Murray International Trust — Manager took advantage of 2020 market volatility

Murray International Trust (LSE: MYI)

Last close As at 27/03/2024

GBP2.49

1.00 (0.40%)

Market capitalisation

GBP1,530m

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Research: Investment Companies

Murray International Trust — Manager took advantage of 2020 market volatility

Murray International Trust (MYI) is managed by the Global Equity team at Aberdeen Standard Investments (ASI), led by Bruce Stout and supported by Martin Connaghan and Samantha Fitzpatrick. Stout says ‘it was a humbling experience to manage an income fund in 2020 as so many companies had to cut, cancel or suspend their dividends’. Last year, global stock market leadership was narrow as ‘when growth is scarce investors are prepared to pay any price for growth businesses’. Once vaccine programmes gain momentum and lockdowns are eased, the manager expects pent-up demand to contribute to a meaningful improvement in economic growth and broader market leadership, ‘which would be helpful for the relative performance of a diversified portfolio’ and has been evident over the last few months. MYI continues to have a significant exposure to emerging markets as these are regions where Stout sees the most attractive growth prospects.

Melanie Jenner

Written by

Mel Jenner

Director, Investment Trusts

Investment Companies

Murray International Trust

Manager took advantage of 2020 market volatility

Investment trusts
Global equities/debt

25 March 2021

Price

1,192.0p

Market cap

£1,530m

AUM

£1,638m

NAV*

1,142.3p

Premium to NAV

4.4%

NAV**

1,167.1p

Premium to NAV

2.1%

*Excluding income. **Including income. At 24 March 2021.

Yield

4.6%

Ordinary shares in issue

128.4m

Code/ISIN

MYI/GB0006111909

Primary exchange

LSE

AIC sector

Global Equity Income

52-week high/low

1,194.0p

843.0p

NAV* high/low

1,187.2p

887.8p

*Including income

Net gearing*

12.9%

*At 19 March 2021

Fund objective

Murray International Trust aims to achieve an above-average dividend yield with long-term growth in dividends and capital ahead of inflation, by investing principally in global equities.

Bull points

Unconstrained approach – ability to source interesting opportunities anywhere in the world.

Progressive dividend policy and attractive yield.

Well-resourced investment team, which includes ESG specialists.

Bear points

Large exposure to emerging markets, areas that can be more volatile than developed regions.

Performance has lagged the reference index.

FY20 dividend was uncovered.

Analysts

Mel Jenner

+44 (0)20 3077 5720

Sarah Godfrey

+44 (0)20 3681 2519

Murray International Trust is a research client of Edison Investment Research Limited

Murray International Trust (MYI) is managed by the Global Equity team at Aberdeen Standard Investments (ASI), led by Bruce Stout and supported by Martin Connaghan and Samantha Fitzpatrick. Stout says ‘it was a humbling experience to manage an income fund in 2020 as so many companies had to cut, cancel or suspend their dividends’. Last year, global stock market leadership was narrow as ‘when growth is scarce investors are prepared to pay any price for growth businesses’. Once vaccine programmes gain momentum and lockdowns are eased, the manager expects pent-up demand to contribute to a meaningful improvement in economic growth and broader market leadership, ‘which would be helpful for the relative performance of a diversified portfolio’ and has been evident over the last few months. MYI continues to have a significant exposure to emerging markets as these are regions where Stout sees the most attractive growth prospects.

Continued higher growth prospects in emerging markets

Source: International Monetary Fund World Economic Outlook Update January 2021, Edison Investment Research

The analyst’s view

MYI offers a diversified global portfolio of both equities and fixed income securities, which should benefit from an economic recovery. It is encouraging that the team took advantage of stock market volatility last year to introduce several new names into the portfolio across a range of industries that ASI believes offer above-average yields and the prospects of solid capital growth, which could contribute positively to the trust’s future performance. The manager has increased MYI’s equity weighting over the last 12 months to benefit from a yield pickup, which should help its future income stream, while improving company balance sheets is also likely to result in higher dividend payments from MYI’s investee companies.

Attractive 4.6% dividend yield

In FY20, the trust’s income was 46.6p per share, which was 13.9% lower year-on-year because of pressure on corporate dividends due to COVID-19. The board continued its progressive policy and the FY20 annual dividend of 54.5p per share was 1.9% higher than 53.5p in FY19. Starting in 2021, Stout is now able to modestly enhance the trust’s income via writing covered options and stock lending.

Market outlook: Potential for broader market leadership

Global stocks, led by the dominant US market, have staged an impressive recovery following the coronavirus-led stock market sell-off in Q120 (Exhibit 1, LHS). Government fiscal and monetary support has been unprecedented in an attempt to offset the negative effects of COVID-19, while November 2020 saw the first announcement about successful vaccine trials.

