Quarterly Report • Aug 30, 2022
Quarterly Report
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A high conviction global portfolio designed to deliver a strong and rising income and to grow capital
| Performance Highlights | 1 |
|---|---|
| Financial Calendar and Highlights | 2 |
| Interim Board Report – Chairman's Statement | 4 |
| Interim Board Report – Manager's Review | 6 |
| Interim Board Report - Directors' Disclosures | 9 |
| Ten Largest Investments | 11 |
|---|---|
| Investment Portfolio | 12 |
| Investment Portfolio / Summary of Net Assets | 14 |
| Summary of Investment Changes | 15 |
| Condensed Statement of Comprehensive Income (unaudited) | 16 |
|---|---|
| Condensed Statement of Financial Position (unaudited) | 17 |
| Condensed Statement of Changes in Equity (unaudited) | 18 |
| Condensed Statement of Cash Flows (unaudited) | 19 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements (unaudited) | 20 |
| Alternative Performance Measures | 25 |
| Investor Information | |
| Investor Information | 28 |
"The Board currently intends to pay a dividend for 2022 of no less than the 55.0p per share dividend paid for 2021"
Contact Addresses 31
David Hardie, Chairman
| Net asset value total returnA Six months ended 30 June 2022 +3.8% |
Share price total returnA Six months ended 30 June 2022 +9.5% |
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year ended 31 December 2021 | +14.1% | Year ended 31 December 2021 | +7.2% |
| Reference index total returnB Six months ended 30 June 2022 –10.5% |
Discount to net asset valueA As at 30 June 2022 -1.8% |
||
| Year ended 31 December 2021 | +20.0% | As at 31 December 2021 | -6.8% |
| Ongoing charges ratioA As at 30 June 2022 0.55% |
Net gearingA As at 30 June 2022 11.1% |
||
| As at 31 December 2021 | 0.59% | As at 31 December 2021 | 12.2% |
| A Alternative Performance Measure (see pages 25 to 27). |
B FTSE All World TR Index.
At 31 December – pence (* at 30 June) At 31 December – pence (* at 30 June)
| Payment dates of quarterly dividends | 16 August 2022 18 November 2022 17 February 2023 18 May 2023 |
|---|---|
| Financial year end | 31 December |
| Expected announcement of results for year ending 31 December 2022 |
March 2023 |
| Annual General Meeting (Glasgow) | 21 April 2023 |
| 30 June 2022 | 31 December 2021 | % change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total assets less current liabilities (before deducting prior charges) | £1,775.3m | £1,760.9m | +0.8 |
| Equity shareholders' funds (Net Assets) | £1,575.4m | £1,561.1m | +0.9 |
| Share price - Ordinary share (mid market) | 1,234.0p | 1,156.0p | +6.7A |
| Net Asset Value per Ordinary share | 1,257.0p | 1,240.3p | +1.3A |
| Discount to Net Asset Value per Ordinary shareB | -1.8% | -6.8% | |
| Net gearingB | 11.1% | 12.2% | |
| Ongoing charges ratioB | 0.55% | 0.59% |
A The movement relates to capital only and does not take account of the reinvestment of dividends.
B Considered to be an Alternative Performance Measure. Further details can be found on pages 25 and 26.
"I am pleased to report that, in this challenging environment, the net asset value (NAV) total return, with net income reinvested, for the six months to 30 June 2022 increased by 3.8% compared with a decline of -10.5% for the Company's Reference Index (The FTSE All World TR Index)"
David Hardie, Chairman
Inflation and interest rates dominated the financial backdrop over the period under review. A further surge in energy and food prices as a consequence of the conflict in Ukraine exacerbated inflationary pressures worldwide, leaving Central Banks the unenviable task of having to raise interest rates at a time of slowing growth and rising living costs. Bond yields spiked sharply higher in response to aggressive monetary tightening in the United States as policymakers came under intense scrutiny and political pressure to be seen to be doing something about the highest levels of consumer price inflation for over forty years. Against such an economic backdrop, the investment landscape changed markedly from that which had prevailed for over a decade. The impact of rising bond yields rapidly translated into higher debt servicing costs for consumers and businesses alike. Higher interest rates squeezed liquidity out of financial markets as investors fled from higher risk assets. Escalating input costs and higher wages negatively impacted corporate margins across most industries, with few businesses able to exert pricing power in fiercely competitive markets. The period proved exceedingly challenging for investors with virtually all broad asset classes declining in value over the six months.
I am pleased to report that, in this challenging environment, the net asset value (NAV) total return, with net income reinvested, for the six months to 30 June 2022 increased by 3.8% compared with a decline of -10.5% for the Company's Reference Index (The FTSE All World TR Index). Over the six month period, the share price total return increased by 9.5%, reflecting a narrowing of the discount at which the shares traded to the NAV. The Manager's Review on pages 6 to 8 contains more information about both the drivers of performance in the period and the portfolio changes effected.
Two interim dividends of 12.0p (2021: 12.0p) have been declared in respect of the period to 30 June 2022. The first interim dividend is payable on 16 August 2022 to shareholders on the register on 8 July 2022 and the second interim dividend will be paid on 18 November 2022 to shareholders on the register on 7 October 2022. As stated previously, the Board intends to maintain a progressive dividend policy given the Company's investment objective. This means that in some years revenue will be added to reserves while, in others, revenue
may be taken from reserves to supplement earned revenue for that year to pay the annual dividend. Shareholders should not be surprised or concerned by either outcome as, over time, the Company will aim to pay out what the underlying portfolio earns. The Board currently intends to pay a dividend for 2022 of no less than the 55.0p per share dividend paid for 2021. If necessary, the Board will again consider using some of the significant revenue reserves built up over prior years for occasions such as the current pandemic. The earnings from portfolio companies have continued to recover and, at the end of June 2022, the Balance Sheet revenue reserves amounted to £63.3m (June 2021: £58.2m).
At the Annual General Meeting held on 22 April 2022, all resolutions were duly passed by shareholders. Following two years of closed AGMs necessitated by the Covid-19 pandemic, it was pleasing to see such a good turnout and for the Board finally to be able, once again, to meet, to speak to and to hear from shareholders in person. During the period, we were also able to communicate with a significant number of existing and prospective shareholders via an Online Shareholder Presentation held in April 2022. Given the significant turnout at the online event and excellent level of interaction, this is something that the Board will aim to repeat again in 2023.
The Board continues to believe that it is appropriate to seek to address temporary imbalances of supply and demand for the Company's shares which might otherwise result in a recurring material discount or premium. Subject to existing shareholder permissions (given at the last AGM) and prevailing market conditions over time, the Board intends to continue to buy back shares and issue new shares (or sell shares from Treasury) if shares trade at a persistent significant discount to NAV (excluding income) or premium to NAV (including income). The Board believes that this process is in all shareholders' interests as it seeks to reduce volatility in the premium or discount to underlying NAV whilst also making a small positive contribution to the NAV. During the period under review, the Company has purchased for Treasury 528,233 Ordinary shares at a discount to the underlying exclusive of income NAV. At the latest practicable date, the NAV (excluding income) per share was 1238.5p and the share price was 1239.0p equating to a premium of 0.04% per Ordinary share.
