BHI.L Regulatory News (BHI)

To: RNS

From: BMO UK High Income Trust PLC

Date: 3 December 2020

LEI: 213800B7D5D7RVZZPV45

Unaudited Interim Results

The Board of BMO UK High Income Trust PLC announces the unaudited interim results of the Company for the six month period to 30 September 2020.

Highlights

· Net asset value total return(1) per share for the six months was +15.7%, ahead of the Benchmark(2) total return of +7.0%.

· Ordinary share price total return for the six months was +17.9% compared to the Benchmark total return of +7.0%.

· B share price total return for the six months was +21.4% compared to the Benchmark total return of +7.0%.

· Distribution yield(1) of 6.6% on Ordinary shares and B shares at 30 September 2020, compared to the yield on the FTSE All-Share Index of 4.6%.

Notes:

1. Total Return and yield - see Alternative Performance Measures.

2. Benchmark - From launch on 1 March 2007, the Company's benchmark index was the FTSE All-Share Capped 5% Index. Following shareholder approval at the Company's AGM on 5 July 2018, the benchmark was changed to the FTSE All-Share Index.

Chairman's Statement

Investment performance

For the six months to 30 September 2020 the net asset value total return for both the Ordinary shares and B shares was +15.7%, significantly ahead of the +7.0% total return recorded by the FTSE All-Share Index - the benchmark.

I mentioned in my statement in the Annual report for the year to 31 March 2020 that the Manager had focused the investment portfolio with a high level of commitment behind each investment. I suggested that the portfolio was unlikely to perform in line with the benchmark index. So it has proved. Performance has also been good relative to the peer group of UK Equity Income Investment Companies as measured by the AIC. The sector recorded a net asset value total return of 9.0% over the six months to 30 September 2020.

The outperformance relative to the benchmark has been driven by two factors, excellent stock selection and the beneficial effects of gearing. The Company's borrowing facilities were utilised consistently throughout the period under review.

In numerical terms of the 8.7% points of outperformance stock and sector selection contributed 8%. In particular, excellent contributions were made by ASOS, Wizz Air and by Just Eat Takeaway, a huge beneficiary of the transition to dining at home under the pandemic restrictions.

During the period under review, stock markets around the world recovered from the lows of March as the measures imposed to counteract the spread of COVID-19 proved to be effective and controls were gradually eased. Initially in this period a number of companies took the opportunity to raise equity in order to strengthen their balance sheets and provide a buffer against poor trading and weak cash flow. Generally, such fund raisings were well supported and subsequent share price movements were very strong.

Your Manager participated in a number of these issues in the period under review, mostly notably ASOS, Compass, Beazley and Signature Aviation.

ASOS was a company we backed with additional capital at the onset of the crisis. The Manager believed ASOS would be a beneficiary of the structural shift online during the pandemic and therefore took advantage of a stock he felt was oversold. The share price has risen nearly 200% since the capital raising, confirming the Manager's view of the qualities of its business model. The Manager has also backed Compass Group, a supplier of catering to schools, business, leisure and healthcare sectors. With most sectors closed for business Compass was hit hard by the first global lockdown but with markets beginning to open and a vaccine on the horizon we have seen a sharp rebound in performance. This will be true of many companies hit hard by the pandemic. For some, the structural shift will not unwind, but for others there was clear upside with the potential return of a normalised, or at least a new normal environment.

As markets recovered there was a slight narrowing of the discount at which both the Ordinary and B shares traded. Consequently, the Share price total return for the period was +17.9% (Ordinary shares) and +21.4% (B shares).

Earnings, dividends and capital distributions

Another comment made in the last Chairman's statement was to highlight the significant reduction in the level of dividends being paid by UK companies. This is fully reflected in the sharp fall of 30.9% in the revenue return per share for the six months to 30 September 2020 when compared to the previous equivalent period.

