LEGAL ENTITY IDENTIFIER:
549300K1D1P23R8U4U50
Invesco Perpetual
UK Smaller Companies Investment Trust plc
Annual Financial
Report Announcement for the Year Ended 31
January 2023
The following text is extracted from
the Annual Financial Report of the Company for the year ended
31 January 2023. All page numbers
below refer to the Annual Financial Report which will be made
available on the Company's website.
Investment Objective
The Company is an investment trust whose investment objective is
to achieve long-term total returns for shareholders primarily by
investment in a broad cross-section of small to medium sized UK
quoted companies.
Financial Highlights
Total Return Statistics (with
dividends reinvested)
Change for the year (%) |
2023 |
2022 |
Net asset
value(1)(2) |
–17.5 |
+18.8 |
Share price(1)(2) |
–17.0 |
+21.9 |
Benchmark
Index(2)(3) |
–12.4 |
+11.6 |
Capital Statistics
At 31 January |
2023 |
2022 |
Change |
Total shareholders’ funds
(£’000) |
174,915 |
220,753 |
–20.8% |
Net asset value per share
(‘NAV’) |
517.09p |
652.60p |
–20.8% |
Share price(1)(2) |
451.00p |
570.00p |
–20.9% |
Discount(1) |
(12.8)% |
(12.7)% |
|
Gearing(1): |
|
|
|
– gross
gearing |
nil |
nil |
|
– net gearing |
nil |
nil |
|
– net cash |
2.9% |
0.7% |
|
Maximum authorised gearing |
8.6% |
6.8% |
|
|
|
|
|
For the year ended 31 January |
2023 |
2022 |
|
Return(1) and dividend
per ordinary share: |
|
|
|
Revenue return |
11.99p |
8.30p |
|
Capital return |
(124.70)p |
97.85p |
|
Total return |
(112.71)p |
106.15p |
|
First interim dividend |
3.75p |
3.75p |
|
Second interim dividend |
3.75p |
3.75p |
|
Third interim dividend |
3.75p |
3.75p |
|
Final dividend |
6.79p |
11.55p |
|
Total dividends |
18.04p |
22.80p |
–20.9% |
Dividend
Yield(1) |
4.0% |
4.0% |
|
Dividend payable for the year
(£’000): |
|
|
|
– from current year
net revenue |
4,055 |
2,808 |
|
– from capital
reserve (2022: from capital reserve) |
2,047 |
4,905 |
|
|
6,102 |
7,713 |
|
Capital dividend as a % of year end
net assets(1) |
1.2% |
2.2% |
|
Ongoing charges(1) |
0.95% |
0.92% |
|
Notes:
(1) Alternative
Performance Measure (APM). See Glossary of Terms and Alternative
Performance Measures on pages 66 to 68 of the financial report for
details of the explanation and reconciliations of APMs.
(2) Source: Refinitiv.
(3) From 1 February 2022, the Benchmark Index of the
Company changed to the Numis Smaller Companies + AIM (excluding
Investment Companies) Index with dividends reinvested. For the year
to 31 January 2022, the Benchmark
Index of the Company was the Numis Smaller Companies (excluding
Investment Companies) Index with dividends reinvested.
Chairman’s Statement
Highlights
- Net asset value return of –17.5% and share price return of
–17.0%, compared to benchmark return of –12.4%, all based on total
return with dividends reinvested. The share price is showing signs
of recovery from lows following the mini-Budget in September 2022.
- Dividend of 18.04p per share for the year, providing a yield
of 4.0% based on the year end share price.
Dear Shareholders,
Performance
Against a backdrop of energy supply issues and concerns about
inflation, with both heightened by the continuing hostilities in
Ukraine, it is perhaps
unsurprising that for the year ended 31 January 2023 your
Company returned –17.5% in Net Asset Value (‘NAV’) terms,
underperforming its Benchmark Index, the Numis Smaller Companies +
AIM (excluding Investment Companies) Index, which returned –12.4%,
(in each case measured on total return with dividends
reinvested).
The Company’s share price total return for the year was –17.0%
(with dividends reinvested).
This weak one year return should not be viewed out of context as
in 2022 our Portfolio Managers delivered strong results in terms of
both NAV and share price total returns and their longer term
performance shown in the graph on the preceding page in the Annual
Financial Report, speaks for itself.
As at the latest practicable date prior to the publication of
this report, being 17 April 2023, the discount stands at 12.3%
and the Company’s share price has fallen by 3.7%, the NAV has
fallen by 4.2% and the Benchmark Index is down by 3.9% over the
period between 1 February and 17 April
2023. This reflects the ongoing difficult trading
environment for many UK listed smaller companies and investment
trusts that invest in them including your Company and many of its
peers.
Discount
During the year the Company’s shares traded at a discount to its
NAV ranging between 9.8% to 18.6%. Many other trusts investing in
UK smaller companies also continue to trade at wider discounts than
their historic averages. We hope that shareholders and potential
investors recognise the Company has continued to deliver a yield in
excess of the average yield of its UK smaller company investment
trust peers through investment in a broad cross-section of small to
medium sized UK quoted companies.
The Board continues to monitor the level at which the Company’s
shares trade and may seek to limit any future volatility through
the prudent use of both share issuance and share buybacks, as the
circumstances require.
Dividend and Dividend Policy
The Board has decided that the Company will propose a final
dividend of 6.79p per share to bring the total dividends paid for
the year to 18.04p per share (2022: 22.80p).
The total dividend of 18.04p per share is in line with the
Company’s stated dividend policy which includes a target dividend
yield of 4.0% of year end share price which was 451.00p as at
31 January 2023. This represents all
of the available revenue earned by the Company’s portfolio over the
year, together with 6.05p per share from realised capital
profits.
The Company’s revenue per share has increased from 8.30p per
share last year to 11.99p per share this year, which means that the
resulting balance of dividend being paid from realised capital
profits represents 1.2% of net assets at the year end and it
continues to represent a relatively small proportion of the
longer-term total returns achieved by the Portfolio Managers.
The Company’s dividends are paid quarterly in September,
December, March and June. For the year ended 31 January 2023,
three interim dividends of 3.75p per share each have already been
paid and the Board has proposed a final dividend of 6.79p per
share, making a total for the year of 18.04p per share. The final
dividend will be payable, subject to shareholder approval, on
13 June 2023 to shareholders on the
register on 12 May 2023 and the
shares will go ex-dividend on 11 May
2023.
Board Composition
As planned, and reported in the Interim Report, I will retire as
a Director and Chairman of the Company at the conclusion of the AGM
to be held in June 2023. Bridget Guerin will be appointed Chairman of the
Board and of the Nomination Committee on my retirement.
Mike Prentis will take over as
Senior Independent Director and as Chairman of the Management
Engagement Committee.
The Nomination Committee has commenced the search to find a new
non-executive director and will report the results of this process
to shareholders in due course.
Annual General Meeting (‘AGM’)
This year’s meeting will be held in person at Invesco’s
London office at 12.00pm on Thursday 8 June
2023. As well as the Company’s formal business, there will
be a presentation from Jonathan
Brown and Robin West, the
opportunity to ask questions of the Portfolio Managers and
Directors and to chat informally with all of us over lunch.
Shareholders may bring a guest to these meetings. The Directors and
I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible. For those
unable to attend in person, we will record a special version of the
presentation and post it onto our website after the AGM.
Shareholders wishing to lodge questions in advance of the AGM
should do so by email to the Company Secretary at
investmenttrusts@invesco.com or, by letter, to 43-45 Portman
Square, London W1H 6LY.
Concluding Thoughts
As your Portfolio Managers have highlighted in their report on
the following pages, over the past year, equity markets have been
adversely affected by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, UK politics and more recently,
renewed worries about the global banking system.
In the face of all of the macroeconomic problems and political
turmoil, I am pleased to report that your Portfolio Managers have
continued to manage your portfolio according to their investment
philosophy, namely seeking out well managed, growing businesses
with outstanding products or services, with the prospect of taking
market share from competitors and which are also profitable and
cash generative.
Conviction that UK smaller companies continue to provide
investment opportunities with which to deliver long-term total
returns for shareholders remains a constant, regardless of the
investment conditions which prevail. This year it has led Jonathan
and Robin to a more ‘barbell’ portfolio construction with
investments typically categorised as cyclical or defensive to find
balance in the uncertain market conditions in which they have been
working. Such pragmatism has meant that the quality and valuation
metrics your Portfolio Managers seek for the portfolio have not
been sacrificed.
The year ahead will doubtless see the portfolio evolve further
as conditions change again, hopefully for the better. While I will
not be witnessing those changes as a director of your Company, I
shall look forward to following them as a shareholder.
Jane
Lewis
Chairman
18 April 2023
Portfolio Managers’ Report
Q What were
the key influences on the market over the year?
A
The war in Ukraine and its impact
on energy prices was the dominant feature of the year. Hopes that
inflation would be transitory were dashed and markets began to
factor in materially higher interest rates. The shift from the
ultra-low interest rate environment in the decade following the
Global Financial Crisis to a level more in line with historical
norms had a dramatic impact on asset prices. Equities tumbled both
in the UK and overseas, and bond prices fell sharply as traders
factored in the rapidly changing outlook. The sell-off initially
focussed on highly rated growth and technology stocks but broadened
into consumer related sectors as the cost-of-living crisis began to
bite.
The situation was further exacerbated by political turmoil in
the UK. The short-lived Liz Truss
government unsettled markets with a package of tax give-aways and
spending pledges which led some commentators to question how the UK
could fund itself. A run on Sterling and significantly higher gilt
yields paved the way for further change, with Truss becoming the
shortest lived Prime Minister in UK history. The Sunak government
reversed many of the policies of his predecessor, which prompted
the beginning of a market rally, reversing some of the declines of
the previous year.
Q How did the
portfolio perform over the period?
A
The Net Asset Value total return for the portfolio over the period
was –17.5%, compared with the Benchmark Index, the Numis Smaller
Companies + AIM (excluding Investment Companies) Index, which
returned –12.4% on the same basis. This performance compares to a
return of –16.8% for the Investment Association UK Smaller
Companies sector.
Q What
factors led to the underperformance versus the benchmark?
A
In a difficult year for the market, very few sectors ended the
period in positive territory. However, in the wake of the Russian
invasion of Ukraine, Oil &
Gas, Defence and Mining all performed strongly. Whilst we have some
exposure to these areas, it is not always possible to find
companies that meet our quality criteria in these sectors, and
therefore we were underweight relative to the benchmark.
Q
Which stocks contributed to and detracted from
performance?
