REG-Fidelity Special Values Plc: Annual Financial Report
06/11/2025 07:02
FIDELITY SPECIAL VALUES PLC
Final Results for the year ended 31 August 2025
Financial Highlights:
* During the year ended 31 August 2025, Fidelity Special Values PLC
reported an ordinary share price total return of +21.8% and a net asset value
(NAV) return of +14.3%.
* The Benchmark Index, the FTSE All-Share Index, produced a total
return of +12.6% over the same timeframe.
* The Board recommends a final dividend of 6.84 pence per share
which together with the interim dividend payment of 3.36 pence per share
(totalling 10.20 pence) represents an increase of 6.9% over the prior year.
* Outperformance driven by stock selection in large-caps and sector
positioning in banks, tobacco and life insurance.
Contacts
For further information, please contact:
Smita Amin
Company Secretary
01737 836347
CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT
In last year’s Annual Report I noted that, despite potentially destabilising
world events such as the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza and the forthcoming US
presidential election, there was a growing feeling of normalisation in the
global economy and stock markets. In fact, the year under review has been far
from ‘normal’, dominated as it has been by efforts in the US to reshape
global trade via various tariff announcements. Since April’s ‘Liberation
Day’ trade tariff announcement, US policymaking has taken centre stage for
market watchers as tariffs were announced, paused and renegotiated.
If the scale of this upheaval had been clear when I wrote my statement last
year, I might have thought twice before using the word ‘normality’. But
what has been truly remarkable in the face of such uncertainty is how well
stock markets, and in particular the UK market, have performed.
UK equities remain deeply unloved on the domestic stage, with more than £12bn
pulled out of open-ended funds across the UK All Companies, UK Equity Income
and UK Smaller Companies sectors between July 2024 and July 2025 1
. The last month to see aggregate inflows rather than outflows was July
2021, since which time more than £48bn has been withdrawn. Funds under
management in UK equities have fallen by one-fifth, with the biggest reduction
(c 60%) being in the UK Smaller Companies sector. Somewhat paradoxically, the
start of this period of sustained outflows (mid to late 2021) almost exactly
tracks the beginning of a recovery in the UK equity market versus the rest of
the world, following a time of relative decline that began with the Brexit
vote in 2016 and lasted until late 2020.
Against this background, it is very pleasing to report another year of strong
absolute and relative performance for the Company, with a net asset value
(“NAV”) total return of +14.3% and a share price total return of 21.8% for
the year ended 31 August 2025, versus a total return of +12.6% for our
Benchmark, the FTSE All-Share Index. Returns have been both positive and ahead
of the Benchmark in four of the past five years, building a cumulative
five-year NAV total return of 124.3% and a share price total return of 140.4%,
compared with 77.7% for the FTSE All-Share Index. In a world where the
investment headlines are often dominated by the ‘AI revolution’ in
general, and US technology stocks in particular, shareholders may also be
pleasantly surprised to know that the Company has also substantially
outperformed the 87.5% sterling total return from the Nasdaq index over the
same period.
This is my last report to you after nearly 10 years as a Director and almost
three years as Chairman, so I also wanted to reflect on the Company’s
longer-term performance, which has been remarkable. Your Portfolio Manager,
Alex Wright, has been in post since September 2012, with Jonathan Winton
alongside him as Co-Portfolio Manager since February 2020. During Alex’s
tenure, the Company has produced an annualised NAV total return of 11.8%,
which represents an outperformance of 4.0% per year versus the Benchmark’s
7.8% annualised return. As I step down as your Chairman, I would like to
congratulate Alex and also Jonathan for this tremendous record, which is
testament both to a robust investment process and to the long-term value of
investing in good quality companies when they are unloved.
1 Based on monthly net retail sales figures from The
Investment Association
DIVIDENDS
While your Company’s investment approach is focused on long-term
capital growth rather than income generation, dividends have historically
formed an important part of the total shareholder return. The Board’s policy
is to pay dividends twice a year in order to smooth the dividend payments for
the Company’s financial year.
The Company’s revenue return for the year to 31 August 2025 was 12.28 pence
per share (2024: 11.58 pence). An interim dividend of 3.36 pence per share
(2024: 3.24 pence) was paid on 19 June 2025. The Board is recommending a final
dividend of 6.84 pence per share for the year ended 31 August 2025 (2024: 6.30
pence) for approval by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting (“AGM”)
on 11 December 2025. Together, the interim and final dividends total 10.20
pence, representing an increase of 6.9% over the 9.54 pence paid for the year
ended 31 August 2024. The final dividend will be payable on 13 January 2026 to
shareholders on the register at the close of business on 28 November 2025
(ex-dividend date 27 November 2025).
The total dividends for the year will provide shareholders with a 16th
consecutive year of sustained annual dividend growth. While income is not the
core objective of your Company’s investment strategy, we as a Board
understand the value of a regular dividend stream to smooth the less certain
trajectory of short-term capital performance.
GEARING
Net gearing fell in aggregate during the financial year, from 7.9%
on 31 August 2024 to 5.4% as at 31 August 2025, although it was higher in the
intervening period (10.9% at the half-year end, 28 February 2025). Normally a
lower level of gearing (within the stated range of 0-25%) might indicate that
there are fewer attractive investment opportunities to be found. However, this
has not been the case in the year under review, with Alex and Jonathan keen to
stress they still see plenty of exciting investment ideas, particularly lower
down the market capitalisation spectrum. Rather, an elevated level of merger
and acquisition (“M&A”) activity has seen an unusually large amount of
cash coming back into the portfolio, which has the natural effect of reducing
the level of gearing. Detailed due diligence is a key tenet of the investment
process, particularly among smaller companies that may be less widely
researched, so there is something of a time lag between receiving M&A proceeds
and reinvesting in new positions. Should the pace of M&A (which has largely
been driven by overseas private equity funds and trade buyers) moderate, we
would expect to see the level of gearing rise somewhat in the medium-term.
The ability to gear is a key structural advantage of investment trusts
compared with their open-ended counterparts. Combined with Alex and
Jonathan’s contrarian and value-focused investment approach, your Board
believes that the judicious use of gearing should continue to add value for
shareholders over the longer-term, as has been proven historically. The Board
believes that a gearing range of 0-25% remains appropriate in normal market
conditions.
DISCOUNT
Across the investment trust sector, discounts to NAV have remained
at wider than average levels, standing at 14.1% on 31 August 2025 2
, a similar level to a year earlier. Your Company’s discount has
remained appreciably narrower than this, beginning the review year at 8.4% and
ending it at 3.1%, although it did briefly widen to more than 10% in October
2024. Under the Company’s discount management policy, the Board seeks to
maintain the discount in single digits in normal market conditions. We
therefore undertook a limited number of share buybacks in early 2025,
repurchasing a total of 1,050,000 shares into Treasury between January and
March. Following this, and without the need for further action, the discount
narrowed sharply and has remained in the low single digits since May 2025,
averaging 6.3% for the year. At the time of writing, the Company’s discount
to NAV remains the lowest in its AIC UK All Companies sector by some margin, a
testament to our strong performance record.
Each year at the AGM, the Board seeks shareholders’ authority to repurchase
up to 14.99% of the issued share capital. Rest assured that we continue to
monitor the level of the Company’s discount closely and will take further
action when we believe that to do so will be effective and to the benefit of
shareholders.
RAISING OUR PROFILE
Share repurchases are only one of the tools available to investment
company boards seeking to ensure that share prices do not materially diverge
from the value of underlying investments. Increasing demand is arguably of far
greater value than absorbing excess supply through share repurchases, and your
Board and Fidelity – helped enormously by your Portfolio Managers’ strong
long term performance record and differentiated investment approach – have
continued to work hard to raise the Company’s profile with both retail and
institutional investors. This is critically important work, and while a lot of
it happens behind the scenes, you may have also seen coverage in the press as
a result of Alex and Jonathan’s engagement.
2 Source: Winterflood Investment Trusts, Refinitiv
While some coverage comes as a direct result of the efforts of Fidelity and
external PR partners, in other cases it arises naturally as a consequence of
your Company’s strong long-term track record. We were very pleased this year
to have been included on the Association of Investment Companies’ annual
‘ISA millionaires’ list again. This list looks at the returns’ investors
could have achieved by investing their full ISA allowance each year (and
reinvesting any dividends) since the vehicle was introduced in 1999. A total
investment of £326,560 in your Company over the period from 6 April 1999 to
31 January 2025 would have grown to £1,198,034 – an impressive result that
illustrates the value of investing for the long-term.
We were also delighted to have won the prestigious Investment Company of the
Year award from Investment Week magazine for the best trust in the UK All
Companies sector for a third year running in November 2024, and we have the
chance to make it four in a row, having been shortlisted once again for this
year’s award.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
It has been an enormous pleasure and a privilege for me to help
guide your Company over the past decade. Upon my retirement from the Board at
the conclusion of the AGM on 11 December 2025, I am delighted to advise that
Claire Boyle, who was appointed to the Board in June 2019, will take on the
role as Chair of the Board. I firmly believe that Claire has the relevant
sector and market expertise to lead the Board going forwards and will provide
continuity in the stewardship of your Company. In addition, Claire has
extensive experience as an investment trust director, currently serving on the
boards of three other investment trusts. The Board is confident that Claire
has sufficient capacity to act as Chair of your Company in light of the time
commitments ordinarily associated with the board of an investment company. I
know that Claire will continue to serve shareholders well. Christopher Casey
joined the Board on 1 January 2025 as part of the Board’s succession
planning and he will replace Claire as Chair of the Audit Committee and Senior
Independent Director. He is a chartered accountant by profession and a highly
experienced Non-Executive Director, particularly of investment trusts, and we
are pleased to have a candidate of his calibre to Chair our Audit Committee as
Claire steps up to replace me as Chair of the Board. I wish them both every
success in their new roles.
In accordance with the UK Corporate Governance Code for Directors of FTSE 350
companies, all Directors are subject to annual re-election at the AGM on 11
December 2025. The Directors’ biographies can be found in the Annual Report,
and, between them, they have a wide range of appropriate skills and experience
to form a balanced Board for the Company.
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
The Board is proposing to increase the aggregate cap on Directors’
fees to provide greater flexibility for any future changes. The proposed new
cap is £350,000 in aggregate per annum, which replaces the existing cap of
£250,000 per annum which was put in place in 2021.
The Board is also proposing to extend the time period allowed to draw up
proposals regarding the Company’s voluntary liquidation and/or
reorganisation and to hold a general meeting at which such proposals are
submitted to members following an unsuccessful continuation vote, from three
to six months. The proposed new time period, which runs from the date of the
general meeting at which the unsuccessful vote occurred, is felt to provide a
more practicable period to allow proposals to be fully considered and to be in
line with market practice. The continuation votes are held every three years,
and the next such vote is due at the 2025 AGM.
We have also taken the opportunity to make other changes of a minor,
clarificatory or technical nature, including clarifications in relation to
hybrid general meetings to follow how practice has developed. However, the
amendments do not provide for, and the Board has no intention to move to,
fully virtual meetings. A full tracked version of all the changes proposed to
the Articles is available at
www.fidelity.co.uk/specialvalues .The
principal changes proposed to the Articles are set out in more detail in the
Directors’ Report in the Annual Report.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AND CONTINUATION VOTE
The Company’s AGM will be held at 11.00am on Thursday, 11 December
2025 at 4 Cannon Street, London EC4M 5AB and virtually via the online Lumi AGM
meeting platform.
The AGM provides a great opportunity for shareholders to hear first-hand from
Alex Wright, your Portfolio Manager, to meet the Company’s Directors, and of
course, for us to meet you. We hope to see as many of you as possible on the
day. Full details of the AGM are below.
In accordance with the Articles of Association, your Company is subject to a
continuation vote every three years. The next continuation vote will take
place at this year’s AGM on 11 December 2025. At the last continuation vote
in December 2022, it was pleasing to see strong evidence of shareholder
support from the 99.89% of votes cast in favour of continuation of the
Company. The enfranchisement of shareholders is a key advantage for investment
trust investors over open-ended company investors, and we would urge all
shareholders to use their vote at the forthcoming AGM to vote in favour of the
continuation of the Company.
Items of special business to be proposed at the AGM are detailed in the
Directors’ Report in the Annual Report.
OUTLOOK
Although your Company invests in UK equities, the UK is a very
international market, with around 75% of FTSE All-Share revenues (and around
65% of portfolio holdings’ revenues) coming from overseas. As such, the
global backdrop – which on current evidence is likely to remain fractious
– will continue to be relevant in shaping the fortunes of your Company in
the year ahead. While performance has been very positive in the year under
review, the UK economic outlook remains muted and subject to further
uncertainty ahead of the Budget in late November. However, as Alex pointed out
in a recent webinar, just because there is a lot of negativity on politics and
the economy, this does not mean there are not good returns on offer and, in
fact, this is often why there are good returns to be had. However, while the
UK equity market remains the cheapest (on a forward P/E basis) compared with
the US, Europe, Japan and Asia, its valuation has risen somewhat from the
bargain-basement levels seen in the last few years, and is now in line with
long-term averages.
