The Association of Investment Companies (AIC) has accused the government of a contradictory approach to the UK’s £262bn listed closed-end funds sector after excluding its members from the Pension Schemes Bill. The new bill will empower the government to force pension schemes to invest some of their portfolios in private assets, but as currently drafted […]
Life Science REIT (LABS) has received “significant amount of interest” from potential buyers but warned its real estate portfolio fell by nearly 11% in the first half. The “Golden Triangle” property investor put itself up for sale in March as part of a strategic review launched in response to the wide discount the shares have […]
Aquila European Renewables slides 12% as preferred bidder cuts the value of its bid and board pauses sales process, and CVC Income and Growth changes the master fund it feeds into. Aquila European Renewables (AERI) shares slide 12% to 54 euro cents as its board “pauses” the sale of the company after its preferred bidder […]
Literacy Capital (BOOK), the UK-focused, smaller company private equity fund, has cut its stake in its second largest investment, Velociti Solutions, a transaction that enables a £6m return of capital to shareholders and, equally important, validates the valuation of a portfolio stuck on a double-digit discount. Literacy, named after the reading charity it supports, said […]
Update: Winterflood, the investment company broker and market maker, has been sold to Marex, a US Nasdaq-listed commodoties trading platform, for £103.9m cash. Although not well known in the UK, market observers had spotted Marex’s potential interest in the inevestment trust sector, given Angelo Sofocleous, a former Cantor Fitgerald boss, has worked for the company […]
Law Debenture (LWDB) smashed the UK stock market rally in the first half of the year with its investments and professional services businesses both firing on most cylinders. Interim results today showed the £1.3bn UK equity income trust made a 15% underlying return in the six months to 30 June, beating the 9.1% advance in […]
GCP Infrastructure reduces its debts with the settlement of an audit dispute and International Public Partnerships declares its first ever quarterly dividend. GCP Infrastructure (GCP) has settled a contractual dispute relating to the audits of the accreditation of a solar portfolio under the renewables obligation certification regime. Terms are confidential but the £667m company will […]
Investors holding more than two thirds of Schroders Capital Global Innovation applied to sell their shares in this month’s tender offer. The £37m tender offer of Schroders Capital Global Innovation (INOV) was oversubscribed by more than three times as investors leaped at the chance to exit the former Woodford Patient Capital Trust at asset value. […]
Update: Third Point Investors reverses yesterday’s gains as shareholders owning 14% of the hedge fund, including Asset Value Investors and Evelyn Partners, join forces to oppose its transformation plan. Angry investors holding 14% of Third Point Investors (TPOU) have formed an action group to oppose the hedge fund’s controversial plan to transform itself into a […]
Peter Spiller, lead manager of Capital Gearing Trust (CGT), has warned of the increasing risk of a gilt market crisis to force the UK government to curb spending. Labour’s recent failure to pass proposed cuts in personal independence benefit payments is a blow to the prime minister and chancellor’s plan to free up investment spending […]
