Annual Financial Report

RNS Number : 6969N

CC Japan Income & Growth Trust PLC

22 January 2019

 

CC JAPAN INCOME & GROWTH TRUST PLC

LEI:  549300FZANMYIORK1K98

ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT ANNOUNCEMENT

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

The investment objective of the Company is to provide Shareholders with dividend income combined with capital growth, mainly through investment in equities listed or quoted in Japan.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION
					At	At
					31 October	31 October
					2018	2017
Net assets (millions)					£190.9	£130.1
Net asset value ("NAV") per Ordinary Share ("Share")					148.6p	146.0p
Share price1					153.0p	152.0p
Share price premium to NAV2					3.0%	4.1%
1 Measured on a cum income basis
2 This is an Alternative Performance Measure ('APM')
PERFORMANCE SUMMARY
					For the year to	For the year to
					31 October	31 October
					2018	2017
					% change1	% change1
NAV total return per share2					+4.1%	+20.7%
Share price total return2					+2.8%	+27.2%
Topix index total return					-0.4%	+10.1%
1Total returns are stated in GBP sterling, including dividends reinvested.
2 These are APMs. Definitions of these and other APMs used in this Annual Report, together with how these measures have been calculated are disclosed in the Annual Report.
Source: Bloomberg

Chairman's Statement

Performance

I am pleased to present the results for the Company's third annual report. Over the financial year to 31 October 2018, and measured by total return, the Net Asset Value ("NAV") increased by 4.1%, while the share price rose by 2.8% over the year whereas the Tokyo Stock Price Index ("Topix"), measured in sterling terms, fell by 0.4%. The total return includes dividends paid during the financial year. Since listing on the London Stock Exchange in December 2015 and until the recent financial year end, the share price total return and the NAV total return were 57.3% and 57.2% respectively, comparing favourably with a Topix total return of 48.5% measured in sterling terms  over that period.

Although the Topix was flat over the financial year, the performance conceals considerable turbulence in world stock markets. As at 18 January 2019, the Topix has, in fact, in yen total return terms, declined by nearly 17% from the high reached on 23 January 2018, including a 5% fall since our financial year end. Most of the decline relates to the deterioration of global liquidity with tightening of monetary and interest rate policy led by the US Federal Reserve followed by the European Central Bank. Other factors include President Trump's trade and containment policies towards China, geopolitical concerns, not least in the Pacific theatre, the impact of algorithmic stock trading and some evidence of slowing global economic growth.

Growth of the Company and Share Issuance

The Board is committed to growing the size of the Company consistent with the aims of achieving scale, spreading costs over a larger shareholder base and capturing the growing income opportunity that our Investment Manager has so presciently identified in the Japanese corporate sector. The Company's share price has continued to trade at a premium to underlying NAV, reflecting investor demand which has, in turn, accommodated  the share issuance programme, approved by shareholders at a General Meeting held in December 2017 and implemented by the publication of the Tri Partite Prospectus and Supplementary Prospectus in January 2018. The Initial Issue raised gross proceeds of £32.9 million with 19,986,048 shares issued at 164.5p per share on 29 January 2018. Subsequently, a further 19,297,571 shares were issued by a series of "tap" issues up to the Company's financial year end, raising further gross proceeds of approximately £30.4 million. As a consequence, the Company has expanded its asset base from £66.5 million at launch in 2015 to £190.9 million as at 31 October 2018. The Board believes that this endorses an investment strategy that has traction at a time when foreigners have been wholesale sellers of the Japanese stock market throughout 2018.

On 11 January 2019, notice of a General Meeting to be held on 4 February 2019 together with a Circular was sent to Shareholders seeking authority to issue an additional 16,932,556 shares non pre-emptively. Since this authority will, in turn, if granted, expire at this year's Annual General Meeting, the Board is seeking to renew the authority to allot securities non pre-emptively at that time. Please see Resolutions 12 and 13, to be tabled, as shown in the Notice of the Annual General Meeting.

The Company was promoted to the FTSE All-Share Index in June 2018. 

Income

There is a clear trend of Japanese company boards responding to the benefits of delivering rising income distributions to their shareholders by way of rising dividends, payout ratios and buy backs as part of a growing appreciation of the benefits of managing excess capital on balance sheets encouraged by Stewardship and Corporate Governance Codes. As a result, our revenue account continues to prosper and the Board is recommending a final dividend of 2.50p per share, which will be payable to Shareholders on the register at the close of business on 1 February 2019, subject to Shareholders' approval at the Annual General Meeting. Together with an interim payment of 1.25p per share, this represents an increase of 8.7% in the full year dividend to 3.75p per share compared to 3.45p per share paid last year.

Gearing & Hedging

I would like to remind shareholders that structural gearing equivalent to 20% of shareholders' funds is an integral part of the investment process. This is enacted by establishing a CFD (Contract For Difference) position equivalent to one fifth of each individual holding. This has the benefit of providing the Company with significant additional income from the CFD holding of shares, to which the Company is entitled, as well the expected long term capital appreciation of the underlying holdings. This may lead to greater short term volatility. The Board could in exceptional circumstances reduce or eliminate the structural gearing. However, the policy is a key component of our investment strategy, which the Board continues to believe should enhance returns for investors over time. 

