Better Capital PCC 2009 (BCAP): Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) purchased over 8.5 million shares to take its stake to almost 11%. It is now the second largest shareholder following Ruffer Investment Management, whose stake is almost 30%.
BlackRock Latin American (BRLA): In light of a widening discount since the last buyback in 2009, the board plans to purchase up to 5% of issued shares in March by way of a tender offer. The tender price will be 98% of the cum-income diluted NAV as at March 30. The fund's six-month average discount is around 5%, compared with a three-year average of 2.4%.
Orchid Developments (OCH): BlackRock has decreased its stake by 1.3% in the direct property fund taking it to less than 4%. Orchid Developments currently trades at a hefty discount exceeding 93% compared with its 12-month average of 81%.
Thames River Hedge+ EURO (TRMB): Shareholders are to vote on a resolution to decide if the company should continue to exist as a closed-end vehicle; the vote will take place at an EGM held at the beginning of February. Subject to approval, the company will propose a continuation vote takes place every three years, following the 2013 AGM. Shareholders will also be given the opportunity to tender up to 50% of their shares at the tender price of March 31. The company also considers the implementation of a conditional tender offer in early 2013 up to 100% in the event of the company failing to deliver double-digit NAV growth for the performance period running from November 1 to October 31. Finally, subject to the continuation of the company, the investment manager has agreed to reduce the management fee from 1.5% to 1%.
Ventus VCT (VEN): The board has announced its intentions to raise up to £10 million by way of an issue of new shares, to undertake a tender offer to purchase up to 12 million shares and to extend the life of the company. The share offer will be open to existing and new investors. The tender offer will enable an existing ordinary shareholder to sell their stake, subject to them applying the full proceeds to subscribe for new Ords. Since the share offer will be at price + 5% (covering issue costs), existing shareholders participating in the offer will be given additional shares equal to 3% of the amount subscribed. Ordinary shareholders who sell their shares back to the company will be subscribing for shares that carry relief from income tax of up to 30%, but which also carry the requirement to hold them for five years. The fund is currently managing £17 million and is set to wind up in July 2014.