The outlook for dividends in the UK remains uncertain but perhaps the nature of the uncertainty has evolved since March. Much debate now centres on when dividends will be reinstated or increased - not on by how much they will be reduced. Our investment portfolio has been insulated from the worst of the falls given our sector positioning, driven by the Manager's views on the fundamental weaknesses inherent in their business models of sector constituents. We have a very small weight in Oil & Gas and no exposure to UK high street banks and have transitioned the investment portfolio to better quality business models, with more robust balance sheets and better dividend cover. For example, within the Financial sector while high street banks have stopped paying dividends, we have seen Intermediate Capital Group, Brewin Dolphin and Phoenix Group hold or pay very similar dividends to the previous year, attesting this quality shift. These two themes have reduced the impact on our revenue account and we feel there is more we can do as we enter the second half of the financial year to continue driving upside to our forecast revenue.

It is the Board's intention to at least maintain the level of distribution to shareholders in the current financial year. The Board will utilise some revenue reserves to achieve this. Three quarterly interim dividends have so far been declared each of 1.29p per share, the same level as was paid in the previous financial year. As a reminder, following the payment of the fourth quarterly interim dividend for the year to 31 March 2020 revenue reserves per Ordinary share were 5.7p, and the annual dividend, barring unforeseen circumstances is expected to be at least 5.21p per share.

The expected annual distribution level represents a yield for Ordinary shareholders and B shareholders of 6.6% based on the share prices as at 30 September 2020. This yield compares favourably with the yield on the benchmark index of 4.6%.

Discount and buy backs

The Company's Ordinary share price and B share price stood at a discount to net asset value of 8.1% at 30 September 2020. Over the six-month period the price of the Company's shares traded at an average discount of 10.1% (Ordinary shares) and 9.4% (B shares).

During the period 100,000 Ordinary shares and 50,000 B shares were bought back at an average discount of 10.9% to the prevailing net asset value at the time of purchase. Subsequent to the period end, a further 350,000 Ordinary shares were bought back at an average discount of 12.4% to the prevailing net asset value at the time of purchase.

Board changes

Helen Driver and Stephen Mitchell were appointed as non-executive directors with effect from 6 May 2020. Both have considerable experience in the investment world and will bring complementary skills to your Board. James Williams, our Senior Independent Director, retired following the AGM on 27 July 2020. Following James' retirement Andrew Watkins is now our Senior Independent Director and Stephen Mitchell will chair the Engagement and Remuneration Committee.

Outlook

Markets enjoyed a period of strong returns in the first half of the Company's financial year driven by the sentiment that the COVID-19 pandemic was being brought under control and also by evidence that the corporate sector in aggregate was dealing with tough trading conditions better than anticipated.

There are now more causes for uncertainty. It appears that infection rates have risen significantly from the summer lows and governments around the world are now in a phase of reimposing lockdown measures - but on a more regionally selective basis than before.

Brexit is beginning to rear its head as the rhetoric between the UK and Europe escalates. Given the backdrop of COVID-19, Brexit has not managed to grab the same headlines, or the markets' attention as otherwise might have been anticipated. While this is the case for now, this ongoing unrest does not help the perception of the UK market, despite the fact there is a lot of value on offer. The outcome of the US Presidential election was well received by markets. The consensus was for a Biden win, which we got, but a split Senate would see a dampening of some of the more left-wing policies which would have affected markets.

With the announcement of vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna and Oxford/AstraZeneca the backdrop has again changed very sharply. The rotation out of quality growth companies into value was the sharpest seen in over two decades, which should not come as a surprise given how extended relative valuations have become since the outbreak of the pandemic. Following Pfizer's announcement, your Company's investment portfolio performed exceptionally well delivering further outperformance. The news on the approval and subsequent availability of the Pfizer vaccine is a cause for optimism but there remains some uncertainty as to how long it will take to vaccinate a significant proportion of the population. Another debate is what will the recovery look like - is there a new normal, with a drive to working from home and shopping online and does the shape of the investment landscape change? The answer is almost definitely yes, and the portfolio needs to be invested in those companies that are judged to be the winners over the coming years. So far your Company has managed the pandemic well, and the investment portfolio has the right balance to deliver over the medium-term.