It should also be noted that, as indicated in the investment policy, the Company does not intend to hedge its underlying currency exposure to investments denominated in yen, although the Investment Manager and the Board review the policy. Hedging the yen exposure may look attractive from time to time but it is expensive to execute and seldom works. The Board has no current intention of implementing currency hedging. Being unhedged gives the portfolio and its income stream a direct exposure to the yen / sterling exchange rate.

Composition of the Board

The Board was pleased to announce the appointment of Kate Cornish-Bowden as a non-executive director in September 2018. Having worked in senior roles in the investment management industry for a number of years, she brings a strong knowledge of Japanese equities as well as more recent experience as a non-executive director. I am sure she will make a significant contribution to the Company. 

Market Developments

Improved corporate governance in Japan remains one of the most important successes of the Japanese Prime Minister's ongoing growth strategy and reform programme widely referred to as "Abenomics". The Corporate Governance Code was first implemented in March 2015 and subsequent revisions were announced in June 2018. These revisions incorporated greater disclosure requirements for cross-shareholdings, more transparent procedures for the appointment of a CEO and disclosing their responsibilities as well as further information disclosure on business strategy and Environmental, Social and Governance ("ESG") issues. The importance of this Code has been highlighted by the recent alleged misconduct at Nissan Motor regarding compliance with the Code's principles of determining compensation for its executives. The negative headlines associated with this story reinforce the need for further adherence to the principles promoted by the Code. Our Investment Manager continues to engage regularly with companies to ensure that the importance of higher standards of corporate governance and regard for shareholders are at the forefront of managerial decision making.   

Continuation Vote

The Investment Manager has achieved very solid investment returns over the initial three years of the Company's life. The Board remains confident of the outlook for the portfolio and constituent income growth and consequently has no hesitation in recommending that Shareholders vote in favour of the resolution for the Company's continuation to be tabled, as stipulated by the Company's Articles of Association, at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting. 

Outlook

The immediate economic prospects for Japan are heavily dependent on the dynamics of the global economy.  This has not changed in recent years. The greatest dependence is on the US economy both through its direct trading relationship and also the secondary impact on international trade. China, as Japan's largest trading partner also has an important influence on the business performance, supply chains and investor perception of Japan and many individual companies.

The domestic economy has benefited from not only global economic recovery but also, notably from Abenomics. Prime Minister Abe recently won an unprecedented third term as leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party which leaves him set to remain as Prime Minister until 2021 and thereby to become modern Japan's longest serving elected leader. This political stability is in stark contrast to Japan's own recent history and the current international stage. Notwithstanding tensions over the Korean peninsula, Russian meddling in the Kuril islands, China's expanding footprint in the South China Sea and throughout the Pacific, the domestic political backdrop should be considered positive for Japanese equities. As signs emerge of an end to deflation, the focus of debate has shifted to how and when the Bank of Japan removes its easy monetary policy. However, the main topic for the Government in 2019 may be the looming proposal to introduce a consumption tax hike in October 2019.  The Prime Minister has been a strong advocate of an increase from 8% to 10% and time will tell whether other policy initiatives expected to soften its impact will be successful in averting the downturns that have followed previous adjustments to the consumption tax. For instance, the 2020 Olympics should provide some additional stimulus.

The Investment Manager determines portfolio composition through a rigorous analysis of the attributes of individual companies. The credentials of the investment strategy depend on the continued delivery of returns to shareholders growing over an extended period. The vicissitudes of economic cycles may come and go, but the improvement of shareholder returns has been very visible during the recent economic expansion in Japan. While there has been a sustained rise in dividends and share buybacks, perhaps the most pertinent change in attitudes in Japan has been a metamorphosis in Japanese corporate culture to focus on the stability of dividends available to shareholders.   

 Harry Wells

21 January 2019

INVESTMENT MANAGER'S REPORT

Performance Review

The portfolio has produced a positive return over the year to 31 October 2018 with the net asset value (NAV) per ordinary share rising from 146.0p per share to 148.6p per share. In addition, the Company paid total dividends of 3.55p per share during the year giving a total return of 4.1%.

Although the mandate is unconstrained by any index, this represents outperformance of the Topix Total Return Index over the reporting timeframe. Performance has been primarily derived from the strong returns of individual companies rather than any overriding factor although we believe that the favourable shareholder return characteristics of companies identified by the strategy have been an important consideration. Selected holdings in the mid and small cap segments of the market have again made positive contributions and it is worth reiterating the qualities of companies positioned in these segments of the market where it is frequently the case that management are shareholders themselves and hence share a more robust understanding of the responsibilities to minority shareholders such as ourselves. 

