Impax Environmental Markets PLC
05 March 2004
IMPAX ENVIRONMENTAL MARKETS plc
All information is at 29 February 2004 and unaudited
DATA AND PERFORMANCE
Data Pricing & Performance
Price (pence) 61.75 IEM MSCI Impax
Net Asset Value World ET50
Total Fund Size (m) 34.1 Pence (29.2.04) 68.3 n/a n/a
Management fee 1.0%
Established 22 February 2002 Performance
Fund structure Investment Trust 1 month (%) +0.5% -0.4% -0.2%
Number of stocks 58 3 Months (%) +4.1% +1.5% +4.5%
held
Exchange London 1 year (%) +39.4% +20.5% +33.1%
Currency GBP Year to date (%) +3.0% -0.5% +2.3%
ISIN Number GB0031232498
Sedol 3123249
Reuters RIC Code IEM.L
Bloomberg Code IEM LN
TOP TEN HOLDINGS
Company Holding % Description Country
RPS Group 4.5 Environmental consulting UK
Vestas Wind Systems 3.9 Wind Denmark
Casella Waste 3.4 Waste disposal & recycling US
BWT 3.3 Water treatment Austria
Itron 3.1 Meters & Software US
Hydrogenics 3.0 Fuel cells Canada
Ionics 3.0 Water treatment US
Tetra Tech 2.9 Environmental consulting US
Trojan Tech 2.9 UV disinfection Canada
Shanks 2.8 Waste management UK
Total 32.8
PORTFOLIO ANALYSIS*
Geographical Company Size
North America 53% >£500m 21%
Europe 41% £100-500m 59%
Rest of the World 6% <£100m 20%
Sectoral Profitability
Energy 33% Profitable 84%
Water 32% Pre-Profitable 16%
Waste 33%
Cash 2%
* of funds invested as of 29 February 2004
MANAGER'S COMMENTARY
The Company NAV increased by +0.5% during the month compared with the MSCI World Index which decreased by -0.4%
and the Impax ET50 which decreased -0.2%. The US alternative energy stocks were weakest which reflects their
high correlation to the technology sector (weakest sector during the month) and low correlation to conventional
energy companies (best performing sector during the month). Wind, water and waste stocks generally had a good
month. Specific developments in Environmental Markets during the month are discussed below.
The global warming debate has seen a number of interventions from European insurance companies. Both Munich Re
and Swiss Re have reported a huge rise in payouts on global natural disasters which they blame, in part, on
climate change. Estimates on the annual costs to insurers range from $30-$60 billion and both groups highlight
the need to make progress with global warming policy. In this regard, there is still no clarification from
Russia on its plans to ratify the Kyoto Protocol but EU environment ministers made a statement confirming their
unanimous commitment to the Kyoto process. Meanwhile, results in the alternative energy sector were generally
strong during the month as Gamesa (wind, Spain) showed strong results for 2003 and >20% growth expectations for
2004; Ballard (fuel cells, Canada) reported good results but acknowledged that revenues would be weaker in 2004;
and Vacon (frequency converters, Finland) reported increased margins and a better capital spending environment
going forward.
In the water sector, there is increasing legislation for the control of 'environmental contaminants'. In the
US, we have recently seen new controls for carcinogenic compounds such as MTBE and perchlorate, and this month
the UK Drinking Water Inspectorate introduce new standards for bromate and benzene as well as tighter standards
for lead, arsenic and nickel. These standards will continue to create market opportunities for physical water
treatment technologies including membranes, UV disinfection and ion exchange. Two companies expected to benefit
from these developments have been in the news this month. Firstly, Zenon (membranes, Canada) announced $35
million in municipal contracts for the drinking water treatment in North America while Calgon Carbon (air &
water pollution control), the leader in perchlorate decontamination, has acquired the assets of Waterlink (water
treatment, US). Other companies that reported positive news from key water markets during the month were Cuno
(filtration, US) and Badger Meter (water meters, US).
The compliance of the UK waste industry with the plethora of EU waste Directives was under discussion during the
month. On the one hand plastic bottle collections have grown by over 50% in two years but still remains well
short of the Packaging Directive target (70% for all plastics by 2008), while a House of Commons review of UK
progress with implementing the end of life vehicles (ELV) and waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE)
Directives called for an increase in government effort to support the waste industry in its compliance effort.
Further afield, Energy Developments (landfill gas, Australia) announced that it was receiving greenhouse gas
abatement credits for its landfill gas plants in Australia, which will offset some of the poor performance by
its US facilities. Finally, there was positive news from two hazardous waste markets as Stericycle (hospital
waste, US) reported EPS growth of 40% for 2003 and Seche Environnement (hazardous waste, France) continued to
recover with top line growth of nearly 10%.
Latest information available at: www.impax.co.uk/asset/iemdown.htm
5 March 2004
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange NBKDPNK
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