Blackrock Greater Europe Investment Trust PLCLSE: BRGE

BlackRock Greater Europe Investment Trust Plc - Portfolio Update

· Issued by Blackrock Greater Europe Investment Trust PLC via PR Newswire

Summary by 6ix AI

BlackRock Greater Europe Investment Trust Plc said its net asset value (NAV, the value of its holdings per share) fell 1.9% and its share price fell 2.8% in the month to 30 September 2026, with net income reinvested. The FTSE World Europe ex UK index returned -2.9%. Figures are unaudited.

Key details

  • At 30 September 2026: NAV including income 638.99P, NAV capital only 631.74P, share price 593.00p, discount to NAV (including income) 7.0%, net gearing (borrowing) 8.72%, total assets (including income) £570.1m and 89,213,191 ordinary shares in issue.
  • In the year to 30 September 2026, with net income reinvested, NAV returned 4.2% and the share price 1.1%, against 14.5% for the index. Over three years, NAV returned 24.0% and the share price 23.4%, against 52.4% for the index.
  • Largest holdings were ASML (Netherlands) at 9.9%, Safran (France) at 5.0% and ASM International (Netherlands) at 4.7%. By sector, industrials were 31.2% of total assets, financials 24.3% and technology 19.5%.
  • Benjammin Moore and Brian Hall, representing the Investment Manager, said holdings including ASML, ASM International, Legrand, MTU Aero Engines, AIB and ABN Amro added to returns compared with the index, while Richemont and Novonesis detracted. They said they recycled the remaining Richemont capital.
  • Ongoing charges were 0.95%, calculated for the year ended 31 August 2025. The management fee was reduced from 1 September 2025, which the company estimates will lower ongoing charges to 0.775% (based on average net assets for the year ended 31 August 2025).

6ix AI wrote this summary from the release below and checked it against the release.

                          The information contained in this release was correct as at 30 September 2026.
Information on the Company's up to date net asset values can be found on the
London Stock Exchange Website at:

https://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/news/market-news/market-news
-home.html.

BLACKROCK GREATER EUROPE INVESTMENT TRUST PLC (LEI - 5493003R8FJ6I76ZUW55)

All information is at 30 September 2026 and unaudited.
Performance at month end with net income reinvested

                             One    Three   One    Three  Launch

                             Month  Months  Year   Years  (20 Sep 04)
Net asset value (undiluted)  -1.9%  -4.4%   4.2%   24.0%  811.1%
Share price                  -2.8%  -3.6%   1.1%   23.4%  757.5%
FTSE World Europe ex UK      -2.9%  -2.5%   14.5%  52.4%  630.4%

Sources: BlackRock and Datastream

At month end

Net asset value (capital only):      631.74P
Net asset value (including income):  638.99P
Share price:                         593.00p
Discount to NAV (including income):  7.0%
Net gearing:                         8.72%
Net yield2:                          1.2%
Total assets (including income):     £570.1m
Ordinary shares in issue3:           89,213,191
Ongoing charges3:                    0.95%

1  Based on a final dividend of 5.40p per share for the year ended 31 August
2025 and an interim dividend of 1.75p per share for the year ending 31 August
2026.

2  Excluding 28,715,747 shares held in treasury.
3  The Company's ongoing charges are calculated as a percentage of average daily
net assets and using the management fee and all other operating expenses
excluding finance costs, direct transaction costs, custody transaction charges,
VAT recovered, taxation, write back of prior year expenses and certain non
-recurring items for the year ended 31 August 2025. With effect from 1 September
2025, the Company's annual management fee was reduced from 0.85% per annum of
net asset value on net assets up to £350 million and 0.75% per annum of net
asset value above £350 million to 0.65% of net assets up to and including £400
million, 0.60% of net assets in excess of £400 million up to and including £1
billion and 0.525% of net assets in excess of £1 billion. This will result in
lower ongoing charges for the Company, estimated at 0.775% (based on average net
assets for the year ended 31 August 2025).

Sector Analysis          Total       Country Analysis         Total Assets (%)
                         Assets (%)  France                   20.2
                                     Netherlands              19.9
Industrials              31.2        Germany                  11.5
Financials               24.3        Italy                    10.1
Technology               19.5        Switzerland              8.4
Health Care              9.8         Spain                    4.6
Energy                   4.3         Denmark                  4.6
Basic Materials          3.5         Sweden                   4.2
Consumer Discretionary   3.2         Belgium                  3.5
Utilities                2.9         Ireland                  3.2
Materials                1.4         Austria                  3.1
                                     Finland                  2.7
Net Current Liabilities  -0.1        Norway                   1.8
                         -----       United States            1.4
                         100.0       Greece                   0.9
                         =====       Net Current Liabilities  -0.1
                                                              -----
                                                              100.0
                                                              =====

Top 10 holdings           Country      Fund %
ASML                      Netherlands  9.9
Safran                    France       5.0
ASM International         Netherlands  4.7
UniCredit                 Italy        4.0
Airbus                    France       3.7
Allied Irish Banks (AIB)  Ireland      3.2
Caixabank Sa              Spain        3.2
Novonesis                 Denmark      3.1
MTU Aero Engines          Germany      3.0
Erste Group Bank          Austria      3.0

Commenting on the markets, Benjammin Moore and Brian Hall, representing the
Investment Manager noted:

During the month, the Company's NAV fell -1.9% and the share price fell -2.8%.
For reference, the FTSE World Europe ex UK market returned -2.9% during the
period.

