Which Emerging Markets CEFs Are Raising Capital?

CEF TIMES: This year, both Fidelity China Special Situations and JPMorgan GEM Income are issuing C-shares for investors seeking income beyond the UK

Jackie Beard, FCSI, 23 February, 2011 | 9:45AM
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CEF News: February 17-23
Shareholders at Ashmore Global Opportunities (AGOE) will be asked to vote on the future of the company on 18 April 2011, as its discount floor provision has been triggered. The company has seen more than 75% of its shares traded at an average discount of more than 10% over a 365-day period, so the board must put forward wind-up, continuation or reconstruction proposals. The fund has suffered since the market downturn in 2008, which saw its discount widen significantly.

The rolling 12-month discount floor provision at Dexion Trading (DTL) has also been triggered. This means the fund has traded at an average discount in excess of 5% of NAV for the last 12 NAV calculation dates. The board must therefore put forward a continuation vote within the next four months. The current discount stands at more than 9% to NAV.

Changes are afoot at Epicure Qatar Equity Opportunities (EQEO). The company is proposing to move to a premium listing on the UK Official List, to help narrow the discount at which it trades to NAV and improve liquidity. A premium listing means better disclosure for investors and incorporation in the FTSE indices, among other things. Several changes need to be made to allow this to proceed, should shareholders approve such a move. The investment manager will be given greater flexibility in the management of the fund, and in particular the maximum position sizes, to allow for the dominance some companies have in the Qatar Exchange Index. The company also plans to change its name to Qatar Investment Fund. Shareholders will be voting on all these issues on 17 March 2011.

Fidelity China Special Situations (FCSS) has announced the results of its C share placing. The company raised the maximum £166.25 million (gross), from which Fidelity will take a 2.5% fee. The fund is still trading at a premium of more than 5% to its NAV, and the C shares should be admitted to the Official List on 28 February. We’re not surprised to see the allocation taken up in full, given Bolton’s investing track record. However, we are mindful that he has only committed to running the fund until April 2013 and we would encourage investors to think much longer term than this with such a narrowly-focused fund.

Invesco Perpetual AIM VCT (IPA) has changed its name to Amati VCT 2. This follows the departure of Andy Crossley from Invesco, late in 2010 and the board’s subsequent appointment of Amati Global Partners LLP as fund manager, effective 11 February 2011. Amati was created in 2010 from the purchase of Noble Fund Managers by Dr Paul Jourdan and Douglas Lawson who, together, were involved in running Noble’s funds. Jourdan is a small-cap specialist who spent a number of years at Stewart Ivory (which became First State) running their UK small-cap equity fund. The appointment of Amati is a good strategic fit, in our view.

Fidelity isn’t the only house in town to issue C shares this year. JPMorgan GEM Income, which launched in July 2010, will be releasing more details of its planned C share issue in early March and the offer period will be open throughout ISA season. Click here to listen to our recent webinar Solutions to the Income Challenge, where we discuss the benefits and risks of looking beyond the UK for income.

Origo Partners (OPP) has raised approximately $60 million, before expenses, through its placing of 60 million new redeemable, convertible, zero-dividend preference shares. The shares are expected to be admitted to the Official List on 8 March. This will see total assets rise from their current level of approximately £115 million to £175 million.

Three Vietnamese equity companies have given an update to shareholders on the effects of the devaluation of the Vietnam Dong against the US dollar on 7 February. Vietnam Infrastructure (VNI), VinaCapital Vietnam Opportunities (VOF) and Vinaland (VNL) have all issued an estimate of the impact the currency drop will have on their NAVs. We like to see companies engaging with their shareholders in this way and keeping them up to date. The currency is a known risk for investors in these funds and this is the second devaluation in three months.

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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