21 Mar 2016 07:00
The World Trust Fund
Fact Sheet - 29th February 2016
Société d'Investissement à Capital Fixe
Registered office: 49, avenue J.F. Kennedy, L-1855 Luxembourg
Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, R.C.S. Luxembourg No. B 37.154
Commentary
Global equity markets continued to be weak in February on global growth concerns. While China stepped up with stimulus measures to increase domestic demand, markets remain skeptical that such central bank measures can succeed. Meanwhile, the US economy delivered a mixed picture with strong wage growth, moderate inflation, and an upward revision of GDP offsetting weak non-farm payroll figures and Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) reports. In Europe, markets were disappointed by the lack of any specific additional stimulus measures coming from the G-20 meeting. Contributing positively to the Fund's return were investments in Jardine Strategic Holdings (+8.4%), VinaCapital Vietnam Opportunity Fund (+7.8%) and Harbourvest Global Private Equity (+2.4%) while detracting most from returns were China Everbright (-10.8%) and JPMorgan European Smaller Companies Trust (-5.2%).
Fund Description
The Fund seeks to achieve long-term capital appreciation by investing primarily in a diversified portfolio of companies whose shares trade at a discount to the underlying net asset value. The Fund may also sell short stock indices, stocks, and shares of exchange-traded funds or closed-end funds, not exceeding 100% of the Fund's net assets.
Lazard Asset Management LLC was appointed as Manager of The World Trust Fund at the inception of the Fund, July 1st, 1991.
Kun Deng is a Managing Director of Lazard Asset Management, responsible for the firm's Discounted Assets Strategies in global, international, and emerging markets.
He has been advising the World Trust Fund since 1997. Kun has the CFA charter.
Lazard Asset Management is known for its global perspective on investing and years of experience with global, regional and domestic portfolios. With more than 300+ investment personnel worldwide, and over US$ 180 billion in assets under management, we have offices located throughout the world in Bahrain, Boston, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, London, Madrid, Milan, Montreal, New York, San Francisco, Seoul, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto and Zurich.
Performance as of February 29, 2016
Performance |
MTD |
YTD |
1-Year |
3-Year |
5-Year |
10-Year | Annualized since inception** |
The World Trust Fund Price * (GBP) | -0.6% | -6.2% | -7.3% | 3.1% | 4.4% | -0.2% | 5.8% |
The World Trust Fund NAV (GBP) | -0.3% | -6.6% | -5.9% | 4.3% | 5.8% | 1.2% | 6.6% |
The World Trust Fund Price (US$) | -2.9% | -11.4% | -16.4% | 0.2% | 1.3% | -2.4% | 5.0% |
The World Trust Fund NAV (US$) | -2.1% | -11.7% | -15.1% | 1.4% | 2.6% | -1.1% | 6.0% |
MSCI All Country World Index (US$) | -0.7% | -6.7% | -12.3% | 3.7% | 3.7% | 3.6% | 6.0% |
MSCI AC World Ex USA | -1.1% | -7.9% | -17.4% | -2.2% | -1.3% | 1.4% | n/a |
Source: Lazard Asset Management/MSCI
* As at 01.11.09 the currency in which the shares of the Fund are traded changed from US$ to GBP. Past performance data up to and including 31.10.09 has been re-calculated using exchange rates provided by Bloomberg. Past performance data from 01.11.09 is calculated using exchange rates provided by State Street Bank. The Fund's base currency for valuation and performance fee calculation purposes remains as US$.
** Inception date 01.07.91
The base currency of the Fund is US$ and the GBP quoted figure is a sterling rate equivalent.
World Trust Fund Annual NAV Performance (%)
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | |
World Trust Fund NAV (Net)* | 0.7 | 3.5 | 18.9 | 19.4 | -12.8 | 17.0 | 48.2 | -61.9 | 7.6 | 20.2 | 28.7 | 25.6 |
MSCI AC World Index | -2.4 | 4.2 | 22.8 | 16.1 | -7.4 | 12.7 | 34.6 | -42.2 | 11.7 | 21.0 | 10.8 | 15.2 |
MSCI AC World Ex USA Index | -5.7 | -3.9 | 15.3 | 16.8 | -13.7 | 11.2 | 41.5 | -45.5 | 16.7 | 26.7 | 16.6 | 20.9 |
Source: Lazard Asset Management/FactSet
* The pre-2015 values relate to the fully Diluted NAV. The final subscription date for the exercise of warrants was March 31st, 2014 and no additional warrant offers have been made since that date.