Market leadership last year was very narrow as investors focused on ‘COVID-winners’ such as large-cap technology stocks, which benefited from people working from home, while many other businesses came under significant pressure leading to dividend cuts and suspensions; this was particularly evident in the UK. This backdrop provided a very tough environment for managers with an income mandate.

Looking at valuations in Exhibit 1 (RHS), in aggregate shares are not looking particularly attractive. The Datastream World Index is trading on a forward P/E multiple of 19.1x, which is close to the high end of its 10-year historical range and a 33% premium to the average multiple over this period.

Since the positive vaccine news towards the end of last year, stock market leadership has started to broaden, although there remains a very wide divergence between the valuation of growth and value stocks. If the market becomes a more level playing field, it should be beneficial for those investors focusing on diversified strategies.

Exhibit 1: Market performance and valuations (last 10 years)

Performance of UK and world indices (£-adjusted)

Datastream indices forward P/E valuations (x)

 

Last

High

Low

10-year
average

Last as % of
average

US

22.8

24.0

11.2

16.5

138

Europe

16.4

17.0

8.2

12.8

128

UK

14.4

15.7

8.5

13.0

111

Japan

18.2

18.6

10.5

13.9

131

Emerging markets

15.0

17.4

9.2

11.8

127

World

19.1

19.8

10.0

14.3

133

Source: Refinitiv, Edison Investment Research. Note: Valuation data at 22 March 2021.

The fund manager: Aberdeen Standard Investments

The manager’s view: Benefiting from a more global approach

Stout started the discussion with ‘2020 was the worst year for income funds in 20 years or more’. There was a raft of dividend cuts, suspensions and government intervention and, in his view, it was ‘one of the most hostile environments ever witnessed’. Within the stock market there was a polarisation in performance between COVID-19 beneficiaries such as e-commerce companies and those businesses under stress including the travel and leisure sectors. The manager highlights the very high level of volatility in 2020, as an example the oil price hit a low of -$40 a barrel as energy companies were paying people to take up their unwanted inventory. ‘It was a humbling experience; you cannot prepare for managing money in an environment like this’ he adds.

The last significant dividend recession was a six-year period of uncovered falling dividends between 1999 and 2004. Stout explains that MYI’s portfolio is very different now compared with 20 years ago, when ‘there was a disproportionate amount of UK assets given their above-average yields’. Asia was emerging from a financial crisis and companies in the region generally did not pay a dividend. The US was dominated by technology companies, which had low yields, while European dividends were ‘patchy’. The manager says that 20 years ago 45% of the portfolio was invested in the UK (now c 6% of the fund), but MYI subsequently became a more international fund as overseas companies increasingly started to return cash to shareholders. Stout suggests that there are more opportunities to repair the trust’s income now, compared with 20 years ago. He notes MYI was relatively unscathed during the global financial crisis in 2008–09 as the fund had a very low banking exposure and a large bond weighting, which could be switched into equities for a yield pick-up. ‘Back then, names such as Cadbury, Nestlé and Johnson & Johnson were offering 4–5% yields versus 2.5% bond yields’ the manager explains.

Stout discusses MYI’s five-year total returns – given the diversified nature of its portfolio, it was not overly exposed to sectors or countries with ‘evaporating dividends’ in 2020. Despite a lack of exposure to some of the large-cap technology companies in Asia, which have performed particularly well, but do not pay dividends, such as Baidu, the region has generated a 13.5% annualised total return for the trust, which the manager finds ‘very encouraging’. The US has generated total returns of 12.7% pa, MYI’s holdings include AbbVie (biopharmaceuticals), Broadcom (semiconductors) and CME Group (financial exchanges), ‘which are driving dividend growth and bringing something different to the portfolio’. Stout adds that ‘the ability to generate income from a selection of industries and geographies brings additional flexibility’.

The manager shares his thoughts on the macroeconomic backdrop and believes debt legacies will inhibit growth to varying degrees. Several Asian countries such as Singapore and South Korea have 2020 budget deficits as a percentage of GDP that are at their highest in a decade, while the UK and US percentages are the highest since World War II. ‘This is the legacy of the pandemic – who will pay for it and how’? Stout believes government fiscal policy will have to tighten as monetary policy is now ineffective. ‘There will be higher taxes at the corporate and consumer levels, and cuts in spending. The global balance sheet is now much larger than it was following the global financial crisis as authorities have been printing money’ he adds.

