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Witan Investment Trust PLC — Fund Information / Factsheet 2016
Nov 30, 2016
5244_rns_2016-11-30_bfbd79bc-4f31-4d21-926b-d79e136b63a1.pdf
Fund Information / Factsheet
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WITAN INVESTMENT TRUST
MONTHLY FACTSHEET NOVEMBER 2016
Investment objective
Long-term growth in income and capital through active investment in global equities, using a multi-manager approach.
Monthly commentary
Political events remained at the forefront of investor attention in November, as the ill-tempered US Presidential race finally drew to a close. The unexpected election of Donald Trump sent political shockwaves around the World but appears to have been largely welcomed by investors. Developed equity markets rose in local currency terms, but with Sterling recovering from recent lows, failed to register gains for UK based investors.
A Trump presidency is expected to be accompanied by greater fiscal stimulus and a lighter regulatory regime. It is too early to tell whether these expectations are realistic but the immediate response has been a rise in inflation expectations and bond yields, possibly confirming the end of the multi-decade bull market for bonds. This environment has ushered in a recovery in 'risk' assets which saw commodity,
Over the past 12 months, the Company's NAV total return was +19.0%, slightly ahead of the benchmark total return of 18.1%.*
financial and other cyclical stocks outperform defensive 'bond proxies' (such as consumer staples) by a wide margin. Bond yields rose/prices fell for the third straight month (the price of long Gilts has fallen by 15- 20% since August) and emerging markets (which are seen as losers in any protectionist environment) also declined. Sterling was the only major currency to outperform the US\$ in November. Towards the end of the
month OPEC signalled a cut in production which gave a further fillip to an already buoyant Oil price.
The Company's NAV total return, down 1.8%, outperformed the benchmark's total return (down 2.4%) over the month. The share price total return was unchanged as the discount narrowed slightly. Over the last 12 months the NAV total return of 19.0% represents an outperformance of the 18.1% total return achieved by the Benchmark. The share price total return over the past 12 months was 10.7%.
The Board has reviewed the performance Benchmark which has been in place since 2007 and has announced that, with effect from 2017, the UK weighting will reduce from 40% to 30%, the North American weighting will increase from 20% to 25% and that a new weighting of 5% will be given to Emerging Markets. It remains the case that Witan's portfolio is actively managed and is not designed to track any index. Fuller details can be found at www.witan.com/about-witan/strategy.
The recent Austrian election and Italian referendum reminded us of some other political events on the agenda for 2017. The most significant of these are the Dutch, French and German elections which will keep the spotlight on the Euro area's problems and each has the ability to create some uncertainty in financial markets, particularly if the results undermine confidence in the cohesion of the Euro currency zone.
Further information about the Company is available on Witan's website, www.witan.com.
30 November 2016
*Please remember, past performance is not a guide to future performance, and the value of shares and the income from them can rise and fall, so investors may not get back the amount originally invested. Net Asset Value ("NAV") performance is not the same as share price performance and investors may not realise returns the same as NAV performance.
Trust statistics
| Gross assets | Share price | NAV per ordinary Share† |
Premium (Discount) |
Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £1.8bn | 852.50p | 909.35p | (6.3%) | 1.99% |
Source: BNP Paribas as at 30.11.16.
† NAV is cum income with debt at fair value.
Trust information
| Epic Code | WTAN |
|---|---|
| Sector | Global Growth |
| Trust Type | Conventional |
| Launch Date | 1909 |
| Financial Year End | 31 December |
| Dividend Frequency | Quarterly |
| Last Ex Dividend Date | 17 November 2016 |
| AGM | April |
| Shares in Issue (excluding treasury) | 181,897,233 |
| Gearing | 11% |
| Ongoing Charges‡ Including performance fee Excluding performance fee |
0.99% 0.72% |
Source: BNP Paribas as at 30.11.16. ‡Ongoing charges as at 31.12.15.
41 years of consecutive dividend growth
Dividend history (pence per share)
^Changed to quarterly dividend payments in 2013.
