Alpha Strategic (APS): At the last AGM, shareholders of the fund approved a resolution renewing the company’s authority to buy back shares.
Aston Hill Adv Oil & Gas Inc: Following the recent acquisition of Brompton’s closed-end funds range, Aston Hill has rebranded all purchased funds; all names starting with "Brompton" have been changed to "Aston Hill".
Atlantis Japan Growth (AJG): Shareholders of the fund have approved a resolution granting authority to the company to buy back shares, up to 14.99% of the company’s issued share capital.
Cazenove Absolute Equity (CAEL): Weiss Asset Management has added nearly 2% to its stake in the fund, taking its holding to nearly 6% in the hedge fund.
City Natural Resources (CYN): Shareholders have approved the issue and placing of up to £40 million through convertible unsecured load stock and a temporary increase of borrowing restrictions until the current bank loan is repaid. This has increased the net gearing from 110% to 129%.
Eurovestech (EVT): The company has announced details of its proposal to return to shareholders approximately £13.25 million, these funds being the proceeds received from the sale of ToLuna plc. Subject to shareholders approval, the company will issue D shares and grant one D share for each existing ordinary share. Each D share will carry the right to receive the dividend of 4p per share. Following payment of the dividend, the D shares will convert to deferred shares with very limited rights. Eurovestech has announced that for the foreseeable future it does not intend to buy them back, nor list them on the stock exchange. Shareholders will be given the option to sell them back to the stockbroker and receive the 4p as a capital distribution. The tender offer would take place before the dividend declaration date.
Invesco Perp Recovery 2011 (IPRT): Royal Bank of Scotland Group has decreased its stake in this UK Growth and Income fund by over 1% to nearly 5%. This is the second time this year it has trimmed its exposure to this fund.
Japan Residential Investment (JRIC): Westhouse Securities has been appointed as a joint broker. It will work with Fairfax who has served as the sole broker since October 2006.
J.P. Morgan Priv.Eq (JPEL): SPL Parallel Private Equity has bought a stake of almost 6% in the fund.
NB Global Floating Rat Inc GBP (NBLS): Rathbone Brothers has increased its stake by nearly 4% to almost 10% and is currently the fifth largest shareholder of the fund.
Polo Resources (POL): The board of directors has renewed its share buy-back programme, which allows the company to buy back up to 10% of the issued shares over the next twelve months. Since establishing it in 2010, the company has made a few repurchases, with the most recent being in mid-May. The fund has been very volatile and it has traded at both a hefty discount to NAV as well as a premium. Since the end of June, when the fund traded at a premium of approximately 20%, the discount has widened to over 50% as at today (on a cum-income basis).
Private Equity Investor (PEQ): Shareholders of the fund have approved a resolution granting authority to the company to buy back shares, up to 14.99% of the company’s issued share capital.
Thames River Hedge+ EURO (TRMB): Shareholders of the fund have approved a resolution granting authority to the company to buy back its EUR, USD and GBP shares, up to 14.99% of the company’s issued share capital.
Value & Income (VIN): The company has announced that as a result of a management buyout of the property management side of OLIM Limited, it has decided to split its investment management contract between OLIM Limited, which will manage the company’s equity portfolio, and OLIM Property Limited, which will manage its property component.
Szymon Idzikowski is a closed-end fund analyst with Morningstar.