A
The best performing stocks over the period included: Online
promotional products business, 4imprint (+64%), which is the
leading player in its sector in the US. Management’s decision to
continue investing in the business through the pandemic saw it
emerge from the downturn with a stronger market position. The stock
benefitted from a series of upgrades to analysts’ earnings
expectations. Keywords Studios (+13%), which is a global
leader in providing outsourced services to the computer games
industry, continued to grow strongly, driven by a mixture of above
market growth and acquisitions. The computer games industry, which
is now a £220bn per year sector, continues to grow and is ever more
reliant on outsourcers to help manage the creation of new titles.
Oil & Gas business, Energean (+23%), benefitted from
improved sentiment towards the sector as the Ukraine conflict elevated the price of energy.
The business achieved initial production from its substantial gas
discovery in the eastern Mediterranean and also had further
drilling success in the region. Coats (+11%) is a world
leading supplier of thread and other components to global apparel
manufacturers. The business benefitted from two acquisitions,
giving it market leadership in the casual footwear segment, and
from a recovery in the sector following the pandemic. Defence
business, Ultra Electronics (+14%), was taken over for an
attractive price at the beginning of the period.
It was a difficult period for markets so inevitably there were
more poorly performing holdings than usual:
Hilton Food (–36%) saw its margins squeezed by raw
material price increases. Russian trawlers are a significant source
of white fish and sanctions imposed following the invasion of
Ukraine led to a surge in prices.
The business was unable to quickly pass this on to its supermarket
customers and saw a shortfall in profit. We believe the business
can navigate through this issue and still has significant growth
potential. We used the decline in the share price to add to our
holding. Media business, Future (–52%), a publisher of
online and magazine content, has historically been an excellent
performer in the portfolio. Although the business continued to
trade well, it initially fell along with many other growth and
technology businesses earlier in the year, and then declined
further when its CEO announced she would be retiring at the end of
2023. We have taken substantial profits from the holding over the
last few years, and although the recent decline is disappointing,
we believe the business could be significantly more valuable in
future. Law business, Knights (–76%), a legal and
professional services business, suffered a profit warning which
management attributed to Covid-19 related staff absences. We
believe there is evidence of other issues within the company, so we
sold the holding shortly before your Company’s year end.
Inspecs (–71%), which manufactures eyewear, initially
retreated due to an accounting irregularity in its small US
subsidiary, and then from a sudden decline in demand from its
German customers following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The US issue has been resolved and
German demand has rebounded, however, we have reduced the holding
and will continue to closely assess the performance of the business
and the new CEO.
Q What is the
current portfolio strategy?
A
Our investment philosophy remains unchanged. The current portfolio
is comprised of 70-80 stocks with the sector weightings being
determined by where we are finding attractive companies at a given
time, rather than by allocating assets according to a “top down”
view of the economy. We continue to seek growing businesses, which
have the potential to be significantly larger in the medium term.
These tend to be companies that either have great products or
services, that can enable them to take market share from their
competitors, or companies that are exposed to higher growth niches
within the UK economy or overseas. We prefer to invest in cash
generative businesses that can fund their own expansion, although
we are willing to back strong management teams by providing
additional capital to invest for growth.
The sustainability of returns and profit margins is vital for
the long-term success of a company. The assessment of the position
of a business within its supply chain and a clear understanding of
how work is won and priced are key to determining if a company has
“pricing power”, which is particularly important in the current
inflationary environment. It is also important to determine which
businesses possess unique capabilities, in the form of intellectual
property, specialist know-how or a scale advantage in their chosen
market. We conduct around 300 company meetings and site visits a
year, and these areas are a particular focus for us on such
occasions.
In terms of portfolio construction, we are currently opting for
a “barbell” approach, with a balance of both cyclical (economically
sensitive) stocks, and more defensive businesses that should be
more resilient in a downturn. Whilst cyclical stocks could see
weaker trading in event of a recession this year, this is to some
extent factored into profit expectations and valuations, which in
many cases are already “pricing in” an economic downturn. These
stocks could outperform when the market starts to look through the
current weakness to the recovery ahead. Counterbalancing this are
more defensive businesses that should continue to trade resiliently
even if the economy struggles more than anticipated. These stocks
offer a greater degree of certainty, and this is often reflected in
higher valuations. The future is unpredictable, so we believe that
running a balanced portfolio and maintaining our focus on quality
and valuation will serve us best in this environment. We would
expect to tilt the barbell as more clarity emerges on the economic
outlook.
Q What are
the major holdings in the portfolio?
A
The 5 largest holdings in the portfolio at the end of the year
were:
• 4imprint
(4.7% of the portfolio) sells promotional materials such as pens,
bags and clothing which are emblazoned with company logos. The
business gathers orders through online and catalogue marketing,
which are then routed to their suppliers who produce and dispatch
the products to customers. As a result of outsourcing the majority
of manufacturing, the business has a relatively low capital
requirement and can focus on marketing and customer service.
Continual reinvestment of revenue into marketing campaigns has
enabled the business to generate an enviable long term growth
record whilst maintaining margins.
• CVS (2.9% of
the portfolio) is a leading veterinary services business, which
owns over 500 vet surgeries and specialist centres, predominantly
in the UK. The scale of the business gives it purchasing power,
allowing it to generate a higher margin than individual surgeries.
The business has been a leading consolidator of the UK market and
has recently entered continental Europe. The business is relatively immune to
the economic cycle and, with ever more being spent on the wellbeing
of the nation’s pets, can continue to grow for many years to
come.
• JTC (2.8% of
the portfolio) is a financial administration business providing
services to real estate and private equity funds, multinational
companies, and high net worth individuals. The business has a
strong culture, a reputation for quality and has augmented its
organic growth with acquisitions. Margins and returns on capital
are strong and the business benefits from long term contracts,
giving it excellent earnings visibility.
• Hollywood
Bowl (2.7% of the portfolio) is a leisure business operating
ten pin bowling alleys in the UK and Canada. The sector had historically been
woefully underinvested in the UK and management have successfully
grown the business by acquiring and modernising existing sites and
by opening new sites in leisure and retail parks. The low ticket,
family friendly nature of the activity has allowed the business to
grow even in more difficult economic conditions. Management
recently acquired a business in Canada, where they believe there is a similar
opportunity to consolidate and modernise the sector.
• Hill &
Smith (2.5% of the portfolio) is a supplier of products and
services into the infrastructure sectors in the UK, US and
Europe. Its proprietary steel and
composite products are used in the rail, roads, water and energy
sectors. The business also provides galvanizing services to protect
steel structures, and leases temporary road barriers and security
products. The company generates good margins and benefits from
exposure to growing infrastructure investment.
Q What were
the new holdings added over the period?
A
We took advantage of the significant de-rating of a number of
technology/growth stocks that we have known for some time, and in
some cases owned previously, to start positions in these businesses
– for example Auction Technology, GB Group and AJ Bell discussed
below.
• XP Power
manufactures power conversion units for the semiconductor,
healthcare and industrial technology sectors. Power converters
convert high voltage alternating current from the main grid into
the stable, low voltage direct current required for electronic
equipment. Its products are sold globally, with North America accounting for 63% of revenue,
Europe 28% and Asia 9%. Whilst clearly cyclical, the business
has a good long term growth record and a strong level of repeat
revenue once designed into a product. Although there is not
significant intellectual property in the business, its reputation
for quality, reliability and service levels enables it to generate
circa 20% margins. It is a business we have followed for some
time and the 40% share price decline presented us with an
opportunity to start building a position.
• Auction
Technology is a business we have previously held in the
portfolio. The origin of the business was as the publisher of the
Auction Trade Gazette, the trade magazine for the UK antiques
industry. The business moved into providing an online platform for
auction houses (the-saleroom.com) to augment the “in-room” bidding.
This pulls in a significantly larger pool of bidders and improves
pricing, which has led to rapid adoption by auctioneers in both the
UK, US and continental Europe. The
business has also diversified into the auction of used industrial
equipment in the US, which is a very sizable market. The company
generates very high margins, but these have potential to grow
further as its largely fixed cost base is leveraged by increasing
revenue. We decided to rebuild the position following a
circa 50% decline in its share price.
• GB Group
helps online companies to validate and verify the identity and
locations of their customers. It enables organisations to offer a
better user experience, protect themselves against fraud, and
ensure regulatory compliance. Services include ID verification,
credit risk checking, anti-money laundering compliance, age
verification and document validation. The business has a strong
long-term organic growth record which it augments via acquisition.
The circa 50% decline in its share price provided us with an
interesting entry point.
• AJ Bell
provides online investment platform and stockbroking services. The
business has two main products: Direct-to-Consumer platform, AJ
Bell, and Investcentre, a Business-to-Consumer platform focussed on
the IFA market. It is one of the UK’s leading players with around
£75 billion of assets under administration and aims to offer
lower fee rates than its main rivals. The company has an enviable
long-term growth record and still has plenty of scope for market
share gains. We like the financial characteristics of the business
(cash generative, high margins, strong balance sheet), although
revenue is impacted by market levels. We have owned the business
historically and believe the recent 30%+ decline in the share price
offered a good opportunity to rebuild the holding.
• Marshalls is
the UK’s leading hard landscaping manufacturer, supplying natural
stone and innovative concrete products to the construction, home
improvement and landscape markets. Its products include paving
blocks, walling, drainage systems, greenhouses, garages, and street
furniture. Public sector and commercial end markets are the largest
users of Marshalls’ products. The UK accounts for about 95% of
Marshalls’ total revenue. The business recently acquired Marley,
which is the UK leading supplier of roof tiles. Clearly the
business is facing cost headwinds and a weaker demand environment.
However, we believe this is more than reflected in its valuation
following a 65% decline in its share price.
• Ergomed is a
contract research organisation focussed on the pharmaceutical
industry. Around two thirds of revenue is derived from
pharmacovigilance, which collects data for on-market drugs,
particularly around adverse events associated with the drug. A
third of revenue is derived from clinical research services, which
provides services to pharma and biotech business which facilitate
the process of conducting medical trials and ultimately achieving
regulatory approval for new products. The business focusses on the
niche areas of oncology and rare diseases, which offer higher
potential growth rates. Services include patient recruitment,
project management, clinical monitoring, data management and
medical writing. The business has a good long term growth record,
both organically and via acquisition.
• Next Fifteen
Communications is part advertising agency and part digital
transformation consultancy. The company helps businesses market
themselves more effectively and improves the way they interact with
customers online. It counts 57 of the top 100 “best loved” global
brands as clients, generating around 60% of revenue from the US.
The business has a good track record of winning clients and then
expanding the range of services that they supply, which often
results in multi-year relationships with major businesses. The
company has a very good long term growth record.
Q What is the
managers approach to gearing?
A
Gearing decisions are taken after reviewing a variety of metrics
including valuations, earnings momentum, market momentum, bond
spreads and a range of economic indicators. After analysing this
data and following discussions with the Board, we concluded that
the Company should not be geared at this point, although we have
reduced the cash position towards the year end. We will continue to
monitor these factors and look to gear the Company when the
indicators turn more positive.