John M Evans

Chairman

2 December 2020

Condensed Unaudited Statement of Comprehensive Income

For the six month period to 30 September 2020

The total column of this statement represents the Company's Income Statement and Statement of Comprehensive Income, prepared in accordance with IFRS. The supplementary revenue return and capital return columns are both prepared under guidance published by the Association of Investment Companies.

All revenue and capital items in the above statement derive from continuing operations.

All of the profit and comprehensive income for the period is attributable to the owners of the Company.

Condensed Unaudited Statement of Comprehensive Income

The total column of this statement represents the Company's Income Statement and Statement of Comprehensive Income, prepared in accordance with IFRS. The supplementary revenue return and capital return columns are both prepared under guidance published by the Association of Investment Companies.

All revenue and capital items in the above statement derive from continuing operations.

All of the profit and comprehensive income for the period is attributable to the owners of the Company.

*these figures are audited.

Condensed Unaudited Statement of Financial Position

Approved by the Board, and authorized for issue, on 2 December 2020 and signed on its behalf by:

John M Evans, Director

*these figures are audited.

Condensed Unaudited Statement of Changes in Equity

for the six months to 30 September 2020

for the six months to 30 September 2019

for the year to 31 March 2020 *

\* These figures are audited

Condensed Unaudited Cash Flow Statement

\* These figures are audited

Notes to the Condensed Financial Statements (unaudited)

1. Accounting Policies

The condensed unaudited financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis and in accordance with IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting and the accounting policies set out in the statutory financial statements of the Company for the year ended 31 March 2020. The condensed financial statements do not include all of the information required for full annual financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the financial statements of the Company for the year ended 31 March 2020, which were prepared under full IFRS requirements to the extent that they have been adopted by the European Union.

2. Income

3. The Company's investment Manager BMO Investment Business Limited receives an investment management fee of 0.65 per cent per annum of the net asset value of the Company payable quarterly in arrears.

4. The taxation charge for the period represents withholding tax suffered on overseas dividend income.

5. The earnings per share are based on the net profit/(loss) for the period and on 116,765,010 shares (period to 30 September 2019 - 117,304,847; year to 31 March 2020 - 117,123,368), being the weighted average number of shares in issue during the period.

6. Earnings for the six months to 30 September 2020 should not be taken as a guide to the results of the full year.

7. The Board has considered the requirements of IFRS 8 'Operating Segments'. The Board is of the view that the Company is engaged in a single segment of business, of investing in equity securities, and that therefore the Company has only a single operating segment. The Board of Directors, as a whole, has been identified as constituting the chief operating decision maker of the Company. The key measure of performance used by the Board to assess the Company's performance is the total return on the Company's net asset value as calculated under IFRS and therefore no reconciliation is required between the measure of profit or loss used by the Board and that contained in the condensed financial statements.

8. Dividends and capital repayments

A second interim dividend for the year to 31 March 2021, of 1.29p per Ordinary share, was paid on 6 November 2020 to Ordinary shareholders on the register on 2 October 2020.

A second quarter capital repayment of 1.29p per B share was paid on 6 November 2020 to B shareholders on the register on 2 October 2020.

Although these payments relate to the period ended 30 September 2020, under IFRS they will be accounted for in the six months to 31 March 2021, being the period during which they are paid.

9. Investments held at fair value through profit or loss

Accounting standards recognise a hierarchy of fair value measurements for financial instruments which gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). The classification of financial instruments depends on the lowest significant applicable input, as follows:

· Level 1 - quoted (unadjusted) prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

· Level 2 - other techniques for which all inputs that have a significant effect on the recorded fair value are observable, either directly or indirectly. The Company held no such instruments during the period under review.

· Level 3 - techniques that use inputs that have a significant effect on the recorded fair value that are not based on observable market data. The Company's investment in its subsidiary undertaking, Investors Securities Company Limited, is included in Level 3 and is valued at its net asset value.

There were no transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy during the six months ended 30 September 2020.

