HERALD INVESTMENT TRUST plc
(the "Company")
HALF-YEARLY FINANCIAL REPORT
For the six months ended 30 June 2021
SUMMARY OF PERFORMANCE
|
At |
|
|
Performance |
|
|
inception |
At |
At |
since |
Performance |
|
16 February |
30 June |
31 December |
31 December |
since |
Capital return |
1994 |
2021 |
2020 |
2020 |
inception |
Net asset value per ordinary share (including current year revenue)A |
98.7p |
2,605.9p |
2,285.3p |
14.0% |
2,540.2% |
Net asset value per ordinary share (excluding current year revenue)A |
98.7p |
2,610.5p |
2,291.4p |
13.9% |
2,544.9% |
Share price |
90.9p |
2,180.0p |
2,245.0p |
-2.9% |
2,298.2% |
Numis Smaller Companies plus AIM (ex. investment companies) Index (capital only) |
1,750.0 |
6,977.1 |
6,040.0 |
15.5% |
298.7% |
Russell 2000 (small cap) Technology Index (in sterling terms) (capital only)† |
688.7* |
5,072.0 |
4,637.0 |
9.4% |
636.5% |
A Alternative Performance Measure (APM).
* At 9 April 1996 being the date funds were first available for international investment.
† The Russell 2000 (small cap) Technology Index was rebased during 2009 following some minor adjustments to its constituents. The rebased index is used from 31 December 2008 onwards.
Past performance is not a guide to future performance.
CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT
The Company's net assets per share grew by 14.0% during the first half of 2021. This comes on top of the 37.0% rise in 2020, which is particularly pleasing. The market rhetoric at the start of the year was "to switch from growth to value as the world recovers from the Covid trauma" and this resulted in a widening of the discount of the Company's share price to net asset value. Fortunately, the assets have continued to perform well resulting in the growth in total assets to £1.7bn. There has been some rotation in the performance of individual stocks within the portfolio.
The performance of the Company's investments by region is as follows:
|
FY 2020 |
H1 2020 |
H1 2021 |
Herald - UK |
32.0% |
-2.0% |
16.9% |
Numis Smaller Companies plus AIM (ex. inv. cos.) Index total return |
4.9% |
-19.8% |
16.4% |
Herald - North America |
55.6% |
25.4% |
8.5% |
Russell 2000 (small cap) Technology Index (£) total return |
38.8% |
6.4% |
9.5% |
Herald - Europe Middle East and Africa |
59.7% |
11.6% |
28.3% |
Herald - Asia |
63.4% |
26.2% |
16.9% |
Herald Total Return NAV per shareA |
37.0% |
7.6% |
14.0% |
A Alternative Performance Measure (APM).
The UK continues to be the largest element of the portfolio with 48.8% of net assets, a little below its historic level. The total UK return during the period of £121.2m represents 16.9% versus a total return of the Numis Smaller Companies plus AIM (excluding investment companies) Index of 16.4%. It also takes the cumulative total return from the UK portfolio to £1.186bn equating to a time-weighted return of 13.9% per annum since inception in 1994. This greatly exceeds the return of the wider UK market, and the US-based Russell 2000 Technology Index which has compounded at only 8.2% since inception on 1 July 1996. Future and Next Fifteen Communications, both long-held positions, each returned over £16m. However, in percentage terms the return on Audioboom, which earns revenues from podcast advertising, dwarfed others at 243.0%. Over the last five years £178m has been withdrawn from the UK portfolio, including £34m in this six-month period. We continue to find an entrepreneurial culture in the UK and many attractive companies in which to invest, but we have seen gradually declining liquidity over several years so further diversification overseas seems prudent. We are also very concerned about the potential for greatly increased regulation of our portfolio companies, notably resulting from the ongoing government consultation on future audit and corporate governance which further motivates us to invest overseas.
The North American portfolio weighting is 23.0%. This region delivered a return of 297.0% in the five years to 31 December 2020, and valuations had become stretched. We are pleased therefore to have returned a further 8.5% in the first half (slightly lagging the Russell 2000 Index total return by 1%) which required some rotation from last year's star performers. This combined with profits growth, means the average forward p/e of our holdings is somewhat lower than it was and valuations are correspondingly less stretched.
