Monthly Update
Lindsell Train Investment Trust PLC
23 February 2005
The Lindsell Train Investment Trust PLC
As at 31st January 2005
Fund Objective
To maximise long-term total returns subject to the avoidance of loss of absolute value and with a minimum objective to
maintain the real purchasing power of Sterling capital, as measured by the annual average yield on the 2.5%
Consolidated Loan Stock.
Share Price GBP 110.50
Net Asset Value GBP 117.01
Premium (Discount) (5.6%)
Market Capitalisation GBP 20.3mn
Benchmark (21/2% Con Ann Avg Yield +4.8%) +0.4
Source: Bloomberg; NAV-Lindsell Train. Share Price
quoted is closing mid price. See Benchmark definition.
Performance History (based in GBP) YTD 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000
Net Asset Value % +1.7 +22.9 +3.5 -9.6 +3.2 n/a
Share Price % +8.9 +20.1 -8.4 -19.8 +18.5 n/a
Source: S&P Micropal. Based in GBP. Performance years listed Jan - Dec.
Launch date 22 Jan 2001. With dividends reinvested.
Past performance is not a guide to future performance. The price of units and the income from them may go down as well
as up. Investors may not get back what they invested.
2004 Performance Jan 04 Feb 04 Mar 04 Apr 04 May 04 Jun 04 Jul 04 Aug 04 Sep 04 Oct 04 Nov 04 Dec 04
Net Asset Value % +1.8 +3.3 +0.3 +2.3 -0.1 +2.5 -2.0 +4.8 +3.8 +0.7* +1.0* +2.7*
Share Price % -2.3 +6.0 -0.6 +0.6 +2.3 +3.2 +0.5 +0.5 +8.6 +3.0 -1.9 -0.8
Source: S&P Micropal unless otherwise indicated. Based in GBP. Performance years listed Jan - Dec. Launch date 22
Jan 2001. With dividends reinvested. *Source: Lindsell Train Limited.
2005 Performance Jan 05 Feb 05 Mar 05 Apr 05 May 05 Jun 05 Jul 05 Aug 05 Sep 05 Oct 05 Nov 05 Dec 05
Net Asset Value % +1.7
Share Price % +8.9
Source: S&P Micropal unless otherwise indicated. Based in GBP. Performance years listed Jan - Dec. Launch date 22
Jan 2001. With dividends reinvested. *Source: Lindsell Train Limited.
Past performance is not a guide to future performance. The price of units and the income from them may go down as well
as up. Investors may not get back what they invested.
Industry Breakdown % of NAV
Bonds 24.3
Preference Shares 14.3
Equity - Media 8.2
Equity - Banks & Investment Co. 3.9
Equity - Leisure & Ent. 9.8
Equity - Food & Beverage 20.6
Investment Fund 22.8
Cash & Equivalent (3.9)
Total 100.0
Source: Lindsell Train
Top 10 Holdings % of NAV
US Gov Treasury 6.25% 10.8
Lindsell Train Global Media (Dist) 10.0
Barr AG 9.8
HBOS 9.25% Non Cum 9.7
Lindsell Train Japan (Dist) 8.6
21/2% Consolidated Loan Stock 7.8
Cadbury Schweppes 6.4
Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries 5.8
UK Treasury 2.5% 5.8
HBOS 6.125% Non Cum 4.6
Source: Lindsell Train
Fund Exposure Bonds Prefs Equity Funds Cash % of NAV
UK % 13.5 14.3 36.9 4.2 (3.9) 65.0
USA % 10.8 - 1.6 - 3.4 15.8
Europe (ex UK) % - - - - - -
Japan % - - 4.0 8.6 (3.4) 9.2
Global % - - - 10.0 - 10.0
Total 24.3 14.3 42.5 22.8 (3.9) 100.0
Source: Lindsell
Train
Fund Manager's Comments
The year has got off to an intriguing start, with capital markets behaving quite differently from expected. In
particular, both the US Dollar and the Anglo-Saxon bond markets have confounded pundits by going up. As this note is
written, the long-dated US Treasury owned in the Trust has gained over 5.0% in capital terms - more than the US stock
market, which is down year-to-date, the Japanese equity market, which has eked out a sub 1.0% rise and even the FT
All-Share, which is up an otherwise healthy 4.8%. Our gilts, too, are better by 2.0% in capital terms, even after their
double-digit returns in 2004. Meanwhile, the US Dollar has reclaimed 2.5% of its Sterling value since year-end,
enhancing the return on the US bond and indeed the other US assets within the Company.
Clearly investors are being forced to reconsider their negative views on both bonds and the Dollar. The trigger is the
Federal Reserve's policy of raising short-term US interest rates. These increases are helping long bonds, by reducing
the risk that what is already very low US inflation will get out of hand. In addition, a rising income return on Dollar
assets makes bears of the currency think hard about their commitment to Yen, where it is zero and the Euro bloc,
including even Sterling, where the chances are good that the next move in short-term interest rates will be down.
