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Murray Income is an Investment Trust

To achieve a high and growing income combined with capital growth through investment in a portfolio principally of UK equities.

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Half Yearly Financial Report

17 Feb 2020 07:00

RNS Number : 1226D
Murray Income Trust PLC
17 February 2020
 

Murray Income Trust PLC

LEGAL ENTITY IDENTIFIER (LEI): 549300IRNFGVQIQHUI

 

Half-Yearly Report for the 6 months ended 31 December 2019

 

The Directors of Murray Income Trust PLC report the unaudited results for the six months ended 31 December 2019.

 

Financial Highlights

 

31 December 2019

30 June 2019

Total assets{A} (£'000)

673,224

633,647

Equity shareholders' funds (£'000)

626,990

587,150

Net asset value per Ordinary share - debt at par

948.4p

888.1p

Share price of Ordinary share (mid-market)

896.0p

850.0p

Discount to net asset value on Ordinary shares - debt at par{B}

5.5%

4.3%

Net gearing{B}

2.6%

3.1%

Ongoing charges ratio{B}

0.62%

0.65%

{A} Total assets as per the Condensed Statement of Financial Position less current liabilities (excluding prior charges such as bank loans).

{B} Considered to be an Alternative Performance Measure.

 

 

Performance (total return)

 

Net asset value total return per Ordinary share{A}

Share price total return per Ordinary share{A}

FTSE All-Share Index total return

Six months ended 31 December 2019

+9.0%

Six months ended 31December 2019

+7.7%

Six months ended 31 December 2019

+5.5%

Year ended 30 June 2019

+7.9%

Year ended 30 June 2019

+13.2%

Year ended 30 June 2019

 +0.6%

 

Revenue return per Ordinary share

 

Dividend yield{A}

 

Discount to net asset value{A}

Six months ended 31 December 2019

15.4p

As at 31 December 2019

3.8%

As at 31 December 2019

5.5%

Six months ended 31 December 2018

13.7p

As at 30 June 2019

4.0%

As at 30 June 2019

 4.3%

{A} Considered to be an Alternative Performance Measure.

 

 

Financial Calendar

 

Payment dates of quarterly dividends

20 December 2019

20 March 202019 June 2020

September 2020

Financial year end

30 June 2020

Expected announcement date of results for year ended 30 June 2020

September 2020

Annual General Meeting (Glasgow)

3 November 2020

 

 

CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT

 

I am pleased to report another strong six months of performance from our Manager, Aberdeen Standard Fund Managers Limited. The Company's net asset value ("NAV") per share rose 9.0% in the six months ended 31 December 2019 in total return terms, outperforming the FTSE All-Share Index (the "Index") return of 5.5%. The share price total return was 7.7% with the discount widening slightly from 4.3% to 5.5%.

 

Looking over longer periods to 31 December 2019, performance is ahead of the Index over one, three and five and ten years. At the same time we continue to grow our dividend, with a dividend increase chalked up in every one of the past forty-six years. This puts us into the top ten on the AIC's list of 'Dividend Heroes', as measured by the number of years of dividend growth, the investment trusts with the longest records of consecutive annual dividend growth.

 

Investment Objective

The Company aims for a high and growing income combined with capital growth through investment in a portfolio principally of UK equities. Plain vanilla if you like, it is a diversified portfolio of quality companies.

 

Investment Process

Our Manager's investment process is best summarised as a search for good quality companies at attractive valuations. The Manager defines a quality company as one capable of strong and predictable cash generation, sustainably high returns on capital and with attractive growth opportunities. These typically result from a sound business model, a robust balance sheet, good management and strong environmental, social and governance characteristics.

 

Investment People

Charles Luke has been our portfolio manager since 2006. If you were not able to come to our Annual General Meeting in November, you can find his latest presentation on our website. His deputy is Iain Pyle and they are members of the Manager's five-strong UK Equity Income team which itself is part of the sixteen-strong UK Equity Team headed by Andrew Millington.

 

Performance

The FTSE All-Share Index is the Board's primary benchmark by which to assess performance and the headline numbers are recorded previously. Performance attribution again shows UK stock selection as the main contributor to outperformance. Charles and Iain assess performance in more detail in the Manager's Portfolio Report. The Directors also look at performance relative to other investment trusts in the UK Equity Income sector. The last six months have improved our relative rankings considerably such that we were third, out of 18 trusts, over one, three and five years to 31 December 2019, in NAV total return terms.

 

Fully Independent Board

Your Directors are all fully independent and are responsible for the governance of the Company, appointing the Manager, setting dividend policy and so on. Merryn Somerset Webb was appointed a Director on 7 August 2019.

 

Dividends

At 31 December 2019, the Company's shares were yielding 3.8% (calculated as dividing the total dividends paid in the past 12 months of 34p by the period end share price of 896p). This compares to the 4.1% yield available from the FTSE All-Share Index and the size-weighted average yield of 3.7% for trusts in the AIC UK Equity Income Sector.

 

A final dividend of 10.0p per share was paid on 8 November 2019 following shareholder approval at the AGM on 5 November 2019. Also at the AGM, shareholders approved a policy whereby the Company will pay four interim dividends for the years ending on and after 30 June 2020, in place of the previous pattern of three interim dividends and a final dividend. The purpose of this was to pay shareholders their dividends both earlier and at regular three-month intervals.

 

Following the introduction of this revised policy, the Company announced in November 2019 that it would pay 8.25p per share on 20 December 2019, 20 March 2020 and 19 June 2020 for the first, second and third interim dividends, respectively. The practical impact of this is that shareholders will have received the final dividend for the 2018-2019 year in November 2019 and the first interim dividend for the current year in December 2019. The Board will announce the rate for its fourth interim dividend in early August 2020, with payment expected in September 2020.

