Quarterly Report • Jan 31, 2018
Quarterly Report
Open in ViewerOpens in native device viewer
Half-Yearly report for the 6 months ended 31 January 2018
TAKE THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED WITH SOMEBODY WHO KNOWS IT WELL
The Company's objective is to achieve long term capital growth principally from the stockmarkets of the Asian Region excluding Japan.
Performance for the six months ended 31 January 2018
1 Includes reinvested income
2 The Company's Comparative Index from 1 August 2015. Prior to that date it was the MSCI All Countries Far East ex Japan Index (net) in Sterling terms
3 The NAV per Ordinary Share assuming that all the remaining Subscription Share rights are exercised
Sources: Fidelity and Datastream
Past performance is not a guide to future returns
| 31 January 2018 |
31 July 2017 |
|
|---|---|---|
| Assets | ||
| Gross Asset Exposure1 | £292.0m | £273.7m |
| Total Shareholders' Funds | £284.3m | £280.2m |
| NAV per Ordinary Share | 413.96p | 415.17p |
| Diluted NAV per Ordinary Share2 | 409.06p | 407.77p |
| Gearing/(net cash position)3 | 2.7% | (2.3%) |
| Share Price and Discount Data | ||
| Ordinary Share Price at period end | 384.00p | 386.00p |
| Period high | 394.50p | 405.50p |
| Period low | 369.60p | 309.25p |
| Discount to NAV per Ordinary Share at period end - undiluted | 7.2% | 7.0% |
| Period high | 9.1% | 13.5% |
| Period low | 3.3% | 0.4% |
| Discount to diluted NAV per Ordinary Share at period end | 6.1% | 5.3% |
| Subscription Share Price at period end | 22.50p | 29.50p |
| Results for the six months ended 31 January | 2018 | 2017 |
| Revenue Return per Ordinary Share | 1.71p | 3.53p |
| Capital Return per Ordinary Share | 2.81p | 32.21p |
| Total Return per Ordinary Share | 4.52p | 35.74p |
| Total returns (includes reinvested income) for the six months ended 31 January |
2018 | 2017 |
| NAV per Ordinary Share | +0.9% | +10.2% |
| Ordinary Share price | +0.8% | +17.2% |
| Comparative Index4 | +9.2% | +10.3% |
1 The total exposure of the investment portfolio, including exposure to the investments underlying the derivative instruments
2 The NAV per Ordinary Share assuming that all the remaining Subscription Shares are exercised
3 Gross Asset Exposure less Total Shareholders' Funds expressed as a percentage of Total Shareholders' Funds
4 The Company's Comparative Index is the MSCI All Countries Asia ex Japan Index (net) in Sterling terms
Sources: Fidelity and Datastream Past performance is not a guide to future returns
Over the six-month review period ended 31 January 2018, the Company's net asset value ("NAV") increased by 0.9%, compared with a 9.2% return for the MSCI All Countries Asia ex Japan Index (the Company's Comparative Index) (all figures are in Sterling terms and on a total return basis). The Company's share price increased by 0.8% over the review period.
My investment process is driven by stock selection and generating absolute returns for you, the Company's shareholders. A central pillar of this process is to minimise losses by investing in good businesses that have good balance sheets and buying them at a price that leaves enough margin of safety. These kinds of companies can lag the market in big upswings in investor sentiment such as we have experienced over the past 18 months. As mentioned in the Annual Report, performance over the preceding 12 months had lagged the market primarily due to not owning technology companies, which have been the market darlings. This trend has continued in the last six months as well, although it seems to be reversing in some
cases, such as Hon Hai Precision and Samsung Electronics, which have corrected after their recent gains.
Along with the research team at Fidelity, I am fully focused on owning businesses that can help us compound your money at a reasonable rate over 3-5 years. Six months' performance is therefore only a milestone in that journey and we would advise that it be treated that way. In the last six months, the main losses suffered by the Company were from Power Grid Corporation of India, WPG Holdings and G8 Education as these companies lagged the broader market after recent gains. I see these as temporary losses and have therefore not changed the Company's holdings in these three companies significantly in light of their strong long term earnings growth prospects.
