Half-year Report

City of London Investment Trust PLC
16 February 2024
 

LEGAL ENTITY IDENTIFIER: 213800F3NOTF47H6AO55

 

 

THE CITY OF LONDON INVESTMENT TRUST PLC

Unaudited Results for the Half-Year Ended 31 December 2023

 

 

This announcement contains regulated information

 

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The Company's objective is to provide long-term growth in income and capital, principally by investment in equities listed on the London Stock Exchange. The Board fully recognises the importance of dividend income to shareholders.

 

 

PERFORMANCE

 

 

 

As at
31 December 2023

As at
30 June 2023

Net asset value ("NAV") per ordinary share

401.7p

385.2p

Premium

2.0%

3.1%

Net asset value per ordinary share (debt at fair value)

406.0p

391.2p

Premium (debt at fair value)

0.9%

1.5%

Ordinary share price

409.5p

397.0p

Gearing (debt at par value)

5.3%

6.2%


 



Six months to
31 December 2023

Six months to
31 December 2022

Dividends per share

10.1p

10.0p

 

 

 

Dividend yields

As at
31 December 2023

As at
30 June 2023

The City of London Investment Trust plc

4.9%

5.1%

FTSE All-Share Index (Benchmark)

3.8%

3.7%

AIC UK Equity Income sector

4.7%

4.3%

IA UK Equity Income OEIC sector

4.5%

4.8%

 

Sources: Morningstar Direct, LSEG Datastream

 

Total return performance to 31 December 2023

6 months %

1 year %

3 years
%

5 years
%

10 years
%

NAV1

6.5

6.5

34.4

40.3

73.2

Share price2

5.8

4.8

28.1

36.3

70.0

FTSE All-Share Index (Benchmark)

5.2

7.9

28.1

37.7

68.2

AIC UK Equity Income sector3

5.0

7.8

25.8

39.4

74.7

IA UK Equity Income OEIC sector4

6.9

7.1

24.0

32.7

57.8

 

Sources: Morningstar Direct, Janus Henderson, LSEG Datastream

 

1 Net asset value per ordinary share total return with debt at fair value (including dividends reinvested)

2 Share price total return using mid-market closing price

3 AIC UK Equity Income sector size weighted average NAV total return (shareholders' funds)

4 The Investment Association ("IA") peer group average is based on mid-day NAV whereas the returns of the investment trust are calculated using close of business NAV

 


​​


 

INTERIM MANAGEMENT REPORT

 

CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT

 

Introduction

City of London achieved a 6.5% net asset value total return during the six months to 31 December 2023 against a backdrop of falling inflation and market expectations that interest rates have peaked.

 

The Markets

Although economic growth slowed, the main developed countries appear to have avoided a significant downturn, with employment remaining at high levels. Inflation fell by more than expected, especially towards the end of the period, with investors anticipating cuts to interest rates by central banks globally during 2024. The 10-year gilt yield, which was 4.4% at the beginning of July, ended 2023 at 3.5%.

 

The UK equity market returned 5.2%, as measured by the FTSE All-Share Index, with medium-sized and small companies slightly outperforming larger peers. The best performing sector was real estate investment trusts, reflecting the downward move in gilt yields, followed by technology, in line with trends overseas. Some more defensive sectors, such as food & beverage and health care, were notable underperformers.

 

Net Asset Value Total Return

City of London's net asset value total return was 6.5% - higher than the FTSE All-Share Index (5.2%) and the AIC UK Equity Income sector average (5.0%), but behind the IA UK Equity Income OEIC sector average (6.9%). The negative impact of the fall in gilt yields on the fair value of the Company's fixed interest debt detracted performance by 34 basis points. It should be noted, however, that the £30 million 2.67% 2046 and £50 million 2.94% 2049 secured notes, both issued in recent years, provide borrowings at fixed low interest rates for investment in equities by City of London over the next quarter of a century.