Q How does
Environment, Social and Governance (‘ESG’) factor in the investment
process?
A
ESG issues are increasingly a focus for many investors and analysis
of these factors has always been a core part of our investment
process. Invesco has significant resources focussed on ESG, both at
a group and individual team level. Our proprietary ESGintel system
draws in company specific data from a broad range of sources and
enables ESG related metrics to be quantified. This provides fund
managers with clear overview of areas of concern, allowing targeted
engagement with businesses to bring about positive change.
Environmental liabilities, socially dubious business practises
and poor corporate governance can have a significant impact on
share prices. We assess environmental risks within a business, and
analyse the steps being taken to reduce its environmental impact.
We like businesses with strong cultures and engaged employees, and
avoid businesses which, whilst acting within the law, run the risk
of a public backlash, or being constrained by new legislation. When
it comes to governance, board structure and incentivisation, we
proactively consult with all the businesses we own and vote against
resolutions where standards fall short of our expectations. We
believe that high standards of governance and incentivisation that
aligns management with shareholders, are the most important aspects
of ESG for driving shareholder returns within the smaller companies
sector. Further details of the ESG process of the Manager is
disclosed on pages 19 to 22.
A recent example of engagement was with a company that provides
equipment for rental and associated services to a range of end
markets including infrastructure, construction, and oil and gas. We
engaged as part of a regular update with the company and discussed
both environmental and governance factors.
On environmental factors, the company is investing in greener,
more environmentally friendly equipment. In many cases this new
equipment is no more expensive than replacing the old petrol
equipment. The company has continued to make good progress in their
engagement with customers and supply chain partners to deliver
sustainable fleet solutions as they strive to reduce emissions.
They are investing further in battery and solar powered equipment
and in lower emission commercial vehicles and as a result are
seeing increased demand from customers. The heavier equipment they
provide is more difficult to convert to electric and hydrogen may
be longer term solution for this area.
With regard to governance factors, we successfully engaged with
the company regarding refreshment of the board given the long
tenure of two non-executive directors (‘NEDs’). The change was
instigated with a view to improving board independence. We are
pleased with the improvements made on governance factors and are
content to maintain the position.
Q What is the
dividend policy of the Company?
A
The Company pays out all the income earned within the portfolio and
enhances it using a small amount of realised capital profits to
target a dividend yield of 4% based on the year end share price.
This provides shareholders with an attractive and consistent yield
whilst allowing us to target businesses that we believe will
deliver the best total return, without having to compromise on
quality to achieve an income target.
Q
What are your expectations for the year ahead?
A
The last three years have been unusually volatile, however we can
see a more stable picture emerging. Energy prices have declined
substantially from their peak, with oil and gas prices now below
the level they were a year ago. Whilst there is always a lag to
this feeding through to the cost of living, it seems likely that
inflation will return towards its historical average of 4-5% as we
move through the middle of the year. Tight labour markets are a
blessing for job hunters, but wage demands could potentially cause
inflation to be quite stubborn around this level. We would expect
the Bank of England to halt
interest rate increases this year, and this should be a positive
for markets, but it seems less likely that we will see cuts to base
rates in the short term.
The UK smaller companies sector is very cheap when compared to
both its own history and other global markets. A more stable
political situation in the UK, a peaking of the interest rate cycle
and the prospect of economic recovery could all provide the
catalyst for this discount to narrow. We continue to see
interesting opportunities across a range of sectors and will
continue to take advantage of these as they arise. So, whether we
see a recession or not this year, we believe that the UK smaller
companies sector continues to offer a wealth of opportunity for
investors.
Jonathan
Brown
Robin West
Portfolio
Managers
Deputy Portfolio Manager
18 April 2023
Principal Risks and Uncertainties
The Directors confirm that they have carried out a robust
assessment of the emerging and principal risks facing the Company,
including those that would threaten its business model, future
performance, solvency or liquidity. Most of these risks are market
related and are similar to those of other investment trusts
investing primarily in listed markets. The Audit Committee reviews
the Company’s risk control summary at each meeting, and as part of
this process, gives consideration to identify emerging risks.
Emerging risks, such as evolving cyber threat, geo-political
tension and climate related risks, have been considered during the
year as part of the Directors’ assessment.
Principal Risk
Description |
Mitigating Procedures and
Controls |
Market (Economic)
Risk
Factors such as fluctuations in stock markets, interest rates and
exchange rates are not under the control of the Board or the
Portfolio Managers, but may give rise to high levels of volatility
in the share prices of investee companies, as well as affecting the
Company’s own share price and the discount to its NAV. The risk
could be triggered by unfavourable developments globally and/or in
one or more regions, contemporary examples being the market
uncertainty in relation to the ongoing invasion of Ukraine by
Russia and renewed concerns regarding the global banking
system. |
The Directors have assessed the
market impact of the ongoing uncertainty from the conflict in
Ukraine and the resulting sanctions imposed on Russia, and the
concerns regarding the global banking system through regular
discussions with the Portfolio Managers and the Corporate Broker.
The Company’s current portfolio consists of companies listed on the
main UK equity market and those listed on AIM. The Company does not
have direct investments in Russia or hold stocks with significant
links to Russia. To a limited extent, futures can be used to
mitigate the market (economic) risk, as can the judicious holding
of cash or other very liquid assets. Futures are not currently
being used. |
Investment
Risk
The Company invests in small and medium-sized companies traded on
the London Stock Exchange or on AIM. By their nature, these are
generally considered riskier than their larger counterparts and
their share prices can be more volatile, with lower liquidity. In
addition, as smaller companies may not generally have the financial
strength, diversity and resources of larger companies, they may
find it more difficult to overcome periods of economic slowdown or
recession.
Furthermore, the risk of climate change and matters concerning ESG
could affect the valuation of companies held in the portfolio. |
The Portfolio Managers’ approach to
investment is one of individual stock selection. Investment risk is
mitigated via the stock selection process, together with the slow
build-up of holdings rather than the purchase of large positions
outright. This allows the Portfolio Managers, cautiously, to
observe more data points from a company before adding to a
position. The overall portfolio is well diversified by company and
sector. The weighting of an investment in the portfolio tends to be
loosely aligned with the market capitalisation of that company.
This means that the largest holdings will often be amongst the
larger of the smaller companies available. The Portfolio Managers
are relatively risk averse, look for lower volatility in the
portfolio and seek to outperform in more challenging markets. The
Portfolio Managers remain cognisant at all times of the potential
liquidity of the portfolio. There can be no guarantee that the
Company’s strategy and business model will be successful in
achieving its investment objective. The Board monitors the
performance of the Company, giving due consideration to how the
Manager has incorporated ESG considerations including climate
change into their investment process. Further details can be found
on pages 19 to 22. The Board also has guidelines in place to ensure
that the Portfolio Managers adhere to the approved investment
policy. The continuation of the Manager’s mandate is reviewed
annually. |
Shareholders’
Risk
The value of an investment in the Company may go down as well as up
and an investor may not get back the amount invested. |
The Board reviews regularly the
Company’s investment objective and strategy to ensure that it
remains relevant, as well as reviewing the composition of the
shareholder register, peer group performance on both a share price
and NAV basis, and the Company’s share price discount to NAV per
share. The Board and the Portfolio Managers maintain an active
dialogue with the aim of ensuring that the market rating of the
Company’s shares reflects the underlying NAV; both share buy back
and issuance facilities are in place to help the management of this
process. |
Reliance on the
Manager and other Third-Party Service Providers
The Company has no employees and the Board comprises non-executive
directors only. The Company is therefore reliant upon the
performance of third-party service providers for its executive
function and service provisions. The Company’s operational
structure means that all cyber risk (information and physical
security) arises at its third-party service providers, including
fraud, sabotage or crime against the Company. The Company’s
operational capability relies upon the ability of its third-party
service providers to continue working throughout the disruption
caused by a major event such as the Covid-19 pandemic. Failure by
any service provider to carry out its obligations to the Company in
accordance with the terms of its appointment could have a
materially detrimental impact on the operation of the Company and
could affect the ability of the Company to successfully pursue its
investment policy. The Company’s main service providers, of which
the Manager is the principal provider, are listed on page 65. The
Manager may be exposed to reputational risks. In particular, the
Manager may be exposed to the risk that litigation, misconduct,
operational failures, negative publicity and press speculation,
whether or not it is valid, will harm its reputation. Damage to the
reputation of the Manager could potentially result in
counterparties and third parties being unwilling to deal with the
Manager and by extension the Company, which carries the Manager’s
name. This could have an adverse impact on the ability of the
Company to pursue its investment policy successfully. |
Third-party service
providers are subject to ongoing monitoring by the Manager and the
Board.
The Manager reviews the performance of all third-party providers
regularly through formal and informal meetings.
The Audit Committee reviews regularly the performance and internal
controls of the Manager and all third-party providers through
audited service organisation control reports, together with updates
on information security, the results of which are reported to the
Board.
The Manager’s business continuity plans are reviewed on an ongoing
basis and the Directors are satisfied that the Manager has in place
robust plans and infrastructure to minimise the impact on its
operations so that the Company can continue to trade, meet
regulatory obligations, report and meet shareholder requirements.
The Board receives regular update reports from the Manager and
third-party service providers on business continuity processes and
has been provided with assurance from them all insofar as possible
that measures are in place for them to continue to provide
contracted services to the Company. |
Regulatory
Risk
The Company is subject to various laws and regulations by virtue of
its status as an investment trust, its listing on the London Stock
Exchange and being an Alternative Investment Fund under the UK
AIFMD regime. A loss of investment trust status could lead to the
Company being subject to corporation tax on the chargeable capital
gains arising on the sale of its investments. Other control
failures, either by the Manager or any other of the Company’s
service providers, could result in operational or reputational
problems, erroneous disclosures or loss of assets through fraud, as
well as breaches of regulations. |
The Manager reviews the level of
compliance with tax and other financial regulatory requirements on
a regular basis. The Board regularly considers all risks, the
measures in place to control them and the possibility of any other
risks that could arise. The Manager’s Compliance and Internal Audit
team produce annual reports for review by the Company’s Audit
Committee. Further details of risks and risk management policies as
they relate to the financial assets and liabilities of the Company
are detailed in note 16 of this Annual Financial Report. |
Viability Statement
In accordance with provision 31 of the UK Code of Corporate
Governance 2018, the Directors have assessed the prospects of the
Company over a longer period than 12 months. The Company is an
investment trust, a collective investment vehicle designed and
managed for long term investment. While the appropriate period over
which to assess the Company’s viability may vary from year to year,
the long term for the purpose of this viability statement is
currently considered by the Board to be at least five years,
with the life of the Company not intended to be limited to that or
any other period.
