Annual Financial Report

RNS Number : 9110M
Ruffer Investment Company Limited
21 September 2012
 



Ruffer Investment Company Limited

 

YEARLY REPORT

 

The Company has today, in accordance with DTR 6.3.5, released its Annual Financial Report for the year ended 30 June 2012. The Report will shortly be available via the Company's Investment Manager's website www.ruffer.co.uk and will shortly be available for inspection online at www.hemscott.com/nsm.do website.

 

Financial Highlights

 

      30.06.12

Offer Price                      Net Asset Value

                                                                                                                                                  £                                               £

Redeemable participating preference shares                                                          1.980†                                       1.920*

 

† The price an investor would be expected to pay in the market (London Stock Exchange).

 

* This is the Net Asset Value for valuation purposes as at 30.06.12. The Fund is valued weekly and at month end.

 

Company Information

 

Incorporation Date                                              01.06.04

 

Launch Date                                                         08.07.04 (C shares: 29.09.05)

 

Initial Net Asset Value                                        98p per share (98p per 'C' share)**

 

Launch Price                                                         100p per share (100p per 'C' share)

 

Accounting dates                                                Interim                                    Final

31 December                         30 June

(Unaudited)                           (Audited)

 

** On 12 December 2005, the 'C' shares were converted into redeemable participating preference shares in the Company at a ratio of 0.8314 redeemable participating preference shares for each 'C' share, in accordance with the conversion method in the Placing and Offer for Subscription Document. 

 

Chairman's Review

 

Performance

The Company's investment portfolio earned a negative total return of 0.3% over the 12 months to 30 June 2012. This is calculated after all expenses of management and allowing for the payment of dividends, which amounted to a total of 3.10p per share. The target rate of return, derived from the Company's investment objective, for the year was 1.0%, being twice the Bank of England base rate for the period. Over the same period the FTSE Allshare fell 3.1% on a total return basis. Further details of the performance are given in the Investment Manager's Report. The Company's Net Asset Value ("NAV") at 20 September 2012 was 1.951. Notwithstanding the failure to achieve the Company's objective for the 12 months to 30 June 2012 the Board remains confident in the ability of the Investment Manager to achieve the Company's objectives in the future.

 

Earnings and Dividends

Earnings for the year were 4.05p per share on the revenue account and 5.21p loss per share on the capital account. In the course of the year dividends totalling 3.10p per share were paid. A third interim dividend of 1.60p per share in respect of the year to 30 June 2012 was approved on 20 September 2012 and will be paid on 19 October 2012.

 

Share Issuance

At the start of the year, the Company had the ability to issue 9,963,841 redeemable participating shares under a blocklisting facility. On 24 November 2011, at the Company's AGM, a resolution to issue up to a further 10% of the Company's share capital by way of a block listing facility was passed. As at 20 September 2012, the date of this report, out of a possible total of 23,157,682 shares, 9,963,841 had been issued at a 2% or higher premium and 6,236,159 shares had been issued at a 3% or higher premium to the Company's prevailing Net Asset Value. 14,350,000 of these new shares were issued during the year ended 30 June 2012. The Board have satisfied themselves that the issuance of shares at a premium of more than 1.1% to the prevailing NAV is value enhancing to existing shareholders.

 

As at the date of this report the Company had 143,338,416 redeemable participating preference shares of 0.01p each and 2 Management shares of £1.00 each in issue. Therefore, the total voting rights in the Company at the date of this report were 143,338,418.

 

Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Company will be held at 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday 21 November 2012 at the Company's registered office at Trafalgar Court, Les Banques, St Peter Port, Guernsey.

 

Share Buyback Authority

Despite the shares trading at a premium to NAV, aside from very short periods, for the year to 30 June 2012, the Board has resolved to seek, at the AGM on 21 November 2012, a renewal of its authority to buy back shares at a discount to NAV in the terms to be stated in a Special Resolution. No shares have been bought back under authorisations granted at previous AGMs.

 

Share Redemption Facility

The Company has a Redemption Facility operable in November each year. Given the fact that the Company has been trading at a premium to its NAV for most of the previous year the Board has resolved not to offer this Facility in November 2012.

 

Jonathan Ruffer

In closing I would like to pay a particular tribute to Jonathan Ruffer, who acted as the lead investment manager for this Company from its inception on 8 July 2004, until he handed over the reins to Hamish Baillie on 31 March 2012. During that period the Company's net asset value has risen by a splendid 120%*, handsomely outperforming both its stated benchmark and also the FT Allshare, which had produced a total return of 75% for the period to 30 June 2012*. This record speaks eloquently of Jonathan's talent in managing the Company's investments.

 

Hamish had been acting in concert with Jonathan in managing the Company's investments for the previous 18 months and, as a portfolio manager working closely with Jonathan, he has been involved in the background since the company's inception. Hamish is ably backed up by Jonathan's long-term deputy manager, Steve Russell. Jonathan moved from being Chief Investment Officer to Chairman of Ruffer LLP on 31 March 2012 and as such has relinquished all day-to-day management of funds. However, he remains central to Ruffer LLP's long term strategic and asset allocation process. As before, the investment company will continue to be managed in accordance with Ruffer's house philosophy. It is satisfying to observe that the market missed not a beat in continuing to accord the Company a premium over its NAV, which remained constant over the period of this seamless handover, almost certainly helped by the fact that this change had been flagged two years previously.

 

Ashe Windham

Chairman

20 September 2012

 

* The calculation of the Company's Total Return includes an amount of 6.30 pence per share which represents the notional amount by which dividends paid to date would have grown if they had not been paid out as dividends but reinvested within the company.

 

Directors

 

The Company has six non-executive Directors, all of whom except Wayne Bulpitt and Peter Luthy, are independent of the Manager and details of whom are set out below.

Ashe Windham, CVO, aged 55 and a resident of the United Kingdom. He joined Barclays de Zoete Wedd (''BZW'') in 1987 as an institutional equities salesman and was appointed a Director of BZW's Equities Division in 1991. He joined Credit Suisse First Boston in 1997 when they acquired BZW's equities business. In 2004 he joined Man Investments as Head of Internal Communications and in 2007 became Man Group's Global Head of Internal Communications. In June 2009 he resigned from Man Group plc to set up a private family office. Mr Windham was appointed to the Board on 24 February 2009.

 

Wayne Bulpitt, aged 51 and a resident of Guernsey. He is Managing Director and Principal of Active Group Limited and Chairman of BlueCrest BlueTrend Limited. He was formerly Head of Offshore Investment Services for Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Global Private Banking & Trust division (1998-2001) and Managing Director of CIBC Fund Managers (Guernsey) Limited (1992-1998). He is also a Director of Ruffer Illiquid Strategies Fund of Funds 2009 Limited and Ruffer Illiquid Strategies Fund of Funds 2011 Limited, two Guernsey registered investment companies managed by the Company's Investment Manager. Mr Bulpitt was appointed to the Board on 1 June 2004.

 

Jeannette Etherden, aged 52 and a resident of the United Kingdom. She started in 1983 as a research analyst at Confederation Life (acquired by Sun Life of Canada in 1994) and was Head of UK Equities from 1991. In 1996 she moved to Newton Investment Management as a multi-asset fund manager. She was appointed a Director for Newton in 1997 and additionally was Chief Operating Officer, Investments from 1999 until her resignation in 2001. From January 2004 to January 2006 she was Business Development Manager for the Candela Fund at Olympus Capital Management. Ms Etherden was appointed to the Board on 1 June 2004.

 

Peter Luthy, aged 61 and a resident of the United Kingdom. He has worked in the fixed income market for 25 years. In 1990, he co-founded a credit focussed bond broker, Luthy Baillie Dowsett Pethick and Co. Limited (''LBDP''). Dresdner Kleinwort Benson acquired LBDP in 1996 where he was global head of credit products. In 1998 he became global head of investment banking at Barclays Capital and, after 2001, acted as a consultant on bank credit portfolios. Currently, he is a Managing Partner of Banquo Credit Management LLP. He is also a Director of Ruffer Illiquid Strategies Fund of Funds 2009 Limited and Ruffer Illiquid Strategies Fund of Funds 2011 Limited, two Guernsey registered investment companies managed by the Company's Investment Manager. Mr Luthy was appointed to the Board on 1 June 2004.

 

Christopher Spencer, aged 62 and a resident of Guernsey. He qualified as a chartered accountant in London in 1975. Following two years in Bermuda he moved to Guernsey. Mr Spencer, who specialized in audit and fiduciary work, was Managing Partner/Director of Pannell Kerr Forster (Guernsey) Limited from 1990 until his retirement in May 2000. Mr Spencer is a member of the AIC Offshore Committee, a past President of the Guernsey Society of Chartered and Certified Accountants, and a past Chairman of the Guernsey Branch of the Institute of Directors. He is a non-executive Director of a number of hedge funds, funds of hedge funds and other investment and insurance companies. Mr Spencer was appointed to the Board on 1 June 2004.

 

John V Baldwin, aged 62 and a resident of Italy. After taking a Master's Degree in Asian Studies at Yale University, he joined Robert Fleming & Co. in 1983 as an investment analyst trainee. In 1984 he was seconded to the Tokyo Branch of Jardine Fleming as an investment analyst, where he continued in various roles for 16 years, the final five as a Director of Jardine Fleming Securities (Asia) and Tokyo Branch Manager. The first foreigner appointed Member Governor of the Tokyo Stock Exchange; he also served on various committees of the Japan Securities Dealers Association. In 2001 he retired from successor firm JPMorgan Chase after serving as Head of Japanese Cash Equities. Mr Baldwin was appointed to the Board on 24 February 2011.

 

Report of the Directors

 

The Directors of Ruffer Investment Company Limited (the "Company") present their Annual Financial Report for the year ended 30 June 2012 which have been properly prepared in accordance with The Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008.

 

Registration

The Company was incorporated with limited liability in Guernsey on 1 June 2004 as a company limited by shares and as an authorised closed-ended investment company. As an existing closed-ended fund the Company is deemed to be granted an authorised declaration in accordance with section 8 of the Protection of Investors (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 1987, as amended and rule 6.02 of the Authorised Closed-ended Investment Schemes Rules 2008 on the same date as the Company obtained consent under the Control of Borrowing (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Ordinance 1959 to 1989.

Principal Activity and Investment Objective

The Company is a Guernsey authorised closed-ended investment company with a premium listing on the London Stock Exchange (the "LSE"). The principal objective of the Company is detailed in the Annual Financial Report.

 

Blocklisting and additional shares issued

At the start of the year, the Company had the ability to issue 9,963,841 redeemable participating shares under a blocklisting facility. During the year the Company made a further application to the United Kingdom Financial Services Authority (the "FSA") and to the LSE for the blocklisting of 13,193,841 (30.06.11: 12,463,841) redeemable participating preference shares of 0.01 pence each pursuant to the General Corporate Purposes Scheme. These new redeemable participating preference shares, when issued, rank pari passu with the existing equity shares of the Company.