In May 2022, the Company utilised part of its £200m Shelf Facility, of which £50m had already been drawn down, through the issue of a £60 million 15 year Senior Unsecured Loan Note (the "Loan Note") at an annualised fixed interest rate of 2.83%. The Loan Note is unsecured, unlisted and denominated in sterling. The Loan Note ranks pari passu with the Company's other unsecured and unsubordinated financial indebtedness. The Company used the proceeds of the Loan Note to repay, and cancel in full, the Company's £60 million Fixed Rate Loan with The Royal Bank of Scotland International Limited, which matured on 31 May 2022. Following the drawdown and repayment, the Company's total borrowings remain at £200m, which represents a net gearing level of 11.1% based on the Company's NAV at 30 June 2022.
The Board continues to focus upon delivering value to shareholders. During the review period the OCR has again fallen, from 0.59% to 0.55%, reflecting a modest increase in net assets over the period combined with the impact of the Board's continuing focus on reducing administrative expenses. A full breakdown of the OCR calculation is provided on page 26.
As part of the Board's succession planning, on 22 June 2022 we welcomed Ms Virginia Holmes to the Board as an independent non-executive Director. Virginia is the former CEO of AXA Investment Management Limited and brings significant listed company experience and investment expertise to the Board. She is currently Chair of Trustees at the Unilever Pension Fund, Senior Independent Director at Syncona plc and European Opportunities Trust plc and a non executive director of Intermediate Capital Group plc.
The world is in flux, with more unanswered questions shaping the future than for many a year. Will the trend of globalisation be reversed in an increasingly fractious political world, how long will inflation persist and how high will interest rates rise, will energy start being rationed, how deep will economic recessions be, how long before credit quality deteriorates? Negotiating the unchartered and unpredictable path through such a turbulent financial landscape is unlikely to be smooth. However, the strategy of owning quality businesses, real assets and a diversified portfolio has served shareholders well in the past and remains the preferred option for the present.
Shareholders' views are very important to the Board and I encourage you to email me if you have feedback on the Company at [email protected].
David Hardie Chairman 11 August 2022
Seldom have economic and financial conditions deteriorated as rapidly as those that evolved over the first six months of 2022. The barbaric Russian invasion of Ukraine dominated the headlines, adding additional humanitarian, economic and political challenges to a world still plagued by problems from a global pandemic.
Continuing lockdowns, supply chain disruptions and widespread shortages combined with upward pressure on wages created a seismic shift in global inflationary dynamics. Central Banks belatedly began to aggressively raise interest rates, their delusional expectations for just "temporary" then "transitory" inflation exposed as woefully inadequate for the negative emerging environment. As numerous global equity and bond markets succumbed to the general liquidity squeeze, identifying pressure points of distress proved painfully straightforward. Growth, inflation, interest rates, corporate profits, incomes and living standards all meaningfully deteriorated in terms of being supportive of prosperity. Yet perhaps most corrosive of all was the tangible change in sentiment. What became crystal clear throughout this turbulent period was an increasingly grudging realisation that there are no easy solutions to issues such as wage inflation, war in Ukraine, wanton interest rate policy, recession risks and the cost of living crisis. For the first time in well over a decade, certainly as regards financial markets, such prevailing pessimism manifested itself in selling into strength rather than buying into weakness. Against such a backdrop, capital destruction was likely to be ubiquitous, and so it proved.
The enforcement of zero Covid policy in China proved problematic beyond just the domestic boundaries of Asia's largest economy. Manufacturing integration throughout the region was periodically crippled by complete lockdowns in cities such as Shanghai, aggravating global shortages in numerous electronic components and constraining corporate profitability of several companies dependent on Asia for sourcing.
Financial markets constantly fretted over the stop-start growth trajectory of Asia's pandemic recovery path, a prevailing concern that constrained the region's equity market returns over the period. Widespread selling of global technology was reflected in weakness in portfolio holdings such as Taiwan Semiconductor, GlobalWafers and Samsung Electronics, where, despite very attractive longer term fundamentals, fears over global recession impacted short term performance. Greater resilience was witnessed in defensive Telecommunication holdings such as Singapore Telecom, Telekom Indonesia andTaiwan Mobile where strong cash flow dynamics and above average dividend yields became increasingly attractive to global investors. Notable areas of strength tended to be stock specific, with BHP Billiton in Australia, Hon Hai Precision in Taiwan and China Resources Land all delivering positive capital and dividend growth. Profit taking at the beginning of the period from large positions in Global Wafers and Taiwan Semiconductor meant no additional investment was added to Asia over the six months but, with strong balance sheets, the prospects of solid dividend growth and attractive absolute valuations, the current weighting to the region will be maintained.
As broad measures of inflation moved towards double figures for the first time in over forty years, the US Monetary Authorities arguably faced the greatest chasm between perceptions and reality that has existed for many a year. The grotesque distortion created by quantitative easing (printing money) in response to each and every financial crisis over the past twenty years caused prevailing artificially low bond yields and inflated equity prices ill-equipped to deal with the economic disequilibrium that invariably accompanies inflation. The Pavlovian collapse in financial asset prices to the inevitable interest rate hikes was as predictable as it was destructive. Such overall market carnage was not reflected in portfolio returns, a +13.6% positive total return from the 25% exposure a product of defensive and diversified positioning. Canadian pipeline operators TC Energy and Enbridge were standout performers against a backdrop of rising energy prices and relatively inelastic gas demand. Exposures to global healthcare companies Johnson & Johnson, Abbvie and Bristol Myers also delivered solid double digit aggregate total returns, accompanied by strong dividend growth underlining their respective strengths in cash flows and balance sheets. Stable totalreturning Telecommunication holdings in Verizon and Telus justified their portfolio inclusions, as did CME Group from which profits were top sliced during the period. The only meaningful weakness was recorded from Technology holdings in Cisco Systems and Broadcom where there was no hiding from the general global revulsion towards the sector. During the period under review, three holdings were sold outright on extended valuation grounds: divestment of Pepsico reflected increasing concerns over margin sustainability as input costs surged higher; the position in Nutrien was sold outright as potash supply constraints from sanctions were deemed to be more than discounted in the company's rich valuation; and Schlumberger was fully divested as its stock price also detached from near term realities within the energy service sector.
As the epicentre of Russian hostilities towards Ukraine and in closest proximity to sanction-induced energy supply shocks, Europe felt the full brunt of surging commodity prices. The gravity of ongoing unfolding events should not be over-emphasised, with numerous as yet unquantifiable consequences for the European economic and political landscape. During what proved a turbulent time for the region's financial markets, numerous periods of heightened market volatility provided opportunity to add to existing European holdings plus initiate exposures in quality businesses that were being monitored. Consequently, the largest change to overall net exposure (+4%) proved to be in Europe. Using funds from cash and some Emerging Bond sales, existing positions in Zurich Financial and Nordea were increased, whilst new positions in Dutch semi-conductor assembly equipment manufacturer BE Semiconductor, leading German industrial Siemens and French food processor Danone were all initiated.
