10th Mar 2026 16:42
AVI GLOBAL TRUST PLC
Monthly Update
AVI Global Trust plc (the "Company") presents its Update, reporting performance figures for the month ended 28 February 2026.
This Monthly Newsletter is available on the Company's website at: AGT-FEBRUARY-2026.pdf
This investment management report relates to performance figures to 28 February 2026.
Total Returns (%) | Month | 1Y | 5Y | 10Y |
NAV p/s1 | 3.6 | 12.1 | 62.7 | 242.8 |
MSCI ACWI2 | 3.4 | 16.3 | 81.0 | 251.0 |
MSCI ACWI ex US2 | 7.2 | 30.8 | 65.7 | 180.9 |
All performance shown net of fees in GBP Total Return as at 28/02/2026.
1Net Asset Value cum-fair.
2From 1st October 2023, the comparator benchmark was changed to the MSCI ACWI Index. Prior to this, from 1st October 2013, the comparator benchmark was the MSCI ACWI ex US Index.
Source: Morningstar, S&P Capital IQ
Manager's Comment
AGT's NAV increased by +3.6% in February 2026.
Performance was broad-based with Samsung C&T (+105bps) the standout performer, followed by Jardine Matheson (+85bps) and HD Hyundai (+65bps). Indeed, it is interesting to observe that the nine largest contributors were all listed in Asia and delivered returns between +9% and +25%.
At the bottom of the table was Chrysalis, shares in which declined -13% over the month, shaving off -93bps from NAV. News Corp (-54bps) and Vivendi (-33bps) also detracted.
Over the month we took some profit in Samsung C&T and HD Hyundai as discounts narrowed and underlying valuations rose. We have also continued to clean up the tail: we sold the last of our shares in Gerresheimer, which had been a heavily loss making and bruising investment where the original investment thesis was no longer valid, whilst also fully exiting Entain. We have continued to add to EXOR - on close to its widest ever discount - and added to News Corp on weakness.
March Market Commentary
Writing on the 9th of March, February already feels but a distant memory, as geopolitical tension in the Middle East has moved beyond rhetoric, following coordinated joint attacks on Iran from the US and Israel. This has led to considerable volatility in global equity markets, with emerging market equities and currencies suffering their worse week since the pandemic.
Korea- which accounted for 18% of NAV at the end of February has been at the centre of this, with the Kospi down -16% so far in March. In many ways this doesn't surprise us - it had been the best performing stock market of the last year, up +72%- and was likely to suffer from profit taking and risk appetite reduction in a market correction. That said, the extent of some share price declines and discount moves have been quite staggering.
Despite this we remain relatively sanguine: In Korea we have assembled a collection of ten diverse holdings, with strong earnings growth prospects, trading on very wide discounts, and set to benefit from improved governance reform. On the latter, progress continues with the third amendment to the Commercial Act having passed at the end of February 2026, which will see all existing treasury shares cancelled within 18 months and newly bought back shares cancelled within one year. Although an imperfect analogy, our experience from Japan- looking through the noise, focussing on the fundamentals and the prize on offer through governance reform- helps navigate such an environment.
Whether the war in the Middle East transpires into a longer and more protracted conflict remains to be seen. The economic impact will depend upon the extent of disruption to energy markets and shipping routes, which have the potential to lower growth and increase inflation. In the last few days, the market has started to price more severe energy disruption as a more meaningful possibility, with sharp declines in equities and oil breaching $110 per barrel.
As is common in times of market stress, discounts have widened serving as an additional headwind to NAV weakness. At the time of writing the portfolio weighted average discount stands just 2008 financial crisis, the Eurozone crisis and Covid-2020. north of 40%- a level previously observed during the 2008 financial crisis, the Eurozone crisis and Covid-2020.
Whilst discounts can move wider, such levels do not typically persist for long periods of time. Such volatility is painful in the short-term, however, in the long-run, it gives rise to great opportunity. As we will come onto below, following the sale of Toyota Industries, AGT is now in a net cash position and has ~£170m of available fire power. This leaves us well positioned to take advantage of exaggerated share price and discount moves.
Toyota Industries
In last month's newsletter we discussed how we had recently made Toyota Industries the largest position, reflecting what we perceived to be an asymmetric set up.
After month end it was announced that Toyota Group had raised its offer for Toyota Industries by +10% to 20,600 Yen per share, a 26% increase from its initial bid. This latest bid is in line with the Company's book value, and whilst undoubtedly an attractive price for the acquirers, represents a much fairer outcome for minority shareholders. It also represents an important milestone for Japanese corporate governance reform, and the power of activism in Japan.
Following the higher bid, we sold the entirety of the position, generating proceeds just north of £100m, or almost 9% of AGT's NAV. In doing-so, gearing has reduced from ~5% at February month end to ~4% net cash.
Having re-initiated a position in Toyota Industries in 2023, over the course of the investment it generated an IRR of +30% (in Yen), compared to -8% for the TOPIX and +19% for the MSCI AC World Index (also in Yen).
Contributors / Detractors (in GBP)4
Largest Contributors | 1- month contribution bps | % Weight3 |
Samsung C&T | 105 | 5.0 |
Jardine Matheson | 85 | 6.0 |
HD Hyundai | 65 | 2.3 |
Kyocera Corp | 59 | 3.6 |
Mitsubishi Logistics | 48 | 5.4 |
Largest Detractors | 1- month contribution bps | % Weight3 |
Chrysalis Investments | -93 | 6.0 |
News Corp A | -54 | 5.9 |
Vivendi | -33 | 5.5 |
Oakley Capital Investments | -27 | 3.3 |
D'Ieteren | -26 | 6.8 |
3All Figures shown as % of Net Asset Value
4Contributors and detractors from Factset
MUFG Corporate Governance Limited
Corporate Secretary
10 March 2026
LEI: 213800QUODCLWWRVI968
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