Portfolio Update

THE THROGMORTON TRUST PLC All information is at 30 NOVEMBER 2008 and unaudited. Performance at month end is calculated on a cum income basis One Three One Three Month Months Year Years Net asset value# -3.3% -35.2% -48.8% -41.9% Net asset value* -3.3% -35.2% -51.4% -44.8% Share price -17.4% -48.7% -58.0% -54.1% HGSC plus AIM (ex Inv Cos) -5.6% -38.5% -49.0% -38.1% # NAV prior to costs of repaying the debentures early * NAV after costs of repaying the debentures early Sources: BlackRock and Datastream At month end Net asset value Capital only: 89.51p Net asset value incl Income: 93.35p Share price: 62.75p Discount to Capital only NAV: 29.9% Net yield: 3.6% Total assets: £76.9m** Gearing: Nil Ordinary shares in continuing pool: 82,351,197 ** Includes current year revenue. Ten Largest Sector Weightings^ % of total assets Software & Computer Services 11.7 Support Services 10.4 Financial Services 9.8 Aerospace & Defence 9.8 Industrial Engineering 7.1 Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology 6.3 Oil & Gas Producers 5.7 Electronic & Electrical Equipment 5.5 Chemicals 3.1 Nonlife Insurance 3.1 ---- Total 72.5 ==== Ten Largest Equity Investments(in alphabetical order) Company^ Chemring Connaught Dechra Pharmaceuticals Endace Rathbone Brothers Rensburg Sheppards Rotork Spirax-Sarco Engineering Ultra Electronics Umeco ^ Excludes 4.6% held in ML Institutional Liquidity Units Commenting on the markets, Mike Prentis and Richard Plackett, representing the Investment Manager noted: During November markets continued to be affected by nervousness about the state of the world economy; resources prices have fallen further. The Company's NAV fell by 3.3%, whilst the benchmark index fell by 5.6%. By way of comparison the FTSE100 fell by 2.0%. The NAV benefitted from the refund of VAT on management fees; excluding this the NAV fell by 5.9%. The CFD portfolio performed well, however the long only portfolio underperformed as we pushed harder to complete the portfolio restructuring process. In relative terms, the best stock contributions came from Babcock International, Chemring, Spirax-Sarco, Connaught and Kier, all core holdings bought by us since 1 July 2008. We have met the managements of Babcock and Chemring in recent weeks and they are confident about trading prospects. Chemring put out a positive pre-close statement, Babcock good interims. We also met Kier management where conditions on the housing side remain challenging but Kier has a very strong balance sheet and does not need to discount as aggressively as some competitors. Visibility is good on the growing support services side and in construction. Spirax-Sarco management have demonstrated their confidence by regular share buybacks. Connaught, like Chemring and Babcock, has excellent revenue visibility. The worst relative performers during the month were Aveva, Endace, Dyson and Fenner, all longstanding portfolio constituents. We are fans of Aveva and its management, however the shares fell 33% during the month despite good interims showing earnings up 66%; the market is concerned that its exposure to the shipping, oil & gas and power sectors will lead to lower initial license fees during 2009. Although Aveva have yet to see this, it does remain probable. We continue to see Aveva as a world class company, and are taking a medium term view. Earnings downgrades are likely although much of this is probably now in the price; medium term we expect Aveva shares to be much higher. Endace shares fell when the Chairman elected to sell some of his shares at a discount; we believe he was a forced seller. We like Endace and its executive team, and the company continues to grow strongly. Dyson warned on profits and has significant exposure to the ailing automotive sector. Fenner shares have been very weak over the last few months. The market is concerned by likely cutbacks in capex by mining companies following falls in commodity prices. Fenner is bound to be affected by these concerns, although a significant part of its sales are consumables and should be more resilient. However, it has geared up at the wrong time in the cycle; we have now completed the sale of our holding. New holdings in the month included Care UK, JKX Oil & Gas and Alternative Networks. Care UK delivered satisfactory results, good cash flow and the valuation now looks attractive. It supplies both primary and secondary care, and owns and operates surgical centres, homes for the elderly and disabled, and supplies domiciliary care. JKX Oil & Gas supply primarily gas in the Ukraine. Gas volumes are growing well, and prices are increasing towards Western European levels. Alternative Networks provides telecoms solutions for corporate users. It has again generated strong earnings growth, converted profits into cash and remains well set and an inexpensive stock. We reduced the size of a number of holdings, and completed the sale of others such as TGE Marine, IP Group and Charles Taylor Consulting, where we are not enthusiastic, and Axon which is subject to an agreed bid. The CFD portfolio has generated positive returns to date, with the short CFD positions performing particularly well. Latest information is available by typing www.blackrock.co.uk/its on the internet, "BLRKINDEX" on Reuters, "BLRK" on Bloomberg or "8800" on Topic 3 (ICV terminal). 18 December 2008
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