 

Share Capital

The Company did not issue nor buy back any shares during the six months ended 31 December 2019.

 

Ongoing Charges

Lower ongoing charges are a competitive advantage for investment trusts compared with open ended funds. Our ongoing charges for the year ended 30 June 2019 were 0.65% and we continue to aim to trend lower, as evidenced by the annualised 0.62% recorded for the review period. The management fee, which is the largest component of ongoing charges, is tiered (see note 4 for details). On net assets of £627m at 31 December 2019, the blended management fee rate was equivalent to 0.45%. The marginal rate of management fees is 0.25% per annum charged on net assets above £450m.

 

Engaging Individual Shareholders

We have a high proportion of the Company owned by individual investors and are committed to making sure that up-to-date information on the Company is easily accessible. In the year ahead, we plan to continue the enhancements to the content on the Company's website, maintained by the Manager, at murray-income.co.uk and continue in our commitment to find ways to reach new investors as well as how better to reach investors who use third-party platforms. In particular, shareholders may have seen the additional coverage we achieved last year in promoting November's Annual General Meeting. The Directors and Manager were delighted to meet so many shareholders at that meeting in London and we had positive feedback both on Charles' presentation and the lunch. This year's Annual General Meeting will be held in Glasgow on Tuesday 3 November 2020.

 

Update

From 31 December 2019 to 31 January 2020, the net asset value per share total return and share price total return were -1.3% and +0.7%, respectively, while the discount had narrowed from 5.5% to 3.7%. The FTSE All-Share Index total return was -3.3%.

 

Electronic Communications for Registered Shareholders

As we reported in September, the Board is proposing to move to more electronic-based forms of communication with its registered shareholders. Increased use of electronic communications should be a more cost effective, as well as faster and more environmentally friendly way of providing information to shareholders. Registered shareholders will therefore find enclosed with this Half-Yearly Report a letter containing our electronic communications proposals and an opportunity to supply an email address to the Registrar, Link Asset Services. Registered shareholders who wish to continue to receive hard copies of documents and communications by post will need to send back their replies in the enclosed prepaid envelope as soon as possible, but in any event by 31 March 2020.

 

Shareholders who hold their shares through the Aberdeen Standard Investment Trust Share Plan, ISA and Children's Plan (Planholders) will continue to receive all documentation by post in hard copy form for the time being. Aberdeen Asset Managers Limited, the plan manager, is currently assessing how to adopt more electronically-based communications within the savings plans, and planholders will be contacted directly with more detail in due course.

 

Outlook

There is still plenty to worry about and the world's media and stock markets are very good at worrying. The transition period on leaving the EU, President Trump, trade wars and tariffs, Prime Minister Johnson, the Middle East, the coronavirus, there are potential negative headlines everywhere you look. There are further obstacles to overcome this year: Trade deals with the EU, US and beyond will be difficult to negotiate in a tight timetable. The US Presidential election in November will dominate headlines.

 

Climate change is far more than just a one-year problem and those governments and companies that are not doing enough will come under ever-increasing pressure. Companies seen to be taking this issue seriously will be rewarded for their endeavours and the Manager's extensive dialogue with those in the portfolio aims to ensure that this is the case.

 

Irrespective of which way you leaned on Brexit or the UK General Election, the removal of political uncertainty is usually positive for stock markets. It is uncertainty that stops companies from committing to new capital expenditure plans, and uncertainty that makes consumers wait before spending. Now that the UK has left the European Union and now that the new UK Government has a very strong majority to take it through the next five years, it is likely that many of those spending decisions will be made sooner rather than later. Add to this the Government's announced commitment to infrastructure and regional spending plus the Bank of England's loose monetary conditions and it is not impossible that we will start to worry about the UK economy overheating before too long. That would be another negative but the journey from here to there would be interesting for investors. Very interesting.

 

Neil Rogan,

Chairman

 

14 February 2020

 

Performance

Year ended

3 years ended

5 years ended

10 years ended

(total return)

31 December 2019

31 December 2019

31 December 2019

31 December 2019

Net Asset Value per Ordinary share (par)A

26.8%

31.2%

52.3%

150.0%

Share price per Ordinary shareA

28.3%

40.8%

47.8%

165.9%

FTSE All-Share Index

19.2%

22.0%

43.8%

118.3%

A Considered to be an Alternative Performance Measure.

Source: Aberdeen Standard Investments, Morningstar & Lipper

 

 

INTERIM BOARD REPORT

 

Principal Risks and Uncertainties

The Board regularly reviews the principal risks and uncertainties which it has identified, together with the delegated controls it has established to manage the risks and address the uncertainties, and these are set out in detail on pages 9 to 11 of the Company's Annual Report for the year ended 30 June 2019 ("Annual Report 2019") which is available on the Company's website. The Annual Report 2019 also contains, in note 17 to the Financial Statements, an explanation of other risks relating to the Company's investment activities, specifically market risk, liquidity risk and credit risk, and a note of how these risks are managed.

 

Related Party Transactions

Under Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (UK Accounting Standards and applicable law), the Company has identified the Directors as related parties. No other related parties have been identified. There have been no related party transactions that have had a material effect on the financial position of the Company.

 

Going Concern

The factors which have an impact on the Company's status as a going concern are set out in the Going Concern section of the Directors' Report on page 35 of the Annual Report 2019. As at 31 December 2019, there had been no significant changes to these factors.

