Jupiter Green Investment Trust plc ('the company')
Legal Entity Identifier: 549300MFRCR13CT1L845
Half Yearly Financial Report for the six months to 30 September 2020 (unaudited)
Financial Highlights for the six months to 30 September 2020
Capital Performance
|
As at |
As at |
|
|
30.09.20 |
31.03.20 |
|
Total Assets less current liabilities (£'000) |
41,567 |
32,581 |
|
Ordinary Share Performance
|
As at |
As at |
|
|
|
30.09.20 |
31.03.20 |
|
% Change |
Mid-market price (p) |
204.00 |
160.50 |
|
+27.1 |
Undiluted net asset value per ordinary share (p) |
221.11 |
173.31 |
|
+27.6 |
Undiluted net asset value per ordinary share (p) |
|
|
|
|
(with dividends paid of 1.3p added back) |
222.41 |
173.31 |
|
+28.4 |
Diluted net asset value per ordinary share (p)** |
216.77 |
173.31 |
|
+25.1 |
Diluted net asset value per ordinary share (p) |
|
|
|
|
(with dividends paid 1.3p added back) |
218.07 |
173.31 |
|
+25.8 |
MSCI World Small Cap Index*** |
318.59 |
249.58 |
|
+27.7 |
Discount to net asset value (%) |
7.74 |
7.39 |
|
|
Ongoing charges ratio (%) excluding finance costs |
1.87 |
1.59 |
|
+17.6 |
** Being the net asset value per share assuming that all annual subscription rights are taken up.
*** With effect from 2 September 2020 the company retrospectively changed its benchmark from the FTSE ET100 Total Return Index to the MSCI World Small Cap Index, both expressed in sterling terms. The comparative has been restated accordingly.
Chairman's Statement
It is with pleasure that I present the Interim Financial Report for Jupiter Green Investment Trust PLC ('the company') for the six months to 30 September 2020.
Over the last six months, Covid-19 has understandably dominated investor concerns as it has plunged the global economy into the steepest contraction in decades. What is becoming clear, however, is that clean energy and other sustainable solutions will be at the heart of recovery plans and key to a reinvigorated post-Covid economy.
Europe, once again, appears to be taking the lead. On 16 September, the European Commission proposed reducing greenhouse gas emission by at least 55% by 2030 from 1990 levels, a hike on the 40% cut currently targeted. The European Union's €750bn recovery package also has climate change at its heart, including investment in renewable energy, clean hydrogen, batteries and sustainable energy infrastructure. In the UK, Boris Johnson has pledged to help the country "build back greener" by investing in the infrastructure needed to build sufficient offshore wind farms to allow for the generation of enough electricity to power every home in the UK within a decade.
Meanwhile, the US presidential election has resulted in an apparent victory for Joe Biden, who has been widely hailed as the President-Elect, although at the time of writing President Trump is still refusing to concede and saying he will challenge the outcome in the courts. Before the election, Biden announced a $2tn clean energy proposal that would significantly increase the use of clean energy in the transportation, electricity and building sectors. The plans aim to take coal and natural gas out of the US energy mix by 2035. Even China - by far the world's biggest carbon emitter - has shifted policy, committing to be carbon neutral by 2060. Serious clean energy initiatives from a Biden administration would be both welcome and significant, and it's notable that Biden has already pledged to reverse Trump's decision to withdraw the US from the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change.
We live on a planet that has finite resources, which we are already over-consuming. The debate surrounding these critical issues will evolve over the next decade and will inevitably impact business models.
Investment performance
During the six months under review the total return on the net asset value of the company's ordinary shares was 27.6%. This compares with an increase of 27.1% in the company's share price and a 27.7%% gain for the company's new benchmark index, the MSCI World Small Cap Index.
This change of benchmark was undertaken due to a shift in the investment focus of the company towards companies innovating to drive sustainable solutions, many of which are to be found among smaller companies. A review of the investment performance of the company over the course of the period, as well as further rationale on the adjustment in investment focus, is set out by the fund manager Charlie Thomas in the Investment Adviser's Review.