 

Under the blocklisting facility, 14,350,000 new redeemable participating preference shares of 0.01 pence each were allotted and issued during the year to 30 June 2012 as follows:

 

Date


Shares


Price per share


Total





£


£

5 July 2011


500,000


2.0200


1,010,000

19 July 2011


400,000


2.0300


812,000

26 July 2011


750,000


2.0425


1,531,875

2 August 2011

150,000


2.0300


304,500

16 August 2011

600,000


1.9500


1,170,000

23 August 2011

200,000


1.9270


385,400

30 August 2011

150,000


1.9325


289,875

20 September 2011

500,000


1.9650


982,500

27 September 2011

500,000


1.9650


982,500

11 October 2011

200,000


1.9750


395,000

18 October 2011

600,000


1.9725


1,183,500

25 October 2011

250,000


1.9675


491,875

8 November 2011

100,000


1.9701


197,010

22 November 2011

450,000


1.9700


886,500

6 December 2011

450,000


1.9900


895,500

13 December 2011

300,000


1.9875


596,250

20 December 2011

100,000


1.9602


196,020

31 January 2012

250,000


2.0100


502,500

7 February 2012

150,000


2.0200


303,000

14 February 2012

400,000


2.0230


809,200

21 February 2012

400,000


2.0400


816,000

28 February 2012

900,000


2.0410


1,836,900

16 March 2012

250,000


2.0356


508,900

23 March 2012

150,000


2.0390


305,850

5 April 2012


325,000


2.0436


664,170

11 April 2012

275,000


2.0325


558,938

20 April 2012

350,000


2.0210


707,350

27 April 2012

650,000


2.0000


1,300,000

4 May 2012


2,850,000


1.9871


5,663,235

30 May 2012


900,000


1.9500


1,755,000

26 June 2012


300,000


1.9700


591,000



14,350,000




28,632,348

 

Subsequent to the year end and up to the date of this report the Company issued a further 1,850,000 new redeemable participating preference shares of 0.01 pence each as follows:

 

 







Price per



Date



Shares


share


Total






£


£

3 July 2012




200,000


1.9775


395,500

13 July 2012




200,000


1.9940


398,800

20 July 2012




500,000


1.9800


990,000

27 July 2012




100,000


1.9810


198,100

31 July 2012




350,000


1.9700


689,500

17 August 2012




200,000


2.0060


401,200

24 August 2012




150,000


2.0130


301,950

4 September 2012




150,000


1.9820


297,300





1,850,000




3,672,350

 

The Company has the ability to issue a further 6,957,682 redeemable participating preference shares under the blocklisting facility.

 

As at the date of this report the Company had 143,338,416 redeemable participating preference shares of 0.01 pence each and 2 Management shares of £1.00 each in issue. Therefore, the total voting rights in the Company at the date of this report were 143,338,418.

 

Results and Dividends

The results for the year are set out in the Statement of Comprehensive Income. A first interim dividend of 1.5p per share (£1,963,326) was declared on 23 September 2011 and paid on 28 October 2011 in respect of the period from 1 January 2011 to 30 June 2011. A second interim dividend of 1.6p per share (£2,167,015) was declared on 23 February 2012 and paid on 23 March 2012 in respect of the period covered by this annual financial report. A third interim dividend of 1.6p per share was approved on 20 September 2012, also in respect of the period covered by this report. The financial impact of the dividend is not included in these financial statements.

 

Shareholder Information

The Company announces its unaudited NAV on a weekly basis and at the month end. A monthly report on investment performance is published by the Company's Investment Manager, on the Investment Manager's website, www.ruffer.co.uk.

 

Investment Management

The Investment Manager of the Company is Ruffer LLP (the "Investment Manager"). The key terms of the Investment Management Agreement and specifically the fee charged by the Investment Manager are set out in Notes 6 and 14 of the financial statements. The Board believes that the investment management fee is competitive with other investment companies with similar investment mandates.

 

The Board reviews on an ongoing basis the performance of the Investment Manager and considers whether the investment strategy utilised is likely to achieve the Company's investment objective of realising a positive total annual portfolio return, after all expenses, of at least twice the return of the Bank of England base rate.

 

Having considered the portfolio performance and investment strategy, the Board has unanimously agreed that the interests of the shareholders as a whole are best served by the continuing appointment of the Investment Manager on the terms agreed.

 

The Investment Management Agreement will continue in force until terminated by the Investment Manager or the Company giving to the other party thereto not less than 12 months notice in writing.

 

Directors

The details of the Directors of the Company during the year and at the date of this Report are set out on the Management and Administration summary.

 

Directors' Interests

The Directors who held office at 30 June 2012 and up to the date of this Report held the following numbers of redeemable participating preference shares beneficially:






30.06.12

30.06.11

Directors





Shares

Shares

Wayne Bulpitt





20,000

20,000

Jeannette Etherden





36,627

36,627

Christopher Spencer





14,157

14,157

Ashe Windham





70,000

68,000

Peter Luthy*





120,000

 

*Peter Luthy holds these shares jointly with his wife.

 

Significant Shareholdings

Disclosure and Transparency Rules are now comprised in the FSA handbook. Such rules require substantial Shareholders to make relevant holding notifications to the Company and to the FSA. The Company must then disseminate this information to the wider market.

 

Going Concern

The Directors believe that it is appropriate to continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the Annual Financial Report since the assets of the Company consist mainly of securities which are readily realisable and, accordingly, the Company has adequate financial resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future.

 

The Board also has the discretion to operate the Redemption Facility, offering shareholders the possibility of redeeming all or part of their shareholding for cash at the NAV, if it appears appropriate to do so.

 

Corporate Governance

As a result of the changes to the United Kingdom Listing Regime, currently the United Kingdom Listing Authority requires all overseas companies with a "Premium Listing" (which includes the Company) to "comply or explain" against the United Kingdom Corporate Governance Code (the "Code").

 

On 30 September 2011, the Guernsey Financial Services Commission ("GFSC") issued a new Code of Corporate Governance (the "GFSC Code") which came into effect on 1 January 2012. The GFSC Code replaces the existing GFSC guidance, "Guidance on Corporate Governance in the Finance Sector". The GFSC Code provides a framework that applies to all entities licensed by the GFSC or which are registered or authorised as a collective investment scheme. Companies reporting against the United Kingdom Corporate Governance Code or the Association of Investment Companies Code of Corporate Governance are deemed to comply with the GFSC Code.

 

The Board, having reviewed the Code, considers that it has maintained procedures during the year ended 30 June 2012 to ensure that it complies with the Code and its special circumstances as an investment company registered in Guernsey. The Company complies with United Kingdom listing rules and hence is deemed to comply with the GFSC Code.

 

The Board

The Board currently comprises six non-executive Directors, all of whom are independent with the exception of Wayne Bulpitt and Peter Luthy.

 

Under the Code Wayne Bulpitt and Peter Luthy are considered not to be independent by reason of being Directors of other funds managed by the Company's Investment Manager. None of the Directors has a contract of service with the Company.

 

The Board meets on at least four occasions each year, at which time the Directors review the management of the Company's assets and all other significant matters so as to ensure that the Directors maintain overall control and supervision of the Company's affairs. The Board is responsible for the appointment and monitoring of all service providers to the Company.

 

Chairman, Senior Independent Director and Chief Executive

The Chairman of the Board is Ashe Windham. A biography for Mr Windham and all other Directors appears on the Directors' Page. In considering the independence of the Chairman, the Board has taken note of the provisions of the Code relating to independence, and has determined that Mr Windham is an independent Director.

As the Chairman is an independent Director, no appointment of a senior independent Director has been made. The Company has no employees and therefore there is no requirement for a chief executive.

 

Attendance at the Board and other Committee meetings during the year was as follows:


Number of Meetings held

Wayne Bulpitt

Jeannette Etherden

Peter Luthy

Christopher Spencer

Ashe Windham

John V Baldwin

Board Meetings

4

4

3

4

4

4

4

Audit Committee Meetings

2

1

1

2

2

2

2

Ad-hoc Board Meetings

3

2

1

2

3

1

3

 

Performance Evaluation

The Chairman evaluates the performance of each of the Directors on an ongoing basis, taking into account the effectiveness of their contributions and their commitment to the role. The Chairman conducts formal appraisals with each Director on an annual basis. The Board conducts a similar appraisal of the Chairman.

 

Re-election

In accordance with the Company's Articles of Association, at each Annual General Meeting ("AGM") one-third of the Directors, (or if their number is not three or an integral multiple of three), the number nearest to, but (except where there are less than three Directors) not greater than one-third, shall retire from office.  

 

On 24 November 2011 at the 7th AGM of the Company, John Baldwin, Ashe Windham, Peter Luthy and Wayne Bulpitt retired as Directors of the Company and being eligible had offered themselves for re-election and were re-elected as Directors of the Company by the Shareholders.

 

As Peter Luthy and Wayne Bulpitt are Directors of other companies managed by the Company's Investment Manager they are deemed to be non-independent Directors and therefore stand for re-election at each annual general meeting.

 

The Directors may at any time appoint any person to be a Director either to fill a casual vacancy or as an addition to the existing Directors. Any Director so appointed shall hold office only until, and shall be eligible for re-election at, the next general meeting following their appointment but shall not be taken into account in determining the Directors or the number of Directors who are to retire by rotation at that meeting if it is an AGM.

 

Supply of Information

The quarterly board meetings are the principal source of regular information for the Board enabling it to determine policy and to monitor performance and compliance. The Board also receives regular weekly and monthly reports on portfolio activity and performance as well as occasional reports on items of interest. A representative of the Investment Manager attends each board meeting thus enabling the Board to discuss and review the Company's operations, strategy and performance.

 

All of the Directors have direct access to the Company Secretary, and may, at the expense of the Company, seek independent professional advice on any matter that concerns them in the furtherance of their duties.

 

Directors' Responsibilities in Respect of the Financial Statements

The Directors are responsible for preparing the Report of the Directors and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

 

Company law requires the Directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law they have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") and applicable law.

 

The financial statements are required by law to give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Company and of the profit or loss of the Company for that period. 

 

In preparing those financial statements the Directors are required to:

 

•        select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

•        make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

•        state whether International Financial Reporting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and

•        prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to assume that the Company will continue in business.

 

The Directors are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with The Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008. They have general responsibility for taking such steps as are reasonably open to them to safeguard the assets of the Company and to prevent and detect fraud and other irregularities.

 

Directors' Responsibility Statement

The Directors confirm that they have complied with the above requirements in preparing the financial statements and that to the best of their knowledge and belief:

 

(a)     The Annual Financial Report, prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards, gives a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit of the Company; and

 

(b)    The Chairman's Review, Investment Manager's Report and Report of the Directors includes a fair review of the development and performance of the business and the position of the Company together with a description of the principal risks and uncertainties that the Company faces.

 

The Directors recognise their responsibilities stated above.

 

Disclosure of Information to the Auditor

The Directors who held office at the date of approval of these financial statements confirm that, so far as they are each aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the Company's auditor is unaware; and each Director has taken all the steps that they ought to have taken as a Director to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the Company's auditor is aware of that information. 

 

Audit Committee

The Company's Audit Committee is comprised of the independent Directors, with Christopher Spencer appointed as Chairman. The Audit Committee has the following remit: to meet bi-annually and to consider, inter-alia: (a) annual and interim financial statements; (b) auditor reports; and (c) terms of appointment and remuneration for the auditor (including overseeing the independence of the auditor particularly as it relates to the provision of non-audit services). The Board is satisfied that the Audit Committee contains members with sufficient recent and relevant financial experience.

 

The Audit Committee has considered the requirement for an annual internal audit of the Company. On the basis that the Company is an investment company with no employees, and, due to the Company's service providers all being regulated entities who themselves are subject to internal audits, the Audit Committee is of the opinion that an internal audit is not necessary for the Company.

 

Nomination Committee

The Board as a whole fulfils the function of a Nomination Committee. Any proposal for a new Director will be discussed and approved by the Board. The Board will determine whether in future an external search consultancy or open advertising is used in the appointments of non-executive Directors.

 

Directors' Remuneration

The level of Directors' fees is determined by the whole Board on an annual basis and therefore a separate Remuneration Committee has not been appointed. When considering the level of Directors' remuneration the Board considers the industry standard and the level of work that is undertaken. Since all Directors are non executive, the Company is not required to comply with the principles of the Code in respect of executive Directors' remuneration. Directors' fees are disclosed fully in each Annual Financial Report. During a board meeting held on 24 November 2011, it was approved, with effect from 1 January 2012, to increase the basic fee payable to the Chairman and each non-executive Director from £28,500 to £35,000 and £20,000 to £25,000 respectively. None of the Directors had a service contract with the Company during the year and accordingly a Director is not entitled to any minimum period of notice or to compensation in the event of their removal as a Director.

