Impax Environmental Markets PLC
13 April 2004
IMPAX ENVIRONMENTAL MARKETS plc
All information is at 31 March 2004 and unaudited
DATA AND PERFORMANCE
Data Pricing & Performance
Price (pence) 59.75 IEM MSCI Impax
Net Asset Value World ET50
Total Fund Size (m) 33.8 Pence (31.3.04) 67.5 n/a n/a
Management fee 1.0%
Established 22 February 2002 Performance
Fund structure Investment Trust 1 month (%) -1.0% +0.1% -3.4%
Number of stocks 58 3 Months (%) +1.8% -0.4% -1.2%
held
Exchange London 1 year (%) +43.6% +21.7% +29.5%
Currency GBP Year to date (%) +1.8% -0.4% -1.2%
ISIN Number GB0031232498
Sedol 3123249
Reuters RIC Code IEM.L
Bloomberg Code IEM LN
TOP TEN HOLDINGS
Company Holding % Description Country
Vestas Wind Systems 4.2 Wind Denmark
Casella Waste 3.9 Waste disposal & recycling US
Trojan Tech 3.6 UV disinfection Canada
BWT 3.6 Water treatment Austria
RPS Group 3.4 Environmental consulting UK
Ionics 3.4 Water treatment US
Kunta Water 3.0 Water treatment Japan
Itron 3.0 Meters & Software US
Shanks 3.0 Waste management UK
Tetra Tech 3.0 Environmental consulting US
Total 34.1
PORTFOLIO ANALYSIS*
Geographical Company Size
North America 54% >£500m 22%
Europe 38% £100-500m 56%
Rest of the World 8% <£100m 22%
Sectoral Profitability
Energy 32% Profitable 86%
Water 36% Pre-Profitable 14%
Waste 31%
Cash 1%
* of funds invested as of 31 March 2004
MANAGER'S COMMENTARY
The Company NAV decreased by -1.0% during the month compared with the MSCI World
Index which increased by +0.1% and the Impax ET50 which decreased -3.4%. It
was a volatile period for equities in general with IEM up as much as 3% at one
point and down over 6% at another. The best performing sectors during the month
were utilities and industrials with energy equipment and technology being
weaker. Specific developments in Environmental Markets during the month are
discussed below.
Vestas (wind, Denmark) completed its merger with NEG Micon during the month to
become the largest wind turbine manufacturing company with >30% market share.
With the 2003 results, the new company presented an optimistic picture for 2004
despite very modest expectations for the US market which still depends on the
extension of the production tax credits beyond 2003. In the meantime, General
Electric appeared for the fourth time since the launch of IEM as a purchaser of
Environmental Markets' assets with the acquisition of the Astropower (solar, US)
photovoltaic manufacturing assets. The IPO of Xantrex (power electronics,
Canada) was completed successfully and the share price has continued to trade at
around the issue price. Westport (natural gas engines, Canada) announced
substantial engine sales to China through its Cummins joint venture which is
targeting the Asian markets. On the policy side, the UK budget contained a
number of initiatives relating to climate change, energy efficiency and urban
air quality and, in Japan, there was further progress with power sector
deregulation that is likely to act as a catalyst for the introduction of new
power production solutions and distributed generation.
The water sector was dominated by companies reporting 2003 annual results and,
in general, the IEM companies met or exceeded expectations. The recovery in
industrial capital spending remains a key theme and this is particularly
positive for Kurita (water treatment, Japan) and BWT (water treatment, Austria).
The new management teams at Ionics (water treatment, US) and Insituform (sewer
repair, US) continue to make good progress in restructuring these companies and
positioning them for long term growth. The new technology providers such as
Zenon (membranes, Canada) and Trojan (UV disinfection, Canada) reported strong
order books for 2004 and a favourable utility spending environment. Finally,
stormwater management and combined sewer overflow ('CSO') is developing as an
interesting investment area and during the month Hydro International (stormwater
& CSO, UK) announced a record year and 50% top line growth while CDS
Technologies (CSO & water treatment, Australia) reported additional orders
following its recent acquisition of the UK company Aquator.
It has been a mixed month in the waste and resource management sector. In the
UK, RPS Group announced strong results for 2003 but revealed that costs would
increase in 2004 as an additional layer of management is put in place and staff
incentives are increased; Universal Salvage (vehicle auctions & recycling, UK)
issued a profit warning citing a weak pricing environment; however, on a more
positive note, Straight plc (recycling, UK) received a large order from
Northampton Borough Council for recycling and composting bins. Overseas the
results were strong with Seche Environnement (hazardous waste, France) reporting
that its recovery was ahead of schedule. Also, Casella Waste (US) and Arcadis
(environmental consultancy, Netherlands) both announced good results with a
positive outlook.
Latest information available at: www.impax.co.uk/asset/iemdown.htm
13 April 2004
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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