Latest Listed Investment Company News

Katana Capital will pay shareholders a special fully franked dividend of 5.0 cents per share after the September quarter, with the board pointing to a substantial franking balance as scope for future distributions. The payment is scheduled for 30 October 2026 and will not be eligible for reinvestment through the company’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan.

L1 Global Long Short Fund has launched a non-underwritten one-for-two entitlement offer at A$1.76 a share, targeting up to A$482.7 million for new investments. The raising follows a 19.4% portfolio return since L1 Capital became manager and comes with the familiar risk that shareholders who do not participate could be diluted.

Clime Capital delivered a sharply stronger FY26 result, with after-tax profit rising to $10.3 million and dividends maintained. But KPMG qualified its audit after failing to obtain sufficient evidence for $36.2 million of unlisted unit trust valuations and related income and fees.

Australian Foundation Investment Company (ASX:AFI) plans to pay a fully franked 37 cents per share in FY27, including a 10-cent special dividend. The listed investment company will also replace its traditional payment pattern with four quarterly distributions of 9.25 cents.

Gowing Bros’ FY2026 loss widened to $3.49 million as Surf Hardware International remained deeply loss-making and investment properties were marked down by $3.0 million. The ASX-listed investment company kept its fully franked final dividend at 3 cents per share, despite negative operating cash flow and lower cash reserves.

Pengana International Equities has cancelled 151.1 million shares in a $183.28 million buy-back, leaving a much smaller listed investment company and three fewer directors. The reconstituted board will review capital options before deciding whether to pursue a future rights issue.

Benjamin Hornigold Limited (ASX:BHD) delivered a 9.93% portfolio return in FY2026 but still posted a $420,931 loss after $565,697 in legal fees. Two settlements worth $2.6 million were received after year-end, while an $8.97 million judgment against JB Markets was assigned no value.

Barramundi Limited (NZX:BRM) has reported the worst performance in its 20-year history, with a NZ$42.9 million net loss and a 17.0% fall in gross portfolio performance. The board is reviewing Fisher Funds’ management performance just weeks before its five-year agreement comes up for renewal.

Carlton Investments increased FY2026 profit and fully franked dividends, but its investment portfolio underperformed sharply as its largest holding, EVT, fell 22.6% in value. The company’s total portfolio return was negative 3.2%, compared with a 6.1% gain for the S&P/ASX 200 Accumulation Index.

Washington H. Soul Pattinson delivered a record statutory profit after its Brickworks merger, but the headline $2.191 billion result was dominated by accounting gains that will not recur. More durable measures also improved, with Net Cash Flow From Investments rising 11.5%, post-tax NAV reaching $14.5 billion and the final dividend increasing to 63 cents per share.

WAM Capital reported a 10.5% decline in investment portfolio performance for FY2026, but retained its full-year dividend at 15.5 cents per share. The listed investment company is targeting an 8.0-cent dividend for FY2027, backed by a profits reserve of 5.7 cents per share after the latest payout.

Katana Capital Limited (ASX:KAT) delivered a 17.98% gross investment return in FY2026, beating the All Ordinaries by 15.55 percentage points as its portfolio benefited from defence, infrastructure, resources and technology exposures. Net profit rose to $3.808 million, while the listed investment company entered FY2027 with elevated cash and a deliberately cautious stance on banks.