 

Stock and sector selection contributed by 171 bps. The underweight positions in pharmaceuticals and AstraZeneca were respectively the biggest sector and stock contributors. The second biggest sector impact arose from being overweight in real estate investment trusts, with Land Securities a notable stock contributor. The biggest detracting sector was food producers, with Nestlé a detractor over the six months. The second biggest detracting sector was aerospace and defence, where the Company missed out on the rise in Rolls Royce (which was not held) but benefited from its position in BAE Systems. Other notable stock contributors were 3i, whose main asset is its shareholding in Action, a fast-growing discount retailer in Europe, and Round Hill Music Royalties Fund, which was taken over. The biggest detracting stock was St James's Place, which announced changes in the structure of its customer fees.

 

Earnings and Dividends

Earnings per share rose marginally compared with the same six-month period last year, from 8.79p to 8.80p. Special dividends, received and accounted as income, were down from £2.4 million to £0.9 million. The trend in ordinary dividends received was similar to City of London's last financial year, with cuts from mining companies being offset by increases from banks and oil companies.

 

City of London has declared two interim dividends to date of 5.05p each in respect of this financial year. The Company's diverse portfolio, strong cash flow and revenue reserve give the Board confidence that, in line with its objective to provide long-term income and capital growth, it will be able to increase the total annual dividend for the 58th consecutive year. The quarterly dividend rate will be reviewed by the Board before the third interim dividend is declared in April 2024.

 

Management Fee and Expenses

The investment management fee rate was last reviewed in 2019. Since then, the Company has grown its net assets under management by 48%, from £1,360 million to £2,019 million, partly due to the issue of 143 million shares. The Board has agreed with the Company's investment manager, Janus Henderson, to reduce the investment management fee rate from 0.325% to 0.300% with effect from 1 January 2024. The consequence of this change is that the ongoing charge, which represents the investment management fee and other administrative non-interest related expenses as a percentage of shareholder funds, is expected to be lower for this financial year than last year, when it was 0.37%. The Board continues rigorously to review costs to ensure that City of London's ongoing charge remains low compared with other investment trusts and discretionary (non-tracker) managed equity investment products. Furthermore, in the event that net assets under management exceed £3,000 million, the management fee on any such excess will be reduced to 0.275%.

 

Material Events and Transactions during the Period

A total of 5.3 million new shares, raising £21 million were issued during the six months to 31 December 2023. The proceeds were invested across the portfolio. The Board is continuing its stated policy, subject to prevailing circumstances, of considering issuance of new shares within a narrow band relative to net asset value. As at 29 December 2023 (the last dealing day during the six months), the Company's share price was trading at a premium of 0.9% to NAV (with debt at fair value). As at 13 February 2024 (the last practicable date before printing this report), the Company's share price was trading at a discount of 0.6% to NAV (with debt at fair value).

 

Three new holdings were bought during the six months. Burberry is a luxury British fashion company with around half of its stores in the Asia Pacific region. Hilton Foods is a packer and distributor of meat products, with operations in the UK, Europe and Australasia. The purchase of ENI, the international oil and gas company, was financed by the sale of Woodside, the Australian company with a focus on liquified natural gas. Complete sales were also made in Cisco, the information technology and networking services company; Ferguson, the US building products distributor; Sanofi, the pharmaceutical company; and Round Hill Music Royalties Fund, which was taken over.

 

Delisting from New Zealand Stock Exchange

The Company's ordinary shares have a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange and a secondary listing on the New Zealand Stock Exchange (NZX Main Board). Shareholdings on the New Zealand register now only represent 1.2% of the Company's total shares in issue and the costs of maintaining the listing have been steadily increasing. The Board considers that these costs, together with the administrative and compliance burdens of maintaining the secondary listing in New Zealand, have become disproportionate to the benefits of maintaining that listing and relative to the percentage of shares involved. After careful consideration, the Board has therefore resolved to delist the shares from the NZX Main Board from 21 March 2024. Shares on the New Zealand register will be automatically transferred to the UK register, which already has a number of shareholders with addresses in New Zealand.

 

The Board

The Board is delighted to announce that Sally Lake will be joining the Board on 1 August 2024. Sally is currently Group Finance Director of Beazley plc, the FTSE 100 specialist insurance company, but will be stepping down from that role later in 2024. She has wide ranging experience of financial markets, risk management and the operational challenges facing listed companies. She will succeed Samantha Wren as Audit Committee Chair following the Company's Annual General Meeting in October, when Samantha will retire after serving nine years on the Board.