The Company's performance in Europe has continued to be very strong with a return of 28.3% in the period. This result was led by Nordic Semiconductor (+£9.4m, +55.5%), BE Semiconductor Industries (+£6.4m, +42.1%) and Esker (+£5.2m, +33.8%). In percentage terms Napatech, X-Fab Silicon Foundries, Adva Optical Networking and Datalex all returned over 50.0%. The EMEA weighting has modestly increased to 10.3% reflecting performance and a modest further investment of £9.2m.
Asia was the best region last year and has returned a further 16.9% so far this year. The Taiwanese company Momo.com was top of the leader board returning £6.7m (+195.0%) and the Australian company Mainstream with £5.4m (+163.6%) came next. Freelancer and eMemory Technology also appreciated more than 100.0%. The core markets in the Asian portfolio are Australia, Japan and Taiwan with about a quarter of the Asian weighting each. The respective returns for these countries were 7.9%, 5.8% and 42.3%, so Taiwan led again. We invested a further net £16.1m in Asia during the period and the weighting has now risen to 11.5%, reflecting our measured desire to reduce the UK weighting and add a greater number of Asian companies as they move further up the value chain.
The period has continued to be overshadowed by the Covid pandemic. Whilst last year our discussions with management focused on the mass transition to working from home and furlough schemes, this year they have focused on the supply chain. There have evidently been changes in consumer behaviour as those still in work have reduced expenditure on holidays, socialising and restaurants, and spent more on home improvements, computer games, internet TV subscriptions and the related devices. The technology sector has obviously benefited from this. There has also been a sharp rise in consumer savings. The latest reported ratio was 19.9% in the UK versus a range of 5-10% pre-Covid, while in the US it is now 12.4% which is double the pre-Covid level. This suggests that the increase in technology spending may not reverse too much when more normal behaviour resumes. Supply chain issues are however, our greatest short-term concern. Semiconductors have seen the most publicised and acute shortages with those used in the automotive industry a particular issue, but the problem is much wider than that. For example, there are huge increases in the cost of containers particularly from East to West and also delays. Therefore, some manufacturing companies might disappoint in the short term, but our long-term investment philosophy remains. We expect that boards the world over will be more focused on security of supply with increased inventory and more local or dual sourcing. Potential over ordering for this reason may now be flattering short term demand too. We also expect Governments to be thinking far more than they have historically, about strategically important products relating to basic requirements such as vaccines, food and security.
The key question all investors must ask is how much the changed trading patterns, and monetary growth, will lead to a broader and more sustained rise in inflation, prompting higher interest rates. The central bankers have an unenviable task of needing some inflation to erode consumer and government debt alike, without causing stresses from the expense of servicing higher debt levels and controlling inflation. The technology, media and communications sectors on which Herald is focused are relatively well placed with little financial leverage. Property, construction, housebuilding and automotive are clearly more vulnerable to higher interest rates. Generally, capital expenditure is weak when the cost of money goes up, and historically the technology sector has been driven by capital expenditure. However, technology spend is increasingly shifting to be a non-discretionary operating cost with monthly or annual charges for servers, storage, applications, subscriptions and so on. Meanwhile new technologies and opportunities continue to open up, and cyber threats continue to evolve. Whilst we believe that the sector now has more defensive demand characteristics, we note warily that valuations are higher than the long-run average and reflect high expected growth and unattractive bond yields.
In the first half of 2020 the dividend income we received halved in round numbers, but this year it has doubled back to the level of 2019. The negative interest rates available on cash still resulted in a small loss on the income statement. £18.7m has been spent to repurchase a further 1.3% of issued shares for cancellation, so cumulative buybacks now exceed the amount of outside capital raised by the Company since inception by £86m.
We are immensely grateful for the hard work of the Manager and the many individual management teams at investee companies, who have contributed to these excellent long-term results. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank my predecessor as Chairman, Ian Russell, for his contribution prior to stepping down earlier this year.
While challenges in the world abound, we are fortunate to constantly have our fears diminished by seeing investee companies coping well, and generally delivering growth. We therefore remain attracted by the prospects of our core sectors and the positioning of the portfolio.