Stout says the market does not expect short-term interest rates to move over the next five years; however, there is increasing evidence that prices are rising, for hard and soft commodities, products and services, and there are now more trade barriers, while pent-up demand due to lockdowns also has implications for inflation. ‘There is an argument that there is a lot of spare capacity due to high unemployment, so there will not be inflation. However, if that capacity is redundant and there is a tsunami of pent-up demand as economies open up, companies will increase prices if they can as many of them need to repair their balance sheets’. The manager says there is ‘no route map’ for emerging from the pandemic and many policymakers have never had to deal with inflation; he believes the authorities are likely to let their economies run hot and tolerate higher levels of inflation, which has negative implications for future economic growth.

Current portfolio positioning

MYI is a truly diversified portfolio, at end-FY20 it was invested in 28 countries, although this strategy was underwhelming last year as global market leadership was narrow. At end-February 2020, the portfolio had 55 equity and 24 fixed income investments (there is a board requirement that MYI has between 45 and 150 holdings) with the top 10 making up 31.7% of the fund, which was broadly in line with 31.4% a year earlier; seven positions were common to both periods. The active share of the fund was 92.3% – this is a measure of how a portfolio differs from an index, with 0% representing full index replication and 100% no commonality.

Exhibit 2: Top 10 holdings (at 28 February 2021)

Company

Country

Sector

Portfolio weight %

28 February 2021

28 February 2020*

Taiwan Semiconductor

Taiwan

Technology

4.7

5.1

Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste (ASUR)

Mexico

Industrials

4.5

4.5

GlobalWafers

Taiwan

Technology

3.5

N/A

CME

US

Financials

3.0

3.3

Roche

Switzerland

Healthcare

2.9

3.1

Samsung Electronics

South Korea

Technology

2.8

N/A

Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile

Chile

Basic materials

2.8

2.3

Philip Morris

US

Consumer goods

2.6

2.8

Broadcom

US

Technology

2.5

N/A

Verizon Communications

US

Telecommunications

2.4

2.6

Top 10 (% of portfolio)

31.7

31.4

Source: MYI, Edison Investment Research. Note *N/A where not in end-February 2020 top 10.

Looking at MYI’s portfolio breakdown in Exhibit 3, over the 12 months to end-February 2021 there was a 6.6pp shift from bonds/cash into equities with the largest increases to North America (+6.1pp) and Europe ex-UK (+4.6pp). The Latin America and emerging market exposure has declined by 5.7pp (3.9pp from bonds/cash and 1.8pp from equities).

Exhibit 3: Portfolio breakdown by security type and geography (% unless stated)

Portfolio end-February 2021

Portfolio end-February 2020

Change (pp)

Equities

Asia Pacific ex-Japan

29.2

29.6

(0.4)

North America

24.4

18.3

6.1

Europe ex-UK

16.5

11.9

4.6

Latin America & EM

12.7

14.5

(1.8)

UK

5.8

6.7

(0.9)

Africa

0.4

0.5

(0.1)

Japan

0.0

0.9

(0.9)

 

89.0

82.4

6.6

Bonds/cash

 

 

 

Latin America & EM

4.6

8.5

(3.9)

Asia Pacific ex-Japan

4.0

5.6

(1.6)

Africa

1.0

1.0

0.0

Europe ex-UK

0.8

1.0

(0.2)

UK

0.5

0.5

0.0

Cash

0.1

1.0

(0.9)

 

11.0

17.6

(6.6)

Total

 

 

 

Asia Pacific ex-Japan

33.2

35.2

(2.0)

North America

24.4

18.3

6.1

Latin America & EM

17.3

23.0

(5.7)

Europe ex-UK

17.3

12.9

4.4

UK

6.3

7.2

(0.9)

Africa

1.4

1.5

(0.1)

Japan

0.0

0.9

(0.9)

Cash

0.1

1.0

(0.9)

100.0

100.0

 

Source: MYI, Edison Investment Research. Note: EM, emerging markets.

Stout highlights that MYI’s portfolio has evolved significantly over time with a much lower UK weighting given the narrow nature of equity income here and there is now a broader range of opportunities overseas. The Japanese exposure has been sold as in general ‘companies make the right noises regarding dividends but when there are problems they revert to form and cut them’. MYI’s largest shift over the last decade is a higher weighting to the US, moving from 7% to 24%, where the manager is finding companies with attractive dividend yields and growth prospects. Over the last five years the largest sector increase within the equity portfolio is a higher weighting to technology (18% versus 5%), while consumer goods has declined from 27% to 12%.

