REG-SVM UK Emerg Fund: Half-year Report
06/11/2020 12:15
SVM UK EMERGING FUND PLC
(the “Fund”)
HALF YEARLY REPORT
(FOR THE SIX MONTHS TO 30 SEPTEMBER 2020)
A copy of the Half Yearly Report will be available to download from the
Manager’s website at www.svmonline.co.uk and a copy will shortly be
available for inspection at the National Storage Mechanism at
www.morningstar.co.uk/uk/nsm. Copies are also available at 7 Castle Street,
Edinburgh EH2 3AH, the registered office of the Fund.
HIGHLIGHTS
*
Net asset value return of 28.4% compared to a 12.8% return in the IA UK All
Companies Sector Average Index and 7% return in the FTSE All-Share Index.The
share price rose 1.4%.
*
Over the five years to 30 September 2020, net asset value gained 31.4% and the
share price 17.4%, against a benchmark return of 17.0%.
* At 31 October 2020, net asset value per share was 104.71p
* Positive contributions from Ocado, 4Imprint Group, Games Workshop and Gamma
Communications
* Portfolio emphasises exposure to scalable businesses with a competitive edge
that can protect margins and deliver growth.
“Long term capital growth from investments in smaller UK companies. Its
aim is to outperform the IA UK All Companies Sector Average Index on a total
return basis”
Financial Highlights
Total Return Performance to 30 September 2020 6 months 3 years 5 Years 10 Years
Net Asset Value +28.4% -2.5% +31.4% +51.7%
Share Price +1.4% -11.8% +17.4% +44.9%
Benchmark Index * +12.8% -8.2% +17.0% +31.0%
* The benchmark index for the Fund was changed to the IA UK All Companies
Sector Average Index
from 1 October 2013 prior to which the FTSE AIM Index was used.
CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT
Over the six months to 30 September 2020, the Company’s net asset value
gained 28.4% to 105.0p per share, compared to a return of 12.8% in the
benchmark, the IA UK All Companies Sector Average Index. Over the six
months, the share price rose 1.4%. Over the five years to 30 September 2020,
net asset value has gained 31.4% and the share price 17.4%, against a
benchmark return of 17.0%. The Company’s net asset value was 104.71p] at
31 October 2020 (total return, Lipper data).
The period under review began after a sharp stockmarket fall, resulting from
the disruption caused by COVID-19, but over the six months many shares
rebounded. Most portfolio investments rose following government and Bank of
England support for the worst hit sectors. Higher unemployment remains a risk
for the UK economy; lower inflation and interest rates are now likely. More
recently, market concerns with regard to a successful Brexit have resurfaced.
The strongest contributions to performance over the period were from Ocado,
4Imprint Group, Rentokil Initial, Games Workshop and Gamma Communications.
Laggards included Workspace Group, Beazley and Creo Medical Group. During the
six months, travel and property sector exposure was reduced; EasyJet,
Trainline, Workspace, IWG and WH Smith were sold. New investments were made in
manufacturing and industrial services; Avon Rubber, Aveva, and DiscoverIE
Group. We expect many businesses to increase focus on resilience and
sustainability; shortening supply chains and strengthening their online
capability.
The investment strategy of the Company involves focusing on growing businesses
benefiting from structural change in the economy. Typically, these have
pricing power within their chosen niche. Companies that were already well
invested in technology and able to make good use of customer data have seen an
acceleration of change this year. Businesses are demanding more enterprise
support services, assisting cloud data, mobile services and virtual
operations. Suppliers of these technologies were typically already disrupters
in their sectors and have proven their agility in offering differentiated
services in scalable ways.
The crisis has heightened the contrast between legacy businesses and
well-adapted agile disruptors. Changes in tastes are often slow to evolve, but
persistent once set. At the centre of this trend is a shift in sentiment to
the home environment and wellbeing. This investment theme could shape the
economy for some time and the portfolio includes a number of businesses
expected to benefit from these trends.
The portfolio focuses on resilient growing businesses, with low exposure to
commodities, oil and banks. These are typically scalable businesses with a
competitive edge. The Fund remains fully invested with some additional
gearing.
