Fading quality overdue a rebound?

Murray Income (MUT) is in the middle of a strategic review that began in July and the board says should come to a conclusion in Q4 2025. It has assets of about £925m, so that makes it a decent prize. I would expect that it has been inundated with all sorts of proposals. The spark […]

the word quality, looking like the hollywod sign, but faded
The Big Question: Is globalisation over?

Interview with Jennison, SGA and Vulcan In our latest Big Question video, stock pickers Rebecca Irwin from Jennison, Alexandra Lee from SGA and C.T. Fitzpatrick from Vulcan explore whether trade and globalisation are being reshaped, what might be driving this shift, and how these changes are impacting businesses.

Alliance Witan
Morning briefing: Knockout bid for 89Bio boosts International Biotechnology; plus MCT, NCYF, FGEN & INOV

International Biotechnology Trust enjoys another premium takeover for one of its companies; there are results from Middlefield Canadian, New City High Yield and Schroders Capital Global Innovation; and Foresight Environmental Infrastructure clears its discontinuation vote. International Biotechnology Trust (IBT) says 89Bio, a US Nasdaq-listed company accounting for 0.5% of its £230m portfolio, yesterday received a […]

test tubes sitting in a rotating device
Investor revolt at Gore Street Energy sees 27% of votes cast against chair as fees dispute grows

The board of battery fund Gore Street Energy Storage (GSF) remains under pressure after shareholders blocked two special resolutions at yesterday’s annual general meeting and over a quarter voted against the re-election of chair Patrick Cox. Including the votes of rebel shareholder RM Funds, which holds a 6% stake, nearly 27% of votes were cast […]

Life Science REIT prepares to wind down saying bidders have not offered enough

Another “alternative assets” investment company heads for the scrap heap after Life Science REIT (LABS) concludes its strategic review and opts for a managed wind-down. The £139m real estate investment trust, whose shares trade 48% below a depressed net asset value (NAV), said the potential value of selling its assets over the next 12 to […]

Activist Saba takes 14% stake in Terry Smith’s Smithson trust

Pressure mounts on poorly performing £1.6bn global smaller companies trust overseen by star fund manager Terry Smith after activist hedge fund Saba Capital reveals a £229m holding. Saba Capital has hiked its position in Smithson (SSON) to over 14%, putting the activist hedge fund in a strong position to challenge the £1.6bn global smaller companies […]

Hydrogen Capital Growth shares suspended over “material uncertainty” to valuation

Shares in Hydrogen Capital Growth (HGEN) have been suspended while its new fund managers at RWC struggle to ascertain the valuation of its investments in clean energy. The company, whose market value had plunged to £33m in the bear market for renewables, said delays in the provision of information from its previous fund managers and […]

Tiny Premier Miton Global Renewables prepares to zero out from the stock market

Premier Miton Global Renewables Trust (PMGR), a £19m split capital infrastructure securities fund, has confirmed its intention to wind up after concluding the repayment of its maturing zero dividend preference shares in November will leave it too small to continue. It will offer ordinary shareholders their money back at close to net asset value (NAV) […]

Morning briefing: Foresight Solar mulls offers for Australian assets; plus CORD, NAS, GROW & GPE

Half-year results from 10%-yielding Foresight Solar, a first quarter update from Cordiant Digital Infrastructure, plus a new broker for North Atlantic Smaller Companies and share buying by the boss of Molten Ventures. Foresight Solar (FSFL) has received indicative offers from bidders for its Australian portfolio and will “carefully consider” whether to sell and return some […]

US Solar Fund
Pantheon International faces questions over its discount battle as private equity fund throws more money at buybacks

Private equity fund Pantheon International (PIN) has simplified the capital allocation policy funding share buybacks but disappointed those who hoped for a step-change in the battle to rerate its depressed share price. Ahead of a capital markets session in the City of London this afternoon to explain phase three of its three-year corporate strategy programme, […]

PRS REIT accepts £646m bid from pension fund manager Waypoint not private equity giant KKR