Our position on bonds and the Dollar remains unchanged. We expect long-term interest rates to decline further, in
response to low inflation and institutional demand. However, we are not buyers of bonds today and expect to reduce our
positions into strength. On the Dollar, we remain long-term bulls of the world's most productive and dynamic capitalist
economy and hence its currency. However, we will not increase nor decrease our exposure to investment assets on
currency considerations alone.
One attraction of US capital assets is the fact that, par excellence, the US remains the place where things happen -
where new industries emerge and where old ones consolidate. Bears of the US deny themselves the chance of investing in,
for instance, Google, up nearly 10.0% already in 2005, which we do not own, or eBay, down 31.0% year-to-date, which we
do own, via the Media Fund (eBay doubled in value for the Fund last year and we expect it to recover after this share
price indigestion). The Internet is dominated by US corporations. Avoiding these incredible growing companies on the
strength of nothing more substantive than a guess about something as unpredictable as currency rates seems irrational
to us (avoiding them because they may or may not be grossly overvalued is another matter).
More relevant to your Trust, the US is leading the way in industry consolidation. Most notably P&G's offer for Gillette
is a significant event both for the global consumer branded goods industry and, therefore, for the Lindsell Train
Investment Trust. P&G has made two marks. First, it has indicated it believes the industry is on the verge of a
sustained period of consolidation, as branded goods owners look to reclaim value lost to retailers and to claim
economies of scale from increasingly global operations. Second it has put an exceptionally high price on what is,
doubtless, an exceptionally fine asset. Gillette is valued on circa 5.0x its annual revenues by the merger terms. Here
is our interest in the transaction. We own substantial positions in a number of other fine consumer branded goods
companies, that may or not be implicated in future transactions, but which definitely are valued far more cheaply by
stock market investors. Diageo and Cadbury spring immediately to mind, trading on 2.9x and 2.2x sales respectively.
Cadbury, 7.0% of your company's assets, is up 3.0% today on probably specious gossip of a bid from Kraft, but would go
up very considerably more if consolidation does continue.
Another branded goods business, A.G. Barr, is certainly too small to appear on investment bankers' radar as a likely
merger candidate, however that has not prevented its share price from making further progress. Up 33.0% in 2004, the
shares have put on 8.0% in 2005. At current levels the shares offer a dividend yield little higher than the market
average. Here they offer decent value, with dividends likely to grow in excess of the average, but, regrettably, we can
no longer regard them as an absolute bargain, as they have been for much of the life of your Trust.
Both Lindsell and Train have been busy through January, seeking, with some success, to exploit 2004's good investment
performance and raise new capital for the management company, of which the Trust owns 25.0%. Shareholders should hope
that both the investment performance and the raising of new funds under management can be sustained, because the
combination should drive the share price of the Trust higher.
Fund Manager Launch Date Denomination
Nick Train 22 Jan 2001 GBP
Year End Dividend Benchmark
31st Mar Ex Date: June The annual average yield on the 21/2%
Payment: August Consolidated Loan Stock.
The Board Management Fees Registered Address
Rhoddy Swire Standard Fee: 0.65% Lindsell Train Investment Trust
Michael Mackenzie Performance Fee: 10% of annual increase 77A High Street
Donald Adamson in the share price, plus dividend, Brentwood
Michael Lindsell above the gross annual yield of the 2 ESSEX CM14 4RR
1/2% Consolidated Loan Stock.
ISIN Bloomberg Listing
GB0031977944 LTI LN London Stock Exchange
Disclaimer
This document is intended for use by persons who are authorised by the UK Financial Services Authority ('FSA') and
those who are permitted to receive such information in the UK. The information contained in this document does not
constitute an offer or invitation to buy or sell any investments. Nothing in this document constitutes investment,
legal, tax or other advice. Lindsell Train and/or persons connected with it may have an interest in this investment.
The value of any investment in securities or funds and the income generated from them may go down as well as up and are
not guaranteed. Past performance cannot be used as a guide or guarantee of future performance. You may not get back the
original amount you have invested. Changes in foreign exchange rates may cause the value of your investment to go up or
down. Some funds with higher gearing may be subject to higher volatility and the investment value may change
substantially. The net asset value (NAV) performance of an investment trust is not the same as its market share price
performance.
Issued by Lindsell Train Limited
Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority
23 Feb 2005 LTL 000-023-6b
Lindsell Train Limited
35 Thurloe Street, London SW7 2LQ
Tel. +44 20 7225 6400 Fax. +44 20 7225 6499
info@lindselltrain.com http://www.lindselltrain.com/
Lindsell Train Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
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