 

Outlook for the Six Months to 30 June 2024

The tightening of monetary policy in 2022 and 2023 by the world's leading central banks is expected to lead to a further reduction in the rate of inflation. A significant slowdown in economic activity, however, appears unlikely as consumers continue to draw down excess savings from the Covid lockdowns and employment statistics remain relatively buoyant. Although it is generally accepted that interest rates have now peaked, market expectations for cuts may be exaggerated given continuing wage increases and "quantitative tightening" by central banks. There are also considerable risks resulting from the current war in the Middle East, with a widening conflict, such as the recent hostilities in the Red Sea area, raising the prospect of further political and economic turbulence including the disruption of supply chains and destabilisation of energy markets, as observed already in the Ukraine conflict.

 

UK equities remain attractively valued relative to overseas equivalents. This has encouraged further takeovers of UK companies by private equity firms and foreign businesses, including the acquisition of Round Hill Music Royalties Fund from the Company's portfolio. There has subsequently been a bid in January 2024 for Wincanton, another of City of London's investee companies, from a large French private company. More takeovers can be expected while the discounted value of UK equities relative to global peers persists. Although the prospect of political change in the UK may weigh on equity valuations until after the general election, the compelling dividend yields from many companies effectively "pay investors to hold on" and should help to mitigate the downside risks of current uncertainties.

 

 

Sir Laurie Magnus CBE

Chairman

16 February 2024





FORTY LARGEST INVESTMENTS

 

 Company

 Market value

31 December

2023

£'000


 Company

Market value

31 December

2023

£'000

Shell

86,360


Glencore

37,768

BAE Systems

84,398


IG

32,917

RELX

79,016


Land Securities

32,597

HSBC

76,883


TotalEnergies

32,026

Unilever

71,241


Schroders

31,813

AstraZeneca

65,178


Nestlé

27,261

3i

61,710


Reckitt Benckiser

27,100

British American Tobacco

60,804


Severn Trent

25,760

BP

58,735


Barclays

25,758

Tesco

57,499


St. James's Place

24,552

Rio Tinto

56,667


Munich Re

23,471

Diageo

55,978


NatWest

23,465

M&G

53,376


Holcim

22,452

Imperial Brands

51,937


Merck

20,952

SSE

48,256


Novartis

20,793

National Grid

46,340


Sage

20,050

Phoenix

46,191


Swire Pacific

19,876

Legal & General

42,687


Persimmon

19,841

Lloyds Banking

40,072


Taylor Wimpey

18,896

GlaxoSmithKline

39,518


Anglo American

18,228

 

 


These investments total £1,688,422,000 or 79.4% of the portfolio.


 

Convertibles and all classes of equity in any one company are treated as one investment.

 


 


SECTOR EXPOSURE

 

As a percentage of the investment portfolio excluding cash

 


%

Financials

26.0

Consumer Staples

                  18.8

Industrials

                  12.5

Energy

                   9.0

Health Care

                   8.1

Consumer Discretionary

                   7.0

Utilities

                   6.5

Basic Materials

                   5.8

Real Estate

                   3.0

Telecommunications

                   2.4

Technology

                   0.9

Total

100.0

 

Source: Janus Henderson





SECTOR BREAKDOWN OF INVESTMENTS

 

 

Valuation

31 December

2023

£'000

 

 

Valuation

31 December

2023

£'000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ENERGY

 

 

Industrial Support Services

 

Oil, Gas and Coal

 

 

Hays

13,978

 

Shell

86,360


PayPoint

10,380

 

BP

58,735


 

24,358

 

TotalEnergies1

32,026


Total Industrials

266,301

 

ENI1

13,258



 

 

 

190,379

 

CONSUMER STAPLES


 

Total Energy

190,379

 

Beverages

 

 

 

 

 

Diageo

55,978

 

BASIC MATERIALS

 

 

Britvic

12,607

 

Chemicals

 

 

Coca-Cola1

10,167

 

Victrex           

5,327

 


78,752

 

Johnson Matthey                        

5,093

 

 

 

 


10,420

 

Food Producers

 

 

 


 

Nestlé1

27,261

 