The top contributors to performance are all good examples of opportunities identified outside the large cap. sector and also highlight the diverse range of opportunities that we are able to identify as the environment for shareholder return continues to improve. Katitas, which is the leading supplier of refurbished houses in Japan, was the largest single contributor. This company was relisted after a period in the hands of private equity and returned to the stock market as a considerably more focused and better run business with an attractive shareholder return policy. Hikari Tsushin, a service provider for domestic SMEs, Yamada Consulting, a business succession planning consultancy, Kakaku.com, which operates Japan's leading online restaurant service, and Shoei, the world's leading manufacturer of premium motorcycle helmets, all produced significant positive returns. After a period of weakness during 2017, it was pleasing to see the holdings in the real estate investment trusts ("REITs") make positive contributions again. Most notably, Invesco Office REIT, which has been at the forefront of shareholder engagement and was the first REIT in Japan to announce a share buy back. The performance of Noevir, one of the top contributors in the previous year, was somewhat disappointing and particularly so given the extremely favourable return to shareholders during the year with the company announcing a full dividend increase from Y150 to Y180 per share (+20% year-on-year). 

We believe that our investment process allows us to identify the companies that offer the best shareholder return characteristics.  In addition to the example of Noevir, Mitsubishi UFJ Holdings paid a substantially higher than anticipated dividend of Y22 instead of Y20. Shoei, Amada, Daiwa House and Hikari Tsushin have also increased their projected payment for the full year. Buybacks announced include NTT (Y150 billion or 1.57% of shares in issue), Daiwa House (Y10 billion or 0.4%), MUFG (Y100 billion, 1.52%), Toyota (Y250 billion or 1.44%) and Amada (Y10 billion or 2.73%). We are extremely pleased with these increased shareholder returns, having identified these opportunities through our analysis and company visit programme.  

Current Positioning

While equity markets may be volatile, the investment policy remains consistent.  It seeks to identify companies with attractive shareholder return policies that complement the underlying business growth. The long average holding period tends to reflect the stability and progression of shareholder returns expected. However, there are two reasons for selling a position. The first is a fundamental change in the outlook for the company and by implication the projected returns to shareholders. The second is valuation. There are times when a share price exceeds the company's potential to deliver growth of the dividend, in particular, to an acceptable level in a reasonable time frame.  

For instance, one sector where the outlook has changed is telecommunications and in particular for the mobile operators. Early in the year Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga made politically motivated criticisms of the mobile communications industry claiming that mobile phone pricing in Japan is too high. Although this has been a recurring theme of the current administration, it is not a fully regulated industry and the Government has no control over the prices of mobile services. However, leading operator NTT DoCoMo recently announced sweeping price cuts eerily similar to the levels suggested by the Chief Cabinet Secretary.  Due to fears that the prospects for earnings growth and dividend growth in the near term are greatly diminished for all companies in the sector, we sold out of the positions in both NTT DoCoMo and KDDI. 

The re-rating of small cap stocks in Japan from late 2017 has presented a challenge as valuations of many companies whose fundamentals remained strong became much less attractive after share price appreciation.  Holdings such as Solasto (medical industry outsourcing), Katitas (housing refurbishment), Trust Tech and Technopro (both engineering outsourcing) have also been sold.

New positions have been established in Secom (security services), Park24 (parking services), SBI Holdings (financial services), Sho-Bond (highway repair), Avant (financial industry software) and Mitsubishi Corp (a leading trading company). We remain encouraged by the diversity of opportunities that exist as this enhances the stability of the income received by the Company. 

Outlook

Aggregate distributions from Japanese companies are set to achieve another all-time high in the fiscal year ending March 2019. Despite this very apparent improvement in recent years, the potential for further positive developments is evident from the steady rise in cash accumulated on corporate balance sheets and the high dividend cover in Japan.  We are also encouraged by the flexible approach to share buybacks promoted by many corporate leaders as an important component in their efforts to boost capital efficiency. As a result we believe that these steady improvements are set to continue regardless of the near term economic trends and these positive trends will continue to be more broadly recognised by both domestic and international investors.   

Richard Aston

Coupland Cardiff Asset Management LLP

21 January 2019

PRINCIPAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES

Together with the issues discussed in the Chairman's Statement and the Investment Manager's Report, the Board considers that the principal risks and uncertainties faced by the Company fall into the following main categories:

(i) Market risks

Economic conditions

Changes in economic conditions in Japan (for example, interest rates and rates of inflation, industry conditions, competition, political and diplomatic events and other factors) and in the countries in which the Company's investee companies operate could substantially and adversely affect the Company's prospects.

Sectoral diversification

The Company has no limits on the amount it may invest in any sector. This may lead to the Company having significant concentrated exposure to portfolio companies in certain business sectors from time to time.

Concentration of investments in any one sector may result in greater volatility in the value of the Company's investments and consequently its NAV and may materially and adversely affect the performance of the Company and returns to shareholders.

Unquoted companies

The Company may invest in unquoted companies from time to time. Such investments, by their nature, involve a higher degree of valuation and performance uncertainties and liquidity risks than investments in listed and quoted securities and they may be more difficult to realise.

The Company currently holds no unquoted companies.

Management of risks

The Company is invested in a diversified portfolio of investments.

The Company's investment policy states that no single holding (including any derivative instrument) will represent more than 10% of the Company's Gross Assets at the time of investment and, when fully invested, the portfolio is expected to have between 30 to 40 holdings although there is no guarantee that this will be the case and it may contain a lesser or greater number of holdings at any time.

A maximum of 10% of the Company's Gross Assets at the time of investment may be invested in unquoted or untraded companies at time of investment.