 

The Board has set limits for borrowing and regularly reviews the level of any gearing, cash flow projections and compliance with banking covenants. As at 31 December 2019, in addition to the £40m 10 year Senior Loan Notes, £6.3m of the Company's three-year £20m multi-currency revolving bank credit facility was drawn down.

The Directors are mindful of the principal risks and uncertainties disclosed above and, having reviewed forecasts detailing revenue and liabilities, they believe that the Company has adequate financial resources to continue its operational existence for the foreseeable future, even in the event of potential dislocation during or after the transition period until 31 December 2020 which the UK entered following its departure from the EU on 31 January 2020. Accordingly, the Directors believe that it is appropriate to continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the Financial Statements.

 

Statement of Directors' Responsibilities

The Directors are responsible for preparing the Half-Yearly Financial Report in accordance with applicable law and regulations. The Directors confirm that to the best of their knowledge:

 

- the condensed set of Financial Statements has been prepared in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 104 (Interim Financial Reporting);

- the Half-Yearly Board Report includes a fair review of the information required by rule 4.2.7R of the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules (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 and a description of the principal risks and uncertainties for the remaining six months of the financial year); and

- the Half-Yearly Board Report includes a fair review of the information required by 4.2.8R (being related party transactions that have taken place during the first six months of the financial year and that have materially affected the financial position of the Company during that period; and any changes in the related party transactions described in the last Annual Report that could do so).

 

The Half-Yearly Financial Report for the six months ended 31 December 2019 comprises the Half-Yearly Board Report, the Directors' Responsibility Statement and the condensed set of Financial Statements.

 

 

For and on behalf of the Board

Neil Rogan,

Chairman

 

14 February 2020

 

 

MANAGER'S INVESTMENT REPORT

 

The portfolio outperformed the benchmark during the six months ended 31 December 2019 with the NAV per Ordinary share rising by 9.0% compared to an increase in the FTSE All-Share Index of 5.5% (all figures calculated on a total return basis).

 

The robust level of outperformance reflected two broad themes in the portfolio. Firstly, our high quality domestically-oriented mid cap companies (including holdings such as Countryside Properties, Howden Joinery, Assura and Close Brothers) performed strongly following the Prime Minister's agreement with the European Union for a revised Withdrawal Agreement agreed in October and then again following the General Election result in December. Secondly, the corollary of this was the underperformance of some of the largest companies in the market (including Shell, BP and HSBC) in which the portfolio is underweight.

 

Contribution to

Top 5 Contributors

Relative Return

Countryside Properties

1.0%

Royal Dutch Shell

0.9%

HSBC Holdings

0.5%

Howden Joinery

0.3%

Assura

0.3%

 

Detraction from

Top 5 Detractors

 Relative Return

BHP Group

-0.3%

Telenor

-0.2%

British American Tobacco

-0.2%

Barclays

-0.2%

AstraZeneca

-0.2%

 

Our trading activity reflected no particularly strong dynamic other than a focus on high quality companies, albeit some with transient issues which had provided an opportunity, with attractive valuations which are preferably under-appreciated by the market.

 

We added seven new holdings to the portfolio. The first was Convatec, a mid cap medical devices company with a strong position in wound and ostomy care. The company has suffered from mostly self-inflicted issues which we believe the management can cure allowing the potential for the company to take greater advantage of its attractive end markets. The second purchase was Telenor, a good quality Scandinavian telecoms company with attractive emerging markets assets. The next new holding was Polypipe, a mid cap piping systems company where we believe the competitive position of the business and the regulatory growth drivers are under-appreciated. A modest holding in Mowi, a Norwegian supplier of sustainable salmon, was added to the portfolio. The company benefits from strong demand growth, diversified supply and an attractive dividend yield. We also purchased a small holding in Mondi, a large cap high quality cyclical paper company with a strong balance sheet, a conservative management team and with some interesting growth prospects. A holding in mid cap National Express was introduced to the portfolio. The company looks attractively valued given a number of interesting growth drivers and opportunities to increase returns. Finally, a weak trading update at the end of the period provided an opportunity to purchase a modest holding in mid cap John Laing which through its investment and management of infrastructure and renewables projects has generated a long history of strong returns.

 

We increased exposure to a number of our existing holdings which we believe have high quality characteristics with attractive growth prospects including: Smith & Nephew; Close Brothers; SSE; WH Smith and Relx.

 

We sold six holdings during the period. Firstly, InterContinental Hotels Group which was sold given concerns over the relatively high gearing following the Six Senses acquisition, potential cyclical pressures and the relatively low dividend yield. Secondly, Nordea due to our lack of confidence in the sustainability of its dividend and the pressure on earnings from weak macroeconomic conditions and low interest rates. Thirdly, Hiscox was sold (prior to its profit warning) given concerns around weak trading and a more challenging competitive environment. Fourthly, given a deterioration in quality and our lack of confidence in the company's strategy and its ability to maintain its dividend, the holding in Imperial Brands was sold. Fifthly, the holding in St James's Place was sold due to our concerns around a more challenging regulatory environment. Finally, the holding in London Stock Exchange was sold following a period of very strong share price performance that had left the valuation somewhat stretched and the balance sheet relatively highly geared assuming the potential acquisition of Refinitiv is completed.

 

We took profits in a number of holdings that had performed strongly and where the valuation had started to look less attractive such as Marshalls, Aveva, Rentokil, Kone, Experian and Microsoft. A number of holdings were also reduced where we had concerns around more challenging trading conditions with the likelihood that growth would be subdued including Vodafone, HSBC and British American Tobacco.

 

We continued our judicious option-writing programme with a significant bias during the period towards call options. We continue to feel that the option writing strategy has been of benefit to the Company by diversifying and increasing the level of income generated and providing a good discipline for optimising our exposure to individual holdings.