Performance from exposure to the region was not unexpectedly muted, with weakness in high quality industrial holdings Atlas Copco andEpiroc reflecting growing recessionary fears rather than any specific company issues. Not surprisingly given the diversification inherent in current European exposure, stronger performance came from eclectic sources, notably French energy stalwartTotalEnergies, Danish insurance company Tryg, French pharmaceutical Sanofi, and the aforementioned Zurich Financial recovered strongly to end the period with positive total returns.
As befits one of the world's most overlooked equity regions, the 12% exposure to six high quality Latin American companies delivered way in excess of what conventional wisdom might have expected. Perhaps preemptive interest rate hikes last year and the region's inflationary heritage may have dampened global investors' enthusiasm, but the +24.1% total return from portfolio holdings yet again emphasised the benefits of true diversification. Performance from leading global lithium producer Soquimich proved exceptional, prompting further profit taking in what still remains a meaningful position. Mexican airport operator Grupo Asur continued to benefit from record passenger volumes through its airports in Cancun, Cozumel and Colombia, prompting higher than expected cash flows and larger than expected dividends. In Brazil, Telefonica and Banco Bradesco embraced the prevailing 13% interest rate to pass through price increases and fatten lending margins respectively, displaying operational dexterity honed from years of practice managing businesses during periods of higher inflation. Such skills may prove increasingly "transferrable" to the Developed World should current economic circumstances prevail. Existing exposure in Latin America is likely to be maintained around existing levels, with the prospects of improving profits, robust dividends and potential interest rate cuts on the horizon.
The schizophrenic nature of supposedly rational financial markets is nothing new to seasoned investors. History is littered with protracted periods where financial markets unreservedly "believe" in something right up until the point where "perception" changes and then suddenly they don't. Perception becomes reality regardless of what the reality actually is. The current interpretation of inflation is reflective of such a subjective change.
Over the past fifteen to twenty years, "inflation" has been omnipresent in financial markets yet consistently viewed positively by consensus, up until now. Inflating liquidity through quantitative easing was welcomed by markets as a policy option to deal with economic crisis. Inflating government balance sheets of the Developed World from \$5 trillion fifteen years ago to \$35 trillion today was embraced as a necessary consequence. Inflating Government Bond prices to levels that produced "irrational" negative bond yields was generally viewed as acceptable, despite clear concerns over financial repression. Inflating equity market multiples of unprofitable, cash burning companies was positively argued as evidence of superior, future growth. Inflating property prices to unsustainably high ratios of income affordability in all but a zero interest rate environment, was generally viewed as positive "wealth" creation. Inflating expectations to the point where markets became totally dependent on such a toxic cocktail of distorted reality was probably the most dangerous "inflation" of all. Yet, throughout this long period of inflation, those responsible for managing "price stability" were complicit in managing "market prices" and, thereby, in stoking the flames of future price instability once perceptions inevitably changed. The recent emergence of rampant price and wage inflation leaves those Central Banks responsible for such broader inflation of the past twenty years devoid of any credibility whatsoever. With only limited policy options now at their disposal, the world waits to see if they tighten too much and cause recession or tighten too little and watch inflation spiral out of control.
Against such a backdrop, the investment environment is likely to remain extremely challenging. In addition to "traditional" inflation of prices and wages, the Covid pandemic, war in Ukraine and climate change is prompting companies and governments to scrutinise global linkages for resilience, security and sustainability. The halcyon days of globalisation may well be over, suggesting a return to increasing market rigidity with less focus on just sourcing the cheapest possible price. The portfolio remains focused on geographical and sector diversification, real assets and quality balance sheets for an increasingly opaque outlook where financial risk remains fraught with uncertainty.
Bruce Stout Senior Investment Director
Martin Connaghan, Investment Director
Aberdeen Asset Managers Limited 11 August 2022
Samantha Fitzpatrick, Investment Director
The Board has approved a matrix of the key risks that, in its assessment, affect the business. The major financial risks associated with the Company are detailed in note 18 of the 2021 Annual Report and the other principal risks are summarised below. These risks represent the principal risks anticipated for the remaining six months of the year. They can be summarised into the following categories:
Details of the management of the risks and the Company's internal controls are disclosed on pages 37 to 39 of the 2021 Annual Report.
The Board also has a process in place to identify emerging risks. If any of these are deemed to be significant, these risks are categorised, rated and added to the Company's risk matrix.
The Board has reviewed the risks related to the Covid-19 pandemic and the on-going War in Ukraine and the resultant disruption to world markets and increased geopolitical uncertainty. However, the Board notes the Manager's robust and disciplined investment process which continues to focus on long-term company fundamentals including balance sheet strength and deliverability of sustainable earnings growth. The Board, through the Manager, closely monitors all third party service arrangements and has not suffered any interruption to service. The Board therefore believes that the Manager and all other key third party service providers have in place appropriate business interruption plans and are able to maintain their service levels to the Company.
abrdn Fund Managers Limited (aFML) (formerly Aberdeen Standard Fund Managers Limited), a wholly owned subsidiary of abrdn plc acts as Alternative Investment Fund Manager, AAM acts as Investment Manager and Aberdeen Asset Management PLC acts as Company Secretary to the Company; details of the service and fee arrangements can be found in the 2021 Annual Report, a copy of which is available on the Company's website. Details of the transactions with the Manager including the fees payable to abrdn plc group companies are disclosed in note 11 of this Half Yearly Report.
In accordance with the Financial Reporting Council's Guidance on Risk Management, Internal Control and Related Financial and Business Reporting, the Directors have undertaken a rigorous review and consider that there are no material uncertainties and that the adoption of the going concern basis of accounting is appropriate. This review included the additional risks relating to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and the on-going War in Ukraine. The Company's assets consist of a diverse portfolio of listed equities and bonds and the portfolio in most circumstances is realisable within a very short timescale. The Directors believe that the Company has adequate financial resources to continue its operational existence for the foreseeable future and at least 12 months from the date of this Half Yearly Report. Accordingly, the Directors continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing these financial statements.
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 Half Yearly Financial Report for the six months ended 30 June 2022 comprises the Half Yearly Board Report, the Directors' Responsibility Statement and a condensed set of Financial Statements.
For and on behalf of the Board of Murray International Trust PLC
Chairman 11 August 2022
Grupo Aeroporto del Sureste operates airports in Mexico. The company holds long-term concessions to manage airports in leading tourist resorts and major cities.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing is one of the largest integrated circuit manufacturers in the world. The company is involved in component design, manufacturing, assembly, testing and mass production of integrated circuits.
AbbVie Inc is a global pharmaceutical company, producing a broad range of drugs for use in speciality therapeutic areas such as immunology, chronic kidney disease, oncology and
Holding: 3.3% Holding: 3.3%
Spun out from the Altria Group in 2008, Philip Morris International is one of the world's leading global tobacco companies. It manufactures and sells leading recognisable brands such as Marlboro, Parliament and Virginia Slims.
Holding: 2.9% Holding: 2.7%
Based in Chicago, USA CME Group operates a derivatives exchange that trades futures contracts and options, interest rates, stock indexes, foreign exchange and commodities.
TotalEnergies operates as a fully integrated energy company. In addition to producing, transporting and distributing crude oil and natural gas, the company generates low carbon electricity and refines petrochemicals.
Verizon Communications is an integrated telecommunications company based in New York that provides wire line voice and data services, wireless services, internet services and published directory information.
neuroscience.