 

Internal Control

The Board is responsible for establishing and maintaining the Company's system of internal controls and for maintaining and reviewing their effectiveness. The system of internal controls is designed to manage rather than to eliminate the risk of failure to achieve business objectives and as such can only provide reasonable, but not absolute, assurance against material misstatement or loss.

 

The Board considers on an ongoing basis the process for identifying, evaluating and managing any significant risks faced by the Company. The process includes reviewing reports from the Company Secretary on risk control and compliance, in conjunction with the Investment Manager's regular reports which cover investment performance.

 

The Board has contractually delegated to external parties various functions as listed below. The duties of investment management, accounting and custody are segregated. Each of the contracts entered into with the parties was entered into after full and proper consideration by the Board of the quality and cost of services offered, including the control systems in operation as far as they relate to the affairs of the Company.

 

•        Investment Management is provided by Ruffer LLP, a company authorised by the FSA.

•        Administration, Accounting, Registrar and Company Secretarial duties are performed by Northern Trust International Fund Administration Services (Guernsey) Limited, a company licensed and regulated by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission.

•        CREST agency functions are performed by Computershare Investor Services (Jersey) Limited, a company licensed and regulated by the Jersey Financial Services Commission.

•        Custody of assets is undertaken by Northern Trust (Guernsey) Limited, a company licensed and regulated by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission.

 

Dialogue with Shareholders

The Investment Manager and the Corporate Broker maintain regular dialogue with institutional shareholders, feedback from which is reported to the Board. In addition, Board members sometimes attend meetings between the Investment Manager and institutional shareholders and they are available to answer shareholders' questions at any time, and specifically at the AGM. The Company Secretary is available to answer general shareholder queries at any time during the year.

 

Auditor

The Auditor, Moore Stephens, have indicated their willingness to continue in office. Accordingly, a resolution for their reappointment will be proposed at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting.

 

On behalf of the Board

 

                                                                               

Ashe Windham                                                                    Christopher Spencer

Chairman                                                                              Director

 

20 September 2012

Investment Manager's Report

 

For the year ended 30 June 2012

 

In the twelve month period from 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012 the asset value per share fell by 0.6p after allowing for a dividend of 3.1p. At the period end the net asset value per share was 191.93p*, representing a total return of -0.3% over 12 months compared to the target return of 1.0%, being twice the Bank of England base rate. Over the same period the FTSE Allshare fell 3.1% on a total return basis.

 

Since launch on 8 July 2004, the net asset value of the company has risen by 120%**, including dividends, and over the same period the FTSE Allshare produced a total return of 75%.

 

Were our investors only to read this report each year they could be forgiven for thinking that little has changed over the last 12 months. The 2011 report referred to the economic problems in the periphery of Europe, the exorbitantly high price attributed to safe haven assets, the continuation of ultra loose monetary policy and the importance of index-linked bonds in protecting us from the secondary effects of such a policy. All these concerns are as pertinent today as they were 12 months ago and they continue to influence the mix of assets in the portfolio. Yet to conclude that nothing has changed in the last 12 months is far from the truth. We have moved a long way and although the oft touted accusation aimed at European policy makers of "kicking the can down the road" has thus far averted a breakup of the Euro, it has not brought us any closer to a permanent solution. Greece has effectively defaulted on investors in its sovereign debt and Spain and Italy are being sucked into the vortex as their borrowing costs continue to rise. Politically the landscape has changed as well; Angela Merkel looks a lonely figure in the pro-austerity camp as momentum has moved to leaders with a pro-growth agenda. What has not changed is the stance of central bankers across the world, whose tool-cupboards are looking increasingly bare and one dimensional. With interest rates already at rock bottom levels the Federal Reserve has resorted to guaranteeing that they will remain so for at least another 18 months. In the United Kingdom the Bank of England approved another round of quantitative easing (£50bn) and the European Central Bank reduced interest rates by 0.25%; neither of these initiatives had much of an impact on financial markets.

 

So much for the theory, why then has your investment company not managed to make better progress in the last year? The answer lies in the offsetting nature of the investments we hold. Fluctuations in the net asset value have been minimal despite significant market volatility; at times of market stress our protective investments have done well and offset the losses in equities. So far, so good. However, when equities have bounced we have not enjoyed the full effect of the recovery and this has meant that the portfolio has broadly trended sideways through the ups and downs of equity market movements. This is symptomatic of the broader economic backdrop where there is an almost Pavlovian connection between investors and monetary policy. The typical cycle is one where deteriorating market sentiment is followed by intervention in the form of quantitative easing or some similar form of stimulus; this adrenaline shot leads to a sharp rally in equity prices until the effect starts to wear off and sentiment once more begins to deteriorate. This cannot continue in perpetuity. Each time central banks intervene their efforts have less of an impact than the prior intervention and such reflationary policies gradually undermine confidence in paper currencies and monetary stability. Our index-linked bonds should benefit from this in the longer run but in the interim we need to work hard to find investment opportunities that will carry the portfolio while we wait. There have been many positive contributors in this respect: the 'nifty fifty' megacap theme, where companies like Wal-Mart, Merck, Kraft, Johnson & Johnson and Vodafone have all performed well; listed German property companies have also contributed as have turnaround stories such as Better Capital. We need to find more of these.

 

 

Ruffer LLP

24 July 2012

 

* Value reported to the London Stock Exchange, using mid market price

 

** The calculation of the Total Return includes an amount of 6.30 pence per share which represents the notional amount by which dividends paid to date would have grown if they had not been paid out as dividends but reinvested within the Company.

 

Company Performance

 



          Price

            Change in



          at 30.06.12

            Bid Price



Bid


Offer


 From


From



Price


Price


Launch


30.06.11



£


£


   %


   %










Shares


1.970


1.980


+ 97.00


-2.48










 

 

Prices are published in the Financial Times in the "Investment Companies" section, and in the Daily Telegraph's "Share Prices & Market Capitalisations" section under "Investment Trusts".

 

Fund Size




Net Asset


Net Asset

Number of Shares




Value


Value per Share

In Issue




£


£




30.06.12


270,884,661


   1.915*


141,488,416

 


30.06.11


248,248,134


1.953


127,138,416


30.06.10


178,695,014


1.823


98,042,672


30.06.09


135,603,281


1.521


89,129,703


30.06.08


116,617,351


1.308


89,129,703


30.06.07


123,690,774


1.166


106,117,074

 

 

* Net Asset Value per share reported to the London Stock Exchange was 1.920 using mid market values. Bid prices are presented as fair value in the financial statements.

 

Share Price Range




Highest


Lowest


Accounting


Offer Price


Bid Price


Period to:


£


£








30.06.12


2.070


1.900


30.06.11


2.110


1.850


30.06.10


2.005


1.555


30.06.09


1.570


1.250


30.06.08


1.300


1.085


30.06.07


1.260


1.110

 

NAV Range




Highest


Lowest


Accounting


NAV


NAV


Period to:


£


£








30.06.12


1.991


1.871


30.06.11


1.960


1.810


30.06.10


1.897


1.518


30.06.09


1.526


1.266


30.06.08


1.333


1.176


30.06.07


1.211


1.166

 

Past performance is not a guide to the future. The value of the shares and the income from them can go down as well as go up and you may not get back the amount originally invested.

 

Investment Policy

 

The principal objective of the Company is to achieve a positive total annual return, after all expenses, of at least twice the Bank of England base rate. The Company predominantly invests in internationally listed or quoted equities or equity related securities (including convertibles) and/or bonds which are issued by corporate issuers, supra-nationals or government organisations.

 

Investment policies

In selecting investments the Company will adopt a stock picking approach and will not adopt any investment weightings by reference to any benchmark. Both the Board and the Investment Manager believe that the adoption of any index related investment style would inhibit the ability of the Company to deliver its objectives.

 

The Company invests across a broad range of assets, geographies and sectors in order to achieve its objective. This allocation will change over time to reflect the risks and opportunities identified by the Investment Manager across global financial markets, with an underlying focus on capital preservation. The allocation of the portfolio between equities and bonds will vary from time to time so as to enable the Company to achieve its objective. There are no restrictions on the geographical or sectoral exposure of the portfolio (except those restrictions noted below).

 

The universe of equity, equity related securities or bonds in which the Company may invest will be wide and may include companies domiciled in, and bonds issued by entities based in, non-European countries, including countries that may be classed as emerging or developing. This may result in a significant exposure to currencies other than sterling.

 

Investment restrictions and guidelines

It is not intended for the Company to have any structural gearing. The Company has the ability to borrow up to 30% of the NAV at any time for short term or temporary purposes, as may be necessary for settlement of transactions, to facilitate share redemption or to meet ongoing expenses.

 

The Company will not invest in the securities of any company that is not quoted or does not have a listing on a Relevant Market. For the avoidance of doubt this will not prohibit the Company from investing in collective investment schemes (including open-ended investment companies) such as funds registered under UCITS.

 

The proportion of the portfolio invested into companies based in emerging or developing countries will be limited, at the time of any investment, to below 15% of the Company's gross assets.

 

The Directors have determined that the Company will not engage in currency hedging except where the Investment Manager considers such hedging to be in the interests of efficient portfolio management.

 

The Directors have determined that not more than 10%, in aggregate, of the value of the gross assets of the Company at the time of acquisition may be invested in other listed investment companies (including listed investment trusts) except that this restriction will not apply to investments in such entities which themselves have stated investment policies to invest no more than 15% of their gross assets in other listed investment companies (including listed investment trusts). Regardless of the above restriction, the Directors have further determined that no more than 15% in aggregate of the Company's gross assets will be invested in other listed investment companies (including listed investment trusts and collective investment schemes).

 

General

In accordance with the requirements of the FSA, any material changes in the Investment Policy of the Company may only be made with the approval of shareholders.

 

Top Ten Holdings

 




Fair

% of



Holding at

Value

Total Net

Investments

Currency

30.06.2012

£

Assets






UK Index-Linked Gilt 1.25% 22/11/2017

GBP

15,604,400

22,386,728

8.26

UK Index-Linked Gilt 1.25% 22/11/2055

GBP

8,430,000

15,913,657

5.87

US Treasury Inflation Indexed 1.625% Bond 15/01/2018

USD

16,300,000

13,021,602

4.81

US Treasury Inflation Indexed 1.625% Bond 15/01/2015

USD

13,460,000

10,986,526

4.06

Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp

JPY

288,000

8,514,812

3.14

US Treasury Inflation Indexed 1.875% Bond 15/07/2015

USD

10,100,000

8,282,088

3.06

CF Ruffer Japanese Fund*

GBP

7,500,000

7,703,250

2.84

T&D Holdings Inc

JPY

1,134,000

7,638,735

2.82

Vodafone Group Plc

GBP

3,800,000

6,811,500

2.51

Johnson & Johnson Common Stock

USD

153,700

6,621,511

2.44

 

 

* CF Ruffer Japanese Fund is classed as a related party as it shares the same Investment Manager as the Company.

 

The market value of all related investment funds are deducted from the NAV of the Company before the calculation of management fees on a monthly basis.

 

Independent Auditor's Report

To the Shareholders of Ruffer Investment Company Limited

 

We have audited the financial statements of Ruffer Investment Company Limited (the "Company") for the year ended 30 June 2012 - which comprise the Statement of Financial Position, the Statement of Comprehensive Income, the Statement of Changes in Equity, the Statement of Cash Flows, and the related notes. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and International Financial Reporting Standards.