Dividend schedule#
| Ex-div date | Pay date | Type | Amount per share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 03.03.2016 | 01.04.2016 | 4th Interim | 5.45p |
| 19.05.2016 | 17.06.2016 | 1st Interim | 4.25p |
| 25.08.2016 | 16.09.2016 | 2nd Interim | 4.25p |
| 17.11.2016 | 16.12.2016 | 3rd Interim | 4.25p |
Please note that the dates and amounts for dividends not yet paid could be subject to change.
© Morningstar. All rights reserved. Morningstar is not responsible for any trading decisions, damages or other losses related to the information or its use. For more information go to www.witan.com/legal-information.
PORTFOLIO OVERVIEW
Top 20 holdings (%)
| Princess Private Equity BlackRock World Mining Trust London Stock Exchange Apax Global Diageo JP Morgan Alphabet BT Unilever Vonovia |
1.9 |
|---|---|
| 1.7 | |
| 1.6 | |
| 1.5 | |
| 1.5 | |
| 1.4 | |
| 1.4 | |
| 1.3 | |
| 1.2 | |
| 1.1 | |
| 1.1 | |
| Relx | 1.1 |
| BACIT | 1.0 |
| Schroders | 1.0 |
| Daily Mail & General | 1.0 |
| Sage | 0.9 |
| Pearson | 0.9 |
| Oracle | 0.8 |
| Charter Communications | 0.8 |
| Delta Air Lines | 0.8 |
On a look through basis across managers, excluding open-ended funds.
Source: BNP Paribas as at 30.11.16.
| UK | 40 |
|---|---|
| North America | 25 |
| Europe | 15 |
| Far East | 11 |
| Japan | 6 |
| Other | 3 |
Regional breakdown excluding cash, rebased to 100.
Source: BNP Paribas as at 30.11.16.
Sector breakdown (%)
| Financials | 28.4 |
|---|---|
| Consumer Services | 17.4 |
| Industrials | 13.4 |
| Consumer Goods | 12.6 |
| Technology | 9.3 |
| Health Care | 7.3 |
| Other | 9.1 |
| Open Ended Funds | 0.8 |
| Equity Index Futures | 1.8 |
| Cash / Bonds | -0.1 |
| Financials includes Investment Companies. |
|
| Source: BNP Paribas as at 30.11.16. |
INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE *
Absolute performance (total return) † Relative performance (total return) †
nnnnnnnnnn NAV / Benchmark Relative
Total performance (% growth to 30.11.2016) over †
| 3 m | 6 m | 1 yr | 3 yrs | 5 yrs | 10 yrs | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share Price (Total Return) | 4.2 | 15.0 | 10.7 | 39.8 | 117.0 | 146.2 |
| Net Asset Value‡ (Total Return) | 3.4 | 15.9 | 19.0 | 37.2 | 102.0 | 129.3 |
| Benchmark# (Total Return) | 2.5 | 15.8 | 18.1 | 30.1 | 77.1 | 101.4 |
| Relative NAV Performance | 0.9 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 7.1 | 24.9 | 27.9 |
Discrete 12 month performance (%) to †
| 30.09.2012 | 30.09.2013 | 30.09.2014 | 30.09.2015 | 30.09.2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share Price (Total Return) | 18.6 | 30.4 | 16.0 | 6.4 | 16.5 |
| Net Asset Value‡ (Total Return) | 17.9 | 26.9 | 8.6 | 3.7 | 25.0 |
| Benchmark# (Total Return) | 15.9 | 19.8 | 8.1 | -0.7 | 24.8 |
| Relative NAV Performance | 2.0 | 7.1 | 0.5 | 4.4 | 0.2 |
Relative numbers may not add up due to rounding
† Source: Morningstar / Witan, total return includes the notional reinvestment of dividends. Annualised figures updated each calendar quarter. ‡ The Net Asset Value figures value debt at market value and include the notional reinvestment of dividends.
The benchmark is a composite of 40% FTSE All-Share, 20% FTSE All-World North America, 20% FTSE All-World Europe (ex UK), 20% FTSE All-World Asia Pacific. From 01.09.2004 to 30.09.2007 the benchmark comprised of 50% FTSE All-Share, 50% FTSE World (ex UK).
Source: FTSE International Limited ("FTSE"). FTSE is a trade mark of the London Stock Exchange Group companies and is used by FTSE under license. For more information go to www.witan.com/legal-information.