While the Company underperformed its Comparative Index over the last six months, it has outperformed during my tenure as Portfolio Manager and since the change in strategy in 2015 to focus more on small cap companies (see table below).
| Fidelity Asian Values PLC (NAV) |
Comparative Index |
|
|---|---|---|
| Tenure (since 1 Jul 2015) | +56.3 | +51.8 |
| 1 Year | +9.3 | +27.0 |
| 6 Month | +0.9 | +9.2 |
| 3 Month | -0.7 | 3.8 |
Source: Fidelity International. All returns in Sterling terms
| Average Active Weight (%) |
Gain/(Loss) (%) |
Contribution to Relative Returns (%) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Top five companies | |||
| Hon Hai Precision | -1.2 | -24.6 | +0.5 |
| Samsung Electronics | -5.7 | +1.9 | +0.4 |
| Yihai International | +0.3 | +85.5 | +0.2 |
| LT Group | +2.7 | +16.6 | +0.2 |
| Interojo | +1.1 | +29.6 | +0.2 |
| Total | +1.5 | ||
| Bottom five companies | |||
| Tencent Holdings | -6.0 | +36.9 | -1.4 |
| Power Grid Corporation of India | +2.9 | -16.9 | -0.8 |
| Alibaba Group | -4.5 | +22.2 | -0.5 |
| WPG Holdings | +3.0 | -5.1 | -0.4 |
| G8 Education | +1.6 | -15.4 | -0.4 |
| Total | -3.5 |
There are two primary sources of errors in investing – errors of omission, namely companies that we do not own and go up in value (technology stocks such as Tencent Holdings and Alibaba Group shown in the table above), and errors of commission, namely companies we own that go down in value (Power Grid Corporation of India and WPG Holdings shown in the table above). As our objective is to compound absolute returns over time, my primary pre-occupation stays with errors of commission over the medium term. We endeavour to avoid businesses where we can lose a lot of money (such as businesses with high debt, high multiples, unsustainable earnings, poor management teams and fragile business
models), but sometimes the markets choose a different focus and changes happen very rapidly, whereas at other times we may make errors in our analysis and we suffer losses. In such situations, we try our best to stay objective, and if the facts change, we are ready to change our minds and act accordingly.
As mentioned earlier, the Company continues to be managed from an absolute returns perspective. Each company is owned for what it can contribute to returns, irrespective of whether it is a part of an index or not. I actively seek companies with strong competitive advantages,
good management, and try to buy them at a reasonable price. The core to the investment philosophy is the idea that if we lose less money during corrections in the market, we should be able to compound money at higher rates in the longer term. The key to this is to avoid risky companies. Hence, the Company continues to avoid unproven business models, highly geared companies, cyclical businesses on peak margins and stocks trading on high multiples to earnings and/or cash flows. Given that Asia has more than 18,000 listed companies, the opportunity to find hidden gems remains immense.
Having said this, after the markets strong run over the last two years, I do feel the need to be more cautious as many stocks have much less margin of safety today than they had two years ago. Consequently, we have bought some protection in the form of put options.
I feel comfortable with the companies we own today, and the analyst teams at Fidelity continue to strive to find other interesting ideas.
DIRECTORS' REPORTS
Over the long term, I continue to be optimistic on Asia as the economic composition of the region continues to evolve with a more educated work force, more investment in science and productivity, and continued improvement in standards of living. This will continue to generate opportunities for us and I can promise you that the research team at Fidelity, who are amongst the best in the industry, will continue to work hard to take advantage of opportunities as they arise.
Portfolio Manager 20 April 2018
INFORMATION FOR SHAREHOLDERS
The Board would like to inform shareholders that, following Fidelity's announcement in October last year to offer its clients a variable management fee, the Board has accepted a new fee proposal from the Manager. The new model will replace the Company's current tiered fee structure (0.90% of gross assets up to £200 million; 0.85% on gross assets over £200 million). The new fee will reduce the headline base management fee from 0.90% of gross assets to 0.70% of net assets per annum with a +/- 0.20% variation based on performance relative to the Comparative Index. The maximum fee that the Company will pay will be 0.90% of net assets, but if the Company underperforms against the Comparative Index, the overall fee could fall as low as 0.50% of net assets. This new fee arrangement will be effective from 1 August 2018. There will be no change in the investment process as a result of the new fee arrangement.
With effect from 3 January 2018, the MiFID II regulation changed the way that external research is paid for. Previously this research was paid for on a commission basis as part of the costs of transaction, but this is no longer allowed. Fidelity uses external research to access specific technical expertise for the benefit of the portfolio, and the Board is pleased to confirm that Fidelity has agreed to cover these costs under its existing management agreements rather than pass them onto investors. This represents an estimated ongoing saving to the Company of between 0.02% and 0.03% per annum which will be directly reflected in the NAV of the Company. There will be no change in the research capability of the Manager as a result of the change in the payment for external research.
