21st Jan 2015 15:08
The World Trust Fund
Fact Sheet -31st December 2014
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 equities were volatile in December having been shaken by the collapse in oil prices which reinforced concerns about the global economy, but falling bond yields provided support for stocks which recovered towards the end of the month. Developed markets outperformed their developing peers, as concerns about China's growth were reinforced by weak PMI and import data and the Russian ruble collapsed in response to falling oil prices, forcing the central bank to hike its key rate to 17%. Leading the the Fund higher amidst volatile markets were investments in CITIC Securities (+28.1%), International Biotechnology Trust (+6.4%) and JPMorgan Japan Smaller Companies Trust (+7.1%).
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$ 178.8billion 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 December 31, 2014
Performance |
MTD |
YTD |
1-Year |
3-Year |
5-Year |
10-Year | Annualized since inception** |
The World Trust Fund Price * (GBP) | 2.6% | 7.3% | 7.3% | 12.8% | 10.4% | 5.9% | 6.2% |
The World Trust Fund NAV (GBP) | 1.4% | 10.2% | 10.2% | 13.5% | 9.3% | 5.7% | 7.1% |
The World Trust Fund Price (US$) | 2.4% | 1.0% | 1.0% | 13.0% | 9.6% | 3.7% | 5.9% |
The World Trust Fund NAV (US$) | 1.2% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 13.7% | 8.4% | 3.5% | 6.8% |
MSCI All Country World Index (US$) | -1.9% | 4.2% | 4.2% | 14.1% | 9.2% | 6.1% | 6.7% |
MSCI AC World Ex USA | -3.6% | -3.9% | -3.9% | 9.0% | 4.4% | 5.1% | n/a |
Source: Lazard Asset Management/MSCI
* As at 01.11.09 the currency in which the shares of the Fund are traded changed from US$ 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 (Fully Diluted NAV)
2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | |
World Trust Fund (Fully Diluted NAV) (Net) | 18.9 | 19.4 | -12.8 | 17.0 | 48.2 | -61.9 | 7.6 | 20.2 | 28.7 | 25.6 | 47.7 |
MSCI AC World Index | 22.8 | 16.1 | -7.4 | 12.7 | 34.6 | -42.2 | 11.7 | 21.0 | 10.8 | 15.2 | 34.0 |
MSCI World Index | 26.7 | 15.8 | -5.5 | 11.8 | 30.0 | -40.7 | 9.0 | 20.1 | 9.5 | 14.7 | 33.1 |
Source: Lazard Asset Management/FactSet
Net Regional Exposure
Country | % |
Asia (ex-Japan) | 32.4% |
North America | 29.2% |
Europe (ex-UK) | 18.3% |
Japan | 8.9% |
United Kingdom | 8.2% |
Latin America, Africa & Middle East | 2.1% |
Other | 6.3% |
Source: Lazard Asset Management
Top Holdings
Top 10 holdings as December 31, 2014 | Weight % | Discount % |
Citic Securities | 9.6% | -3.5% |
BB Biotech | 6.9% | -23.7% |
General American Investors | 5.9% | -12.3% |
First Pacific Co Ltd | 5.9% | -38.8% |
Eurazeo | 5.6% | -16.0% |
JPMorgan European Smaller Companies | 5.0% | -12.2% |
Tri Continental | 4.4% | -13.5% |
JPMorgan Emerging Markets | 4.1% | -8.6% |
JPMorgan Japanese | 3.8% | -9.9% |
Swiss Helvetia | 3.6% | -13.1% |
Source: Lazard Asset Management / Morningstar (unless otherwise stated)
Portfolio Composition
Closed-Ended Investment Companies | 30.4% |
Investment Trusts | 36.3% |
Corporate Equities | 38.9% |
Source: Lazard Asset Management
Portfolio Exposure
Long | 105.6% |
Short | -0.2% |
Source: Lazard Asset Management
Fund Data
GBP | US$ | |
Market Capitalisation | 99.3 m | 154.8 m |
Total Assets | 114.0 m | 177.7 m |
Borrowings | 5.6 | 5.6 |
Net Asset Value | 2.817 | 4.390 |
Ordinary Share Market Price | 2.455 | 3.826 |
Discount/Premium | -12.9% | |
Source: State Street Bank
Company Information as at December 31, 2014
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 Sinclair Henderson Limited Telephone: +44 1392 412122
|
Registered Office: | 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
|
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
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
Related Shares:
WTR.L