MYI’s transaction activity in 2020 was the highest in more than a decade, ‘some of which was out of necessity, but mostly in response to opportunities’ comments the manager. There were 10 new equity positions initiated across a diverse range of businesses: AbbVie, Broadcom, China Resources Land, Cisco Systems, Enel, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co (Foxconn Technology), Ping An Insurance, Tryg, Unilever (Europe) and Zurich Insurance Group, while there were six complete equity disposals: Bank Pekoa, Coca Cola Amatil, Public Bank, Ultrapar, Unilever Indonesia and Wilson, Sons. AbbVie and Broadcom were funded from the proceeds of bond sales for a yield pickup in early 2020 when investors were risk averse and stock market volatility was high. During 2020 MYI moved from zero to three insurance holdings: Ping An Insurance, Tryg and Zurich Insurance, while Enel is the trust’s first utility; the manager says the company has an attractive renewable energy business.

Looking at portfolio activity this year, the small positions in Japan Tobacco and Auckland International Airport were sold. A rights issue last year means Auckland International Airport will not be able to pay a dividend in 2021. The proceeds from the disposals were invested in two new holdings, Canada-listed Enbridge (natural gas transmission and distribution) and France-listed Sanofi (pharmaceuticals).

Performance: Benefiting from broader leadership

Exhibit 4: Five-year discrete performance data

12 months ending

Share price
(%)

NAV
(%)

Index*
(%)

CBOE UK All Companies (%)

MSCI World ex-UK (%)

MSCI AC World (%)

28/02/17

44.9

40.1

32.9

23.7

38.4

37.5

28/02/18

8.9

4.0

6.7

4.4

8.1

7.8

28/02/19

(0.5)

(1.7)

2.9

1.6

3.3

3.3

29/02/20

(5.8)

1.6

4.8

(2.1)

9.4

8.8

28/02/21

8.9

9.3

15.8

2.8

20.5

19.6

Source: Refinitiv. Note: All % on a total return basis in pounds sterling. *Index is 40% UK and 60% World ex-UK until 27 April 2020 and a broad global index thereafter.

Exhibit 5: Investment trust performance to 28 February 2021

Price, NAV and index total return performance, one-year rebased

Price, NAV and index total return performance (%)

Source: Refinitiv, Edison Investment Research. Note: Three, five and 10-year performance figures annualised.

In FY20, MYI’s NAV and share price total returns of +0.9% and -5.3% respectively lagged the reference index’s +7.0% total return. Underperformance was a function of stock selection rather than asset allocation. By geography, the largest positive contributor to the trust’s relative performance was the UK (+2.2pp), while the biggest detractor was North America (-5.5pp). At the individual stock level, MYI benefited from its holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor (+2.7pp), Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile and GlobalWafers (both +1.9pp). The three largest detractors were Banco Bradesco (-1.0pp) and ASUR and Singapore Telecommunications (both -0.9pp). In absolute terms, there was a wide disparity of total returns, within the fund ranging from Asian equities (+10.9%) to UK equities (-17.2%). On a sector basis the range was even wider, with technology (+60.7%) and basic materials (+32.6%) up during the year compared with energy (-32.4%) and financials (-20.4%). MYI’s currency exposure is unhedged and exchange rates proved to be a constraint on both capital and income performance in FY20.

Exhibit 6: Share price and NAV total return performance, relative to indices (%)

 

One month

Three months

Six months

One year

Three years

Five years

10 years

Price relative to index

0.5

0.4

8.0

(5.9)

(18.2)

(9.0)

(25.4)

NAV relative to index

0.9

2.4

8.4

(5.6)

(12.5)

(10.1)

(19.3)

Price relative to CBOE UK All Companies

(1.2)

(2.5)

4.5

6.0

(0.2)

22.0

8.4

NAV relative to CBOE UK All Companies

(0.7)

(0.5)

4.9

6.3

6.8

20.6

17.3

Price relative to MSCI World ex-UK

0.5

0.4

8.0

(9.6)

(25.1)

(21.0)

(37.9)

NAV relative to MSCI World ex-UK

0.9

2.4

8.4

(9.3)

(19.9)

(21.9)

(32.8)

Price relative to MSCI AC World

0.4

0.3

7.9

(8.9)

(24.0)

(19.1)

(35.6)

NAV relative to MSCI AC World

0.9

2.3

8.3

(8.6)

(18.7)

(20.1)

(30.3)

Source: Refinitiv, Edison Investment Research. Note: Data to end-February 2021. Geometric calculation.

MYI’s relative returns are shown in Exhibit 6. Compared with its reference index, the trust has performed considerably better over the last six months. Stock market leadership has broadened in recent months following positive news about COVID-19 vaccines in November 2020 and there is greater investor focus on the prospects for economic growth. MYI’s performance has lagged that of the index over the last one, three, five and 10 years; however, its NAV is ahead of the broad UK market over these periods, illustrating the potential benefits of investing overseas.