Tom Black
CHAIRMAN
19 July 2021
TOP TWENTY EQUITY HOLDINGS
At 30 June 2021
|
|
Value |
% of total |
Company |
Business |
£'000 |
assets |
GB Group |
Intelligent identity data, software and services |
37,309 |
2.2 |
Next Fifteen Communications |
Digital communications provider |
36,110 |
2.1 |
Pegasystems |
Develops applications for sales, marketing and operations |
30,278 |
1.8 |
|
|
|
|
Future |
Multi platform media company |
29,841 |
1.8 |
Diploma |
Distributor of components and systems |
28,897 |
1.7 |
YouGov |
International opinion data surveys and analytics |
27,499 |
1.6 |
S4 Capital |
Digital advertising and marketing services |
25,078 |
1.5 |
Nordic Semiconductor |
Wireless semiconductor technology |
23,083 |
1.4 |
BE Semiconductor Industries |
Supplier of semiconductor assembly equipment |
21,463 |
1.3 |
Esker |
Developer of process automation software |
20,448 |
1.2 |
ITM Power |
Manufacturer of electrolyser systems for hydrogen production |
20,317 |
1.2 |
|
|
|
|
Volex |
Integrated manufacturing specialist |
20,148 |
1.2 |
Idox |
Developer of information management software |
19,912 |
1.2 |
LivePerson |
Developer of customer interaction management software |
19,441 |
1.1 |
|
|
|
|
Dotdigital |
Marketing automation and customer engagement software |
17,896 |
1.1 |
|
|
|
|
Seeing Machines |
Driver monitoring technology |
17,830 |
1.0 |
Varonis Systems |
Data security and analytics software |
17,364 |
1.0 |
Descartes Systems |
Supplier of logistics management software |
16,926 |
1.0 |
Bango |
Supplier of mobile payment solutions |
16,650 |
1.0 |
Silicon Motion Technology ADR* |
Develops controllers used with flash memory |
16,552 |
1.0 |
|
|
463,042 |
27.4 |
* American Depositary Receipt.
GEOGRAPHICAL SPREAD OF INVESTMENTS
(Distribution of total assets)
|
At |
At |
|
30 June |
31 December |
|
2021 |
2020 |
Net Liquid Assets* & Government Bonds |
6.4% |
7.6% |
Asia |
11.5% |
10.1% |
North America |
23.0% |
24.4% |
EMEA** |
10.3% |
8.6% |
UK |
48.8% |
49.3% |
*Cash, current assets and liabilities.
** EMEA stands for Europe, Middle East and Africa.
TOP FIVE WINNERS AND LOSERS
For the six months ended 30 June 2021 in sterling terms (millions)
TOP 5 WINNERS |
|
Future |
16.7 |
Next Fifteen Communications |
16.5 |
Nordic Semiconductor |
9.4 |
Diploma |
7.5 |
SDI |
6.8 |
TOP 5 LOSERS |
|
GB Group |
-5.4 |
IQE |
-5.2 |
Ilika |
-3.2 |
Blue Prism |
-2.9 |
Telecom Plus |
-2.7 |
CONDENSED INCOME STATEMENT
(Unaudited)
|
For the six months ended 30 June 2021 |
|
For the six months ended 30 June 2020 |
||||
|
Revenue |
Capital |
Total |
|
Revenue |
Capital |
Total |
|
£'000 |
£'000 |
£'000 |
|
£'000 |
£'000 |
£'000 |
Realised gains on investments |
- |
72,613 |
72,613 |
|
- |
53,893 |
53,893 |
Movements in unrealised gains on investments |
- |
138,389 |
138,389 |
|
- |
29,962 |
29,962 |
(Losses)/gains on foreign exchange |
- |
(799) |
(799) |
|
- |
2,168 |
2,168 |
Income |
5,559 |
- |
5,559 |
|
3,527 |
- |
3,527 |
Investment management fee - note 3 |
(7,761) |
- |
(7,761) |
|
(5,480) |
- |
(5,480) |
Other administrative expenses |
(466) |
(5) |
(471) |
|
(373) |
(54) |
(427) |
(Loss)/profit before taxation |
(2,668) |
210,198 |
207,530 |
|
(2,326) |
85,969 |
83,643 |
Taxation |
(281) |
- |
(281) |
|
(109) |
- |
(109) |
(Loss)/profit after taxation |
(2,949) |
210,198 |
207,249 |
|
(2,435) |
85,969 |
83,534 |
(Loss)/profit per ordinary share - note 4 |
(4.52)p |
322.18p |
317.66p |
|
(3.63)p |
128.18p |
124.55p |
Weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the period |
|
|
65,242,980 |
|
|
|
67,070,976 |
The total column of this statement is the profit and loss account of the Company, prepared in accordance with UK Accounting Standards.
The (loss)/profit after taxation is the total comprehensive income and therefore no additional statement of other comprehensive income is presented. The supplementary revenue and capital columns are presented for information purposes 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 period.
CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET
(Unaudited)
|
As at |
As at |
|
30 June |
31 December |
|
2021 |
2020 |
|
(unaudited) |
(audited) |
|
£'000 |
£'000 |
Fixed assets |
|
|
Investments held at fair value through profit or loss |
1,625,587 |
1,430,583 |
Current assets |
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
62,560 |
72,929 |
Other receivables |
5,793 |
1,460 |
|
68,353 |
74,389 |
Current liabilities |
|
|
Other payables |
(2,068) |
(1,605) |
Net current assets |
66,285 |
72,784 |
TOTAL NET ASSETS |
1,691,872 |
1,503,367 |
Capital and reserves |
|
|
Called up share capital |
16,231 |
16,446 |
Share premium |
73,738 |
73,738 |
Capital redemption reserve |
5,721 |
5,506 |
Capital reserve |
1,601,878 |
1,410,424 |
Revenue reserve |
(5,696) |
(2,747) |
SHAREHOLDERS' FUNDS |
1,691,872 |
1,503,367 |
NET ASSET VALUE PER ORDINARY SHARE (including current year revenue) |
2,605.93p |
2,285.33p |
NET ASSET VALUE PER ORDINARY SHARE (excluding current year revenue) |
2,610.47p |
2,291.41p |
Ordinary shares in issue |
64,924,019 |
65,783,418 |
CONDENSED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
(Unaudited)
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2021
|
|
|
Capital |
|
|
|
|
Called up |
Share |
redemption |
Capital |
Revenue |
Shareholders' |
|
share capital |
premium |
reserve |
reserve |
reserve |
funds |
|
£'000 |
£'000 |
£'000 |
£'000 |
£'000 |
£'000 |
Shareholders' funds at |
16,446 |
73,738 |
5,506 |
1,410,424 |
(2,747) |
1,503,367 |
Profit/(loss) after taxation |
- |
- |
- |
210,198 |
(2,949) |
207,249 |
Shares purchased for |
(215) |
- |
215 |
(18,744) |
- |
(18,744) |
Shareholders' funds at |
16,231 |
73,738 |
5,721 |
1,601,878 |
(5,696) |
1,691,872 |
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2020
|
|
|
Capital |
|
|
|
|
Called up |
Share |
redemption |
Capital |
Revenue |
Shareholders' |
|
share capital |
premium |
reserve |
reserve |
reserve |
funds |
|
£'000 |
£'000 |
£'000 |
£'000 |
£'000 |
£'000 |
Shareholders' funds at |
16,828 |
73,738 |
5,124 |
1,025,909 |
1,250 |
1,122,849 |
Profit/(loss) after taxation |
- |
- |
- |
85,969 |
(2,435) |
83,534 |
Shares purchased for cancellation - note 7 |
(136) |
- |
136 |
(7,572) |
- |
(7,572) |
Shareholders' funds at |
16,692 |
73,738 |
5,260 |
1,104,306 |
(1,185) |
1,198,811 |
CONDENSED CASH FLOW STATEMENT
(Unaudited)
|
For the six |
For the six |
|
months ended |
months ended |
|
30 June 2021 |
30 June 2020 |
|
£'000 |
£'000 |
Cash flow from operating activities |
|
|
Profit before taxation |
207,530 |
83,643 |
Adjustments for gains on investments |
(211,002) |
(83,855) |
Purchase of investments |
(110,743) |
(94,327) |
Sale of investments |
119,802 |
101,915 |
Return of capital |
2,267 |
13 |
Decrease in receivables |
762 |
1,319 |
Increase in payables |
63 |
51 |
Amortisation of fixed income book cost |
6 |
(81) |
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes |
799 |
(2,168) |
Overseas tax on overseas income |
(310) |
(118) |
Net cash inflow from operating activities |
9,174 |
6,392 |
Cash flow from financing activities |
|
|
Undrawn facility fee paid |
- |
(39) |
Shares purchased for cancellation - note 7 |
(18,744) |
(7,572) |
Net cash outflow from financing activities |
(18,744) |
(7,611) |
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents |
(9,570) |
(1,219) |
Cash and cash equivalents at start of the period |
72,929 |
88,843 |
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes |
(799) |
2,168 |
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period |
62,560 |
89,792 |
Comprised of: |
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
62,560 |
89,792 |
Cash flow from operating activities includes interest received of £438,000 (2020 -£827,000) and dividends received of £5,541,000 (2020 - £3,323,000).