 

This report is made solely to the Company's members as a body, in accordance with Section 262 of The Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the Company's members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Company and the Company's members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

 

Respective responsibilities of directors and auditor

As explained more fully in the Report of the Directors, the directors are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view.

 

Our responsibility is to audit and express an opinion on the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and International Standards on Auditing (United Kingdom and Ireland). These standards require us to comply with the Auditing Practices Board's Ethical Standards for Auditors.

 

Scope of the audit of the financial statements

An audit involves obtaining evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements sufficient to give reasonable assurance that the financial statements are free from material misstatement, whether caused by fraud or error. This includes an assessment of: whether the accounting policies are appropriate to the Company's circumstances and have been consistently applied and adequately disclosed; the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by the directors; and the overall presentation of the financial statements. In addition, we read all the financial and non-financial information in the annual report to identify material inconsistencies with the audited financial statements. If we become aware of any apparent material misstatements or inconsistencies, we consider the implications for our report.

 

Opinion

In our opinion the financial statements:

 

·           give a true and fair view of the state of the Company's affairs as at 30 June 2012 and of its loss for the year then ended;

·           are in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards; and

·           have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of The Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008.

 

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where The Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

 

·           proper accounting records have not been kept by the Company; or

·           the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records; or

·           we have failed to obtain all the information and explanations, which, to the best of our knowledge and belief, are necessary for the purposes of our audit.

 

We have nothing to report under the United Kingdom Listing Rules where we are required to review the part of the Corporate Governance Statement relating to the Company's compliance with the nine provisions of the United Kingdom Corporate Governance Code specified for our review.

 

David Green

MOORE STEPHENS

Chartered Accountants

Town Mills South

La Rue Du Pre

St Peter Port

Guernsey, GY1 3HZ

21 September 2012

 

Statement of Financial Position

 



30.06.12

30.06.11


Notes

£

£

ASSETS




Cash and cash equivalents


2,478,694

10,760,249

Unrealised gain on open forward foreign currency contracts

18

758,345

360,891

Receivables

9

12,932,211

3,712,244

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

8

256,155,624

235,966,572





Total assets


272,324,874

250,799,956









EQUITY




Capital and reserves attributable to the




Company's shareholders




Management share capital

11

2

2

Net assets attributable to holders of redeemable




participating preference shares


270,884,661

248,248,134





Total equity


270,884,663

248,248,136









LIABILITIES




Payables

10

869,925

1,413,465

Unrealised loss on open forward foreign currency contracts

18

570,286

1,138,355





Total liabilities


1,440,211

2,551,820













Total Equity and Liabilities


272,324,874

250,799,956









Net assets attributable to holders of redeemable




participating preference shares (per share)

12

1.915

1.953





 

The financial statements were approved on 20 September 2012 and signed on behalf of the Board of Directors by:

                                               

Ashe Windham                                                                    Christopher Spencer

Chairman                                                                               Director

 

 

Statement of Comprehensive Income





01.07.11 to

01.07.10 to





30.06.12

30.06.11


Notes

Revenue

Capital

Total

Total



£

£

£

£







Bank interest income


5,467

-

5,467

13,360

Fixed interest income


1,095,406

-

1,095,406

1,478,123

Dividend income


6,006,229

-

6,006,229

4,060,571

Net (losses)/gains on financial assets at





fair value through profit or loss

4

-

(4,464,386)

(4,464,386)

19,049,879

Other losses

5

-

(195,562)

(195,562)

(1,854,190)







Total income


7,107,102

(4,659,948)

2,447,154

22,747,743













Management fees

6

-

(2,368,171)

(2,368,171)

(2,038,587)

Expenses

7

(627,014)

(308,095)

(935,109)

(1,079,327)







Total expenses


(627,014)

(2,676,266)

(3,303,280)

(3,117,914)













(Loss)/Profit for the year before tax


6,480,088

(7,336,214)

(856,126)

19,629,829







Withholding tax


(696,208)

-

(696,208)

(503,005)







(Loss)/Profit for the year after tax


5,783,880

(7,336,214)

(1,552,334)

19,126,824













Total comprehensive (loss)/income






for the year


5,783,880

(7,336,214)

(1,552,334)

19,126,824













Basic and diluted (loss)/earnings per share *

4.33p

(5.49p)

(1.16p)

16.08p

 

*Basic and diluted (loss)/earnings per share are calculated by dividing the profit after taxation and increase in net assets attributable to holders of redeemable participating preference shares by the weighted average number of redeemable participating preference shares. The weighted average number of shares for the year was 133,680,223 (30.06.2011: 118,922,387).

 

Statement of Changes in Equity

 






Total




Share

Distributable

01.07.11 to




capital

reserves

30.06.12




£

£

£







Balance at 30 June 2011



69,663,683

178,584,451

248,248,134

Total comprehensive loss for the year



-

(1,552,334)

(1,552,334)

Transactions with Shareholders:






Share capital issued



28,632,348

-

28,632,348

Share issue costs



(313,146)

-

(313,146)

Distribution for the year



-

(4,130,341)

(4,130,341)







Balance at 30 June 2012



97,982,885

172,901,776

270,884,661

 

Net Assets attributable to holders of redeemable participating preference shares at the end of the year £270,884,661.






Total




Share

Distributable

01.07.10 to




capital

reserves

30.06.11




£

£

£







Balance at 30 June 2010



15,897,171

162,797,843

178,695,014

Total comprehensive income for the year



-

19,126,824

19,126,824

Transactions with Shareholders:






Share capital issued



54,984,375

-

54,984,375

Share issue costs



(1,217,863)

-

(1,217,863)

Distribution for the year



-

(3,340,216)

(3,340,216)







Balance at 30 June 2011



69,663,683

178,584,451

248,248,134







 

Net Assets attributable to holders of redeemable participating preference shares at the end of the year £248,248,134.

 

Under The Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008, the Company can distribute dividends from capital and revenue reserves, subject to a net asset and solvency test.

 

Statement of Cash Flows




01.07.11 to


01.07.10 to




30.06.12


30.06.11




Total


Total




£


£

Cash flows from operating activities






Purchase of financial assets at fair value through profit or loss



(131,739,108)


(143,810,642)

Proceeds from sale of financial assets at fair value through profit or loss (including realised gains)



95,156,289


97,389,056

Transaction costs paid to brokers



(308,095)


(442,786)

Bank interest received



5,467


13,360

Fixed interest income received



1,139,155


966,457

Dividends received



5,332,821


3,354,458

Operating expenses paid



(2,971,110)


(2,628,644)

Foreign exchange losses



(1,161,085)


(1,245,689)







Net cash used in operating activities



(34,545,666)


(46,404,430)













Cash flows from financing activities






Dividends paid



(4,130,341)


(3,340,216)

Proceeds from issue of redeemable participating preference shares

30,707,598


52,318,125

Share issue costs



(313,146)


(1,217,863)







Net cash generated from financing activities



26,264,111


47,760,046













Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents



(8,281,555)


1,355,616







Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year



10,760,249


9,404,633







Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year



2,478,694


10,760,249







 

Notes to the Financial Statements

 

1.  Significant accounting policies

 

Basis of preparation

The financial statements are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"), which comprise standards and interpretations approved by the International Accounting Standards Board ("IASB") and are in compliance with The Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, as modified by the revaluation of financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss.

 

This annual report and financial statements, covering the year from 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012, has been audited.

 

Standards, amendments and interpretations that are not yet effective

The following standards and interpretations, which have not been applied in these financial statements, were in issue at the reporting date but not yet effective:

 

IFRS 9 - Financial instruments: Classification and measurement (effective date - 1 January 2013)

IFRS 10 - Consolidated Financial Statements (effective date - 1 January 2013)

IFRS 11 - Joint arrangements (effective date - 1 January 2013)

IFRS 12 - Disclosure of interest in other entities (effective date - 1 January 2013)

IFRS 13 - Fair value measurement (effective date - 1 January 2013)

Amendments to IFRS 1 - Presentation of Items of Other Comprehensive Income (effective date - 1 July 2012)

 

The Board anticipate that the adoption of these standards and interpretations in a future period will not have a material impact on the financial statements of the Company, other than IFRS 9 and IFRS 13. The Company is currently evaluating the potential effect of these standards.

 

Financial instruments

Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised on the Company's Statement of Financial Position when the Company becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

 

Investment assets at fair value through profit or loss ("investments")

Purchases and sales of investments are recognised on the trade date (the date on which the Company commits to purchase or sell the investment). Investments purchased are initially recorded at fair value, being the consideration given and excluding transaction or other dealing costs associated with the investment.

 

Subsequent to initial recognition, investments are measured at fair value. Gains and losses arising from changes in the fair value of investments and gains and losses on investments that are sold are recognised through profit or loss in the Statement of Comprehensive Income within net gains/losses on investments assets at fair value through profit or loss.

 

Forward foreign currency contracts

Forward foreign currency contracts are treated as derivative contracts and as such are recognised at fair value on the date on which they are entered into and subsequently re-measured at their fair value. Fair value is determined by rates in active currency markets. All derivatives are carried as assets when fair value is positive and as liabilities when fair value is negative. The gain or loss on re-measurement to fair value is recognised immediately through profit or loss in the Statement of Comprehensive Income within other losses and gains in the period in which they arise.

 

Other financial instruments

For other financial instruments, including other receivables and other payables, the carrying amounts as shown in the Statement of Financial Position approximate to fair values due to the short term nature of these financial instruments. Other financial instruments are stated at amortised cost.

 

Offsetting of financial instruments

Financial assets and financial liabilities are offset and the net amount reported in the Statement of Financial Position if, and only if, there is a currently enforceable legal right to offset the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis, or to realise assets and settle the liabilities simultaneously.

 

Fair value

Investments consist of listed or quoted equities or equity related securities, options and bonds which are issued by corporate issuers, supra-nationals or government organisations and investment in funds.

 

Investments traded in active markets are valued at the latest available bid prices ruling at midnight on the reporting date.

 

Shares in investment funds are not listed on an actively traded exchange and these are valued at the latest estimate of NAV from the administrator of the respective investment funds as the most recent price is the best estimate of the amount for which holdings could have been disposed of at the reporting date.

 

Derecognition of financial instruments

A financial asset is derecognised when: (a) the rights to receive cash flows from the asset have expired, (b) the Company retains the right to receive cash flows from the asset, but has assumed an obligation to pay them in full without material delay to a third party under a "pass through arrangement"; or (c) the Company has transferred substantially all the risks and rewards of the asset, or has neither transferred nor retained substantially all the risks and rewards of the asset, but has transferred control of the asset.

 

A financial liability is derecognised when the obligation under the liability is discharged, cancelled or expired.

 

Significant estimates and judgements

The Company makes estimates and assumptions concerning the future. The resulting accounting estimates will, by definition, seldom equate to the related actual results. The main use of accounting estimates and assumptions occurs in the calculation of the sensitivity analysis and fair value hierarchy in Note 18.

 

Income

Dividend income from equity investments is recognised through profit or loss in the Statement of Comprehensive Income when the relevant investment is quoted ex-dividend. Investment income is included gross of withholding tax. Interest income is recognised through profit or loss in the Statement of Comprehensive Income for all debt instruments using the effective interest rate method.

 

Expenses

Expenses are accounted for on an accruals basis. Expenses incurred on the acquisition of financial assets at fair value through profit or loss and management fees are charged to the Statement of Comprehensive Income in capital. All other expenses are recognised through profit or loss in the Statement of Comprehensive Income in revenue.

 

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash comprises cash in hand and deemed deposits. Cash equivalents are short-term, highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less and bank overdrafts.