The main risks to the Company’s continuation are: poor
investment performance over an extended period; shareholder
dissatisfaction through failure to meet the Company’s investment
objective; or the investment policy not being appropriate in
prevailing market conditions. Accordingly, failure to meet the
Company’s investment objective, and contributory market and
investment risks are deemed by the Board to be principal risks of
the Company and are given particular consideration when assessing
the Company’s long term viability. Despite the current impact on
global markets resulting from the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, the Directors remain confident that
the Company’s investment strategy will continue to serve
shareholders well over the longer term.
The investment objective of the Company has been substantially
unchanged for many years. The 2015 amendment to dividend policy
gave some additional weight to targeting increased dividend income
to shareholders. This change does not affect the total return
sought or produced by the Portfolio Managers but was designed to
increase returns distributed to shareholders. The Board considers
that the Company’s investment objective remains appropriate. This
is confirmed by contact with major shareholders.
Performance derives from returns for risk taken. The Portfolio
Managers’ Report on pages 9 to 12 sets out their current investment
strategy. There has been no material change in the Company’s
investment objective or policy.
Demand for the Company’s shares and performance are not things
that can be forecast, but there are no current indications that
either or both of these may decline substantially over the next
five years so as to affect the Company’s viability.
The Company is a closed end investment trust and can pursue a
long term investment strategy and make use of gearing to enhance
returns through investment cycles without the need to maintain
liquidity for investor redemptions.
Based on the above analysis, including review of the revenue
forecast for future years along with stress testing of both the
revenue forecast and the portfolio valuation, reverse stress
testing of debt covenants and dividend sensitivity analysis, the
Directors confirm that they expect the Company will continue to
operate and meet its liabilities, as they fall due, during the five
years ending January 2028.
Investments in Order of Valuation
AT 31 JANUARY
2023
Ordinary shares unless stated
otherwise
|
|
Market |
|
|
|
Value |
% of |
Company |
Sector |
£’000 |
Portfolio |
4imprint |
Media |
8,068 |
4.7 |
CVSAIM |
Consumer Services |
4,938 |
2.9 |
JTC |
Investment Banking and Brokerage
Services |
4,845 |
2.8 |
Hollywood Bowl |
Travel and Leisure |
4,709 |
2.7 |
Hill & Smith |
Industrial Metals and Mining |
4,375 |
2.5 |
Advanced Medical
SolutionsAIM |
Medical Equipment and Services |
4,255 |
2.5 |
Alfa Financial Software |
Software and Computer Services |
3,955 |
2.3 |
Energean |
Oil, Gas and Coal |
3,833 |
2.2 |
Hilton Food |
Food Producers |
3,613 |
2.1 |
Keywords StudiosAIM |
Leisure Goods |
3,585 |
2.1 |
Top Ten Holdings |
|
46,176 |
26.8 |
Brooks MacdonaldAIM |
Investment Banking and Brokerage
Services |
3,572 |
2.1 |
Essentra |
Industrial Support Services |
3,501 |
2.0 |
discoverIE |
Electronic and Electrical
Equipment |
3,500 |
2.0 |
Serco |
Industrial Support Services |
3,417 |
2.0 |
AJ Bell |
Investment Banking and Brokerage
Services |
3,407 |
2.0 |
Coats |
General Industrials |
3,382 |
2.0 |
Marshalls |
Construction and Materials |
3,344 |
1.9 |
RWSAIM |
Industrial Support Services |
3,281 |
1.9 |
Chemring |
Aerospace and Defence |
3,154 |
1.8 |
Videndum |
Industrial Engineering |
3,065 |
1.8 |
Top Twenty Holdings |
|
79,799 |
46.3 |
Kainos |
Software and Computer Services |
3,007 |
1.7 |
Learning
TechnologiesAIM |
Software and Computer Services |
2,897 |
1.7 |
Alpha Financial Markets
ConsultingAIM |
Industrial Support Services |
2,826 |
1.6 |
FDM |
Industrial Support Services |
2,818 |
1.6 |
Aptitude Software |
Software and Computer Services |
2,810 |
1.6 |
Johnson ServiceAIM |
Industrial Support Services |
2,744 |
1.6 |
FocusriteAIM |
Leisure Goods |
2,711 |
1.6 |
Jadestone EnergyAIM |
Oil, Gas and Coal |
2,702 |
1.6 |
Volution |
Construction and Materials |
2,696 |
1.6 |
Future |
Media |
2,645 |
1.5 |
Top Thirty Holdings |
|
107,655 |
62.4 |
Robert Walters |
Industrial Support Services |
2,540 |
1.5 |
LoungersAIM |
Travel and Leisure |
2,459 |
1.4 |
The Gym |
Travel and Leisure |
2,405 |
1.4 |
Crest Nicholson |
Household Goods and Home
Construction |
2,326 |
1.3 |
CLS |
Real Estate Investment and
Services |
2,279 |
1.3 |
Churchill ChinaAIM |
Household Goods and Home
Construction |
2,258 |
1.3 |
Ricardo |
Construction and Materials |
2,252 |
1.3 |
Young & Co’s Brewery –
Non-VotingAIM |
Travel and Leisure |
2,220 |
1.3 |
PZ Cussons |
Personal Care, Drug and Grocery
Stores |
2,217 |
1.3 |
Genuit |
Construction and Materials |
2,186 |
1.3 |
Top Forty Holdings |
|
130,797 |
75.8 |
VP |
Industrial Transportation |
2,102 |
1.2 |
Wickes |
Retailers |
2,058 |
1.2 |
Secure Trust Bank |
Banks |
2,028 |
1.2 |
Severfield |
Construction and Materials |
1,972 |
1.1 |
Vistry |
Household Goods and Home
Construction |
1,959 |
1.1 |
Gresham HouseAIM |
Closed End Investments |
1,954 |
1.1 |
Auction Technology |
Software and Computer Services |
1,910 |
1.1 |
James Fisher and Sons |
Industrial Transportation |
1,898 |
1.1 |
GB GroupAIM |
Software and Computer Services |
1,809 |
1.1 |
MidwichAIM |
Industrial Support Services |
1,732 |
1.0 |
Top Fifty Holdings |
|
150,219 |
87.0 |
RestoreAIM |
Industrial Support Services |
1,654 |
1.0 |
Restaurant Group |
Travel and Leisure |
1,642 |
1.0 |
Avon Protection |
Aerospace and Defence |
1,634 |
0.9 |
MarloweAIM |
Industrial Support Services |
1,578 |
0.9 |
Workspace |
Real Estate Investment Trusts |
1,538 |
0.9 |
Mitchells & Butlers |
Travel and Leisure |
1,441 |
0.9 |
M&C SaatchiAIM |
Media |
1,272 |
0.7 |
Topps Tiles |
Retailers |
1,258 |
0.7 |
FD TechnologiesAIM |
Software and Computer Services |
1,247 |
0.7 |
XP Power |
Electronic and Electrical
Equipment |
1,188 |
0.7 |
Top Sixty Holdings |
|
164,671 |
95.4 |
Treatt |
Chemicals |
1,118 |
0.6 |
Dunelm |
Retailers |
1,022 |
0.6 |
Savills |
Real Estate Investment and
Services |
895 |
0.5 |
ErgomedAIM |
Pharmaceuticals and
Biotechnology |
856 |
0.5 |
Gooch &
HousegoAIM |
Technology Hardware and
Equipment |
826 |
0.5 |
InspecsAIM |
Personal Goods |
825 |
0.5 |
Next Fifteen
CommunicationsAIM |
Media |
805 |
0.5 |
CohortAIM |
Aerospace and Defence |
690 |
0.4 |
ThruvisionAIM |
Electronic and Electrical
Equipment |
530 |
0.3 |
Tyman |
Construction and Materials |
405 |
0.2 |
Top Seventy Holdings |
|
172,643 |
100.0 |
Total Investments (70) |
|
172,643 |
100.0 |
AIM
Investments quoted on AIM.
The percentage of the portfolio by value invested in AIM stocks
at the year end was 32.8% (2022: 30.9%). There were 26 AIM stocks
held at the year end, representing 37.1% of the 70 stocks (2022: 26
AIM stocks held representing 34.2% of the 76 stocks held).
Directors’ Responsibilities
Statement
The Directors are responsible for preparing the Annual Financial
Report in accordance with United
Kingdom applicable law and regulations.
Company law requires the Directors to prepare financial
statements for each financial year. Under the law the Directors
have elected to prepare financial statements in accordance with
UK-adopted international accounting standards. Under company law,
the Directors must not approve the financial statements unless they
are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of
affairs of the Company and of the profit or loss of the Company for
that period.
In preparing these financial statements, the Directors are
required to:
• select suitable
accounting policies in accordance with IAS 8 Accounting
Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors and then
apply them consistently;
• make judgements and
estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
• present information,
including accounting policies, in a manner that provides relevant,
reliable, comparable and understandable information;
• present additional
disclosures when compliance with the specific requirements in IFRSs
is insufficient to enable users to understand the impact of
particular transactions, other events and conditions on the group
and company financial position and financial performance;
• state whether
UK-adopted international accounting standards have been followed,
subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the
financial statements; and
• prepare the
financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is
inappropriate to presume that the Company will continue in
business.
The Directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting
records that are sufficient to show and explain the Company’s
transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the
financial position of the Company and enable them to ensure that
the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006.
They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the
Company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention
and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Under applicable law and regulations, the Directors are also
responsible for preparing the Strategic Report, a Corporate
Governance Statement, a Directors’ Remuneration Report and a
Directors’ Report that comply with the law and regulations.
The Directors of the Company each confirm to the best of their
knowledge, that:
• the financial
statements, prepared in accordance with UK adopted international
accounting standards, give a true and fair view of the assets,
liabilities, financial position and profit of the Company;
• this Annual
Financial Report includes a fair review of the development and
performance of the business and the position of the Company
together with a description of the principal risks and
uncertainties that it faces; and
• they consider that
this Annual Financial Report, taken as a whole, is fair, balanced
and understandable and provides the information necessary for
shareholders to assess the Company’s position and performance,
business model and strategy.