With much of the market return in recent years having come from re-rating
rather than earnings growth, the prospect of another strong year for UK
equities as a whole is less than certain, particularly given the economic
backdrop. That said, the valuation of your Company’s portfolio remains
substantially below the market average (at around 11x forward P/E, versus 14x
for the FTSE All-Share), despite superior growth metrics compared with the
index average. Although the near-term outlook may be clouded, we believe these
characteristics underscore your Portfolio Managers’ commitment to finding
out-of-favour companies across the market capitalisation spectrum that have
the potential to make good progress well into the future.
DEAN BUCKLEY
Chairman
5 November 2025
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING – THURSDAY, 11 DECEMBER 2025 AT 11.00 AM
The AGM of the Company will be held at 11.00 am on
Thursday, 11 December 2025 at 4 Cannon Street, London
EC4M 5AB (nearest tube stations are St Paul’s or Mansion House) and
virtually via the online Lumi AGM meeting platform. Full details of the
meeting are given in the Notice of Meeting in the Annual Report.
For those shareholders who are unable to attend in person, we will live-stream
the formal business and presentations of the meeting online.
Alex Wright, the Portfolio Manager, will be making a presentation to
shareholders highlighting the achievements and challenges of the year past and
the prospects for the year to come. He and the Board will be very happy to
answer any questions that shareholders may have. Copies of his presentation
can be requested by email at
investmenttrusts@fil.com
or in writing to the Secretary at FIL Investments International, Beech
Gate, Millfield Lane, Lower Kingswood, Tadworth, Surrey KT20 6RP.
Properly registered shareholders joining the AGM virtually will be able to
vote on the proposed resolutions. Please see Note 9 to the Notes to the Notice
of Meeting in the Annual Report for details on how to vote virtually.
Investors viewing the AGM online will be able to submit live written questions
to the Board and the Portfolio Manager and we will answer as many of these as
possible at an appropriate juncture during the meeting.
Further information and links to the Lumi platform may be found on the
Company’s website www.fidelity.co.uk/
specialvalues . On the
day of the AGM, in order to join electronically and ask questions via the Lumi
platform, shareholders will need to connect to the website
https://web.lumiagm.com .
Please note that investors on platforms, such as Fidelity Personal Investing,
Hargreaves Lansdown, Interactive Investor or AJ Bell Youinvest, will need to
request attendance at the AGM in accordance with the policies of their chosen
platform. They may request that you submit electronic votes in advance of the
meeting. If you are unable to obtain a unique IVC and PIN from your nominee or
platform, we will also welcome online participation as a guest. Once you have
accessed https://meetings.lumiconnect.com
from your web browser
on a tablet, smartphone or computer, you will need to enter the
Lumi Meeting ID which is
100-720-059-199 . You should then select the ‘Guest
Access’ option before entering your name and who you are representing, if
applicable. This will allow you to view the meeting and ask questions, but you
will not be able to vote.
Further information on how to vote across the most common investment platforms
is available at the following link:
https://www.theaic.co.uk/how-to-vote-your-shares
.
PORTFOLIO MANAGER’S REVIEW
QUESTION
How has the Company performed in the year to 31 August
2025?
ANSWER
The Company has recorded strong absolute returns over the reporting
year with a net asset value and a share price total return of +14.3% and
+21.8% respectively, compared to the Benchmark (FTSE All-Share Index) total
return of +12.6%.
Overall, our portfolio holdings have delivered robust performance against a
dynamic market environment. UK equities reached new all-time highs, driven by
large-cap stocks, while improving investor confidence has sparked renewed
interest in domestic shares. However, these positive results conceal a
volatile period as markets navigated shifting trade policy announcements,
elevated interest rates, subdued domestic economic data and stubborn
inflation.
Market performance diverged sharply between large-cap and mid-to-small-cap
stocks. The FTSE 100 delivered a gain of 13.6%, significantly outpacing the
FTSE 250 and FTSE Small Cap Indices, which returned 6.0% and 6.9%,
respectively. Despite our significant underweight position in large-cap
stocks, the outperformance was primarily driven by stock selection within this
part of the market.
Compared to the Benchmark, our underweight position in health care group
AstraZeneca was the top contributor to relative performance. The company’s
shares came under pressure after corruption allegations in its China
operations and broader concerns that US drug pricing reforms could weigh on
the pharmaceutical sector. We used this weakness as an opportunity to initiate
a position in AstraZeneca, supported by its attractive drug pipeline and its
relatively lower exposure to US drug pricing reforms.
Within the banking sector, several of our holdings, including Standard
Chartered, NatWest Group and AIB Group, benefited from strong trading updates,
share buyback announcements and rising interest rate expectations. In February
2025, Standard Chartered unveiled a new $1.5 billion share buyback program
after reporting a substantial increase in annual pre-tax profits. The
diversified bank, which has an emerging market focus, is continuing to make
strides in its turnaround journey. Meanwhile, NatWest and Irish bank AIB
consistently delivered results ahead of consensus expectations throughout the
year.
Defence has also been a key theme in the market. Our holding in defence
contractor Babcock International Group benefited from a supportive environment
with increased government spending commitments. In recent years, Babcock has
made strong progress in its turnaround activity. The company has strengthened
its balance sheet, exited lower quality businesses and improved contract
execution. Similarly, outsourcing company Serco Group, which has half of its
business linked to defence, saw greater returns after securing three
meaningful contracts from the Ministry of Defence to provide maritime services
for the Royal Navy. Conversely, the underweight position in Rolls Royce, while
delivering strong absolute gains for the Company’s portfolio, weighed on
performance relative to the Benchmark.
Merger and acquisition (“M&A”) activity continued to provide a positive
tailwind and also contributed to the portfolio’s performance. Our holding in
Bakkavor Group, a leading UK supplier of freshly prepared foods, gained after
peer Greencore agreed to acquire the company in a £1.2 billion cash-and-share
deal. Direct Line Insurance Group also advanced following Aviva’s agreement
to acquire the company for £3.7 billion, which completed in July 2025 and
created the UK’s largest motor insurer. The latest announcement is from Just
Group, a life insurance company, which struck a deal to be acquired by
Canada’s Brookfield Wealth Solutions. M&As also supported our holdings in
gold pawnbroker H&T Group, Alpha Group, a foreign exchange broker (helping
corporates with currency management) and alternative banking provider, and
Warehouse REIT, an investor in large logistic warehouses.
Elsewhere, our position in tobacco group Imperial Brands added value, with its
results showing continued progress in stabilising its core tobacco business
across key markets. The company also continues to provide an attractive
distribution to shareholders. In addition, not holding Unilever and Diageo
contributed positively, as both companies came under pressure from weaker
earnings, and in Diageo’s case, structural concerns around future demand for
spirits.
QUESTION
What were some of the major changes you made to the
Company’s portfolio during the year and what drove those?
ANSWER
We have actively recycled capital from areas of strong performance
and leaned into unloved businesses with attractive turnaround potential. While
the investment process is driven by bottom-up stock selection, we group the
market into four super sectors – financials, resources, defensive and other
GDP sensitive companies. Encouragingly, we have increasingly been finding
attractive ideas across the full range of these sectors and the market
capitalisation spectrum.
Within financials, banks have remained a standout source of returns. We exited
our position in Barclays and reduced our stake in AIB Group following strong
rallies in the shares of both companies and redeployed some of these profits
into Lloyds Banking Group, Close Brothers Group and Secure Trust Bank,
following a more constructive outlook on the motor-finance review. We also
sold our holding in leading UK insurer Phoenix Group Holdings after a period
of positive performance, with our investment thesis largely playing out.
Financials remain well represented in the portfolio and offer diversification
across different business models and geographic exposure.
Elsewhere, we continue to find attractive opportunities in defensives. We
increased our position in medical device company Smith & Nephew, driven by
stronger conviction in its orthopaedics turnaround, and it subsequently
rallied after revealing positive progress in its quarterly results. We took
profits from Imperial Brands and recycled it into British American Tobacco,
given its attractive valuation, geographical footprint and greater exposure to
next-generation products. The company is particularly well positioned to
benefit from possible regulatory changes in the US, where illicit products
currently dominate the next generation nicotine market. We exited our position
in pharmaceutical company GSK due to waning confidence in its ability to
sustain growth in HIV treatments ahead of an upcoming patent cliff.
Within resources, our underweight position has narrowed as we have identified
selective investment opportunities. While we continue to hold a cautious
stance on oil given the challenging demand and supply backdrop, it has
increasingly become an unloved area. We initiated a position in our preferred
oil major, TotalEnergies, while exiting OMV, Shell, and Schlumberger. In
mining, we continue to remain underweight in large-cap names due to a weak
outlook on iron ore. However, we added a position in Glencore, which offers
attractive commodity exposure and supports our constructive view on copper.
Our exposure to domestically focused businesses has increased, particularly
linked to UK consumption. This includes holdings in retailers such as Frasers
Group and DFS, housing-related stocks such as Genuit and Travis Perkins, as
well as three smaller UK housebuilders. These businesses combine attractive
stock-specific opportunities with depressed industry volumes, offering
multiple catalysts to support a turnaround. While consumers have been saving
heavily over the past few years, consumption levels are historically low due
to concerns around inflation, interest rates and ongoing geopolitical
conflicts. We anticipate an improving outlook as housing market volumes
strengthen and interest rates decline.
Until recently, we maintained limited exposure to the property sector due to
tight yields and an oversupply of office space following the rise of working
from home. However, this has started to unwind, and we have selectively
increased exposure to areas offering higher yields, rising rental growth and
attractive total returns. Many of these stocks trade at significant discounts
to their net asset values, for example, in student accommodation (Empiric
Student Properties), industrial logistics (Warehouse REIT) and prime London
office space (Derwent). We have favoured smaller companies within the sector
given the potential for economies of scale from consolidation. Notably, both
Empiric Student Properties and Warehouse REIT are currently subject to
takeover activity.
QUESTION
UK equities continue to trade at a discount to global
markets. What opportunities does this present for investors and what could
drive this valuation gap to close?
ANSWER
UK equities have performed strongly over the past year, yet many
domestic investors continue to withdraw funds from the UK market. This
investment behaviour has been a long-standing trend, leaving UK shares trading
at a substantial valuation discount compared with other regions. Nevertheless,
inflows are not necessary to generate good performance and capital exiting
industries can present exciting investment opportunities, as it leads to
greater market inefficiencies.
We have seen a reduction in competitor resources and fewer investors following
UK companies, particularly further down the market capitalisation spectrum.
This allows us to gain an analytical edge, supported by Fidelity’s extensive
analyst network, helping us to explore unloved areas of the market and uncover
hidden investment gems.
The valuation gap between the UK and global markets has narrowed, following a
period of strong returns. Encouragingly, buying interest has returned from
international investors, helping to support a revival in UK equities. The UK
has been an attractive destination, particularly for US investors, given the
highly international nature of many domestic companies and the cheap
valuations on offer.
We have seen another strong year of M&A activity, with several of our holdings
subject to bids, reflecting the value on offer in the UK market. This activity
has been broad-based, ranging from domestic consolidation, overseas acquirers
and private equity interest. The increase in bid activity highlights an
additional channel to unlock value in our positions. Other supportive dynamics
include attractive dividends compared to global markets and a record number of
UK companies buying back their own shares.
The UK’s unpopularity in recent years has prompted frequent questions around
what catalyst is needed to improve domestic performance and close the
valuation gap. My response continues to be that nothing needs to change, we do
not require a re-rating to deliver attractive returns. Importantly, forecasts
for company earnings across our holdings remain strong and we work closely
with Fidelity’s analyst teams to assess the likelihood of these earnings
being delivered. Overall, we remain happy with the performance environment,
and it remains a fertile hunting ground for contrarian stock pickers.
QUESTION
Can you elaborate on the Company’s increased tilt
towards mid and small-cap companies, domestically focused businesses and how
their recovery is playing out?
ANSWER
One of the key advantages of the investment company structure is
that we can hold meaningful exposure further down the market cap spectrum. We
have always maintained a structural bias towards these smaller companies, as
they are typically less well known to investors and often poorly covered by
the sell side.
Over the past twelve months, we have selectively increased our exposure to
this part of the market given the attractive turnaround opportunities,
particularly within more cyclical areas. Many of these businesses have been
hit hard in recent years, and also investors have tended to favour larger,
global companies. At the time of writing, large-cap companies were trading
marginally above their long-term averages, with the FTSE 100 on 14.1x forward
price-to-earnings, whereas mid-cap and small-cap companies present a more
pronounced valuation opportunity, trading at c12x forward price-to-earnings.
We have exposure to the domestic consumer through retail and housing-related
stocks, as well as property companies. These areas are particularly attractive
as industry cycles are depressed compared with history, such as housebuilding
volumes, sofa sales and new kitchens, which are 10-25% below pre-Covid
volumes. There have been tentative signs of a recovery, with DFS and Halfords
delivering positive profit updates earlier in the year. However, consumer
spending remains low and sentiment poor, and these stocks are sensitive to
what is going on in the domestic economic environment. While it is difficult
to predict when a turnaround will materialise, importantly they have
idiosyncratic factors that could drive their growth and valuations without
pricing in a recovery in volumes.