The auction of PRS Reit (PRSR) has taken an unexpected turn with the £575m rental properties fund accepting a £646.2m cash bid from pension fund manager Waypoint Asset Management. This is a surprise given last week’s statement that the board was in talks with private equity giant KKR. PRS shares jumped 6.1%, or 6.4p, to […]

Morning briefing: City of London canters ahead of FTSE All-Share; plus SUPR, AJOT, BHMG, RSE, JGGI, BIOG & GV20

Annual results from Janus Henderson flagship City of London and Supermarket Income, interims from AVI Japan Opportunity, BH Macro and M&G Global Credit Income, confirmation from Riverstone Energy that it has $250m to return to shareholders and a new co-manager at JPMorgan Global Growth & Income. Janus Henderson flagship City of London (CTY) beat the […]

Unique Utilico Emerging Markets embarks on five-year plan with 98% shareholder backing

Utilico Emerging Markets (UEM), the only emerging markets focused infrastructure fund listed in London, has convincingly passed the continuation vote it brought forward a year early as part of the series of shareholder-friendly initiatives announced last month. A total of 97.6% of proxy votes received before today’s annual general meeting approved an amendment to the […]

US Solar provides ray of hope in renewables gloom with valuation rise and dividend target hike

US Solar Fund (USF), a £120m renewables fund battling technical problems and a hostile policy environment under President Trump, has posted a surprise 3.2% gain in net asset value (NAV) and a 55% increase in its previously cut dividend target. The Amber managed fund, which has shed a third of its value in the past […]

Foresight Solar 2018 results published: Things looking up
Morning briefing: Oakley Capital makes £25m on schools sale; plus RSE, NAVF, RCP, GRID, GRIO & PVN

Private equity fund Oakley Capital Investments makes a partial divestment from its stake in two education groups; Riverstone Energy accelerates its wind-down with the second big disposal in two days; Nippon Active Value’s activism keeps it ahead of the Japanese stock market; plus updates from RIT Capital Partners, Gresham House Energy Storage, Ground Rents Income […]

Finsbury Growth issues loan scam warning as fund manager Nick Train justifies more than 60% in “digital winners”

Finsbury Growth & Income (FGT), Nick Train’s struggling investment trust, has issued a public warning after fraudsters cloned its website and LinkedIn page in an attempt to trick people into taking out fictitious loans. In a statement on its website, the company said: “Finsbury Growth & Income Trust PLC (FGIT) has recently been made aware […]

Strategic Equity Capital risks windup with 100% tender offer

UK smaller companies trust Strategic Equity Capital (SEC) is honouring a commitment made three years ago to offer investors a 100% exit.  The £163m UK small-cap fund managed by Ken Wotton at Gresham House said it would hold a tender offer next month allowing shareholders to sell all their shares at a price close to […]

Exit sign
Octopus Titan slashes manager’s fee and termination notice

Poorly performing Octopus Titan VCT (OTV2) has cut its fund manager fee by 17% and slashed the notice it needs to give to terminate Octopus Investments’ contract from three years to 12 months.  A further 20% fee rebate could be clawed back if the fund manager does not deliver a 5% annual target return after […]

Morning briefing: JPMorgan US Smaller suffers first half reversal; plus RSE, SRE, HGT, RTW, AUGM, SEQI, INV & GSCT

JPMorgan US Smaller Companies reports 12.4% first half fall; Riverstone Energy makes first disposal in its managed wind-down; Sirius Real Estate taps borrowers for more money; plus updates from HgCapital, Augmentum Fintech, RTW Bioscience and Sequoia Economic Infrastructure Income. JPMorgan US Smaller Companies (JUSC) is having a difficult year, reporting a 12.4% fall in the […]

20230120 HVPE US dollar
A golden opportunity?

This week, following recent results announcements from trusts such as Ruffer (RICA) (click here to read) and Golden Prospects Precious Metals (GPM) (click here to read), along with commentary in our August investment companies monthly (click here to read) that highlighted a number of funds that have been benefiting recently from their exposure to the […]

BlackRock Latin American beats benchmark during strong first half turnaround

BlackRock Latin American (BRLA) has reported a sharp turnaround in the first half of 2025, with net asset value (NAV) rising 40.4% in US dollar terms and the share price up 41.7%, against a 29.9% return from its MSCI EM Latin America benchmark. Net assets increased from US$116m at the end of December 2024 to […]

