Alliance Trust - Overview

Alliance Trust (ATST) follows a multi-manager approach to global equity investing, with the board having delegated the management of ATST to Willis Towers Watson (WTW), the global consultancy firm. The Alliance Trust Investment Committee team of Craig Baker, Stuart Gray and Mark Davis at WTW select a suite of managers from a long list identified by their manager research team. As discussed under Portfolio, ATST’s underlying managers have very distinct styles. Each manager is asked to run a conc

Don’t fear the reaper

With market direction hard to call, we consider the case for taking a long- term view in the investment trust sector...

Don't fear the reaper

Investors are increasingly unsure about what to do with their money, at least according to those we speak to. The reflationary rally seems to be over, and since the summer the market has gyrated between value and growth, pandemic optimism and pessimism, clean energy and fossil fuels, et cetera, et cetera… While the general consensus is now that inflation will remain high for a considerable period of time, it is unclear yet whether this is a bullish or bearish scenario. Unfortunately, an investm

Board games

One of the key attractions of closed-ended funds is – in our biased view – the role of the board. Investment trust boards wield the power to overhaul the investment strategy, hire and fire investment managers, and negotiate commercial terms with these managers. It is fair to say the environment for active managers is becoming more competitive, with the rise of passive funds, of actively managed/specialist ETFs and easier access to open-ended funds via online platforms. This week's announcement o

Pandemic immunity

Since the start of 2020 global equity markets have been on a pandemic-driven roller-coaster ride, with many phases of an economic cycle condensed into the last 19 months. Yet thanks to the effective roll-out of vaccines we are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. As equity markets show signs of normalisation we take the opportunity to review the AIC’s Global sector, examining how its constituents performed over the four major periods of the pandemic and identifying which trusts,

The fruits of diversification

More than four years after it refocused its global equity portfolio, Alliance Trust (ATST) has proven the merits of blending different expertise across different investment styles. Since the overhaul in April 2017, it has matched its peers and beaten its benchmark. In particular, over the past 14 months, which have been clouded by the uncertainty created by the coronavirus pandemic, its strategy has outperformed. The manager, Willis Towers Watson, reiterates the importance of diversification to

The fruits of diversification

More than four years after it refocused its global equity portfolio, Alliance Trust (ATST) has proven the merits of blending different expertise across different investment styles. Since the overhaul in April 2017, it has matched its peers and beaten its benchmark. In particular, over the past 14 months, which have been clouded by the uncertainty created by the coronavirus pandemic, its strategy has outperformed. The manager, Willis Towers Watson, reiterates the importance of diversification to

Alliance Trust - Overview

Alliance Trust (ATST) follows a well-diversified approach to global equity investing, while still retaining the benefits of active management. ATST’s management has been delegated to Willis Towers Watson (WTW), the global investment consultancy. WTW brings with it a huge depth of resources, whereby 4,000 researched equity long only asset managers are condensed into a list of 20 potential managers, those which WTW deems to be both best in class and skilled at managing concentrated portfolios. For

My haven’t you grown!

Like childbirth, we think 2020 will be remembered for what it produced rather than the agony of the experience. Events have conspired that, rather than the sickly and unpopular child it once was, sustainability as an investment theme has become a thriving, healthy teenager which seems destined for great things (note the torturous lack of gender specifics in this sentence, another thing we can thank 2020 for). As with many trends that were already in progress at the start of 2020, the speed at w

Alliance Trust - Overview

Alliance Trust (ATST) is one of the largest investment trusts in the market, with gross assets of c. £3bn. As shown in the Performance section, since Willis Tower Watson (WTW) took over management in April 2017 would observe that performance has improved. WTW employs a manager-of-managers strategy, giving each of the underlying managers the mandate to create a ‘best ideas’ portfolio of around 20 stocks with few restrictions. It was announced in September that Lomas would replace First Pacific Ad

A trust for all seasons

Alliance Trust (ATST) underwent a major overhaul three and a half years ago, refocusing on its global equity portfolio. Non-core parts of the company have been sold and overheads slashed. Today, the trust’s assets are managed by nine of the world’s best stock pickers. Investing sustainably is a strong theme within the fund, but the manager, Willis Towers Watson, seeks to blend managers with different styles so that the trust is not beholden to any particular fashion in markets.

A trust for all seasons

Alliance Trust (ATST) underwent a major overhaul three and a half years ago, refocusing on its global equity portfolio. Non-core parts of the company have been sold and overheads slashed. Today, the trust’s assets are managed by nine of the world’s best stock pickers. Investing sustainably is a strong theme within the fund, but the manager, Willis Towers Watson, seeks to blend managers with different styles so that the trust is not beholden to any particular fashion in markets.

Alliance Trust - Overview

Alliance Trust (ATST) is one of the UK’s oldest and largest investment trusts. Almost three years ago, on April 1 2017, the trust adopted a new approach which sees management of the portfolio outsourced to nine fund management groups in different parts of the world, each tasked with managing a portfolio comprised of a concentrated, bespoke selection of their fund managers’ best ideas. The management groups in this stable – many of them otherwise out of reach for ordinary investors – are selected

Because they’re worth it

Fees in the fund management world are a hot topic, and average fees across collective investment funds around the world have seen relentless declines. According to research from Morningstar, the average asset-weighted fee for actively managed equity funds has fallen by 18% since 2013, compared with a 28% decline at passive funds.

