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Fund-vs-fund · International Equities

Amova Global Shares FundvsKernel Global ESG (NZD Hedged) Fund

Both are International Equities funds available to NZ retail investors. Numbers below are sourced from the FMA Disclose register via Sorted Smart Investor and reflect the latest published quarterly fund updates.

Where you can buy these

Platform availability confirmed within the last 180 days. This is a statement of availability, not a recommendation — ManagedFundsNZ is not a Financial Advice Provider. Check the current PDS before investing.

Amova Global Shares Fund

Kernel Global ESG (NZD Hedged) Fund

No platform availability confirmed. Usually means it is bought directly from the manager — check their site.

Why these two differ

The most material difference in this comparison is data availability: the Kernel Global ESG (NZD Hedged) Fund's latest Quarterly Fund Update data is not present in this snapshot — fee, risk indicator, fund size, five-year return, growth asset allocation, and top holdings are all undisclosed on the Kernel side here. Readers should source those figures directly from FMA Disclose before drawing any conclusions about that fund.

Where data does exist, it belongs entirely to the Amova Global Shares Fund. Amova discloses an annual fund charge of 1.20%, a risk indicator of 5 out of 7, a five-year return of 6.69% per annum, a fund size of approximately NZD 161.9 million, and a growth asset allocation of 98.31%. Its five largest disclosed holdings are Nvidia Corp (7.71%), Microsoft Corp (5.42%), Amazon.com Inc (5.40%), Broadcom Corp (3.58%), and Netflix Inc (3.43%), indicating meaningful concentration in US large-cap technology names. Kernel's fund name signals both an ESG screen and NZD currency hedging as structural features, two characteristics Amova's fund does not explicitly reflect in its disclosed name or holdings — though whether Amova applies any ESG criteria is not addressed in the data provided here.

Both funds sit in the International Equities category. Currency treatment is a known structural distinction: Kernel's hedged mandate aims to reduce NZD/foreign-currency volatility, while Amova's currency approach is not stated in this snapshot.

Verify all figures against each fund's current Product Disclosure Statement and latest Quarterly Fund Update on FMA Disclose before relying on any of this information.

Comparison generated 2026-07-05 from each fund's FMA Disclose QFU facts as at that date. If the underlying facts change, this narrative is withheld until it is regenerated — the tables on this page always reflect the current data.

What's different at a glance

  • Both are New Zealand PIE funds — investor tax is capped at the Prescribed Investor Rate (PIR), maximum 28%.
  • Kernel Global ESG (NZD Hedged) Fund applies responsible-investment / ESG screening. The other fund does not.

Where each fund sits in its cohort

Percentile rank vs all 84 international equities funds we've matched on Sorted Smart Investor. Mechanical only — no opinion, no forward-looking view.

Annual fund charge

Lower is better

Amova

1.20%

Highest 21% of cohort

Kernel

—

—

5-year return p.a.

Past performance — not a predictor

Amova

6.69%

Lower half over 5 years

Kernel

—

—

Fund size

Larger = more stable, lower close-risk

Amova

NZ$162m

Upper half by size

Kernel

—

—

MetricAmovaKernelLower / higher is
Annual fund charge1.20%—Lower is better
Risk indicator (1–7)5—Higher = more volatility
5-year return p.a.6.69%—Higher is better
(past not future)
Fund sizeNZ$162m—Larger = more stable, lower close-risk
Growth / income split98% / 2%—More growth = higher long-run return + volatility
NZ tax structurePIE (PIR-capped)PIE (PIR-capped)PIE = simpler. FIF = annual return.
Currency hedging—Hedged to NZDHedged smooths NZD/foreign FX moves at a small cost.
Responsible investment screeningNoYesSpecific exclusions live in each fund's SIPO.
Available viaDirectDirectPlatforms accepting retail subscriptions.

What each fund says it does

Amova

Amova Global Shares Fund

The fund aims to provide investors with a relatively concentrated actively managed investment portfolio of global equities to achieve long term capital growth. This fund invests in a selection of around 40-50 companies from around the world, covering a diverse range of regions and sectors. This fund has a high level of volatility.
Full Amova Amova Global Shares Fund profile →

Kernel

Kernel Global ESG (NZD Hedged) Fund

Strategy summary not yet ingested.

Full Kernel Kernel Global ESG (NZD Hedged) Fund profile →

Common questions

What's the difference between the Amova Global Shares Fund and the Kernel Global ESG (NZD Hedged) Fund?
Both are international equities funds available to NZ retail investors. Both are New Zealand PIE funds — investor tax is capped at the Prescribed Investor Rate (PIR), maximum 28%.
Are both funds PIE-taxed in NZ?
Yes. Both are NZ Portfolio Investment Entities (PIEs). Investor tax on the fund's income is capped at the Prescribed Investor Rate (PIR), maximum 28%.
Does either fund apply responsible-investment screening?
Yes — Kernel Global ESG (NZD Hedged) Fund applies responsible-investment / ESG screening. Amova Global Shares Fund does not. Specific exclusions and engagement policies are documented in each fund's Statement of Investment Policy and Objectives (SIPO).
Where can I read the official documents for these funds?
Both funds publish their Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), Statement of Investment Policy (SIPO) and Quarterly Fund Update (QFU) on the FMA Disclose register at disclose-register.companiesoffice.govt.nz. Always read the current PDS before investing.
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Important: This comparison is general information only — not personalised financial advice. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns. The right fund for you depends on your personal circumstances. Read each fund's Product Disclosure Statement and consider speaking to a licensed financial adviser.