Following the approval of the bonus issue of subscription shares on the basis of one subscription share for every five ordinary shares held by qualifying investors at the Company's Annual General Meeting on 2 December 2016, 1,181,189 ordinary shares of 25 pence were issued on 30 November 2017. This was the first exercise date of the conversion rights attached to the subscription shares. As at the date of this Half-Yearly Report, there are 12,316,033 subscription shares remaining which can be exercised annually in the 25 business days preceding the last business day in November in this year and in 2019. The exercise price is equal to the published NAV of 366.88 pence per ordinary share on 2 December 2016 plus a premium of 4% if exercised this year (381.75 pence) and a premium of 7% if exercised in 2019 (392.75 pence).
Repurchases of ordinary shares and subscription shares are made at the discretion of the Board and within guidelines set by it from time to time and in light of prevailing market conditions. Shares will only be repurchased when it results in an enhancement to the NAV of the ordinary shares for the remaining shareholders. In order to assist in managing the discount, the Board has shareholder approval to hold in Treasury any ordinary shares repurchased by the Company, rather than cancelling them. Any shares held in Treasury would only be re-issued at NAV per share or at a premium to NAV per share. Any subscription shares repurchased would be cancelled.
During the six months to 31 January 2018, no ordinary shares were repurchased for cancellation or for holding in Treasury and no subscription shares were repurchased for cancellation. As at the date of this report no shares have been repurchased.
The Board, with the assistance of the Manager, has developed a risk matrix which, as part of the risk management and internal controls process, identifies the key risks that the Company faces. The Board believes that the principal risks and uncertainties faced by the Company continue to fall in the following categories: market risk; performance risk; discount control risk; gearing risk; derivatives risk; and currency risk. Other risks facing the Company include cybercrime risk; tax and regulatory risk; operational risk (including service providers); and the risk that the continuation vote, when due, may not be approved. Information on each of these risks can be found in the Strategic Report section of the Annual Report for the year ended 31 July 2017. A copy of the Annual Report can be found on the Company's pages of the Manager's website at
These risks and uncertainties have not materially changed during the six months to 31 January 2018 and are equally applicable to the remaining six months of the Company's financial year.
FIL Investment Services (UK) Limited is the Company's Alternative Investment Fund Manager and has delegated the Company's portfolio management and the role of Company Secretary to FIL Investments International. The transactions with the Manager and related party transactions with the Directors are disclosed in Note 12 on page 24.
The Directors have considered the Company's investment objective, risk management policies, liquidity risk, credit risk, capital management policies and procedures, the nature of its portfolio (being mainly securities which are readily realisable) and its expenditure and cash flow projections, and have concluded that the Company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus they continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing these Financial Statements.
Continuation votes are held every five years and the next continuation vote will be put to shareholders at the Annual General Meeting in 2021.
By Order of the Board FIL Investments International 20 April 2018
The Disclosure and Transparency Rules ("DTR") of the UK Listing Authority require the Directors to confirm their responsibilities in relation to the preparation and publication of the Interim Management Report and Financial Statements.
The Directors confirm to the best of their knowledge that:
The Half-Yearly Report has not been audited or reviewed by the Company's Independent Auditor.
The Half-Yearly Report was approved by the Board on 20 April 2018 and the above responsibility statement was signed on its behalf by Kate Bolsover, Chairman.
as at 31 January 2018
The Gross Asset Exposures shown below measure exposure to market price movements as a result of owning shares and derivative instruments. The Balance Sheet Value is the actual value of the portfolio. Where a contract for difference ("CFD") is held, the value reflects the profit or loss on the contract since it was opened and is based on how much the share price of the underlying share has moved.
