Trust favourite Biogen hit by AD trial rejig – Shares in Biogen, the neurology-focused US biotech giant and a key holding for many of the sector specialist investment trusts, fell by more than 6% yesterday on heightened concerns over a decision to expand patient enrolment in its two large Phase III trials of aducanumab for […]
IBT key beneficiary of massive BMS-Nektar deal – International Biotech Trust (IBT) looks set to be the main investment trust beneficiary of the massive deal signed today between Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) and Nektar Therapeutics covering what had hitherto been – albeit briefly – the industry’s hottest un-partnered cancer drug, NKTR-214. Nektar is the third largest shareholding for […]
Talib Sheikh leaves JPMorgan Asset Management – JPMorgan Income & Capital Trust published a circular on 25 January 2018 in connection with the reconstruction of the company. Shareholders are being offered the choice of: (i) a tax and cost efficient rollover into JPMorgan Multi-Asset Trust plc (“MATE“); and/or (ii) cash. MATE’s portfolio will be managed […]
BBH’s first annual report delivers positive news- BBH has announced results for the year ended 30 November 2017, over the period the total return was 19.3%, an outperformance of 4.9% versus the benchmark (the MSCI World Healthcare Total Return Index in GBP). The total return for shareholders was 20.5%. Total dividends for the year were 3.5p. For the […]
Blackstone GSO Loan Financing comments on US court decision – on Friday, 9 February 2018, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled in favour of the Loan Syndications and Trading Association (“LSTA”) in its lawsuit against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and the Federal Reserve, determining that U.S. CLO managers […]
Aberdeen Asian Smaller considering new CULS issue – The board of Aberdeen Asian Smaller Companies has commissioned its advisers to develop a detailed proposal to the company’s shareholders and CULS holders in relation to restructuring the current CULS. The proposal is currently being formulated but is expected to include: a conversion of the existing CULS […]
Key trust holding Vertex gains US approval for new CF combo Vertex Pharmaceuticals, a leading US biotech specialising in cystic fibrosis (CF) and core holding for most of the sector’s collective investment vehicles, yesterday reported the US FDA approval of Symdeko, its new combination containing tezacaftor/ivacaftor for CF in patients aged 12 and over who are […]
Tufton Oceanic off the slipway – Tufton Oceanic Assets Limited has acquired two feeder containerships for $20.5 million. The vessels are initially chartered for 2-3 years to a major container line which is investment grade. The initial yield is in line with the targets expressed in the company’s prospectus. These are the first investments by […]
Starwood lends against student accommodation scheme – Starwood European Real Estate Finance Limited has committed to a EUR11.25 million whole loan facility to finance a 127 bed purpose built student development scheme in central Dublin. They say that the Dublin student market suffers from a severe structural undersupply of purpose built student accommodation, and the borrower’s aim is to […]
LXi fully invested again after social housing deal – LXi REIT has exchanged contracts on the acquisition of the freehold interest in a portfolio of regulated long-let supported living properties located in Colchester, Essex (74%), Birmingham (17%) and Dover, Kent (9%). The purchase price for this portfolio is GBP6.2 million, reflecting a net initial yield of […]