Unilever is a multinational consumer goods group which is focused in the areas of home care, beauty & personal care and food products.
Broadcom designs, develops and markets digital and analogue semiconductors worldwide. The company offers wireless components, storage adaptors, networking processors, switches, fibre optic modules and optical sensors.
"Soquimich" produces and markets speciality fertilizers including potassium nitrate, sodium nitrate and potassium sulfate for the agricultural industry. The company also produces industrial chemicals, most notably iodine and lithium.
| Security | Country | Valuation £'000 |
Valuation % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aeroporto del Sureste | Mexico | 74,100 | 4.3 |
| Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing | Taiwan | 59,319 | 3.4 |
| Philip Morris International | USA | 56,936 | 3.3 |
| AbbVie | USA | 56,866 | 3.3 |
| CME Group | USA | 50,566 | 2.9 |
| Broadcom Corporation | USA | 48,027 | 2.7 |
| TotalEnergies | France | 43,352 | 2.5 |
| UnileverA | UK & Netherlands | 42,832 | 2.5 |
| Verizon Communications | USA | 41,797 | 2.4 |
| Sociedad Quimica Y Minera De Chile | Chile | 41,258 | 2.4 |
| Top ten investments | 515,053 | 29.7 | |
| Bristol-Myers Squibb | USA | 41,250 | 2.4 |
| Oversea-Chinese Bank | Singapore | 40,434 | 2.3 |
| British American Tobacco | UK | 38,714 | 2.2 |
| Telus | Canada | 36,589 | 2.1 |
| Hon Hai Precision Industry | Taiwan | 36,223 | 2.1 |
| Tryg | Denmark | 35,969 | 2.1 |
| Zurich Insurance | Switzerland | 35,703 | 2.1 |
| Taiwan Mobile | Taiwan | 34,395 | 2.0 |
| Samsung Electronics | Korea | 33,134 | 1.9 |
| BHP Group | Australia | 32,158 | 1.8 |
| Top twenty investments | 879,622 | 50.7 | |
| Vale do Rio Doce | Brazil | 32,074 | 1.8 |
| GlobalWafers | Taiwan | 31,363 | 1.8 |
| TC Energy | Canada | 29,701 | 1.7 |
| Johnson & Johnson | USA | 29,291 | 1.7 |
| Sanofi | France | 29,027 | 1.7 |
| Shell | UK | 29,022 | 1.7 |
| Cisco Systems | USA | 28,095 | 1.6 |
| Roche Holdings | Switzerland | 27,394 | 1.6 |
| Singapore Telecommunications | Singapore | 26,944 | 1.6 |
| China Resources Land | China | 26,884 | 1.5 |
| Top thirty investments | 1,169,417 | 67.4 |
AHolding comprises UK and Netherlands securities, split £22,326,000 and £20,506,000 respectively.
| Security | Country | Valuation £'000 |
Valuation % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Telkom Indonesia | Indonesia | 26,531 | 1.5 |
| Enbridge | Canada | 25,991 | 1.5 |
| Woodside Energy | Australia | 25,224 | 1.5 |
| Banco Bradesco | Brazil | 23,081 | 1.3 |
| Danone | France | 22,916 | 1.3 |
| China Vanke | China | 22,739 | 1.3 |
| Kimberly Clark de Mexico | Mexico | 22,243 | 1.3 |
| Epiroc | Sweden | 22,073 | 1.3 |
| Nordea Bank | Sweden | 21,638 | 1.3 |
| SCB | Thailand | 21,485 | 1.2 |
| Top forty investments | 1,403,338 | 80.9 | |
| Atlas Copco | Sweden | 20,512 | 1.2 |
| Ping An Insurance | China | 20,154 | 1.2 |
| Enel | Italy | 17,974 | 1.0 |
| BE Semiconductor | Netherlands | 17,765 | 1.0 |
| Telefonica Brasil | Brazil | 16,916 | 1.0 |
| Siemens | Germany | 16,749 | 1.0 |
| Telenor | Norway | 16,377 | 1.0 |
| Republic of Indonesia 6.125% 15/05/28 | Indonesia | 16,158 | 0.9 |
| America Movil Sab De 6.45% 05/12/22 | Mexico | 16,058 | 0.9 |
| Lotus Retail Growth | Thailand | 15,837 | 0.9 |
| Top fifty investments | 1,577,838 | 91.0 | |
| Republic of South Africa 7% 28/02/31 | South Africa | 15,803 | 0.9 |
| Castrol India | India | 15,072 | 0.9 |
| United Mexican States 5.75% 05/03/26 | Mexico | 14,509 | 0.8 |
| MTN | South Africa | 13,273 | 0.7 |
| Republic of Indonesia 8.375% 15/03/34 | Indonesia | 11,763 | 0.7 |
| Vodafone Group | UK | 11,398 | 0.7 |
| Indocement Tunggal Prakarsa | Indonesia | 10,474 | 0.6 |
| Petroleos Mexicanos 6.75% 21/09/47 | Mexico | 10,087 | 0.6 |
| Republic of Dominica 6.85% 27/01/45 | Dominican Republic | 9,818 | 0.5 |
| HDFC Bank 7.95% 21/09/26 | India | 7,881 | 0.5 |
| Top sixty investments | 1,697,916 | 97.9 |
| Valuation | Valuation | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Security | Country | £'000 | % |
| Power Finance Corp 7.63% 14/08/26 | India | 7,836 | 0.4 |
| Petroleos Mexicanos 5.5% 27/06/44 | Mexico | 5,617 | 0.3 |
| Republic of Indonesia 10% 15/02/28 | Indonesia | 4,736 | 0.3 |
| Santander 10.375% Non Cum Pref | UK | 3,404 | 0.2 |
| General Accident 7.875% Cum Irred Pref | UK | 3,052 | 0.2 |
| Republic of Turkey 9% 24/07/24 | Turkey | 2,918 | 0.2 |
| Republic of Turkey 8% 12/03/25 | Turkey | 2,845 | 0.2 |
| Republic of Ecuador 0.5% 31/07/35 | Ecuador | 2,619 | 0.2 |
| Republic of Ecuador 0.5% 31/07/30 | Ecuador | 2,103 | 0.1 |
| Republic of Ecuador 0.5% 31/07/40 | Ecuador | 528 | – |
| Top seventy investments | 1,733,574 | 100.0 | |
| Republic of Ecuador 0.0% 31/07/30 | Ecuador | 209 | – |
| Total investments | 1,733,783 | 100.0 |
| Valuation 30 June 2022 |
Valuation 31 December 2021 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £'000 | % | £'000 | % | ||
| Equities | 1,595,839 | 101.3 | 1,590,833 | 101.9 | |
| Preference shares | 6,456 | 0.4 | 7,637 | 0.5 | |
| Bonds | 131,488 | 8.4 | 140,842 | 9.0 | |
| Total investments | 1,733,783 | 110.1 | 1,739,312 | 111.4 | |
| Net current assets | 41,470 | 2.6 | 21,568 | 1.4 | |
| Total assets | 1,775,253 | 112.7 | 1,760,880 | 112.8 | |
| Prior chargesA | (199,841) | (12.7) | (199,814) | (12.8) | |
| Net assets | 1,575,412 | 100.0 | 1,561,066 | 100.0 |
A All short-term and long-term bank loans and loan notes.
