
Volatile markets require discipline
You will undoubtedly have noticed that we have taken fewer new positions in recent weeks. This is no coincidence. Although more and more stocks are falling below the £10 threshold—effectively expanding our hunting ground—we are deliberately adopting a more cautious approach for now. The reason lies in the exceptional market volatility driven by geopolitical tensions and persistently high oil prices, which continue to unsettle investors. The past week was entirely dominated by escalating tensions between the United States and Iran. What began as a tense weekend evolved into a week marked by rapidly shifting deadlines, delays, and conflicting signals. For financial markets, this resulted in an unusually high level of uncertainty. Over the weekend, President Trump set the tone with a firm ultimatum. Iran was required to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, or Iranian energy facilities would be targeted within 48 hours. This immediately triggered panic in the oil market, with prices briefly surging toward $115 per barrel. However, Monday brought a notable shift. Trump suddenly spoke of “very good and productive” discussions and postponed the threatened attacks by five days. Markets reacted with relief, but that optimism proved short-lived. Iran denied that any talks were taking place at all, which quickly reintroduced doubt into the market. This uncertainty remained dominant throughout the rest of the week. Sentiment shifted multiple times, driven more by political statements than by fundamental developments. Oil prices fluctuated significantly, and investors became increasingly sensitive to every new headline. Meanwhile, tensions persisted in the background, with ongoing attacks and indications that other countries might become involved in the conflict. What makes the situation particularly complex is that the risk of escalation is not disappearing, but rather being postponed. Repeated delays in deadlines may indicate that preparations are continuing behind the scenes. Reports of potential additional military deployments by the United States reinforce this view. In such an environment, we believe it is essential to maintain discipline. This does not mean we are inactive—quite the opposite. We continue to monitor the market closely and actively search for opportunities. However, we are consciously more selective, only acting when we believe the risk-reward profile is clearly in our favor. We remain ready to act and have a watchlist of stocks firmly on our radar, so keep an eye on your inbox. Kudelski The Swiss company published its annual report last week, although it contained no major surprises. The key points were largely already known to the market and align with the picture we have previously outlined. Since our entry, the stock has risen by approximately 15%, confirming that sentiment around the company is beginning to improve. Despite this increase, we still see upside potential, particularly given the strong balance sheet, net cash position, and low valuation relative to underlying assets. At the same time, it is important to maintain discipline. Members with relatively large positions may consider taking partial profits. This does not alter our positive long-term view but helps maintain a balanced risk position within the portfolio. Grab Holdings We have seen a clear increase in activity around Grab Holdings over the past week, both strategically and in terms of capital allocation. The company announced a share buyback of up to $400 million within a relatively short timeframe, a strong signal that management has confidence in the company’s underlying value. Additionally, agreements have been reached with major financial institutions such as JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley, indicating further optimization of the capital structure and increased balance sheet flexibility. At the same time, an activist campaign surrounding Delivery Hero is unfolding in the background, with Grab indirectly involved. While this may create short-term noise, we view it as a potential catalyst. Such pressure can lead to sharper strategic decisions and more efficient capital allocation, ultimately benefiting shareholders. Fundamentally, the story remains intact. Grab holds strong market positions in Southeast Asia, benefits from structural growth in digital payments, mobility, and delivery services, and is making clear progress toward profitability. The combination of operational improvement and active capital management positions the stock attractively in our view. Sharesunderten therefore remains positive and continues to see significant upside potential. Auction Technology Group The company received court approval for its announced capital reduction, further optimizing the balance sheet and creating room for more efficient capital usage. While this may appear to be a technical step, it is strategically relevant as it increases flexibility toward shareholders. Market interest also remains evident. Analysts continue to highlight upside potential, driven by the combination of a relatively low valuation and the structural growth of online auction platforms. Previous takeover interest has also demonstrated that the company holds strategic value not yet fully reflected in the current share price. Fundamentally, our view remains unchanged. ATG has strong positions in both art and antiques auctions as well as industrial auctions, supported by a scalable platform and solid cash flows. Recent investments and integrations are temporarily weighing on margins but are laying the foundation for further profit growth in the coming years. Sharesunderten therefore remains positive and continues to see attractive upside potential. Rolls-Royce Rolls-Royce continues to benefit from a steady stream of positive news, particularly within its defence division. The company has secured multiple large contracts for Rolls-Royce Power Systems, increasing visibility on future revenues. This highlights its strategic positioning within defence and energy infrastructure—sectors currently benefiting from structurally higher investment levels. Additionally, Rolls-Royce confirmed that deliveries of new systems will ramp up from 2028 onwards and that production capacity is being expanded. This indicates a well-filled order book and strong confidence in long-term demand. At the same time, the company remains active in optimizing its capital structure, including through share buybacks. Although there are still critical voices regarding the strong share price performance over the past year, we continue to see a fundamentally compelling story. The combination of operational improvements, strong cash flow development, and exposure to defence makes Rolls-Royce attractively positioned. Sharesunderten therefore remains positive and continues to see upside potential, despite the strong run the stock has