QUESTION
M&A activity has been a positive source of performance
for the Company over the past few years. Why is this a consistent feature and
do you expect these levels of M&A to continue going forward?
ANSWER
Our contrarian-value approach focuses on finding unloved companies
with the potential for positive change. We firstly evaluate the downside
protection of a company before considering its prospects over a
three-to-five-year view. While the investment thesis is not predicated on a
takeover, it can be a secondary effect arising from our investment approach.
This is due to our structural bias towards investing in undervalued medium and
smaller sized companies, where takeover activity is typically higher.
As companies progress through their positive change journey, we conduct
extensive due diligence and closely monitor developments with support from
Fidelity’s analyst network. We generally find that our contrarian ideas
typically re-rate as positive developments excite the market and more
investors buy into the story. However, occasionally the route is a takeover,
which can unlock shareholder value earlier. While not every takeover bid is
what we consider fair value, the majority of deals have offered attractive
premiums, and our process recycles this capital into new ideas.
Despite turbulent markets and sharp currency movements, there has been no
pause in takeover activity this year. We have seen a flurry of bids for
companies within the portfolio. The surge in activity underscores the inherent
value and investment opportunities available in the UK market. There are
numerous overlooked companies across the market cap spectrum and our holdings
continue to trade at an attractive discount to the broader market.
Our contrarian investment approach should continue to benefit from an active
takeover market. While the level of M&A activity will not always remain this
high, we are excited that our holdings have this additional potential channel
to unlock value. The investment universe remains deep and attractive, offering
plenty of choice and investment opportunities.
QUESTION
There has been a resurgence in UK equities – do you
expect this outperformance to continue over the next 12 months and beyond?
ANSWER
The return of overseas investors is an encouraging trend, as they
capitalise on the relative value available in the UK market. Given that the UK
represents only a small share of global indices, even modest reallocations
from overseas can have a meaningful positive impact.
Encouragingly, despite subdued domestic economic data and political
uncertainty prevailing in the market, performance recently has remained
positive. This underscores the fact that attractive returns are available in
an uncertain environment, which can act as a driver of investment
opportunities. We continue to believe that the combination of attractive
valuations and the large divergence in performance between different parts of
the market creates good opportunities for returns from UK stocks on a
three-to-five-year view.
While there has been some narrowing in regional valuations following strong
performance, we believe that the UK has room to run further. It continues to
trade at a meaningful discount to other regions, both on an absolute basis and
when adjusting for sectoral differences in markets. Importantly, this gives
investors a more attractive starting point compared to other more expensive
markets.
We remain excited with the prospects for our holdings. Overall, we believe the
UK market has an underappreciated richness of opportunity, combining strong
earnings growth, high dividend yields and low valuations. The portfolio
benefits from a favourable upside/downside profile and our holdings trade at a
meaningful discount to the broader UK market, despite exhibiting resilient
earnings, strong returns on capital and relatively low levels of debt. This
quality profile reinforces our confidence in delivering attractive long-term
returns for investors.
ALEX WRIGHT
Portfolio Manager
5 November 2025
Principal Risks and Uncertainties and Risk Management
As required by provisions 28 and 29 of the 2018 UK Corporate
Governance Code, the Board has a robust ongoing process for identifying,
evaluating and managing the principal risks and uncertainties faced by the
Company, including those that could threaten its business model, future
performance, solvency or liquidity. The Board, with the assistance of the
Alternative Investment Fund Manager (FIL Investment Services (UK) Limited/the
“Manager”), has developed a risk matrix which, as part of the risk
management and internal controls process, identifies the key existing and
emerging risks and uncertainties that the Company faces.
The Board considers the risks listed below as the principal risks and
uncertainties faced by the Company.
Emerging Risks
The Audit Committee continues to identify any new emerging risks and
take any action necessary to mitigate their potential impact. The risks
identified are placed on the Company’s risk matrix and graded appropriately.
This process, together with the policies and procedures for the mitigation of
existing and emerging risks, is updated and reviewed regularly in the form of
comprehensive reports by the Audit Committee. The Board determines the nature
and extent of any risks it is willing to take in order to achieve the
Company’s strategic objectives.
Climate change, which refers to a large scale shift in the planet’s weather
patterns and average temperatures, continues to be a key emerging as well as a
principal risk confronting asset managers and their investors. Globally,
climate change effects are already being experienced in the form of changing
weather patterns. Extreme weather events can potentially impact the operations
of investee companies, their supply chains and their customers. The Board
notes that the Manager includes ESG considerations, including climate change,
into the Company’s investment process. The Board will continue to monitor
how this may impact the Company as a risk to investment valuations and
potentially shareholder returns.
The Board, together with the Manager, is also monitoring the emerging risks
posed by the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (“AI”) and
technology and how it may threaten the Company’s activities and its
potential impact on the portfolio and investee companies. AI can provide asset
managers powerful tools, such as enhancing data analysis risk management,
trading strategies, operational efficiency and client servicing, all of which
can lead to better investment outcomes and more efficient operations. However,
with these advances in computing power that will impact society, there are
risks from its increasing use and manipulation with the potential to harm,
including a heightened threat to cybersecurity.
Other emerging risks may continue to evolve from unforeseen geopolitical and
economic events.
Emerging Risks – Manager’s Role
The Manager also has responsibility for risk management for the
Company. It works with the Board to identify and manage the principal and
emerging risks and uncertainties and to ensure that the Board can continue to
meet its UK corporate governance obligations.
Annual Review of the Risk Register
The Company has a full risk register which includes less material
risks which the Board reviews at least annually.
PRINCIPAL RISKS
1. Economic, Political and Market Risks
Trend: Increased
Description and Impact · The Company and its assets may be affected by market and economic risks. These include market downturns, interest rate movements, inflation and market events, such as the UK economic recovery. Inflation and economic instability Mitigation · The Company’s portfolio is made up mainly of listed securities. The Portfolio Manager’s success or failure to protect and increase the Company’s value against the market, economic and political background is core to the Company’s continued success. His investment philosophy of stock-picking and investing in attractively valued companies should outperform the Benchmark over time. · The risk from the likely effects of unforeseen economic and market events is somewhat mitigated by the Company’s investment trust structure which means no forced sales need to take place to deal with any redemptions. Therefore, investments can be held over a longer time horizon. · The Board reviews market, economic and political risks and legislative changes at each Board meeting. The Portfolio Manager provides an investment review at each meeting which includes a review of the economic and political environment, and any risks and challenges faced by the Company. · The Board regularly reviews the impact of gearing and derivatives, and has comfort that the portfolio is sufficiently diversified by sector and number of holdings. · Risks to which the Company is exposed to in the market and currency risk category are included in Note 17 to the Financial Statements below together with summaries of the policies for managing these risks. It is the Company’s policy not to hedge the underlying currencies of the holdings in the portfolio but rather to take the currency risk into consideration when making investment decisions.
continue to lead to a prolonged cost-of-living crisis and may potentially impact investors’ risk appetite. · The Company is exposed to several geopolitical risks. The global geopolitical landscape continues to change and is largely shaped by the ongoing
effects of armed conflicts, tariff wars, deglobalisation trends and significant supply disruption. The Middle East and Russia are both significant net exporters of oil, natural gas and a variety of soft commodities and supply limitations have fuelled
global inflation and economic instability, specifically within Western nations. The ongoing conflicts add to geopolitical risk and economic instability, including social unrest across Europe and the macro-economic uncertainty continues to impact Western
investment appetite. · Heightened tensions between the U.S. and global trading partners, particularly China, continue to impact markets. The US/China relationship is also impacted by the dynamic of the balance between national security and economic
interests and could lead to higher volatility, sanctions for broader markets, technology and oil in particular, as well as risk of changes in foreign policies across the globe. · China’s outlook for ‘controlled stabilisation’ remains intact, supported by
targeted policy measures. China’s growth stabilisation is more credible post-deal (i.e. the government’s commitment to implementing strategic economic measures to achieve steady growth and economic resilience), and the agreement with the U.S. reduces
pressure on China to deliver new fiscal easing. Exports and industrial activities continue to outperform despite the slower than expected recovery in domestic demand.
2. Competition Risks and Marketplace Threats Impacting Business Growth
Trend: Increased
Description and Impact · There is increased activity around mergers and acquisitions across the investment company marketplace and alternative investment offerings (including passive vehicles) which could influence the demand for the Company’s shares. Mitigation · The Board, the Company’s Broker and the Manager closely monitor industry activity, the peer group and the share register. · An annual review of strategy is undertaken by the Board to ensure that the Company continues to offer a relevant product to investors.
In addition, cheaper capital and the search for technology scale is also likely to mean increased consolidation. · There is a risk of costly shareholder activism in the investment company sector, pursuing goals that may not be in the interests of most
shareholders.
3. Investment Performance Risk (including the use of Derivatives and Gearing)
Trend: Stable
Description and Impact · The achievement of the Company’s investment performance objective relative to the market requires the taking of risk, such as investment strategy, asset allocation and stock selection, and may lead to NAV and share price Mitigation · The Portfolio Manager is responsible for actively monitoring the portfolio selected in accordance with the asset allocation parameters and seeks to ensure that individual stocks meet an acceptable risk/reward profile. · The Board reviews Fidelity’s compliance with agreed investment restrictions; investment performance and risk; relative performance; the portfolio’s risk profile; and whether appropriate strategies are employed to mitigate any negative impact of substantial changes in the markets. The Board also regularly canvasses major shareholders for their views with respect to company matters. · The Board has put in place policies and limits to control the Company’s use of derivatives and exposures. These are monitored daily by the Manager’s Compliance team and regular reports are provided to the Board. Further detail on derivative instruments risk is included in Note 17 to the Financial Statements below. · The Board regularly considers the level of gearing and gearing risk. The Investment Policy sets the gearing limits within which the Manager must operate.
underperformance compared to the Benchmark and/or peer group companies. · The Board relies on the Portfolio Manager’s skills and judgement to make investment decisions based on research and analysis of individual stocks and sectors and there is a risk
of volatility of performance in the short-term. Continued underperformance could lead to the Company and its objective becoming unattractive to investors. · Derivative instruments are used to enhance investment returns. The principal risk is that the
Portfolio Manager fails to use gearing effectively, resulting in a failure to outperform in a rising market or to underperform in a falling market. The Company gears using derivatives including long CFDs which provide greater flexibility and are generally
cheaper than bank loans.
4. Changes in Legislation, Taxation or Regulation
Trend: Stable
Description and Impact · Changes in legislation, taxation or regulation, or other external influence that require changes to the investment trust structure of the Company are a significant risk for the Company. · A breach of Section 1158 of the Mitigation · The Board and Manager closely monitor regulatory, taxation and legislative changes, with developments impacting the Company summarised in the form of regular reporting to the Board. · The Manager monitors Section 1158 status to ensure any issues are escalated to the Board and addressed promptly. · The Manager participates in industry discussions regarding regulatory changes impacting investment companies, and regulatory developments continue to be monitored and managed by Fidelity through active lobbying and negotiations as well as a robust change management process.
Corporation Tax Act 2010 could lead to a loss of investment trust status resulting in the Company being subject to tax on capital gains. · There have been increased concerns about investment cost disclosures and their impact on the industry. There is a
risk that the FCA’s proposed Consumer Composite Investment (CCI) regime may make investment companies more complex for consumers and other investors to understand and increase the regulatory burden imposed on the sector if it proceeds with some of the
proposals as drafted.
5. Cybercrime and Information Security
Trend: Stable
Description and Impact · There is cybersecurity risk from cyberattacks or threats to the functioning of global markets and to the Manager’s own business model, including its and the Company’s outsourced suppliers. · There is risk of cybercrime such as Mitigation · The risk is monitored by the Board with the help of the Manager’s global cybersecurity team and their extensive Strategic Cyber and Information Security programme and assurances from outsourced suppliers. · The Manager has established a comprehensive framework of information security policies and standards which provide a structured approach to identify, prevent, and respond to information security threats. The framework ensures consistency in Fidelity’s security measures, enhances its ability to adapt to evolving/emerging threats, and compliance with changing regulatory requirements. The Company’s other service providers also have similar measures in place. · Key performance indicators and metrics have been developed by the Manager to monitor the overall efficacy of cybersecurity processes and controls and to further enhance the Manager’s cybersecurity strategy and operational resilience.
phishing, remote access threats, extortion, and denial-of-service attacks from highly organised criminal networks and sophisticated ransomware operators, including threats such as service disruption/extortion attacks (DDoS, ransomware), financial theft and
data breaches, regulatory non-compliance, reputational damage/loss of customer trust. The threat environment continues to evolve rapidly, including the heightened potential threat from nation state backed threat actor due to geopolitical tensions from the
current wars in Ukraine and Gaza. Ransomware continues to increase globally and is also becoming a supply chain risk. · There are additional risks from the increased use of artificial intelligence (AI).