 

Translation of foreign currency

Items included in the Company's financial statements are measured using the currency of the primary economic environment in which it operates (the "functional currency"). This is the British Pound ("Sterling"), which is the currency in which its shares are denominated. The Company has also adopted Sterling as its presentation currency.

 

Foreign currency transactions are translated into the functional currency using the exchange rate prevailing at the transaction date. Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the settlement of such transactions and those from the translation at period end exchange rates of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are recognised in the Statement of Comprehensive Income.

 

Translation differences on non-monetary items such as financial assets held at fair value through profit or loss are reported as part of net gains or losses on financial assets through profit or loss in the Statement of Comprehensive Income.

 

Share issue costs

Share issue costs are fully written off against the share capital account in the period of the share issue.

 

Redeemable participating preference shares

As the Company's redeemable participating preference shares are redeemable at the sole option of the Directors they are required to be classified as equity instruments.

 

2. Taxation

 

The Company has been granted Exempt Status under the terms of The Income Tax (Exempt Bodies) (Guernsey) Ordinance, 1989 to income tax in Guernsey. Its liability is an annual fee of £600. 

 

The amounts disclosed as taxation in the Statement of Comprehensive Income relates solely to withholding tax suffered at source on income. Foreign capital gains tax charges are deducted from realised investment gains.

 

3. Dividends to shareholders

 

Dividends, if any, will be declared semi-annually, usually in September and March each year. A first interim dividend of 1.5p per share (£1,963,326) was declared on 23 September 2011 and paid on 28 October 2011 in respect of the period from 1 January 2011 to 30 June 2011. A second interim dividend of 1.6p per share (£2,167,015) was declared on 23 February 2012 and paid on 23 March 2012 in respect of the period covered by this annual financial report. A third interim dividend of 1.6p per share was approved on 20 September 2012, also in respect of the period covered by this report. The financial impact of the dividend is not included in these financial statements.

 

4. Net (losses)/gains on financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

 







01.07.11 to


01.07.10 to







30.06.12


30.06.11







£


£

The net (losses)/gains on financial assets at fair value through profit or loss




during the year comprise:




















Gains realised on investments sold during the year


5,680,421


7,825,379

Unrealised (losses)/gains arising from changes in fair value during the year

(10,144,807)


11,224,500










Net (losses)/gains on financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

(4,464,386)


19,049,879



















 

 

5. Other losses

 








01.07.11 to


01.07.10 to








30.06.12


30.06.11








£


£

Unrealised gains/(losses) on forward foreign currency contracts

965,523


(608,500)

Realised losses on forward foreign currency contracts



(1,392,856)


(393,617)

Other realised and unrealised foreign exchange gains/(losses)

231,771


(852,073)


















(195,562)


(1,854,190)





















 

6. Management fees

 

The Company's Investment Manager is Ruffer LLP. The Manager receives an annual fee, payable monthly in arrears, at the rate of 1 per cent. per annum of the NAV of the Company net of the market value of all the related investment funds on a mid-market basis. 

 

During the year ended 30 June 2012, management fees of £2,368,171 (30.06.11: £2,038,587) were charged to the Company, of which £2,368,171 (30.06.11: £2,038,587) was charged to the capital reserves of the Company. The amount of £198,724 (30.06.11: £180,821) remained payable at the year end.

 

7. Expenses

 




01.07.11 to


01.07.10 to




30.06.12


30.06.11




£


£

Transaction costs



308,095


442,786

Administration fee



306,781


275,054

Directors' fees



143,578


131,488

General expenses



128,693


168,505

Custodian and trustee charges



27,711


41,994

Audit fee



20,251


19,500















935,109


1,079,327







 

All expenses were charged to revenue apart from transaction costs of £308,095 (30.06.11: £442,786) which were charged to the capital reserves of the Company.

 

8. Investment assets at fair value through profit or loss

 





30.06.12


30.06.11





£


£

Cost of investments held at end of the year


239,726,649


209,760,946

Fair value movement




16,428,975


26,205,626















Investment assets at fair value through profit or loss


256,155,624


235,966,572















 

9. Receivables

 








30.06.12


30.06.11








£


£

Amounts falling due within one year:








Sales of investments awaiting settlement




11,362,509


Investment income receivable







674,055


698,192

Due on issue of redeemable participating preference shares


591,000


2,666,250

Fixed interest income receivable



304,645


347,800

Other receivables







2


2




























12,932,211


3,712,244





















10. Payables

 







30.06.12


30.06.11







£


£

Amounts falling due within one year:







Purchases of investments awaiting settlement


473,078


1,039,356

Other creditors






116,398


110,226

Management fees payable






198,724


180,821

Withholding taxes payable






81,725


83,062

























869,925


1,413,465










 

11. Share capital account

 







30.06.12


30.06.11

 

Authorised share capital






£


£

 

100 Management Shares of £1.00 each




100


100

 

200,000,000 Unclassified Shares of 0.01p each


20,000


20,000

 

75,000,000 C Shares of 0.1p each






75,000


75,000

 










 










 







95,100


95,100

 










 










 





Number of shares


Share Capital

 





30.06.12

30.06.11

30.06.12


30.06.11

Issued share capital






£


£










Management shares









Management Shares of £1.00 each



2

2

2


2










Equity shares









Redeemable participating preference







Shares of 0.01p each:









Balance at start of year




127,138,416

98,042,672

69,663,683


15,897,171

Issued during the year




14,350,000

29,095,744

28,632,348


54,984,375

Share issue costs




(313,146)


(1,217,863)



















Balance as at end of year




141,488,416

127,138,416

97,982,885


69,663,683










 

 

Management shares

The Management shares, of which there are 2 in issue, were created to comply with the Company Memorandum and Amended and Restated Articles of Association. The management shares carry one vote each on a poll, do not carry any right to dividends and, in a winding-up, rank only for a return of the amount of the paid-up capital on such shares after return of capital on all other shares in the Company. The management shares are not redeemable.

 

Unclassified shares

Unclassified Shares can be issued as nominal shares or redeemable participating preference shares. Nominal Shares can only be issued at par to the Administrator. The Administrator is obliged to subscribe for nominal Shares for cash at par when redeemable participating preference shares are redeemed to ensure that funds are available to redeem the nominal amount paid up on redeemable participating preference shares.

 

The holder or holders of nominal shares shall have the right to receive notice of and to attend general meetings of the Company but shall not be entitled to vote thereat. Nominal shares shall carry no right to dividends. In a winding-up, holders of Nominal Shares shall be entitled to be repaid an amount equal to their nominal value out of the assets of the Company.

 

The holders of fully paid redeemable participating preference shares carry a preferential right to a return of capital in priority to the management shares but have no pre-emptive right and are entitled to one vote at all meetings of the relevant class of shareholders.

 

C Shares

There were no C Shares in issue at the year end (30.06.11: Nil).

 

Blocklisting and additional shares issued

At the start of the year, the Company had the ability to issue 9,963,841 redeemable participating shares under a blocklisting facility. During the year the Company made a further application to the FSA and to the LSE for the blocklisting of 13,193,841 (30.06.11: 12,463,841) redeemable participating preference shares of 0.01 pence each pursuant to the General Corporate Purposes Scheme. Under the blocklisting facility, 14,350,000 new redeemable participating preference shares of 0.01 pence each were allotted and issued during the year. These new redeemable participating preference shares rank pari passu with the existing shares in issue.

 

As at 30 June 2012 the Company had 141,488,416 redeemable participating preference shares of 0.01 pence each and 2 Management shares of £1.00 each in issue. Therefore, the total voting rights in the Company at 30 June 2012 were 141,488,418.

 

12. NAV reconciliation

 

The Company announces its NAV, based on mid-market value, to the LSE after each weekly and month end valuation point. The following is a reconciliation of the NAV per share attributable to redeemable participating preference shareholders as presented in these financial statements, using International Financial Reporting Standards to the NAV per share reported to the LSE:-

 






30.06.12


30.06.11

 






£


£

 

NAV per share reported to the LSE





1.920


1.956

 









 









 

IAS 39 valuations adjustment (MID to BID)




     (0.005)


       (0.003)









 









 

Net assets attributable to holders of redeemable







 

participating preference shares (per share)



1.915


1.953

 









 

 

 

13. Contingent liabilities

 

There were no contingent liabilities as at 30 June 2012 and 2011.

 

14. Related party transactions

 

Investment Management Agreement

The Company is managed by Ruffer LLP, an independent business incorporated in England and Wales as a limited liability partnership. The Company and the Investment Manager have entered into an Investment Management Agreement under which the Investment Manager has been given responsibility for the day-to-day discretionary management of the Company's assets (including uninvested cash) in accordance with the Company's investment objective and policy, subject to the overall supervision of the Directors and in accordance with the investment restrictions in the Investment Management Agreement and the Company's Articles of Association. The Investment Management Agreement will continue in force until determined by the Investment Manager or the Company giving to the other party thereto not less than 12 months notice.

 

The market value of all related investment funds are deducted from the NAV of the Company before the calculation of management fees on a monthly basis. Details of the management fees to which the Investment Manager is entitled are stated in Note 6.

 

Shares held in the Investment Manager

As at 30 June 2012, an immediate family member of the Chairman Ashe Windham, owned 100 (30.06.11: 100) shares in the Investment Manager.

 

Directors

The Company has six non-executive Directors, all of whom except Wayne Bulpitt and Peter Luthy are independent of the Investment Manager.

 

Under the Corporate Governance Code Wayne Bulpitt and Peter Luthy are not considered to be independent by reason of being Directors of Ruffer Illiquid Strategies Fund of Funds 2009 Limited and Ruffer Illiquid Strategies Fund of Funds 2011 Limited, two Guernsey registered investment companies managed by the Company's Investment Manager.

 

The Directors of the Company are remunerated for their services at such a rate as the Directors determine provided that the aggregate amount of such fees does not exceed £170,000 (30.06.11: £170,000) per annum.

 

At the board meeting held on 24 November 2011 a resolution was passed which authorised the increase of the fees payable to the Directors and Chairman. With effect from 1 January 2012, Directors' fees paid to each Director increased from £20,000 to £25,000 per annum. The fee paid to the Chairman increased from £28,500 to £35,000 per annum.

 

Total Directors' fees for the year, including the outstanding Directors' fees at the end of the year, are detailed below.

 





30.06.12


30.06.11





£


£

Directors' fees for the year




143,578


131,488















Accrued at end of the year




40,000


32,125















 

 

Shares held by related parties

As at 30 June 2012, Directors of the Company held the following numbers of shares beneficially:-

 





30.06.12


30.06.11

Directors




Shares


Shares

Wayne Bulpitt




20,000


20,000

Jeannette Etherden




36,627


36,627

Christopher Spencer




14,157


14,157

Ashe Windham




70,000


68,000

Peter Luthy*




120,000


 

*Peter Luthy holds these shares jointly with his wife.

 

As at 30 June 2012, Jonathan Ruffer, Chairman of the Investment Manager and his immediate family owned 940,535 (30.06.11: 981,635) shares in the Company.

 

As at 30 June 2012, Hamish Baillie, Investment Director of the Investment Manager owned 20,000 (30.06.11: Nil) shares in the Company.

 

As at 30 June 2012, Steve Russell, Investment Director of the Investment Manager owned 6,450 (30.06.11: 6,450) shares in the Company.

 

As at 30 June 2012, the Investment Manager held 11,258,895 (30.06.2011: 14,221,788) shares on behalf of its discretionary clients in the Company.

 

Investments in related funds

As at 30 June 2012 the Company held investments in five (30.06.2011: three) related investment funds valued at £21,589,957 (30.06.11: £23,748,502). Refer to the Portfolio Statement for details.