Whilst the Company does not have a benchmark, the Board measures performance for reference purposes against the Topix Index. The Board also monitors performance relative to the Company's peer group over a range of periods, taking into account the differing investment policies and objectives.  

(ii) Corporate governance and internal control risks (includes cyber security)

The Board has contractually delegated to external agencies the management of the investment portfolio, the custodial services (which include the safeguarding of the assets), the registration services and the accounting and company secretarial requirements.

The main risk areas arising from the above contracts relate to allocation of the Company's assets by the Investment Manager, and the performance of administrative, registration and custodial services. These could lead to various consequences including the loss of the Company's assets, inadequate returns to Shareholders and loss of investment trust status. Cyber security risks could lead to breaches of confidentiality, loss of data records and inability to make investment decisions.

Management of risks

Each of the above contracts was entered into after full and proper consideration of the quality and cost of services offered, including the financial control systems in operation in so far as they relate to the affairs of the Company. All of the above services are subject to ongoing oversight of the Board and the performance of the principal service providers is reviewed on a regular basis. The Board monitors key personnel risks as part of its oversight of the Investment Manager. The Company's key service providers report periodically to the Board on their procedures to mitigate cyber security risks.

(iii) Regulatory risks

Breaches of Section 1158 of the Corporation Tax Act could result in loss of investment trust status. Loss of investment trust status would lead to the Company being subject to tax on any gains on the disposal of its investments. Breaches of the FCA's rules applicable to listed entities could result in financial penalties or suspension of trading of the Company's shares on the London Stock Exchange. Breaches of the Companies Act 2006, The Financial Services and Markets Act, The Alternative Investment Fund Managers' Directive, Accounting Standards, The General Data Protection Regulation, The Listing Rules, Disclosure and Transparency Rules and Prospectus Rules could result in financial penalties or legal proceedings against the Company or its Directors. Failure of the Investment Manager to meet its regulatory obligations could have adverse consequences on the Company.

Management of risks

The Company has contracted out relevant services to appropriately qualified professionals. The Investment Manager reports on regulatory matters to the Board on a quarterly basis. The assessment of regulatory risks forms part of the Board's risk assessment programme.

(iv) Financial risks

The Company's investment activities expose it to a variety of financial risks which include foreign currency risk and interest rate risk. The Company's portfolio income from dividends is received in Japanese yen but the Company's dividend payable to shareholders is payable in Sterling.

Management of risks

The Company converts its dividends received into sterling upon receipt. Further details of financial risks and the management of those risks are disclosed in note 17 to the accounts.

STATEMENT OF DIRECTORS' RESPONSIBILITIES

The Directors are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

Company law requires the Directors to prepare accounts for each financial year. Under that law, the Directors have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice, including FRS 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable to the UK and Republic of Ireland and applicable law. 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 as at the end of the year and of the net return for the year. In preparing these accounts, the Directors are required to:

• select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

• make judgements and estimates, which are reasonable and prudent;

• state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the accounts; and

• prepare the financial statements on a 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 which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Company and enable them to ensure that the accounts 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.

The accounts are published on the Company's website at www.ccjapanincomeandgrowthtrust.com, which is maintained by the Company's Investment Manager. The work carried out by the auditors does not involve consideration of the maintenance and integrity of these websites and, accordingly, the auditors accept no responsibility for any changes that have occurred to the accounts since being initially presented on the website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

Directors' confirmation statement

The Directors each confirm to the best of their knowledge that:

(a) the accounts, prepared in accordance with applicable accounting standards, give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit of the Company; and

(b) this Annual Report includes a fair review of the development and performance of the business and position of the Company, together with a description of the principal risks and uncertainties that it faces.

Having taken advice from the Audit and Risk Committee, the Directors consider that the Annual Report and financial statements taken as a whole is fair, balanced and understandable and provides the information necessary for Shareholders to assess the Company's performance, business model and strategy.

For and on behalf of the Board

Harry Wells

Director

21 January 2019

INCOME STATEMENT

For the year ended 31 October 2018

		Year ended 31 October 2018			Year ended 31 October 2017
		Revenue	Capital	Total	Revenue	Capital	Total
		£'000	£'000	£'000	£'000	£'000	£'000
(Losses)/gains on investments  held at fair value		-	(1,769)*	(1,769)	-	18,540	18,540
Income		6,693	-	6,693	4,361	-	4,361
Investment management fee		(262)	(1,046)	(1,308)	(162)	(647)	(809)
Other expenses		(597)	-	(597)	(417)	-	(417)
Return on ordinary activities before finance costs and taxation		5,834	(2,815)	3,019	3,782	17,893	21,675
Finance costs		(48)	(138)	(186)	(47)	(84)	(131)
Return on ordinary activities before taxation		5,786	(2,953)	2,833	3,735	17,809	21,544
Taxation		(669)	-	(669)	(371)	-	(371)
Return on ordinary activities after taxation		5,117	(2,953)	2,164	3,364	17,809	21,173
Return per Ordinary Share		4.55p	(2.62)p	1.93p	4.06p	21.47p	25.53p
*This figure includes currency gains of £28,000. The total column of the Income Statement is the profit and loss account of the Company. All revenue and capital items in the above statement derive from continuing operations.
Both the supplementary revenue and capital columns are both prepared under guidance from the Association of Investment Companies. There is no other comprehensive income and therefore the return for the year is also the total comprehensive income for the year.