As the Company did not have any long-term debt at both the current and prior six month period end, no reconciliation of the net debt position is presented.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
1 Financial Statements
The condensed financial statements for the six months to 30 June 2021 within the Half-yearly financial report comprise the previous statements together with the subsequent related notes. The condensed financial statements do not constitute statutory accounts as defined in sections 434 to 436 of the Companies Act 2006 and have not been audited. Financial information in relation to the year ended 31 December 2020 has been extracted from the statutory accounts which have been filed with the Registrar of Companies. The auditor's report on those accounts was unqualified and did not contain a statement under Section 498 (2) or (3) of the Companies Act 2006.
The Company's assets, which largely consist of investments in quoted securities, exceed its liabilities significantly. All borrowings require the prior approval of the board. Gearing levels are reviewed by the board on a regular basis. In accordance with the Company's articles of association, shareholders have the right to vote on the continuation of the Company every three years with the next vote being in April 2022. The Board continue to monitor the impact of Covid-19 on the Company as it evolves. No material events have been identified that may cast significant doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern for at least the next twelve months from the date this Half-yearly financial report is published. The condensed financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis and it is the directors' opinion that the Company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future.
2 Accounting policies
The condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with applicable United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law (UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice), including FRS 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland, FRS 104 Interim Financial Reporting and the Statement of Recommended Practice: Financial Statements of Investment Trust Companies and Venture Capital Trusts, issued by the Association of Investment Companies in October 2019.
The accounting policies applied for the condensed financial statements are as set out in the Company's annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2020.
The revised SORP issued in April 2021 is applicable for accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2021. The SORP has no substantive changes but has been updated to reflect changes to IFRS standards and regulatory requirements. No accounting policies or disclosures have changed as a result of the revised SORP.
3 Investment management fee
Herald Investment Management Limited is appointed investment manager under a management agreement which is terminable on twelve months' notice. From 1 January 2021 the management fee was reduced to 1.0% per annum of the Company's net asset value (excluding current year net revenue) based on middle market prices up to £1.25 billion and 0.8% per annum on amounts beyond this level. Prior to 1 January 2021, the fee was a flat annual rate of 1.0% of the Company's net asset value. The management fee is levied on all assets.
4 Net return per ordinary share
|
Six months |
Six months |
|
ended |
ended |
|
30 June |
30 June |
|
2021 |
2020 |
|
£'000 |
£'000 |
Revenue loss after taxation |
(2,949) |
(2,435) |
Capital profit after taxation |
210,198 |
85,969 |
Total net return |
207,249 |
83,534 |
Weighted average number of ordinary shares |
65,242,980 |
67,070,976 |
Net return per ordinary share is based on the above totals of revenue and capital and the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during each period.
There are no dilutive or potentially dilutive shares in issue.
5 Dividends
In accordance with FRS 102 Section 32 'Events After the End of the Reporting Period', the final dividend payable on ordinary shares is recognised as a liability when approved by shareholders. Interim dividends are recognised only when paid.
No dividends were paid for the year ended 31 December 2020 (2019: same), nor declared for the interim (2020: same).
6 Financial instruments
The Company's investments as disclosed in the Company's balance sheet are valued at fair value.
Nearly all of the Company's portfolio of investments are in the Level 1 category as defined in FRS 102.
The three levels set out in FRS 102 are as follows:
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.
The investment manager considers observable data to be the market data that is readily available, regularly distributed or updated, reliable and verifiable, not proprietary, and provided by independent sources that are actively involved in the relevant market.
The analysis of the valuation basis for the financial instruments based on the hierarchy is as follows:
|
As at |
As at |
|
30 June |
31 December |
|
2021 |
2020 |
|
£'000 |
£'000 |
Level 1 |
1,610,584 |
1,411,004 |
Level 3 |
15,003 |
19,579 |
Total investments |
1,625,587 |
1,430,583 |
The fair value of listed security investments is bid value. Investments on the Alternative Investment Market are included at their bid value. The fair value of unlisted investments uses valuation techniques determined by the directors on the basis of latest information in line with the relevant principles of the International Private Equity and Venture Capital Valuation Guidelines.
7 Share capital
At the AGM held on 20 April 2021 the Company's authority to buy back up to 14.99% of its issued share capital at that date was renewed. In the six months to 30 June 2021 a total of 859,399 (30 June 2020 - 545,000) ordinary shares of 25p each were bought back and cancelled at a total cost of £18,744,140 (30 June 2020 - £7,572,149). At 30 June 2021 the Company had authority to buy back a further 9,636,474 ordinary shares. Since period end, 64,764 shares were bought back and cancelled at a total cost of £1,554,897.