Dividend
On 2nd September 2020, the Board released a statement to the London Stock Exchange in which we explained that the changes to the investment focus of the company and the increasing bias towards smaller, innovative, companies were likely to provide the potential for higher capital growth while reducing the level of dividend income available for distribution to shareholders. As a result of the changes in the investment focus, the board has taken the decision to establish a dividend policy that would result in paying one final dividend per annum in October each year equal to the current year profits of the company. Based on current forecasts, and including the anticipated effects of the Covid 19 pandemic on the level of distributions by underlying portfolio holdings, we would expect the dividend in respect of the year ended 31st March 2021 to be in the region of 0.7p, representing a yield of 0.3%, which would be payable in October 2021.
Accordingly, the Board does not propose to pay an interim dividend this year.
Capital and reserves
The board is mindful of the need to maintain a flexible approach to share buybacks in order to support the discount management policy. As at the 31 March 2020, most of the capital of the company was held in a share premium account and was therefore not available for distribution to shareholders.
The board obtained shareholder approval at the AGM on 16 September to cancel the balance on the share premium account of £29.7 million and to allocate this amount, less £16,275, to a distributable reserve account of the company in order to increase distributable reserves. These reserves can be used to make distributions by way of dividends to, or share buybacks from, shareholders. This is a common procedure employed by investment trust companies which has no impact on the net assets of the company. The £16,275 will be transferred to a special reserve to ensure that the company's issued share capital, plus the special reserve is equal to £50,000. The cancellation of the share premium account was approved by Companies House with effect from 29 October 2020.
Gearing
Gearing is defined as the ratio of a company's long term debt less cash held compared to its equity capital, expressed as a percentage. The effect of gearing is that, in rising markets, the company tends to benefit from any growth of the company's investment portfolio above the cost of payment of the prior ranking entitlements of any lenders and other creditors. Conversely, in falling markets the company suffers more if the company's investment portfolio underperforms the cost of those prior entitlements.
On 24 August 2020 the company entered into a revolving loan facility agreement with Royal Bank of Scotland International Limited of £5 million which the investment adviser has been authorised by the board to draw down for investment purposes. The facility to gear the company's investment portfolio is deployed tactically by the investment adviser with a view to enhancing shareholder returns. The directors have determined that the maximum level of gearing will be 25% of the company's total assets at the time of drawdown.
As at 30 September 2020 the company's net gearing level was 0% (being the amount of drawn down bank debt, less cash held on the balance sheet pending investment on that date, as a proportion of the company's total assets).
Discount Management
It was pleasing to note that since the changes to the investment focus of the company were announced on 2 September, the discount to net asset value at which the shares have traded has narrowed. In early November, the shares were trading at a premium, providing the opportunity to issue shares out of treasury and increase the size of the company, which the company commenced on 17 November 2020.
Outlook
Since the start of 2020, Covid-19 has replaced climate change at the top of the investor agenda - but as the political action and proposals outlined above show, it remains one of the most pressing long term challenges facing humanity. It is a long-term problem that will need long-term solutions, which is why we feel that environmental and sustainable themes can present multi-year, indeed even multi-decade, opportunities. Charlie Thomas and his team will look to take advantage of any underappreciated opportunities that arise as a result of ongoing market turmoil with an eye towards generating long-term returns for the company's shareholders. As we have seen in the past, unprecedented change can create significant investment opportunities across each of the seven investment themes that comprise the portfolio.
Michael Naylor
Chairman
14 December 2020
Investment Adviser's Review
Market review
Global stocks rallied sharply over the six months under review, bolstered by swift action from governments and central banks to support companies and individuals through the Covid-19 crisis. The unprecedented levels of monetary and fiscal support, coupled with a gradual easing in lockdown measures, underpinned an especially strong recovery in growth and technology stocks.
Policy review
Our company's approach to investing in sustainable solutions remains focused on seven themes:
· Circular economy: solutions for sustainable materials and resource stewardship
· Clean energy: generation, storage and distribution
· Water: conservation and management
· Mobility: technologies and services for sustainable movement
· Energy efficiency: enabling a low carbon transition
· Sustainable agriculture, nutrition and health: solutions protecting natural resources and well- being
· Environmental services: pollution control, testing and impact management
The Covid-19 pandemic and its associated economic crisis have triggered an acceleration in a number of structural sustainability trends in which the company is invested, including: sustainable agriculture, nutrition and health, sustainable mobility, clean energy, environmental services and the circular economy.
As a result, we have adjusted the company's investment focus towards a greater emphasis on companies which are innovating technological solutions to sustainability challenges ('innovators') and companies that are already rapidly delivering proven sustainable solutions in their markets ('accelerators'). We believe this should deliver higher capital growth and overall higher returns to shareholders, with a focus on delivering an above- market total return. We expect lower dividend payments as a result of this approach.