Golden Prospect Precious Metals’ performance shines with strong interim results

Golden Prospect Precious Metals (GPM) has published interim results for the six months to 30 June 2025, reporting a significant uplift in both net asset value (NAV) and share price. Over the period, NAV rose 53.6% from 43.1p to 66.2p, peaking at 75.7p in early June, while the share price climbed 63.9% from 35.5p to […]

piggy-bank-money-coins
Polar Capital Global Healthcare outlines proposals for future

Polar Capital Global Healthcare (PCGH) has announced draft proposals for a corporate reorganisation ahead of its scheduled fixed life wind-up in early 2026. Following a review of options and consultation with shareholders, the board intends to seek approval for the company to continue, with a number of structural and fee changes designed to enhance long-term […]

Murray Income – further dividend growth but underperformance continues amidst strategic review

Murray Income (MUT) has published annual results for the year ended 30 June 2025. The net asset value (NAV) total return was 2.7% (debt at fair value), with the share price rising 4.3%. Both fell well short of the FTSE All-Share’s 11.2% return, extending a multi-year period of relative underperformance. The board launched a strategic […]

Morning briefing: JEMA updates that claim by VTB Bank was upheld in latest judgement; plus SERE, CGL, SJG, WWH & LTI

JPMorgan Emerging Europe, Middle East & Africa Securities (JEMA) has provided an update on the ongoing lawsuit filed by VTB Bank in Russia. On 10 September 2025, the Russian court of appeal upheld the earlier judgment awarding $439m in damages to VTB against eight JP Morgan legal entities and the company. VTB is now expected […]

someone reading a newspaper with a piece of toast and a mug of coffee next to them
Oakley out in front after another good six months

Oakley Capital Investments (OCI) generated a 7.1% underlying investment return in the first half of 2025. QuotedData’s James Carthew said: “Six months isn’t long but these numbers make Oakley Capital Investments the best-performing private equity trust over the past six months and have allowed it to extend its lead over rival HgCapital over five years […]

oakley capital investments logo
Morning briefing: 29% of Henderson European shareholders cash in their shares; plus CHRY, ALW, RTW, GABI, ENRG, ATR, LMP, PCTN, NRR, MWY

Henderson European (HET) says that holders of 89.775m shares opted for cash (29.04% of its share capital) and 219.332m shares were rolled into Fidelity European (FEV). The cap on the cash option was 33.3%, so everyone who wanted cash will get it. Henderson European will delist on 26 September. Having decided to hang onto all […]

a cash box with euro coins and notes underneath
Chrysalis’s Klarna completes IPO at $40 per share, valuing it at US$15.2bn

Swedish payments group Klarna – a portfolio company of Chrysalis Investments (CHRY) – has completed its long-awaited US initial public offering (IPO), with its shares priced at US$40 each, above the US$35–37 indicative range. The listing raised $1.37bn and values the company at around $15.2bn. Demand was reportedly strong, with the offering said to be […]

klarna logo on pink background
Morning briefing: Fidelity Japan confirms rollover into AJOT; plus SSIT, SOHO, OCI, HHI, PPET, HET/FEV, EAT/ESCT, GRI, HWG & WHR

Fidelity Japan Trust (FJV) has reported a net asset value (NAV) total return of 3.3% for the six months to 30 June 2025, broadly in line with the TOPIX Total Return Index in sterling terms, which rose 3.2%. The trust’s share price delivered a total return of 10.6% as its discount narrowed from 13.1% to […]

cup of coffee and someone taking notes on a pad
Trust Spot: Seraphim selloff puzzle and renewables discounts open up again

Cheaper trusts Looking at August’s biggest discount shifts, Seraphim Space (SSIT) appeared to plunge from a 14.7% discount to a 29.0% discount over the month. Today, the discount stands at 31.5%. At first glance, the reason for this is hard to fathom. Andrew McHattie mentioned the trust on the show on Friday (13:07) – highlighting […]

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