British Empire Sec & Gen Tst PLC
20 June 2007
BRITISH EMPIRE SECURITIES AND GENERAL TRUST PLC
Performance Commentary
This investment management report relates to performance figures as at 31 May
2007.
Over the month NAV was up 4.4%1. This compares to an increase in the benchmark
of 3.2%2, and an increase of 2.5%1 for the MSCI World (£) and 4.0%1 the FTSE All
Share indices.
Financial* year to date, net asset value rose 17.9%1 compared to a rise of
15.6%2 for the Datastream index, 13.0%1 for the MSCI World (£) and 15.1%1 for
the FTSE All Share.
Over three years NAV is up 113.8%1 while the FTSE All Share is up72.0%1.
Manager's Comment
Equity markets were strong again in May. It appears that the return on equity
in the stock market still comfortably exceeds the cost of funding for private
equity players and strategic buyers, thus inciting bids. This situation may
continue for some time until a spike in interest rates or a fall in ROE brings
an end to the profitability of these trades.
Discounts on our universe of stocks has widened slightly so we feel more
comfortable that we have a greater 'margin of safety' than in recent years.
This has allowed us to become more fully invested.
Statistics
Value % 1 mo % 1 yr % 3 yr % 5 yr
Price (£)1 480.5 1.8 8.1 107.5 154.3
Net Asset Value1 505.3 4.2 19.8 108.0 134.9
Net Asset Value Total Return1 4.4 21.3 113.8 145.7
Benchmark2 (£) 3.2 19.8 74.4 64.6
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 3.78
Sofina 3.30
Paris Orleans 2.92
Jardine Strategic 2.91
Alliance Trust 2.87
Electra Private Equity 2.50
NTT Urban Development 2.48
Lundbergforetagen 2.48
GBL 2.25
Heineken Holding 2.09
Capital Structure
Ordinary Shares 160,080,089
10 3/8% Debenture stock 2011 £8,514,940
8 1/8% Debenture stock 2023 £14,875,319
Equities index unsecured loan stock 2013 2,837,000
Gross Assets/Gearing
Gross Assets £846 mil.
Debt £ 29.5 mil.
Actual Gearing (Debt
less cash divided by
net asset value) -7.7%
Fund Codes
Bloomberg Reuters Ticker / ISIN
BTEM GB0001335081
Geographical Breakdown
Continental Europe 25.9%
Japan 13.4%
Canada / US 13.2%
Asia Pacific 15.2%
UK 21.3%
Liquidity 11.0%
EMEA 0.0%
All figures as at 31 May 2007 unless otherwise stated. All sources Asset Value
Investors Ltd unless otherwise stated. British Empire Securities Trust 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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