A by-product of these changes will be a greater focus on smaller companies, which are at the forefront of the innovation driving sustainable solutions. In light of this, the benchmark of the company was changed to the MSCI World Small Cap Index. We believe this widely-used index will provide a more suitable and understandable reference point by which investors can assess the performance of the company in future.
Additionally, the company is permitted to invest up to 5% of its net asset value in unquoted companies. While there are no unlisted companies in the portfolio currently, we would expect to invest in such opportunities in the future where we see the potential to achieve higher returns.
Turning to the drivers of the company's investment performance during the period under review, in broad terms, an underweight exposure to US equities detracted from performance relative to the index, as did overweight allocations to both UK and Japanese equities.
Wind farm operator Orsted warned that second-quarter earnings had been knocked by low power prices as a result of reduced demand for electricity during lockdown, but it left its full-year guidance unchanged. Shares in the company rose strongly during the period. Other positive contributions came from Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure and SIMEC Atlantis Energy.
The focus of the EU recovery plan on sustainable solutions drove the performance from holdings in the company's investments in the energy efficiency theme, such as Schneider Electric. Other winners included Tomra and Infineon Technologies, which saw strong performance after raising around €1bn to help finance its purchase of Cypress Semiconductor. In our view, the acquisition is expected to strengthen Infineon's focus on structural growth drivers, coupling its own prowess in managing electric drive trains with Cypress's superior connectivity in areas such as in-car entertainment. Shimano was another contributor in the mobility theme. The Japanese maker of brakes, gears and components benefitted from the global surge in demand for bicycles as people embrace new modes of transportation due to the coronavirus pandemic.
On the negative side, National Express was a detractor as it reported a £60m loss for the first half of 2020 as passengers stayed away from its bus and coach services. Although public transport is currently a challenging sector, we see National Express as well positioned to benefit from long-term transport trends and a growing focus around sustainable cities.
New positions in the portfolio included: CERES Power, a leading fuel cell technology company (Clean Energy); Sensirion, a developer and supplier of environmental and flow sensor solutions (Energy efficiency); Borregaard a manufacturer of wood-based chemicals; (Circular economy), TeamViewer, a cloud-based technology company offering companies tools for remote IT support and collaboration between teams (energy efficiency); Trainline a digital rail and coach ticketing platform (mobility) and Befesa a company specializing in the recycling of steel dust, salt slags and aluminium residues (circular economy).
Outlook
In the aftermath of the Global Financial Crisis of 2008/9, governments largely backtracked on their sustainability goals. Perhaps they felt sustainability was a luxury unaffordable during a recession. Thankfully, history does not always repeat itself.
The recession of 2020 caused by Covid-19 may turn out not to be as long-lasting as that caused by the Global Financial Crisis, but it is much deeper. Despite today's profound economic uncertainty, this time politicians show little sign of backtracking on sustainability. The proposal on 16 September from the European Commission to reduce greenhouse gas emission by at least 55% by 2030 from 1990 levels, a hike on the 40% cut currently targeted, is the latest in a string of signals that climate and wider sustainability issues remain at the forefront of political agendas. There is growing acknowledgment from governments, commercial organisations, and civil society of the need for change.
Climate change and Covid-19 are both systemic risks that must be faced collectively. The pandemic has brought into focus the acute nature of such risks and presented an opportunity to redirect financial and political capital towards solving them, and as a means of reinvigorating economic growth.
An example of this is the EU's Covid-19 recovery package. The EU is planning massive investments to fight the economic effects of Covid-19 and embedded within them is action on climate change. The EU's package includes investment in renewable energy, clean hydrogen, batteries, and sustainable energy infrastructure. Meanwhile, although at the time of writing President Trump is still refusing to concede, Democratic President-Elect Joe Biden has called for a US$2 trillion investment in clean energy to address the climate crisis.
The cost of renewables has continued to fall, and so have the insurance and financing costs. For a renewable energy project, such as a wind farm, financing costs have never been so low. Yet there remains massive potential: about 80% of the world's energy consumption is still derived from fossil fuels.
With an unprecedented energy transition underway, we are prepared to invest in energy companies that are committed to transforming their business rapidly towards clean sources. Our experience is that much of the investment value is to be found during the transition, rather than after it has been completed.