Exhibit 7: NAV total return performance relative to index over five years

Source: Refinitiv, Edison Investment Research

Peer group comparison

Exhibit 8: AIC Global Equity Income sector at 22 March 2021*

% unless stated

Market cap £m

NAV TR
1 year

NAV TR
3 year

NAV TR
5 year

NAV TR
10 year

Discount (cum-fair)

Ongoing charge

Perf.
fee

Net gearing

Dividend yield (%)

Murray International

1,525.0

39.2

17.0

58.7

110.6

1.6

0.7

No

113

4.6

Henderson International Income

308.2

37.9

20.2

62.6

(7.0)

0.8

No

114

3.8

Invesco Perp Select Global Equity Inc

49.5

51.6

22.4

66.1

163.9

(6.9)

0.9

Yes

115

3.4

JPMorgan Global Growth & Income

604.4

54.1

44.6

116.3

214.9

3.2

0.6

Yes

106

3.2

Majedie Investments

126.2

40.1

3.7

23.1

88.8

(17.6)

1.2

Yes

110

4.8

Scottish American

768.6

35.7

36.6

93.1

166.8

4.0

0.7

No

110

2.6

Securities Trust of Scotland

203.3

32.1

26.5

60.9

145.7

(1.3)

0.9

No

112

2.8

Average

512.2

41.5

24.4

68.7

148.4

(3.4)

0.8

111

3.6

MYI rank in sector (7 funds)

1

4

6

6

5

3

2

3

2

Source: Morningstar, Edison Investment Research. Note: *Performance at 19 March 2021 based on ex-par NAV. TR, total return. Net gearing is total assets less cash and equivalents as a percentage of net assets.

MYI is by far the largest fund in the seven-strong AIC Global Equity Income sector. The companies follow a variety of investment strategies; for example, MYI has a higher than average exposure to emerging markets. Its NAV total returns are below average over the periods shown ranking fourth over the last 12 months, and sixth over the last three and five years. MYI ranks fifth out of six funds over the last decade.

The trust is one of three companies that are trading at a premium, while one is trading on a particularly wide discount (it has a c 17% stake in its owner and invests in its own funds). MYI has a competitive ongoing charge (no performance fee is payable) and it has the third-highest level of gearing. The trust offers the second-highest dividend yield in the sector, 1.0pp above the mean.

Dividends: Progressive policy

ASI explains that during FY20, within MYI’s portfolio ‘there were 29 dividend increases, a third of which were double digit, which is compatible with prior years, as some companies were able to generate cash flow and return cash to shareholders. Six dividends were unchanged, which is also similar to prior years. However, there were 13 dividend cuts including Royal Dutch Shell and Schlumberger where cash flows were under extreme pressure, and four cancellations – ASUR, Auckland International Airport, Standard Chartered and Bank Pekao’.

The FY20 annual dividend of 54.5p per share was 1.9% higher year-on-year, which compares favourably with the 1.2% increase in the Retail Prices Index. MYI has increased its dividend for the last 16 consecutive years. In FY20, MYI’s income was 46.6p per share, meaning the dividend was c 0.85x covered; around 15% of the trust’s revenue reserves were used to fund the shortfall. Over the last 20 years, dividend cover has ranged from 0.80x (in FY03) to 1.19x (in FY11). At end-FY20 revenue reserves were £66.8m (end-FY19 £75.8m), which is equivalent to around 1x the last annual dividend. The board intends to maintain its progressive dividend policy given MYI’s investment objective and aims to pay out what the underlying portfolio earns in sterling terms (revenue received from overseas holdings is unhedged).

Last year the board reviewed MYI’s investment approach and from 2021 there are now two strategies in place to generate a modestly higher amount of income. ASI is now able to write covered put and call options on underlying portfolio investments and employ stock lending.

Exhibit 9: Dividend history since FY15

Source: Bloomberg, Edison Investment Research

Discount: Fluctuating valuation

As shown in Exhibit 10, over the last three years, MYI’s valuation has generally fluctuated within a range of a 5% premium to a 5% discount. There was a period of volatility during the coronavirus-led stock market sell off in early 2020, during which time the trust’s discount moved to a decade-wide discount of 12.9%. MYI’s current 2.1% premium to cum-income NAV compares with average discounts of 2.8%, 0.4% and 0.1% over the last one, three and five years and an average premium of 2.4% over the last decade.

Aiming to reduce volatility in the trust’s valuation, while making a small positive contribution to the NAV, the board repurchases shares if they trade at a persistent discount to ex-income NAV, while issuing shares if they trade at a persistent premium to cum-income NAV. During FY20, c 1.0m shares (c 0.8% of the share base) were bought back at a cost of c £9.2m and 80k shares were allotted raising c £1.0m.