 

15. Substantial interests

 

Disclosure and Transparency Rules are now comprised in the Financial Services Authority handbook. Such rules require substantial Shareholders to make relevant holding notifications to the Company and the FSA. The Company must then disseminate this information to the wider market.

 

16. Operating segment reporting

 

The Board of Directors makes the strategic resource allocations on behalf of the Company. The Company has determined the operating segments based on the reports reviewed by the Board, which are used to make strategic decisions.

 

The Board is responsible for the Company's entire portfolio and considers the business to have a single operating segment. The Board's asset allocation decisions are based on a single, integrated investment strategy, and the Company's performance is evaluated on an overall basis.

 

There were no changes in the reportable segments during the year.

 

As required by IFRS 8, the total fair value of the financial instruments held by the Company by each major geographical segment, and the equivalent percentages of the total value of the Company, are reported in the Portfolio Statement.

 

Revenue earned is reported separately on the face of the Statement of Comprehensive Income as dividend income received from equities, and interest income received from fixed interest securities and bank deposits.

 

The Statement of Cash Flows separately reports cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities.

 

17. Financial instruments

 

In accordance with its investment objectives and policies, the Company holds financial instruments which at any one time may comprise the following:

•     securities held in accordance with the investment objectives and policies;

•     cash and short-term receivables and payables arising directly from operations;

•     derivative transactions including investment in forward foreign currency contracts; and

•     borrowing used to finance investment activity up to a maximum of 30% of the NAV of the Company.

 

Terms, conditions and accounting policies

The financial instruments held by the Company comprise principally of internationally listed or quoted equities or equity related securities (including convertibles), and/or bonds which are issued by corporate issuers, supra-nationals or government organisations.

 

Details of the significant accounting policies and methods adopted, including the criteria for recognition, the basis of measurement and the basis on which income and expenses are recognised, in respect of its financial assets and liabilities are disclosed in Note 1. The following table analyses the carrying amounts of the financial assets and liabilities by category as defined in IAS 39.

 

The following are the categories of financial instruments held by the Company at the reporting date:

 





30.06.12


30.06.11





Fair Value


Fair Value





£


£

Financial assets 







Listed securities




239,950,673


219,689,390

UCITS funds




16,204,951


16,277,182

Unrealised gain on open forward foreign currency contracts

758,345


360,891















Total financial assets  at fair value through profit and loss


256,913,969


236,327,463








Other financial assets*




15,410,905


14,472,493








 

*Other financial assets include cash and cash equivalents and receivables.

 












30.06.12


30.06.11





Fair Value


Fair Value





£


£

Financial liabilities







Payables




869,925


1,413,465

Unrealised loss on open forward foreign currency contracts

570,286


1,138,355



















1,440,211


2,551,820















 

18. Financial risk management and associated risks

 

The Company is exposed to a variety of financial risks as a result of its activities. These risks include market risk (including price risk, foreign currency risk and interest rate risk), credit risk and liquidity risk. These risks, which have applied throughout the year and the Investment Manager's policies for managing them are summarised as follows:

 

Market risk

Market risk is the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in market prices. The Company's activities expose it primarily to the market risks of changes in market prices, interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates.

 

Market price risk

Market price risk arises mainly from the uncertainty about future prices of the financial instruments held by the Company. It represents the potential loss the Company may suffer through holding market positions in the face of price movements.

 

The Company's investment portfolio is exposed to market price fluctuations which are monitored by the Investment Manager in pursuance of the investment objectives and policies. Adherence to investment guidelines and to investment and borrowing powers set out in the Placing and Offer for Subscription document mitigates the risk of excessive exposure to any particular type of security or issuer.

 

Market price sensitivity analysis

The sensitivity analysis below has been determined based on the exposure to equity, investment funds and bond price risks at the reporting date. The 10% reasonably possible price movement for equity related securities and investment funds and a 100 basis point increase or a 25 basis point reduction for the interest rate used by the Company is based on the Investment Manager's best estimates.

 

A 10% (30.06.11: 10%) increase in the market prices of equity related investments as at 30 June 2012 would have increased the net assets attributable to holders of redeemable participating preference shares by £17,214,184 (30.06.11: £16,265,760) and an equal change in the opposite direction would have decreased the net assets attributable to holders of redeemable participating preference shares by an equal opposite amount.

 

A sensitivity analysis based on the interest rates of bond related investments as at 30 June 2012 has been considered under Interest rate risk.

 

Actual trading results may differ from the above sensitivity analysis and these differences could be material.

 

Foreign currency risk

Foreign currency risk arises from fluctuations in the value of a foreign currency. It represents the potential loss the Company may suffer though holding foreign currency assets in the face of foreign exchange movements.

 

As a portion of the Company's investment portfolio is invested in securities denominated in currencies other than Sterling (the functional and presentation currency of the Company) the Statement of Financial Position may be significantly affected by movements in the exchange rates of such currencies against Sterling. The Investment Manager has the power to manage exposure to currency movements by using options, warrants and/or forward foreign currency contracts and details of the holdings of such instruments at the date of these financial statements is set out on the following page. The Company will not engage in currency hedging except where it considers such hedging to be in the interests of efficient portfolio management.

 

As at 30 June 2012, the Company had five (30.06.11: nine) open forward foreign currency contracts.

 

Forward contracts





Notional amount

30.06.12





of contracts

Fair value

Expiration

Underlying


outstanding

assets/






(liabilities)






£

13 July 2012

Foreign currency (Sale of USD)

US$35,588,000

(570,286)

13 July 2012

Foreign currency (Purchase of USD)

US$23,070,000

374,945

13 July 2012

Foreign currency (Purchase of USD)

US$12,518,000

59,149

15 August 2012

Foreign currency (Sale of EUR)

€ 16,227,100

7,050

14 September 2012

Foreign currency (Sale of JPY)

¥5,071,527,000

258,573


















129,431

















Notional amount

30.06.11





of contracts

Fair value

Expiration

Underlying


outstanding

assets/






(liabilities)






£

15 September 2011

Foreign currency (Sale of EUR)

€ 10,635,000

(230,800)

15 September 2011

Foreign currency (Sale of JPY)

¥4,595,784,000

(349,900)

15 September 2011

Foreign currency (Sale of JPY)

¥208,190,000

(4,354)

15 September 2011

Foreign currency (Sale of JPY)

¥328,710,000

11,637

15 September 2011

Foreign currency (Sale of JPY)

¥170,340,000

(4,682)

1 July 2011

Foreign currency (Purchase of JPY)

¥120,843,205

(6,705)

4 July 2011

Foreign currency (Purchase of JPY)

¥13,915,697

143

15 July 2011

Foreign currency (Sale of USD)

US$30,190,000

(541,914)

15 July 2011

Foreign currency (Purchase of USD)

US$30,190,000

349,111


















(777,464)







 

As at 30 June 2012, the Company had six (30.06.11: Nil) open spot foreign currency contracts.

 

Spot contracts





Notional amount

30.06.12





of contracts

Fair value

Expiration

Underlying


outstanding

assets






£

2 July 2012

Foreign currency (Sale of USD)

US$6,060,914

28,418

2 July 2012

Foreign currency (Sale of USD)

US$1,630,794

7,646

2 July 2012

Foreign currency (Sale of JPY)

¥5,208,000

592

2 July 2012

Foreign currency (Sale of USD)

US$3,511,086

20,816

3 July 2012

Foreign currency (Sale of USD)

US$9,800

18

3 July 2012

Foreign currency (Sale of JPY)

¥23,728,950

1,138


















58,628







 

The Investment Manager's treatment of currency transactions other than in Sterling is set out in Note 1 to the financial statements under "Translation of foreign currency" and "Forward foreign currency contracts".

 

As at 30 June 2012 and 2011, the Company held the following assets and liabilities in currencies other than the functional currency:



30.06.12


30.06.12

30.06.11

30.06.11



Assets


Liabilities

Assets

Liabilities



£


£

£

£

Japanese Yen


48,675,137


48,393,642

1,404,997

United States Dollar


76,441,008


1,064,844

64,304,651

561,778

Swedish Krona


2,578,775


4,501,272

Euro


10,379,479


10,800,263

230,800

Australian Dollar


3,161,398


1,229,868

Hong Kong Dollar


2,491,322


804,465

South African Rand


1,605,915


1,086,284

Swiss Franc


2,823,842









 

Foreign currency sensitivity

As at 30 June 2012, if the foreign exchange rates had weakened 10% (30.06.11: 10%) against Sterling with all other variables held constant, net assets attributable to holders of redeemable participating preference shares would be £9,115,952 (30.06.11: £8,585,594) lower net of open forward foreign currency contracts and due mainly as a result of foreign currency losses on translation of these financial assets and liabilities to Sterling. As at 30 June 2012, a 10% (30.06.11: 10%) strengthening of the foreign exchange rates against Sterling would have resulted in an equal but opposite effect on the net assets attributable to holders of redeemable participating preference shares. Any changes in the foreign exchange rate will directly affect the profit and loss, allocated to the capital column of the Statement of Comprehensive Income.

 

Actual trading results may differ from the above sensitivity analysis and these differences could be material.

 

Interest rate risk

Interest rate risk represents the uncertainty of investment return due to changes in the market rates of interest.

 

The Company invests in fixed and floating rate securities. The income of the Company may be affected by changes to interest rates relevant to particular securities or as a result of the Investment Manager being unable to secure similar returns on the expiry of contracts or sale of securities. Interest receivable on bank deposits or payable on the bank overdraft positions will be affected by fluctuations in interest rates.

 

The Investment Manager actively manages the Company's exposure to interest rate risk, paying heed to prevailing interest rates and economic conditions, market expectations and their own opinions of likely movements in interest rates. Currently the entire exposure of the Company to fixed interest securities is in the form of index-linked bonds. The value of these investments is determined by current and expected inflation and interest rates.

 

The value of fixed interest securities will be affected by general changes in interest rates that will in turn result in increases or decreases in the market value of those instruments. When interest rates decline, the value of the Company's investments in fixed rate debt obligations can be expected to rise, and when interest rates rise, the value of those investments may decline.

 

The investment portfolio details the security type, issuer, interest rate, and maturity date of all of the Company's fixed and floating rate securities as at 30 June 2012.

 

The table below summarises the Company's exposure to interest rate risks. It includes the Company's financial assets and liabilities at fair values, categorised by the earlier of contractual re-pricing or maturity dates.


Floating

Fixed

Non-Interest

Total

Total


rate

rate

bearing

30.06.12

30.06.11


£

£

£

£

£

Financial Assets












Cash and cash equivalents

2,478,694

2,478,694

10,760,249

Investments at fair value






through profit or loss

84,013,781

172,141,843

256,155,624

235,966,572

Unrealised gain on open forward





foreign currency contracts

758,345

758,345

360,891

Receivables

12,932,211

12,932,211

3,712,244














2,478,694

84,013,781

185,832,399

272,324,874

250,799,956







 


Floating

Fixed

Non-Interest

Total

Total


rate

rate

bearing

30.06.12

30.06.11


£

£

£

£

£

Financial Liabilities












Payables

869,925

869,925

1,413,465

Unrealised loss on open forward





foreign currency contracts

570,286

570,286

1,138,355














1,440,211

1,440,211

2,551,820







 

The table below summarises weighted average effective interest rates for financial instruments.

 




Weighted


Weighted




average period


average period



30.06.12

for which rate/

30.06.11

for which rate/



% p.a.

yield is fixed

% p.a.

yield is fixed







United Kingdom government bonds

-0.7419%

22.74 years

-0.1162%

20.55 years

United States government bonds

-0.9134%

3.86 years

0.6766%

13.75 years

 

Interest rate sensitivity analysis

An increase of 100 basis points (30.06.11: 100 basis points) in interest rates as at the reporting date would have decreased the net assets attributable to holders of redeemable participating preference shares by £10,810,110 (30.06.11: £10,111,965) and a decrease of 25 basis points (30.06.11: 25 basis points) in interest rates would have increased the net assets attributable to holders of redeemable participating preference shares by £2,702,528 (30.06.11: £2,527,991).