We believe that companies focused on providing solutions in areas such as climate change mitigation, pollution prevention, the circular economy, and the sustainable use and protection of water and natural ecosystems, present multi-decade investment opportunities. The company offers its investors focused and specialist exposure to these companies, seeking both positive investment returns and sustainability impacts.
Charlie Thomas
Fund Manager
Jupiter Asset Management Limited
Investment Adviser
14 December 2020
Investment Portfolio as at 30 September 2020
|
|
Market |
|
|
Country |
value |
Percentage |
Company |
of listing |
£'000 |
of portfolio
|
Vestas Wind Systems |
Denmark |
1,732 |
4.3 |
Orsted |
Denmark |
1,537 |
3.8 |
Azbil |
Japan |
1,309 |
3.2 |
Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital, REIT |
United States of America |
1,242 |
3.1 |
TOMRA Systems |
Norway |
1,195 |
2.9 |
A O Smith |
United States of America |
1,186 |
2.9 |
NextEra Energy Partners |
United States of America |
1,183 |
2.9 |
Cranswick |
United Kingdom |
1,105 |
2.7 |
Prysmian |
Italy |
1,012 |
2.5 |
Veolia Environnement |
France |
1,002 |
2.5 |
Xylem |
United States of America |
950 |
2.3 |
Koninklijke DSM |
Netherlands |
893 |
2.2 |
Miura |
Japan |
831 |
2.1 |
First Solar |
United States of America |
818 |
2.0 |
Sensata Technologies Holding |
United Kingdom |
795 |
2.0 |
Regal Beloit |
United States of America |
791 |
2.0 |
Umicore |
Belgium |
765 |
1.9 |
Itron |
United States of America |
762 |
1.9 |
Shimano |
Japan |
759 |
1.9 |
Innergex Renewable Energy |
Canada |
749 |
1.8 |
Watts Water Technologies 'A' |
United States of America |
712 |
1.8 |
Horiba |
Japan |
710 |
1.7 |
Borregaard |
Norway |
677 |
1.7 |
Knorr-Bremse |
Germany |
677 |
1.7 |
Johnson Matthey |
United Kingdom |
672 |
1.7 |
Mayr Melnhof Karton |
Austria |
663 |
1.6 |
Pennon Group |
United Kingdom |
662 |
1.6 |
Daiseki |
Japan |
654 |
1.6 |
Stantec |
Canada |
639 |
1.6 |
TeamViewer |
Germany |
627 |
1.5 |
Sensirion Holding |
Switzerland |
622 |
1.5 |
Novozymes 'B' |
Denmark |
613 |
1.5 |
BorgWarner |
United States of America |
612 |
1.5 |
SKF 'B' |
Sweden |
584 |
1.4 |
Infineon Technologies |
Germany |
584 |
1.4 |
Trainline |
United Kingdom |
573 |
1.4 |
Atlas Copco 'A' |
Sweden |
556 |
1.4 |
SolarEdge Technologies |
United States of America |
552 |
1.4 |
Greencoat Renewables |
United Kingdom |
546 |
1.3 |
Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies |
France |
546 |
1.3 |
Valmont Industries |
United States of America |
529 |
1.3 |
Befesa |
Luxembourg |
508 |
1.3 |
Loop Industries |
United States of America |
474 |
1.2 |
Casella Waste Systems 'A' |
United States of America |
469 |
1.2 |
Brambles |
Australia |
468 |
1.2 |
Simec Atlantis Energy |
Singapore |
468 |
1.2 |
Ceres Power Holdings Salmar Clean Harbors Aker BioMarine Acuity Brands ANDRITZ National Express Group Bejing Enterprises Water Group Covanta Holding RA International Group Fjord1 Wartsila China Everbright Environment Group Salmones Camanchaca Renewi Total Investments |
United Kingdom Norway United States of America Norway United States of America Austria United Kingdom Bermuda United States of America United Kingdom Norway Finland Hong Kong Chile United Kingdom |
459 450 419 399 356 334 333 303 303 261 249 213 190 184 162 40,628 |
1.1 1.1 1.0 0.9 0.9 0.8 0.8 0.7 0.7 0.6 0.6 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.4 100.0
|
|
|
|
|
The holdings listed above are all equity shares unless otherwise stated.
