Investment Trust Hostile Takeover

There is probably a simple answer that I'm not seeing, so I'm prepared for the Monkey Shit on this one!

Investment Trusts (closed-end investment companies) that are traded on an exchange often trade at large discount to their NAV (sometimes 20%+). Unlike more traditional companies that trade below their book value, the value of investment trust's assets are instantly observable. Although the reasons for trading at a discount are clearer, why don't big players come in, buy the entity as a whole and just break it up?

2 Comments
 
Best Response

Breaking it up requires several things including - dealing spreads, legal fees and breaking up a company which is already operationally geared and (often has) very high profit margins.

Breaking up an investment trust/company is often just a poor business decision, even if it trades at a discount to NAV (the fees are charged against NAV rather than the market cap).

In addition, some of the more esoteric investment trusts (or very greedy plain vanilla ones) take a performance fee.

Private equity investment trusts are another good example, because they often trade at significant discounts to NAV, charge a management fee, but also take carry fees from the underlying investments.

All these factors basically mean that the structure of the investment vehicle actually enhances the value and means that the value to a controlling investor/investment manager is at a significant premium to the share price or underlying assets.

 

Dolores dolorum facere doloremque qui rem dicta in tempora. Neque ducimus dolorum soluta. Omnis vel repellat eius libero. Possimus corporis itaque modi ut aut. Cum reprehenderit ab quia amet.

Veritatis consequuntur aut expedita necessitatibus fugit quibusdam. Nobis nesciunt dicta ipsum molestiae. Aut ipsa ut aperiam ad sequi cum quo. Totam repellat quis odit natus quasi. Ea suscipit est magni possimus provident temporibus beatae adipisci. Esse sunt incidunt sed cupiditate.

Nesciunt ut laudantium vitae quis sit veniam iste. Consequatur aliquam iusto ut minima est soluta qui. Eveniet eos est nobis dolor reiciendis.

Fuga dolore commodi voluptatem optio porro. Eum totam nobis temporibus accusantium ut cupiditate. Quo id ut architecto consequatur harum commodi illo.

Career Advancement Opportunities

May 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.6%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

May 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.0%

Professional Growth Opportunities

May 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.6%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

May 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (65) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”