| Balance Sheet |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Asset Exposure £'000 |
% 1 |
Value £'000 |
||
| Long exposures – shares unless otherwise stated | ||||
| Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (shares and long CFD) |
||||
| Developer, manufacturer and distributor of integrated circuit related products |
8,595 | 3.0 | 6,911 | |
| WPG Holdings Distributor of semiconductor and core components |
8,475 | 3.0 | 8,475 | |
| LT Group Banking, beverages, spirits, tobacco and property |
||||
| development group | 8,233 | 2.9 | 8,233 | |
| Power Grid Corporation of India Operator of the Indian national electricity grid |
8,039 | 2.8 | 8,039 | |
| Redington India Distributor of information technology products, mobile |
||||
| handsets and accessories | 6,117 | 2.2 | 6,117 | |
| Cognizant Technology Solutions Information technology consultancy |
5,903 | 2.1 | 5,903 | |
| Housing Development Finance Corporation Provider of housing finance to individual households and |
||||
| corporates in India | 5,857 | 2.1 | 5,857 | |
| China Mobile (shares and long CFD) Provider of mobile voice and multi-media services in |
||||
| China | 5,814 | 2.1 | 2,829 | |
| HDFC Bank Private sector bank |
4,871 | 1.7 | 4,871 | |
| Ascendas India Trust Real estate investment company |
4,661 | 1.6 | 4,661 | |
| Cleanaway Company | ||||
| Hazardous waste treatment and waste management operator |
4,061 | 1.4 | 4,061 | |
| Interojo Contact lens manufacturer |
3,795 | 1.3 | 3,795 | |
| G8 Education | ||||
| Operator of day care centres | 3,736 | 1.3 | 3,736 |
as at 31 January 2018
| Balance | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Asset Exposure | Sheet Value |
||
| £'000 | % 1 |
£'000 | |
| Huaneng Renewables (shares and long CFD) Developer and operator of renewable power plants |
3,665 | 1.3 | 2,921 |
| Zhaopin | |||
| Careers website operator | 3,487 | 1.2 | 3,487 |
| Convenience Retail Asia | |||
| Convenience store chain operator | 3,472 | 1.2 | 3,472 |
| WT Microelectronics Semiconductor products distributor |
3,435 | 1.2 | 3,435 |
| Sinopharm Group (shares and long CFD) | |||
| Developer, manufacturer and distributor of medicines | |||
| and health products | 2,893 | 1.0 | 1,561 |
| Sebang Global Battery Battery manufacturer |
2,829 | 1.0 | 2,829 |
| Advanced Semiconductor | |||
| Semiconductor developer and manufacturer | 2,810 | 1.0 | 2,810 |
| Twenty largest long exposures | 100,748 | 35.4 | 94,003 |
| Other long exposures | 179,627 | 63.2 | 179,627 |
| Total long exposures before hedges (166 holdings) | 280,375 | 98.6 | 273,630 |
| Less: hedging exposures | |||
| KOSPI 200 Index December 2018 (put option) | (1,384) | (0.5) | 125 |
| Hang Seng China Enterprises Index December 2018 (put option) |
(1,372) | (0.5) | 191 |
| S&P CNX Nifty Index December 2018 (put option) | (249) | (0.1) | 5 |
| S&P CNX Nifty Index March 2018 (put option) | (75) | – | – |
| KOSPI 200 Index December 2018 (put option) | (60) | – | – |
| KOSPI 200 Index September 2018 (put option) | (13) | – | – |
| Hang Seng Index December 2018 (put option) | (7) | – | 37 |
| Total hedging exposures | (3,160) | (1.1) | 358 |
| Total long exposures after the netting of hedges | 277,215 | 97.5 | 273,988 |
| Add: short exposures | |||
| Short CFDs (18 holdings) | 13,933 | 4.9 | (1,924) |
| Short future February 2018 (1 holding) | 833 | 0.3 | (6) |
| Total short exposures | 14,766 | 5.2 | (1,930) |
| Gross Asset Exposure2 | 291,981 | 102.7 |
| Gross Asset Exposure £'000 |
1 % |
Balance Sheet Value £'000 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio Fair Value3 | 272,058 | ||
| Net current assets (excluding derivative assets and liabilities) | 12,204 | ||
| Total Shareholders' Funds/Net assets | 284,262 |
1 Gross Asset Exposure is expressed as a percentage of Total Shareholders' Funds
2 Gross Asset Exposure comprises market exposure to investments of £271,760,000 plus market exposure to derivative instruments of £20,221,000
3 Portfolio Fair Value comprises investments of £271,760,000 plus derivative assets of £2,312,000 less derivative liabilities of £2,014,000 (per the Balance Sheet on page 16)
DIRECTORS' REPORTS
for the six months ended 31 January 2018
| six months ended 31 January 2018 unaudited |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notes | revenue £'000 |
capital £'000 |
total £'000 |
|
| Gains on investments | – 5,213 |
5,213 | ||
| (Losses)/gains on derivative instruments | – (2,279) |
(2,279) | ||
| Income | 4 3,466 |
– | 3,466 | |
| Investment management fees | 5 (1,314) |
– | (1,314) | |
| Other expenses | (362) – |
(362) | ||
| Foreign exchange (losses)/gains on cash and cash equivalents |
– (1,037) |
(1,037) | ||
| Net return on ordinary activities before finance costs and taxation |
1,790 | 1,897 | 3,687 | |
| Finance costs | (289) – |
(289) | ||
| Net return on ordinary activities before taxation |
1,501 | 1,897 | 3,398 | |
| Taxation on return on ordinary activities | 6 | (343) 11 |
(332) | |
| Net return on ordinary activities after taxation for the period |
1,158 | 1,908 | 3,066 | |
| Basic return per ordinary share | 1.71p 7 |
2.81p | 4.52p | |
| Diluted return per ordinary share | 7 1.70p |
2.80p | 4.50p |
The Company does not have any other comprehensive income. Accordingly the net return on ordinary activities after taxation for the period is also the total comprehensive income for the period and no separate Statement of Other Comprehensive Income has been presented.
