Jupiter European Opportunities Trust PLC
Interim Management Review for the three months ended 29 February 2008
The Board of Jupiter European Opportunities Trust PLC (the "Company") is pleased
to announce its interim management review for the quarter ended 29 February
2008.
During the period from 1 December 2007 to 29 February 2008, the Company's net
asset value per share fell by 2.5 per cent. to 216.18p, which compares with a
fall of 7.3 per cent. for the Company's benchmark, the FTSE World Europe ex UK
Total Return Index, over the same period.
Investment Manager's Report for the Quarter Ended 29 February 2008
Equity markets were very volatile early in the quarter as concerns about the
credit crisis deepened. Markets rallied somewhat in the latter half of December
after coordinated intervention by central banks to support the interbank money
markets during a year-end lack of liquidity. But the ameliorating effect proved
temporary and European markets fell sharply in January as worries continued
about the ramifications of US growth prospects. The US Federal Reserve acted
swiftly and decisively, making two very aggressive cuts in interest rates to
address market concerns.
Nevertheless, the European reporting season started well, especially for many of
our holdings. The Trust's out-performance was a consequence of both strong
results from our holdings (a reflection of their exposure to strongly growing
markets around the world) and modest exposure to financials.
Alex Darwall
Fund Manager, Jupiter Asset Management Limited
Total Assets as at 29 February 2008: £176,758,138
Shares in Issue on 29 February 2008: 81,764,723
Net Asset Value (p) Market Price (p) Discount
Ordinary Shares* 216.18 207.50 (4)%
Portfolio Distribution on 29 February 2008 Percentage of Total Assets
France 42%
United Kingdom 18%
Denmark 15%
The Netherlands 12%
Switzerland 11%
Germany 7%
Others 17%
Cash and fixed interest (22%)
100%
The Company's exposure to other UK listed investment companies was nil on 29
February 2008.
Top Ten Holdings on 29 February 2008
Company Country of Listing %
Novo-Nordisk Denmark 9.7
Geophysique France 8.3
Elsevier The Netherlands 7.2
Neopost France 7.0
Syngenta Switzerland 6.8
Johnson Matthey United Kingdom 6.0
Euler Hermes France 5.7
Novozymes Denmark 5.6
Intertek Group United Kingdom 5.1
Essilor France 4.6
_____
66.0
Comparative Performance to 29 February 2008
1 Month % 3 Months 1 Year % 3 Years 5 Years Since Since Last
% Launch % Annual
Report %
Total Assets* 7.3 (2.5) 8.6 61.0 187.0 99.0 (3.7)
FTSE World Europe ex
UK Index 2.2 (7.3) 4.8 53.8 144.2 39.5 (7.4)
Ordinary Share NAV 7.3 (2.5) 8.6 66.6 228.6 128.4 (3.7)
Ordinary Share Price 11.3 (1.9) 7.1 69.0 279.0 104.4 (6.2)
*Adjusted for changes to share capital in September & October 2002, March &
April 2003, May & July 2007 and changes to amounts borrowed.
OBJECTIVE OF THE COMPANY
The objective of the Company is to invest in securities of European companies
and in sectors or geographical areas which are considered by the investment
manager to offer good prospects for capital growth, taking into account economic
trends and business development.
INVESTMENT POLICY
The Investment Manager adopts a stock picking approach in the belief that a
thorough analysis and understanding of a company is the best way to identify
long-term superior earnings prospects. This understanding begins with
identifying those companies where the ownership structure and incumbent
management are conducive to the realisation of the aim of achieving superior
long-term earnings growth. The Investment Manager will seek to identify
companies which enjoy certain key business characteristics including some or all
of the following:
_ a strong management record and team, and the confidence that the Investment
Manager has in that management's ability to explain and account for its actions;
_ proprietary technology and other factors which indicate a sustainable
competitive advantage;
_ a reasonable expectation that demand for companies' products or services will
enhance long-term growth; and
_ an understanding that structural changes are likely to benefit that company's
prospects rather than have a negative impact on them.
It is intended that the Company will have some exposure to all the major sectors
of the European economy. There may be sectors which do not enjoy the business
characteristics described above and in such circumstances the Investment Manager
will seek to identify companies that are expected to generate superior earnings
growth within that sector.
In analysing potential investments, the Investment Manager will employ differing
valuation techniques depending on their relevance to the business
characteristics of a particular company. However, the underlying feature will be
the sustainability and growth of free cash-flow in the long-term.
Material Events
Following a ruling by the European Court of Justice, HM Revenue and Customs has
recently accepted that VAT will no longer be charged on investment management
fees. For the Company it may also be possible to recover some of the VAT paid in
the past on management fees. However, the amount repayable is subject to a
number of legal and procedural considerations which currently are under review
by the Directors.
The Board is not aware of any other significant events or transactions which
have occurred between 1 December 2007 and the date of publication of this
interim management statement which would have a material impact on the financial
position of the Company.
Availability of Monthly Fact Sheets
Monthly fact sheets for the Company are available for download from
www.jupiteronline.co.uk and by post or fax on request from the company
secretarial department.
The Company's Ordinary shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange and the
prices are published in the Financial Times and The Times under `Investment
Companies'.
The Net Asset Values of the Company's ordinary shares are calculated weekly and
can be viewed on the London Stock Exchange website at
www.londonstockexchange.com (under the heading `Market News').
For further information, please contact:
Richard Pavry
Director of Investment Trusts
Jupiter Asset Management Limited
rpavry@jupiter-group.co.uk
020 7314 4822
Jenny Thompson
Company Secretarial Department
Jupiter Asset Management Limited
jthompson@jupiter-group.co.uk
020 7314 5565
The Company's Registered office is at 1 Grosvenor Place, London SW1X 7JJ.
This interim management statement has been prepared solely to provide
information to meet the requirements of the UK Listing Authority's Disclosure
and Transparency Rules.
*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;
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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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