Industrial Metals and Mining


Tate & Lyle

10,167

 

Rio Tinto                               

56,667


Hilton

8,000

 

Glencore

37,768



45,428

 

Anglo American

18,228




 


112,663


Personal Goods


 

Total Basic Materials

123,083


Burberry

6,372

 





6,372

 

INDUSTRIALS





 

Aerospace and Defence



Personal Care, Drug and Grocery Stores

 

BAE Systems

84,398

 

Unilever

71,241

 

 

84,398

 

Tesco

57,499

 



 

Reckitt Benckiser

27,100

 

Construction and Materials

 

 


155,840

 

Holcim1

22,452

 

 


 

Ibstock

12,423

 

Tobacco


 

Marshalls

6,985

 

British American Tobacco

60,804

 

 

41,860

 

Imperial Brands

51,937

 

 


 

 

112,741

 

Industrial Engineering


 

Total Consumer Staples

399,133

 

Vesuvius

12,030

 

 

 

 

       

12,030

 

HEALTH CARE




 

Medical Equipment and Services  

Electronic and Electrical Equipment

 

Smith & Nephew

11,847

 

IMI                

12,209

 

 

11,847

 

Morgan Advanced Materials

11,320

 



Rotork

5,663

 

Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology

XP Power

3,126

 

AstraZeneca

65,178

 


32,318

 

GlaxoSmithKline      

39,518

 

 



Merck1

20,952

 

General Industrials



Novartis1         

20,793

 

Swire Pacific1             

19,876


Johnson & Johnson1

12,787

 

Siemens1

14,694

 

 

159,228

 

Smiths Group

10,575

 

Total Health Care

171,075

 

DS Smith

9,526

 



 

Mondi

8,451

 



 


63,122

 



 



 

 

 

 

Industrial Transportation


 


 

 

Wincanton

8,215

 



 


8,215




 

 


 



 

 


 



 

 

 

Valuation

31 December 2023

£'000

 

 

Valuation

31 December 2023

£'000



 

 


CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY



FINANCIALS


Retailers



Banks


Kingfisher

11,070


HSBC

76,883

Halfords

5,979


Lloyds Banking

40,072

DFS

3,045


Barclays

25,758


20,094


NatWest

23,465




Nationwide Building Society 10.25% Var Perp CCDS             

8,385

Media


RELX

79,016

 

 

174,563


79,016






 

Investment Banking and Brokerage Services

Household Goods and Home Construction

 

3i

61,710

Persimmon

19,841


M&G

53,376

Taylor Wimpey

18,896


IG

32,917


38,737


Schroders

31,813




St. James's Place

24,552

Travel and Leisure



Rathbones

15,570

La Française des Jeux1

8,527



219,938

Young

3,080


 



11,607


Life Insurance


Total Consumer Discretionary

149,454


Phoenix

46,191




Legal & General

42,687

TELECOMMUNICATIONS



Prudential

10,644

Telecommunications Service Providers

 


99,522

Deutsche Telekom1

15,502




Vodafone

13,024


Non-life Insurance


Orange1

12,944


Munich Re1

23,471

Verizon Communications1         

10,348

 

Beazley

11,473


51,818

 

Hiscox

8,959

Total Telecommunications

51,818


Direct Line Insurance

8,646



Sabre Insurance

7,182

UTILITIES



 

59,731

Electricity



Total Financials

553,754

SSE

48,256


 

 

 

48,256


REAL ESTATE


 

 


Real Estate Investment Trusts

Gas, Water and Multi-utilities



Land Securities

32,597

National Grid

46,340


Segro         

15,955

Severn Trent

25,760


British Land

15,580

United Utilities

12,708



64,132

Pennon

4,133

 

Total Real Estate

64,132


88,941


 

 

Total Utilities

137,197


TECHNOLOGY





Software and Computer Services

 



Sage               

20,050

 




20,050

 



Total Technology

20,050

 



 





TOTAL INVESTMENTS

2,126,376






 

1 Overseas listed

All classes of equity in any one company are treated as one investment.