Peter Dicks
Chairman
6 November 2020
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE and POLICY
The investment objective of SVM UK Emerging Fund plc (the “Fund” or the
“Company”) is long term capital growth from investments in smaller UK
companies. Its aim is to outperform the IA UK All Companies Sector Average
Index on a total return basis
The Fund aims to achieve its objective and to diversify risk by investing in
shares and related instruments, controlled by a number of limits on exposures.
Appropriate guidelines for the management of the investments, gearing and
financial instruments have been established by the Board. This is an abridged
version of the Fund’s investment policy. The full investment policy can be
found in the Strategic Report within the Fund’s latest Annual Report &
Accounts.
DIRECTORS’ RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT
The Directors are responsible for preparing the Half Yearly Report in
accordance with applicable law and regulations.
The Directors confirm that to the best of their knowledge:
(i) the condensed set of financial statements have been
prepared in accordance with the Financial Reporting Council Statement 104
“Interim Financial Reporting” on a going concern basis, taking in to
account guidance on Covid-19, and give a true and fair view of the assets,
liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of the Fund;
(ii) the Half Yearly Report includes a fair review of the
information required by the Disclosure and Transparency Rules DTR 4.2.7R
(indication of important events during the first six months and description of
principal risks and uncertainties for the remaining six months of the year);
and DTR 4.2.8R (disclosure of related party transactions and changes therein).
(iii) No related party transactions have taken place during the
first six months of the year that have materially affected the financial
position of the Fund during the period and there have been no changes in the
related party transactions described in the Annual Report & Accounts for the
year end 31 March 2020 that could do so.
The Directors consider that the Half Yearly Report, taken as a whole, is fair,
balanced and understandable and provides the information necessary for
shareholders to assess the Fund’s performance and strategy,
The Half Yearly Report has not been audited or reviewed by the Fund’s
auditors.
By Order of the Board
Peter Dicks
Chairman
6 November 2020
UNAUDITED ACCOUNTS
Income Statement
Six months to 30 September 2020 Six months to 30 September 2019
Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Net gain on investments at fair value - 1,464 1,464 - 73 73
Income 20 - 20 94 - 94
Investment management fees - (22) (22) - (26) (26)
Other expenses (73) - (73) (45) - (45)
(Loss)/gain before finance costs and taxation (53) 1,442 1,389 49 47 96
Finance costs (5) - (5) (11) - (11)
(Loss)/gain on ordinary activities before taxation (58) 1,442 1,384 38 47 85
Taxation - - - - - -
(Loss)/Gain attributable to ordinary shareholders (58) 1,442 1,384 38 47 85
(Loss)/Gain per Ordinary Share (0.96)p 24.05p 23.09p 0.63p 0.78p 1.41p
The Total column of this statement is the profit and loss account of the Fund. All revenue and capital items are derived from continuing operations. No operations were acquired or discontinued in the year. A Statement of Comprehensive Income is not required as all gains and losses of the Fund have been reflected in the above statement.