Net Regional Exposure
Country | % |
North America | 20.8% |
Asia (ex-Japan) | 24.1% |
Europe (ex-UK) | 20.7% |
United Kingdom | 12.8% |
Japan | 9.9% |
Other | 6.6% |
Latin America, Africa & Middle East | 1.2% |
Source: Lazard Asset Management
Top Holdings
Top 10 holdings as February 29, 2016 | Weight % | Discount % |
Eurazeo | 5.5% | -27.3% |
General American Investors | 5.5% | -18.0% |
JPMorgan European Smaller Companies | 5.2% | -9.3% |
Investor AB | 4.8% | -22.8% |
Harbourvest Global Private Equity | 4.7% | -25.2% |
First Pacific | 4.6% | -48.9% |
Adams Diversified | 4.4% | -15.5% |
Tri Continental | 4.4% | -15.9% |
JPMorgan Japanese | 4.4% | -13.3% |
JPMorgan Emerging Markets | 3.7% | -12.6% |
Source: Lazard Asset Management / Morningstar (unless otherwise stated)
Portfolio Composition
Closed-Ended Investment Companies | 36.0% |
Investment Trusts | 37.2% |
Corporate Equities | 22.9% |
Source: Lazard Asset Management
Portfolio Exposure
Long | 96.1% |
Short | 0% |
Source: Lazard Asset Management
Fund Data
GBP | US$ | |
Market Capitalisation | 95.7 m | 133.2 m |
Total Assets | 112.2 m | 156.2 m |
Borrowings |
0% | |
Fully Diluted Net Asset Value | 2.775 | 3.863 |
Ordinary Share Market Price | 2.365 | 3.292 |
Discount/Premium | -14.8% | |
Source: State Street Bank
Company Information as at February 29, 2016
50,678,372 Ordinary shares in issue (including 10,211,277 Treasury shares) = Luxembourg denominator | |
40,467,095 Ordinary shares (excluding 10,211,277 Treasury shares) = FCA denominator | |
Ticker: | WTR |
ISIN: | LU0483266259 |
Benchmark: |
MSCI All Countries World Index |
Contact Details
Fund Manager: | Lazard Asset Management LLC 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York NY 10112 USA Telephone: +1212 632 6000
|
Company Secretary: | Capita Company Secretarial Services Limited Telephone: +44 1392 412122
|
Registered Office: | Société d'Investissement à Capital Fixe 49, avenue J.F. Kennedy, L-1855 Luxembourg Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, R.C.S. Luxembourg No. B 37.154
|
Directors: | Philip McLoughlin (Chairman) Duncan Budge James Cave Howard Myles Tony Morrongiello |
The Fund has recently launched a new website on which further copies of the Factsheet are available at:
www.theworldtrustfund.com
NMPI Status
The Company currently conducts its affairs so that its securities can be recommended by IFAs to ordinary retail investors in accordance with the FCA's rules in relation to non-mainstream investment products and intends to continue to do so for the foreseeable future. The securities are excluded from the FCA's restrictions which apply to non-mainstream investment products because they are shares in an investment trust.
Important Information
This is a financial promotion and is not intended to be investment advice.
Securities identified in this document are not necessarily held by Lazard Asset Management for all client portfolios, and should not be considered as a recommendation or solicitation to purchase, sell or hold these securities. It should also not be assumed that any investment in these securities was, or will be, profitable.
Information and opinions contained within this document are derived from sources believed by Lazard to be reliable. Lazard makes no representation as to their accuracy or completeness. All opinions are as at the date of this document and are subject to change without notice.
The World Trust Fund is an investment company incorporated in Luxembourg, whose shares are listed and traded on the London Stock Exchange.
Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. The value of investments and the income from them may go down as well as up and investors may not get back the amount originally invested.
Investors are reminded that although the shares of the Fund are listed in GB sterling, the base currency of the Fund is US dollars. Therefore, in addition to the fluctuations in the rate of exchange between the currency in which shares are denominated (US$) and the base currencies of the underlying investments that may affect the value of your investment both positively and negatively, changes in rates of exchange between the Fund's base currency and the currency in which it is listed (GBP) may also have the effect of causing the value of your investment to fluctuate.
Certain information included herein is derived by Lazard in part from an MSCI index or indices (the "Index Data"). However, MSCI has not reviewed this product or report, and does not endorse or express any opinion regarding this product or report or any analysis or other information contained herein or the author or source of any such information or analysis. MSCI makes no express or implied warranties or representations and shall have no liability whatsoever with respect to any Index Data or data derived therefrom. The MSCI Index Data may not be further redistributed or used as a basis for other indices or any securities or financial products.
There is no assurance that the World Trust Fund's objectives or performance targets will be achieved.
This financial promotion is issued and approved by:
Lazard Asset Management Limited, 50 Stratton Street, London W1J 8LL
Lazard Asset Management Limited is incorporated in England and Wales with registered number 525667. It is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority
Listing Category: Premium - Equity Closed-ended Investment Fund