7 April 2011
CRYSTAL AMBER FUND LIMITED
("Crystal Amber Fund" or the "Fund")
Monthly Net Asset Value
Crystal Amber Fund announces that its unaudited net asset value ("NAV") per
share on 31 March 2011 was 100.71p per share (28 February 2011; 93.54p per
share).
Commentary
The proportion of the Fund's NAV at 31 March 2011 represented by the largest
five holdings, other investments and cash (including accrued dividends) was as
follows:
Pence per share Percentage of investee
equity held
Pinewood Shepperton plc 35.2 28.9
Omega Insurance Holdings 10.8 3.2
Ltd
JJB Sports plc 9.9* 15.5*
PayPoint plc 8.7 1.9
Forth Ports plc 6.5 0.5
Total of five largest 71.1
Other investments 19.3
Cash 10.3
Total NAV 100.7
* 10.3p and 7.1 per cent, respectively, following the April 2011 fundraising by
JJB Sports plc ("JJB").
Pinewood Shepperton plc ("Pinewood"), the Fund's largest holding, reported an
increase in turnover and profits for 2010. The Fund remains of the view that
there is considerable untapped potential at Pinewood and continues to work on a
strategy to unlock that value.
Omega Insurance Holdings Ltd ("Omega") has now reported two bid approaches. The
Fund expects any offer to reflect both Omega's net asset value and a premium
for control.
JJB has made considerable progress towards delivering on its significant
turnaround potential, announcing agreement on a further fundraising and a
Company Voluntary Arrangement. The Fund was actively involved in discussions to
secure the funding. We are confident that a refinanced JJB now has a stable
platform for recovery. The Fund continues to engage intensely with the
management of JJB as they endeavour to ensure that this time a permanent
turnaround in JJB's fortunes is secured.
PayPoint plc ("PayPoint") started the quarter as the Fund's second largest
holding. Its share price rose 15 per cent over the quarter. The National
Lottery Commission ruled against allowing Camelot, operator of the UK National
Lottery, to engage in commercial activities using its Lottery terminals. The
Fund realised some profits on its investment but continues to be a holder and
remains confident about PayPoint's prospects.
Forth Ports plc ("Forth Ports"), where the Fund renewed its investment in
recent months, has recommended an offer from Otter Ports Limited at 1630p per
share cash plus a final dividend of 20p per share. The average cost of the
Fund's holding is 1460p per share.
Following a strengthening of the share price of Trading Emissions plc ("Trading
Emissions"), which was previously one of the top five holdings, profits were
taken on part of the holding. Trading Emissions has reported approaches both
for its private equity portfolio and for its carbon credit portfolio.
William Collins, chairman of Crystal Amber Fund, commented:
"This has been a busy quarter for the Fund as we continue to follow our
strategy of active engagement with our portfolio companies to deliver value
from all our holdings. Progress has been made at several of the Fund's
investments, be it corporate activity at companies we identified as undervalued
and candidates for takeover or progress towards recovery at turnaround
opportunities such as JJB."
For further enquiries please contact;
Crystal Amber Fund Limited
William Collins (Chairman)
Tel: 01481 716 000
Merchant Securities Limited - Nominated Adviser & Joint Broker
David Worlidge/Bidhi Bhoma
Tel: 020 7628 2200
Numis Securities Limited - Joint Broker
Nathan Brown
Tel: 020 7260 1426
Crystal Amber Advisers (UK) LLP - Investment Adviser
Richard Bernstein
Tel: 020 7491 0774
*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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