A marathon not a sprint

“The single greatest edge an investor can have is a long-term orientation”, according to Seth Klarman, the American billionaire hedge fund investor. On the Hargreaves Lansdown platform the number of people with more than £1m in their ISA has increased from just three in 2012 to 168 today. However while this sounds very impressive, £1m doesn’t seem that fanciful given full historic contributions to PEPs and ISAs since 1987 would have added up to more than £291,000. We calculate that an investor w

Cenkos: Healthcare Sector - Ward Round

Weekly round-up of AIM-listed healthcare news. Venture Life Group, GENinCode, Kromek, Alliance Pharma, Polarean Imaging, Benchmark Holdings, Ondine Biomedical, Verici Dx, Faron Pharmaceuticals, Avacta Group, Abingdon Health, Open Orphan, Belluscura, Hutchmed (China), Oxford Biodynamics

Earnings in line, NAV ahead, caution being exercised

Urban Logistics REIT (“ULR”) has delivered a solid FY22 performance – deploying capital apace and driving strong returns through active asset management. Earnings and dividend are both in line vs SCMe. EPRA NAV is 190p (+7% vs SCMe); as yield compression came as a bonus. Caution is being exercised in deploying remaining capital, which impacts FY23e earnings only. We upgrade EPRA NAV by 14-20% incorporating some (but not all) recent yield compression. We increase our Target Price to 210p (FY23e E

In line final results, market headwinds impact AuM

Finals are in line on management fee earnings, but an unexpected performance fee drives a 6% earnings beat and a higher dividend. Recent market conditions have been challenging and have impacted AuM, down 12% in Q1 so far (vs pf incl. Majedie). We update our model, driving a 8-11% reduction in our earnings estimates. We think that the current 8x Mar-23e PER is already more than pricing in further forecast risk. We note a 6%+ prospective dividend yield generously covered by earnings with signific

Auctus on Friday - 01/07/2022

AUCTUS PUBLICATIONS ________________________________________ Arrow Exploration (AXL LN)C; Target price of £0.45 per share: Another well delivers flow rate above expectations – The RCS-1 well was flow tested at oil rates of up 1,872 bbl/d (936 bbl/d net to Arrow) of 30 API crude from the C7B sands. The zone was tested for 33 hours at an average oil rate of 1,076 bbl/d (538 bbl/d net to Arrow) with no formation water. Production will start next week at ~1,000 bbl/d (500 bbl/d net) in order to mini

Hybridan Small Cap Feast 22/06/2022

Dish of the day Joiners: No Joiners Today. Leavers: No Leavers Today. What’s cooking in the IPO kitchen? Visum Technologies seeking admission to The AQSE Growth Market. The Company's business is to own and operate an "on-ride" video and photographic camera system that it sells and/or licenses to customers (being theme parks, ride manufacturers, souvenir imaging providers, and other leisure operators). Due 30 June. LifeSafe Holdings, a fire safety technology business with innovative fire safety p

Hybridan Small Cap Feast 01/07/22

1 July 2022 @HybridanLLP Status of this Note and Disclaimer This document has been issued to you by Hybridan LLP for information purposes only and should not be construed in any circumstances as an offer to sell or solicitation of any offer to buy any security or other financial instrument, nor shall it, or the fact of its distribution, form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any contract relating to such action. This document has no regard for the specific investment objectives

Cenkos: Marlowe Plc -- Record organic growth

Marlowe delivered an impressive set of FY22A results, with underlying organic revenue growth of 9%, Adj EBITDA margins up 240bps to 18.6%, and Adj EBITDA of £54.4m (ahead of our £50.7m forecast). We make minor updates to our FY23E forecasts (Adj Diluted EPS increases 1% to 49.6p) and release new FY24E forecasts. Given the strength of Marlowe's business model, its defensive nature (non-discretionary products and services; 85%+ recurring revenue), the group's continued positive momentum (including

LIBERUM: Alternatives Daily

LIBERUM: Alternatives Daily

Morning Note – 29 June 2022

Hybridan Small Cap Feast 23/06/22

Dish of the day Joiners: No Joiners Today. Leavers: No Leavers Today. What’s cooking in the IPO kitchen? Immediate acquisitions (IME.L) is to re-join AIM via a Reverse Takeover of Fiinu Holdings Limited. Once complete the Company is proposing to change its name to Fiinu Group plc. Fiinu intends to be a provider of a consumer banking product, the Plugin Overdraft ®, which is designed to provide customers with an overdraft facility without having to change their current account or request an overd

Hybridan Small Cap Feast 30/06/2022

Dish of the day Joiners: Visum Technologies has joined the AQSE Growth Market. The Company's business is to own and operate an "on-ride" video and photographic camera system that it sells and/or licenses to customers (being theme parks, ride manufacturers, souvenir imaging providers, and other leisure operators). Leavers: No Leavers Today. What’s cooking in the IPO kitchen? Immediate acquisitions (IME.L) is to re-join AIM via a Reverse Takeover of Fiinu Holdings Limited. Once complete the Compan

Cenkos: Professional Services -- The week that was

Stocks in focus this week are Personal Group, Johnson Service Group, Capita and Mears

Morning Note – 28 June 2022

NextEnergy Solar Fund - NAV Grows 15% in FY 22

NextEnergy Solar Fund’s (NESF) full-year results show a 15% growth in NAV resulting from better pricing and new asset growth. The fund has been working hard to diversify its asset growth opportunity with battery storage in the UK and more international exposure through its commitment and co-investment opportunity with the NPIII private fund. From a strong start the fund is showing continued progress into the current year.