6. Business Continuity and Crisis Management
Trend: Stable
Description and Impact · There is business process disruption risk from continued threats of cyberattacks, geopolitical events, outages, fire events and natural disasters, resulting in financial and/or reputational impact to the Company affecting the Mitigation · Fidelity has Business Continuity and Crisis Management Frameworks in place to deal with business disruption and assure operational resilience. · All third-party service providers are subject to a risk-based programme of risk oversight and internal audits by the Manager and their own internal controls reports are received an annual basis and any concerns are investigated. · The Board regularly reviews the services provided by third parties.
functioning of the business. · The Company relies on a number of third-party service providers, principally the Registrar, Custodian and Depositary who may be subject to cybercrime.
7. Operational Risks
Trend: Stable
Description and Impact · There is risk of financial losses or reputational damage from inadequate or failed internal processes, people and systems or from external parties and events. Mitigation · Fidelity’s Operational Risk Management Framework is designed to pro-actively prevent, identify and manage operational risks inherent in most activities. · Fidelity uses robust systems and procedures dedicated to its operational processes. Its risk management structure is designed according to the FCA’s three lines of defence model.
8. Key Person Risk and Operational Support Risks
Trend: Stable
Description and Impact · The loss of the Portfolio Manager or other key individuals could lead to potential performance and/or operational issues. · The Portfolio Manager, Alex Wright, has a differentiated style in relation to his peers. This style is Mitigation · The Company has a Co-Portfolio Manager, Jonathan Winton, who works alongside the Portfolio Manager, and has extensive experience in the same markets and companies and shares a common investment approach and complementary investment experience with the Portfolio Manager. The Portfolio Manager is also supported by an Investment Specialist and a team of Fidelity analysts. · The Manager identifies key dependencies which are then addressed through succession plans, particularly for portfolio managers.
intrinsically linked with the Company’s investment philosophy and strategy, and therefore, the Company has a key person dependency on him. · There is also a risk that the Manager has inadequate succession plans for other key operational individuals.
9. Discount Control Risk
Trend: Stable
Description and Impact · The price of the Company’s shares and its discount to NAV are factors which are not completely within the Company’s control. · The Board has a discount management policy and some short-term influence over the discount may be Mitigation · The Board reviews the investment strategy, investment performance and the marketing approach, given the influence of all these factors on the discount. · The Company’s share price, NAV and discount volatility are monitored daily by the Manager and the Company’s Broker and considered by the Board on a regular basis. The demand for shares can be influenced through good performance and an active investor relations programme. · The Board regularly reviews the Company’s share register and the Chairman meets with large shareholders. · Discretionary repurchases of ordinary shares are made within guidelines set by the Board, and considering prevailing market conditions.
exercised by carrying out share repurchases at acceptable prices and within the parameters set by the Board. · In considering the risk that the discount to NAV poses to shareholder value and returns, both the absolute level of the discount and the amount
relative to the Company’s peer group and the wider market are considered.
Continuation Vote
A continuation vote takes place every three years. There is a risk
that shareholders do not vote in favour of continuation during periods when
performance of the Company’s NAV and share price is poor. The last
continuation vote was at the AGM held on 14 December 2022, and 99.89% of
shareholders voted in favour of the continuation of the Company. The next
continuation vote will take place at this year’s AGM on 11 December 2025 and
the Directors expect the vote to be passed.
Viability Statement
In accordance with provision 31 of the 2018 UK Corporate Governance
Code, the Directors have assessed the prospects of the Company over a longer
period than the twelve month period required by the “Going Concern” basis.
The Company is an investment trust with the objective of achieving long-term
capital growth. The Board considers that five years is an appropriate
investment horizon to assess the viability of the Company, although the life
of the Company is not intended to be limited to this or any other period.
In making an assessment of the viability of the Company, the Board has
considered the following:
· The ongoing relevance of the investment objective in
prevailing market conditions;
· The Company’s level of gearing;
· The Company’s NAV and share price performance
compared to its Benchmark;
· The principal and emerging risks and uncertainties
facing the Company and their potential impact, as set out above;
· The likely future demand for the Company’s shares;
· The Company’s share price discount to the NAV and
the Board’s discount management policy;
· The liquidity of the Company’s portfolio;
· The level of income generated by the Company;
· Future income and expenditure forecasts; and
· The Company’s continuation vote.
The Company’s performance for the five year reporting period to 31 August
2025 was strong and well ahead of the Benchmark. The NAV total return was
+124.3% and the share price total return was +140.4% compared to the Benchmark
total return of +77.7%.
The Board regularly reviews the investment policy and considers whether it
remains appropriate.
The Board has concluded that there is a reasonable expectation that the
Company will be able to continue in operation and meet its liabilities as they
fall due over the next five years based on the following considerations:
· The Investment Manager’s compliance with the
Company’s investment objective and policy, its investment strategy and asset
allocation;
· The Company’s portfolio mainly comprises of readily
realisable securities which can be sold to meet funding requirements if
necessary;
· The Board’s discount management policy; and
· The ongoing processes for monitoring operating costs
and income which are considered to be reasonable in comparison to the
Company’s total assets.
In preparing the Financial Statements, the Directors have considered the
continued impact of climate change and potential emerging risks from the use
of artificial intelligence as detailed above. The Board has also considered
the impact of regulatory changes, unforeseen market events, geopolitical
issues and the ongoing global implications of the war in Ukraine and the
Middle East conflict and how this may affect the Company.
In addition, the Directors’ assessment of the Company’s ability to operate
in the foreseeable future is included in the Going Concern Statement below.
Going Concern Statement
The Directors have considered the Company’s investment objective,
risk management policies, liquidity risk, credit risk, capital management
policies and procedures, the nature of its portfolio and its expenditure and
cash flow projections. The Directors, having considered the liquidity of the
Company’s portfolio of investments (being mainly securities which are
readily realisable) and the projected income and expenditure, are satisfied
that the Company is financially sound and has adequate resources to meet all
of its liabilities and ongoing expenses and continue in operational existence
for the foreseeable future. The Board has, therefore, concluded that the
Company has adequate resources to continue to adopt the going concern basis
for the period to 30 November 2026 which is at least twelve months from the
date of approval of the Financial Statements. This conclusion also takes into
account the Board’s assessment of the ongoing risks from significant global
geopolitical and market events and regulatory changes that could impact the
Company’s performance, prospects and operations.
Accordingly, the Financial Statements of the Company have been prepared on a
going concern basis.
The prospects of the Company over a period longer than twelve months can be
found in the Viability Statement above.
PROMOTING THE SUCCESS OF THE COMPANY
Under Section 172(1) of the Companies Act 2006, the Directors of a
company must act in a way they consider, in good faith, would be most likely
to promote the success of the Company for the benefit of its members as a
whole, and in doing so have regard (amongst other matters) to the likely
consequences of any decision in the long-term; the need to foster
relationships with the Company’s suppliers, customers and others; the impact
of the Company’s operations on the community and the environment; the
desirability of the Company maintaining a reputation for high standards of
business conduct; and the need to act fairly as between members of the
company.
As an externally managed investment company, the Company has no employees or
physical assets, and a number of its functions are outsourced to third
parties. The key outsourced function is the provision of investment management
services by the Manager, but other professional service providers support the
Company by providing administration, custodial, banking, accounting and audit
services. The Board considers the Company’s key stakeholders to be the
existing and potential shareholders, the external appointed Manager (FIL
Investment Services (UK) Limited) and other third-party professional service
providers. The Board considers that the interest of these stakeholders is
aligned with the Company’s objective of delivering long-term capital growth
to investors, in line with the Company’s stated objective and strategy,
while providing the highest standards of legal, regulatory and commercial
conduct.
The Board, with the Portfolio Manager, sets the overall investment strategy
and reviews this at an annual strategy day which is separate from the regular
cycle of board meetings. In order to ensure good governance of the Company,
the Board has set various limits on the investments in the portfolio, whether
in the maximum size of individual holdings, the use of derivatives, the level
of gearing and others. These limits and guidelines are regularly monitored and
reviewed and are set out in the Annual Report.
The Board receives regular reports from the Company’s Broker which covers
market activity, how the Company compares with its peers in its sector on
performance, discount and share repurchase activity, an analysis of the
Company’s share register and market trends.
The Board places great importance on communication with shareholders. The
Annual General Meeting (“AGM”) provides the key forum for the Board and
the Portfolio Manager to present to the shareholders on the Company’s
performance and future plans and the Board encourages all shareholders to
attend in person or virtually and raise any questions or concerns. The
Chairman and other Board members are available to meet shareholders as
appropriate. Shareholders may also communicate with Board members at any time
by writing to them at the Company’s registered office at FIL Investments
International, Beech Gate, Millfield Lane, Tadworth, Surrey KT20 6RP or via
the Company Secretary in writing at the same address or by email at
investmenttrusts@fil.com .
The Portfolio Manager meets with major shareholders, potential investors,
stock market analysts, journalists and other commentators throughout the year.
These communication opportunities help inform the Board in considering how
best to promote the success of the company over the long-term.
The Board seeks to engage with the Manager and other service providers and
advisers in a constructive and collaborative way, promoting a culture of
strong governance, while encouraging open and constructive debate, in order to
ensure appropriate and regular challenge and evaluation. This aims to enhance
service levels and strengthen relationships with service providers, with a
view to ensuring shareholders’ interests are best served, by maintaining the
highest standards of commercial conduct while keeping cost levels competitive.
Whilst the Company’s direct operations are limited, the Board recognises the
importance of considering the impact of the Company’s investment strategy on
the wider community and environment and considers the Manager’s ESG
approach.
In addition to ensuring that the Company’s investment objective was being
pursued, key decisions and actions taken by the Directors during the reporting
year, and up to the date of approval of this report, have included:
· As part of the Board’s succession plan, appointing
Christopher Casey as a Non-Executive Director with effect from 1 January 2025
to replace Nigel Foster who having completed nine years on the Board on 1
September 2024 stepped down at the conclusion of the AGM on 12
December 2024;
· As part of the Board’s succession plan, initiating a
recruitment process to replace Dean Buckley as a Non-Executive Director when
he steps down from the Board as Chairman and Non-Executive Director at the
conclusion of the AGM on 11 December 2025. His replacement as a Non-Executive
Director will be announced in due course;
· The decision to appoint Claire Boyle as Chair of the
Board to replace Dean Buckley from 11 December 2025 and for Christopher Casey
to replace her as Chair of the Audit Committee on the same date. Mr Casey will
also replace Mrs Boyle as Senior Independent Director;
· The decision to pay an interim dividend of 3.36 pence
per share and to propose the payment of a final dividend of 6.84 pence per
share (a total of 10.20 pence per share). This maintains the Company’s 16
year track record of increasing dividends, while retaining funds for
reinvestment, consistent with the objective of long-term capital growth;
· Authorising the repurchase of 1,050,000 ordinary
shares into Treasury up to the latest practicable date of this Annual Report
in line with the Board’s discount management policy;
· Carrying out an audit tender as the current Auditor
will have been in place for 10 years in November this year and proposing to
appoint PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s auditor from and
including the financial year ending 31 August 2026;
· Meetings by the Chairman with some of the Company’s
key shareholders during the reporting year; and
· The decision to once again hold a hybrid AGM in 2025
so as to make it more accessible to those investors who are unable or prefer
not to attend in person.
Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities
The Directors are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and Financial
Statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.
Company law requires the Directors to prepare Financial Statements for each
financial period. Under that law, the Directors have elected to prepare the
Financial Statements in accordance with UK Generally Accepted Accounting
Practice (UK Accounting Standards and applicable law), including Financial
Reporting Standard FRS 102: The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the
UK and Republic of Ireland (“FRS 102”). Under company law the Directors
must not approve the Financial Statements unless they are satisfied that they
give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Company and of the
profit or loss for the reporting period.
In preparing these Financial Statements the Directors are required to:
· Select suitable accounting policies in accordance with
Section 10 of FRS 102 and then apply them consistently;
· Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and
prudent;
· Present information, including accounting policies, in
a fair and balanced manner that provides relevant, reliable, comparable and
understandable information;
· State whether applicable UK Accounting Standards,
including FRS 102, 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 presume that the Company will continue in
business.
The Directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are
sufficient to show and explain the Company’s transactions and disclose with
reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Company and to
enable them to ensure that the Company and the Financial Statements comply
with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the
assets of the Company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention
and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Under applicable law and regulations, the Directors are also responsible for
preparing a Strategic Report, a Directors’ Report, a Corporate Governance
Statement and a Directors’ Remuneration Report which comply with that law
and those regulations.
The Directors have delegated the responsibility for the maintenance and
integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the
Company’s pages of the Manager’s website at
www.fidelity.co.uk/specialvalues
to the Manager. Visitors to the website need to be aware that
legislation in the UK governing the preparation and dissemination of the
Financial Statements may differ from legislation in their jurisdictions.
The Directors confirm that to the best of their knowledge:
· The Financial Statements, prepared in accordance with
UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice, including FRS 102, give a true and
fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit of the
Company;
· The Annual Report, including the Strategic Report,
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 it faces; and
· The Annual Report and Financial Statements, taken as a
whole, are fair, balanced and understandable and provide the information
necessary for shareholders to assess the Company’s performance, business
model and strategy.