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

At 31 October 2018

		31 October 2018	31 October 2017
		£'000	£'000
Fixed assets
Investments at fair value through profit or loss		189,419	129,211
Current assets
Cash		1,633	-
Cash collateral paid in respect of contracts for difference ("CFDs")		689	71
Amounts due in respect of CFDs		1,001	4,931
Other debtors		2,811	1,427
		6,134	6,429
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Bank overdraft		-	(863)
Amounts payable in respect of CFDs		(4,413)	(662)
Other creditors		(225)	(3,970)
		(4,638)	(5,495)
Net current assets		1,496	934
Net assets		190,915	130,145
Capital and reserves
Share capital		1,285	892
Share premium		89,911	28,111
Special reserve		64,671	64,671
Capital reserve
-Revaluation gains on investment held at year end		15,157	23,187
-Other capital reserve		15,775	10,698
Revenue reserve		4,116	2,586
Total Shareholders' funds		190,915	130,145
NAV per share - Ordinary Shares (pence)		148.63p	145.95p
Approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 21 January 2019  and signed on its behalf by:
Harry Wells
Director
CC Japan Income & Growth Trust plc is incorporated in England and Wales with registration number 9845783.

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

For the year ended 31 October 2018

		Share capital	Share premium	Special reserve	Capital reserve	Revenue reserve	Total
		£'000	£'000	£'000	£'000	£'000	£'000
Balance at 1 November 2018		892	28,111	64,671	33,885	2,586	130,145
Return on ordinary activities after taxation		-	-	-	(2,953)	5,117	2,164
Dividends paid		-	-	-	-	(3,587)	(3,587)
Issue of Ordinary Shares		393	62,980	-	-	-	63,373
Ordinary share issue costs		-	(1,180)	-	-	-	(1,180)
Balance at 31 October 2018		1,285	89,911	64,671	30,932	4,116	190,915
For the year ended 31 October 2017
		Share capital	Share premium	Special reserve	Capital reserve	Revenue reserve	Total
		£'000	£'000	£'000	£'000	£'000	£'000
Balance at 1 November 2017		792	14,761	64,671	16,076	1,785	98,085
Return on ordinary activities after taxation		-	-	-	17,809	3,364	21,173
Dividends paid		-	-	-	-	(2,563)	(2,563)
Issue of Ordinary Shares		100	13,507	-	-	-	13,607
Ordinary share issue costs		-	(157)	-	-	-	(157)
Balance at 31 October 2017		892	28,111	64,671	33,885	2,586	130,145

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2018

	Year ended 31 October 2018	Year ended 31 October 2017
	£'000	£'000
Operating activities cash flows
Return on ordinary activities before finance costs and taxation*	3,019	21,675
Adjustment for:
Gains on investments	(123)	(12,926)
CFD transactions	7,060	(4,150)
Increase in other debtors	(973)	(634)
Increase/(decrease) in other creditors	69	(8)
Tax withheld on overseas income	(669)	(371)
Net cash flow from operating activities	8,383	3,586
Investing activities cash flow
Purchases of investments	(91,089)	(49,350)
Proceeds from sales of investments	26,784	33,282
Net cash flow used in non-derivative investing activities	(64,305)	(16,068)
Financing activities cash flows
Issue of Ordinary Share capital	63,373	13,607
Payment of Ordinary Share issue costs	(1,180)	(178)
Equity dividends paid	(3,587)	(2,563)
Finance costs paid	(188)	(120)
Net cash flow from financing activities	58,418	10,746
Increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	2,496	(1,736)
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year	(863)	873
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year	1,633	(863)
* Cash inflow from dividends was £5,719,000 (2017: £3,728,000).

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

1. GENERAL INFORMATION

CC Japan Income & Growth Trust plc (the "Company") was incorporated in England and Wales on 28 October 2015 with registered number 9845783, as a closed-ended investment company. The Company commenced its operations on 15 December 2015. The Company intends to carry on business as an investment trust within the meaning of Chapter 4 of Part 24 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010.

The Company's investment objective is to provide Shareholders with dividend income combined with capital growth, mainly through investment in equities listed or quoted in Japan.

The Company's shares were admitted to the Official List of the UK Listing Authority with a premium listing on 15 December 2015. On the same day, trading of the Ordinary Shares commenced on the London Stock Exchange.

The Company's registered office is Mermaid House, 2 Puddle Dock, London, EC4V 3DB.

2. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The principal accounting policies followed by the Company are set out below:

(a) Basis of accounting

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with FRS 102 ("the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" issued by the Financial Reporting Council) and with the Statement of Recommended Practice "Financial Statements of Investment Trust Companies and Venture Capital Trusts" (issued in November 2014 and updated in February 2018). The financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis except for the modification to a fair value basis for certain financial instruments as specified in the accounting policies below.

They have also been prepared on the assumption that approval as an investment trust will continue to be granted. The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis.

The financial statements have been presented in GBP sterling (£), which is also the functional currency since the Company predominantly operates in the UK.