Signed on behalf of the Board of Directors
Jane
Lewis
Chairman
18 April 2023
Statement of Comprehensive Income
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY
|
2023 |
2022 |
|
|
Revenue |
Capital |
Total |
Revenue |
Capital |
Total |
|
Notes |
£’000 |
£’000 |
£’000 |
£’000 |
£’000 |
£’000 |
(Loss)/profit on investments held at
fair value |
9 |
– |
(41,010) |
(41,010) |
– |
34,552 |
34,552 |
Profit on foreign exchange |
|
– |
5 |
5 |
– |
– |
– |
Income |
2 |
4,646 |
– |
4,646 |
3,448 |
– |
3,448 |
Investment management fees |
3 |
(206) |
(1,165) |
(1,371) |
(254) |
(1,440) |
(1,694) |
Other expenses |
4 |
(384) |
(3) |
(387) |
(385) |
(5) |
(390) |
(Loss)/profit before finance costs
and taxation |
|
4,056 |
(42,173) |
(38,117) |
2,809 |
33,107 |
35,916 |
Finance costs |
5 |
(1) |
(7) |
(8) |
(1) |
(7) |
(8) |
(Loss)/profit before taxation |
|
4,055 |
(42,180) |
(38,125) |
2,808 |
33,100 |
35,908 |
Taxation |
6 |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
(Loss)/profit after taxation |
|
4,055 |
(42,180) |
(38,125) |
2,808 |
33,100 |
35,908 |
Return per ordinary share |
7 |
11.99p |
(124.70)p |
(112.71)p |
8.30p |
97.85p |
106.15p |
The total column of this statement represents the Company’s
statement of comprehensive income, prepared in accordance with
UK-adopted international accounting standards. The (loss)/profit
after taxation is the total comprehensive (loss)/income. The
supplementary revenue and capital columns are both prepared in
accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice issued by the
Association of Investment Companies. All items in the above
statement derive from continuing operations of the Company. No
operations were acquired or discontinued in the year.
Statement of Changes in Equity
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY
|
|
|
|
Capital |
|
|
|
|
|
Share |
Share |
Redemption |
Capital |
Revenue |
|
|
|
Capital |
Premium |
Reserve |
Reserve |
Reserve |
Total |
|
Notes |
£’000 |
£’000 |
£’000 |
£’000 |
£’000 |
£’000 |
At 31 January 2021 |
|
10,642 |
22,366 |
3,386 |
154,986 |
– |
191,380 |
Total comprehensive income for the
year |
|
– |
– |
– |
33,100 |
2,808 |
35,908 |
Dividends paid |
8 |
– |
– |
– |
(3,997) |
(2,538) |
(6,535) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At 31 January 2022 |
|
10,642 |
22,366 |
3,386 |
184,089 |
270 |
220,753 |
Total comprehensive loss for the
year |
|
– |
– |
– |
(42,180) |
4,055 |
(38,125) |
Dividends paid |
8 |
– |
– |
– |
(4,905) |
(2,808) |
(7,713) |
At 31 January 2023 |
|
10,642 |
22,366 |
3,386 |
137,004 |
1,517 |
174,915 |
The accompanying accounting policies and notes are an integral
part of these financial statements.
Balance Sheet
AS AT 31 JANUARY
|
|
2023 |
2022 |
|
Notes |
£’000 |
£’000 |
Non-current assets |
|
|
|
Investments held at fair
value through profit or loss |
9 |
172,643 |
219,818 |
|
|
|
|
Current assets |
|
|
|
Other receivables |
10 |
400 |
157 |
Cash and cash
equivalents |
|
5,055 |
1,530 |
|
|
5,455 |
1,687 |
Total assets |
|
178,098 |
221,505 |
Current liabilities |
|
|
|
Other payables |
11 |
(3,183) |
(752) |
Total assets less current
liabilities |
|
174,915 |
220,753 |
Net assets |
|
174,915 |
220,753 |
Capital and reserves |
|
|
|
Share capital |
12 |
10,642 |
10,642 |
Share premium |
13 |
22,366 |
22,366 |
Capital redemption
reserve |
13 |
3,386 |
3,386 |
Capital reserve |
13 |
137,004 |
184,089 |
Revenue reserve |
13 |
1,517 |
270 |
Total shareholders’ funds |
|
174,915 |
220,753 |
Net asset value per ordinary
share |
|
|
|
Basic |
14 |
517.09p |
652.60p |
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue
by the Board of Directors on 18 April
2023.
Signed on behalf of the Board of Directors
Jane
Lewis
Chairman
The accompanying accounting policies and notes are an integral
part of these financial statements.
Statement of Cash Flows
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY
|
2023 |
2022 |
|
£’000 |
£’000 |
Cash flow from operating
activities |
|
|
(Loss)/profit before finance costs
and taxation |
(38,117) |
35,916 |
|
|
|
Adjustments for: |
|
|
Purchase of
investments |
(37,739) |
(55,442) |
Sale of investments |
46,313 |
57,863 |
|
8,574 |
2,421 |
Loss/(profit) on investments held at
fair value |
41,010 |
(34,552) |
(Increase)/decrease in
receivables |
(195) |
31 |
(Decrease)/increase in payables |
(26) |
39 |
Net cash inflow from operating
activities |
11,246 |
3,855 |
Cash flow from financing
activities |
|
|
Finance cost paid |
(8) |
(8) |
Dividends paid – note 8 |
(7,713) |
(6,535) |
Net cash outflow from financing
activities |
(7,721) |
(6,543) |
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and
cash equivalents |
3,525 |
(2,688) |
Cash and cash equivalents at start
of the year |
1,530 |
4,218 |
Cash and cash equivalents at the end
of the year |
5,055 |
1,530 |
Reconciliation of cash and cash
equivalents to the Balance Sheet is as follows: |
|
|
Cash held at custodian |
80 |
155 |
Invesco Liquidity Funds plc –
Sterling, money market fund |
4,975 |
1,375 |
Cash and cash equivalents |
5,055 |
1,530 |
Cash flow from operating activities
includes: |
|
|
Dividends received |
4,447 |
3,481 |
Interest received |
2 |
– |
As the Company did not have any long term debt at both the
current and prior year ends, no reconciliation of the financial
liabilities position is presented.
The accompanying accounting policies and notes are an integral
part of these financial statements.
Notes to the Financial Statements
1. Principal Accounting Policies
Accounting policies describe the
Company’s approach to recognising and measuring transactions during
the year and the position of the Company at the year end.
The principal accounting policies adopted in the preparation of
these financial statements together with the approach to
recognition and measurement are set out below. These policies have
been consistently applied during the current year and the preceding
year, unless otherwise stated.
The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern
basis on the grounds that the Company’s investment portfolio
(including cash) is sufficiently liquid and significantly exceeds
all balance sheet liabilities, there are no unrecorded commitments
or contingencies and its gearing facilities remain undrawn. The
disclosure on going concern on page 29 in the Directors’
Report provides further detail. The Directors believe the Company
has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the
foreseeable future and has the ability to meet its financial
obligations as and when they fall due for a period until at least
30 April 2024.
(a) Basis of Preparation
(i) Accounting Standards Applied
The financial statements have been prepared on a historical cost
basis, except for the measurement at fair value of investments
which for the Company are quoted bid prices for investments in
active markets at the Balance Sheet date and therefore reflect
market participants’ view of climate change risk and in accordance
with the applicable UK-adopted international accounting standards.
The standards are those that are effective at the Company’s
financial year end.
Where presentational guidance set out in the Statement of
Recommended Practice (‘SORP’) ‘Financial Statements of Investment
Trust Companies and Venture Capital Trusts’, updated by the
Association of Investment Companies in July
2022, is consistent with the requirements of UK-adopted
international accounting standards. The Directors have prepared the
financial statements on a basis compliant with the recommendations
of the SORP. The supplementary information which analyses the
statement of comprehensive income between items of a revenue and a
capital nature is presented in accordance with the SORP.
The Directors have considered the impact of climate change on
the value of the listed investments that the Company holds. In the
view of the Directors, as the portfolio consists of listed
equities, their market prices should reflect the impact, if any, of
climate change and accordingly no adjustment has been made to take
account of climate change in the valuation of the portfolio in
these financial statements.
(ii) Critical Accounting Estimates and
Judgements
The preparation of the financial statements may require the
Directors to make estimations where uncertainty exists. It also
requires the Directors to make judgements, estimates and
assumptions, in the process of applying the accounting policies.
There have been no significant judgements, estimates or assumptions
for the current or preceding year.
(b) Foreign Currency and Segmental
Reporting
(i) Functional and Presentation
Currency
The financial statements are presented in Sterling, which is the
Company’s functional and presentation currency and the currency in
which the Company’s share capital and expenses are denominated, as
well as a majority of its assets and liabilities.
(ii) Transactions and Balances
Foreign currency assets and liabilities are translated into
Sterling at the rates of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date.
Transactions in foreign currency, are translated into Sterling at
the rates of exchange ruling on the dates of such transactions, and
profit or loss on translation is taken to revenue or capital
depending on whether it is revenue or capital in nature. All are
recognised in the statement of comprehensive income.
(iii) Segmental reporting
The Directors are of the opinion that the Company is engaged in
a single segment of business of investing in equity and debt
securities, issued by companies operating and generating revenue
mainly in the UK.
(c) Financial Instruments
(i) Recognition of Financial Assets
and Financial Liabilities
The Company recognises financial assets and financial
liabilities when the Company becomes a party to the contractual
provisions of the instrument. The Company offsets financial assets
and financial liabilities if the Company has a legally enforceable
right to set off the recognised amounts and interests and intends
to settle on a net basis.
(ii) Derecognition of Financial
Assets
The Company derecognises a financial asset when the contractual
rights to the cash flows from the asset expire, or it transfers the
right to receive the contractual cash flows on the financial asset
in a transaction in which substantially all the risks and rewards
of ownership of the financial asset are transferred. Any interest
in the transferred financial asset that is created or retained by
the Company is recognised as an asset.
(iii) Derecognition of Financial
Liabilities
The Company derecognises financial liabilities when its
obligations are discharged, cancelled or expired.
(iv) Trade Date Accounting
Purchases and sales of financial assets are recognised on trade
date, being the date on which the Company commits to purchase or
sell the assets.
(v) Classification of Financial Assets
and Financial Liabilities
Financial assets
The Company classifies its financial assets as measured at
amortised cost or measured at fair value through profit or loss on
the basis of both: the entity’s business model for managing the
financial assets; and the contractual cash flow characteristics of
the financial asset.
Financial assets measured at amortised cost include cash,
debtors and prepayments.
A financial asset is measured at fair value through profit or
loss if its contractual terms do not give rise to cash flows on
specified dates that are solely payments of principal and interest
(‘SPPI’) on the principal amount outstanding or it is not held
within a business model whose objective is either to collect
contractual cash flows, or to both collect contractual cash flows
and sell. The Company’s equity investments are classified as fair
value through profit or loss as they do not give rise to cash flows
that are SPPI.
Financial assets held at fair value through profit or loss are
initially recognised at fair value, which is usually the
transaction price and are subsequently valued at fair value.
For investments that are actively traded in organised financial
markets, fair value is determined by reference to stock exchange
quoted bid prices at the balance sheet date.
Financial liabilities
Financial liabilities, including borrowings, are initially
measured at fair value, net of transaction costs and are
subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective
interest method, where applicable.