Year ended 31 March 2020 (audited)
Revenue Capital Total
£’000 £’000 £’000
Net loss on investments at fair value - (1,633) (1,633)
Income 137 - 137
Investment management fees - (52) (52)
Other expenses (120) - (120)
Gain/(loss) before finance costs and taxation 17 (1,685) (1,668)
Finance costs (24) - (24)
Loss on ordinary activities before taxation (7) (1,685) (1,692)
Taxation - - -
Loss attributable to ordinary shareholders (7) (1,685) (1,692)
Loss per Ordinary Share (0.12)p (28.08)p (28.20)p
Balance Sheet
As at 30 September 2020 (unaudited) As at 31 March 2020 (audited) As at 30 September 2019 (unaudited)
£’000 £’000 £’000
Fixed Assets
Investments at fair value through profit or loss 6,278 4,463 6,668
Total Current Assets 227 745 138
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (212) (299) (121)
Net current assets 15 (446) 17
Total assets less current liabilities 6,293 4,909 6,685
Capital and Reserves 6,293 4,909 6,685
Equity shareholders’ funds 6,293 4,909 6,685
Net asset value per Ordinary Share 104.97p 81.88p 111.51p
Statement of Changes in Equity
For the period to 30 September 2020
Share capital Share premium Special reserve Capital redemption reserve Capital reserve Revenue reserve Total
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
As at 1 April 2020 300 314 5,136 27 (492) (376) (4,909)
Gain/(Loss) attributable to shareholders - - - - 1,442 (58) 1,384
As at 30 September 2020 300 314 5,136 27 950 (434) 6,293
For the year to 31 March 2020
Share capital Share premium Special reserve Capital redemption reserve Capital reserve Revenue reserve Total
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
As at 1 April 2019 300 314 5,144 27 1,193 (369) 6,609
Ordinary shares repurchased - - (8) - - - (8)
Loss attributable to shareholders - - - - (1,685) (7) (1,692)
As at 31 March 2020 300 314 5,136 27 (492) (376) 4,909
For the period to 30 September 2019
Share capital Share premium Special reserve Capital redemption reserve Capital reserve Revenue reserve Total
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
As at 1 April 2019 300 314 5,144 27 1,193 (369) 6,609
Ordinary shares repurchased - - (9) - - - (9)
Gain attributable to shareholders - - - - 47 38 85
As at 30 September 2019 300 314 5,135 27 1,240 (331) 6,685
Investment Portfolio as at 30 September 2020
Stock Market Exposure 2020 £000 % of Net Assets Sector analysis as at 30 September 2020 Sector % of Gross Exposure
1 Ocado Group 343 5.5 Industrials 20.4
2 Hilton Food Group 261 4.1 Consumer Discretionary 19.1
3 Rentokil Initial 241 3.8 Technology 15.3
4 Unite Group 231 3.6 Consumer Staples 11.8
5 Alpha Financial Markets 211 3.4 Financials 9.6
6 Knights Group 208 3.3 Real Estate 6.5
7 Dechra Pharmaceuticals 192 3.1 Healthcare 5.8
8 Gamma Communications 179 2.8 Consumer Services 4.7
9 4Imprint Group 177 2.8 Telecommunications 3.6
10 FDM Group Holdings 168 2.7 Energy 2.4
Ten largest investments 2,211 35.1 Consumer Goods 0.8
11 JD Sports Fashion * 152 2.4 Total 100.0
12 Games Workshop Group 148 2.4
13 Experian 146 2.3
14 Renishaw * 128 2.0
15 Codemasters 127 2.0
16 Learning Technologies Group 126 2.0
17 Just Eat Takeaway * 123 2.0
18 Keystone Law Group 120 1.9
19 Ceres Power Holdings 117 1.9
20 Draper Espirit 116 1.8
Twenty largest investments 3,514 55.8
21 Flutter Entertainment * 116 1.8
22 XP Power 111 1.8
23 Globaldata 107 1.7
24 Johnson Service Group 103 1.6
25 Computacenter 98 1.6
26 Manolete Partners 98 1.6
27 Dunelm Group 98 1.6
28 Asos * 97 1.5 *Includes Contract for Difference (“CFD”) Market exposure for equity investments held is the same as fair value and for CFDs held is the market value of the underlying shares to which the portfolio is exposed via the contract. The investment portfolio is grossed up to include CFDs and the net CFD position is then deducted in arriving at the net asset total.
29 Beazley Group 96 1.5
30 Team17 Group 92 1.5
Thirty largest investments 4,530 72.0
Other investments (38 holdings) 2,351 37.4
Total investments 6,881 109.4
CFD positions exposure (750) (11.9)
CFD unrealised gains 147 2.3
Net current assets 15 0.2
Net assets 6,293 100.0
Risks and Uncertainties
The principal risks facing the Fund relate to the investment in financial
instruments and include market, liquidity, credit and interest rate risk.
Additional risks faced by the Fund are investment strategy, share price
discount, accounting, legal and regulatory, operational, corporate governance
and shareholder relations, and financial. The Board seeks to mitigate and
manage these risks through continuous review, policy setting and enforcement
of contractual obligations. The Board receives both formal and informal
reports from the Managers and third party service providers addressing these
risks. An explanation of these risks and how they are mitigated is explained
in the 2020 Annual Report, which is available on the Manager’s website:
www.svmonline.co.uk. These principal risks and uncertainties have not
changed from those disclosed in the 2020 Annual Report.