| Valuation 31 December 2021 |
Appreciation/ (depreciation) |
Net purchases/ (sales) |
Valuation 30 June 2022 |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £'000 | % | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | % | |
| Equities | ||||||
| UK | 85,872 | 5.0 | 15,588 | – | 101,460 | 5.8 |
| North America | 496,896 | 28.6 | 54,342 | (106,129) | 445,109 | 25.7 |
| Europe ex UK | 304,887 | 17.5 | (40,688) | 83,756 | 347,955 | 20.1 |
| Asia Pacific ex Japan | 503,319 | 28.9 | (34,906) | 9,957 | 478,370 | 27.6 |
| Latin America | 184,065 | 10.6 | 38,020 | (12,413) | 209,672 | 12.1 |
| Africa | 15,794 | 0.9 | (2,521) | – | 13,273 | 0.7 |
| 1,590,833 | 91.5 | 29,835 | (24,829) | 1,595,839 | 92.0 | |
| Preference shares | ||||||
| UK | 7,637 | 0.4 | (1,181) | – | 6,456 | 0.4 |
| 7,637 | 0.4 | (1,181) | – | 6,456 | 0.4 | |
| Bonds | ||||||
| Europe ex UK | 6,023 | 0.4 | (264) | 4 | 5,763 | 0.3 |
| Asia Pacific ex Japan | 52,526 | 3.0 | 191 | (4,343) | 48,374 | 2.8 |
| Latin America | 66,703 | 3.8 | (5,501) | 345 | 61,547 | 3.6 |
| Africa | 15,590 | 0.9 | 82 | 132 | 15,804 | 0.9 |
| 140,842 | 8.1 | (5,492) | (3,862) | 131,488 | 7.6 | |
| Total investments | 1,739,312 | 100.0 | 23,162 | (28,691) | 1,733,783 | 100.0 |
| Six months ended 30 June 2022 |
Six months ended 30 June 2021 |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Note | Revenue £'000 |
Capital £'000 |
Total £'000 |
Revenue £'000 |
Capital £'000 |
Total £'000 |
|
| Gains on investments | – | 23,162 | 23,162 | – | 98,820 | 98,820 | |
| Income | 2 | 45,465 | – | 45,465 | 36,906 | – | 36,906 |
| Investment management fees | 11 | (1,005) | (2,346) | (3,351) | (1,020) | (2,379) | (3,399) |
| Other expenses | (888) | – | (888) | (892) | – | (892) | |
| Currency gains/(losses) | – | 339 | 339 | – | (831) | (831) | |
| Net return before finance costs and taxation | 43,572 | 21,155 | 64,727 | 34,994 | 95,610 | 130,604 | |
| Finance costs | (619) | (1,445) | (2,064) | (562) | (1,313) | (1,875) | |
| Return before taxation | 42,953 | 19,710 | 62,663 | 34,432 | 94,297 | 128,729 | |
| Taxation | 3 | (3,717) | 542 | (3,175) | (3,868) | 427 | (3,441) |
| Return attributable to equity shareholders | 39,236 | 20,252 | 59,488 | 30,564 | 94,724 | 125,288 | |
| Return per Ordinary share (pence) | 5 | 31.28 | 16.15 | 47.43 | 23.81 | 73.78 | 97.59 |
The total column of the Condensed Statement of Comprehensive Income is the profit and loss account of the Company.
All revenue and capital items in the above statement derive from continuing operations.
| 30 June 2022 Note |
As at As at 31 December 2021 £'000 £'000 |
|
|---|---|---|
| Non-current assets | ||
| Investments at fair value through profit or loss | 1,733,783 | 1,739,312 |
| Current assets | ||
| Debtors | 18,587 | 15,377 |
| Cash and short-term deposits | 25,324 | 8,705 |
| 43,911 | 24,082 | |
| Creditors: amounts falling due within one year | ||
| Bank loans | (59,975) | (59,975) |
| Other creditors | (2,441) | (2,514) |
| (62,416) | (62,489) | |
| Net current liabilities | (18,505) | (38,407) |
| Total assets less current liabilities | 1,715,278 | 1,700,905 |
| Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year | ||
| Bank loans | (29,976) | (89,930) |
| 2.24% Senior Unsecured Loan Note 2031 | (49,914) | (49,909) |
| 2.83% Senior Unsecured Loan Note 2037 | (59,976) | – |
| Net assets | 1,575,412 | 1,561,066 |
| Capital and reserves | ||
| Called-up share capital | 32,353 | 32,353 |
| Share premium account | 362,967 | 362,967 |
| Capital redemption reserve | 8,230 8,230 |
|
| Capital reserve | 1,108,576 | 1,094,549 |
| Revenue reserve | 63,286 | 62,967 |
| Equity shareholders' funds | 1,575,412 | 1,561,066 |
| Net asset value per Ordinary share (pence) | 6 1,257.0 |
1,240.3 |
| Share capital £'000 |
Share premium account £'000 |
Capital redemption reserve £'000 |
Capital reserve £'000 |
Revenue reserve £'000 |
Total £'000 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance at 31 December 2021 | 32,353 | 362,967 | 8,230 | 1,094,549 | 62,967 | 1,561,066 |
| Return after taxation | - | - | - | 20,252 | 39,236 | 59,488 |
| Dividends paid (see note 4) | - | - | - | - | (38,917) | (38,917) |
| Buyback of Ordinary shares to Treasury | - | - | - | (6,225) | - | (6,225) |
| Balance at 30 June 2022 | 32,353 | 362,967 | 8,230 | 1,108,576 | 63,286 | 1,575,412 |
| Share capital £'000 |
Share premium account £'000 |
Capital redemption reserve £'000 |
Capital reserve £'000 |
Revenue reserve £'000 |
Total £'000 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance at 31 December 2020 | 32,353 | 362,967 | 8,230 | 991,513 | 66,764 | 1,461,827 |
| Return after taxation | - | - | - | 94,724 | 30,564 | 125,288 |
| Dividends paid (see note 4) | - | - | - | - | (39,161) | (39,161) |
| Issue of new shares | - | - | - | (768) | - | (768) |
| Balance at 30 June 2021 | 32,353 | 362,967 | 8,230 | 1,085,469 | 58,167 | 1,547,186 |
| Six months ended 30 June 2022 |
Six months ended 30 June 2021 |
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Notes | £'000 | £'000 | |
| Net return before finance costs and taxation | 64,727 | 130,604 | |
| Increase in accrued expenses | 19 | 8 | |
| Overseas withholding tax | (6,064) | (4,815) | |
| Increase in accrued income | (869) | (1,110) | |
| Interest paid | (2,106) | (1,676) | |
| Gains on investments | (23,162) | (98,820) | |
| Currency (gains)/losses | (339) | 831 | |
| (Increase)/decrease in other debtors | (60) | 22 | |
| Corporation tax paid | - | (43) | |
| Net cash from operating activities | 32,146 | 25,001 | |
| Investing activities | |||
| Purchases of investments | (116,708) | (124,760) | |
| Sales of investments | 146,008 | 144,078 | |
| Net cash from investing activities | 29,300 | 19,318 | |
| Financing activities | |||
| Equity dividends paid | 4 | (38,917) | (39,161) |
| Buyback of Ordinary shares to Treasury | (6,225) | (768) | |
| Loan repayment | (60,000) | (50,000) | |
| Issue of 2.24% Senior Unsecured Loan Note 2031 | - | 49,894 | |
| Issue of 2.83% Senior Unsecured Loan Note 2037 | 59,976 | - | |
| Net cash used in financing activities | (45,166) | (40,035) | |
| Increase in cash | 16,280 | 4,284 | |
| Analysis of changes in cash during the period | |||
| Opening balance | 8,705 | 3,208 | |
| Effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash held | 339 | (831) | |
| Increase in cash as above | 8 | 16,280 | 4,284 |
| Closing balance | 25,324 | 6,661 |
For the year ended 30 June 2022
The condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 104 (Interim Financial Reporting) and with the Statement of Recommended Practice for 'Financial Statements of Investment Trust Companies and Venture Capital Trusts'. 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. Annual financial statements are prepared under Financial Reporting Standard 102.