 

As all the Company's fixed rate securities are index-linked bonds, their yields, and as a consequence their prices, are determined by market perception as to the appropriate level of yields given the economic background. Key determinants include economic growth prospects, inflation, governments' fiscal positions and rates on nominal bonds of similar maturities. This sensitivity analysis assumes only a 100 basis point increase and a 25 basis point decrease in interest rates, with all other variables unchanged. This would be the equivalent of a 100 basis point increase and 25 basis point decreases in 'real' interest rates and as such is likely to overstate the actual impact of such a move in nominal rates.

 

Credit risk

Credit risk is the risk that an issuer or counterparty will be unable or unwilling to meet a commitment that it has entered into with the Company. Failure of any relevant counterparty to perform its obligations in respect of these items may lead to a financial loss.

 

The Company is exposed to credit risk in respect of cash and cash equivalents and receivables. The credit risk associated with debtors is limited to the unrealised gains on open derivative contracts such as forward foreign currency contracts, as detailed above and receivables. It is the opinion of the Board of Directors that the carrying amounts of these financial assets represent the maximum credit risk exposure as at the reporting date.

 

The Company will not invest in the securities of any company that is not quoted or does not have a listing on a market specified in the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotions) Order 2001 and such other financial markets as may be specifically agreed from time to time between the Board and the Investment Manager.

 

All transactions in listed securities are settled/paid upon delivery using approved brokers. The risk of default is considered minimal, as delivery of securities sold is only made once the broker has received payment. Payment is made on a purchase once the securities have been received by the broker. The trade will fail if either party fails to meet their obligation.

 

The Placing and Offer for Subscription document allows investment in a wide universe of equity related securities and bonds, including countries that may be classed as emerging or developing. In adhering to investment restrictions set out within the document, the Company mitigates the risk of any significant concentration of credit risk.

 

Credit risk analysis

The Company's maximum credit exposure is limited to the carrying amount of financial assets recognised at the reporting date, as summarised below:

 





30.06.12


30.06.11





£


£

Cash and cash equivalents




2,478,694


10,760,249

Unrealised gain in open forward foreign currency contracts

758,345


360,891

Receivables




12,932,211


3,712,244

Investments designated at fair value through profit or loss

256,155,624


235,966,572



















272,324,874


250,799,956








 

The Moody's and/or Standard and Poor (S&P) credit ratings of the issuers of Bonds held by the Company as at 30 June 2012 were as follows:






30.06.12





S&P

Moody's

UK Index-Linked Gilt 2.50% 26/07/2016



NR

Aaa

UK Index-Linked Gilt 1.25% 22/11/2017



NR

Aaa

UK Index-Linked Gilt 1.25% 22/11/2055



NR

Aaa

UK Index-Linked Gilt 0.375% 22/03/2062



NR

Aaa

US Treasury Inflation Indexed 1.625% Bond 15/01/2015

AA+

Aaa

US Treasury Inflation Indexed 1.875% Bond 15/07/2015

AA+

Aaa

US Treasury Inflation Indexed 0.125% Bond 15/04/2016

AA+

Aaa

US Treasury Inflation Indexed 1.625% Bond 15/01/2018

AA+

Aaa

 

NR: indicates that these securities are not rated by S&P.

                                                                                                                                                                                   

None of the Company's financial assets are secured by collateral or other credit enhancements.

 

Fair value

IFRS 7 requires the Company to classify fair value hierarchy that reflects the significance of the inputs used in making the measurements. IFRS 7 establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritises the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy under IFRS 7 are as follows:

 

Level 1 Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

 

Level 2 Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability either directly (that is, as prices) or indirectly (that is, derived from prices); and

 

Level 3 Inputs for the asset or liability that are not based on observable market data (that is, unobservable inputs).

 

The level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement is categorised in its entirety is determined on the basis of the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. For this purpose, the significance of an input is assessed against the fair value measurement in its entirety. If a fair value measurement uses observable inputs that require significant adjustment based on unobservable inputs, that measurement is a Level 3 measurement. Assessing the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, considering factors specific to the asset or liability.

 

The determination of what constitutes 'observable' requires significant judgment by the Company. The Company considers observable data to be that market data that is readily available, regularly distributed or updated, reliable and verifiable, not proprietary, and provided by independent sources that are actively involved in the relevant market.

 

The following table presents the Company's financial assets and liabilities by level within the valuation hierarchy as of 30 June 2012.

 









30.06.12



Level 1


Level 2


Level 3


Total



£


£


£


£

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss:









Government Indexed-Linked Bonds


84,013,781




84,013,781

Preference Shares


1,694,309




1,694,309

Equities


143,803,673




143,803,673

Investment Funds



25,460,684



25,460,684

Options


270,517




270,517

Warrants


912,660




912,660

Unrealised gain on open forward









foreign currency contracts



758,345



758,345

Total assets


230,694,940


26,219,029



256,913,969









Financial liabilites at fair value through profit or loss:







Unrealised loss on open forward









foreign currency contracts



570,286



570,286

Total liabilities



570,286



570,286

 

 

The following table presents the Company's financial assets and liabilities by level within the valuation hierarchy as of 30 June 2011.









30.06.11



Level 1


Level 2


Level 3


Total



£


£


£


£

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss:









Government Indexed-Linked Bonds


73,308,970




73,308,970

Equities


137,032,729




137,032,729

Investment Funds



25,042,391



25,042,391

Warrants


582,482




582,482

Unrealised gain on open forward









foreign currency contracts



360,891



360,891

Total assets


210,924,181


25,403,282



236,327,463



















Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss:









Unrealised loss on open forward









foreign currency contracts



1,138,355



1,138,355

Total liabilities



1,138,355



1,138,355

 

 

Assets classified in Level 1 consists of listed or quoted equities or equity related securities, options and bonds which are issued by corporate issuers, supra-nationals or government organisations.

 

Assets classified in Level 2 are investment in funds fair-valued using the official NAV of each fund as reported by each fund's independent administrator.

 

The Company held no Level 3 investments as at 30 June 2012 and 2011.

 

Liquidity risk

Liquidity risk is the risk that the Company will find it difficult or impossible to realise assets or otherwise raising funds to meet financial commitments.

 

The Company's liquidity risk is managed by the Investment Manager who monitors the cash positions on a regular basis. The Company's overall liquidity risks are monitored on a regular basis by the Board of Directors and a formal report is made by the Investment Manager to the Directors at each Board Meeting.

 

As at 30 June 2012 and 2011, the Company had no significant financial liabilities other than short-term payables arising directly from investing activity.

 

19. Capital risk management

 

The fair value of the Company's financial assets and liabilities approximate to their carrying amounts at the reporting date. For the purposes of this disclosure, redeemable participating preference shares are considered to be capital.

 

The Company's objectives when managing capital are to safeguard the Company's ability to continue as a going concern in order to provide returns for shareholders and benefits for other stakeholders and to maintain an optimal capital structure to reduce the cost of capital. There are no externally-imposed capital requirements on the Company.

 

The Company has the ability to borrow up to 30% of its NAV at any time for short-term or temporary purposes as is necessary for the settlement of transactions, to facilitate redemption (where applicable) or to meet ongoing expenses. The Company does not have, nor does it intend to adopt, any structural gearing. The gearing ratio below is calculated as total liabilities divided by total equity.

 





30.06.12


30.06.11





£


£

Total assets




272,324,874


250,799,956

Less: total liabilites




(1,440,211)


(2,551,820)

Total equity




270,884,663


248,248,136








Gearing ratio




0.53%


1.03%

 

The Board considers this gearing ratio to be adequate since total liabilities above refer only to other payables and unrealised losses on open forward foreign currency contracts.

 

Redemption Facility

The Company has a Redemption Facility (which takes the form of a tender offer to all holders of redeemable participating preference shares) which was made available after 8 July 2007. This facility may operate annually, in November each year, at the discretion of the Directors. Redemptions on any Redemption Date may be restricted to a maximum of 25% in aggregate of the Shares then in issue, with any tender requests from shareholders in excess of this being scaled back pro rata.

 

The facility is intended to address any imbalance in the supply and demand for the shares and to assist in maintaining a narrow discount to the NAV per Share at which the shares may be trading. The Company, will at the sole discretion of the Directors:

 

(i)    purchase shares when deemed appropriate; and

(ii)   allow an annual redemption of up to 25% of the issued shares at the prevailing NAV per Share and may operate annually in November of each year.

 

Purchase of Own Shares by the Company

An ordinary resolution was granted on 24 November 2011 which authorised the Company in accordance with The Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008 to make purchases of its own shares as defined in that Ordinance of its Participating Shares of 0.0lp each, provided that:

 

(i)         the maximum number of Shares the Company can purchase is no more than 14.99% of the Company's issued share capital;

(ii)        the minimum price (exclusive of expenses) which may be paid for a Share is 0.01 pence, being the nominal value per share;

(iii)       the maximum price (exclusive of expenses) which may be paid for the Share is an amount equal to the higher of (i) 105% of the average of the middle market quotations for a Share taken from the London Stock Exchange Daily Official List for the 5 business days immediately preceding the day on which the Share is purchased and (ii) the price stipulated in Article 5(i) of the Buyback and Stabilisation Regulation (No 2237 of 2003);

(iv)       purchases may only be made pursuant to this authority if the Shares are (at the date of the proposed purchase) trading on the London Stock Exchange at a discount to the lower of the undiluted or diluted NAV;

(v)        the authority conferred shall expire at the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting of the Company in 2012 or, if earlier, on the expiry of 15 months from the passing of this resolution, unless such authority is renewed prior to such time; and

(vi)       the Company may make a contract to purchase Shares under the authority hereby conferred prior to the expiry of such authority which will or may be executed wholly or partly after the expiration of such authority and may make a purchase of Shares pursuant to any such contract.

 

20. Subsequent events

 

These financial statements were approved for issuance by the Board on 20 September 2012. Subsequent events have been evaluated until this date.

 

Under the blocklisting facility the following redeemable participating preference shares of 0.01 pence each were allotted and issued subsequent to the year end and up to the date of this report:

 







Price per



Date



Shares


share


Total






£


£

3 July 2012




200,000


1.9775


395,500

13 July 2012




200,000


1.9940


398,800

20 July 2012




500,000


1.9800


990,000

27 July 2012




100,000


1.9810


198,100

31 July 2012




350,000


1.9700


689,500

17 August 2012




200,000


2.0060


401,200

24 August 2012




150,000


2.0130


301,950

4 September 2012




150,000


1.9820


297,300





1,850,000




3,672,350

 

The Company has the ability to issue a further 6,957,682 redeemable participating preference shares under the blocklisting facility.

 

As at the date of this report the Company had 143,338,416 redeemable participating preference shares of 0.01 pence each and 2 Management shares of £1.00 each in issue. Therefore, the total voting rights in the Company at the date of this report were 143,338,418.