10. Bank loans

The Company has a £7.5 million unsecured term loan from Scotiabank Europe plc until 28 September 2022 and at a fixed interest rate of 2.58 per cent per annum. The fair value of the £7.5 million term loan, calculated using a discounted cashflow technique, is not materially different from the value reflected in the Unaudited Statement of Financial Position.

The Company also has a £7.5 million unsecured multicurrency revolving credit facility ("RCF") with Scotiabank (Ireland) Designated Activity Company, available until 28 September 2022. £2 million of the RCF was drawn down at 30 September 2020 at an interest rate of 1.5% (30 September 2019 - £nil; 31 March 2020 - £nil).

11. Share capital

Allotted, issued and fully paid

During the period, the Company bought back 100,000 Ordinary shares at a cost of £79,000 and bought back 50,000 B shares at a cost of £40,000 to hold in treasury (period to 30 September 2019 - nil Ordinary shares and nil B shares; year to 31 March 2020 - 405,491 Ordinary shares and 117,953 B shares).

At 30 September 2020 the Company held 16,244,491 Ordinary shares and 1,267,953 B shares in treasury (30 September 2019 - 15,739,000 Ordinary shares and 1,100,000 B shares; 31 March 2020 - 16,144,491 Ordinary shares and 1,217,953 B shares).

12. The net asset value per share is based on shareholders' funds at the period end and on 85,822,653 Ordinary shares and 30,808,750 B shares, being the number of shares in issue at the period end (30 September 2019 - 86,328,144 Ordinary shares and 30,976,703 B shares; 31 March 2020 - 85,922,653 Ordinary shares and 30,858,750 B shares).

13. The fair values of the Company's financial assets and liabilities are not materially different from their carrying values in the financial statements.

The Company's financial risk management objectives and policies are consistent with those disclosed in the Company's financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2020.

14. Changes in liabilities arising from financing activities

15. Going concern

In assessing the going concern basis of accounting, the Directors have had regard to the guidance issued by the Financial Reporting Council (including that due to COVID-19) and have undertaken a rigorous review of the Company's ability to continue as a going concern and specifically in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of that review the Board has also considered the ongoing uncertainties relating to the UK's continuing trade negotiations with the EU following its departure on 31 January 2020 and does not consider that any related outcome would affect the Company's ability to continue as a going concern.

The Company's investment objective and policy, which is subject to regular Board monitoring processes, is designed to ensure that the Company is invested mainly in liquid, listed securities. The value of these investments exceeds the Company's liabilities by a significant margin. The Company retains title to all assets held by its custodian and has agreements relating to its borrowing facilities with which it has complied. Cash is held only with banks approved and regularly reviewed by the Manager.

As part of the going concern review, the Directors noted that borrowing facilities of a £7.5 million fixed term loan and a £7.5 million revolving credit facility are committed to the Company until 28 September 2022 and loan covenants are reviewed by the Board on a regular basis.

The Directors believe, having assessed the principal risks and other matters, including the COVID-19 pandemic and in light of the controls and review processes noted and bearing in mind the nature of the Company's business and assets and revenue and expenditure projections, that the Company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for a period of at least twelve months from the date of approval of the financial statements. Accordingly, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements.

16. Related party transactions

The Directors of the Company are considered a related party. The Directors receive aggregated remuneration for services as Directors and for which there were no outstanding balances at the period end. There have been no transactions with related parties during the first six months of the current financial year that have materially affected the financial position or performance of the Company during the period and there have been no changes in the related party transactions described in the last Annual Report that could do so.

17. The Company's auditor, Deloitte LLP, has not audited or reviewed the Interim Report to 30 September 2020 pursuant to the Auditing Practices Board guidance on 'Review of Interim Financial Information'. These are not full statutory financial statements in terms of Section 434 of the Companies Act 2006 and are unaudited. Statutory financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2020, which received an unqualified audit report and which did not contain a statement under Section 498 of the Companies Act 2006, have been lodged with the Registrar of Companies. The condensed financial statements shown for the year ended 31 March 2020 are an extract from those financial statements. No full statutory financial statements in respect of any period after 31 March 2020 have been reported on by the Company's auditor or delivered to the Registrar of Companies.