(d) Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include any cash held at custodian and
approved depositories, holdings in Invesco Liquidity Funds plc –
Sterling, a triple-A rated money market fund and overdrafts. Cash
and cash equivalents are defined as cash itself or being readily
convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an
insignificant risk of change in value.
(e) Income
All dividends are taken into account on the date investments are
marked ex-dividend; other income from investments is taken into
account on an accruals basis. Where the Company elects to receive
scrip dividends (i.e. in the form of additional shares rather than
cash), the equivalent of the cash dividend foregone is recognised
as income in the revenue account and any excess in value of the
shares received over the amount of the cash divided recognised in
capital. Deposit interest is taken into account on an accruals
basis. Special dividends representing a return of capital are
allocated to capital in the Statement of Comprehensive Income and
then taken to capital reserves. Dividends will generally be
recognised as revenue however all special dividends will be
reviewed, with consideration given to the facts and circumstances
of each case, including the reasons for the underlying
distribution, before a decision over whether allocation is to
revenue or capital is made.
(f) Expenses and Finance Costs
All expenses and finance costs are accounted for in the
Statement of Comprehensive Income on an accruals basis.
The investment management fee and finance costs are allocated
85% to capital and 15% to revenue. This is in accordance with the
Board’s expected long term split of returns, in the form of capital
gains and income respectively, from the portfolio.
Investment transaction costs such as brokerage commission and
stamp duty are recognised in capital in the Statement of
Comprehensive Income. All other expenses are allocated to revenue
in the Statement of Comprehensive Income.
(g) Taxation
Tax represents the sum of tax payable, withholding tax suffered
and deferred tax. Tax is charged or credited in the statement of
comprehensive income. Any tax payable is based on taxable profit
for the year, however, as expenses exceed taxable income no
corporation tax is due. The Company’s liability for current tax is
calculated using tax rates that have been enacted or substantially
enacted by the balance sheet date.
Deferred taxation is recognised in respect of all temporary
differences that have originated but not reversed at the balance
sheet date, where transactions or events that result in an
obligation to pay more tax in the future or right to pay less tax
in the future have occurred at the balance sheet date. This is
subject to deferred tax assets only being recognised if it is
considered probable that there will be suitable profits from which
the future reversal of the temporary differences can be deducted.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured at the tax rates
expected to apply in the period when the liability is settled or
the asset realised.
Investment trusts which have approval under Section 1158 of the
Corporation Tax Act 2010 are not liable for taxation on capital
gains.
(h) Dividends
Dividends are not accrued in the financial statements, unless
there is an obligation to pay the dividends at the balance sheet
date. Proposed final dividends are recognised in the financial year
in which they are approved by the shareholders.
(i) Consolidation
Consolidated accounts have not been prepared as the subsidiary,
whose principal activity is investment dealing, is not material in
the context of these financial statements. The one hundred pounds
net asset value of the investment in Berry Starquest Limited has
been included in the investments in the Company’s balance sheet.
Berry Starquest Limited has not traded throughout the year and the
preceding year and, as a dormant company, has exemption under
Section 480(1) of the Companies Act 2006 from appointing
auditors or obtaining an audit.
2. Income
This note shows the income generated
from the portfolio (investment assets) of the Company and income
received from any other source.
|
2023 |
2022 |
|
£’000 |
£’000 |
Income from investments: |
|
|
UK dividends |
4,124 |
3,062 |
UK special dividends |
288 |
198 |
Overseas dividends |
232 |
188 |
Deposit interest |
2 |
— |
Total income |
4,646 |
3,448 |
No special dividends have been recognised in capital during the
year (2022: nil).
Overseas dividends include dividends received on UK listed
investments where the investee company is domiciled outside of the
UK.
3. Investment Management Fee
This note shows the fees due to the
Manager. These are made up of the management fee calculated and
paid monthly and, for the previous year. This fee is based on the
value of the assets being managed.
|
2023 |
2022 |
|
Revenue |
Capital |
Total |
Revenue |
Capital |
Total |
|
£’000 |
£’000 |
£’000 |
£’000 |
£’000 |
£’000 |
Investment management fee |
206 |
1,165 |
1,371 |
254 |
1,440 |
1,694 |
Details of the investment management and administration
agreement are given on pages 29 and 30 in the Directors’
Report.
At 31 January 2023, £109,000
(2022: £138,000) was accrued in respect of the investment
management fee.
4. Other Expenses
The other expenses of the Company are
presented below; those paid to the Directors and auditor are
separately identified.
|
2023 |
2022 |
|
Revenue |
Capital |
Total |
Revenue |
Capital |
Total |
|
£’000 |
£’000 |
£’000 |
£’000 |
£’000 |
£’000 |
Directors’
remuneration(i) |
117 |
– |
117 |
119 |
— |
119 |
Auditor’s fees(ii): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
– for audit of the
Company’s |
|
|
|
|
|
|
annual financial
statements |
45 |
– |
45 |
45 |
— |
45 |
Other expenses(iii) |
222 |
3 |
225 |
221 |
5 |
226 |
|
384 |
3 |
387 |
385 |
5 |
390 |
(i) The Directors' Remuneration Report on page 37
provides further information on Directors’ fees.
(ii) Auditor’s fees include out of pocket expenses
but excludes VAT. The VAT is included in other expenses.
(iii) Other expenses shown above include:
• amounts payable to the registrar, depositary, custodian,
brokers, printers and other legal & professional fees;
• £11,600 (2022: £10,500) of employer’s National Insurance
payable on Directors’ remuneration. As at 31
January 2023, the amounts outstanding on employer’s National
Insurance on Directors’ remuneration was £900 (2022: £900), the
amounts outstanding for Directors’ fee was £9,700 (2022: £9,200);
and
• custodian transaction charges of £3,200 (2022: £5,000). These
are charged to capital.
5. Finance Costs
Finance costs arise on any borrowing
facilities the Company has.
|
2023 |
2022 |
|
Revenue |
Capital |
Total |
Revenue |
Capital |
Total |
|
£’000 |
£’000 |
£’000 |
£’000 |
£’000 |
£’000 |
Bank overdraft facility fee |
1 |
6 |
7 |
1 |
7 |
8 |
Overdraft interest |
– |
1 |
1 |
– |
– |
– |
|
1 |
7 |
8 |
1 |
7 |
8 |
The £15 million overdraft facility was renewed on 14 September 2022 and the interest rate is at a
margin above the Bank of England
base rate.
6. Taxation
As an investment trust the Company
pays no tax on capital gains and, as the Company invested
principally in UK equities, it has little overseas tax. In
addition, no deferred tax is required to provide for tax that is
expected to arise in the future due to differences in accounting
and tax bases.
(a) Tax charge
|
2023 |
2022 |
|
£’000 |
£’000 |
Overseas taxation |
– |
– |
(b) Reconciliation of tax charge
|
2023 |
2022 |
|
£’000 |
£’000 |
(Loss)/profit before taxation |
(38,125) |
35,908 |
Theoretical tax at the current UK
Corporation Tax rate of 19% (2022: 19%) |
(7,244) |
6,823 |
Effects of: |
|
|
– Non-taxable UK dividends |
(767) |
(563) |
– Non-taxable UK special
dividends |
(55) |
(38) |
– Non-taxable overseas
dividends |
(35) |
(36) |
– Non-taxable loss/(gains) on
investments |
7,791 |
(6,565) |
– Excess of allowable expenses
over taxable income |
309 |
378 |
– Disallowable expenses |
1 |
1 |
Tax charge for the year |
– |
– |
(c) Factors that may affect future tax
changes
The Company has cumulative excess management expenses of
£44,324,000 (2022: £42,720,000) that are available to offset future
taxable revenue.
A deferred tax asset of £11,081,000 (2022: £10,680,000) at 25%
(2022: 25%) has not been recognised in respect of these expenses
since the Directors believe that there will be no taxable profits
in the future against which the deferred tax assets can be
offset.
The Finance Act 2021 increases the UK Corporation Tax rate from
19% to 25% effective 1 April 2023.
The Act received Royal Assent on 10 June
2021. Deferred tax assets and liabilities on balance sheets
prepared after the enactment of the new tax rate must therefore be
re-measured accordingly, so as a result the deferred tax asset has
been calculated at 25%.
7. Return per Ordinary Share
Return per ordinary share is the
amount of gain or loss generated for the financial year divided by
the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue.
|
2023 |
2022 |
|
Revenue |
Capital |
Total |
Revenue |
Capital |
Total |
Return £’000 |
4,055 |
(42,180) |
(38,125) |
2,808 |
33,100 |
35,908 |
Return per ordinary share |
11.99p |
(124.70)p |
(112.71)p |
8.30p |
97.85p |
106.15p |
The returns per ordinary share are based on the weighted average
number of ordinary shares in issue during the year of 33,826,929
(2022: 33,826,929).
8. Dividends on Ordinary Shares
The Company paid four dividends in the
year – three interims and a final.
The final dividend shown below is based on shares in issue at
the record date or, if the record date has not been reached, on
shares in issue on the date the balance sheet is signed. The third
interim and final dividends are paid after the balance sheet
date.
|
2023 |
2022 |
|
Pence |
£’000 |
Pence |
£’000 |
Dividends paid from revenue in the
year: |
|
|
|
|
Third interim (prior
year) |
0.80 |
270 |
– |
– |
First interim |
3.75 |
1,269 |
3.75 |
1,269 |
Second interim |
3.75 |
1,269 |
3.75 |
1,269 |
Total dividends paid from
revenue |
8.30 |
2,808 |
7.50 |
2,538 |
Dividends paid from capital in the
year: |
|
|
|
|
Third interim (prior
year) |
2.95 |
999 |
3.75 |
1,269 |
Final (prior year) |
11.55 |
3,906 |
8.07 |
2,728 |
Total dividends paid from
capital |
14.50 |
4,905 |
11.82 |
3,997 |
Total dividends paid in the
year |
22.80 |
7,713 |
19.32 |
6,535 |
|
2023 |
2022 |
|
Pence |
£’000 |
Pence |
£’000 |
Dividends payable in respect of the
year: |
|
|
|
|
First interim |
3.75 |
1,269 |
3.75 |
1,269 |
Second interim |
3.75 |
1,269 |
3.75 |
1,269 |
Third interim |
3.75 |
1,269 |
3.75 |
1,269 |
Final |
6.79 |
2,295 |
11.55 |
3,906 |
|
18.04 |
6,102 |
22.80 |
7,713 |
The third interim dividend of 3.75p per share, in respect of the
year ended 31 January 2023, was paid
to shareholders on 14 March 2023.
The Company’s dividend policy was changed in 2015 so that
dividends will be paid firstly from current year revenue and any
revenue reserves available, and thereafter from capital reserves.
