Half-year Report

RNS Number : 6091I
Jupiter Green Investment Trust Plc
14 December 2020
 

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
30 September 2020

Six months to
30 September 2019

 

Revenue

£'000

Capital

£'000

Total

£'000

Revenue

£'000

Capital

£'000

Total

£'000

Gain on investments held at fair

 

-

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
(unaudited)
£'000

31 March 2020
(audited)
£'000

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
30 September 2019 (unaudited)

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
£'000

2019

£'000

Cash flows from operating activities

 

 

431

561

-

1

(153)

(130)

(172)

(139)

Net cash inflow from operating activities before taxation

106

293

(4)

(4)

(37)

(48)

Net cash inflow from operating activities

65

241

Net cash flows from investing activities

 

 

(5,927)

(1,997)

6,420

2,327

Net cash inflow from investing activities

493

330

Cash flows from financing activities

 

 

-

(505)

-

8

Net cash outflow from financing activities

-

(497)

Increase in cash

  558

74

604

449

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
30 September 2020
£'000

Six months to

 30 September 2019
 '000

1,414

334

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
30 September 2020
£'000

Six months to
30 September 2019
£'000

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
30 September 2020
£'000

Six months to
30 September 2019
£'000

6

4

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
£'000

Capital
£'000

Total
£'000

249

2,311

2,560

 

 

 

137

9,093

9,230

(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
£'000

Level 2
£'000 

Level 3
£'000

Total
£'000

Level 1
£'000

Level 2
£'000

Level 3
£'000

Total
£'000

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

 

 

[END]

 

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