Exhibit 10: Discount over three years

Exhibit 11: Buybacks and issuance

Source: Refinitiv, Edison Investment Research

Source: Morningstar, Edison Investment Research

Exhibit 10: Discount over three years

Source: Refinitiv, Edison Investment Research

Exhibit 11: Buybacks and issuance

Source: Morningstar, Edison Investment Research

Fund profile: Differentiated geographic exposure

MYI is one of the oldest UK investment trusts, launched in December 1907; it is listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange. Since 2004, Bruce Stout, a senior investment director in ASI’s global equity team, has been the trust’s lead manager, although he has been directly involved with MYI since 1992. He works closely with investment directors Martin Connaghan and Samantha Fitzpatrick.

The team aims to generate long-term capital growth (while preserving capital during periods of stock market weakness) and an above-average dividend yield from a globally diversified portfolio of equities and fixed income securities. He favours emerging markets (c 52% of the fund) as he believes these regions offer the prospect of higher economic growth alongside relatively attractive company valuations.

MYI’s performance is now measured against an All-World reference index; before 27 April 2020 it was benchmarked against a composite measure (40% UK and 60% world ex-UK). The trust’s investment objective was also changed on this date, aiming to achieve an above-average dividend yield, with long-term growth in dividends and capital ahead of inflation, by investing principally in global equities (MYI’s prior aim was to achieve a total return greater than its benchmark by investing predominantly in equities worldwide). The board believes the new wording gives shareholders a clearer picture of what the trust is trying to deliver.

There are no geographic or sector limits on portfolio construction, but at the time of investment, a maximum 15% of the fund is permitted in a single security, although in practice this percentage is much lower. From time to time, the trust may invest in equity-related securities such as depositary receipts, preference shares or unlisted companies, and derivatives are permitted for efficient portfolio management. Gearing of up to 30% of NAV is permitted (in normal market conditions); at 19 March 2021, net gearing was 12.9%.

Investment process: Bottom-up stock selection

Stocks are selected on a bottom-up basis, so sector, regional and country allocations are a result of these decisions. ASI employs a long-term approach, focusing on companies that ASI’s research analysts identify as high quality. Firms are considered on five key factors: the durability of its business model and its economic moat; the attractiveness of the industry in which it operates; the strength of its financials; the capability of its management team; and an assessment of its economic, social and governance (ESG) credentials. Company valuations are assessed across a variety of relevant measures including earnings yields, free cash flow yields and dividend yields. The manager targets a double-digit annual total return from MYI’s holdings, selecting companies that have the most attractive quality and valuation characteristics, while offering the best expected risk-adjusted returns. ASI uses a global coverage list that is constructed by each of the specialist regional analyst teams (UK, Europe, Asia Pacific ex-Japan, North America, Japan and emerging markets) containing all companies with buy and hold recommendations, which provides Stout’s investment universe.

For MYI’s fixed income holdings, the process for selecting and monitoring both sovereign and corporate bonds follows the same methodology used for equity investment. Portfolio geographic and sector exposures are a function of each security’s relative valuation and prospects.

Within the portfolio there are typically 40–60 companies across the market-cap spectrum ranging from position sizes of between 1% and 5%. Equity holdings are generally initiated at around 1.0% to 1.5% of the fund, while initial fixed income positions tend to be smaller. If a holding reaches 5% of the portfolio, it is trimmed within 30 days, and the manager will sell a holding within 30 days if it is no longer rated buy or hold on the global coverage list.

MYI’s approach to ESG

Although ESG and climate-related factors are not the overriding criteria in relation to Stout’s portfolio decisions, they do form a very important part of the investment process, and have done so for more than 30 years for three key reasons:

Financial returns – ESG factors can be financially material; companies that take their responsibilities seriously tend to outperform those that do not.

Fuller insight – systematically assessing a company’s ESG risks and opportunities alongside other financial metrics leads to better investment decisions.

Corporate advancement – informed and constructive engagement helps foster higher-quality companies, thereby protecting and enhancing the value of MYI’s investments.

The manager can draw on the resources of ASI’s ESG equity analysts and central ESG investment team who collaborate to generate a deep understanding of the ESG risks and opportunities associated with each company analysed.

Climate change risks are vast and are becoming increasingly financially material for many of ASI’s investments not only in the high-emitting sectors, such as energy, utilities and transportation, but also along the supply chain, for providers of finance and in those reliant on agricultural outputs and water. Companies that successfully manage climate change risks are expected to perform better over the long term.

A systematic and globally applied approach to evaluating stocks allows ASI to compare companies consistently on their ESG credentials – both regionally and against their peer group. Findings from research and company meetings are captured in formal research notes. All firms analysed are allocated an ESG rating between 1 and 5, where 1, best in class; 2, leader; 3, average; 4, below average; and 5, laggard. Once ASI invests in a company, it is committed to helping that firm maintain or raise its ESG standards further. Regular engagement is seen as a necessary fulfilment of its duty as a responsible steward of clients’ assets and provides an opportunity to share examples of best practice seen in other companies.