The Statement of Directors’ Responsibility was approved by the Board on 5
November 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
DEAN BUCKLEY
Chairman
Income Statement for the year ended 31 August 2025
Year ended 31 August 2025 Year ended 31 August 2024
Notes Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Gains on investments 10 – 117,016 117,016 – 166,057 166,057
Gains on derivative instruments 11 – 2,195 2,195 – 19,524 19,524
Investment and derivative income 3 51,646 – 51,646 48,413 – 48,413
Other interest 3 2,375 – 2,375 2,751 – 2,751
Investment management fees 4 (6,857) – (6,857) (6,095) – (6,095)
Other expenses 5 (944) – (944) (898) – (898)
Foreign exchange (losses)/gains – (546) (546) – 204 204
--------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------
Net return on ordinary activities before finance costs and taxation 46,220 118,665 164,885 44,171 185,785 229,956
Finance costs 6 (6,225) – (6,225) (5,794) – (5,794)
--------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------
Net return on ordinary activities before taxation 39,995 118,665 158,660 38,377 185,785 224,162
Taxation on return on ordinary activities 7 (272) – (272) (848) – (848)
--------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------
Net return on ordinary activities after taxation for the year 39,723 118,665 158,388 37,529 185,785 223,314
========= ========= ========= ========= ========= =========
Return per ordinary share 8 12.28p 36.67p 48.95p 11.58p 57.32p 68.90p
========= ========= ========= ========= ========= =========
The Company does not have any other comprehensive income. Accordingly, the net
return on ordinary activities after taxation for the year is also the total
comprehensive income for the year and no separate Statement of Comprehensive
Income has been presented.
The total column of this statement represents the Income Statement of the
Company. The revenue and capital columns are supplementary and presented for
information purposes as recommended by the Statement of Recommended Practice
issued by the AIC.
No operations were acquired or discontinued in the year and all items in the
above statement derive from continuing operations.
The Notes below form an integral part of these Financial Statements.
Balance Sheet as at 31 August 2025
Company number 2972628
Notes 2025 2024
£’000 £’000
Fixed assets
Investments 10 1,164,423 1,120,686
--------------- ---------------
Current assets
Derivative instruments 11 1,213 4,318
Debtors 12 10,672 8,200
Amounts held at futures clearing houses and brokers 1,300 –
Cash and cash equivalents 94,109 11,749
--------------- ---------------
107,294 24,267
========= =========
Current liabilities
Derivative instruments 11 (3,530) (200)
Other creditors 13 (999) (1,212)
--------------- ---------------
(4,529) (1,412)
========= =========
Net current assets 102,765 22,855
--------------- ---------------
Net assets 1,267,188 1,143,541
========= =========
Capital and reserves
Share capital 14 16,205 16,205
Share premium account 15 238,442 238,442
Capital redemption reserve 15 3,256 3,256
Other non-distributable reserve 15 5,152 5,152
Capital reserve 15 949,776 834,580
Revenue reserve 15 54,357 45,906
--------------- ---------------
Total Shareholders’ funds 1,267,188 1,143,541
========= =========
Net asset value per ordinary share 16 392.26p 352.84p
========= =========
The Financial Statements above and below were approved by the Board of
Directors on 5 November 2025 and were signed on its behalf by:
Dean Buckley
Chairman
The Notes below form an integral part of these Financial Statements.
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
Notes Share Share Capital Other Capital Revenue Total
capital premium redemption Non- reserve reserve Share-
£’000 account reserve distributable £’000 £’000 holders’
£’000 £’000 reserve funds
£’000 £’000
Total Shareholders’ funds at 31 August 2024 16,205 238,442 3,256 5,152 834,580 45,906 1,143,541
Net return on ordinary activities after taxation for the year – – – – 118,665 39,723 158,388
Repurchase of ordinary shares 14 – – – – (3,469) – (3,469)
Dividends paid to Shareholders 9 – – – – – (31,272) (31,272)
--------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------
Total Shareholders’ funds at 31 August 2025 16,205 238,442 3,256 5,152 949,776 54,357 1,267,188
========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= =========
Total Shareholders’ funds at 31 August 2023 16,205 238,442 3,256 5,152 648,795 39,199 951,049
Net return on ordinary activities after taxation for the year – – – – 185,785 37,529 223,314
Dividends paid to Shareholders 9 – – – – – (30,822) (30,822)
--------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------
Total Shareholders’ funds at 31 August 2024 16,205 238,442 3,256 5,152 834,580 45,906 1,143,541
========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= =========
The Notes below form an integral part of these Financial Statements.
CASH FLOW STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
Notes Year ended Year ended
31.08.25 31.08.24
£’000 £’000
Operating activities
Investment income received 42,920 42,980
Net derivative income received 5,969 4,454
Interest received 2,352 2,723
Investment management fee paid (6,820) (6,008)
Directors' fees paid (181) (170)
Other cash payments (801) (696)
--------------- ---------------
Net cash inflow from operating activities before finance costs and taxation 20 43,439 43,283
========= =========
Finance costs paid (6,228) (5,853)
Overseas taxation suffered (223) (536)
--------------- ---------------
Net cash inflow from operating activities 36,988 36,894
========= =========
Investing activities
Purchases of investments (352,069) (353,057)
Sales of investments 425,818 282,830
Receipts on long CFDs 70,434 51,625
Payments on long CFDs (61,062) (35,747)
Receipts on short CFDs 460 950
Payments on short CFDs (1,622) (588)
Movement on amounts held at futures clearing houses and brokers (1,300) –
--------------- ---------------
Net cash inflow/(outflow) from investing activities 80,659 (53,987)
========= =========
Net cash inflow/(outflow) before financing activities 117,647 (17,093)
========= =========
Financing activities
Dividends paid 9 (31,272) (30,822)
Repurchase of ordinary shares 14 (3,469) –
--------------- ---------------
Net cash outflow from financing activities (34,741) (30,822)
--------------- ---------------
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 82,906 (47,915)
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year 11,749 59,460
Effect of movement in foreign exchange (546) 204
--------------- ---------------
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year 94,109 11,749
========= =========
Represented by:
Cash at bank 1,937 2,072
Amount held in Fidelity Institutional Liquidity Fund 92,172 9,677
--------------- ---------------
94,109 11,749
========= =========
The Notes below form an integral part of these Financial Statements .
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1 PRINCIPAL ACTIVITY
Fidelity Special Values PLC is an Investment Company incorporated in
England and Wales that is listed on the London Stock Exchange. The Company’s
registration number is 2972628, and its registered office is Beech Gate,
Millfield Lane, Lower Kingswood, Tadworth, Surrey KT20 6RP. The Company has
been approved by HM Revenue & Customs as an Investment Trust under Section
1158 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 and intends to conduct its affairs so as
to continue to be approved.
2 ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The Company has prepared its Financial Statements in accordance with
UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (“UK GAAP”), including FRS 102
“The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of
Ireland”, issued by the Financial Reporting Council (“FRC”). The
Financial Statements have also been prepared in accordance with the Statement
of Recommended Practice: Financial Statements of Investment Trust Companies
and Venture Capital Trusts (“SORP”) issued by the Association of
Investment Companies (“AIC”), in July 2022.
a) Basis of accounting – The Financial Statements have
been prepared on a going concern basis and under the historical cost
convention, except for the measurement at fair value of investments and
derivative instruments. The Directors have a reasonable expectation that the
Company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence up to 30
November 2026 which is at least twelve months from the date of approval of
these Financial Statements. In making their assessment the Directors have
reviewed income and expense projections, reviewed the liquidity of the
investment portfolio and considered the Company’s ability to meet
liabilities as they fall due. This conclusion also takes into account the
Director’s assessment of the risks faced by the Company as detailed in the
Going Concern Statement above and their consideration of the upcoming
continuation vote at the AGM on 11 December 2025. The Directors recommend that
shareholders vote in favour of the continuation of the Company.
In preparing these Financial Statements the Directors have considered the
impact of climate change risk as an emerging risk as set out above, and have
concluded that there was no further impact of climate change to be taken into
account as the investments are valued based on market pricing. In line with
FRS 102, investments are valued at fair value, which for the Company are
quoted bid prices for investments in active markets at the Balance Sheet date.
Investments which are unlisted are priced using market-based valuation
approaches. All investments therefore reflect the market participants view of
climate change risk on the investments held by the Company.
The Company’s Going Concern Statement above takes account of all events and
conditions up to 30 November 2026, which is at least twelve months from the
date of approval of these Financial Statements.
b) Significant accounting estimates and judgements – The
Directors make judgements and estimates concerning the future. Estimates and
judgements are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience
and other factors, such as expectations of future events, and are believed to
be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these
estimates. The judgements required in order to determine the appropriate
valuation methodology of level 3 financial instruments have a risk of causing
an adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets. These judgements include
making assessments of the possible valuations in the event of a listing or
other marketability related risks.
c) Segmental reporting – The Company is engaged in a
single segment business and, therefore, no segmental reporting is provided.
d) Presentation of the Income Statement – In order to
reflect better the activities of an investment company and in accordance with
guidance issued by the AIC, supplementary information which analyses the
Income Statement between items of a revenue and capital nature has been
prepared alongside the Income Statement. The net revenue return after taxation
for the year is the measure the Directors believe appropriate in assessing the
Company’s compliance with certain requirements set out in Section 1159 of
the Corporation Tax Act 2010.
e) Income – Income from equity investments is accounted
for on the date on which the right to receive the payment is established,
normally the ex-dividend date. Overseas dividends are accounted for gross of
any tax deducted at source. Amounts are credited to the revenue column of the
Income Statement. Where the Company has elected to receive its dividends in
the form of additional shares rather than cash, the amount of the cash
dividend foregone is recognised in the revenue column of the Income Statement.
Any excess in the value of the shares received over the amount of the cash
dividend is recognised in the capital column of the Income Statement. Special
dividends are treated as a revenue receipt or a capital receipt depending on
the facts and circumstances of each particular case. Interest on securities is
accounted for on an accruals basis and is credited to the revenue column of
the Income Statement.
Derivative instrument income received from dividends on long contracts for
difference (“CFDs”) is accounted for on the date on which the right to
receive the payment is established, normally the ex-dividend date. The amount
net of tax is credited to the revenue column of the Income Statement.
Interest received on short CFDs, bank deposits, collateral and money market
funds is accounted for on an accruals basis and credited to the revenue column
of the Income Statement. Interest received on CFDs represents the finance
costs calculated by reference to the notional value of the CFDs.
f) Investment management fees and other expenses –
Investment management fees and other expenses are accounted for on an
accruals basis and are charged as follows:
· Investment management fees are allocated in full to
revenue; and
· All other expenses are allocated in full to revenue
with the exception of those directly attributable to share issues or other
capital events.
g) Functional currency and foreign exchange – The
functional and reporting currency of the Company is UK sterling, which is the
currency of the primary economic environment in which the Company operates.
Transactions denominated in foreign currencies are reported in UK sterling at
the rate of exchange ruling at the date of the transaction. Assets and
liabilities in foreign currencies are translated at the rates of exchange
ruling at the Balance Sheet date. Foreign exchange gains and losses arising on
translation are recognised in the Income Statement as a revenue or a capital
item depending on the nature of the underlying item to which they relate.
h) Finance costs – Finance costs comprise interest on
bank overdrafts and finance costs paid on CFDs, which are accounted for on an
accruals basis. Finance costs are charged in full to the revenue column of the
Income Statement.
i) Taxation – The taxation charge represents the sum of
current taxation and deferred taxation.
Current taxation is taxation suffered at source on overseas income less
amounts recoverable under taxation treaties. Taxation is charged or credited
to the revenue column of the Income Statement, except where it relates to
items of a capital nature, in which case it is charged or credited to the
capital column of the Income Statement. Where expenses are allocated between
revenue and capital any tax relief in respect of the expenses is allocated
between revenue and capital returns on the marginal basis using the
Company’s effective rate of corporation tax for the accounting period. The
Company is an approved Investment Trust under Section 1158 of the Corporation
Tax Act 2010 and is not liable for UK taxation on capital gains.
Deferred taxation is the taxation expected to be payable or recoverable on
timing differences between the treatment of certain items for accounting
purposes and their treatment for the purposes of computing taxable profits.
Deferred taxation is based on tax rates that have been enacted or
substantively enacted when the taxation is expected to be payable or
recoverable. Deferred tax assets are only recognised if it is considered more
likely than not that there will be sufficient future taxable profits to
utilise them.
j) Dividend paid – Dividends payable to equity
Shareholders are recognised when the Company’s obligation to make payment is
established.
k) Investments – The Company’s business is investing
in financial instruments with a view to profiting from their total return in
the form of income and capital growth. This portfolio of investments is
managed and its performance evaluated on a fair value basis, in accordance
with a documented investment strategy, and information about the portfolio is
provided on that basis to the Company’s Board of Directors. Investments are
measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognised in profit or
loss, in accordance with the provisions of both Section 11 and Section 12 of
FRS 102. The fair value of investments is initially taken to be their cost and
is subsequently measured as follows:
· Listed investments are valued at bid prices, or last
market prices, depending on the convention of the exchange on which they are
listed; and
· Unlisted investments are not quoted, or are not
frequently traded, and are stated at the best estimate of fair value. The
Manager’s Fair Value Committee (“FVC”), which is independent of the
Portfolio Manager’s team, meets quarterly to determine the fair value of
unlisted investments.