 


 

PRINCIPAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES

The principal risks and uncertainties associated with the Company's business can be divided into the following main areas:

 

·           Geopolitical

·           Global pandemics

·           Portfolio and market price

·           Dividend income

·           Investment activity, gearing and performance

·           Tax and regulatory

·           Operational

 

Information on these risks and how they are managed is given in the Annual Report for the year ended 30 June 2023. In the view of the Board, these principal risks and uncertainties at the year end remain and are as applicable to the remaining six months of the financial year as they were to the six months under review.

 



 

DIRECTORS' RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT

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

 

the condensed set of financial statements has been prepared in accordance with FRS 104 "Interim Financial Reporting".

 

the Interim Management Report includes a fair review of the information required by Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rule 4.2.7R (indication of important events during the first six months and description of the principal risks and uncertainties for the remaining six months of the year); and

 

the Interim Management Report includes a fair review of the information required by Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rule 4.2.8R (disclosure of related party transactions and changes therein).

 

 

On behalf of the Board

 

Sir Laurie Magnus CBE

Chairman

16 February 2024

 

 

 

 

INCOME STATEMENT

 


(Unaudited)

Half-year ended

31 December 2023

(Unaudited)

Half-year ended

31 December 2022

(Audited)

Year ended

30 June 2023


Revenue

return

£'000

Capital

return

£'000

 

Total

£'000

Revenue

return

£'000

Capital

return

£'000

 

Total

£'000

Revenue

return

£'000

Capital

return

£'000

 

Total

£'000

 

 

 

 







Gains/(losses) on investments held at fair value through profit or loss

92,532 

92,532 

29,737 

29,737 

(27,111)

(27,111)


 

 

 







Income from investments held at fair value through profit or loss

46,388 

46,388 

43,544 

43,544 

101,747 

101,747 


 

 

 







Other interest receivable and similar income

185 

185 

129 

129 

224 

224 

 










Gross revenue and capital gains/(losses)

46,573 

92,532 

139,105 

43,673 

29,737 

73,410 

101,971 

(27,111)

74,860 


 

 

 







Management fee

(961)

(2,242)

(3,203)

(886)

(2,068)

(2,954)

(1,844)

(4,304)

(6,148)


 

 

 







Other administrative expenses

(468)

(468)

(459)

(459)

(860)

(860)

 










Net return/(loss) before finance costs and taxation

45,144 

90,290 

135,434 

42,328 

27,669 

69,997 

99,267 

(31,415)

67,852 


 

 

 







Finance costs

(737)

(2,272)

(766)

(1,604)

(2,370)

(1,621)

(3,416)

(5,037)

 










Net return/(loss) before taxation

            44,407 

            88,755 

          133,162 

            41,562 

            26,065 

            67,627 

            97,646 

           (34,831)

            62,815 

 

 

 

 







Taxation on net return/(loss)

(201)

(201)

(427)

(427)

(1,406)

(1,406)

 










Net return/(loss) after taxation

44,206 

88,755 

132,961 

41,135 

26,065 

67,200 

96,240 

(34,831)

 61,409 

 

 

 

 







Return/(loss) per ordinary share (note 2)

8.80p

17.67p

26.47p

8.79p

5.57p

14.36p

20.14p

(7.29p)

12.85p

 

The total columns of this statement represent the Company's Income Statement, prepared in accordance with FRS 104. The revenue and capital columns are supplementary to this and are published under guidance from the Association of Investment Companies.

 

The Company has no recognised gains or losses other than those disclosed in the Income Statement and Statement of Changes in Equity. All items in the above statement derive from continuing operations. No operations were acquired or discontinued during the period.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.




STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

 

 

 

Half-year ended 31 December 2023 (unaudited)

Called-up share capital

£'000

Share premium account

£'000

Capital redemption reserve

£'000

Other 

capital 

reserves 

£'000 

 

Revenue 

reserve 

£'000 

 

 

Total 

£'000 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At 1 July 2023

124,339

1,053,061

2,707

691,463 

44,322 

1,915,892 

Net return on ordinary activities after taxation

-

-

-

88,755 

44,206 

132,961 

Issue of 5,310,000 new ordinary shares

1,328

19,563

-

20,891 

Dividends paid

-

-

-

(50,759)

(50,759)

 







