SCHRODER JAPAN GROWTH FUND PLC
Interim Management Statement for the Quarter ended 30 April 2012
The Board of Schroder Japan Growth Fund plc ("the Company") is pleased to announce its Interim Management Statement as required by the UK Listing Authority's Disclosure and Transparency Rules. This Statement is in respect of the period from 1 February 2012 to 30 April 2012.
Investment Objective
The Company's principal investment objective is to achieve capital growth from an actively managed portfolio principally comprising securities listed on the Japanese stock markets, with the aim of achieving growth in excess of the TSE First Section Total Return Index over the longer term.
Material Events or Transactions
Dividend Policy
As set out in the Chairman's Statement in the Half-Yearly Report, the Directors feel that future income received by the portfolio should be paid out to investors in the form of dividends. Therefore, they are seeking shareholder approval to proposals to extinguish the accumulated brought forward loss on revenue reserve of £5.7 million so that this will not inhibit the company from paying dividends going forward.
In order better to reflect the increasing significance of income as part of total return, the Directors will, with effect from 1 August 2012, also adopt a revised allocation policy whereby management fees and finance costs will be charged 70% to the capital account and 30% to the revenue account.
Following these changes, the Directors intend to be paid out as dividends at least 85% of the income received for the year ending 31 July 2013 and for subsequent years, in line with HMRC regulations for investment trusts. Shareholders should not expect future dividends to increase year on year as dividend income received from Japanese companies is expected to continue to be volatile.
There will be no change in investment policy or strategy to generate additional income.
There have been no other material events or transactions that have taken place between 1 February 2012 and the date of publication of this Statement.
Company Statistics as at 30 April 2012
Gross Assets |
£152.42 million |
Net Asset Value per Ordinary Share |
103.41p |
Share Price |
92.13p |
Discount |
10.9% |
Number of Holdings |
81 |
Net Effective Gearing |
11.1% |
Cumulative Performance to 30 April 2012 (Total Return in percentage terms)
Performance over |
3m |
6m |
1yr |
Share Price |
7.1 |
11.3 |
10.8 |
Net Asset Value |
(0.1) |
8.7 |
6.9 |
Japan TSE First Section |
(0.1) |
3.4 |
0.9 |
All Performance Data Source: Morningstar.
Portfolio Information as at 30 April 2012
Ten Largest Holdings
Stock Name |
Sector Classification
|
Market Value (£) |
Percentage of NAV |
Toyota Motor |
Consumer Goods |
7,494,193 |
5.80 |
Mitsui & Co |
Industrials |
5,628,940 |
4.35 |
SK Kaken |
Industrials |
4,718,626 |
3.65 |
Hi Lex |
Industrials |
4,530,621 |
3.50 |
East Japan Railway |
Consumer Services |
4,301,832 |
3.33 |
Bridgestone |
Consumer Goods |
4,216,800 |
3.26 |
Sumitomo Mitsui Seven & I Holdings |
Financials Consumer Services |
3,487,680 3,419,878 |
2.70 2.65 |
KDDI |
Telecommunications |
3,077,365 |
2.38 |
T&D Holdings |
Financials |
2,848,622 |
2.20 |
Sector Allocation
Sector |
Percentage of NAV
|
Industrials |
31.98 |
Consumer Services |
19.08 |
Consumer Goods |
18.52 |
Financials |
16.53 |
Basic Materials |
8.15 |
Telecommunications |
4.59 |
Healthcare |
4.53 |
Technology |
4.29 |
Oil & Gas |
2.14 |
Other net liabilities |
(9.81) |
Changes to Share Capital during the quarter ended at 30 April 2012
|
Issued Ordinary shares of 25p each
|
As at 1 February 2012 |
125,008,200 |
Shares bought back and cancelled during the period |
Nil |
Shares bought for holding in treasury during the quarter |
Nil |
Shares already held in treasury |
Nil |
Shares cancelled from treasury |
Nil |
Shares remaining in issue as at 30 April 2012 |
125,008,200 |
Company Information as at 30 April 2012
SEDOL Code |
0802284 |
Sector |
Equity Investment Instruments |
Launch Date |
July 1994 |
Financial Year End |
31 July |
Next AGM Date |
November 2012 |
Enquiries:
John Spedding
25 June 2012
Schroder Investment Management Limited
Company Secretary
Tel: 0207 658 3206