The market took a step back with risk appetite wanning on a rise in global bond
yields and the reescalation of conflict between the US/Iran that saw oil prices
surpass US$100 per barrel again. We remain more sanguine on both fronts as we
move into a third quarter corporate reporting season which looks well set to see
strong earnings growth continue in many parts of the market.

Taking the move in rates first, we regard this as a function of the environment
we are in with increased debt supply coming from hyperscalers. We do not see
this as an inflationary spike in long-term yields; drivers of core inflation
look under control on both sides of Atlantic. In Europe, yields have been
impacted primarily by France pulling others up. We expect to be talking about
French politics over next 6 months leading up to the 2027 presidential election,
but with very limited impact for fund earnings as we don't own much of domestic
France (e.g. banks, insurance, toll roads, telcos, supermarkets).

When it comes to oil, there does appear to be an ebb to the impact of supply due
to the US/Iran conflict. Evidence suggests Iran is losing control of the Strait
of Hormuz with supply back near pre-crisis levels despite their stance that the
strait remains closed. Ship to ship transfers as well as the return of supply
through Saudi pipelines has helped supply, while Europe's decision to release
diesel reserves is also a derisking factor domestically.

Positioning around AI remains a key debate within the team. This is an area of
fast paced progress with new data points and qualitative evidence coming from
throughout the value chain. We expect this will remain at the forefront of our
debate for some time to come. While recent evidence supports continued demand
for compute driven by further AI adoption, history suggests that when major
investment cycles mature, leadership broadens rapidly. We believe there is
little edge in the market in precisely forecasting AI demand. However, there is
edge in understanding cycles and preparing for an eventual rotation. Our team
just spent the September conference season meeting companies, with over 300
interactions feeding into our bottom-up view that Europe's earnings recovery is
broadening, even if it remains far from synchronised. While far from calling a
fade or end to the AI led investment cycle, we are finding it prudent to think
through where the portfolio would go as and when we spot those signs of
broadening.

The portfolio's overweight position to, and stock selection within, the
technology sector as well as underweight positioning to consumer discretionary
and telcos were additive to relative returns.

Several portfolio positions with AI capex exposure contributed to positive
relative performance in the month. Shares in semiconductor holdings, ASML and
ASMi, reacted well to increased forecasts for WFE (wafer fab equipment) growth
and continued signs of tightness in supply which bodes well for fab capacity and
hence more orders for the equipment makers. Legrand was another standout
performer following a strong Capital Markets Day focused on its rapidly growing
data centre business. Management upgraded its 2030 ambitions, now targeting 6-8%
annual organic sales growth between 2027 and 2030 and an adjusted operating
margin of 21-22%. Data centres already represent around 32% of sales, with
management expecting more than €3 billion of data centre revenues in 2026,
reinforcing our confidence in the company's positioning within AI
infrastructure.

Aerospace also contributed positively, with MTU Aero Engines performing well.
The company had already raised its 2026 cash conversion guidance, while growing
confidence in further improvements to free cash flow supported the shares.

Owning AIB and ABN Amro added to relative returns as shares continued higher
following the recent positive results season showing lending and deposit growth,
alongside strong cost management supporting earnings. We had the opportunity to
hear from management from both (as well as many other financials) at the BAML
Financials Conference in September. AIB delivered a confident message on
domestic growth while ABN Amro indicated there is more cost and capital
optionality than its current targets capture.

Not holding Novo Nordisk or LVMH was positive for relative performance with both
disappointing in their most recent market updates. Novo issued outer year
targets on sales and margin that fell below consensus estimates and remained
quiet on expectations beyond 2030 where the bigger debate on the business
remains. LVMH shares were under pressure along with the broader luxury category
where third quarter pre-close calls got under way with initial headlines
suggesting the environment remains weak and several sell-side estimates were
cut.

On the other side of that luxury underweight benefit, the portfolio's small
position in Richemont dragged on returns. While this continues to be our
preferred business within the segment, the current risk/reward picture has
deteriorated following a period of strong share price gains and led us to
recycle the remaining capital.

A holding in Novonesis detracted with shares weaker as the market digested third
quarter 2026 previews that confirmed what we already knew from the company -
third quarter growth rates face a tougher comparables base before a new asset
ramp in the fourth quarter 2026 provides a clear path to reacceleration in that
growth rate.

Outlook

The portfolio remains cyclically tilted with key exposures across
semiconductors, electrification, banks, defence, select industrials and civil
aerospace, as well as some defensive assets within healthcare. We are more
cautious about the consumer sectors, where we retain underweight positions.
Finally, we believe the backdrop for European quality growth companies is
becoming increasingly supportive. The de-rating headwind of recent years has
left many of these businesses trading on attractive valuations, particularly
when considered against the re-rating seen in many inferior businesses with
significantly weaker prospects for earnings growth over time. As fundamentals
continue to reassert themselves, we believe this disconnect creates a favourable
environment for quality growth companies to recover performance.

Europe remains home to many world-class franchises, companies owning core
technologies that make them the enablers of some of the large transformational
changes going on around us. We aim to align shareholder capital to those
businesses that are exposed to large and enduring spending streams. Overall, we
retain our core exposure to companies with predictable business models, higher
than average returns on capital, strong cash flow conversions and opportunities
to reinvest that cash flow into future growth projects at high incremental
returns.

27 October 2026

ENDS

Latest information is available by typing www.blackrock.com/uk/brge on the
internet, "BLRKINDEX" on Reuters, "BLRK" on Bloomberg or "8800" on Topic 3 (ICV
terminal).  Neither the contents of the Manager's website nor the contents of
any website accessible from hyperlinks on the Manager's website (or any other
website) is incorporated into, or forms part of, this announcement.


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