JPMorgan Convertible manager exits – JPMorgan Global Convertibles Income Fund Limited has announced that Antony Vallee, one of the company’s fund managers, has decided to leave J.P. Morgan Asset Management to pursue other opportunities. The existing investment management team, led by Natalia Bucci and Robin Dunmall will be augmented by the addition of Paul Levene. […]
Brunner – 46 years of dividend growth. Brunner has announced its final Results for the year ended 30 November 2017. Its NAV total return was 19.5%, which is ahead of its composite benchmark index’s return of 15.1%. In terms of specific drivers of performance, the extract from the annual report released this morning does not […]
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 […]
UEM relocating to the UK – Having announced on 21 November 2017 that it was considering options for a possible change in its domicile from Bermuda to the UK, the Board of Utilico Emerging Markets Limited (UEM) has decided that it would be in the Company’s best interests to re-domicile the Company to the United […]
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 […]
Dan Whitestone sole manager of BlackRock Throgmorton – alongside the publication of its results, BlackRock Throgmorton has announced some changes to its management arrangements. During the year ended 30 November 2017 the fund’s NAV returned 33.9% on a total return basis, compared with a total return of 21.3% from the benchmark index, the Numis Smaller Companies excluding […]
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 […]
Empiric buys Southampton’s Emily Davies Hall – Empiric Student Property has acquired the freehold of a 240 bed student accommodation property in Southampton, the Emily Davies Halls of Residence, for GBP10.6 million (excluding costs). The property comprises affordable student accommodation configured in three and four bed apartments with 65 commercially let car parking spaces. The […]
BioPharma Credit makes $150m loan to NovoCure – BioPharma Credit has entered into a definitive term senior secured loan agreement for US$150 million with NovoCure Limited (NASDAQ: NVCR), a commercial stage oncology company with a current market capitalisation of approximately US$1.9 billion. The US$150 million loan will mature in February 2023 and bears interest at 9.0% […]
British Land buys Woolwich Estate – British Land has acquired the Woolwich Estate, a retail-focused, multi-use estate covering 4.9 acres in south east London for a headline price GBP103 million representing a net initial yield of 4.1%. Part of the attraction for British Land is that it builds their portfolio of places benefitting from the Elizabeth Line, […]
Swiss biotech trusts resilient after recent sell-off – Swiss-listed biotech investment trusts, HBM Healthcare Investments (HBMN.S) and BB Biotech (BBB.S), have fared by far the best among all the sector specialist closed-end collective vehicles in the wake of the global market sell-off in recent days. All 13 trusts in the group monitored by Marten & Co have seen a fall […]
AEW UK REIT buys Wakefield business park – AEW UK REIT has announced the acquisition of Diamond Business Park in Wakefield for GBP4.2m. The 201,543 sq ft multi-let property has a Net Initial Yield of 11.5% and comprises an industrial and office element. On the industrial side, there are 13 units totalling 172,584 sq ft leased […]
LMS Capital exits Brockton Capital LLP – In 2006 LMS, together with 3 other cornerstone investors, backed the establishment of Brockton Capital LLP, a private equity real estate investment adviser, and became an investor in Brockton Capital Fund I LP, a real estate investment fund. The investment in the LLP gave LMS the right to participate in […]
James Carthew of QuotedData provides comment to Mike Sheen of Investment Week on new EM management line-up at Franklin Templeton. Manraj Sekhon appointment as CIO of emerging markets equity coincides with a raft of changes in the asset class’s senior leadership team, which will be organised by strategy type, with directors overseeing global emerging markets, […]
Polar Capital Financials Trust beats benchmark as banks do well – Polar Capital Financials Trust has published results for the year ended 30 November 2017. Over the period, the benchmark, the MSCI World Financials + Real Estate (RE) Index, rose by 14.2% but the fund beat this, delivering an NAV total return of 16.4%. The total […]
Star fund manager leaves River and Mercantile Micro Cap – Philip Rodrigs, manager of River & Mercantile Micro Cap, has left the management company following “an investigation into a professional conduct issue”. He is leaving the company today and the fund has not been affected by his actions. River & Mercantile Group has released the following […]
Blue Capital Alternative Income (BCAI) has provided an update on the January 2018 reinsurance renewals season. Mike McGuire, CEO of Blue Capital Management Ltd, says, “”Following the significant industry losses experienced in 2017, we are pleased to report improved market conditions during the January renewal period. On average, loss affected business benefited from renewing premium […]
Tritax will fund new Eddie Stobart logistics facility – Tritax Big Box REIT has exchanged contracts, conditional on receiving full planning consent, to provide forward funding for the development of a new regional distribution centre at Midlands Logistics Park, Corby. The development asset is pre-let to Eddie Stobart Limited, one of the UK’s leading logistics […]
Standard Life Property Income buys Grand National Retail Park – Standard Life Investments Property Income Trust has completed the purchase of the Grand National Retail Park in Aintree for a price of GBP6.125m, reflecting an initial yield of 6.85%. The park is adjacent to the race course, and consists of 4 units let as a […]
LXI buys Stobart biomass storage and processing plant – The board of LXi REIT says that the company has acquired the freehold interest in the Stobart biomass storage and processing plant in Rotherham, Yorkshire in a sale and leaseback transaction. The purchase price for the property is GBP3.4 million, reflecting a net initial yield of 6.2% (net of acquisition […]
Hansteen sell IMPT portfolio to Warehouse REIT – Hansteen has agreed to dispose of the Industrial Multi Property Trust (IMPT) portfolio for GBP116 million to an entity owned by Warehouse REIT. Hansteen acquired the portfolio through its successful offer for IMPT which was declared wholly unconditional on 25 April 2017. The portfolio consists of 51 UK multi-let […]
Macau Properties sells Senado Square – Macau Property Opportunities Fund has conditionally agreed to sell its Senado Square retail redevelopment project to Ardent Success Limited and City Universe Limited, for HK$800 million (c. US$102.3 million. The sale price represents a premium of 14% to the property’s valuation of HK$703 million (c. US$90.0 million) as at 31 […]
BB Biotech tops biotech trust league in January Swiss-listed BB Biotech (BBB), managed by Bellevue Asset Management, was the best performing biotech-specialist investment trust in January, achieving a 4.8% rise in sterling-denominated NAV total return. Furthermore, with a tightening of its discount to NAV, BB biotech saw a 10.4% rise in its sterling-translated share price over […]