Going Concern
The Board, having made appropriate enquiries, has a reasonable expectation
that the Fund has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for
the foreseeable future, a period of not less than 12 months from the date of
this report. Accordingly, it continues to adopt the going concern basis in
preparing the financial statements.
Notes
1. The Financial Statements have been prepared on a going
concern basis in accordance with FRS 102 “Financial Reporting Standard
applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland”, FRS 104 “Interim Financial
Reporting” and under the Association of Investment Companies Statement of
Recommended Practice “Financial Statements of Investment Trust Companies and
Venture Capital Trusts” (“SORP”) issued in 2019 (the interim financial
statements for the period to 30 September 2019 were prepared under the SORP
issued in 2014). The requirements have been met to qualify for the exemption
to prepare a Cash Flow Statement. These financial statements have been
prepared in accordance with the accounting policies used for the financial
year ended 31 March 2020.
2. During the period no shares were bought back (2019 - 10,000
Ordinary Shares with a nominal value of £500 and representing 0.17% of the
issued share capital were bought back and placed in treasury for an aggregate
consideration of £8,650).
The number of shares in issue at 30 September 2020 was
5,995,000 (2019 – 5,995,000).
Return per share is based on a weighted average of
5,995,000 (2019 – 6,004,672) ordinary shares in issue during the period.
Total return per share is based on the total gain for the period of
£1,384,000 (2019 – gain of £85,000). Capital return per share is based on
the capital gain for the period of £1,442,000 (2019 – gain of £47,000).
Revenue return per share is based on the revenue loss after taxation for the
period of £58,000 (2019 - gain of £38,000).
3. All investments are held at fair value. At 30 September
2020 no unlisted investments were held with value attributed (31 March 2020:
same; 30 September 2019: same).
Investments have been classified using the fair value
hierarchy:
September 2020 £000 March 2020 £000
Classification of financial instruments
Level 1 6,131 4,455
Level 2 147 8
Level 3 – 2 investments (March 2020 – 2) - -
Level 1 reflects financial instruments quoted in an
active market.
Level 2 reflects financial instruments whose fair value
is evidenced by comparison with other observable current market transactions
in the same instrument or based on a valuation technique whose variables
include only data from observable markets. The CFD positions are the sole
Level 2 investments at 30 September 2020 and 31 March 2020.
Level 3 reflects financial instruments whose fair value
is determined in whole or in part using a valuation technique based on
assumptions that are not supported by prices from observable market
transactions in the same instrument and not based on available observable
market data.
4. The Board has granted the Manager a limited authority
to invest in CFDs to achieve some degree of gearing and/or hedging without
incurring the gross cost of the investment. The Board requires the Manager to
operate within certain risk limits, as detailed in the Annual Report. The
following table details the CFD positions:
Number of CFD holdings at 30 September 2020: 9 (31 March 2020: 9)
CFD positions September 2020 March 2020
£000 £000
Gross exposure 750 514
Net exposure 750 514
Unrealised gains 147 8
Unrealised losses 92 224
The gearing ratio is 11.4% at 30 September 2020 (31 March 2020: 16.5%). The
gearing figure indicates the extra amount by which the shareholders’ funds
would change if total assets (including CFD position exposure and netting off
cash and cash equivalents) were to rise or fall. A figure of zero per cent
means that the Company has a nil geared position.
5. SVM Asset Management Limited provides investment management
and secretarial services to the Fund. The Manager is entitled to a fee for
these services, payable quarterly in arrears, equivalent to 0.75% per annum of
the total assets of the Fund, less current liabilities.
6. The above figures do not constitute full or statutory
accounts in terms of Sections 434 and 435 of the Companies Act 2006. All
information shown for the six months to 30 September 2020 is
unaudited. The accounts for the year to 31 March 2020,
on which the auditors issued an unqualified report, have been lodged with the
Registrar of Companies and did not contain a statement required under Section
498 of the Companies Act 2006.
For further information, please contact:
Colin McLean SVM Asset
Management 0131 226 6699
Sally Moore Four Communications
020 3697 4200
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