The condensed interim financial statements have been prepared using the same accounting policies as the preceding annual financial statements.
| Six months ended 30 June 2022 £'000 |
Six months ended 30 June 2021 £'000 |
|
|---|---|---|
| Income from investments | ||
| UK dividends | 3,732 | 3,186 |
| Overseas dividends | 35,810 | 27,568 |
| Overseas interest | 5,921 | 6,149 |
| 45,463 | 36,903 | |
| Other income | ||
| Deposit interest | 2 | 1 |
| Interest on corporation tax reclaim | - | 2 |
| 2 | 3 | |
| Total income | 45,465 | 36,906 |
The taxation expense 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 31 December 2022 is 19%. This is in line with the current corporation tax rate.
The tax expense represents the sum of tax currently payable and deferred tax. Any tax payable is based on the taxable profit for the year. Taxable profit differs from net return as reported in the Condensed Statement of Comprehensive Income because it excludes items of income or expense that are taxable or deductible in other years and it further excludes items that are never taxable or deductible.
| Six months ended 30 June 2022 £'000 |
Six months ended 30 June 2021 £'000 |
|
|---|---|---|
| Third interim dividend 2021 of 12.0p (2020 – 12.0p) | 15,104 | 15,413 |
| Final dividend 2021 of 19.0p (2020 – 18.5p) | 23,813 | 23,748 |
| 38,917 | 39,161 |
A first interim dividend for 2022 of 12.0p (2021 – 12.0p) will be paid on 16 August 2022 to shareholders on the register on 8 July 2022. The ex-dividend date was 7 July 2022.
A second interim dividend for 2022 of 12.0p (2021 – 12.0p) will be paid on 18 November 2022 to shareholders on the register on 7 October 2022. The ex-dividend date is 6 October 2022.
| Six months ended 30 June 2022 |
Six months ended 30 June 2021 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £'000 | Per Ordinary share (p) | £'000 Per Ordinary share (p) | |||
| Returns are based on the following figures: | |||||
| Revenue return | 39,236 | 31.28 | 30,564 | 23.81 | |
| Capital return | 20,252 | 16.15 | 94,724 | 73.78 | |
| Total return | 59,488 | 47.43 | 125,288 | 97.59 |
| Weighted average number of Ordinary shares | 125,431,887 | 128,384,846 |
|---|---|---|
| -------------------------------------------- | ------------- | ------------- |
The net asset value per share and the net asset value attributable to the Ordinary shares at the period end calculated in accordance with the Articles of Association were as follows:
| As at | As at | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 June 2022 | 31 December 2021 | ||
| Attributable net assets (£'000) | 1,575,412 | 1,561,066 | |
| Number of Ordinary shares in issue (excluding Treasury) | 125,333,623 | 125,861,856 | |
| Net asset value per share (pence) | 1,257.0 | 1,240.3 |
During the period expenses were incurred in acquiring or disposing of investments classified as 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 30 June 2022 £'000 |
Six months ended 30 June 2021 £'000 |
|
|---|---|---|
| Purchases | 137 | 280 |
| Sales | 126 | 154 |
| 263 | 434 |
| At | At | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 December | Currency | Cash | Non-cash | 30 June | |
| 2021 | differences | flows | movements | 2022 | |
| £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | |
| Cash and short term deposits | 8,705 | 339 | 16,280 | - | 25,324 |
| Debt due within one year | (59,975) | - | 60,000 | (60,000) | (59,975) |
| Debt due after more than one year | (139,839) | - | (59,976) | 59,949 | (139,866) |
| (191,109) | 339 | 16,304 | (51) | (174,517) |
| At 31 December 2020 £'000 |
Currency differences £'000 |
Cash flows £'000 |
Non-cash movements £'000 |
At 30 June 2021 £'000 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash and short term deposits | 3,208 | (831) | 4,284 | - | 6,661 |
| Debt due within one year | (50,000) | - | 50,000 | (59,945) | (59,945) |
| Debt due after more than one year | (149,805) | - | (49,894) | 59,894 | (139,805) |
| (196,597) | (831) | 4,390 | (51) | (193,089) |
A statement reconciling the movement in net funds to the net cash flow has not been presented as there are no differences from the above analysis.
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 classifications:
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:
| As at 30 June 2022 | Note | Level 1 £'000 |
Level 2 £'000 |
Level 3 £'000 |
Total £'000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss | |||||
| Quoted equities | a) | 1,595,839 | – | – | 1,595,839 |
| Quoted preference shares | b) | – | 6,456 | – | 6,456 |
| Quoted bonds | b) | – | 131,488 | – | 131,488 |
| Total | 1,595,839 | 137,944 | – | 1,733,783 |
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| As at 31 December 2021 | Note | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 |
| Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss | |||||
| Quoted equities | a) | 1,590,833 | – | – | 1,590,833 |
| Quoted preference shares | b) | – | 7,637 | – | 7,637 |
| Quoted bonds | b) | – | 140,842 | – | 140,842 |
| Total | 1,590,833 | 148,479 | – | 1,739,312 |
Continued
As at 30 June 2022 there were 125,333,623 (31 December 2021 - 125,861,856) Ordinary shares of 25p each in issue. Ordinary shares held in Treasury were 4,078,380 (31 December 2021 3,550,147).
The Company has agreements with abrdn Fund Managers Limited ('aFML' or the 'Manager') for the provision of investment management, secretarial, accounting and administration and promotional activity services.
With effect from 1 January 2022. the management fee has been charged on net assets (i.e. excluding borrowings for investment purposes) averaged over the six previous quarters at a rate of 0.5% per annum up to £500 million, and 0.4% per annum thereafter. Prior to this, the management fee was charged at a rate of 0.5% per annum on net assets up to £1,200 million and 0.425% per annum thereafter. A fee of 1.5% per annum is chargeable on the value of any unlisted investments. The investment management fee is chargeable 30% against revenue and 70% against realised capital reserves. During the period £3,351,000 (30 June 2021 – £3,399,000) of investment management fees was payable to the Manager, with an amount of £1,685,000 (30 June 2021 – £1,700,000) being payable to aFML at the period end.