(b) Investments

As the Company's business is investing in financial assets with a view to profiting from their total return in the form of increases in fair value, financial assets are designated as held at fair value through profit or loss in accordance with FRS 102 Section 11: 'Basic Financial Instruments', and Section 12: 'Other Financial Instruments'. The Company manages and evaluates the performance of these investments on a fair value basis in accordance with its investment strategy, and information about the investments is provided on this basis to the Board of Directors.

Upon initial recognition investments are designated by the Company "at fair value through profit or loss". They are accounted for on the date they are traded and are included initially at fair value which is taken to be their cost. Subsequently investments are valued at fair value which is the bid market price for listed investments.

Changes in the fair value of investments held at fair value through profit or loss and gains or losses on disposal are included in the capital column of the income statement within "gains on investments held at fair value".

(c) Derivatives

Derivatives which comprise of CFDs are held at fair value by reference to the underlying market value of the corresponding security. Gains or losses on these derivative transactions are recognised in the Income Statement. They are recognised as capital and are shown in the capital column of the Income Statement if they are of a capital nature, and are recognised as revenue and shown in the revenue column of the Income Statement if they are of a revenue nature. To the extent that any gains or losses are of a mixed revenue and capital nature, they are apportioned between revenue and capital accordingly.

(d) Foreign currency

Transactions denominated in foreign currencies including dividends are translated into sterling at actual exchange rates as at the date of the transaction. Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at the year end are reported at the rates of exchange prevailing at the year end. Foreign exchange movements on investments and derivatives are included in the Income Statement within gains on investments. Any other gain or loss is included as an exchange gain or loss to capital or revenue in the Income Statement as appropriate.

(e) Income

Investment income has been accounted for on an ex-dividend basis or when the Company's right to the income is established. Special dividends are credited to capital or revenue in the Income Statement, according to the circumstances surrounding the payment of the dividend. Overseas dividends are included gross of withholding tax recoverable.

Interest receivable on deposits is accounted for on an accruals basis.

(f) Dividend payable

Interim dividends are recognised when the Company pays the dividend. Final dividends are recognised in the period in which they are declared by the Directors and approved by the shareholders.

(g) Expenses

All expenses are accounted for on an accruals basis and are charged as follows: • the basic investment management fee is charged 20% to revenue and 80% to capital; • CFD finance costs are charged 20% to revenue and 80% to capital; • investment transactions costs are allocated to capital; and • other expenses are charged wholly to revenue.

(h) Taxation

The tax expense represents the sum of the tax currently payable and deferred tax. The tax currently payable is based on the taxable profit for the year. Taxable profit differs from net profit as reported in the income statement because it excludes items of income or expenses that are taxable or deductible in other years and it further excludes items that are never taxable or deductible. The Company's liability for current tax is calculated using tax rates that were applicable at the financial reporting date.

Where expenses are allocated between capital and revenue any tax relief in respect of the expenses is allocated between capital and revenue returns on the marginal basis using the Company's effective rate of corporation taxation for the accounting period.

Deferred taxation is recognised in respect of all timing differences that have originated but not reversed at the financial reporting 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 financial reporting date. This is subject to deferred tax assets only being recognised if it is considered more likely than not that there will be suitable profits from which the future reversal of the timing differences can be deducted. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured at the rates applicable to the legal jurisdictions in which they arise.

(i) Other receivables and other payables

Other receivables and other payables do not carry any interest and are short term in nature and are accordingly stated at their nominal value.

(j) Segmental reporting

The Directors are of the opinion that the Company is engaged in a single segment of business being that of an Investment Trust as explained in note 1.

(k) Estimates and assumptions

The preparation of financial statements requires the Directors to make estimates and assumptions that affect items reported in the Statement of financial position and Income Statement and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. Although these estimates are based on management's best knowledge of current facts, circumstances and, to some extent, future events and actions, the Company's actual results may ultimately differ from those estimates, possibly significantly.

There have not been any instances requiring any significant estimates or judgements in the year.

(l) Cash and cash equivalents

Cash comprises cash and demand deposits. Cash equivalents, include bank overdrafts, and short term, highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash, are subject to insignificant risks of changes in value, and are held for the purpose of meeting short-term cash commitments rather than for investment or other purposes.

3. INVESTMENTS
(a) Summary of valuation
	As at 31 October 2018	As at 31 October 2017
	£'000	£'000
Investments listed on a recognised overseas investment exchange	189,419	129,211
	189,419	129,211
(b) Movements
In the year ended 31 October 2018
	2018	2017
	£'000	£'000
Book cost at the beginning of the year	106,024	80,069
Revaluation gains on investments held at beginning of the year	23,187	16,569
Valuation at beginning of the year	129,211	96,638
Purchases at cost	87,277	53,061
Sales:
- proceeds	(27,192)	(33,282)
- Gains on investment holdings sold during  the year	8,153	6,176
Movements in revaluation (losses)/gains on investments at end of the year	(8,030)	6,618
Valuation at end of the year	189,419	129,211
Book cost at end of the year	174,262	106,024
Revaluation gains on investment held at end of the year	15,157	23,187
Valuation at end of the year	189,419	129,211
Transaction costs on investment purchases for the year ended 31 October 2018 amounted to £62,000 (2017: £54,000) and on investment sales for the year amounted to £17,000 (2017: £36,000).
(c) Gains on investments
	Year ended 31 October 2018	Year ended 31 October 2017
	£'000	£'000
Gains on non derivative investment holdings sold during the year	8,153	6,176
Movements in revaluation (losses)/gains on non derivative investment holdings held at the year end	(8,030)	6,618
Other capital gains	10	132
Total gains on non derivative investments held at fair value	133	12,926
Realised gains on CFD assets and liabilities	1,510	668
Unrealised CFD gain in prior year	4,269	970
Movements on CFD assets	(7,681)	3,976
Total (losses)/gains on investments held at fair value through profit or loss	(1,769)	18,540

