1 November 2024
ASHOKA
WHITEOAK EMERGING MARKETS TRUST PLC (the
"Company")
VOLUNTARY
REDEMPTION OF ORDINARY SHARES
YOU
DO NOT HAVE TO TAKE ANY ACTION IF YOU WISH TO RETAIN YOUR
SHARES
The
Company operates a voluntary redemption facility through which
shareholders may request the redemption of all or part of their
holding of redeemable ordinary shares of 1p each in the Company
("Ordinary
Shares") for
cash on the last Business Day in December each year.
There is
no requirement for shareholders to take any action should they wish
to retain their Ordinary Shares. As
at close of business on 30 October
2024, the Ordinary Share price was 120.0p and the net asset
value ("NAV")
(including current period revenue) was 118.6p per Ordinary Share,
therefore the Ordinary Shares were trading at a 1.2% premium to
NAV.
From the
Company's IPO on 3 May
2023 to
30 October 2024, the Company has
delivered NAV and share price total returns of 20.7%
and 20.0%,
respectively, and the Ordinary Shares have traded at an average
discount to NAV of -0.6%. Whilst the Company does not follow a
benchmark index, over the same period it has outperformed the MSCI
Emerging Markets Net Total Return GBP Index (in Sterling), which
saw a total return of 16.5%, by 4.2%.
A
redemption of Ordinary Shares may be subject to income tax and
capital gains tax. In particular, private shareholders who sell
their Ordinary Shares via the redemption mechanism could find they
are subject to income tax on the gains made on the redeemed
Ordinary Shares rather than capital gains tax on the sale of their
Ordinary Shares in the market. However,
individual circumstances do vary, therefore shareholders who are in
any doubt about the redemption or the action that should be taken
should seek independent professional advice.
None of
the Directors of the Company will be redeeming any of their
Ordinary Shares under the redemption facility.
Shareholders
submitting valid requests for the redemption of Ordinary Shares
will have their Ordinary Shares redeemed at the Redemption
Price.
The
Directors may elect, at their absolute discretion, to calculate the
Redemption Price on either of the following bases:
-
The
Redemption Price shall be equal to the Dealing Value per Ordinary
Share calculated as at the appropriate Valuation Point on the
appropriate Redemption Point; or
-
The
Directors may elect to calculate the Redemption Price by reference
to the amount generated upon the realisation of a Redemption Pool
created for the purpose of funding the redemption.
The
Directors are minded to approve all valid redemption requests
unless there are exceptional reasons why this would be contrary to
the interests of shareholders.
Shareholders
wishing to request the redemption of all or any of their
certificated Ordinary Shares at the Redemption Point should deliver
to the Company's Registrar a duly completed Redemption Request form
together with their share certificate, or for uncertificated
Ordinary Shares a Transfer to Escrow ("TTE")
instruction in accordance with the timetable set out below.
Redemption Request forms are available from the Company's
website (https://awemtrust.com/company-documents)
or from the Company's Registrar, Computershare Investor Services
PLC (details below).
The
relevant dates for the December 2024
Redemption Point are outlined below:
29
November 2024
|
Latest
date for receipt of Redemption Requests and certificates for
certificated Ordinary Shares.
|
1
p.m. on 29 November 2024
|
Latest
date and time for TTE instructions for uncertificated Ordinary
Shares via CREST.
|
6
p.m. on 31 December 2024
|
Redemption
Point.
|
On
or before 15 January 2025
|
Company to
notify Redemption Price and dispatch redemption monies;
or
if the
redemption is to be funded by way of a Redemption Pool, Company to
notify the number of Ordinary Shares being redeemed. Notification
of Redemption Price and dispatch of redemption monies to take place
as soon as practicable thereafter.
|
On
or before 15 January 2025
|
Balance
certificates to be sent to shareholders.
|
Further
details of the redemption facility are set out in the Company's
Articles of Association and are also available from the Company
Secretary.
The
Directors of the Company have discretion over the operation of the
redemption facility and the calculation of the Redemption
Price.
Defined
terms in the announcement have the same meaning as set out in the
Articles of Association, a copy of which may be obtained from the
Company Secretary.
LEGAL
ENTITY IDENTIFIER ('LEI'): 254900Z4X5Y7NTODRI75
Enquiries:
Company
Secretary
JTC (UK)
Limited
The
Scalpel, 18th
Floor
52 Lime
Street
London
EC3M
7AF
|
+44 207
409 0181
|
Registrar
Computershare
Investor Services PLC
The
Pavilions
Bridgwater
Road
Bristol
BS13
8AE
|
+44 (0)
370 702 0000
|
If
you have any questions, please call Computershare Investor Services
PLC on +44 (0) 370 702 0000. Calls are charged at the standard
geographic rate and will vary by provider. Calls outside the
United Kingdom will be charged at
the applicable international rate. The helpline is open between
9.00 am - 5.30 pm, Monday to Friday
excluding public holidays in England and Wales.
Please note that Computershare Investor Services PLC cannot
provide any financial, legal or tax advice and calls may be
recorded and monitored for security and training
purposes.