Statement of Principal Risks and Uncertainties

Most of the Company's principal risks and uncertainties that could threaten its objective, strategy, future performance, liquidity and solvency are market related and comparable to those of other investment trusts investing primarily in listed securities.

These risks, and the way in which they are managed, are described under the heading 'Principal Risks and Uncertainties and Viability Statement' within the Strategic Report in the Company's Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2020.

The Company's principal risks and uncertainties have not changed materially since the date of that report and are not expected to change materially for the remainder of the Company's financial year.

The principal risks identified in the Annual Report were:

• Financial Risk. The Company's assets consist mainly of listed equity securities and its principal financial risks are therefore market related and include market risk (comprising currency risk, interest rate risk and other price risk), liquidity risk and credit risk

• Investment and strategic risk

• Regulatory risk

• Operational risk

• Custody risk

These include risks in relation to failures at service providers or loss or sabotage of data through cyber threats or business continuity failure.

During 2020, the Board has also considered the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) which has increased uncertainty and volatility in markets and has impacted the value of investments. In addition the operational resilience of the Manager and the Company's other third party service providers has been considered. This is included within financial risk and operational risk.

Statement of Directors' Responsibilities in Respect of the Interim Report

We confirm that to the best of our knowledge:

· the condensed set of financial statements has been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 'Interim Financial Reporting' and give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of the Company;

· the Chairman's Statement and the Statement of Principal Risks and Uncertainties (together constituting the Interim Management Report) include a fair review of the information required by the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules ('DTR') 4.2.7R, being an indication of important events that have occurred during the first six months of the financial year and their impact on the condensed set of financial statements;

· the Statement of Principal Risks and Uncertainties shown above is a fair review of the principal risks and uncertainties for the remainder of the financial year; and

· the Chairman's Statement together with the condensed set of financial statements include a fair review of the information required by DTR 4.2.8R, being related party transactions that have taken place in the first six months of the current financial year and that have materially affected the financial position or performance of the Company during that period, and any changes in the related party transactions described in the last Annual Report that could do so.

On behalf of the Board

John M Evans

Director

2 December 2020

Alternative Performance Measures ("APMs")

The Company uses the following APMs:

Discount/premium - the share price of an investment company is derived from buyers and sellers trading their shares on the stock market. This price is not identical to the net asset value (NAV) per share of the underlying assets less liabilities of the Company. If the share price is lower than the NAV per share, the shares are trading at a discount. This usually indicates that there are more sellers of shares than buyers. Shares trading at a price above NAV per share are deemed to be at a premium usually indicating there are more buyers of shares than sellers.

Total Return - the theoretical return to shareholders calculated on a per share basis by adding distributions paid in the period to the increase or decrease in the Share price or NAV in the period. The distributions are assumed to have been re invested in the form of shares or net assets, respectively, on the date on which the shares were quoted ex dividend.

The effect of reinvesting these distributions on the respective ex dividend dates and the NAV total returns and Share price total returns are shown below.

† During the six months to 30 September 2020 dividends/capital repayments totalling 2.63p (Ordinary shares/B shares) and 10.52p (units) went ex-dividend. During the year to 31 March 2020 the equivalent figures were 5.16p (Ordinary shares/B shares) and 20.64p (units).

† During the six months to 30 September 2020 dividends/capital repayments totalling 2.63p (Ordinary shares/B shares) and 10.52p (units) went ex-dividend. During the year to 31 March 2020 the equivalent figures were 5.16p (Ordinary shares/B shares) and 20.64p (units).

Yield - The total annual dividend/capital repayment expressed as a percentage of the period end share price.

*Based on expected minimum annual dividend/capital repayment of 5.21 pence per share in respect of the year ending 31 March 2021.

Gearing - represents the excess amount above shareholders' funds of total investments, expressed as a percentage of the shareholders' funds. If the amount calculated is negative, this is a 'net cash' position and no gearing.

For further information, please contact:

Philip Webster, Fund Manager 0207 628 8000

Ian Ridge, Company Secretary 0207 628 8000