British Empire Sec & Gen Tst PLC
11 December 2007
BRITISH EMPIRE SECURITIES AND GENERAL TRUST PLC
Performance Commentary
This investment management report relates to performance figures as at 30
November 2007.
Over the month NAV was down 5.8%1. This compares to a decrease in the benchmark
of 3.9%2, and a decrease of 3.1%1 and 4.7%1 for the MSCI World (£) and FTSE All
Share indices respectively.
Financial* year to date, net asset value fell 3.8%1 compared to a fall of 0.9%2
for the Datastream index, 2.0%1 for the MSCI World (£) and 0.6%1 for the FTSE
All Share.
Over three years NAV is up 75.2%1 while the FTSE All Share is up 54.0%1.
Manager's Comment
Markets fell sharply over the month as the ongoing credit crisis and downturn in
the housing market continues to worry investors. The possibility of further
easing by the US Federal Reserve and other Central Banks is supporting markets,
although a weakened global economy in 2008 is a distinct possibility.
Cash is maintained at relatively high levels both to stabilise returns and as a
source of fire power as opportunities arise.
Statistics
Value % 1 mo % 1 yr % 3 yr % 5 yr
Price (£)1 473.3 -2.1 8.5 64.3 205.3
Net Asset Value1 485.9 -5.8 10.8 70.3 175.0
Net Asset Value Total Return1 -5.8 12.1 75.2 185.2
Benchmark2 (£) -3.9 12.5 60.9 100.7
Annual Returns (%) 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002
Price1 0.3 51.7 36.0 41.6 -12.2
MSCI World1 5.8 23.0 7.2 20.6 -27.4
1 Source: Fundamental Data
2 Datastream Global Growth Investment Trust Index (TR) Source: Thomson Financial
Top 10 Equity Holdings %
Investor AB 3.86
Sofina 3.60
Jardine Strategic 3.25
GBL 2.82
Jardine Matheson 2.75
Electra Private Equity 2.73
Paris Orleans 2.71
Deutsche Wohnen 2.45
Holmen 2.39
BIP 2.14
Capital Structure
Ordinary Shares 160,080,089
10 3/8% Debenture stock 2011 £8,514,940
8 1/8% Debenture stock 2023 £15,000,000
Equities index unsecured loan stock 2013** 2,730,231
** Updated annually
Gross Assets/Gearing
Gross Assets £815 mil.
Debt £ 29.3 mil.
Actual Gearing (Debt less cash divided
by net asset value) -15.1%
Fund Codes
Bloomberg Reuters Ticker/ISIN
BTEM GB0001335081
Geographical Breakdown
Continental Europe 28.3%
Japan 9.9%
Canada / US 12.8%
Asia Pacific 9.4%
UK 19.3%
Liquidity 18.3%
EMEA 2.0%
All figures as at 30 November 2007 unless otherwise stated. All sources Asset
Value Investors Ltd unless otherwise stated. British Empire Securities and
General Trust plc is managed by Asset Value Investors Ltd. The price of shares
and the income from them may go down as well as up; they can be affected by
exchange rate movements between currencies and it is possible that investors may
not get back the full amount invested on disposal of the shares. Past
performance is no guarantee of future performance. Investments in emerging
markets carries a greater degree of risk, in particular the volatility of the
markets and the local custody and registration arrangements, which may be less
developed than in more mature markets. There is no guarantee that the market
price of shares in Investment Trusts will fully reflect their underlying Net
Asset Value (NAV). This Investment Trust should be considered only as part of a
balanced portfolio, of which it should not form a disproportionate part. Under
no circumstances should this information be considered as an offer, or
solicitation, to deal in investments. Issued by Asset Value Investors Ltd.,
which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
*A Private Investor is a recipient of the information who meets all of the conditions set out below, the recipient:
Obtains access to the information in a personal capacity;
Is not required to be regulated or supervised by a body concerned with the regulation or supervision of investment or financial services;
Is not currently registered or qualified as a professional securities trader or investment adviser with any national or state exchange, regulatory authority, professional association or recognised professional body;
Does not currently act in any capacity as an investment adviser, whether or not they have at some time been qualified to do so;
Uses the information solely in relation to the management of their personal funds and not as a trader to the public or for the investment of corporate funds;
Does not distribute, republish or otherwise provide any information or derived works to any third party in any manner or use or process information or derived works for any commercial purposes.
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