Objective and Gearing Changes of Note in CEFs

CEF TIMES: Fidelity European Values is proposing the usage of CFDs for gearing purposes; Martin Currie Portfolio looks to dispose of private equity holdings; and more

Jackie Beard, FCSI, 13 April, 2011 | 9:36AM
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CEF News: April 7 - 12
There has been a change of investment policy at China Private Equity Investments (CPEH). The fund now has a much broader remit, rather than being heavily focused on telecoms, media and technology companies. The investment manager may also hold companies outside China but with significant exposure to the Chinese market. The fund currently trades at a hefty premium to its NAV and has done since this change was notified to shareholders ahead of their vote of approval at the AGM.

Fidelity European Values (FEV) is putting forward a proposal to shareholders to allow the manager, Sam Morse, to use contracts for difference (CFDs), for gearing purposes. The current bank loans of £57.165 million will then be repaid. The board believes this will be cheaper than the fixed loan, whose interest rate is 4.38%. In our view, Fidelity is well resourced to execute CFDs in an appropriate risk-controlled manner so as not to cause alarm to shareholders.

Shares in Henderson Global Property Companies (HGPC) have been suspended, following shareholder approval to reconstruct and wind up the company on 8 April. Shareholders were offered the opportunity to roll their investment into the new Henderson International Income Trust, launching next week, or their Global Property OEIC, as alternatives to taking cash.

Martin Currie Portfolio (MNP) is proposing a change to its investment objective, which will see the disposal of the private equity part of the fund. This part currently comprises around 10% of the total assets. This will see a change in the fund’s benchmark from the FTSE AllShare to the FTSE World Index. This move makes complete sense to us and the use of the FTSE AllShare, for a global equity portfolio, was, in our view, an anomaly that has now been rectified.

Global hedge fund RAB Special Situations (RSS) has issued an update in line with RAB Capital’s on 6 April; RAB Capital is the fund management company which provides investment management services to RSS. The next redemption opportunity, in October, closed on 4 April and the company anticipates nearly 80% of the fund will be repaid. Given the fund is currently valued at £27.8 million, this will leave just £5.8 million on today’s valuation.

RCM Technology (RTT) has survived its continuation vote, put forward at the AGM in April 2011. Shareholders will be asked to vote again on its continuation in five-yearly intervals from hereon. The fund has just two closed-end peers in its specialist category – Polar Capital Technology and Eurovestech – and is the oldest fund of the three.

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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