Over the six months ended 31 August 2015, Thai equities dropped sharply. The SET Index fell by 19.2% on a sterling-adjusted basis. Aberdeen New Thai’s net asset value was similarly affected, falling 20.0% while the share price declined by 20.4% on a total return basis, to reach 357.6p. The baht’s depreciation against the pound during the period amplified […]
JPMorgan Private Equity has announced that the it is in discussions to potentially transfer the existing investment management contract from JPMorgan Asset Management to an affiliate of Fortress Investment Group LLC. As part of the deal, JPEL’s Board understands that the investment management team that has been responsible for managing the fund since its inception in 2005 (led […]
Caledonia Investments has agreed terms to acquire Gala Bingo Holdings Limited (“Gala Bingo”), the UK’s largest retail bingo operator, from Gala Coral Group Limited (“Gala Coral”) in a transaction which values the business at £241m. Led by Chief Executive Officer, Simon Wykes, and Chief Finance Officer, Alex Wood, Gala Bingo has a 38% share of […]
City Natural Resources’ investment manager, CQS (UK) LLP, has informed the Board that Will Smith, co-manager of the Company’s investments, will be leaving CQS/New City Investment Managers. Will’s co-management responsibilities have been passed to Keith Watson and Robert Crayfourd with immediate effect. Accordingly, the Company’s investments will be co-managed by Ian Francis, Keith Watson and Robert […]
Electra has announced results for the year ended 30 September 2015 (which is a pretty fast turnaround!). The total return on net assets was and the return to shareholders were both 25%. The equivalent figures for the Morningstar private equity index were 10% and 13% and for the FTSE All-Share Index -2%. The dividend for […]
Randgold Resources’ Tongon gold mine has paid off its shareholders’ loans of US$448 million, used to partially fund the US$580 million capital investment in building the mine five years ago. The Tongon mine is located within the Nielle exploration permit in the north of Côte d’lvoire, 55 km south of the border with Mali. Randgold […]
Electra Private Equity has announced that it intends to exercise the mandatory conversion option in its 5 per cent. Subordinated Convertible Bonds due 2017. The exercise of such option will automatically and mandatorily convert all of the outstanding Bonds into new ordinary shares of Electra. Electra expects to deliver a notice to holders of the […]
HgCapital Trust has announced the sale of a minority interest in JLA to a group of institutional investors. JLA is a leading UK provider of business-critical asset maintenance services to SMEs. After the deal, finds managed by HgCapital will retain c. 62% of JLA’s equity. In addition to the sale of a minority equity interest, […]
Vast Resources plc plans to double the plant capacity at its 50.1%-owned Manaila mine, in Romania, to 2.4 Mt/y by re-commissioning a second mill. The cost of the second mill is estimated at US$0.2 million. The open pit mine commenced production in July this year. As part of its plans for Phase 1 of the […]
JPMorgan Global Convertibles has published results for the year ended 30 June 2015. The total return on the Company’s net assets was -1.0% and the return to shareholders was -4.8%. Three quarterly dividends totalling 3.375 pence per share were declared and paid during the year. Whilst income after expenses fell by 6.2% in the year, […]
Fidelity Asian Values, got a new manager in the shape of Nitin Bajaj, a new benchmark – the MSCI All Countries Asia ex Japan Index, will use treasury shares for the first time, has cut its fees and is proposing changes to its investment policy. The proposed changes would extend the ways in which derivatives can […]
BlackRock Greater Europe has announced results for the year ended 31 August 2015. The total return on net assets was 7.3% and the return to shareholders 6.8% both of which compare favourably with the 1.3% return on the FTSE World Europe ex UK Index. The dividend was upped from 4.7p to 5p. The manager’s report […]
CQS New City High Yield has published results for the year ended 30 June 2015. The return on net assets for the year was 1.0% but the discount widened and so the return to shareholders was -3.6%. They declared one interim dividend of 0.94p, two of 0.96p and one of 1.45p. The Company has in recent […]
BlackRock World Mining has announced that, with effect from 1 October 2015, the management fee has been reduced to 0.8% of gross assets. If they invest in another BlackRock fund the underlying fee is rebated to the trust to avoid double charging. This is the second fee cut this year – in July the fee […]
