MERRILL LYNCH WORLD MINING TRUST plc
All information is at 30 June 2007 and unaudited.
Performance at month end with net income reinvested
One Three One Three Five
month months year years years
Net asset value* (undiluted) 1.9% 18.2% 45.7% 247.1% 378.0%
Net asset value* (diluted) 1.7% 15.5% 40.4% n/a n/a
Share price* -0.9% 12.9% 41.8% 231.2% 369.2%
HSBC Global Mining Index 1.3% 14.8% 34.1% 190.2% 258.1%
Sources: BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited, HSBC Global Mining
Index, Datastream
*Net asset value and share price performance includes the warrant reinvestment,
assuming the 2004 and 2006 bonus warrant entitlements per share were sold and
the proceeds reinvested on the first day of trading.
At month end
Net asset value
Undiluted: 670.74p Includes net revenue of: 4.31p
Diluted: 640.32p
Share price: 570.00p
Discount to undiluted NAV: 15.0%
Warrant price: 114.00p
Total assets: £1,098.65m
Net yield: 0.44%
Gearing: 3.63%
Ordinary shares in issue: 159,079,858
Warrants in issue: 29,814,855
Ordinary shares held in Treasury: 13,063,421
During the month a further 773,421 ordinary shares were bought back to be held
in treasury for a total consideration of £4,497,000.
Sector % Total Country % Total
Analysis Assets Analysis Assets
Diversified 44.9 Latin America 22.0
Base Metals 27.4 Global 20.2
Platinum 7.9 South Africa 12.3
Gold 5.4 Australasia 12.2
Industrial Minerals 5.4 Canada 9.7
Silver/Diamonds 5.0 USA 7.2
Other 3.3 Other Africa 6.5
Net current assets 0.7 India 3.2
----- China 2.2
100.0 Kazakhstan 1.1
----- Europe 1.0
Indonesia 1.0
Laos 0.5
Ukraine 0.1
Mongolia 0.1
Net current assets 0.7
-----
100.0
-----
Ten Largest Equity Investments
Company Region of Risk
Alcoa USA
Anglo American Global
BHP Billiton Global
CVRD Latin America
First Quantum Minerals Zambia
Impala Platinum South Africa
Minas Buenaventura Latin America
Rio Tinto Global
Teck Cominco Canada
Zinifex Australasia
Commenting on the markets, Graham Birch, representing the Investment Manager
noted:
M&A speculation dominated for much of the quarter, with rumoured takeover
targets such as Alcoa, Alcan and Rio Tinto among the names benefiting
strongly. As the industry struggles to meet rising demand levels, we believe
that companies will continue to take advantage of the relatively cheap
valuations that exist in the sector in an attempt to grow. Metal prices
continue to be strong (albeit slightly volatile due to short term market
sentiment) and inventory levels remain low, with China's growth proving to be
the major swing factor within global metals and minerals markets.
World growth seems set to remain strong for the balance of the year - despite
tightening monetary policy. Market conditions remain favourable for natural
resources companies although some sort of seasonal consolidation should be
expected over the summer.
Overall, the fundamentals for mining equities look positive, with historically
high metal prices set to continue, share buybacks proceeding at a rapid rate
and the possibility of further M&A activity as mining companies seek to grow
quickly and cost effectively. The higher commodity prices have been translated
into higher profits for the Company's holdings. In addition, further
consolidation in the industry should provide extra momentum to the sector.
Latest information is available by typing www.blackrock.co.uk/its on the
internet, "BLRKINDEX" on Reuters, "BLRK" on Bloomberg or "8800" on Topic 3 (ICV
terminal).
12 June 2007
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