The FVC provide a recommendation of fair values to the Board using
market-based approaches such as multiples, industry valuation benchmarks and
available market prices. Consideration is given to the cost of the investment,
recent arm’s length transactions in the same or similar investments and the
financial performance of the investment since purchase. This pricing
methodology is subject to a detailed review and appropriate challenge by the
Directors.
In accordance with the AIC SORP, the Company includes transaction costs,
incidental to the purchase or sale of investments, within gains on investments
in the capital column of the Income Statement and has disclosed these costs in
Note 10 below.
l) Derivative instruments – When appropriate, permitted
transactions in derivative instruments are used. Derivative transactions into
which the Company may enter include long and short CFDs, futures, options and
warrants. Derivatives are classified as other financial instruments and are
initially accounted for and measured at fair value on the date the derivative
contract is entered into and subsequently measured at fair value as follows:
· Long and short CFDs – the difference between the
strike price and the value of the underlying shares in the contract;
· Futures – the difference between the contract price
and the quoted trade price; and
· Options – value based on similar instruments or the
quoted trade price for the contract.
Where transactions are used to protect or enhance income, if the circumstances
support this, the income and expenses derived are included in net income in
the revenue column of the Income Statement. Where such transactions are used
to protect or enhance capital, if the circumstances support this, the gains
and losses derived are included in gains/(losses) on derivative instruments in
the capital column of the Income Statement. Any positions on such transactions
open at the year end are reflected on the Balance Sheet at their fair value
within current assets or current liabilities.
m) Debtors – Debtors include securities sold for future
settlement, amounts receivable on settlement of derivatives, accrued income,
taxation recoverable and other debtors and prepayments incurred in the
ordinary course of business. If collection is expected in one year or less (or
in the normal operating cycle of the business, if longer) they are classified
as current assets. If not, they are presented as non-current assets. They are
recognised initially at fair value and, where applicable, subsequently
measured at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method.
n) Amounts held at futures clearing houses and brokers –
These are amounts held in segregated accounts as collateral on behalf
of brokers and are carried at amortised cost.
o) Cash and cash equivalents – Cash and cash equivalents
may comprise cash at bank and money market funds which are short -
term, highly liquid and are readily convertible to a known amount of
cash. These are subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value.
p) Other creditors – Other creditors include securities
purchased for future settlement, finance costs payable, investment management
fees and other creditors and expenses accrued in the ordinary course of
business. If payment is due within one year or less (or in the normal
operating cycle of the business, if longer) they are classified as current
liabilities. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. They are
recognised initially at fair value and, where applicable, subsequently
measured at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method.
q) Capital reserve – The following are accounted for in
the capital reserve:
· Gains and losses on the disposal of investments and
derivative instruments;
· Changes in the fair value of investments and
derivative instruments held at the year end;
· Foreign exchange gains and losses of a capital nature;
· Dividends receivable which are capital in nature; and
· Costs of repurchasing or issuing ordinary shares.
Technical guidance issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England
and Wales in TECH 02/17BL, guidance on the determination of realised profits
and losses in the context of distributions under the Companies Act 2006,
states that changes in the fair value of investments which are readily
convertible to cash, without accepting adverse terms at the Balance Sheet
date, can be treated as realised. Capital reserves realised and unrealised are
shown in aggregate as capital reserve in the Statement of Changes in Equity
and the Balance Sheet. At the Balance Sheet date, the portfolio of the Company
consisted of investments listed on a recognised stock exchange and derivative
instruments contracted with counterparties having an adequate credit rating,
and the portfolio was considered to be readily convertible to cash, with the
exception of the level 3 investments which had unrealised investment holding
losses of £26,458,000 (2024: losses of £10,868,000).
3 INCOME
Year ended Year ended
31.08.25 31.08.24
£’000 £’000
Investment income
UK dividends 33,971 30,235
UK property income distributions 1,522 135
UK scrip dividends 512 1,310
UK property income scrip dividends – 157
Interest on securities 1,512 1,528
Overseas dividends 7,562 10,395
--------------- ---------------
45,079 43,760
========= =========
Derivative income
Dividends received on long CFDs 6,567 4,653
--------------- ---------------
Investment and derivative income 51,646 48,413
========= =========
Other interest
Interest received on bank deposits, collateral and money market funds 2,352 2,723
Interest received on short CFDs 23 28
--------------- ---------------
2,375 2,751
========= =========
Total income 54,021 51,164
========= =========
Special dividends of £2,947,000 (2024: £5,206,000) have been recognised in
capital during the year.
4 INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT FEES
Year ended Year ended
31.08.25 31.08.24
£’000 £’000
Investment management fees 6,857 6,095
========= =========
FIL Investment Services (UK) Limited is the Company’s Alternative Investment
Fund Manager and has delegated portfolio management to FIL Investments
International (“FII”). Both companies are Fidelity group companies.
FII charges investment management fees at an annual rate of 0.60% of net
assets. Fees are accrued on a daily basis and payable monthly.
5 OTHER EXPENSES Year ended Year ended
31.08.25 31.08.24
£’000 £’000
AIC fees 24 21
Custody fees 28 27
Depositary fees 59 58
Directors’ expenses 18 15
Directors’ fees 1 182 170
Legal and professional fees 93 101
Marketing expenses 230 229
Printing and publication expenses 147 122
Registrars’ fees 80 74
Fees payable to the Company’s Independent Auditor for the audit of the Financial Statements 2,3 59 53
Sundry other expenses 24 28
--------------- ---------------
Other expenses 944 898
========= =========
1 Details of the breakdown of Directors’ fees are
disclosed in the Directors’ Remuneration Report in the Annual Report.
2 The VAT payable on audit fees is included in sundry
other expenses.
3 Included in the current year's audit fee is an amount
of £3,750 in respect of additional scope of work relating to the transition
of Fidelity's reporting functions to JP Morgan and this has been paid by
Fidelity.
6 FINANCE COSTS
Year ended Year ended
31.08.25 31.08.24
£’000 £’000
Interest paid on long CFDs 6,122 5,765
Interest paid on bank overdrafts 103 29
--------------- ---------------
6,225 5,794
========= =========
7 TAXATION ON RETURN ON ORDINARY
ACTIVITIES
Year ended Year ended
31.08.25 31.08.24
£’000 £’000
a) Analysis of the taxation charge for the year
Overseas taxation 272 848
--------------- ---------------
Taxation charge for the year (see Note 7b) 272 848
========= =========
b) Factors affecting the taxation charge for the year
The taxation charge for the year is lower than the standard rate of
UK corporation tax for an investment trust company of 25% (2024: 25%). A
reconciliation of the standard rate of UK corporation tax to the taxation
charge for the year is shown below:
Year ended Year ended
31.08.25 31.08.24
£’000 £’000
Net return on ordinary activities before taxation 158,660 224,162
--------------- ---------------
Net return on ordinary activities before taxation multiplied by the standard rate of UK corporation tax of 25% (2024: 25%) 39,665 56,040
Effects of:
Capital gains not taxable 1 (29,666) (46,446)
Income not taxable (10,558) (10,485)
Excess management expenses 559 891
Overseas taxation 272 848
--------------- ---------------
Total taxation charge for the year (see Note 7a) 272 848
========= =========
1 The Company is exempt from UK corporation tax on
capital gains as it meets the HM Revenue & Customs criteria for an investment
company set out in Section 1159 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010.
c) Deferred taxation
A deferred tax asset of £18,685,000 (2024: £18,126,000), in
respect of excess expenses of £74,740,000 (2024: £72,504,000) available to
be set off against future taxable profits has not been recognised as it is
unlikely that there will be sufficient future taxable profits to utilise these
expenses.
8 RETURN PER ORDINARY SHARE
Year ended Year ended
31.08.25 31.08.24
Revenue return per ordinary share 12.28p 11.58p
Capital return per ordinary share 36.67p 57.32p
--------------- ---------------
Total return per ordinary share 48.95p 68.90p
========= =========
The return per ordinary share is based on the net return on ordinary
activities after taxation for the year divided by the weighted average number
of ordinary shares held outside of Treasury during the year, as shown below:
£’000 £’000
Net revenue return on ordinary activities after taxation 39,723 37,529
Net capital return on ordinary activities after taxation 118,665 185,785
--------------- ---------------
Net total return on ordinary activities after taxation 158,388 223,314
========= =========
Number Number
Weighted average number of ordinary shares held outside of Treasury 323,570,427 324,098,920
========= =========
9 DIVIDENDS PAID TO SHAREHOLDERS
Year ended Year ended
31.08.25 31.08.24
£’000 £’000
Dividends paid
Interim dividend of 3.36 pence per ordinary share paid for the year ended 31 August 2025 10,854 –
Final dividend of 6.30 pence per ordinary share paid for the year ended 31 August 2024 20,418 –
Interim dividend of 3.24 pence per ordinary share paid for the year ended 31 August 2024 – 10,501
Final dividend of 6.27 pence per ordinary share paid for the year ended 31 August 2023 – 20,321
--------------- ---------------
31,272 30,822
========= =========
Dividends proposed
Final dividend proposed of 6.84 pence per ordinary share for the year ended 31 August 2025 22,097 –
Final dividend proposed of 6.30 pence per ordinary share for the year ended 31 August 2024 – 20,418
--------------- ---------------
22,097 20,418
========= =========
The Directors have proposed the payment of a final dividend of 6.84 pence per
ordinary share for the year ended 31 August 2025, which is subject to approval
by Shareholders at the Annual General Meeting on 11 December 2025 and has not
been included as a liability in these Financial Statements. The dividends will
be paid on 13 January 2026 to Shareholders on the register at the close of
business on 28 November 2025 (ex-dividend date 27 November 2025).
10 INVESTMENTS
2025 2024
£’000 £’000
Listed investments 1,162,102 1,119,970
Unlisted investments 2,321 716
--------------- ---------------
Total investments at fair value 1,164,423 1,120,686
========= =========
Opening book cost 1,003,728 914,377
Opening investment holding gains/(losses) 116,958 (31,685)
--------------- ---------------
Opening fair value 1,120,686 882,692
Movement in the year
Purchases at cost 352,391 354,795
Sales – proceeds (425,670) (282,858)
Gains on investments 117,016 166,057
--------------- ---------------
Closing fair value 1,164,423 1,120,686
========= =========
Closing book cost 989,274 1,003,728
Closing investment holding gains 175,149 116,958
--------------- ---------------
Closing fair value 1,164,423 1,120,686
========= =========
The Company received £425,670,000 (2024: £282,858,000) from investments sold
in the year. The book cost of these investments when they were purchased was
£366,845,000 (2024: £265,444,000). These investments have been revalued over
time and until they were sold any unrealised gains/(losses) were included in
the fair value of the investments.
Investment transaction costs
Transaction costs incurred in the acquisition and disposal of
investments, which are included in the gains on investments above, were as
follows:
Year ended Year ended
31.08.25 31.08.24
£’000 £’000
Purchases transaction costs 1,869 1,606
Sales transaction costs 215 135
--------------- ---------------
2,084 1,741
========= =========
11 DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
Year ended Year ended
31.08.25 31.08.24
£’000 £’000
Gains on long CFD positions closed 9,792 15,864
(Losses)/gains on short CFD positions closed (1,162) 362
Movement in investment holding (losses)/gains on long CFDs (6,537) 3,400
Movement in investment holding gains/(losses) on short CFDs 102 (102)
--------------- ---------------
2,195 19,524
========= =========
2025 2024
Fair value Fair value
£’000 £’000
Derivative instruments recognised on the Balance Sheet
Derivative instrument assets 1,213 4,318
Derivative instrument liabilities (3,530) (200)
--------------- ---------------
(2,317) 4,118
========= =========
2025 2024
Fair value Asset Fair value Asset
£’000 exposure £’000 exposure
£’000 £’000
At the year end the Company held the following derivative instruments
Long CFDs (2,317) 171,164 4,220 115,050
Short CFDs – – (102) 2,117
--------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------
(2,317) 171,164 4,118 117,167
========= ========= ========= =========
12 DEBTORS
2025 2024
£’000 £’000
Securities sold for future settlement – 146
Amounts receivable on settlement of derivatives 420 –
Accrued income 8,866 6,598
Overseas taxation recoverable 1,359 1,408
Other debtors and prepayments 27 48
--------------- ---------------
10,672 8,200
========= =========
13 OTHER CREDITORS
2025 2024
£’000 £’000
Securities purchased for future settlement 81 271
Finance costs payable 147 150
Creditors and accruals 771 791
--------------- ---------------
999 1,212
========= =========
14 SHARE CAPITAL
2025 2024
Number of Nominal Number of Nominal
shares value shares value
£’000 £’000
Issued, allotted and fully paid Ordinary shares of 5 pence each held outside of Treasury
Beginning of the year 324,098,920 16,205 324,098,920 16,205
Ordinary shares repurchased into Treasury (1,050,000) (53) – –
----------------- ----------------- ----------------- -----------------
End of the year 323,048,920 16,152 324,098,920 16,205
========== ========== ========== ==========
Ordinary shares of 5 pence each held in Treasury 1
Beginning of the year – – – –
Ordinary shares repurchased into Treasury 1,050,000 53 – –
----------------- ----------------- ----------------- -----------------
End of the year 1,050,000 53 – –
========== ========== ========== ==========
Total share capital 16,205 16,205
========== ========== ========== ==========
1 Ordinary shares held in Treasury carry no rights to
vote, to receive a dividend or to participate in a winding up of the Company.