Gearing

At end-FY20, the trust had £200m in debt. On 14 May 2020 it agreed a new one-year £50m revolving credit facility (RCF) with Royal Bank of Scotland International. The board is reviewing options for the RCF, which expires on 13 May 2021. Total gearing of up to 30% of NAV is permitted (in normal market conditions); at 19 March 2021, net gearing was 12.9%.

Fees and charges

MYI’s management fees are 0.500% of NAV up to £1.2bn, and 0.425% of NAV above this level, split 30:70 between the revenue and capital accounts respectively. In FY20, the trust’s ongoing charge was 0.68% compared with 0.65% in FY19, in part due to a small decline MYI’s net assets.

Capital structure

MYI is a conventional investment trust with one class of share; there are 128.4m ordinary shares in issue and its average daily trading volume is c 200k shares.

Exhibit 12: Major shareholders

Exhibit 13: Average daily volume

Source: Bloomberg, at 28 February 2021.

Source: Refinitiv. Note: 12 months to 22 March 2021.

Exhibit 12: Major shareholders

Source: Bloomberg, at 28 February 2021.

Exhibit 13: Average daily volume

Source: Refinitiv. Note: 12 months to 22 March 2021.

The board

Exhibit 14: MYI’s board of directors

Board member

Date of appointment

Remuneration in FY20

Shareholdings at end-FY20

Kevin Carter (chairman since April 2011)

23 April 2009

£48,000

65,000

Marcia Campbell

27 April 2012

£34,000

17,174

David Hardie

1 May 2014

£30,733

14,937

Alexandra Mackesy

1 May 2016

£28,000

Nil

Claire Binyon

1 May 2018

£28,000

1,161

Simon Fraser

1 May 2020

£18,667

Nil

Source: MYI

Carter and Campbell will retire at the 13 April 2021 AGM, at which time Fraser will assume the role of chairman. The board is recruiting another non-executive director.

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This report has been commissioned by Murray International Trust and prepared and issued by Edison, in consideration of a fee payable by Murray International Trust. Edison Investment Research standard fees are £49,500 pa for the production and broad dissemination of a detailed note (Outlook) following by regular (typically quarterly) update notes. Fees are paid upfront in cash without recourse. Edison may seek additional fees for the provision of roadshows and related IR services for the client but does not get remunerated for any investment banking services. We never take payment in stock, options or warrants for any of our services.

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Frankfurt +49 (0)69 78 8076 960

Schumannstrasse 34b

60325 Frankfurt

Germany

London +44 (0)20 3077 5700

280 High Holborn

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United Kingdom

New York +1 646 653 7026

1185 Avenue of the Americas

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United States of America

Sydney +61 (0)2 8249 8342

Level 4, Office 1205

95 Pitt Street, Sydney

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Frankfurt +49 (0)69 78 8076 960

Schumannstrasse 34b

60325 Frankfurt

Germany

London +44 (0)20 3077 5700

280 High Holborn

London, WC1V 7EE

United Kingdom

New York +1 646 653 7026

1185 Avenue of the Americas

3rd Floor, New York, NY 10036

United States of America

Sydney +61 (0)2 8249 8342

Level 4, Office 1205

95 Pitt Street, Sydney

NSW 2000, Australia

General disclaimer and copyright

This report has been commissioned by Murray International Trust and prepared and issued by Edison, in consideration of a fee payable by Murray International Trust. Edison Investment Research standard fees are £49,500 pa for the production and broad dissemination of a detailed note (Outlook) following by regular (typically quarterly) update notes. Fees are paid upfront in cash without recourse. Edison may seek additional fees for the provision of roadshows and related IR services for the client but does not get remunerated for any investment banking services. We never take payment in stock, options or warrants for any of our services.

Accuracy of content: All information used in the publication of this report has been compiled from publicly available sources that are believed to be reliable, however we do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this report and have not sought for this information to be independently verified. Opinions contained in this report represent those of the research department of Edison at the time of publication. Forward-looking information or statements in this report contain information that is based on assumptions, forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable, and therefore involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of their subject matter to be materially different from current expectations.

Exclusion of Liability: To the fullest extent allowed by law, Edison shall not be liable for any direct, indirect or consequential losses, loss of profits, damages, costs or expenses incurred or suffered by you arising out or in connection with the access to, use of or reliance on any information contained on this note.

