Interim Management Statement

RNS Number : 0967Z

Artemis Alpha Trust PLC

09 March 2012

 



Artemis Alpha Trust plc (the "Company")

Interim management statement - 3 months ended 31 January 2012

Introduction 

The Company has prepared this interim management statement to meet the requirements of the UK Listing Authority's Disclosure Rules and Transparency Rules.  It covers the three month period ended 31 January 2012, together with relevant information up to the date of publication. 

Investment objective 

Artemis Alpha Trust plc aims to achieve above average rates of total return over the longer term and to achieve a growing dividend stream.

Material events & transactions

The Company announced its results for the half-year ended 31 October 2011 during the period, including the declaration of a first interim dividend for the year to 30 April 2012 of 1.20p per ordinary share. This dividend was paid on 3 February 2012.

During the period, the Company has purchased 60,000 ordinary shares at an average discount of 9%. All shares repurchased are currently being held in treasury. Since the period end, the Company has purchased a further 100,000 ordinary shares at an average discount of 6.1%. As at 8 March 2012, the net asset value per share was 289.63p per share, and the share price was 273.88p. The discount to net asset value at which the Company's shares trade was 5.4%. In the period, 3,882 subscription shares were converted into ordinary shares at the conversion price of 345.0p per share.

General financial information

	31 January 2012	31 October 2011
Net asset value	275.05p	271.56p
Share price	254.50p	267.25p
Net assets	£133.8m	£132.2m
Market capitalisation	£123.8m	£130.1m
Ordinary shares in issue	48,634,470	48,690,588
Ordinary shares in treasury	210,000	150,000
Subscription shares in issue	6,867,134	6,871,010

Ten largest equity investments

Investment	% of portfolio 31 January 2012	% of portfolio 31 October 2011
Hurricane Exploration	8.3%	8.6%
Vostok Energy	5.5%	5.6%
Lynton Holding Asia	3.9%	4.2%
New Britain Palm Oil	3.7%	3.3%
R.E.A. Holdings	2.6%	2.4%
Salamander Energy	2.6%	2.4%
Asian Plantations	2.6%	2.9%
Cove Energy	2.4%	1.7%
Providence Resources	2.4%	1.6%
Collins Stewart Hawkpoint	1.9%	-

Sector analysis

Sector	% of portfolio 31 January 2012	% of portfolio 31 October 2011
Oil & Gas Producers	34.2%	30.6%
Financial Services	11.9%	10.3%
Food Producers	10.2%	10.2%
Software & Computer Services	5.3%	4.9%
Aerospace & Defence	4.7%	6.0%
Mining	4.6%	4.8%
Travel & Leisure	3.8%	3.6%
Real Estate Investment & Services	3.6%	4.0%
General Retailers	3.2%	2.9%
Support Services	3.1%	5.0%
Other	15.4%	17.7%

Performance

	3 months	1 year	3 years	Since 1 June 2003 **
Net Asset Value *	1.8%	(14.6)%	69.4%	323.5%
Share price *	(4.3)%	(19.7)%	69.2%	304.5%
FTSE All-Share Index	3.2%	(0.3)%	56.9%	99.9%

*Source: Artemis Investment Management LLP/Datastream. All figures are to 31 January 2012 and are total returns.

** The date of Artemis' appointment as investment manager.

A copy of the interim management statement and further information about the Company can be found on the investment manager's website at artemisonline.co.uk.

Artemis Investment Management LLP

Company Secretary

Tel:  [phone] 

9 March 2012

 

END

 

 

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