Cross Holdings in other Investment Companies
As at 30 September 2020, 1.3% of the company's total assets was invested in Greencoat Renewables, a UK listed investment company.
Whilst the requirements of the UK Listing Authority permit the company to invest up to 10% of the value of the total assets of the company (before deducting borrowed money) in other investment companies (including investment trusts) listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange, it is the directors' current intention that the company invests not more than 5% in other investment companies.
Interim Management Report
Related Party Transactions
During the first six months of the current financial year, no transactions with related parties have taken place which would have materially affected the financial position or performance of the company. Details of related party transactions are contained in the Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2020 and in Note 9 of the Notes to the Accounts of the Half Yearly Financial Report for the six months ended 30 September 2020.
.
Principal Risks and Uncertainties
The principal risks and uncertainties faced by the company can be divided into the following areas:
· Investment policy and process;
· Investment strategy and share price movements;
· Covid-19;
· Discount to net asset value;
· Liquidity risk;
· Regulatory risk;
· Credit and counterparty risk;
· Loss of key personnel;
· Operational; and
· Financial.
The board reported on the above principal risks and uncertainties in the Annual Report & Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2020.
Going Concern
The directors, having considered the company's investment objective, risk management and capital management policies, the diversified portfolio of readily realisable securities which can be used to meet short-term funding commitments and the ability of the company to meet all of its liabilities and ongoing expenses, are satisfied that the company has adequate resources to continue in operation for the foreseeable future. The directors continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the accounts.
As part of its assessment, the board has noted that shareholders will be required to vote on the continuation of the company at the 2023 AGM.
Directors' Responsibility Statement
The directors of Jupiter Green Investment Trust PLC confirm to the best of their knowledge:
(a) The condensed set of financial statements have been prepared in accordance with applicable United Kingdom law and those International Financial Reporting Standards ('IFRS') as adopted by the European Union and give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company, and of the return or loss of the company as at 30 September 2020.
(b) The Chairman's Statement, the Investment Adviser's Review and the Interim Management Report include a fair review of the information required by DTR 4.2.7R of the Disclosure and Transparency Rules.
(c) The Interim Management Report includes a fair review of the information required by DTR 4.2.8R of the Disclosure and Transparency Rules.
The Half Yearly Financial Report has not been audited or reviewed by the company's auditor.
For and on behalf of the Board
Michael Naylor
Chairman
14 December 2020
Statement of Comprehensive Income
For the six months to 30 September 2020 (unaudited)
|
Six months to |
Six months to |
||||
|
Revenue £'000 |
Capital £'000 |
Total £'000 |
Revenue £'000 |
Capital £'000 |
Total £'000 |
Gain on investments held at fair value through profit or loss (Note 2) |
- |
9,193 |
9,193 |
- |
2,803 |
2,803 |
Foreign exchange gain |
- |
34 |
34 |
- |
48 |
48 |
Income |
403 |
- |
403 |
557 |
- |
557 |
Total income |
403 |
9,227 |
9,630 |
557 |
2,851 |
3,408 |
Investment management fee |
(34) |
(101) |
(135) |
(33) |
(99) |
(132) |
Other expenses |
(194) |
(30) |
(224) |
(174) |
- |
(174) |
Total expenses |
(228) |
(131) |
(359) |
(207) |
(99) |
(306) |
Net return on ordinary activities before finance costs and taxation |
175 |
9,096 |
9,271 |
350 |
2,752 |
3,102 |
Finance costs |
(1) |
(3) |
(4) |
(1) |
(3) |
(4) |
Return on ordinary activities before taxation |
174 |
9,093 |
9,267 |
349 |
2,749 |
3,098 |
Taxation |
(37) |
- |
(37) |
(48) |
- |
(48) |
Net return after taxation |
137 |
9,093 |
9,230 |
301 |
2,749 |
3,050 |
Return per ordinary share (Note 3) |
0.73p |
48.37p |
49.10p |
1.60p |
14.55p |
16.15p |
The total column of this statement is the income statement of the company, prepared in accordance with IFRS. The supplementary revenue return and capital return columns are both prepared under guidance produced by the Association of Investment Companies (AIC). All items in the above statement derive from continuing operations.
No operations were acquired or discontinued during the period.
All income is attributable to the equity holders of Jupiter Green Investment Trust PLC. There are no minority interests.