No fees are charged in the case of investments managed or advised by the abrdn Group. The management agreement may be terminated by either party on the expiry of six months' written notice. On termination the Manager is entitled to receive fees which would otherwise have been due up to that date.
The promotional activities fee is based on a current annual amount of £400,000 (30 June 2021 - £400,000), payable quarterly in arrears. During the period £200,000 (30 June 2021 - £200,000) of fees was payable, with an amount of £100,000 (30 June 2021 - £100,000) being payable to aFML at the period end.
The Company is engaged in a single segment of business, which is to invest in equity securities and debt instruments. All of the Company's activities are interrelated, and each activity is dependent on the others. Accordingly, all significant operating decisions are based on the Company as one segment.
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 31 December 2021 has been extracted from published accounts that have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies and on which the report of the Company's auditor was unqualified and contained no statement under Section 498 (2), (3) or (4) of the Companies Act 2006. The condensed interim financial statements have been prepared using the same accounting policies as contained within the preceding annual financial statements.
The financial information for the six months ended 30 June 2022 and 30 June 2021 has not been audited or reviewed by the Company's auditor.
14. This Half-Yearly Financial Report was approved by the Board on 11 August 2022.
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.
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.
| 30 June 2022 | 31 December 2021 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| NAV per Ordinary share (p) | a | 1,257.0 | 1,240.3 |
| Share price (p) | b | 1,234.0 | 1,156.0 |
| Discount | (b-a)/a | –1.8% | –6.8% |
Net gearing measures the total borrowings less cash and cash equivalents dividend by shareholders' funds, expressed as a percentage. Under AIC reporting guidance cash and cash equivalents includes amounts due to and from brokers at the period end as well as cash and cash equivalents.
| 30 June 2022 | 31 December 2021 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Borrowings (£'000) | a | 199,841 | 199,814 |
| Cash (£'000) | b | 25,324 | 8,705 |
| Amounts due to brokers (£'000) | c | – | – |
| Amounts due from brokers (£'000) | d | – | – |
| Shareholders' funds (£'000) | e | 1,575,412 | 1,561,066 |
| Net gearing | (a-b+c-d)/e | 11.1% | 12.2% |
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 published daily net asset values with debt at fair value throughout the year. The ratio for 30 June 2022 is based on forecast ongoing charges for the year ending 31 December 2022.
| 30 June 2022 | 31 December 2021 | |
|---|---|---|
| Investment management fees (£'000) | 6,748 | 6,953 |
| Administrative expenses (£'000) | 1,844 | 1,752 |
| Less: non-recurring chargesA (£'000) | (27) | (74) |
| Ongoing charges (£'000) | 8,565 | 8,631 |
| Average net assets (£'000) | 1,587,054 | 1,510,301 |
| Ongoing charges ratio (excluding look-through costs) | 0.54% | 0.57% |
| Look-through costsB | 0.01% | 0.02% |
| Ongoing charges ratio (including look-through costs) | 0.55% | 0.59% |
A Professional services comprising new Director recruitment costs and legal fees considered unlikely to recur.
BCalculated in accordance with AIC guidance issued in October 2020 to include the Company's share of costs of holdings in investment companies on a look-through basis.
The ongoing charges ratio provided in the Company's Key Information Document is calculated in line with the PRIIPs regulations, which includes amongst other things, the cost of borrowings and transaction costs.
NAV and share price 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 Reference Index, respectively.
| Share | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Six months ended 30 June 2022 | NAV | price | |
| Opening at 1 January 2022 | a | 1,240.3p | 1,156.0p |
| Closing at 30 June 2022 | b | 1,257.0p | 1,234.0p |
| Price movements | c=(b/a)-1 | 1.3% | 6.7% |
| Dividend reinvestmentA | d | 2.5% | 2.8% |
| Total return | c+d | +3.8% | +9.5% |
| Year ended 31 December 2021 | NAV | Share price |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening at 1 January 2021 | a | 1,138.2p | 1,130.0p |
| Closing at 31 December 2021 | b | 1,240.3p | 1,156.0p |
| Price movements | c=(b/a)-1 | 9.0% | 2.3% |
| Dividend reinvestmentA | d | 5.1% | 4.9% |
| Total return | c+d | +14.1% | +7.2% |
A 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. 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.
For internet users, detailed data on the Company (including price, performance information and a monthly fact sheet) is available from the Company's website (murray-intl.co.uk) and the TrustNet website (trustnet.co.uk). Alternatively you can call 0808 500 0040 (free when dialling from a UK landline) for investment company information.
LinkedIn: abrdn Investment Trusts
The Board has been made aware by the Manager that some investors have received telephone calls from people purporting to work for the Manager, or third parties, who have offered to buy their investment trust shares. These may be scams which attempt to gain personal information with which to commit identity fraud or could be 'boiler room' scams where a payment from an investor is required to release the supposed payment for their shares. These callers do not work for the Manager and any third party making such offers has no link with the Manager. The Manager never makes these types of offers and does not 'cold-call' investors in this way. If investors have any doubt over the veracity of a caller, they should not offer any personal information, end the call and contact the Manager's investor services centre using the details provided below.
The annual tax-free personal allowance on dividend income is £2,000 for the 2022/2023 tax year. Above this amount, individuals will pay tax on their dividend income at a rate dependent on their income tax bracket and personal circumstances. The Company will provide registered shareholders with a confirmation of dividends paid by the Company and this should be included with any other dividend income received when calculating and reporting to HMRC total dividend income received. It is the shareholder's responsibility to include all dividend income when calculating any tax liability.
Investors can buy and sell shares in the Company directly through a stockbroker or indirectly through a lawyer, accountant or other professional adviser. Alternatively, for retail clients, shares can be bought directly through the abrdn Investment Plan for Children, abrdn Investment Trusts ISA and abrdn Share Plan.
abrdn runs an Investment Plan for Children (the "Children's Plan") which covers a number of investment companies under its management including the Company. Anyone can invest in the Children's Plan, including parents, grandparents and family friends (subject to the eligibility criteria as stated within the terms and conditions). All investments are free of dealing charges on the initial purchase of shares, although investors will suffer the bidoffer spread, which can, on some occasions, be a significant amount. Lump sum investments start at £150 per trust, while regular savers may invest from £30 per month. Investors simply pay Government Stamp Duty (currently 0.5%) on all purchases. Selling costs are £10 + VAT. There is no restriction on how long an investor need invest in the Children's Plan, and regular savers can stop or suspend participation by instructing abrdn in writing at any time. In common with other schemes of this type, all investments are held in nominee accounts. Investors have full voting and other rights of share ownership.
abrdn runs a Share Plan (the "Plan") through which shares in the Company can be purchased. There are no dealing charges on the initial purchase of shares, although investors will suffer the bid-offer spread, which can, on some occasions, be a significant amount. Lump sum investments start at £250, while regular savers may invest from £100 per month. Investors simply pay Government Stamp Duty (currently 0.5%). Selling costs are £10 + VAT. There is no restriction on how long an investor need invest in a Plan, and regular savers can stop or suspend participation by instructing abrdn in writing at any time. In common with other schemes of this type, all investments are held in nominee accounts. Investors have full voting and other rights of share ownership.
