In this article, DirectorsTalk share some investor presentations, equity research reports and exclusive interviews for some well known successful investment trusts from its leading funds platform. These include European, Japan, Smaller Companies, Latin American and Structured Products investment trusts and a SPAC opportunity. Providers include BlackRock, J.P. Morgan Asset Management, Marwyn asset management group and Premier Miton Investors.
Blackrock Smaller Companies Trust plc (LON:BRSC) aims to achieve long-term capital growth for shareholders through investment mainly in smaller UK quoted companies. In this interview Investment Trust Research Analyst, Callum Stokeld joins DirectorsTalk to discuss last years performance, what worked and what didn´t, what the manager is doing with the portfolio and the outlook for dividends.
JPMorgan European Discovery Trust (LON:JEDT) aims to provide capital growth from a diversified portfolio of smaller European companies (excluding the United Kingdom). As the emphasis is on capital growth rather than income, shareholders should expect the dividend to vary from year to year. Edward Greaves, Portfolio Manager of JPMorgan European Discovery Trust recently recorded a 10 minute investor presentation webinar. During the presentation Edward discusses strong returns within the European smaller companies sector, the disciplined investment process which focuses on value, quality and momentum, exposure to exciting structural growth themes and the robust long term performance of the Trust. Watch the fund overview here.
JPMorgan Japan Small Cap Growth and Income Trust plc (LON:JSGI) offers exposure to the high growth potential in small and mid-cap Japanese equities as well as a significant income pay-out, in part from capital. The JSGI team is composed of three experienced managers based locally in Tokyo, with the broader Japan team making over 4,000 company visits a year. Kepler Research analyst analyses the trust in detail. The analyst noted “JSGI has generated enviable performance over the last five years, with a NAV total return of 129.1% and a share price return of 140.0% over the last five years, compared to the 76.6% return of its benchmark”.
The Diverse Income Trust plc (LON:DIVI) invests primarily in quoted or traded UK companies with a wide range of market capitalisations, but a long-term bias toward small and medium sized companies. The Company may also invest in large companies, including FTSE 100 Index constituents, where it is believed that this may increase shareholder value. The Managers adopt a stock specific approach in managing the Company’s portfolio which does not track any index. DirectorsTalk caught up with Gervais Williams The Diverse Income Trust Co-Manager to talk us through the latest Investor Presentation. Watch the fund overview here.
BlackRock Latin American Investment Trust plc (LON:BRLA) is the topic of conversation when Sarah Godfrey Director and investment trust analyst at Edison Group joins DirectorsTalk. Sarah explains why given impact of COVID-19 in the region, an investor want to consider Latin America now, what BRLA offers that you couldn´t get from an ETF, and if there is more to Latin America than just commodities.
Marwyn Value Investors Ltd (LON:MVI) is a Special Purpose Acquisition Company. It launched as a closed-ended investment company on the London Stock Exchange on 8th December 2008, on the Specialist Fund Market. The company creates alternative SPAC vehicles to execute buy and build strategies led by exceptional management teams. Managing Partner, Mark Brangstrup Watts, joins DirectorsTalk Interviews to tell us more about the company. Mark explains the Group´s strategy, talks us through the portfolio, the discount to NAV, dividends and more about the company.
Volta Finance Ltd (LON:VTA, LON:VTAS) is a closed-ended limited liability company registered in Guernsey. In Hardman’s research note, ‘Re-Set, Re-Fi, Re-Light my Fire’, published on 5 May 2021, they explore how favourable market conditions mean that CLO vehicles can re-finance debt cheaply. This enhances the value of Volta Finance’s CLO equity positions, which have been increased substantially in recent years, and is expected to lift total returns by 1%-1.5% p.a. for several years. The higher cashflow further backs an already covered dividend, with a 2022E yield of 10.1%. With returns above the cost of the dividend, the NAV is growing (supporting further dividend growth).