The financial information does not constitute 'accounts' as defined in section 434 of the Companies Act 2006.
Statement of Financial Position
As at 30 September 2020
|
30 September 2020 |
31 March 2020 |
Non current assets |
|
|
Investments held at fair value through profit or loss |
40,628 |
31,880 |
Current assets |
|
|
Prepayments and accrued income |
140 |
215 |
Cash and cash equivalents |
1,196 |
604 |
|
1,336 |
819 |
Total assets |
41,964 |
32,699 |
Current liabilities |
|
|
Other payables |
(397) |
(118) |
Total net assets less current liabilities |
41,567 |
32,581 |
Capital and reserves |
|
|
Called up share capital |
34 |
34 |
Share premium |
29,748 |
29,748 |
Redemption reserve* |
239 |
239 |
Retained earnings (Note 5)* |
11,546 |
2,560 |
Total equity shareholders' funds |
41,567 |
32,581 |
Net asset value per ordinary share (Note 6) |
221.11p |
173.31p |
Diluted net asset value per ordinary share |
216.77p |
173.31p |
|
|
|
* Under the company's Articles of Association, dividends may be paid out of any distributable reserve.
Approved by the board of directors and authorised for issue on 14 December 2020 and signed on its behalf by:
Michael Naylor
Chairman
Company Registration number 05780006
Statement of Changes in Equity
For the six months to 30 September 2020
For the six months to 30 September 2020 (unaudited) |
Share Capital £'000 |
Share Premium £'000 |
Special Reserve* £'000 |
Redemption Reserve £'000 |
Retained Earnings £'000 |
Total £'000 |
Balance at 31 March 2020 |
34 |
29,748 |
- |
239 |
2,560 |
32,581 |
Net return for the period |
- |
- |
- |
- |
9,230 |
9,230 |
Dividend declared and approved |
|
|
|
|
|
|
by shareholders |
- |
- |
- |
- |
(244) |
(244)
|
Balance at 30 September 2020 |
34 |
29,748 |
- |
239 |
11,546 |
41,567 |
For the six months to |
Share Capital £'000 |
Share Premium £'000 |
Special Reserve £'000 |
Redemption Reserve £'000 |
Retained Earnings £'000 |
Total £'000 |
Balance at 31 March 2019 |
34 |
29,705 |
24,292 |
239 |
(18,336) |
35,934 |
Net return for the period |
- |
- |
- |
- |
3,050 |
3,050 |
Ordinary shares reissued from treasury |
- |
2 |
- |
- |
6 |
8 |
Ordinary shares repurchased |
- |
- |
- |
- |
(435) |
(435) |
Dividend paid |
- |
- |
- |
- |
(226) |
(226)
|
Balance at 30 September 2019 |
34 |
29,707 |
24,292 |
239 |
(15,941) |
38,331 |
* In order to simplify the presentation of the capital and reserves of the company, the balance on the special reserve of £24.3 million, which was established in 2006 out of the share premium account, was transferred to the capital account of the retained earnings during the year ended 31 March 2020. This transfer had no impact on the level of distributable reserves or on the net assets of the company.
Cash Flow Statement
For the six months to 30 September 2020 (unaudited)
|
2020 |
2019 £'000 |
Cash flows from operating activities |
|
|
Investment income received (gross) |
431 |
561 |
Deposit interest received |
- |
1 |
Investment management fee paid |
(153) |
(130) |
Other cash expenses |
(172) |
(139) |
Net cash inflow from operating activities before taxation |
106 |
293 |
Interest paid |
(4) |
(4) |
Taxation |
(37) |
(48) |
Net cash inflow from operating activities |
65 |
241 |
Net cash flows from investing activities |
|
|
Purchases of investments |
(5,927) |
(1,997) |
Sales of investments |
6,420 |
2,327 |
Net cash inflow from investing activities |
493 |
330 |
Cash flows from financing activities |
|
|
Shares repurchased |
- |
(505) |
Shares reissued from treasury |
- |
8 |
Net cash outflow from financing activities |
- |
(497) |
Increase in cash |
558 |
74 |
Cash and cash equivalents at start of period |
604 |
449 |
Realised gain on foreign currency |
34 |
48 |
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period |
1,196 |
571 |
Notes to the Financial Statements for the six months to 30 September 2020
1. Accounting Policies
The Accounts comprise the unaudited financial results of the company for the period to 30 September 2020. The Accounts are presented in pounds sterling, as this is the functional currency of the company. All values are rounded to the nearest thousand pounds (£'000) except where indicated.