The amount payable in respect of the year is shown below:
|
2023 |
2022 |
|
£’000 |
£’000 |
Dividends in respect of the
year: |
|
|
– from current year
net revenue |
4,055 |
2,808 |
– from capital
reserves |
2,047 |
4,905 |
|
6,102 |
7,713 |
Dividend payable from the capital reserves of £2,047,000 (2022:
capital reserves of £4,905,000) as a percentage of year end net
assets of £174,915,000 (2022: £220,753,000) is 1.2% (2022: 2.2%).
The Company has £134,201,000 (2022: £137,089,000) of realised
distributable capital reserves at the year end.
9. Investments Held at Fair Value
Through Profit and Loss
The portfolio is made up of
investments which are listed or traded on a regulated stock
exchange or AIM. Profit and losses in the year include:
• realised, usually arising when
investments are sold; and
• unrealised, being the difference
from cost on those investments still held at the year end.
|
2023 |
2022 |
|
£’000 |
£’000 |
Investments listed on a regulated
stock exchange |
116,417 |
151,948 |
AIM quoted investments |
56,226 |
67,870 |
|
172,643 |
219,818 |
Opening valuation |
219,818 |
187,782 |
Movements in year: |
|
|
Purchases at cost |
40,196 |
55,321 |
Sales proceeds |
(46,361) |
(57,837) |
(Loss)/profit on investments in the
year |
(41,010) |
34,552 |
Closing valuation |
172,643 |
219,818 |
Closing book cost |
169,842 |
172,818 |
Closing investment unrealised
gain |
2,801 |
47,000 |
Closing valuation |
172,643 |
219,818 |
The transaction costs amount to £134,000 (2022: £217,000) on
purchases and £28,000 (2022: £27,000) for sales. These amounts are
included in determining (loss)/profit on investments held at fair
value as disclosed in the Statement of Comprehensive Income.
The Company received £46,361,000 (2022: £57,837,000) from
investments sold in the year. The book cost of these investments
when they were purchased was £43,172,000 (2022: £34,458,000)
realising a profit of £3,189,000 (2022: £23,379,000). These
investments have been revalued over time and until they were sold
any unrealised profits/losses were included in the fair value of
the investments.
10. Other Receivables
Other receivables are amounts which
are due to the Company, such as monies due from brokers for
investments sold and income which has been earned (accrued) but not
yet received.
|
2023 |
2022 |
|
£’000 |
£’000 |
Amounts due from brokers |
48 |
– |
Overseas withholding tax
recoverable |
31 |
14 |
Prepayments and accrued income |
321 |
143 |
|
400 |
157 |
11. Other Payables
Other payables are amounts which must
be paid by the Company, and include any amounts due to brokers for
the purchase of investments or amounts owed to suppliers
(accruals), such as the Manager and auditor.
|
2023 |
2022 |
|
£’000 |
£’000 |
Amounts due to brokers |
2,974 |
517 |
Accruals |
209 |
235 |
|
3,183 |
752 |
12. Share Capital
Share capital represents the total
number of shares in issue, including shares held in treasury.
|
2023 |
2022 |
|
Number |
£’000 |
Number |
£’000 |
Allotted, called-up and fully
paid |
|
|
|
|
Ordinary shares of 20p each |
33,826,929 |
6,765 |
33,826,929 |
6,765 |
Treasury shares of 20p each |
19,382,155 |
3,877 |
19,382,155 |
3,877 |
|
53,209,084 |
10,642 |
53,209,084 |
10,642 |
For the year to 31 January 2023,
no shares were bought back into or issued from treasury (2022:
nil).
Subsequent to the year end, no shares were bought back into or
issued from treasury.
13. Reserves
This note explains the different
reserves attributable to shareholders. The aggregate of the
reserves and share capital (see previous note) make up total
shareholders’ funds.
The share premium arises whenever shares are issued at a price
above the nominal value plus any issue costs. The capital
redemption reserve maintains the equity share capital and arises
from the nominal value of shares repurchased and cancelled. The
share premium and capital redemption reserve are
non-distributable.
Capital investment gains and losses are shown in note 9, and
form part of the capital reserve. The revenue reserve shows the net
revenue retained after payment of dividends. The capital and
revenue reserves are distributable by way of dividend. In addition,
the capital reserve is also distributable by way of share buy
backs.
14. Net Asset Value per Ordinary
Share
The Company’s total net assets (total
assets less total liabilities) are often termed shareholders’ funds
and are converted into net asset value per ordinary share by
dividing by the number of shares in issue.
The net asset value per share and the net asset values
attributable at the year end were as follows:
|
|
Net
asset value |
Net
assets |
|
|
per
ordinary share |
attributable |
|
2023 |
2022 |
2023 |
2022 |
|
|
Pence |
Pence |
£’000 |
£’000 |
|
Ordinary shares |
517.09 |
652.60 |
174,915 |
220,753 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net asset value per ordinary share is based on net assets at the
year end and on 33,826,929 (2022: 33,826,929) ordinary shares,
being the number of ordinary shares in issue (excluding shares held
in treasury) at the year end.
15. Subsidiary Undertaking
The Company has one dormant subsidiary
which has total assets of £100.
|
Net asset |
|
Country of |
|
|
|
value at |
|
incorporation |
Description |
|
|
31 January |
Principal |
and |
of shares |
Percentage |
|
2023 |
activity |
operation |
held |
held |
Berry Starquest Limited |
£100 |
Investment |
England and |
Ordinary |
100% |
|
|
dealing |
Wales |
shares |
|
During the year and the preceding year, no transactions were
undertaken by the subsidiary. Following the year end, the
subsidiary was dissolved on 28 February
2023.
16. Risk Management, Financial Assets
and Liabilities
Financial instruments comprise the
Company’s investment portfolio as well as any cash, borrowings,
other receivables and other payables.
Financial Instruments
The Company’s financial instruments comprise its investment
portfolio (as shown on pages 23 and 24), cash, overdraft, other
receivables and other payables that arise directly from its
operations such as sales and purchases awaiting settlement and
accrued income. The accounting policies in note 1 include criteria
for the recognition and the basis of measurement applied for
financial instruments. Note 1 also includes the basis on which
income and expenses arising from financial assets and liabilities
are recognised and measured.
Risk Management Policies and
Procedures
The Directors have delegated to the Manager the responsibility
for the day-to-day investment activities of the Company as more
fully described in the Directors’ Report.
As an investment trust the Company invests in equities and other
investments for the long-term, so as to meet its investment policy
(incorporating the Company’s investment objective). In pursuing its
investment objective, the Company is exposed to a variety of risks
that could result in either a reduction in the Company’s net assets
or a reduction of the profits available for dividends. Those
related to financial instruments include market risk, liquidity
risk and credit risk. These policies are summarised below and have
remained substantially unchanged for the two years under
review.
The main risk that the Company faces arising from its financial
instruments is market risk – this risk is reviewed in detail below.
Since the Company invests mainly in UK equities traded on the
London Stock Exchange, liquidity risk and credit risk are not
significant. Liquidity risk is minimised as the majority of the
Company’s investments comprise a diversified portfolio of readily
realisable securities which can be sold to meet funding commitments
as necessary. In addition, an overdraft facility provides
short-term funding flexibility.
Credit risk encompasses the failure by counterparties to deliver
securities which the Company has paid for, or to pay for securities
which the Company has delivered, and cash balances. Counterparty
risk is minimised by using only approved counterparties. The
Company’s ability to operate in the short-term may be adversely
affected if the Company’s custodian suffers insolvency or other
financial difficulties. The appointment of a depositary has
substantially lessened this risk. The Board reviews the custodian’s
annual controls report and the Manager’s management of the
relationship with the custodian, The Bank of New York Mellon
(International) Limited, an A-1+ rated financial institution. Cash
balances are limited to a maximum of 2.5% of net assets with any
one deposit taker, with only approved deposit takers being used,
and a maximum of 7.5% of net assets for holdings in the Invesco
Liquidity Funds plc – Sterling, a triple-A rated money market
fund.
Market Risk
The fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument
may fluctuate because of changes in market prices. This market risk
comprises three elements – currency risk, interest rate risk and
other price risk. The Company’s Manager assesses the Company’s
exposure when making each investment decision, and monitors the
overall level of market risk on the whole of the investment
portfolio on an ongoing basis. The Board meets at least quarterly
to assess risk and review investment performance. The Company may
utilise hedging instruments to manage market risk. Gearing is used
to enhance returns, however, this will also increase the Company’s
exposure to market risk and volatility.
1. Currency Risk
The exposure to currency risk is considered minor as the
Company’s financial instruments are mainly denominated in Sterling.
At the current and preceding year end, the Company held no foreign
currency investments or cash, although a small amount of
dividend income was received in foreign currency.
During this and the previous year, the Company did not use
forward currency contracts to mitigate currency risk.
2. Interest Rate Risk
Interest rate movements will affect the level of income
receivable on cash deposits and the interest payable on variable
rate borrowings. When the Company has cash balances, they are held
in variable rate bank accounts yielding rates of interest dependent
on the base rate of the Custodian, The Bank of New York Mellon
(International) Limited. Additionally, holdings in Invesco
Liquidity Funds plc – Sterling are subject to interest rate
changes.
The Company has an uncommitted bank overdraft facility up to a
maximum of 30% of the net asset value of the Company or £15 million
(2022: £15 million), whichever is the lower; the interest rate is
charged at a margin over the Bank of England base rate. The Company uses the
facility when required, at levels approved and monitored by the
Board.
At the year end, there was no overdraft drawn down (2022: none).
Based on the maximum amount that can be drawn down at the year end
under the overdraft facility of £15 million (2022: £15 million),
the effect of a +/– 1% in the interest rate would result in an
increase or decrease to the Company’s statement of comprehensive
income of £150,000 (2022: £150,000).
The Company’s portfolio is not directly exposed to interest rate
risk.
3. Other Price Risk
Other price risks (i.e. the risk of changes in market prices,
other than those arising from interest rates or currency) may
affect the value of the investments.
Management of
Other Price Risk
The Directors manage the market price risks inherent in the
investment portfolio by meeting regularly to monitor on a formal
basis the Manager’s compliance with the Company’s stated objectives
and policies and to review investment performance.
The Company’s portfolio is the result of the Manager’s
investment process and as a result is not correlated with the
Company’s benchmark or the markets in which the Company invests.
Therefore, the value of the portfolio will not move in line with
the market but will move as a result of the performance of the
company shares within the portfolio.
If the value of the portfolio fell by 10% at the balance sheet
date, the loss after tax for the year would increase by
£17 million (2022: profit after tax for the year would
decrease by £22 million). Conversely, if the value of the portfolio
rose by 10%, the loss after tax would decrease (2022: profit after
tax would increase) by the same amount.
Fair Values of Financial Assets and
Financial Liabilities
The financial assets and financial liabilities are either
carried in the balance sheet at their fair value (investments), or
the balance sheet amount is a reasonable approximation of fair
value (due from brokers, dividends receivable, accrued income, due
to brokers, accruals, cash at bank and overdraft).