At 31 December 2023

125,667

1,072,624

2,707

780,218 

37,769 

2,018,985 















 

 

Half-year ended 31 December 2022 (unaudited)

Called-up share capital

£'000

Share premium account

£'000

Capital redemption reserve

£'000

Other 

capital 

reserves 

£'000 

 

Revenue 

reserve 

£'000 

 

 

Total 

£'000 








At 1 July 2022

114,910

909,143

2,707

726,294 

43,603 

1,796,657 

Net return on ordinary activities after taxation

-

-

-

26,065 

41,135 

67,200 

Issue of 16,560,000 new ordinary shares

4,140

61,342

-

65,482 

Dividends paid

-

-

-

(46,657)

(46,657)








At 31 December 2022

119,050

970,485

2,707

752,359 

38,081 

1,882,682 















 

 

Year ended 30 June 2023

(audited)

Called-up share capital

£'000

Share premium account

£'000

Capital redemption reserve

£'000

Other 

capital 

 reserves 

£'000 

 

Revenue 

reserve 

£'000 

 

 

Total  

£'000 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At 1 July 2022

114,910

909,143

2,707

726,294 

43,603 

1,796,657 

Net (loss)/return after taxation

-

-

-

(34,831)

96,240 

61,409 

Issue of 37,715,000 new ordinary shares

9,429

143,918

-

153,347 

Dividends paid

-

-

-

(95,521)

(95,521)








At 30 June 2023

124,339

1,053,061

2,707

691,463 

44,322 

1,915,892 





 



 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.



 

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

 

 

(Unaudited) 

31 December 

2023 

£'000 

(Unaudited) 

31 December 

2022 

£'000 

(Audited) 

30 June 

2023 

£'000 

 

 



Investments held at fair value through

profit or loss (note 6)

 


 

Listed at market value in the United Kingdom

1,861,318 

1,717,798 

1,734,695 

Listed at market value overseas

265,058 

300,628 

299,605 

Investment in subsidiary undertakings

347 

347 

347 


 



 

2,126,723 

2,018,773 

2,034,647 


 



Current assets

 



Debtors

9,541 

8,664 

10,823 

Cash at bank

1,753 

-


11,294 

8,664 

10,823 


 



Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

(3,387)

(29,172)

(13,956)

 

 



Net current assets/(liabilities)

7,907 

(20,508)

(3,133)

 

 



Total assets less current liabilities

2,134,630 

1,998,265

2,031,514 

 

 



Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year

(115,645)

(115,583)

(115,622)


 



Net assets

2,018,985 

1,882,682

1,915,892 

 

 



Capital and reserves

 



Called-up share capital (note 3)

125,667 

119,050 

124,339 

Share premium account

1,072,624 

970,485 

1,053,061 

Capital redemption reserve

2,707 

2,707 

2,707 

Other capital reserves (note 4)

780,218 

752,359 

691,463 

Revenue reserve

37,769 

38,081 

44,322 


 



Equity shareholders' funds

2,018,985 

1,882,682

1,915,892 

 

 



Net asset value per ordinary share - basic and diluted (note 5)

401.66p

395.36p

385.22p

 




 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 



 

 

NOTES

 

1.

Accounting Policy - Basis of Preparation


The condensed set of financial statements has been prepared in accordance with FRS 104, Interim Financial Reporting, FRS 102, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland and the Statement of Recommended Practice for "Financial Statements of Investment Trust Companies and Venture Capital Trusts", issued in July 2022.

 

For the period under review, the Company's accounting policies have not varied from those described in the Annual Report for the year ended 30 June 2023. These financial statements have been neither audited nor reviewed by the Company's auditors.

 

As an investment fund, the Company has the option, which it has taken, not to present a cash flow statement. A cash flow statement is not required when an investment fund meets all the following conditions: substantially all of the entity's investments are highly liquid and are carried at market value; and where a statement of changes in equity is provided.

 

2.