The Accounts have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), which comprise standards and interpretations approved by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and International Accounting Standards Committee (IASC), as adopted by the European Union (EU).
Where presentational guidance set out in the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) for Investment Trusts issued by the Association of Investment Companies (AIC) in November 2014 and updated in February 2018 is consistent with the requirements of IFRS, the directors have sought to prepare the financial statements on a basis compliant with the recommendations of the SORP.
The board continues to adopt the going concern basis in the preparation of the financial statements.
(a) Income recognition
Income includes dividends from investments quoted ex-dividend on or before the date of the Statement of Financial Position.
Dividends receivable from equity shares are taken to the revenue return column of the Statement of Comprehensive Income.
Special dividends are treated as repayment of capital or as revenue depending on the facts of each particular case.
(b) Presentation of Statement of Comprehensive Income
In order to better reflect the activities of an investment trust company and in accordance with guidance issued by the AIC, supplementary information which analyses the Statement of Comprehensive Income between items of a revenue and capital nature has been presented alongside the statement.
An analysis of retained earnings broken down into revenue items and capital items is given in Note 5
Investment management fees and finance costs are charged 75% to capital and 25% to revenue (2019: 75% to capital and 25% to revenue). All other operational costs including administration expenses are charged to revenue.
(c) Basis of valuation of investments
Investments are recognised and derecognised on a trade date where a purchase and sale of an investment is under contract whose terms require delivery of the investment within the timeframe established by the market concerned, and are initially measured at cost, being the consideration given.
All investments are classified as held at fair value through profit or loss. All investments are measured at fair value with changes in their fair value recognised in the Statement of Comprehensive Income in the period in which they arise. The fair value of listed investments is based on their quoted bid price at the reporting date without any deduction for estimated future selling costs.
Foreign exchange gains and losses on fair value through profit and loss investments are included within the changes in the fair value of the investments.
For investments that are not actively traded and/or where active stock exchange quoted bid prices are not available, fair value is determined by reference to a variety of valuation techniques. These techniques may draw, without limitation, on one or more of: the latest arm's length traded prices for the instrument concerned; financial modelling based on other observable market data; independent broker research; or the published accounts relating to the issuer of the investment concerned.
2. Gain on Investments
|
Six months to |
Six months to
30 September 2019 |
Net gain realised on sale of investments |
1,414 |
334 |
Movement in unrealised gains |
7,779 |
2,469 |
Gain on investments |
9,193 |
2,803 |
3. Earnings per ordinary share
The earnings per ordinary share figure is based on the net profit for the six months of £137,000 (six months to 30 September 2019: net profit £301,000) and on 18,798,986 ordinary shares (six months to 30 September 2019: 18,892,694), being the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the period.
The earnings per ordinary share figure detailed above can be further analysed between revenue and capital, as below.
|
Six months to |
Six months to |
Net revenue profit |
137 |
301 |
Net capital profit |
9,093 |
2,749 |
Net total profit |
9,230 |
3,050 |
Weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the period |
18,798,986 |
18,892,694 |
Revenue earnings per ordinary share (p) |
0.73 |
1.60 |
Capital earnings per ordinary share (p) |
48.37 |
14.55 |
Total earnings per ordinary share (p) |
49.10 |
16.15 |
4. Transaction Costs
The following transaction costs were incurred during the period:
|
Six months to |
Six months to |
Purchases |
6 |
4 |
Sales |
4 |
1 |
Total |
10 |
5 |
5. Retained Earnings
The table below shows the movement in the retained earnings analysed between revenue and capital items.
|
Revenue |
Capital |
Total |
At 31 March 2020 |
249 |
2,311 |
2,560 |
Movement during the period: |
|
|
|
Net income for the period |
137 |
9,093 |
9,230 |
Dividends paid 1.30p |
(244) |
- |
(244) |
At 30 September 2020 |
142 |
11,404 |
11,546 |
6. Net asset value per ordinary share
The net asset value per ordinary share is based on the net assets attributable to the ordinary shareholders of £41,567,000 (31 March 2020: £32,581,000) and on 18,798,986 (31 March 2020: 18,798,986) ordinary shares, being the number of ordinary shares in issue at the period end excluding treasury shares.