 

Market and Economic Background

The UK equity market rose by 5.5% on a total return basis over the six month period. This completed a remarkably strong calendar year for the market with the index increasing by 19.2%. Despite worries around the impact of trade wars and protectionism resulting in anaemic global growth, political concerns regarding Brexit and a potential market-unfriendly Labour government, investors took comfort from the prospect of easier fiscal and monetary policy. In addition, the weakness of sterling in the first half of the year buoyed overseas earners and the strength of domestically-oriented companies in the last quarter of the calendar year provided a further fillip for the market.

 

Over the six month period in question at a sector level, the more defensive areas of the market such healthcare and utilities outperformed while the more economically sensitive areas such oil & gas and mining underperformed. The Mid Cap Index (with its greater exposure to domestic earnings) increased by 13.1% on a total return basis outperforming the FTSE 100 Index which increased by 2.7%.

 

UK GDP increased by 0.3% in the third quarter of 2019 and the first estimate for the fourth quarter of 2019 suggests flat growth. Although business investment and exports have been weak household consumption has remained robust. The result of the General Election should provide a greater degree of certainty and a number of surveys in the post-election period have confirmed an increase in confidence for both consumers and companies - we wait to see whether this will translate into an improvement in activity, remaining cognisant that downside risks include that trading arrangements remain uncertain and global growth is not particularly supportive. Throughout the period the Monetary Policy Committee ("MPC") voted to maintain base rate at 0.75% although in December two members voted to reduce interest rates on the basis that the economy was softer than expected, core inflation remain subdued and employment growth had slowed. Since the period end the MPC has voted to maintain the base rate at 0.75%.

 

Overseas, recent data has suggested a stabilisation in the global economy helped by central banks loosening monetary policy and early signs of a thaw in the US-China trade war, as well as a reduction in the likelihood of a Brexit dislocation. Having cut interest rates three times during period, the US Federal Reserve has signalled that it has no plans to change rates during 2020. Although US consumer activity has remained robust helped by a solid labour market backdrop, manufacturing data, business investment and exports were weak over the period prompting the reduction in interest rates. Eurozone economic activity has also been weak with measures of industrial activity, business confidence and trade volumes depressed. The main emerging markets have demonstrated somewhat differing trends over the period with a slowdown in growth in China, despite efforts to stimulate the economy, and a similar picture in India with weakness in the consumer sector. In Brazil and Russia activity has stabilised following the slowdown earlier in the calendar year.

 

In the shorter term, the impact of the emerging coronavirus is uncertain. However, looking further forward, the United States' presidential election has the potential to offer the American electorate a broad spectrum of candidates with differing economic visions and will influence the future direction of US trade policy with China. For the UK, future trading relationships will be dependent on the outcome of negotiations with the US and EU but reaching agreements for these are likely to be fraught with difficulty. The new Chancellor of the Exchequer does have the option to stimulate the economy with a programme of fiscal easing and infrastructure spending which has the potential to provide a significant tailwind for future growth - the extent that he wishes to pursue this will become clearer in the Budget next month.

 

 

Charles Luke and Iain Pyle,Aberdeen Asset Managers LimitedInvestment Manager

14 February 2020

 

 

MURRAY INCOME TRUST PLC

CONDENSED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (unaudited)

 

Six months ended

31 December 2019

Revenue

Capital

Total

Notes

£'000

£'000

£'000

Gains/(losses) on investments

-

42,918

42,918

Currency gains/(losses)

-

139

139

Income

2

11,412

-

11,412

Investment management fees

4, 13

(410)

(956)

(1,366)

Administrative expenses

(607)

-

(607)

_________

_________

_________

Net return before finance costs and taxation

10,395

42,101

52,496

Finance costs

(170)

(396)

(566)

_________

_________

_________

Net return before taxation

10,225

41,705

51,930

Taxation

5

(25)

-

(25)

_________

_________

_________

Net return after taxation

10,200

41,705

51,905

_________

_________

_________

Return per Ordinary share (pence)

6

15.4

63.1

78.5

_________

_________

_________

The total column of this statement is the profit and loss account of the Company. The supplementary revenue and capital columns are both prepared under guidance issued by the Association of Investment Companies.

A Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses has not been prepared as all gains or losses are recognised in the Condensed Statement of Comprehensive Income.

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

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed financial statements.

 

 

MURRAY INCOME TRUST PLC

CONDENSED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (unaudited) (Cont'd)

 

Six months ended

31 December 2018

Revenue

Capital

Total

Notes

£'000

£'000

£'000

Gains/(losses) on investments

-

(53,589)

(53,589)

Currency gains/(losses)

-

(107)

(107)

Income

2

10,287

-

10,287

Investment management fees

4, 13

(392)

(914)

(1,306)

Administrative expenses

(585)

-

(585)

_________

_________

_________

Net return before finance costs and taxation

9,310

(54,610)

(45,300)

Finance costs

(174)

(406)

(580)

_________

_________

_________

Net return before taxation

9,136

(55,016)

(45,880)

Taxation

5

(85)

-

(85)

_________

_________

_________

Net return after taxation

9,051

(55,016)

(45,965)

_________

_________

_________

Return per Ordinary share (pence)

6

13.7

(83.0)

(69.3)

_________

_________

_________

 

 

MURRAY INCOME TRUST PLC

CONDENSED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION (unaudited)

 

As at

As at

31 December 2019

30 June 2019

Notes

£'000

£'000

Non-current assets

Investments at fair value through profit or loss

640,922

602,636

Current assets

Other debtors and receivables

3,561

7,982

Cash and cash equivalents

30,354

27,171

_________

_________

33,915

35,153

_________

_________

Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Derivative financial instruments

