News

10 Oct 2024
headshots of Mark Baribeau, Rebecca Irwin, and Thomas Davis of Jennison Associates

Newly merged Alliance Witan appoints new stockpicker

With the deal approved by both sets of shareholders, Witan’s investors got 0.224615 of a new Alliance Witan share for every Witan share that they held (based on formula asset values of 1274.592460 pence for Alliance Trust and 286.293752 pence for Witan). Willis Towers Watson has appointed Jennison Associates as an additional stock picker for […]

10 Oct 2024
a cup of tea, a croissant and some magazines

QuotedData’s morning briefing 10 October 2024 – UTL, PEY

In QuotedData’s morning briefing 10 October 2024: As flagged yesterday, UIL (UTL) has entered into a sale and purchase agreement with General Provincial Life Pension Fund to acquire all of its stake (187,572,396 ordinary shares) in Zeta, following which UIL will own 95.03% of Zeta’s share capital. Based on Zeta’s NAV as at 8 October […]

09 Oct 2024

Fidelity Emerging Markets delivers welcome performance improvement

Fidelity Emerging Markets has published results covering the year ended 30 June 2024 and they are good. After a difficult year in 2022, when the trust was hit hard by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and then a period of consolidation in 2023, for the latest year the trust reported a NAV total return of +18.7% […]

09 Oct 2024

UIL thinking of going private after bout of poor performance

UIL has published results for the 12 months ended 30 June 2024. Highlights are: Net asset value total return of -15.3% (2023: -20.6%) Share price total return of -24.8% (2023: -18.5%) Revenue earnings per ordinary share of 10.15p (2023: 6.68p) Dividends per ordinary share of 8.00p (2023: 8.00p) Discount widened to 36.9% (2023: 27.5%) Gearing […]

09 Oct 2024

Syncona commits another £19.9m to Purespring Therapeutics

Syncona has invested a further £19.9m in Purespring Therapeutics as part of an £80m oversubscribed Series B financing for that company. Syncona formed part of a leading Series B syndicate, led by Sofinnova, in collaboration with Gilde Healthcare, Forbion, and British Patient Capital. Syncona founded Purespring in 2020 as one of the first adeno-associated virus […]

09 Oct 2024

QuotedData’s morning briefing 9 October 2024 – RCP, CRS, LABS, HMSO, SERE

In QuotedData’s morning briefing 9 October 2024: RIT Capital Partners (RCP) has a new independent non-executive director and member of the Audit and Risk Committee, Helena Coles. Helena has extensive international experience and spent most of her career as a portfolio manager. She also brings valuable perspectives from asset owners and a UK regulator. She […]

03 Oct 2024

RTW backs obesity drug firm

The manager of RTW Biotech Opportunities has led a $400m Series A financing round for a new portfolio company, Kailera Therapeutics. The announcement does not disclose how much of that came from the listed fund. RTW Investments co-led the Series A with Atlas Venture and Bain Capital Life Sciences, with participation from Lyra Capital. The […]

03 Oct 2024

Syncona ploughs £63.5m into Resolution Therapeutics

Syncona has committed £63.5m in a Series B financing of Resolution Therapeutics, a company focused on unlocking the regenerative potential of macrophage therapy for the treatment of inflammatory and fibrotic diseases. Syncona has invested an initial tranche of £22.0m, with investment of the full Series B commitment dependent upon the completion of key milestones. Alongside […]

03 Oct 2024

Atrato Onsite Energy to sell entire portfolio

In a surprise announcement, Atrato Onsite Energy says it has entered into a conditional agreement for the sale of all of its portfolio of solar assets to a joint venture vehicle owned by Brookfield and RAIM Apollo at a headline price of £218.7m. This compares to the portfolio valuation in the NAV of £224.1m. Shareholders will […]

03 Oct 2024

QuotedData’s morning briefing 3 October 2024 – MINI, SHIP, CHRY

In QuotedData’s morning briefing 3 October 2024: Miton UK Micro Cap (MINI) says 31,083,534 shares or 40.4% of its issued share capital, has been put forward for redemption in its annual redemption facility. A statement from the board says “The board continues to believe that the company will be able to generate attractive returns for […]