Kepler Trust Intelligence: New Research

RNS Number : 0376R

Menhaden PLC

25 February 2019

 

Menhaden: New research  

25/02/2019     

·     With a refreshed philosophy, out-of-favour Menhaden is starting to deliver good returns…

Read more

Menhaden has evolved over its relatively short life. It is possible that many investors are under the misconception that it is a "green" fund, aiming to save the world rather than deliver good investment returns. Having met with the management team, we believe the philosophy can be better described as using a "value" focus to identify durable companies, with strong pricing power and very high barriers to entry, aiming to remain invested for the very long term.

In taking a long-term view, the managers feel they need to consider a wide range of long-term factors and make various macro assumptions about the future. One of these assumptions is that environmental considerations - and more specifically resource efficiency - will become increasingly relevant for businesses of all types. Those that provide their products or services in the most resource efficient way will be more successful - both in terms of having lower costs / taxes, and their products will appeal more to an increasingly aware consumer.

Using this philosophy, Menhaden has a resulting portfolio which is highly concentrated, currently with only 19 positions. From a top down perspective, the team try to balance the portfolio across three "buckets" (public equities, private investments and "yield"), each expected to be around 30% of the portfolio over the medium to long term depending on the opportunities the team find. Otherwise, there are no restrictions to the shape of the portfolio; the team tend to look for opportunities within four broad sectors- being renewable energy, sustainable transportation, resource & energy efficiency and water & waste.

We discuss the rationale for various holdings in the portfolio section. However, the current largest holding (representing c 21% of NAV) is X-Elio, a private investment in a Spanish solar PV developer. It is currently held at a valuation 50% above the price that Menhaden bought the stake. The team at Menhaden were tight lipped on the potential for this investment, but we note that there has been some press coverage in Spain (link) on what El Pais speculates might be one of the (Spanish) deals of the year. According to the newspaper, KKR put its 75% stake up for sale in October 2018.

The trust, launched in 2015, had a difficult start in life which explains the current very wide discount. However, since the portfolio was repositioned (Q1 2017), performance has started to improve. Over the past year, Menhaden has outperformed the average of the global investment trust and open-ended peers, as well as the MSCI ACWI index.

Click here to read the full report

Visit http://www.trustintelligence.co.uk/investor for more high quality independent investment trust research.

Not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States or any jurisdiction in which such distribution would be unlawful.

Important information

Menhaden is a client of Kepler Trust Intelligence. This material should be considered a marketing communication, and is not independent research.

Kepler Partners is not authorised to make recommendations to Retail Clients. This report is based on factual information only, and is solely for information purposes only and any views contained in it must not be construed as investment or tax advice or a recommendation to buy, sell or take any action in relation to any investment.

This report has been issued by Kepler Partners LLP solely for information purposes only and the views contained in it must not be construed as investment or tax advice or a recommendation to buy, sell or take any action in relation to any investment. If you are unclear about any of the information on this website or its suitability for you, please contact your financial or tax adviser, or an independent financial or tax adviser before making any investment or financial decisions.

The information provided on this website is not intended for distribution to, or use by, any person or entity in any jurisdiction or country where such distribution or use would be contrary to law or regulation or which would subject Kepler Partners LLP to any registration requirement within such jurisdiction or country. Persons who access this information are required to inform themselves and to comply with any such restrictions. In particular, this website is exclusively for non-US Persons. The information in this website is not for distribution to and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of any offer to buy any securities in the United States of America to or for the benefit of US Persons.

This is a marketing document, should be considered non-independent research and is subject to the rules in COBS 12.3 relating to such research. It has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research.

No representation or warranty, express or implied, is given by any person as to the accuracy or completeness of the information and no responsibility or liability is accepted for the accuracy or sufficiency of any of the information, for any errors, omissions or misstatements, negligent or otherwise. Any views and opinions, whilst given in good faith, are subject to change without notice.

This is not an official confirmation of terms and is not to be taken as advice to take any action in relation to any investment mentioned herein. Any prices or quotations contained herein are indicative only.

Kepler Partners LLP (including its partners, employees and representatives) or a connected person may have positions in or options on the securities detailed in this report, and may buy, sell or offer to purchase or sell such securities from time to time, but will at all times be subject to restrictions imposed by the firm's internal rules. A copy of the firm's conflict of interest policy is available on request.

Past performance is not necessarily a guide to the future. The value of investments can fall as well as rise and you may get back less than you invested when you decide to sell your investments. It is strongly recommended that Independent financial advice should be taken before entering into any financial transaction.

PLEASE SEE ALSO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Kepler Partners LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales at 9/10 Savile Row, London W1S 3PF with registered number OC334771.

Kepler Partners LLP is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

About this service

Kepler Trust Intelligence for private investors is not just another news and research website. Our aim is to create a library of high quality investment strategy research, fund analysis and useful guides for private investors, all written in-house by experienced analysts on the investment companies team at Kepler Partners.

We are focused entirely on investment trusts, however we believe that it helps to understand them better if they are placed on a level playing field with OEICs, so you will see comparisons between the two in these pages often.

Our content falls into three categories;

Investment strategy articles are designed to highlight opportunities and developments which are of interest to investment trust investors, positive or negative.

Fund research focuses on individual trusts, examining them in detail to create a snapshot picture which you can use to decide whether or not you want to invest in them.

Educational output is split into simple guides, designed to help beginners understand how investment trusts work, and more complex guides to sectors, regions and strategies which may be of interest to investors.

We do not produce massive amounts of research. Our focus is on quality, not quantity, so we are unlikely to publish more than four or five articles in a given week. For this reason we recommend that you join our mailing list, and we'll send you an email once a week alerting you to what's new on the site. We won't sell your details, and we won't spam you with useless updates.

How are we funded?

Kepler Trust Intelligence is funded entirely by the providers of investment trusts, and is made available freely to any person (professional or private individual) who wants to access it. We clearly disclose all of our relationships, but our research is either paid for directly by specific trusts and their boards, or more generally by the larger asset management groups who pay to have adverts and advertorial. As a result, all of our research should be considered "non-independent" and readers should consider it as marketing.

All of our content is freely available to anyone. We run two versions of the site - one for professionals and one for private investors. The professional site requires readers to volunteer the name of the company they work for and the city / region - so that from a compliance perspective we can be satisfied that all readers really are a professional.

We provide information, not advice

While we hope that you find the research we publish useful, and we believe it will help you to make a more informed decision, but we must of course stress that none of the research published here constitutes a recommendation, or advice, and you should not think that - just because we've published a report on a trust - we believe that trust is a 'buy'. Please read our terms and conditions.

If you want to manage your own investments we hope that this website is a useful source of information which helps you to do that, however if you are in any doubt, you should speak to a financial adviser.

Pascal Dowling

Kepler Partners

 

END

 

 

NRAUVAORKNAUUAR