(335)

-

Other payables

(1,278)

(4,142)

Bank loans

7

(6,336)

(6,601)

_________

_________

(7,949)

(10,743)

_________

_________

Net current assets

25,966

24,410

_________

_________

Total assets less current liabilities

666,888

627,046

Creditors: amounts falling due after one year

2.51% Senior Loan Notes

7

(39,898)

(39,896)

_________

_________

Net assets

626,990

587,150

_________

_________

Share capital and reserves

Called-up share capital

8

17,148

17,148

Share premium account

24,020

24,020

Capital redemption reserve

4,997

4,997

Capital reserve

557,686

515,981

Revenue reserve

23,139

25,004

_________

_________

Equity shareholders' funds

626,990

587,150

_________

_________

Net asset value per Ordinary share (pence)

9

Debt at par value

948.4

887.8

_________

_________

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed financial statements.

 

 

MURRAY INCOME TRUST PLC

CONDENSED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (unaudited)

 

Six months ended 31 December 2019

Share

Capital

Share

premium

redemption

Capital

Revenue

capital

account

reserve

reserve

reserve

Total

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

Balance at 1 July 2019

17,148

24,020

4,997

515,981

25,004

587,150

Net return after tax

-

-

-

41,705

10,200

51,905

Dividends paid (note 3)

-

-

-

-

(12,065)

(12,065)

_______

_______

_______

_______

_______

_______

Balance at 31 December 2019

17,148

24,020

4,997

557,686

23,139

626,990

_______

_______

_______

_______

_______

_______

Six months ended 31 December 2018

Share

Capital

Share

premium

redemption

Capital

Revenue

capital

account

reserve

reserve

reserve

Total

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

Balance at 1 July 2018

17,148

24,020

4,997

500,887

23,877

570,929

Net return after tax

-

-

-

(55,016)

9,051

(45,965)

Buyback of Ordinary shares for treasury

-

-

-

(4,355)

-

(4,355)

Dividends paid (note 3)

-

-

-

-

(6,131)

(6,131)

_______

_______

_______

_______

_______

_______

Balance at 31 December 2018

17,148

24,020

4,997

441,516

26,797

514,478

_______

_______

_______

_______

_______

_______

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed financial statements.

 

 

MURRAY INCOME TRUST PLC

CONDENSED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (unaudited)

 

Six months ended

Six months ended

31 December 2019

31 December 2018

Notes

£'000

£'000

Operating activities

Net return before finance costs and taxation

52,496

(45,300)

Increase in accrued expenses

432

231

Overseas withholding tax

(50)

(84)

Dividend income

(10,286)

(9,251)

Dividends received

10,384

10,017

Interest income

(79)

(42)

Interest received

81

41

Interest paid

(571)

(581)

Amortisation of Loan Notes

2

6

Foreign exchange (gains)/losses on loans

(234)

200

(Gains)/losses on investments

(42,918)

53,589

Increase in other debtors

(168)

(6)

Stock dividends included in investment income

(788)

(67)

_______

_______

Net cash inflow from operating activities

8,301

8,753

Investing activities

Purchases of investments

(66,822)

(80,317)

Sales of investments

73,800

72,989

_______

_______

Net cash inflow/(outflow) from investing activities

6,978

(7,328)

Financing activities

Dividends paid

3

(12,065)

(6,131)

Repayment of bank loans

(2,051)

(1,034)

Drawdown of bank loans

2,020

1,061

Buyback of Ordinary shares for treasury

-

(4,551)

_______

_______

Net cash outflow from financing activities

(12,096)

(10,655)

_______

_______

Increase/(decrease) in cash

3,183

(9,230)

_______

_______

Analysis of changes in cash during the period

Opening balance

27,171

22,008

Increase/(decrease) in cash as above

3,183

(9,230)

_______

_______

Closing balance

30,354

12,778

_______

_______

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed financial statements.

 

 

Notes to the Financial Statements

 

1.

Accounting policies

Basis of preparation. The condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard ("FRS") 104 (Interim Financial Reporting) and with the Statement of Recommended Practice for 'Financial Statements of Investment Trust Companies and Venture Capital Trusts' issued in October 2019 (the AIC SORP). They have also been prepared on a going concern basis and on the assumption that approval as an investment trust will continue to be granted.

The condensed financial statements have been prepared using the same accounting policies as the preceding annual financial statements.

 

2.

Income

Six months ended

Six months ended

31 December 2019

31 December 2018

£'000

£'000

Investment income

UK dividends

8,515

8,189

Overseas dividends

403

524

Property income dividends

580

471

Stock dividends

788

67

_______

_______

10,286

9,251

_______

_______

Other income

Deposit interest

79

42

Stock lending income

12

9

Traded option premiums

1,035

985

_______

_______

1,126

1,036

_______

_______

Total income

11,412

10,287

_______

_______

 

3.

Dividends. Dividends paid on Ordinary shares deducted from the revenue reserve:

Six months ended

Six months ended

31 December 2019

31 December 2018

 £'000

 £'000

2018 final dividend - 9.25p

-

6,131

2019 final dividend - 10.00p

6,611

-

2020 first interim dividend - 8.25p

5,454

-

_______

_______

12,065

6,131

_______

_______

A second interim dividend for 2020 of 8.25p (2019 - 8.00p) will be paid on 20 March 2020 to shareholders on the register on 21 February 2020. The ex-dividend date is 20 February 2020.