Return per Ordinary Share

 







(Unaudited)

Half-year

ended

31 December

2023

£'000


(Unaudited)

Half-year

ended

31 December

2022

£'000


(Audited) 

Year ended 

30 June 

2023 

 £'000 


The return per ordinary share is based on the following figures:







Revenue return

44,206


41,135


96,240 


Capital return/(loss)

88,755


26,065


(34,831)



 

 


 



Total

132,961


67,200


61,409 



 






Weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue for each period

502,285,221


467,917,477


477,932,402 



 






Revenue return per ordinary share

8.80p


8.79p


20.14p 


Capital return/(loss) per ordinary share

17.67p


5.57p


(7.29p)



 






Total return per ordinary share

26.47p


14.36p


12.85p 



 






The Company does not have any dilutive securities, therefore, the basic and diluted returns per share are the same.

 

3.

Share Capital

 

During the half-year ended 31 December 2023, 5,310,000 new ordinary shares were issued for total proceeds of £20,891,000 (half-year ended 31 December 2022: 16,560,000 new ordinary shares issued for total proceeds of £65,482,000; year ended 30 June 2023: 37,715,000 new ordinary shares issued for total proceeds of £153,347,000). The number of ordinary shares in issue at 31 December 2023 was 502,664,868 (31 December 2022: 476,199,868; 30 June 2023: 497,354,868). There were no shares in treasury at 31 December 2023 (31 December 2022 and 30 June 2023: nil).

 

4.

Other Capital Reserves

 

At 31 December 2023, the other capital reserves are made up of the capital reserve arising on investments sold which was £362,881,000 (31 December 2022: £316,480,000; 30 June 2023: £344,587,000) and is distributable and the capital reserve arising on revaluation of investments held which was £417,337,000 (31 December 2022: £435,879,000; 30 June 2023: £346,876,000) which is not distributable.

 

5.

Net Asset Value per Ordinary Share

 

The net asset value per ordinary share is based on the net assets attributable to the ordinary shares of £2,018,985,000 (31 December 2022: £1,882,682,000; 30 June 2023: £1,915,892,000) and on 502,664,868 ordinary shares (31 December 2022: 476,199,868; 30 June 2023: 497,354,868) being the number of ordinary shares at the period end.

 

6.

Financial Instruments


The financial assets and financial liabilities are either carried in the Statement of Financial Position at their fair value or the Statement of Financial Position amount is a reasonable approximation of fair value (debtors and creditors falling due within one year).          

 

The table below sets out fair value measurements of the investments using the FRS 102 fair value hierarchy.

 


Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss at 31 December 2023





Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total



£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000


Equity investments

2,126,376

            -  

347

2,126,723


Total

2,126,376

            -  

347

2,126,723








Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss at 31 December 2022



Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total



£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000


Equity investments

2,018,426

            -  

347

2,018,773


Total

2,018,426

            -  

347

2,018,773








Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss at 30 June 2023



Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total



£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000


Equity investments

2,034,300

            -  

347

2,034,647


Total

2,034,300

            -  

347

2,034,647








Financial liabilities

The secured notes, preference stocks and preferred ordinary stock are carried in the Statement of Financial Position at par.

 

At 31 December 2023, the aggregate fair value of the preferred and preference stock was £2,276,000 (31 December 2022: £2,635,000; 30 June 2023: £2,635,000).

 

At 31 December 2023, the fair value of the secured notes was estimated to be £91,658,000 (31 December 2022: £86,591,000; 30 June 2023: £83,313,000).

 

The fair value of the secured notes is calculated using a discount rate which reflects the yield on a UK gilt of similar maturity plus a suitable credit spread.

 

The preference stocks and preferred ordinary stock are categorised as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. The secured notes are categorised as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.

 


Fair value hierarchy categories

Categorisation within the hierarchy has been determined on the basis of the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement of the relevant asset as follows:           

 

Level 1: The unadjusted quoted prices in an active market for identical assets or liabilities that the entity can access at the measurement date;

 

Level 2: Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable (i.e., developed using market data) for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly; and

 

Level 3: Inputs are unobservable (i.e., for which market data is unavailable) for the asset or liability.


 

The valuation techniques used by the Company are explained in the accounting policies in note 1 in the Company's Annual Report for the year ended 30 June 2023.

 

 

7.