*Please remember, past performance is not a guide to future performance, and the value of shares and the income from them can rise and fall, so investors may not get back the amount originally invested.
INVESTMENT MANAGERS
HOW TO INVEST
Naturally, Witan's shares can be traded through any UK stockbroker but there is a variety of other ways to invest in Witan Investment Trust plc.
Savings schemes
Witan is available for investment through two savings schemes managed by Witan Investment Services Limited. See below for a summary of each of the savings schemes.
Witan Wisdom provides two different options to enable investors to access Witan shares.
Witan Wisdom Share Plan
The Witan Wisdom Share Plan is our standard, low-cost savings scheme.*
Witan Wisdom ISA
The Witan Wisdom ISA is a stocks and shares ISA that enables investors to buy Witan shares within a tax efficient wrapper.* Savers can also transfer existing ISA's to Witan Wisdom via the Witan Wisdom Transfer ISA.*
*Terms and conditions apply.
Advisers
Advisers who wish to purchase Witan shares for their clients can do so via a stockbroker, Witan Savings Schemes or via a growing number of dedicated platforms. These include Ascentric, Nucleus, Seven Investment Management and Transact.
Online platforms
A growing number of platforms offer investment trusts directly to investors including Alliance Trust Savings, Hargreaves Lansdown, Barclays Stockbrokers, Halifax Share Dealing Limited, Interactive Investors and AJ Bell.
Jump offers savings schemes specifically designed for adults to save on behalf of a child, which invest into Witan Investment Trust.
Jump Savings Plan
The Jump Savings Plan is a flexible savings scheme allowing you to invest as much as you wish and can be accessed at any time.*
Jump Junior ISA
The Jump Junior ISA enables adults to invest in Witan shares on behalf of a child within a tax efficient wrapper.*
Savers with an existing Child Trust Fund can transfer to Jump, including directly into a Jump Junior ISA.*
*Terms and conditions apply.
To request brochures and applications for Witan Wisdom and Jump savings schemes, you may call 0800 082 8180 (Wisdom) and 0800 011 2015 (Jump) or online via www.witanwisdom.com and www.jumpsavings.com. Please read the full Key Features and Terms & Conditions documents or speak to an adviser before making a decision to invest.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
HARRY HENDERSON
Chairman
CATHERINE CLAYDON Chairman of the Remuneration and Nomination Committee
ANDREW BELL
SUZY NEUBERT ROBERT BOYLE Chairman of the Audit Committee
RICHARD OLDFIELD TONY WATSON Senior Independent Director
BEN ROGOFF
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Please remember, past performance is not a guide to future performance and the value of shares and the income from them can rise and fall, so investors may not get back the amount originally invested. This marketing communication is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as constituting an offer or a solicitation to buy or sell interests or investments in Witan Investment Trust PLC. Investment trusts can borrow money to make additional investments on top of shareholders' funds (gearing). If the value of these investments falls, gearing will magnify the negative impact on performance. If an investment trust incorporates a large amount of gearing the value of its shares may be subject to sudden and large falls in value and you could get back nothing at all. Emerging markets tend to be more volatile than more established stock markets and therefore your money is at greater risk. Other risk factors such as political and economic conditions should also be considered. Funds which specialise in investing in a particular region or market sector are more risky than those which hold a very broad spread of investments. Funds investing in overseas securities are exposed to and can hold currencies other than Sterling. As a result, exchange rate movements may cause the value of investments to decrease or increase. Some, or all, of the annual management fee may be charged to the capital of the Fund. Whilst this increases the yield, it will restrict the potential for capital growth. Net Asset Value ("NAV") performance is not the same as share price performance and investors may not realise returns that equal NAV performance. Where a fund holds a limited number of investments and one or more of those investments declines or is otherwise adversely affected, it may have a more pronounced effect on the Fund's value than if a larger number of investments were held.
CONTACT DETAILS 0800 082 81 80 www.witan.com
This marketing communication is issued and approved by Witan Investment Services Limited. Witan Investment Services Limited is registered in England no. 5272533 of 14 Queen Anne's Gate, London, SW1H 9AA. Witan Investment Services Limited provides investment products and services and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Calls may be recorded for our mutual protection and to improve customer service.