EP Global Opportunities Trust plc
INTERIM MANAGEMENT STATEMENT FOR THE THREE MONTHS TO 31 MARCH 2008
The Board of EP Global Opportunities Trust plc ('the Company') announces its
first Interim Management Statement as required by the UK Listing Authority's
Disclosure and Transparency Rules. This Statement is in respect of the period
from 1 January 2008 to 31 March 2008.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of EP Global Opportunities Trust plc is to provide shareholders
with an attractive real long-term total return by investing globally in under
valued securities. The portfolio is managed without reference to the
composition of any stockmarket index.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
31 March 2008 31 December 2007 % Change
Net asset value 161.9p 177.2p -8.6%
per share
(including income)
Share price 133.5p 160.0p -16.6%
Share price 17.5% 9.7%
discount to net
asset value
Net assets £52.3m £57.7m
REVIEW OF THE PERIOD
Results and Dividend
The net asset value total return in the three month period to 31 March 2008 was
-8.6%, similar to the returns seen in equity markets worldwide where the
continuing impact of the credit crisis and the prospect of the US moving into
recession unsettled investors. The FTSE All-Share Index fell by -9.9% and the
sterling adjusted return of the S&P Composite Index was -9.3%. The FT All-World
Index return was -9.0% (All Index returns are stated on a total return basis).
At the end of December 2007 the Company held £7.8m in cash, short term
government bonds and other net assets. The investment manager's cautious
outlook was maintained during the quarter and at 31 March 2008 these assets had
increased to £8.5m. This represents 16.3% of shareholder funds.
Following the approval of shareholders at the Annual General Meeting held on 16
April 2008, the Company will pay a final dividend of 2.3p per share relating to
the year ended 31 December 2007 on 12 May 2008. The dividend is payable to
shareholders on the register as at the close of business on 11 April 2008, with
the ex-dividend date being 9 April 2008.
Share Price and Discount
The share price fell by 16.6% from 160.0p to 133.5p, resulting in the share
price discount to net asset value increasing from 9.7% to 17.5% during what was
an extremely volatile period in equity markets.
During the period the Company repurchased 245,000 shares which are all held in
treasury. The total number of shares held in treasury at 31 March 2008 was
1,685,000 shares, representing 5.0% of the total number of shares in issue. The
Board will continue its policy of buying in shares, when appropriate, at a
discount to the net asset value.
Investment Strategy and Outlook
The US would appear to be slipping into recession and there is growing evidence
of a slowdown in other economies. Our investment manager believes that margin
assumptions globally are overly optimistic and continues to maintain a cautious
outlook.
Financial stocks have already seen their share prices fall substantially and
consumer-related stocks are likely to be the next hit as the ripples from the
credit crisis widen. Despite specific risks, banks are now generally cheap and
discounting a poor future outlook. The same cannot be said for many consumer,
industrial, commodity and emerging markets stocks which the investment manager
continues to view as overvalued.
Interest rate cuts will help to resuscitate the banking system but it takes
time to rebuild balance sheets. In the meantime, the US Federal Reserve has
provided temporary relief by increasing access to liquidity and orchestrating
the rescue of Bear Stearns.
A key question is whether rising inflation is temporary and hence whether
interest rates can continue to be reduced. There is little evidence of
inflation becoming embedded in wage rates and hence there should be latitude
for further easing once the recent commodity based price rises have worked
their way through the system.
As 2008 progresses it is anticipated, that with profit margins still at
historically high levels and likely to decline, profit warnings will accelerate
which could prove a good environment for finding investment opportunities
utilising the cash balances that are currently held within EP Global
Opportunities Trust.
Enquiries:
Sandy Nairn
Kenneth Greig
Edinburgh Partners Limited
12 Charlotte Square
Edinburgh EH2 4DJ
Tel: 0131 270 3800
Registered Office of the Company:
12 Charlotte Square
Edinburgh EH2 4DJ
21 April 2008
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