The cost of ordinary shares repurchased into Treasury during the year was
£3,469,000 (2024: £nil).
15 CAPITAL AND RESERVES
Share Share Capital Other Capital Revenue Total
capital premium redemption non- reserve reserve Share-
£’000 account reserve distributable £’000 £’000 holders’
£’000 £’000 reserve funds
£’000 £’000
At 1 September 2024 16,205 238,442 3,256 5,152 834,580 45,906 1,143,541
Gains on investments (see Note 10) – – – – 117,016 – 117,016
Gains on long CFDs (see Note 11) – – – – 3,255 – 3,255
Losses on short CFDs (see Note 11) – – – – (1,060) – (1,060)
Foreign exchange losses – – – – (546) – (546)
Revenue return on ordinary activities after taxation for the year – – – – – 39,723 39,723
Dividends paid to Shareholders (see Note 9) – – – – – (31,272) (31,272)
Repurchase of ordinary shares (see Note 14) – – – – (3,469) – (3,469)
--------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------
At 31 August 2025 16,205 238,442 3,256 5,152 949,776 54,357 1,267,188
========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= =========
Share Share Capital Other Capital Revenue Total
capital premium redemption non- reserve reserve Share-
£’000 account reserve distributable £’000 £’000 holders’
£’000 £’000 reserve funds
£’000 £’000
At 1 September 2023 16,205 238,442 3,256 5,152 648,795 39,199 951,049
Gains on investments (see Note 10) – – – – 166,057 – 166,057
Gains on long CFDs (see Note 11) – – – – 19,264 – 19,264
Gains on short CFDs (see Note 11) – – – – 260 – 260
Foreign exchange gains – – – – 204 – 204
Revenue return on ordinary activities after taxation for the year – – – – – 37,529 37,529
Dividends paid to Shareholders (see Note 9) – – – – – (30,822) (30,822)
--------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------
At 31 August 2024 16,205 238,442 3,256 5,152 834,580 45,906 1,143,541
========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= =========
The capital reserve balance at 31 August 2025 includes investment holding
gains of £175,149,000 (2024: gains of £116,958,000) as detailed in Note 10.
See Note 2 (q) for further details.
16 NET ASSET VALUE PER ORDINARY SHARE
The calculation of the net asset value per ordinary share is based
on the total Shareholders’ funds divided by the number of ordinary shares
held outside of Treasury.
2025 2024
Total Shareholders’ funds £1,267,188,000 £1,143,541,000
Ordinary shares held outside of Treasury at year end 323,048,920 324,098,920
Net asset value per ordinary share 392.26p 352.84p
============ ============
It is the Company’s policy that shares held in Treasury will only be
reissued at net asset value per ordinary share or at a premium to net asset
value per ordinary share and, therefore, shares held in Treasury have no
dilutive effect.
17 FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
Management of risk
The Company’s investing activities in pursuit of its investment
objective involve certain inherent risks. The Board confirms that there is an
ongoing process for identifying, evaluating and managing the risks faced by
the Company. The Board, with the assistance of the Manager, has developed a
risk matrix which, as part of the internal control process, identifies the
risks that the Company faces. Risks are identified and graded in this process,
together with steps taken in mitigation, and are updated and reviewed on an
ongoing basis. Risks identified are shown above.
This note refers to the identification, measurement and management of risks
potentially affecting the value of financial instruments. The Company’s
financial instruments may comprise:
· Equity shares (listed and unlisted) and bonds held in
accordance with the Company’s investment objective and policies;
· Derivative instruments which comprise CFDs, forward
currency contracts, futures and options on listed stocks and equity indices;
and
· Cash, liquid resources and short-term debtors and
creditors that arise from its operations.
The risks identified arising from the Company’s financial instruments are
market price risk (which comprises interest rate risk, foreign currency risk
and other price risk), liquidity risk, counterparty risk, credit risk and
derivative instruments risk. The Board reviews and agrees policies for
managing each of these risks, which are summarised below. These policies are
consistent with those followed last year.
MARKET PRICE RISK
Interest rate risk
The Company finances its operations through its share capital and
reserves. In addition, the Company has gearing through the use of derivative
instruments. The Board imposes limits to ensure gearing levels are
appropriate. The Company is exposed to a financial risk arising as a result of
any increases in interest rates associated with the funding of the derivative
instruments.
Interest rate risk exposure
The values of the Company’s financial instruments that are exposed
to movements in interest rates are shown below:
2025 2024
£’000 £’000
Exposure to financial instruments that bear interest
Long CFDs – exposure less fair value 173,481 110,830
Exposure to financial instruments that earn interest
Cash and cash equivalents 94,109 11,749
Short CFDs – exposure plus fair value – 2,015
Amounts held at futures clearing houses and brokers 1,300 –
--------------- ---------------
95,409 13,764
========= =========
Net exposure to financial instruments that bear interest 78,072 97,066
========= =========
Foreign currency risk
The Company does not carry out currency speculation. The Company’s
net return on ordinary activities after taxation for the year and its net
assets can be affected by foreign exchange rate movements because the Company
has income, assets and liabilities which are de-nominated in currencies other
than the Company’s functional currency which is UK sterling. The Company can
also be subject to short-term exposure to exchange rate movements, for
example, between the date when an investment is purchased or sold and the date
when settlement of the transaction occurs.
Three principal areas have been identified where foreign currency risk could
impact the Company:
· Movements in currency exchange rates affecting the
value of investments and derivative instruments;
· Movements in currency exchange rates affecting
short-term timing differences; and
· Movements in currency exchange rates affecting income
received.
The portfolio management team monitor foreign currency risk, but it is not the
Company’s policy to hedge against currency risk.
Currency exposure of financial assets
The currency exposure profile of the Company’s financial assets is
shown below:
2025
Currency Investments Long Debtors 2 Cash Total
held at fair exposure to £’000 and cash £’000
value derivative equivalents 3
£’000 instruments 1 £’000
£’000
Euro 60,130 80,138 1,510 – 141,778
US dollar 10,891 – 981 59,871 71,743
Australian dollar 14,744 – – – 14,744
Swiss franc 11,268 – 443 – 11,711
South African rand 1,347 – – – 1,347
Georgian lari – – 121 – 121
Canadian dollar – – – 27 27
UK sterling 1,066,043 91,026 8,917 34,211 1,200,197
--------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------
1,164,423 171,164 11,972 94,109 1,441,668
========= ========= ========= ========= =========
1 The exposure to the market of long CFDs.
2 Debtors include amounts held at futures clearing houses
and brokers.
3 Cash and cash equivalents are made up of £1,937,000
cash at bank and £92,172,000 held in Fidelity Institutional Liquidity Fund.
2024
Currency Investments Long Debtors Cash Total
held at fair exposure to £’000 and cash £’000
value derivative equivalents 2
£’000 instruments 1 £’000
£’000
Euro 54,522 41,800 751 – 97,073
US dollar 39,752 – 542 33 40,327
Swiss franc 37,673 – 273 – 37,946
Swedish krona 22,811 – – – 22,811
Australian dollar 12,439 – – – 12,439
South African rand 2,024 – – – 2,024
Canadian dollar – – – 28 28
UK sterling 951,465 73,250 6,634 11,688 1,043,037
--------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------
1,120,686 115,050 8,200 11,749 1,255,685
========= ========= ========= ========= =========
1 The exposure to the market of long CFDs.
2 Cash and cash equivalents are made up of £2,072,000
cash at bank and £9,677,000 held in Fidelity Institutional Liquidity Fund.
Currency exposure of financial liabilities
The Company finances its investment activities through its ordinary
share capital and reserves. The Company’s financial liabilities comprises
short positions on derivative instruments and other creditors. The currency
profile of these financial liabilities is shown below:
2025
Currency Short exposure to Other Total
derivative creditors £’000
instruments 1 £’000
£’000
Euro – 48 48
UK sterling – 951 951
--------------- --------------- ---------------
– 999 999
========= ========= =========
1 The exposure to the market of short CFDs.
2024
Currency Short exposure to Other Total
derivative creditors £’000
instruments 1 £’000
£’000
US dollar 2,117 1 2,118
Euro – 62 62
UK sterling – 1,149 1,149
--------------- --------------- ---------------
2,117 1,212 3,329
========= ========= =========
1 The exposure to the market of short CFDs.
Other price risk
Other price risk arises mainly from uncertainty about future prices
of financial instruments used in the Company’s business. It represents the
potential loss the Company might suffer through holding market positions in
the face of price movements. The Board meets quarterly to consider the asset
allocation of the portfolio and the risk associated with particular industry
sectors within the parameters of the investment objective. The Portfolio
Manager is responsible for actively monitoring the existing portfolio selected
in accordance with the overall asset allocation parameters described above and
seeks to ensure that individual stocks also meet an acceptable risk/reward
profile. Other price risks arising from derivative positions, mainly due to
the underlying exposures, are estimated using Value at Risk and Stress Tests
as set out in the Company’s internal Risk Management Process Document.
Liquidity risk
Liquidity risk is the risk that the Company will encounter
difficulties in meeting obligations associated with financial liabilities. The
Company's assets mainly comprise readily realisable securities and derivative
instruments which can be sold easily to meet funding commitments if necessary.
Short-term flexibility is achieved by the use of a bank overdraft, if
required.
Liquidity risk exposure
At 31 August 2025, the undiscounted gross cash outflows of the
financial liabilities were all repayable within one year and consisted of
derivative instrument liabilities of £3,530,000 (2024: £200,000) and other
creditors of £999,000 (2024: £1,212,000).
Counterparty risk
Certain derivative instruments in which the Company may invest are
not traded on an exchange, but instead will be traded between counterparties
based on contractual relationships, under the terms outlined in the
International Swaps and Derivatives Association’s (“ISDA”) market
standard derivative legal documentation. These are known as Over the Counter
(“OTC”) trades. As a result, the Company is subject to the risk that a
counterparty may not perform its obligations under the related contract. In
accordance with the risk management pro-cess which the Investment Manager
employs, this risk is minimised by only entering into transactions with
counterparties which are believed to have an adequate credit rating at the
time the transaction is entered into, by ensuring that formal legal agreements
covering the terms of the contract are entered into in advance, and through
adopting a counterparty risk framework which measures, monitors and manages
counterparty risk by the use of internal and external credit agency ratings
and by evaluating derivative instrument credit risk exposure.
For OTC and exchange traded derivative transactions, collateral is used to
reduce the risk of both parties to the contract. Collateral is managed on a
daily basis for all relevant transactions.
2025 2024
Collateral Collateral Collateral Collateral Collateral
received pledged received pledged
£'000 £’000 £'000 £’000
Goldman Sachs International Ltd 260 – 150 –
HSBC Bank plc 140 – 380 –
J.P. Morgan plc – 260 2,370 –
Morgan Stanley & Co. International Ltd – – – –
UBS AG – 1,040 510 –
--------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------
Total 400 1,300 3,410 –
======== ======== ======== ========
Credit risk
Financial instruments may be adversely affected if any of the
institutions with which money is deposited suffer insolvency or other
financial difficulties. All transactions are carried out with brokers that
have been approved by the Manager and are settled on a delivery versus payment
basis. Limits are set on the amount that may be due from any one broker and
are kept under review by the Manager. Exposure to credit risk arises on
unsettled security transactions and derivative instrument contracts and cash
at bank.
Derivative instrument risk
The risks and risk management processes which result from the use of
derivative instruments are set out in a Risk Management Process Document.
Derivative instruments are used by the Manager for the following purposes:
· To gain unfunded long exposure to equity markets,
sectors or single stocks. Unfunded exposure is exposure gained without an
initial flow of capital;
· To hedge equity market risk using derivatives with the
intention of at least partially mitigating losses in the exposures of the
Company’s portfolio as a result of falls in the equity market; and
· To position short exposures in the Company’s
portfolio. These uncovered exposures benefit from falls in the prices of
shares which the Portfolio Managers believes to be over valued. These
positions, therefore, distinguish themselves from other short exposures held
for hedging purposes since they are expected to add risk to the portfolio.
RISK SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS
Interest rate risk sensitivity analysis
Based on the financial instruments held and interest rates at 31
August 2025, an increase of 1.00% in interest rates throughout the year, with
all other variables held constant, would have decreased the Company’s net
return on ordinary activities after taxation for the year and decreased the
net assets of the Company by £781,000 (2024: decreased the net return and
decreased the net assets by £971,000). A decrease of 1.00% in interest rates
throughout the year would have had an equal but opposite effect.