8 Fixed asset investments
During the period, cost of purchases amounted to £111,143,000 (30 June 2020 - £94,327,000) and proceeds of sales amounted to £127,135,000 (30 June 2020 - £101,922,000).
|
Six months ended |
Six months ended |
|
30 June 2021 |
30 June 2020 |
|
£'000 |
£'000 |
Transaction costs |
|
|
Commission costs: |
|
|
Purchases |
186 |
149 |
Sales |
269 |
132 |
Total commission costs |
455 |
281 |
Custody transaction costs |
5 |
4 |
Other transaction costs |
39 |
17 |
Total transaction costs |
499 |
302 |
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICY
Herald Investment Trust plc's (Herald or the Company) objective is to achieve capital appreciation through investments in smaller quoted companies in the areas of technology, media and telecoms (TMT). Investments may be made throughout the world. The business activities of investee companies will include information technology, broadcasting, printing and publishing and the supply of equipment and services to these companies. The investment policy is set out in full on page 34 of the Company's annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2020 and remains unchanged.
INTERIM MANAGEMENT REPORT
The Directors are required to provide an Interim Management Report in accordance with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules (DTR). The Directors consider that the Chairman's Statement, provide details of the important events which have occurred during the six months ended 30 June 2021 and their impact on the financial statements. The statement on related party transactions and the Statement of Directors' Responsibilities and the Chairman's Statement together constitute the Interim Management Report of the Company for the six month period ended 30 June 2021. The outlook for the Company for the remaining six months of the year ending 31 December 2021 is discussed in the Chairman's Statement.
PRINCIPAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES
The principal risks facing the Company remain unchanged since the date of the annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2020 as set out on page 35 of the Strategic Report. Risks faced by the Company relate to the Company's investment activities, including but not limited to; market risk (comprising currency risk, interest rate risk and other price risk), liquidity risk and credit risk. An explanation of these risks and how they are managed is contained in note 17 of the Company's annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2020. Other risks facing the Company include the following: the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic; regulatory risk (that the loss of investment trust status or a breach of applicable legal and regulatory requirements could have adverse financial consequences and cause reputational damage);operational/financial/custody risk (failure of service providers' accounting and/or settlement systems could lead to inaccurate reporting or financial loss); cyber risk; emerging risk (failure to have in place procedures that assist in identifying new or familiar risks that become apparent in new or unfamiliar conditions); the risk that the discount can widen and gearing risk (the use of borrowings can magnify the impact of falling markets). Further information can be found on page 35 of the annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2020.
In the view of the board there have not been any material changes to the principal risks and uncertainties since the publication of the annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2020, and these risks and uncertainties remain applicable to the last six months of the year. The annual report can be obtained free of charge from the Manager and is available on its website: www.heralduk.com .
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Details of the related party transactions were provided in the annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2020. There have been no changes to the related party transactions described in the annual report that could have a material effect on the financial position or performance of the Company.
GOING CONCERN
In accordance with The Financial Reporting Council's guidance on going concern and liquidity risks, the directors have undertaken a rigorous review of the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. This has taken account of the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Thus far, the portfolio has proved resilient and the board is satisfied that the Company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. The financial statements continue to be prepared on the going concern basis. There are no material uncertainties that call into question the Company's ability to continue as a going concern for at least twelve months from the date of approval of these financial statements and the board is confident that the Company will be able to continue in operation and meet its liabilities as they fall due.
STATEMENT OF DIRECTORS' RESPONSIBILITIES
We confirm that to the best of our knowledge:
a) the condensed set of financial statements has been prepared in accordance with FRS 104 'Interim Financial Reporting' and gives a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit of the Company;
b) the Half-yearly financial report and interim management report includes a fair review of the information required by Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rule 4.2.7R; and
c) the Half-yearly financial report includes a fair review of the information required by Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rule 4.2.8R (disclosure of related party transactions and changes therein). There have been no such transactions that have materially affected the financial position of the Company.
By order of the board
TOM BLACK
CHAIRMAN
19 July 2021
The Half-yearly financial report will be published later today on the Manager's website: www.heralduk.com and posted to shareholders on or around 19 July 2021.
Contacts:
Katie Potts, Manager |
020 7553 6300 |
PraxisIFM Fund Services (UK) Limited Company Secretary |
0204 513 9260
|