Fair Value Hierarchy Disclosures
Except for the one Level 3 investment (2022: one Level 3
investment) described below, all of the Company’s investments are
in the Level 1 category as set out in IFRS 13, the three levels of
which follow:
Level 1 – The unadjusted quoted price in an active market for
identical assets or liabilities that the entity can access at the
measurement date.
Level 2 – Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level
1 that are observable (i.e. developed using market data) for the
asset or liability, either directly or indirectly.
Level 3 – Inputs are unobservable (i.e. for which market data is
unavailable) for the asset or liability.
Categorisation within the hierarchy has been determined on the
basis of the lowest level input that is significant to the fair
value measurement of each relevant asset/liability.
Berry Starquest Limited was the only Level 3 investment in the
portfolio at the current year end and was also Level 3 investment
at the 2022 year end. Berry Starquest Limited is a dormant
subsidiary and is valued at £100 (2022: £100). Subsequent to the
year end this subsidiary was dissolved.
17. Maturity Analysis of Contractual
Liability Cash Flows
The contractual liabilities of the Company are shown in note 11
and comprise amounts due to brokers and accruals. All are paid
under contractual terms. For amounts due to brokers, this will
generally be the purchase date of the investment plus
two business days; accruals would generally be due within
three months.
18. Capital Management
The Company’s capital, or equity, is
represented by its net assets which are managed to achieve the
Company’s investment objective set out on page 13.
The main risks to the Company’s investments are shown in the
Strategic Report under the ‘Principal Risks and Uncertainties’
section on pages 14 and 15. These also explain that the Company is
able to gear and that gearing will amplify the effect on equity of
changes in the value of the portfolio. The Board can also manage
the capital structure directly since it determines dividend
payments and has taken the powers, which it is seeking to renew, to
buy-back shares, either for cancellation or to be held in treasury,
and to issue new shares or sell shares held in treasury.
The Company is subject to externally imposed capital
requirements with respect to the obligation and ability to pay
dividends by s1158 Corporation Tax Act 2010 and by the Companies
Act 2006, respectively, and with respect to the availability of the
overdraft facility and by the terms imposed by the lender. The
Board regularly monitors, and has complied with, the externally
imposed capital requirements. This is unchanged from the prior
year.
Total equity at 31 January 2023,
the composition of which is shown on the Balance Sheet on page 48,
was £174,915,000 (2022: £220,753,000).
19. Contingencies, Guarantees and
Financial Commitments
Liabilities the Company is committed
to honour but which are dependent on a future circumstance or event
occurring would be disclosed in this note if any existed.
There were no contingencies, guarantees or other financial
commitments of the Company as at 31 January
2023 (2022: nil).
20. Related Party Transactions and
Transactions with Manager
A related party is a company or
individual who has direct or indirect control or who has
significant influence over the Company.
Under UK-adopted international accounting standards the Company
has identified the Directors as related parties. The Directors’
remuneration and interests have been disclosed on pages 37 to 39
with additional disclosure in note 4. No other related parties have
been identified.
Details of the Manager’s services and fees are disclosed in the
Directors’ Report on pages 29 and 30 and in note 3.
21. Post Balance Sheet Events
There are no significant events after the end of the reporting
period requiring disclosure.
22. 2023 Financial Information
The figures and financial information for the year ended
31 January 2023 are extracted from
the Company's annual financial statements for that year and do not
constitute statutory accounts. The Company's annual financial
statements for the year to 31 January
2023 have been audited but have not yet been delivered to
the Registrar of Companies. The Auditor's report on the 2023 annual
financial statements was unqualified, did not include a reference
to any matter to which the Auditor drew attention without
qualifying the report, and did not contain any statements under
Section 498 of the Companies Act 2006.
23. 2022 Financial Information
The figures and financial information for the year ended
31 January 2022 are compiled from an
extract of the published accounts for that year and do not
constitute statutory accounts. Those accounts have been
delivered to the Registrar of Companies and included the report of
the Auditor which was unqualified and did not contain a statement
under Sections 498(2) or 498(3) of the Companies Act 2006.
24. Annual Financial Report
The audited 2023 annual financial report will be available to
shareholders, and will be delivered to the Registrar of Companies,
shortly. Copies may be obtained during normal business hours
from the Company’s Registered Office, from its correspondence
address, 43-45 Portman Square, London W1H 6LY, and via
www.invesco.co.uk/ipukscit.
A copy of the annual financial report will be submitted
shortly to the National Storage Mechanism ("NSM") and will be
available for inspection at the NSM, which is situated
at https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism.
Notice of Annual General Meeting
THIS NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING IS IMPORTANT AND REQUIRES
YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. If you are in any doubt as to what action
to take, you should consult your stockbroker, solicitor, accountant
or other appropriate independent professional adviser authorised
under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. If you have sold
or otherwise transferred all your shares in Invesco Perpetual UK
Smaller Companies Investment Trust plc, please forward this
document and the accompanying Form of Proxy to the person through
whom the sale or transfer was effected, for transmission to the
purchaser or transferee.
NOTICE IS GIVEN that the Annual General Meeting (‘AGM’) of
Invesco Perpetual UK Smaller Companies Investment Trust plc will be
held at the offices of Invesco at 43-45 Portman Square,
London W1H 6LY at 12.00pm on 8 June
2023 for the following purposes:
Ordinary Business
1. To receive
and consider the Annual Financial Report for the year ended
31 January 2023.
2. To approve
the Directors’ Remuneration Policy.
3. To approve
the Annual Statement and Report on Remuneration for the year ended
31 January 2023.
4. To approve a
final dividend as recommended.
5. To re-elect
Bridget Guerin as a Director of the
Company.
6. To re-elect
Graham Paterson as a Director of the
Company.
7. To re-elect
Mike Prentis as a Director of the
Company.
8. To re-appoint
the auditor, Ernst & Young LLP.
9. To authorise
the Audit Committee to determine the auditor’s remuneration.
Special Business
To consider and, if thought fit, to pass the following
resolutions of which resolution 10 will be proposed as an ordinary
resolution and resolutions 11 to 13 as special resolutions:
Authority to Allot Shares
10. That:
the Directors be generally and unconditionally authorised in
accordance with Section 551 of the Companies Act 2006 as amended
from time to time prior to the date of the passing of this
resolution (the ‘Act’) to exercise all powers of the Company to
allot shares and grant rights to subscribe for, or convert any
securities into, shares up to an aggregate nominal amount (within
the meaning of Sections 551(3) and (6) of the Act) of
£676,538, this being 10% of the Company’s issued ordinary share
capital as at 18 April 2023, such authority to expire at the
conclusion of the next AGM of the Company or the date
15 months after the passing of this resolution, whichever is
the earlier unless the authority is renewed or revoked at any other
general meeting prior to such time, but so that this authority
shall allow the Company to make offers or agreements before the
expiry of this authority which would or might require shares to be
allotted, or rights to be granted, after such expiry as if the
authority conferred by this resolution had not expired.
Disapplication of Pre-emption
Rights
11. That:
the Directors be and are hereby empowered, in accordance with
Sections 570 and 573 of the Act to allot equity securities (within
the meaning of Section 560 (1), (2) and (3) of the Act) for
cash, either pursuant to the authority given by resolution 10 set
out above or (if such allotment constitutes the sale of relevant
shares which, immediately before the sale, were held by the Company
as treasury shares) otherwise, as if Section 561 of the Act did not
apply to any such allotment, provided that this power shall be
limited:
(a) to the allotment of equity securities in connection with a
rights issue in favour of all holders of a class of equity
securities where the equity securities attributable respectively to
the interests of all holders of securities of such class are either
proportionate (as nearly as may be) to the respective numbers of
relevant equity securities held by them or are otherwise allotted
in accordance with the rights attaching to such equity securities
(subject in either case to such exclusions or other arrangements as
the Directors may deem necessary or expedient in relation to
fractional entitlements or legal or practical problems under the
laws of, or the requirements of, any regulatory body or any stock
exchange in any territory or otherwise);
(b) to the allotment (otherwise than pursuant to a rights issue)
of equity securities up to an aggregate nominal amount of £676,538,
this being 10% of the Company’s issued ordinary share capital as at
18 April 2023; and
(c) to the allotment of equity securities at a price not less
than the net asset value per share (as determined by the
Directors),
and this power shall expire at the conclusion of the next AGM of
the Company or the date 15 months after the passing of this
resolution, whichever is the earlier unless the authority is
renewed or revoked at any other general meeting prior to such time,
but so that this power shall allow the Company to make offers or
agreements before the expiry of this power which would or might
require equity securities to be allotted after such expiry as if
the power conferred by this resolution had not expired; and so that
words and expressions defined in or for the purposes of Part 17 of
the Act shall bear the same meanings in this resolution.
Authority to Make Market Purchases of
Shares
12. That:
the Company be generally and subject as hereinafter appears
unconditionally authorised in accordance with Section 701 of the
Act to make market purchases (within the meaning of Section 693(4)
of the Act) of its issued ordinary shares of 20p each in the
capital of the Company (‘Shares’).
PROVIDED ALWAYS THAT:
(a) the maximum number of Shares hereby authorised to be
purchased shall be 14.99% of the Company’s issued ordinary shares,
this being 5,070,657 as at 18 April 2023;
(b) the minimum price which may be paid for a Share shall be
20p;
(c) the maximum price which may be paid for a Share must not be
more than the higher of: (i) 5% above the average of the
mid-market values of the Shares for the five business days before
the purchase is made; and (ii) the higher of the price of the last
independent trade in the Shares and the highest then current
independent bid for the Shares on the London Stock Exchange;
(d) any purchase of Shares will be made in the market for cash
at prices below the prevailing net asset value per Share (as
determined by the Directors);
(e) the authority hereby conferred shall expire at the
conclusion of the next AGM of the Company or the date 15 months
after the passing of this resolution, whichever is the earlier,
unless the authority is renewed or revoked at any other general
meeting prior to such time;
(f) the Company may make a contract to purchase Shares
under the authority hereby conferred prior to the expiry of such
authority which will be executed wholly or partly after the
expiration of such authority and may make a purchase of Shares
pursuant to any such contract; and
(g) any Shares so purchased shall be cancelled or, if the
Directors so determine and subject to the provisions of Sections
724 to 731 of the Act and any applicable regulations of the United
Kingdom Listing Authority, be held (or otherwise dealt with in
accordance with Section 727 or 729 of the Act) as treasury
shares.
Period of Notice Required for General
Meetings
13. THAT the period of notice required for general meetings of
the Company (other than AGMs) shall be not less than 14 clear
days.
Dated this 18 April 2023
By order of the Board
Invesco Asset Management Limited
Corporate Company Secretary