Foreign currency risk sensitivity analysis
Based on the financial instruments held and currency exchange rates
at 31 August 2025, a 10% strengthening of the UK sterling exchange rate
against foreign currencies, with all other variables held constant, would have
decreased the Company’s net return on ordinary activities after taxation for
the year and decreased the net assets of the Company by £21,947,000 (2024:
decreased the net return and decreased the net assets by £19,133,000). A 10%
weakening of the UK sterling exchange rate against foreign currencies, with
all other variables held constant, would have increased the Company’s net
return on ordinary activities after taxation for the year and increased the
net assets of the Company by £26,824,000 (2024: increased the net return and
increased the net assets by £23,385,000).
Other price risk – exposure to investments sensitivity analysis
Based on the listed investments held and share prices at 31 August
2025, an increase of 10% in share prices, with all other variables held
constant, would have increased the Company’s net return on ordinary
activities after taxation for the year and increased the net assets of the
Company by £116,398,000 (2024: increased the net return and increased the net
assets by £111,997,000). A decrease of 10% in share prices would have had an
equal and opposite effect.
An increase of 10% in the valuation of unlisted investments held at 31 August
2025 would have increased the Company’s net return on ordinary activities
after taxation for the year and increased the net assets of the Company by
£44,000 (2024: increased the net return after taxation and increased the net
assets by £72,000). A decrease of 10% in the valuation would have had an
equal and opposite effect.
Other price risk – net exposure to derivative instruments sensitivity
analysis
Based on the derivative instruments held and share prices at 31
August 2025, an increase of 10% in the share prices underlying the derivative
instruments, with all other variables held constant, would have increased the
Company’s net return on ordinary activities after taxation for the year and
increased the net assets of the Company by £17,116,000 (2024: increased the
net return and increased the net assets by £11,717,000). A decrease of 10% in
share prices would have had an equal and opposite effect.
Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities
Financial assets and liabilities are stated in the Balance Sheet at
values which are not materially different to their fair values. As explained
in Notes 2 (k) and (l) above, investments and derivative instruments are shown
at fair value.
Fair Value Hierarchy
The Company is required to disclose the fair value hierarchy that
classifies its financial instruments measured at fair value at one of three
levels, according to the relative reliability of the inputs used to estimate
the fair values.
Classification Input
Level 1 Valued using quoted prices in active markets for identical assets
Level 2 Valued by reference to inputs other than quoted prices included in level 1 that are observable (i.e. developed using market data) for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly
Level 3 Valued by reference to valuation techniques using inputs that are not based on observable market data
Categorisation within the hierarchy has been determined on the basis of the
lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement of the
relevant asset. The valuation techniques used by the Company are explained in
Notes 2 (k) and (l). The table below sets out the Company’s fair value
hierarchy:
2025
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Investments 1,159,745 2,357 2,321 1,164,423
Derivative instrument assets – 1,213 – 1,213
--------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------
1,159,745 3,570 2,321 1,165,636
========= ========= ========= =========
Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss
Derivative instrument liabilities – (3,530) – (3,530)
========= ========= ========= =========
2024
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Investments 1,096,402 23,413 871 1,120,686
Derivative instrument assets – 4,318 – 4,318
--------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------
1,096,402 27,731 871 1,125,004
========= ========= ========= =========
Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss
Derivative instrument liabilities – (200) – (200)
========= ========= ========= =========
The table below sets out the movements in level 3 financial instruments during
the year:
2025 2024
£’000 £’000
Beginning of the year 871 2,095
Sales proceeds – Marwyn Value Investors – (99)
Sales gain – Marwyn Value Investors – 59
Transfer into level 3 at cost – Hostmore and John Wood Group 1 17,040 –
Movement in investment holding losses (15,590) (1,184)
-------------- --------------
End of the year 2,321 871
======== ========
1 Financial instruments are transferred into level 3 on
the date they are suspended, delisted or when they have not traded for thirty
days.
Marwyn Value Investors
Marwyn Value Investors is a closed-ended fund incorporated in the
United Kingdom. The fund is highly illiquid and the valuation at 31 August
2025 continues to be based on the indicative bid price in the absence of a
last trade price. As at 31 August 2025, its fair value was £154,000 (2024:
£154,000).
TVC Holdings
TVC Holdings is an unlisted investment holding company incorporated
in Ireland. The company was delisted from the Dublin Stock Exchange on 11
August 2014. In December 2024 a distribution of EUR 0.09 was received and the
price was subsequently changed to EUR 0.014. As at 31 August 2025, its fair
value was £49,000 (2024: £251,000).
Studio Retail Group
Studio Retail Group operated as a multi-channel retail company. On
14 February 2022, the company was suspended from trading on the London Stock
Exchange. The company is now delisted and in administration. As at 31 August
2025, its fair value was £nil (2024: £nil).
McColl’s Retail Group
McColl’s Retail Group owns and operates convenience and newsagent
stores. The company was suspended from trading on 6 May 2022 after appointing
administrators. As at 31 August 2025, its fair value was £nil (2024: £nil).
Prax Exploration & Production
Hurricane Energy plc, an oil and gas exploration company, delisted
from the London Stock Exchange in June 2023, after it was acquired by Prax
Exploration & Production. The valuation on 31 August 2025 is based on the
latest trade price from the JP Jenkins platform. As at 31 August 2025, its
fair value was £390,000 (2024: £466,000).
Unbound Group
Unbound Group plc is a UK based company engaged in selling a range
of brands focused on the over 55 age demographics. On 17 July 2023, the
company ceased trading and has subsequently gone into administration. As at 31
August 2025, its fair value was £nil (2024: £nil).
Hostmore
Hostmore, a hospitality business, was suspended from the London
Stock Exchange on 1 May 2025 and entered administration on 18 September 2024.
As at 31 August 2025, its fair value was £nil (2024: £213,000).
John Wood Group
John Wood, provider of project, engineering and technical services,
was suspended from the London Stock Exchange following delays in publishing
its financial statements. The valuation at the reporting date was based on the
suspended price at 1 May 2025. As at 31 August 2025, the fair value for both
the common stock and CFD was £1,996,000 (2024: £11,530,000).
18 CAPITAL RESOURCES AND GEARING
The Company does not have any externally imposed capital
requirements. The financial resources of the Company comprise its share
capital and reserves, as disclosed in the Balance Sheet above and any gearing,
which is managed by the use of derivative instruments. Financial resources are
managed in accordance with the Company’s investment policy and in pursuit of
its investment objective, both of which are detailed in the Strategic Report
in the Annual Report. The principal risks and their management are disclosed
above.
The Company’s gross and net gearing at the year end is set out below:
2025
Gross gearing Ne
Asset exposure t
ge
ar
in
g
A
ss
et
ex
po
su
re
£’000 % 1 £’000 % 1
Investments 1,164,423 91.9 1,164,423 91.9
Long CFDs 171,164 13.5 171,164 13.5
--------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------
Total long exposures 1,335,587 105.4 1,335,587 105.4
Short CFDs – – – –
--------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------
Gross asset exposure/net market exposure 1,335,587 105.4 1,335,587 105.4
========= ========= ========= =========
Shareholders’ funds 1,267,188 1,267,188
========= =========
Gearing 2 5.4% 5.4%
========= =========
2024
Gross gearing Ne
Asset exposure t
ge
ar
in
g
A
ss
et
ex
po
su
re
£’000 % 1 £’000 % 1
Investments 1,120,686 98.0 1,120,686 98.0
Long CFDs 115,050 10.1 115,050 10.1
--------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------
Total long exposures 1,235,736 108.1 1,235,736 108.1
Short CFDs 2,117 0.2 (2,117) (0.2)
--------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------
Gross asset exposure/net market exposure 1,237,853 108.3 1,233,619 107.9
========= ========= ========= =========
Shareholders’ funds 1,143,541 1,143,541
========= =========
Gearing 2 8.3% 7.9%
========= =========
1 Asset exposure to the market expressed as a percentage
of Shareholders’ funds.
2 Gearing is the amount by which gross asset exposure/net
market exposure exceeds Shareholders’ funds expressed as a percentage of
Shareholders’ funds.
19 TRANSACTIONS WITH THE MANAGER AND RELATED PARTIES
FIL Investment Services (UK) Limited is the Company’s Alternative
Investment Fund Manager and has delegated portfolio management and the role of
company secretary to FIL Investments International (“FII”). Both companies
are Fidelity group companies.
Details of the current fee arrangements are given in the Directors’ Report
in the Annual Report. During the year, the following expenses were payable to
FII:
31 August 31 August
2025 2024
£’000 £’000
Investment management fees 6,857 6,095
Marketing fees 230 229
========= =========
At the Balance Sheet date, the following balances payable to FII were accrued
and included in other creditors:
31 August 31 August
2025 2024
£’000 £’000
Investment management fees 607 570
Marketing fees 33 52
========= =========
Disclosures of the Directors’ interests in the ordinary shares of the
Company and Director’s fees and taxable expenses relating to reasonable
travel expenses payable to the Directors are given in the Directors’
Remuneration Report in the Annual Report. In addition to the fees and taxable
expenses disclosed in the Directors’ Remuneration Report, £24,000 (2024:
£19,000) of employers’ National Insurance contributions were paid by the
Company. At the Balance Sheet date, Directors’ fees of £13,000 (2024:
£14,000) were accrued and payable.
20 RECONCILIATION OF NET RETURN ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES BEFORE FINANCE COSTS
AND TAXATION TO NET CASH INFLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES BEFORE FINANCE COSTS
AND TAXATION
Year ended Year ended
31.08.25 31.08.24
£’000 £’000
Net total return on ordinary activities before finance costs and taxation 164,885 229,956
Less: net capital return on ordinary activities before finance costs and taxation (118,665) (185,785)
--------------- ---------------
Net revenue return on ordinary activities before finance costs and taxation 46,220 44,171
Scrip dividends (512) (1,467)
(Increase)/decrease in debtors (2,247) 440
(Decrease)/increase in other creditors (22) 139
--------------- ---------------
Net cash inflow from operating activities before finance costs and taxation 43,439 43,283
========= =========
Alternative Performance Measures
The Company uses the following Alternative Performance Measures and these are
all defined in the Glossary of Terms in the Annual Report.
DISCOUNT/PREMIUM
Details of the Company’s discount are on the Financial Highlights
page in the Annual Report.
GEARING
See Note 18 above for details of the Company’s gearing (both gross
and net).
NET ASSET VALUE (“NAV”) PER ORDINARY SHARE
See the Balance Sheet and Note 16 above for further details.
ONGOING CHARGES
The ongoing charges have been calculated in accordance with guidance
issued by the AIC as the total of investment management fees and other
expenses expressed as a percentage of the average net asset values throughout
the year.
2025 2024
Investment management fees (£’000) 6,857 6,095
Other expenses (£’000) 944 898
--------------- ---------------
Ongoing charges (£’000) 7,801 6,993
========= =========
Ongoing charges 0.68% 0.70%
========= =========
Revenue, Capital and Total Returns per Share
See the Income Statement and Note 8 above for further details.
Total Return Performance
Total return performance is considered to be an Alternative
Performance Measure. The NAV per ordinary share total return includes
reinvestment of the dividend in the NAV of the Company on the ex-dividend
date. The ordinary share price total return includes the reinvestment of the
net dividend in the month that the share price goes ex-dividend.
The tables below provide information relating to the NAV per ordinary share
and the ordinary share price of the Company, the impact of the dividend
reinvestments and the total returns for the years ended 31 August 2025 and 31
August 2024.
2025 Net asset Ordinary
value per share
ordinary price
share
31 August 2024 352.84p 321.50p
31 August 2025 392.26p 380.00p
Change in year +11.2% +18.2%
Impact of dividend reinvestments +3.1% +3.6%
-------------- --------------
Total return for the year +14.3% +21.8%
========= =========
2024 Net asset Ordinary
value per share
ordinary price
share
31 August 2023 293.44p 267.50p
31 August 2024 352.84p 321.50p
Change in year +20.2% +20.2%
Impact of dividend reinvestments +3.9% +4.1%
-------------- --------------
Total return for the year +24.1% +24.3%
========= =========
The Annual Financial Report Announcement is not the Company's statutory
accounts. The above results for the year ended 31 August 2025 are an abridged
version of the Company's full Annual Report and Financial Statements, which
have been approved and audited with an unqualified report. The 2024 and 2025
statutory accounts received unqualified reports from the Company's Auditor and
did not include any reference to matters to which the Auditor drew attention
by way of emphasis without qualifying the reports and did not contain a
statement under s.498 of the Companies Act 2006. The financial information for
2024 is derived from the statutory accounts for 2024 which have been delivered
to the Registrar of Companies. The 2025 Financial Statements will be filed
with the Registrar of Companies in due course.
A copy of the Annual Report will shortly be submitted to the National Storage
Mechanism and will be available for inspection at:
www.morningstar.co.uk/uk/NSM
The Annual Report will be posted to Shareholders later this month and
additional copies will be available from the registered office of the Company
and on the Company's website: www.fidelity.co.uk/specialvalues where up to
date information on the Company, including daily NAV and share prices,
factsheets and other information can also be found.
Neither the contents of the Company's website nor the contents of any website
accessible from hyperlinks on the Company's website (or any other website) is
incorporated into, or forms part of, this announcement.
ENDS
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