 

Portfolio Statement as at 30 June 2012

 



Holding

Fair


%

 



at

Value


of Total

 


Currency

30.06.12

£


 Net Assets*

 







 

Government Index-Linked Bonds 31.01%






 

(30.06.11 - 29.53%)






 







 

United Kingdom






 

UK Index-Linked Gilt 2.50% 26/07/2016

GBP

1,265,000

4,335,130


1.60

 

UK Index-Linked Gilt 1.25% 22/11/2017

GBP

15,604,400

22,386,728


8.26

 

UK Index-Linked Gilt 1.25% 22/11/2055

GBP

8,430,000

15,913,657


5.87

 

UK Index-Linked Gilt 0.375% 22/03/2062

GBP

4,511,000

5,284,208


1.95

 







 







 




47,919,723


17.68

 







 

United States






 

US Treasury Inflation Indexed 1.625% Bond 15/01/2015

USD

13,460,000

10,986,526


4.06

 

US Treasury Inflation Indexed 1.875% Bond 15/07/2015

USD

10,100,000

8,282,088


3.06

 

US Treasury Inflation Indexed 0.125% Bond 15/04/2016

USD

5,500,000

3,803,842


1.40

 

US Treasury Inflation Indexed 1.625% Bond 15/01/2018

USD

16,300,000

13,021,602


4.81

 







 







 




36,094,058


13.33

 







 

Total Government Indexed-Linked Bonds



84,013,781


31.01

 







 







 







 

Preference Shares 0.63%






 

(30.06.11 - Nil%)






 







 

United Kingdom






 

Raven Russia Ltd

GBP

1,411,924

1,694,309


0.63

 







 







 




1,694,309


0.63

 







 

Total Preference Shares



1,694,309


0.63

 







 







 

Equities 53.08%






 

(30.06.11 - 55.21%)






 







 

Europe






 







 

Germany






 

Fresenius Medical Care

EUR

63,500

2,863,840


1.06

 

GSW Immobilien AG

EUR

49,497

1,075,304


0.40

 

TAG Immobilien AG

EUR

243,550

1,444,442


0.53

 







 







 




5,383,586


1.99

 







 

Netherlands






 

Koninklijke KPN

EUR

812,000

4,962,306


1.83

 







 







 




4,962,306


1.83

 

Sweden






 

Svenska Cellulosa B

SEK

270,000

2,578,775


0.95

 







 







 




2,578,775


0.95

 

Switzerland






Novartis ADR

USD

144,000

5,130,364


1.90

Swisscom

CHF

11,000

2,823,842


1.04
















7,954,206


2.94







United Kingdom






Better Capital Ltd

GBP

1,727,800

2,565,783


0.95

Better Capital PCC Ltd

GBP

2,000,000

2,190,000


0.81

BP Plc

GBP

1,200,000

5,062,800


1.87

BT Group Plc

GBP

2,800,000

5,916,400


2.18

Charles Taylor Consulting Plc

GBP

295,741

458,399


0.17

Colt Group

GBP

645,225

805,886


0.30

ICAP

GBP

700,000

2,361,800


0.87

Invensys Plc

GBP

1,000,000

2,227,000


0.82

Oakley Capital Investments Ltd

GBP

2,825,794

3,193,147


1.18

RSA Insurance Group Plc

GBP

3,000,000

3,240,000


1.20

Seaenergy Plc

GBP

300,000

79,500


0.03

ServicePower Technology Plc

GBP

4,437,500

310,625


0.11

Tesco Plc

GBP

750,000

2,325,000


0.86

Vodafone Group Plc

GBP

3,800,000

6,811,500


2.51
















37,547,840


13.86







Total European Equities



58,426,713


21.57







Australia






Newcrest Mining Ltd

AUD

213,946

3,161,397


1.17













Total Australian Equities



3,161,397


1.17







United States






Barrick Gold Corp

USD

70,000

1,678,536


0.62

Clean Diesel Technology Inc

USD

33,536

42,335


0.02

Google Inc

USD

13,980

5,170,046


1.91

Johnson & Johnson Common Stock

USD

153,700

6,621,511


2.44

JPM Chase Com

USD

113,000

2,574,191


0.95

Kraft Foods Inc

USD

170,000

4,184,832


1.54

Newmont Mining Corp

USD

40,000

1,236,635


0.46

Wal-Mart Stores Inc

USD

70,000

3,111,161


1.15



















Total United States Equities



24,619,247


9.09

Asia












China






PICC Property and Casualty Co Ltd

HKD

3,500,000

2,491,322


0.92
















2,491,322


0.92







Japan






Daiei Inc

JPY

990,000

1,985,590


0.73

Inpex Corp

JPY

1,400

4,972,567


1.84

Japan Residential Investment Co Ltd

GBP

8,330,000

4,269,125


1.58

Kao Corp

JPY

255,000

4,470,516


1.65

Mazda Motor Corp

JPY

554,000

469,242


0.17

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group

JPY

920,000

2,771,469


1.02

Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp

JPY

288,000

8,514,812


3.14

Nomura Research Institute Ltd

JPY

210,000

2,931,521


1.08

NTT Data Corp

JPY

2,000

3,886,641


1.43

Resona Holdings Inc

JPY

1,080,000

2,821,970


1.04

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc

JPY

210,000

4,381,341


1.62

Toshiba Plant Systems & Services Corp

JPY

420,000

3,161,412


1.17

T&D Holdings Inc

JPY

1,134,000

7,638,735


2.82
















52,274,941


19.29







Total Asian Equities



54,766,263


20.21







Africa












South Africa






Gold Fields Ltd

ZAR

200,000

1,605,915


0.59

Gold Fields ADR Rep

USD

150,000

1,224,138


0.45













Total African Equities



2,830,053


1.04













Total Equities



143,803,673


53.08







Investment Funds 9.40%






(30.06.11 - 10.09%)












United Kingdom






CF Ruffer Baker Steel Gold Fund**

GBP

2,830,683

5,854,701


2.16

CF Ruffer Japanese Fund**

GBP

7,500,000

7,703,250


2.84

Herald Worldwide Fund

GBP

64,341

1,270,727


0.47

Renn Universal Growth Trust Ltd

GBP

1,250,000

2,600,000


0.96

Ruffer Illiquid Strategies Fund of Funds 2009 Limited**

GBP

4,632,853

5,385,006


1.99

Ruffer SICAV Global Smaller Companies Fund**

GBP

13,235

1,323,500


0.49

Ruffer SICAV UK Mid & Smaller Companies Fund**

GBP

13,235

1,323,500


0.49
















25,460,684


9.40







Total Investment Funds



25,460,684


9.40







 

Options 0.10%






 

(30.06.11 - Nil%)






 







 

Germany






 

Deutsche Bank AG S&P 500 Put Options 20/07/2012

USD

43,625

270,517


0.10

 







 







 




270,517


0.10

 







 

Total Options



270,517


0.10

 







 







 







 

Warrants 0.34%






 

(30.06.11 - 0.23%)






 







 

Netherlands






 

JP Morgan Put Warrant EURpGBPc 17/10/2012

GBP

2,222

215,153


0.08

 







 







 




215,153


0.08

 







 

Switzerland






 

UBS AG Put Warrant 27/07/2012

USD

2,515

28,735


0.01

 







 







 




28,735


0.01

 







 

United Kingdom






 

Nomura Put Warrant USDpJPYc 15/08/2012

USD

4,698

102,284


0.04

 

Nomura Put Warrant AUDpUSDc 09/09/2012

USD

4,416

93,410


0.03

 







 







 




195,694


0.07

 







 

United States






 

Morgan Stanley Put Warrant AUDpUSDc 25/09/2012

USD

4,258

473,078


0.18

 







 







 




473,078


0.18

 







 

Total Warrants



912,660


0.34

 







 







 







 

Total financial assets at fair value through profit or loss



256,155,624


94.56

 







 

Other net current assets



14,729,039


5.44

 







 

Management share capital



(2)


 







 







 

Total value of Company






 

(attributable to redeemable participating preference shares)


270,884,661


100.00

 

 

* All percentages relate to net assets attributable to holders of redeemable participating preference shares

** CF Ruffer Baker Steel Gold Fund, CF Ruffer Japanese Fund, Ruffer Illiquid Strategies Fund, Ruffer SICAV

Global Smaller Companies and Ruffer SICAV UK Mid & Smaller Companies Fund are classed as related parties

as they share the same Investment Manager as the Company.

 





General Information

 

Ruffer Investment Company Limited was incorporated with limited liability in Guernsey as a company limited by shares and as an authorised closed-ended investment company on 1 June 2004. The principal objective of the Company is to achieve a positive total annual return, after all expenses, of at least twice the Bank of England base rate. The Company predominantly invests in internationally listed or quoted equities or equity related securities (including convertibles) and/or bonds which are issued by corporate issuers, supra-nationals or government organisations.

 

The Company's redeemable participating preference shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange.

 

The accounting date of the Company is 30 June in each year. These annual financial statements were authorised for issue on 20 September 2012 by the Directors.

 

The prices of the shares in the Company are published in The Financial Times in the "Investment Companies" section, and in the Daily Telegraph's "Share Prices & Market Capitalisations" section under "Investment Trusts".

 

It is the intention of the Investment Manager to conduct the affairs of the Company so as to ensure that it will not become resident in the United Kingdom. Accordingly, and provided that the Company does not carry on a trade in the United Kingdom through a branch or agency situated therein, the Company will not be subject to United Kingdom Corporation Tax or Income Tax.

 

The Investment Manager receives an annual fee, payable monthly in arrears, at the rate of 1 per cent. per annum of the NAV of the Company on a mid market basis.

 

The Administrator is entitled to receive an annual fee equal to 0.15 per cent. per annum on the first £100 million and 0.10 per cent. per annum thereafter on the NAV of the Company on a mid market basis, subject to a minimum fee of £60,000 per annum.

 

On 14 December 2011, the Company changed Custodian from RBC Dexia to Northern Trust (Guernsey) Limited. Northern Trust (Guernsey) Limited (the "Custodian") is entitled to receive from the Company a fee of £2,000 per annum. The Custodian is also entitled to charge for certain expenses incurred by it in connection with its duties.

 

Prior to 14 December 2011, RBC Dexia was entitled to receive an annual fee equal to agreed safekeeping fees calculated on the basis of a percentage of the NAV of each holding of securities (which vary dependant on the location of the market on which those securities are traded), together with fixed transaction fees which similarly vary on a market by market basis.

 

 

Management and Administration

 

 

Directors


 

Registered Office


 

Auditor

Ashe Windham

Wayne Bulpitt

Jeannette Etherden

Peter Luthy

Christopher Spencer

John V Baldwin


Trafalgar Court,

Les Banques,

St. Peter Port,

Guernsey,

Channel Islands, GY1 3QL


David Green

Moore Stephens,

Town Mills South,

La Rue du Pre,

St. Peter Port,

Guernsey,

Channel Islands, GY1 3HZ

 

 

Investment Manager


 

 

Sponsor and Broker


 

Solicitors to the Company

as to UK law

Ruffer LLP,

80 Victoria Street,

London, SW1E 5JL


Cenkos Securities Plc,

6.7.8 Tokenhouse Yard,

London, EC2R 7AS


Lawrence Graham LLP,

4 More London Riverside,

London, SE1 2AU






 

Company Secretary,

Administrator and Registrar


 

 

CREST Agent


 

Advocates to the Company

as to Guernsey law

Northern Trust International

Fund Administration Services

(Guernsey) Limited,

Trafalgar Court,

Les Banques,

St. Peter Port,

Guernsey,

Channel Islands, GY1 3QL


Computershare Investor

Services (Jersey)

Limited,

Queensway House,

Hilgrove Street,

St. Helier,

Jersey, JE1 1ES


Mourant Ozannes,

1 Le Marchant Street,

St. Peter Port,

Guernsey,

Channel Islands, GY1 4HP






Custodian *





Northern Trust (Guernsey)

Limited,

Trafalgar Court,

Les Banques,

St. Peter Port,        

Guernsey,

Channel Islands, GY1 3QL





 

 

* Appointed on 14 December 2011. Prior to this date, the Custodian for the Company was RBC Dexia Investor Services Trust, 155 Wellington St W, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 3L3 Canada.


This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
 
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