4. INCOME
	Year ended 31 October 2018	Year ended 31 October 2017
	£'000	£'000
Income from investments:
Overseas dividends	6,693	4,361
	6,693	4,361
Overseas dividend income is translated into sterling on receipt.

5. INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT FEE
	Year ended 31 October 2018	Year ended 31 October 2017
	£'000	£'000
Basic fee:
20% charged to revenue	262	162
80% charged to capital	1,046	647
	1,308	809
The Company's Investment Manager is Coupland Cardiff Asset Management LLP. The Investment Manager is entitled to receive a management fee payable monthly in arrears and is at the rate of one-twelfth of 0.75% of Net Asset Value per calendar month. There is no performance fee payable to the Investment Manager.

6. OTHER EXPENSES
	Year ended 31 October 2018*	Year ended 31 October 2017
	£'000	£'000
Secretarial services	48	55
Administration and other expenses	371	223
Auditor's remuneration
-      statutory	30	34
-      non-audit	30	-
Directors' fees	118	105
	597	417

*Excluding VAT where applicable (2017: Including VAT where applicable)

7. FINANCE COSTS
	Year ended 31 October 2018	Year ended 31 October 2017
	£'000	£'000
Interest paid	13	25
CFD finance cost and structuring fee - 20% charged to income	34	20
Structure fees - 20% charged to income	1	2
	48	47
CFD finance cost and structuring fee - 80% charged to capital	134	77
Structure fees - 80% charged to capital	4	7
	138	84
Total finance costs	186	131

8. TAXATION
	Year ended 31 October 2018			Year ended 31 October 2017
	Revenue	Capital	Total	Revenue	Capital	Total
	£'000	£'000	£'000	£'000	£'000	£'000
(a) Analysis of tax charge in the year:
Overseas withholding tax	669	-	669	371	-	371
Total tax charge for the year (see note 8 (b))	669	-	669	371	-	371
(b) Factors affecting the tax charge for the year:
The Company's effective tax rate for the year is 19.00% (2017: 19.41%), with the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK for a large company currently at 19.00% (2017: 19.00%).
The differences are explained below.
	Year ended 31 October 2018			Year ended 31 October 2017
	Revenue	Capital	Total	Revenue	Capital	Total
	£'000	£'000	£'000	£'000	£'000	£'000
Total return before taxation	5,786	(2,953)	2,833	3,735	17,809	21,544
UK corporation tax at 19.00% (2017: 19.41%)	1,099	(561)	538	725	3,457	4,182
Effects of:
Overseas withholding tax suffered	669	-	669	371	-	371
Non-taxable overseas dividends	(1,272)	-	(1,272)	(734)	-	(734)
Capital gains not subject to tax	-	336	336	-	(3,599)	(3,599)
Finance costs	10	26	36	9	16	25
Movement in unutilised management expenses	163	199	362	-	126	126
Total tax charge	669	-	669	371	-	371
The Company is not liable to tax on capital gains due to its status as an investment trust. The company has an unrecognised deferred tax asset of £341,000 (2017: £177,000) based on the long term prospective corporation tax rate of 17%. This asset has accumulated because deductible expenses exceeded taxable income for the year ended 31 October 2018. No asset has been recognised in the accounts because, given the composition of the Company's portfolio, it is not likely that these expenses will be utilised in the foreseeable future.

9. DIVIDEND
(i). Dividends paid during the financial year
				Year ended 31 October 2018 £'000				Year ended 31 October 2017 £'000
Final dividend - year ended 31 October 2016 of 2.00p				-				1,583
Second interim - year ended 31 October 2017 of 2.30p				2,051				-
Interim - year ended 31 October 2018 of 1.25p (2017: 1.15p)				1,536				980
Total				3,587				2,563
(ii). The dividend relating to the year ended 31 October 2018, which is the basis on which the requirements of Section 1159 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 are considered is detailed below:
	Year ended 31 October 2018				Year ended 31 October 2017
	Pence per Ordinary share		£'000		Pence per Ordinary share		£'000
Interim dividend - Paid	1.25p		1,536		1.15p		980
Second interim dividend	-		-		2.30p		2,051
Final dividend - payable*	2.50p		3,230		-		-
	3.75p		4,766		3.45p		3,031
*Not included as a liability in the year end accounts.
The Directors have declared a final dividend for the financial year ended 31 October 2018 of 2.50p per Ordinary Share. The dividend will be paid on 19 March 2019 to Shareholders on the register at the close of business on 1 February 2019.