A third interim dividend for 2020 of 8.25p (2019 - 8.00p) will be paid on 19 June 2020 to shareholders on the register on 22 May 2020. The ex-dividend date is 21 May 2020.

 

4.

Management fee and finance costs. The management fee and finance costs are as reported in the Annual Report 2019 being a tiered fee based on net assets and calculated as follows:

Fee rate

Net

per annum

assets

£'million

0.55%

less than

350

0.45%

within the range

350-450

0.25%

greater than

450

With effect from 1 July 2018, the management fees and finance costs are charged 70% to capital and 30% to revenue (previously 50% to capital and 50% to revenue).

 

5.

Taxation. The expense for taxation reflected in the Condensed Statement of Comprehensive Income is based on the estimated annual tax rate expected for the full financial year. The estimated annual corporation tax rate used for the year to 30 June 2020 is an effective rate of 18.5% (2019 - 19%).

During the period the Company suffered withholding tax on overseas dividend income of £25,000 (31 December 2018 - £85,000).

 

6.

Return per Ordinary share

Six months ended

Six months ended

31 December 2019

31 December 2018

£'000

p

£'000

p

Revenue return

10,200

15.4

9,051

13.7

Capital return

41,705

63.1

(55,016)

(83.0)

_______

_______

_______

_______

Total return

51,905

78.5

(45,965)

(69.3)

_______

_______

_______

_______

Weighted average number of Ordinary shares in issue

66,110,413

66,302,291

_______

_______

 

7.

Secured Senior Loan Notes and bank loans. The Company has in issue £40,000,000 of 10 year Senior Loan Notes at a fixed rate of 2.51%. Interest is payable in half yearly instalments in May and November and the Loan Notes are due to be redeemed at par on 8 November 2027. The Loan Notes are secured by a floating charge over the whole of the assets of the Company. The Company has complied with the Note Purchase Agreement that the ratio of net assets to gross borrowings will be greater than 3.5:1 and that net assets will not be less than £275,000,000.

The fair value of the Senior Loan Notes as at 31 December 2019 was £40,145,000 (30 June 2019 - £40,138,000), the value being calculated by aggregating the expected future cash flows discounted at a rate comprising the borrower's margin plus an average of market rates applicable to loans of a similar period of time.

At 31 December 2019 the Company had drawn down £6,336,000 (30 June 2019 - £6,601,000) of its £20,000,000, 3 year unsecured multi-currency revolving bank credit facility agreement with Scotiabank Europe PLC committed until 6 November 2020. As at 31 December 2019 the Company had drawn down the following amounts from the facility:

31 December 2019

30 June 2019

Currency

£'000

Currency

£'000

Euro 900,000 at an all-in rate of 0.85%

900,000

763

3,200,000

2,863

Swiss Franc 3,300,000 at an all-in rate of 0.85%

3,300,000

2,572

3,360,000

2,708

US Dollar 1,600,000 at an all-in rate of 2.58975%

1,600,000

1,208

1,311,000

1,030

Danish Krone 9,000,000 at an all-in rate of 0.85%

9,000,000

1,020

-

-

Norwegian Krone 9,000,000 at an all-in rate of 2.50%

9,000,000

773

-

-

_______

_______

6,336

6,601

_______

_______

 

8.

Called up share capital

Six months ended

Year ended

31 December 2019

30 June 2019

Ordinary shares of 25p each: publicly held

Opening balance

66,110,413

66,672,313

Buyback for treasury

-

(561,900)

_______

_______

66,110,413

66,110,413

_______

_______

Ordinary shares of 25p each; held in treasury

Opening balance

2,483,045

1,921,145

Buyback for treasury

-

561,900

_______

_______

2,483,045

2,483,045

_______

_______

 

9.

Net asset value. The net asset value per Ordinary share and the net asset value attributable to the Ordinary shares at the end of the period follow. These were calculated using 66,110,413 (30 June 2019 - same) Ordinary shares in issue at the period end (excluding treasury shares).

31 December 2019

30 June 2019

Net Asset Value

Net Asset Value

Attributable

Attributable

£'000

pence

£'000

pence

Net asset value - debt at par

626,990

948.4

587,150

888.1

Add: Amortised cost of 2.51% Senior Loan Notes

39,898

60.3

39,896

60.4

Less: Fair value of 2.51% Senior Loan Notes

(40,145)

(60.7)

(40,138)

(60.7)

_______

_______

_______

_______

Net asset value - debt at fair value

626,743

948.0

586,908

887.8

_______

_______

_______

_______

 

10.

Transaction costs. During the period, expenses were incurred in acquiring or disposing of investments classified at fair value through profit or loss. These have been expensed through capital and are included within gains on investments in the Condensed Statement of Comprehensive Income. The total costs were as follows:

Six months ended

Six months ended

31 December 2019

31 December 2018

£'000

£'000

Purchases

281

402

Sales

26

26

_______

_______

307

428

_______

_______

 

11.

Fair value hierarchy. FRS 102 requires an entity to classify fair value measurements using a fair value hierarchy that reflects the significance of the inputs used in making the measurements. The fair value hierarchy has the following levels:

Level 1: unadjusted quoted prices in an active market for identical assets or liabilities that the entity can access at the measurement date;

Level 2: inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable (ie developed using market data) for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly; and

Level 3: inputs are unobservable (ie for which market data is unavailable) for the asset or liability.

The financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value in the Condensed Statement of Financial Position are grouped into the fair value hierarchy at the reporting date as follows:

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

As at 31 December 2019

Note

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

Quoted equities

a)

640,922

-

-

640,922

Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss

Derivatives

b)

(189)

(146)

-

(335)

_______

_______

_______

_______

Net fair value

640,733

(146)

-

640,587

_______

_______

_______

_______

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

As at 30 June 2019

Note

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

Quoted equities

a)

602,636

-

-

602,636

_______

_______

_______

_______

Net fair value

602,636

-

-

602,636

_______

_______

_______

_______

a)

Quoted equities. The fair value of the Company's investments in quoted equities has been determined by reference to their quoted bid prices at the reporting date. Quoted equities included in Fair Value Level 1 are actively traded on recognised stock exchanges.

b)

Derivatives. The fair value of the Company's investments in Exchange Traded Options has been determined using observable market inputs on an exchange traded basis and therefore has been included in Fair Value Level 1.

The fair value of the Company's investments in Over the Counter Options (where the underlying equities are also held) has been determined using observable market inputs other than quoted prices of the underlying equities (which are included within Fair Value level 1) and therefore determined as Fair Value Level 2.

All other financial assets and liabilities of the Company are included in the Condensed Statement of Financial Position at their book value which in the opinion of the Directors is not materially different from their fair value.

 

12.

Analysis of changes in net debt

At

At

30 June 2019

Currencydifferences

Cash flows

Non-cashmovements

31 December 2019

£000

£000

£000

£000

£000

Cash and cash equivalents

27,171

(95)

3,278

-

30,354

Debt due within one year

(6,601)

234

31

-

(6,336)

Debt due after one year

(39,896)

-

-

(2)

(39,898)

Amounts (due to)/from brokers

1,188

-

(1,532)

-

(344)

_______

_______

_______

_______

_______

Total

(18,138)

139

1,777

(2)

(16,224)

_______

_______

_______

_______

_______

At

At

30 June 2018

Currencydifferences

Cash flows

Non-cashmovements

31 December 2018

£000

£000

£000

£000

£000

Cash and cash equivalents

22,008

93

(9,323)

-

12,778

Debt due within one year

(6,351)

(200)

(27)

-

(6,578)

Debt due after one year

(39,884)

-

-

(6)

(39,890)

Amounts (due to)/from brokers

2,975

-

(2,975)

-

-

_______

_______

_______

_______

_______

Total

(21,252)

(107)

(12,325)

(6)

(33,690)

_______

_______

_______

_______

_______

 

13.

Transactions with the Manager. The Company has delegated the provision of investment management, secretarial, accounting and administration and promotional services to Aberdeen Standard Fund Managers Limited ("ASFML" or the "Manager").

The amounts charged for the period are set out below:

Six months ended

Six months ended

31 December 2019

31 December 2018

£'000

£'000

Management fees

1,366

1,306

Promotional activities

255

240

Secretarial fees

45

45

_______

_______

1,666

1,591

_______

_______

The amounts payable at the period end are set out below:

Six months ended

Six months ended

31 December 2019

31 December 2018

£'000

£'000

Management fees

462

424

Promotional activities

178

120

Secretarial fees

45

23

_______

_______

685

567

_______

_______

No fees are charged in the case of investment managed or advised by the Standard Life Aberdeen PLC group. There was one commonly managed fund held in the portfolio during the six months to 31 December 2019 (2018 - one). The management agreement may be terminated by either party on the expiry of three months written notice. On termination the Manager would be entitled to receive fees which would otherwise have been due up to that date.

 

14.

Segmental Information. The Directors are of the opinion that the Company is engaged in a single segment of business activity, being investment business. Consequently, no business segmental analysis is provided.

 

15.

The financial information in this report does not comprise statutory accounts within the meaning of Section 434 - 436 of the Companies Act 2006. The financial information for the year ended 30 June 2019 has been extracted from published accounts that have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies and on which the report of the auditors was unqualified and contained no statement under Section 498 of the Companies Act 2006.

 

16.

This Half-Yearly Financial Report was approved by the Board on 14 February 2020.

 

 

ALTERNATIVE PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Alternative performance measures are numerical measures of the Company's current, historical or future performance, financial position or cash flows, other than financial measures defined or specified in the applicable financial framework. The Company's applicable financial framework includes FRS 102 and the AIC SORP. The Directors assess the Company's performance against a range of criteria which are viewed as particularly relevant for closed-end investment companies.

 

Total return. Total return is considered to be an alternative performance measure. Share price and NAV total returns show how the NAV and share price has performed over a period of time in percentage terms, taking into account both capital returns and dividends paid to shareholders. Share price and NAV total returns are monitored against open-ended and closed-ended competitors, and the FTSE All-Share Index, respectively.

Share

Price

NAV

Opening at 1 July 2019

a

850.0p

888.1p

Closing at 31 December 2019

b

896.0p

948.4p

Price movements

c=(b/a)-1

5.4%

6.8%

Dividend reinvestment{A}

d

2.3%

2.2%

_______

_______

Total return

c+d

7.7%

9.0%

_______

_______

{A} Share price total return involves reinvesting the net dividend in the share price of the Company on the date on which that dividend goes ex-dividend. NAV total return involves investing the net dividend in the NAV of the Company with debt at fair value on the date on which that dividend goes ex-dividend.

Discount to net asset value per Ordinary share. The discount is the amount by which the share price is lower than the net asset value per share, expressed as a percentage of the net asset value.

31 December 2019

30 June 2019

NAV per Ordinary share (p)

a

948.4

888.1

Share price (p)

b

896.0

850.0

Discount

(b-a)/a

-5.5%

-4.3%

_______

_______

Dividend yield. The annual dividend of 34.00p per Ordinary share (30 June 2019 - 34.00p) divided by the share price of 896.00p (30 June 2019 - 850.00p), expressed as a percentage.