No personalised advice: The information that we provide should not be construed in any manner whatsoever as, personalised advice. Also, the information provided by us should not be construed by any subscriber or prospective subscriber as Edison’s solicitation to effect, or attempt to effect, any transaction in a security. The securities described in the report may not be eligible for sale in all jurisdictions or to certain categories of investors.

Investment in securities mentioned: Edison has a restrictive policy relating to personal dealing and conflicts of interest. Edison Group does not conduct any investment business and, accordingly, does not itself hold any positions in the securities mentioned in this report. However, the respective directors, officers, employees and contractors of Edison may have a position in any or related securities mentioned in this report, subject to Edison's policies on personal dealing and conflicts of interest.

Copyright: Copyright 2021 Edison Investment Research Limited (Edison).

Australia

Edison Investment Research Pty Ltd (Edison AU) is the Australian subsidiary of Edison. Edison AU is a Corporate Authorised Representative (1252501) of Crown Wealth Group Pty Ltd who holds an Australian Financial Services Licence (Number: 494274). This research is issued in Australia by Edison AU and any access to it, is intended only for "wholesale clients" within the meaning of the Corporations Act 2001 of Australia. Any advice given by Edison AU is general advice only and does not take into account your personal circumstances, needs or objectives. You should, before acting on this advice, consider the appropriateness of the advice, having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs. If our advice relates to the acquisition, or possible acquisition, of a particular financial product you should read any relevant Product Disclosure Statement or like instrument.

New Zealand

The research in this document is intended for New Zealand resident professional financial advisers or brokers (for use in their roles as financial advisers or brokers) and habitual investors who are “wholesale clients” for the purpose of the Financial Advisers Act 2008 (FAA) (as described in sections 5(c) (1)(a), (b) and (c) of the FAA). This is not a solicitation or inducement to buy, sell, subscribe, or underwrite any securities mentioned or in the topic of this document. For the purpose of the FAA, the content of this report is of a general nature, is intended as a source of general information only and is not intended to constitute a recommendation or opinion in relation to acquiring or disposing (including refraining from acquiring or disposing) of securities. The distribution of this document is not a “personalised service” and, to the extent that it contains any financial advice, is intended only as a “class service” provided by Edison within the meaning of the FAA (i.e. without taking into account the particular financial situation or goals of any person). As such, it should not be relied upon in making an investment decision.

United Kingdom

This document is prepared and provided by Edison for information purposes only and should not be construed as an offer or solicitation for investment in any securities mentioned or in the topic of this document. A marketing communication under FCA Rules, this document has not been prepared in accordance with the legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and is not subject to any prohibition on dealing ahead of the dissemination of investment research.

This Communication is being distributed in the United Kingdom and is directed only at (i) persons having professional experience in matters relating to investments, i.e. investment professionals within the meaning of Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the "FPO") (ii) high net-worth companies, unincorporated associations or other bodies within the meaning of Article 49 of the FPO and (iii) persons to whom it is otherwise lawful to distribute it. The investment or investment activity to which this document relates is available only to such persons. It is not intended that this document be distributed or passed on, directly or indirectly, to any other class of persons and in any event and under no circumstances should persons of any other description rely on or act upon the contents of this document.

This Communication is being supplied to you solely for your information and may not be reproduced by, further distributed to or published in whole or in part by, any other person.

United States

Edison relies upon the "publishers' exclusion" from the definition of investment adviser under Section 202(a)(11) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and corresponding state securities laws. This report is a bona fide publication of general and regular circulation offering impersonal investment-related advice, not tailored to a specific investment portfolio or the needs of current and/or prospective subscribers. As such, Edison does not offer or provide personal advice and the research provided is for informational purposes only. No mention of a particular security in this report constitutes a recommendation to buy, sell or hold that or any security, or that any particular security, portfolio of securities, transaction or investment strategy is suitable for any specific person.

Frankfurt +49 (0)69 78 8076 960

Schumannstrasse 34b

60325 Frankfurt

Germany

London +44 (0)20 3077 5700

280 High Holborn

London, WC1V 7EE

United Kingdom

New York +1 646 653 7026

1185 Avenue of the Americas

3rd Floor, New York, NY 10036

United States of America

Sydney +61 (0)2 8249 8342

Level 4, Office 1205

95 Pitt Street, Sydney

NSW 2000, Australia

Frankfurt +49 (0)69 78 8076 960

Schumannstrasse 34b

60325 Frankfurt

Germany

London +44 (0)20 3077 5700

280 High Holborn

London, WC1V 7EE

United Kingdom

New York +1 646 653 7026

1185 Avenue of the Americas

3rd Floor, New York, NY 10036

United States of America

Sydney +61 (0)2 8249 8342

Level 4, Office 1205

95 Pitt Street, Sydney

NSW 2000, Australia

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