Barramundi Limited - Investing in Smaller Australian Companies

How is the Net Asset Value worked out?
The net asset value represents the total assets of a fund or company (securities, cash and accrued earnings) minus any liabilities, divided by the number of shares on issue. The Barramundi Net Asset Value is calculated at the close of business each Wednesday and at month end and is announced to the stock exchange the following day. We update the website with the new NAV after it is announced.

What does “Trading at a Discount” mean?
It is common for listed investment companies such as Barramundi to have a share price that is different to the Net Asset Value (NAV) per share. Where the share price is lower than the NAV per share, the shares are said to be trading at a discount. Where the share price is higher than the NAV per share, the shares are trading at a premium. There can be many reasons for the shares trading at a value different to the underlying NAV including expectations of future earnings and market sentiment from time to time. See the share buyback tab for further information.

What is the level and criteria for the Manager’s eligibility for the Management Fee and the Performance fee?
In return for the performance of its duties as Manager of the Company's Portfolio, Fisher Funds is entitled to be paid:

(a)	A Management Fee of 1.25% per annum of the Gross Asset Value. The Management Fee is reduced by 0.10% for each 1.0% per annum by which the Gross Return is below the change in the NZX 90 Day Bank Bill Index over the same period. However, a minimum Management Fee of 0.75% per annum applies.
(b)	A Performance Fee of 15% of excess returns over and above a Benchmark Rate being the change in the NZX 90 Day Bank Bill Index + 7% per annum.

The above is an abbreviation of the relevant Management Agreement Clauses.

The general terms of the Management Agreement extracted from the Prospectus can be viewed here.

At what level of NAV discount to share price would Barramundi consider a share buyback?
The shares of a Listed Investment Company (LIC) such as Barramundi may alternate trading between a premium or discount to NAV. The Barramundi capital management policy as disclosed in the prospectus states that if in the opinion of the Board the price of the shares does not appropriately reflect the underlying asset value the board will from time to time consider buying shares in Barramundi. Any decision by the Board to acquire shares will consider other investment alternatives and whether the acquisition is in the best interest of the shareholders. The Barramundi Board will most likely consider a buyback programme when it believes the discount to be extreme, or greater than the discount ranges prevalent in similar investment vehicles. Where there is a significant discount, buying back shares can benefit shareholders. This is because using funds to buyback Barramundi shares is like buying the portfolio of shares held by Barramundi at a discount (lower) price than those shares could be purchased on the market. Buybacks will only be used where the Board believes this will enhance shareholder value. If a decision is made in relation to a buy back then Barramundi is required to advise the market in advance. The Company currently has a share buyback policy in place until 31 October 2012, whereby it can acquire up to 5 million ordinary shares on-market.

Click here to read our Share Buyback Policy.

PIE Regime

Barramundi is a registered Portfolio Investment Entity (PIE) for tax purposes. The PIE regime has significant advantages for shareholders:

Natural person Shareholders or Trustees do not have to include dividend income from Barramundi in their tax return (although if you are on a marginal tax rate lower than 28%, you can elect to include dividends to take advantage of any imputation credits attached at the higher rate of 28%). Other shareholders only have to include fully imputed dividends in their income, in which case the imputation credits will usually fully offset any tax liability. Imputation credits will be attached to dividends to the fullest extent possible. To the extent that the dividend is not imputed, the dividend should be treated as excluded income for New Zealand resident investors.
There is no longer a tax on the distribution of capital gains to shareholders.
The Manager, Fisher Funds, will have more flexibility to undertake one-off 'short-term' transactions (however, overall they will maintain their long term buy and hold strategy).

How do I check the value of my shares?

You can ask any sharebroker, check in the major newspapers or follow this link and type in the security code "BRM".

The stockmarket can be a complex place. However most of the key terms that describe market processes are relatively easy to understand.

This section gives a guide to some of these key terms – including terms that are found in the sharemarket tables in the newspaper. New terms are added to this list often, to ensure investors have an easy reference place for key phrases and terminology.

Click on the link below to view:

Glossary of Terms

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Barramundi Limited

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