Electra Private Equity has published the text of a letter it is sending to its shareholders in response to Sherborne’s latest requisition. Rather than cut and paste it, we have attached a pdf of the response here: 151021 Electra Private Equity Plc – RNS ELTA : Electra responds to Sherborne requisition
Lonmin plc, the platinum producer with operations in South Africa, is proposing a financial restructuring to weather the low PGM price environment. The plan involves a US$400 million rights issue, a US$400 million new equity issue and an amendment of its debt facilities to replace the existing US$543 million, which matures in H1 2016. The […]
Hammerson has announced the successful launch of a £350m bond that matures in 2025. The bond has an annual coupon of 3.5% and the company says it was priced at 1.73% over the reference gilt rate. However, the company then entered into a transaction to swap the sterling bond nominal amount and coupon payments into […]
NextEnergy Solar Fund has announced the acquisition of three operational assets with a combined investment value of £22.1m. These are the 11.5MWp North Farm solar power plant in Dorset for £14.5m, the 5.0MWp Birch solar power plant in Essex for £5.3m and the 1.8MWp Thurlestone Leicester rooftop solar power plant portfolio in Leicestershire for £2.3m. […]
The Board of AEW UK REIT has announced the acquisition of a portfolio comprising of 3 industrial warehouses totalling 65,500 sq ft. Moorside Road, Swinton; Wagon Road, Mossley and Clarke Road, Milton Keynes, all trading as Nationwide Crash Repair Centres, have been bought for GBP3.06m (net of acquisition costs) reflecting a net initial yield of […]
The Board of JPMorgan Asian Investment Trust has announced that Richard Titherington, Chief Investment Officer of J.P. Morgan Asset Management’s Emerging Markets & Asia Pacific Equities team, has been appointed co-manager of the Company’s portfolio with immediate effect. Richard’s appointment follows the Company’s announcement on 15th April, 2015, that Ted Pulling, co-manager of the Company’s portfolio for the […]
Henderson International Income has announced results for the year ended 31 August 2015. Over that period the fund underperformed the MSCI World ex UK Index on an NAV basis – returning 2.1% against 5.0% for the benchmark but the fund moved from a discount to a premium and so the return to shareholders was 12.2%. […]
AXA Property Trust say that AXA Investment Managers have informed the Board that after eight years as Senior Fund Manager, Martin McGuire has resigned his position at AXA Investment Managers and will leave the organisation on 27th November 2015. The Board wishes to thank Martin for his considerable contribution to the management of AXA Property […]
Electra Private Equity, together with Exponent Private Equity, is pleased to announce the proposed acquisition of Photobox Group, Europe’s leading digital consumer service for personalised products and gifts. Present in 22 European markets, Photobox Group is the parent of the PhotoBox, Moonpig, PaperShaker, Sticky9, Hofmann, Posterjack and posterXXL brands. The group has a strong customer […]
AEW UK REIT is spending £8.79m on two acquisitions: Barnstaple Retail Park was acquired for £6.79m reflecting a net initial yield and reversionary yield of 8.5%. It comprises a fully let retail warehouse scheme, extending to 50,950 sq ft. The Park is anchored by a 35,690 sq ft B&Q and includes a 9,605 sq ft […]
JPMorgan Smaller Companies has announced results for the year ended 31 July 2015. Over that period the total return on net assets was 13.4%, which compares with 10.5% for the benchmark index (the FTSE Small Cap Index excluding investment trusts). The return to Ordinary shareholders was 14.6% reflecting a slight narrowing of the share price discount […]
BlueCrest BlueTrend has announced that, following completion of the tender offer made in June 2014 by BlueCrest BlueTrend Limited (the “Company”), the Directors have continued to monitor the Company’s size against the provision in the Company’s articles of incorporation that requires a continuation vote to be put to shareholders if the average net asset value […]
Alpha Pyrenees has announced a new extension of its loan facilities with Barclays Bank PLC to 15 April 2016. The maturity date for its borrowings (€257.8m) was 15 October 2015. The company says that current interest rates will continue to apply to the facilities during the new extension period. Arrangement fees (charged at 2% per […]