An investment of up to £20,000 can be made in the tax year 2022/2023. The annual ISA administration charge is £24 + VAT, calculated annually and applied on 31 March (or the last business day in March) and collected soon thereafter either by direct debit or, if there is no valid direct debit mandate in place, from the available cash in the Plan prior to the distribution or reinvestment of any income, or, where there is insufficient cash in the Plan, from the sale of investments held in the Plan. Investors have full voting and other rights of share ownership. Under current legislation, investments in ISAs can grow free of capital gains tax.
You can choose to transfer previous tax year investments to abrdn which can then be invested in the Company while retaining your ISA wrapper. The minimum lump sum for an ISA transfer is £1,000, subject to a minimum per trust of £250.
In the event of queries regarding their holdings of shares, lost certificates dividend payments, registered details, etc shareholders holding their shares in the Company directly should contact the registrars, Link Asset Services at 10th Floor, Central Square, 29 Wellington Street, Leeds LS1 4DL Tel: 0371 664 0300 (lines are open 9.00am-5.30pm Mon-Fri). Calls may be recorded and monitored randomly for security and training purposes. Changes of address must be notified to the registrars in writing.
Any general enquiries about the Company should be directed to the Company Secretary, Murray International Trust PLC, 1 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 2LL or by email [email protected].
If you have any questions about an investment held through the abrdn Share Plan, abrdn Investment Trusts ISA or abrdn Investment Plan for Children, please telephone the Manager's Customer Services Department on 0808 500 0040. Alternatively, email [email protected] or write to abrdn Investment Trusts, PO Box 11020, Chelmsford, Essex CM99 2DB.
For literature and application forms for the Company and the abrdn range of investment trust products, please telephone: 0808 500 4000. For information on the abrdn Investment Plan for Children, abrdn Share Plan, abrdn Investment Trusts ISA or an ISA Transfer to abrdn please write to abrdn Investment Trust Administration, PO Box 11020, Chelmsford, Essex, CM99 2DB or telephone the Manager's Customer Services Department on 0808 500 00 40 (free from a UK landline). Terms and conditions for the abrdn managed savings products can be found under the literature section of invtrusts.co.uk.
The KID relating to the Company and published by the Manager can be found in the 'Literature Library' section of the Company's website: murray-intl.co.uk.
There are a number of online dealing platforms for private investors that offer share dealing, ISAs and other means to invest in the Company. Real-time execution-only stockbroking services allow you to trade online, manage your portfolio and buy UK listed shares. These sites do not give advice. Some comparison websites also look at dealing rates and terms. Some well-known online providers, which can be found through internet search engines, include: AJ Bell Youinvest; Barclays Smart Investor; Charles Stanley Direct; Fidelity; Halifax; Hargreaves Lansdown; Interactive Investor; Novia; Transact; and, Standard Life.
If you have a large sum to invest, you may wish to contact a discretionary private client stockbroker. They can manage your entire portfolio of shares and will advise you on your investments. To find a private client stockbroker visit The Personal Investment Management and Financial Advice Association at pimfa.co.uk.
To find an adviser who recommends on investment trusts, visit unbiased.co.uk.
Before approaching a stockbroker, always check that they are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority:
Tel: 0800 111 6768 or at https://register.fca.org.uk/ or email: [email protected]
Continued
The Company's securities are intended for investors primarily in the UK (including retail investors), professionaladvised private clients and institutional investors who are wanting to benefit from the growth prospects of global companies by investment in a relatively risk averse investment trust and who understand and are willing to accept the risks of exposure to equities. Investors should consider consulting a financial adviser who specialises in advising on the acquisition of shares and other securities before acquiring shares. Investors should be capable of evaluating the risks and merits of such an investment and should have sufficient resources to bear any loss that may result.
The Company currently conducts its affairs so that its securities can be recommended by a financial adviser to ordinary retail investors in accordance with the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) rules in relation to nonmainstream pooled investments (NMPIs) and intends to continue to do so for the foreseeable future. The Company's shares are excluded from the FCA's restrictions which apply to non-mainstream investment products because they are shares in an investment trust.
Please remember that past performance is not a guide to the future. Stock market and currency movements may cause the value of shares and the income from them to fall as well as rise and investors may not get back the amount they originally invested. As with all equity investments, the value of investment trusts purchased will immediately be reduced by the difference between the buying and selling prices of the shares, the market maker's spread. Investors should further bear in mind that the value of any tax relief will depend on the individual circumstances of the investor and that tax rates and reliefs, as well as the tax treatment of ISAs may be changed by future legislation.
The information above is issued and has been approved for the purposes of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 by Aberdeen Asset Managers Limited, Bow Bells House, 1 Bread Street, London EC4M 9HH which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
D Hardie (Chairman) C Binyon V Holmes (appointed 22 June 2022) A J Mackesy (Senior Independent Director) N Melhuish
Aberdeen Asset Management PLC 1 George Street Edinburgh EH2 2LL
Company Number SC006705
The Chairman, the Senior Independent Director and the Company Secretary in writing at the registered office of the Company or by email at:
Chairman: [email protected]
Company Secretary: [email protected]
Aberdeen Asset Managers Limited
Customer Services Department: 0500 00 00 40 (free when dialling from a UK landline)
abrdn Fund Managers Limited Bow Bells House 1 Bread Street London EC4M 9HH
Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited 150 Cheapside London EC2V 6ET
Link Group 10th Floor, Central Square 29 Wellington Street Leeds LS1 4DL
Tel: 0371 664 0300 (lines are open 9.00am-5.30pm Mon-Fri) Tel International: (+44 208 639 3399) e-mail: [email protected] Share portal: signalshares.com
The Bank of New York Mellon (International) Limited 1 Canada Square London E14 5AL
BDO LLP 55 Baker Street London W1U 7EU
Murray International Trust PLC (the "Company") is an investment trust whose shares are traded on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE Actuaries All-Share Index. Its Ordinary shares are listed on the premium segment of the London Stock Exchange. Some 25,000 of its shareholders are private investors. The Company offers the advantage of exposure to world markets by being invested in a diversified portfolio of international equities and fixed income securities.
The aim of the Company is to achieve an above average dividend yield, with long term growth in dividends and capital ahead of inflation, by investing principally in global equities.
The Company does not have a benchmark. Performance is reviewed against a reference index, the FTSE All World TR Index (the "Reference Index"). The constituents of the Reference Index do not closely match those of the Company's portfolio and so performance is likely to diverge. Performance prior to 27 April 2020 was measured against a composite Benchmark Index (40% of the FTSE World UK Index and 60% of the FTSE World ex-UK Index) up to 27 April 2020 and the FTSE All World TR Index thereafter.
The Company's Manager is abrdn Fund Managers Limited ("aFML", the "AIFM" or the "Manager") which has delegated the investment management of the Company to Aberdeen Asset Managers Limited ("AAML" or the "Investment Manager"). Both companies are wholly owned subsidiaries of abrdn plc.
Shareholders who hold their shares on the Company's main register administered by Link Registrars may elect to receive all shareholder communications electronically. In order to instruct this, registered shareholders should contact Link Registrars, using the details on page 31.
Your Board strongly encourages shareholders to adopt electronic communications in order to reduce costs and lessen the environmental impact.
For more information visit murray-intl.co.uk
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