To: THOMSON REUTERS
Date: 17 May 2013
From: New City High Yield Fund Limited
Interim Management Statement
For the Three Month Period from 1 January 2013 to 31 March 2013
Investment Objective
The investment objective of the Company is to provide investors with a high dividend yield and the potential for capital growth by investing mainly in high yielding fixed interest securities.
Performance Summary
Total Return | For the three month period ended 31 March 2013 |
Net asset value per share | +6.5% |
Ordinary share price | +1.1% |
Capital Values | As at 31 March 2013 | As at 31 December 2012 | % Change |
Net assets | £156.1 million | £134.1 million | |
Net asset value per share | 63.9p | 60.9p | +4.9% |
Share price | 66.3p | 66.4p | -0.2% |
Premium | 3.8% | 9.0% | |
Gearing (100 = nil geared position) * | 107 | 106 |
Gearing = (Total assets less cash) ÷ Equity Shareholders' Funds
Review for the Period:
The calendar year kicked off with the most positive January for equity markets for 24 years, as illustrated by the FTSE All Share Index up 6.27% on the month. Also the temporary extension of the debt ceiling limit in mid-month had a positive effect on risk assets giving high yield bonds a very positive start to the year.
Then came February and the long awaited UK sovereign credit downgrade from AAA to Aa1 by Moody's. This had a particularly aggressive negative effect on sterling, which fell from $1.5758 at the end of January to $1.5163 at the end of February.
Following the positive month for high yield bonds in January, February was very volatile although bond markets ended it little changed. March arrived with the ongoing uncertainty of who would govern Italy , while in France, President Hollande refused to take any extra austerity measures this year to bring down the deficit, using the argument that this would further damaged an already weakened economy. The Cypriot bailout in the middle of the month, with its associated "haircut on deposits"/ tax had a negative effect on the euro, confidence in the deposit guarantee scheme and, most important of all, "trust". The consequences, intended or otherwise, may be that larger depositors and corporates with large sums of money in other, at risk, countries such as Spain and Italy will look to repatriate their funds, further weakening the peripheral financial institutions.
Dividend:
A second interim dividend for the year to 30 June 2013 of 0.90p per share was paid on 22 February 2013 to shareholders on the register on 1 February 2013.
Issue of Shares:
During the period the Company issued a total of 23,971,758 shares in two tranches, raising a total of £15.5 million. The total number of shares in issue at today's date is 244,239,339.
Top Ten Holdings as at 31 March 2013
Company | Sector | Percentage of total assets |
Antares Energy 10% 2013 | Oil and Gas | 3.0 |
Balfour Beatty 10.75% Cum Pref | Construction | 2.9 |
REA Finance 9.5% 2017 | Food products | 2.9 |
Cable & Wireless 8.625% 2019 | Telecommunications | 2.7 |
Phoenix Life 7.25% 2049 | Insurance | 2.6 |
Brit Insurance 6.625% 2030 | Financial | 2.5 |
General Accident 8.875% Cum Pref | Financial | 2.2 |
Moto Finance 10.25% 2017 | Financial | 2.2 |
Skipton 10% 2018 | Financial | 1.8 |
House of Fraser 8.875% 2018 | Retail | 1.8 |
Total | 24.6 |
Analysis of Investments by Currency as at 31 March 2013
Percentage of total investments | |
Sterling | 61 |
US Dollar | 17 |
Australian Dollar | 7 |
Norwegian Krone | 5 |
Euro | 4 |
Swedish Krone | 4 |
Canadian Dollar | 2 |
Total | 100 |
Analysis of Investments by Asset Class as at 31 March 2013
Percentage of total investments | |
Bonds | 82 |
Convertibles | 8 |
Preference shares | 7 |
Equities | 3 |
Total | 100 |
Analysis of Investments by Quotation as at 31 March 2013
Percentage of total investments | |
Listed/Quoted on a recognised investment exchange | 100 |
Unquoted (convertible into a security quoted on a recognised exchange) | - |
Unquoted | - |
Total | 100 |
Significant Events or Transactions since 31 March 2013
A third interim dividend for the year to 30 June 2013 of 0.90p per share was declared on 18 April 2013. This dividend is payable to shareholders on the register on 26 April 2013 and will be paid on 31 May 2013.
The Board is not aware of any other significant events or transactions which have occurred since 31 March 2013 and the date of publication of this statement which would have a material impact on the financial position of the Company.
Daily and Key Information
Further information regarding the Company including the share price and the recent monthly fact sheet, can be found at the Investment Manager's website www.ncim.co.uk
Disclaimer
This interim management statement has been prepared solely to provide information to meet the requirements of the UK Listing Authority's Disclosure and Transparency Rules.
For further information please contact:
Ian Francis, New City Investment Managers
020 7201 5366
Martin Cassels, R&H Fund Services Limited
0131 524 6140
Beth Harris, Newgate Threadneedle Limited
0207 653 9850
Note to Editors:
New City High Yield is managed by Ian Francis of New City Investment Managers.
The investment objective of the Company is to provide a high gross dividend yield and the potential for capital growth by mainly investing in high yielding fixed interest securities.
If you would like to receive the monthly factsheet on the New City High Yield Trust or any of the other New City Investment Managers' trusts please email b.harris@newgatethreadneedle.com