31 December 2019

30 June 2019

Dividends per share (p)

a

34.0

34.0

Share price (p)

b

896.0

850.0

_______

_______

Dividend yield

a/b

3.8%

4.0%

_______

_______

Net gearing. Net gearing measures the total borrowings less cash and cash equivalents divided by shareholders' funds, expressed as a percentage. Under AIC reporting guidance cash and cash equivalents includes amounts due to and from brokers at the year end as well as cash and cash equivalents.

31 December 2019

30 June 2019

Borrowings (£'000)

a

46,234

46,497

Cash (£'000)

b

30,354

27,171

Amounts due to brokers (£'000)

c

344

3,326

Amounts due from brokers (£'000)

d

-

4,514

Shareholders' funds (£'000)

e

626,990

587,150

Net gearing

(a-b+c-d)/e

2.6%

3.1%

Ongoing charges. The ongoing charges ratio has been calculated in accordance with guidance issued by the AIC as the total of investment management fees and administrative expenses and expressed as a percentage of the average net asset values with debt at fair value throughout the year. The ratio for 31 December 2019 is based on forecast ongoing charges for the year ending 30 June 2020.

31 December 2019

30 June 2019

Investment management fees (£'000)

a

2,766

2,624

Administrative expenses (£'000)

b

1,088

1,013

Less: non-recurring charges{A} (£'000)

c

(105)

(20)

Ongoing charges (£'000)

a+b+c

3,749

3,617

Average net assets (£'000)

d

608,761

553,095

Ongoing charges ratio

(a+b+c)/d

0.62%

0.65%

{A} Includes promotional activities and professional fees.

The ongoing charges ratio provided in the Company's Key Information Document is calculated in line with the PRIIPs regulations, which includes financing and transaction costs.

 

 

INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO - AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2019

 

Total

Valuation

investments

Investment

Sector

£'000

%

AstraZeneca

Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology

22,400

3.5

GlaxoSmithKline

Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology

22,380

3.5

Diageo

Beverages

22,246

3.5

Relx

Media

20,528

3.2

Countryside Properties

Household Goods & Home Construction

20,034

3.1

Close Brothers

Banks

19,544

3.1

Aveva

Software & Computer Services

18,595

2.9

BHP Group

Mining

17,928

2.8

National Grid

Gas, Water & Multi-utilities

17,865

2.8

Unilever

Personal Goods

17,702

2.7

Top ten investments

199,222

31.1

Royal Dutch Shell

Oil & Gas Producers

17,591

2.7

BP

Oil & Gas Producers

17,499

2.7

Inchcape

General Retailers

16,000

2.5

Prudential

Life Assurance

15,848

2.5

Roche Holdings

Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology

15,836

2.5

Rio Tinto

Mining

14,370

2.2

Assura

Real Estate Investment Trusts

14,364

2.2

Standard Chartered

Banks

13,916

2.2

SSE

Electricity

13,213

2.1

Microsoft

Software & Computer Services

13,195

2.1

Top twenty investments

351,054

54.8

WH Smith

General Retailers

12,889

2.0

Associated British Foods

Food Producers

12,076

1.9

Experian

Support Services

10,915

1.7

Smith & Nephew

Health Care Equipment & Services

10,304

1.6

British American Tobacco

Tobacco

10,011

1.6

Euromoney Institutional Investor

Media

9,999

1.6

Croda International

Chemicals

9,971

1.5

Big Yellow Group

Real Estate Investment Trusts

9,907

1.5

Howden Joinery

Support Services

9,878

1.5

Ashmore Group

Financial Services

9,618

1.5

Top thirty investments

456,622

71.2

Rentokil Initial

Support Services

9,233

1.4

Compass Group

Travel & Leisure

9,222

1.4

Bodycote

Industrial Engineering

9,095

1.4

Telecom Plus

Fixed Line Telecommunications

9,000

1.4

Nestle

Food Producers

8,707

1.4

Kone

Industrial Engineering

8,698

1.4

LondonMetric Property

Real Estate Investment Trusts

8,468

1.3

Novo-Nordisk

Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology

7,455

1.2

VAT Group

Industrial Engineering

7,345

1.2

M&G

Financial Services

6,717

1.1

Top forty investments

540,562

84.4

Telenor

Mobile Telecommunications

6,694

1.1

HSBC Holdings

Banks

6,606

1.0

Convatec

Health Care Equipment & Services

6,572

1.0

Standard Life UK Smaller Companies Trust

Equity Investment Instruments

6,532

1.0

Weir Group

Industrial Engineering

6,415

1.0

Marshalls

Construction & Materials

6,399

1.0

Polypipe

Construction & Materials

5,787

0.9

Mondi

Forestry & Paper

5,399

0.9

Signature Aviation

Industrial Transportation

5,382

0.8

XP Power

Electronic & Electrical Equipment

5,250

0.8

Top fifty investments

601,598

93.9

National Express

Travel & Leisure

5,053

0.8

Diploma

Support Services

4,959

0.8

Workspace Group

Real Estate Investment Trusts

4,728

0.7

Chesnara

Life Assurance

4,614

0.7

Hansteen

Real Estate Investment Trusts

4,538

0.7

Sirius

Real Estate Investment Services

4,290

0.7

Scandinavian Tobacco

Tobacco

4,153

0.6

Mowi

Food Producers

3,217

0.5

Hostelworld

Travel & Leisure

1,926

0.3

Vodafone

Mobile Telecommunications

1,503

0.2

Top sixty investments

640,579

99.9

John Laing

Financial Services

343

0.1

Total investments

640,922

100.0

 

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.
 
END
 
 
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