SCHRODER JAPAN GROWTH FUND PLC
Interim Management Statement for the Quarter ended 31 October 2008
The Board of Schroder Japan Growth Fund Plc ('the Company') is pleased to announce its Interim Management Statement as required by the UK Listing Authority's Disclosure and Transparency Rules. This Statement is in respect of the period from 1 August 2008 to 31 October 2008.
Investment Objective
The Company's principal investment objective is to achieve capital growth from an actively managed portfolio principally comprising securities listed on the Japanese stock markets, with the aim of achieving growth in excess of the TSE First Section Total Return Index over the longer term.
Material Events or Transactions
The Company announced on 12 November that Andrew Rose was taking responsibility within Schroders, for the investment management of the Company's portfolio with immediate effect. Andrew is a Fund manager for Japanese Equity portfolios, based in London and was Head of Japanese Equities at Schroders from 2001 until 2006 in Tokyo.
There have been no material events or transactions that have taken place between 1 August 2008 and the date of publication of this Statement.
Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting of the Company was held on 6 November 2008. All resolutions set out in the Notice of Meeting were duly passed.
Company Statistics as at 31 October 2008
Gross Assets |
£117 million |
Net Asset Value per Ordinary Share |
72.89p |
Share Price |
62.00p |
Premium/(Discount) |
(14.94%) |
Number of Holdings |
63 |
Net Gearing |
16.3% |
Yield |
0.00% |
Cumulative Performance (%) to 31 October 2008 (Total Return in percentage terms)
Performance over |
3m |
6m |
1yr |
Share Price |
(20.0) |
(26.4) |
(35.1) |
Net Asset Value |
(17.0) |
(24.4) |
(30.4) |
Japan TSE First Section |
(9.3) |
(15.8) |
(17.3) |
All Performance Data Source: Fundamental Data.
Portfolio Information as at 31 October 2007
Ten Largest Holdings
Stock Name |
Sector Classification |
Market Value (£) |
Percentage of NAV (%) |
Toyota Motor |
Consumer Goods |
8,936,001 |
8.42 |
Takeda Pharmaceutical |
Healthcare |
5,246,134 |
4.94 |
Tachihi Enterprise |
Financials |
4,494,931 |
4.24 |
Mitsui & Company |
Industrials |
3,857,629 |
3.63 |
East Japan Railway |
Consumer Services |
3,776,614 |
3.56 |
Seven & I Holdings |
Consumer Services |
3,316,247 |
3.12 |
Ricoh |
Technology |
3,134,467 |
2.95 |
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial |
Financials |
2,944,767 |
2.77 |
Sompo Japan Insurance |
Financials |
2,644,570 |
2.49 |
Jupiter Telecommunications |
Consumer Services |
2,599,978 |
2.45 |
Sector Allocation
Sector |
Percentage of NAV (%) |
Industrials |
25.30 |
Financials |
24.30 |
Consumer Goods |
19.66 |
Consumer Services |
18.30 |
Basic Materials |
12.41 |
Healthcare |
7.20 |
Telecommunications |
5.37 |
Technology |
4.08 |
Other net liabilities |
(16.62) |
Changes to Share Capital during the quarter ended 31 October 2008
|
Issued Ordinary shares of 10p each |
As at 1 August |
125,008,200 |
Shares bought back and cancelled during the period |
Nil |
Shares bought for holding in treasury during the quarter |
Nil |
Shares already held in treasury |
Nil |
Shares cancelled from treasury |
Nil |
Shares remaining in issue as at 31 October 2008 |
125,008,200 |
Company Information as at 31 October 2008
SEDOL Code |
0802284 |
Sector |
Equity Investment Instruments |
Launch Date |
July 1994 |
Financial Year End |
31 July |
AGM Date |
November 2009 |
Enquiries:
John Spedding
Schroder Investment Management Limited
Company Secretary
Tel: 0207 658 3206
23 December 2008