|
Six months to 30 September 2020 £'000 |
Year ended 31 March 2020 £'000 |
Undiluted |
|
|
Ordinary shareholders' funds |
41,567 |
32,581 |
Number of ordinary shares in issue |
18,798,986 |
18,798,986 |
Net asset value per ordinary share (pence) |
221.11p |
173.31p |
Diluted |
|
|
Ordinary shareholders' funds |
44,825 |
32,581 |
Number of ordinary shares in issue |
20,678,885 |
20,678,885 |
Net asset value per ordinary share (pence) |
216.77p |
173.31p |
The diluted net asset value per ordinary share assumes that all outstanding dilutive subscription shares, being one for ten ordinary shares, will be converted to ordinary shares at the end of the financial year.
7. Fair valuation of investments
The financial assets measured at fair value in the Statement of Financial Position are grouped into the fair value hierarchy as follows:
|
30 September 2020 |
31 March 2020 |
||||||
|
Level 1 |
Level 2 |
Level 3 |
Total |
Level 1 |
Level 2 |
Level 3 |
Total |
Equity Investments |
40,628 |
- |
- |
40,628 |
31,880 |
- |
- |
31,880 |
|
40,628 |
- |
- |
40,628 |
31,880 |
- |
- |
31,880 |
Level 1 reflects financial instruments quoted in an active market.
Level 2 reflects financial instruments whose fair value is evidenced by comparison with other observable current market transactions in the same instrument or based on a valuation technique whose variables includes only data from observable markets.
Level 3 reflects financial instruments whose fair value is determined in whole or in part using a valuation technique based on assumptions that are not supported by prices from observable market transactions in the instrument and not based on available observable market data.
8. Principal risk profile
The principal risks which the company faces include exposure to:
(i) market price risk, including currency risk, interest rate risk and other price risk
(ii) credit and counterparty risk
(iii) liquidity risk
Market price risk - This is the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument held by the company may fluctuate because of changes in market prices. This market risk comprises three elements - currency risk, interest rate risk and other price risk.
Credit and counterparty risk - This is the exposure to loss from the failure of a counterparty to deliver securities or cash for acquisitions or to repay deposits.
Liquidity risk - This is the risk that the company will encounter difficulty in meeting obligations associated with financial liabilities.
Covid-19 - The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic poses additional risks to the company beyond the principal risks described above. They include liquidity risks to markets and business continuity risks for the investment adviser.
Further details of the company's management of these risks can be found in Note 13 of the company's Annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 March 2020.
There have been no changes to the management of or the exposure to these risks since that date.
9. Related Parties
Jupiter Unit Trust Managers Limited ('JUTM'), the Alternative Investment Fund Manager, is a company within the same group as Jupiter Asset Management Limited ('JAM'), the Investment Adviser. JUTM receives an investment management fee as set out below.
JUTM is contracted to provide investment management services to the company subject to termination by not less than twelve months' notice by either party. The basis for calculation of the management fee charged to the company is a tiered fee amounting to 0.70% of net assets up to £150 million, reducing to 0.60% for net assets over £150 million and up to £250 million, and reducing further to 0.50% for net assets in excess of £250 million, per annum, after deduction of the value of any Jupiter managed investments.
The management fee payable to JUTM for the period 1 April 2020 to 30 September 2020 was £134,512 (year to 31 March 2020: £262,995) with £24,033 (31 March 2020: £41,832) outstanding at period end.
The company has invested from time to time in funds managed by Jupiter Investment Management PLC or its subsidiaries. There was no such investment during current period (31 March 2020: £340,560).
No investment management fee is payable by the company to JUTM in respect of the company's holdings in investment trusts, open-ended funds and investment companies in respect of which Jupiter Fund Management PLC, or any subsidiary undertaking of Jupiter Fund Management PLC, receives fees as investment manager or investment adviser.
Availability of Half Yearly Financial Report
The Half Yearly Financial Report will shortly be available on company's website www.jupiteram.com/JGC.
A copy of the Half Yearly Financial Report will also be submitted to the National Storage Mechanism and will soon be available for inspection at https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism
By Order of the Board
Jupiter Asset Management Limited
Company Secretary
14 December 2020
For further information, please contact:
Magnus Spence
Head of Investment Trusts & Alternatives
Jupiter Asset Management Limited
investmentcompanies@jupiteram.com
020 3817 1000
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