CEF Times: December 9-15

The managers at Schroder Income Growth can now compete on a more level footing with peers, Witan cuts back its Australian equity exposure in favour of emerging markets, and more

Jackie Beard, FCSI, 15 December, 2010 | 10:42AM
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The merger of Gartmore Growth Opportunities into Artemis Alpha Trust (ATS) looks set to proceed as planned. New ordinary shares and subscription shares were admitted to the LSE on December 13.

Brookwell (BKW) has completed the disposal of investments in its A share class and will redeem all A shares at the end of December. Two investments remain in the B class and their disposal is expected in the first quarter of 2011.

Burford Capital (BUR) has completed its placing of approximately $175 million and 100 million ordinary shares were admitted to trading on AIM on December 10.

Carador Income (CIF) has issued a prospectus for a possible placing of EUR shares and/or USD shares of up to $75 million.

Conygar Investment (CIC) has extended its share buyback programme from 2 million ordinary shares to 4 million. To date it has purchased 1.765 million.

CQS Rig Finance (RIG) has repaid all cash borrowed under its secured loan facility to Credit Suisse, and terminated the facility effective December 13.

Edinburgh Dragon (EFM) is proposing a placing and offer for new cumulative unsecured loan stock (CULS), for which shareholder approval will be sought at the general meeting on January 11, 2011. The CULS will carry a yield of 3.5% per annum.

The C share placing and offer at HSBC Infrastructure (HICL) was oversubscribed and so applications are being partially scaled back. 110 million C shares will be issued at £1 per share and the proceeds will be used to pay down the company’s debt.

Impax Environmental Asian C shares and Impax Asian Environmental Markets C shares (IAEM) have been converted into ordinary shares, effective December 10, and the C shares are no longer being traded on the LSE.

JPMorgan Asian (JAI) has proposed a tender offer for up to 5% of its ordinary shares, at a price equal to the diluted ex-income NAV at calculation date, less costs and an additional 2%. The shares currently trade at a discount between 9% and 10% to NAV.

Indian property company Naya Bharat Property Company (NBPC) held an EGM on December 10, at which the proposal to wind up the company was approved. Trading in the shares was cancelled on December 13. The first distribution is expected in January 2011.

North American Banks (NAM) is proposing to cancel its listing on AIM and shareholders will be asked to approve this by voting on January 6, 2011. The fund was launched in 2005 and raised $38 million at its placing. The total value is now just $16 million. Given the banking crisis, the board believes it is unlikely to be able to raise additional money in the immediate short term, hence they are looking to reduce costs as much as possible, ahead of realising the portfolio. The cancellation of the listing is one of these steps they are taking to reduce costs. The investment manager, North Atlantic Value, has agreed to remain in situ and to defer fees until such time all investments are realised.

O Twelve Estates (OTE) has announced a placing and open offer of up to 357,700,006 ordinary shares, to raise up to £37.56 million.

Shareholders at Schroder Income Growth (SCF) have approved the proposal to allow up to 20% of the fund to be invested overseas. They have also approved the proposal to allow the writing of call options on holdings in the portfolio to generate up to 20% of the income.

There will be a change of investment manager at both SPARK VCT (SVCT) and SPARK VCT 2 (SVC2). From January 1, 2011, both funds will be managed by Albion Ventures LLP and SPARK Venture Management Ltd has agreed to terminate its investment management agreement with both VCT companies.

Witan (WTAN) has appointed boutique Trilogy Global Advisors to manage a £50 million emerging markets portfolio. This will be funded from existing cash, the closing of a position in the MSCI EM Index future and the sale of Australian assets managed by Orbis. Trilogy is majority-owned by Affiliated Managers Group (AMG), who completed the purchase of their majority equity stake earlier this month. Earlier this year, AMG purchased Artemis Fund Managers outright from Fortis Bank.

Director Appointments
Artemis Alpha Trust (ATS) – Ian Dighe

Director Resignations/Retirements
Artemis Alpha Trust (ATS) – Charles Peel
Schroder Income Growth (SCF) – Peregrine Banbury

The information contained within is for educational and informational purposes ONLY. It is not intended nor should it be considered an invitation or inducement to buy or sell a security or securities noted within nor should it be viewed as a communication intended to persuade or incite you to buy or sell security or securities noted within. Any commentary provided is the opinion of the author and should not be considered a personalised recommendation. The information contained within should not be a person's sole basis for making an investment decision. Please contact your financial professional before making an investment decision.

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