Transaction Costs

 

Purchase transaction costs for the half-year ended 31 December 2023 were £390,000 (half-year ended 31 December 2022: £538,000; year ended 30 June 2023: £1,105,000). These comprise mainly stamp duty and commissions. Sale transaction costs for the half-year ended 31 December 2023 were £23,000 (half-year ended 31 December 2022: £17,000; year ended 30 June 2023: £34,000).

 

8.

Dividends

 

A first interim dividend of 5.05p per ordinary share was paid on 30 November 2023. The second interim dividend of 5.05p per ordinary share (declared on 7 December 2023) will be paid on 29 February 2024 to shareholders on the register on 26 January 2024. The Company's shares went ex-dividend on 25 January 2024.

 

9.

Related Party Transactions

 

Other than the relationship between the Company and its Directors, the provision of services by Janus Henderson is the only related party arrangement currently in place. Other than fees payable by the Company in the ordinary course of business and the provision of marketing services, there have been no material transactions with this related party affecting the financial position of the Company during the period under review.

 

10.

Going Concern

 

The assets of the Company consist of securities that are readily realisable. The Directors have also considered the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic and the risks arising from the current geo-political conflicts, including cash flow forecasting, a review of covenant compliance including the headroom above the most restrictive covenants and an assessment of the liquidity of the portfolio. They have concluded that the Company has adequate resources to meet its financial obligations, including the repayment of the bank overdraft, as they fall due for a period of at least twelve months from the date of approval of the financial statements. Having assessed these factors and the principal risks, the Board has determined that it is appropriate for the financial statements to be prepared on a going concern basis.

 

11.

Comparative Information

 

The financial information contained in this half-year report does not constitute statutory accounts as defined in Section 434 of the Companies Act 2006. The figures and financial information for the year ended 30 June 2023 are extracted from the latest published accounts and do not constitute the statutory accounts for that year. Those accounts have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies and included the Report of the Independent Auditors, which was unqualified and did not include a statement under either Section 498(2) or 498(3) of the Companies Act 2006.

 

12.

General Information

Company Status

 

The City of London Investment Trust plc is a UK domiciled investment trust company.

 

 

ISIN number / SEDOL: ordinary shares: GB0001990497 / 0199049

 

London Stock Exchange (TIDM) Code: CTY

 

New Zealand Stock Exchange Code: TCL

 

 

Global Intermediary Identification Number (GIIN): S55HF7.99999.SL.826

 

 

Legal Entity Identifier (LEI): 213800F3NOTF47H6AO55

 

 

Company Registration Number

 

UK: 34871                                            

New Zealand: 1215729

 

 

Registered Office

 

201 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 3AE

 

 

Directors and Secretary

 

The Directors of the Company are Sir Laurie Magnus CBE (Chairman), Samantha Wren (Audit Committee Chair), Clare Wardle (Senior Independent Director), Robert Edward (Ted) Holmes and Ominder Dhillon.

 

 

The Corporate Secretary is Janus Henderson Secretarial Services UK Limited, represented by Sally Porter, ACG.

 

 

Website

 

Details of the Company's share price and net asset value, together with general information about the Company, monthly factsheets and data, copies of announcements, reports and details of general meetings can be found at www.cityinvestmenttrust.com.

 

13.

Half-Year Report

An abbreviated version of the half-year report, the 'Update', will be posted to shareholders in late February 2024. The Update will also be available on the Company's website www.cityinvestmenttrust.com or in hard copy from the Company's registered office.

 

 

 

For further information please contact:

 

Job Curtis

Fund Manager

The City of London Investment Trust plc

Telephone: 020 7818 4367

 

Dan Howe

Head of Investment Trusts

Janus Henderson Investors

Telephone: 020 7818 4458

 

Harriet Hall

PR Director, Investment Trusts

Janus Henderson Investors

Telephone: 020 7818 2919

 

 

 

 

 

Neither the contents of the Company's website nor the contents of any website accessible from hyperlinks on the Company's website (or any other website) is incorporated into, or forms part of, this announcement.

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.

RNS may use your IP address to confirm compliance with the terms and conditions, to analyse how you engage with the information contained in this communication, and to share such analysis on an anonymised basis with others as part of our commercial services. For further information about how RNS and the London Stock Exchange use the personal data you provide us, please see our Privacy Policy.
 
END
 
 
UK 100

Latest directors dealings