC, 1.6%; Sportingbet Plc, a British interactive sports betting and casino service, 1.6%; Aktiv Kapital ASA, a Norwegian debt collector, 1.6%; Bijou Brigitte Modische Accessoires AG, a German fashion jewelry and accessories firm, 1.5%; Eiffage, a French construction company, 1.4%; and Hunter Douglas NV, a Dutch window-covering maker, 1.4%.

We currently have about 100 stocks in the portfolio and typically hold 80 to 120 names. We like to keep a diversified and liquid portfolio as risk-control measures.

S&P: Can you discuss one of your top holdings?

HOLZER: Puma is up almost ten-fold since our initial purchase in 2002. We have great confidence in this company, as it has delivered growth that exceeded all analysts’ forecasts. Despite its superb price appreciation, the stock remains attractively valued, trading at only 12 times earnings.

ENDRESEN: Puma has excelled even though the athletic footwear market has been sluggish. Puma’s market share in the U.S. remains almost negligible compared with NIKE Inc. (NKE), so there is much room for growth.

S&P: What are your top sectors?

HOLZER: As of June 30: consumer discretionary, 35.6%; industrials, 23.6%; financials, 14.3%; information technology, 10.9%; and consumer staples, 6.7%. Thus, the fund has nearly 60% of its assets in either consumer discretionary or industrial stocks — this reflects the composition of the European small-cap landscape more than a strong conviction on these particular industries. These sectors account for about 50% of the MSCI Small Cap Europe Index.

ENDRESEN: We are underweight in sectors like tech where we don’t see sustainable earnings growth. We are slightly underweight in financials and health care.

S&P: What is your current country allocation?