10. DEBTORS
	As at 31 October 2018	As at 31 October 2017
	£'000	£'000
Amounts due in respect of CFDs	1,001	4,931
Accrued income	2,392	1,415
Sales for settlement	408	-
Prepayments	11	12
	3,812	6,358

11. CREDITORS
	As at 31 October 2018	As at 31 October 2017
	£'000	£'000
Amounts falling due within one year:
Purchases for future settlement	-	3,812
Amounts payable in respect of CFDs	4,413	662
Accrued finance costs	7	9
Accrued expenses	218	149
	4,638	4,632

12. SHARE CAPITAL
Share capital represents the nominal value of shares that have been issued. The share premium includes any premiums received on issue of share capital. Any transaction costs associated with the issuing of shares are deducted from share premium.
	As at 31 October 2018	As at 31 October 2018	As at 31 October 2017	As at 31 October 2017
	No of shares	£'000	No of shares	£'000
Allotted, issued & fully paid:
Ordinary Shares of 1p
Opening balance	89,168,162	892	79,160,162	792
Ordinary Shares of 1p issued	39,283,619	393	10,008,000	100
Closing balance	128,451,781	1,285	89,168,162	892
During the year under review, 39,283,619 (2017: 10,008,000) Ordinary Shares of 1p each were issued. The issue prices ranged from 150.9p to 169.0p (2017: 125.7p to 149.3p) and the total amount raised was £63,373,000 (2017: £13,607,000).
Since the year end, the Company has issued a further 750,000 Ordinary Shares, with 129,201,781 Ordinary Shares in issue as at 21 January 2019.
13. FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS
As at 31 October 2018 there were no commitments in respect of unpaid calls and underwritings (2017: nil).

14. RETURN PER ORDINARY SHARE
Total return per Ordinary Share is based on the return on ordinary activities, including income, for the year after taxation of £2,164,000 (2017: £21,173,000).
Based on the weighted average number of Ordinary Shares in issue for the year to 31 October 2018 of 112,507,653 (2017: 82,937,053), the returns per share were as follows:
	As at 31 October 2018			As at 31 October 2017
	Revenue	Capital	Total	Revenue	Capital	Total
Return per Ordinary Share	4.55p	(2.62)p	1.93p	4.06p	21.47p	25.53p

15. NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE
Total Shareholders' funds and the net asset value ("NAV") per share attributable to the Ordinary Shareholders at the year end calculated in accordance with the Articles of Association were as follows:
	As at 31 October 2018	As at 31 October 2017
Net Asset Value (£'000)	190,915	130,415
Ordinary Shares in issue	128,451,781	89,168,162
NAV per Ordinary Share	148.63p	145.95p

16. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Transactions with the Investment Manager and the Alternative Investment Fund Investment Manager ("AIFM")

The Company provides additional information concerning its relationship with the Investment Manager and AIFM, Coupland Cardiff Asset Management LLP. The fees for the period are disclosed in note 5 and amounts outstanding at the year ended 31 October 2018 were £123,000 (2017: £79,000).

Research purchasing agreement MiFID II treats investment research provided by brokers and independent research providers as a form of "inducement" to investment managers and requires research to be paid for separately from execution costs. In the past, the costs of broker research were primarily borne by the Company as part of execution costs through dealing commissions paid to brokers. With effect from 3 January 2018, this practice has changed, as brokers subject to MiFID II are now required to price, and charge for, research separately from execution costs. Equally, the new rules require the Investment Manager, as an investment manager, to ensure that the research costs borne by the Company are paid for through a designated research payment account ("RPA") funded by direct research charges to the Investment Manager's clients, including the Company. The research charge for the period from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2018 was approximately £34,000 which was in line with the agreed budget. The estimated research charge for the period from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2019, as budgeted by the Investment Manager, is  approximately £30,000.

Directors' fees and shareholdings

The Directors' fees and shareholdings are disclosed in the Directors' Remuneration Implementation Report.

17. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

This announcement does not constitute the Company's statutory accounts.  The financial information is derived from the statutory accounts, which will be delivered to the registrar of companies and will be put forward for approval at the Company's Annual General Meeting. The statutory accounts for the period ended 31 October 2017 have been delivered to the registrar of companies.   The auditors have reported on the accounts for the year ended 31 October 2018 and the year ended 31 October 2017, their reports were unqualified and did not include a statement under Section 498(2) or (3) of the Companies Act 2006.

The Annual Report for the year ended 31 October 2018 was approved on 21 January 2019.  It will be made available on the Company's website at www.ccjapanincomeandgrowthtrust.com

The Annual Report will be submitted to the National Storage Mechanism and will shortly be available for inspection at: http://www.morningstar.co.uk/uk/NSM

This announcement contains regulated information under the Disclosure Rules and Transparency Rules of the FCA.

18. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Annual General Meeting will be held on 12 March 2019 at 12 noon at the offices of Stephenson Harwood LLP, 1 Finsbury Circus, London, EC2M 7SH.

22 January 2019

Secretary and registered office:

PraxisIFM Fund Services (UK) Limited

Mermaid House

2 Puddle Dock

London

EC4V 3DB

For further information contact:

Anthony Lee / Ciara McKillop

PraxisIFM Fund Services (UK) Limited

Tel: [phone]

END

 

END

 

 

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