The total column of this statement represents the Income Statement of the Company. The revenue and capital columns are supplementary and presented for information purposes as recommended by the Statement of Recommended Practice issued by the AIC.
No operations were acquired or discontinued in the year and all items in the above statement derive from continuing operations.
| year ended 31 July 2017 audited |
six months ended 31 January 2017 unaudited |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| capital £'000 £'000 |
revenue £'000 |
total £'000 |
capital £'000 |
revenue £'000 |
| – 44,906 44,906 |
21,935 | 21,935 | – | |
| – (2,376) |
17 | 17 | – | |
| – | 8,439 | 4,455 | – | 4,455 |
| – | (2,500) | (1,167) | – | (1,167) |
| (165) | (725) | (568) | (165) | (403) |
| – (616) |
49 | 49 | – | |
| 41,749 46,963 |
5,214 | 24,721 | 21,836 | 2,885 |
| – | (407) | (163) | – | (163) |
| 41,749 46,556 |
4,807 | 24,558 | 21,836 | 2,722 |
| (166) | (707) | (434) | (96) | (338) |
| 41,583 45,683 |
4,100 | 24,124 | 21,740 | 2,384 |
| 61.62p 67.70p |
6.08p | 35.74p | 32.21p | 3.53p |
| 61.43p 67.49p |
6.06p | n/a | n/a | n/a |
for the six months ended 31 January 2018
| Notes | share capital £'000 |
share premium account £'000 |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Six months ended 31 January 2018 (unaudited) | ||||
| Total shareholders' funds at 31 July 2017 | 16,872 | 20,232 | ||
| Net return on ordinary activities after taxation for the period |
– | – | ||
| Issue of ordinary shares on the exercise of rights attached to subscription shares |
10 | 295 | 4,084 | |
| Dividend paid to shareholders | 8 | – | – | |
| Total shareholders' funds at 31 January 2018 | 17,167 | 24,316 | ||
| Six months ended 31 January 2017 (unaudited) | ||||
| Total shareholders' funds at 31 July 2016 | 16,872 | 20,232 | ||
| Net return on ordinary activities after taxation for the period |
– | – | ||
| Dividend paid to shareholders | 8 | – | – | |
| Total shareholders' funds at 31 January 2017 | 16,872 | 20,232 | ||
| Year ended 31 July 2017 (audited) | ||||
| Total shareholders' funds at 31 July 2016 | 16,872 | 20,232 | ||
| Net return on ordinary activities after taxation for the year |
– | – | ||
| Dividend paid to shareholders | 8 | – | – | |
| Total shareholders' funds at 31 July 2017 | 16,872 | 20,232 | ||
| total shareholders' funds £'000 |
revenue reserve £'000 |
capital reserve £'000 |
other reserve £'000 |
other non distributable reserve £'000 |
capital redemption reserve £'000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 280,191 | 5,487 | 218,423 | 8,613 | 7,367 | 3,197 |
| 3,066 | 1,158 | 1,908 | – | – | – |
| 4,379 | – | – | – | – | – |
| (3,374) | (3,374) | – | – | – | – |
| 284,262 | 3,271 | 220,331 | 8,613 | 7,367 | 3,197 |
| 237,545 | 4,424 | 176,840 | 8,613 | 7,367 | 3,197 |
| 24,124 | 2,384 | 21,740 | – | – | – |
| (3,037) | (3,037) | – | – | – | – |
| 258,632 | 3,771 | 198,580 | 8,613 | 7,367 | 3,197 |
| 237,545 | 4,424 | 176,840 | 8,613 | 7,367 | 3,197 |
| 45,683 | 4,100 | 41,583 | – | – | – |
| (3,037) | (3,037) | – | – | – | – |
| 280,191 | 5,487 | 218,423 | 8,613 | 7,367 | 3,197 |
at 31 January 2018 Company number 3183919
| 31.01.18 | 31.07.17 | 31.01.17 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notes | unaudited £'000 |
audited £'000 |
unaudited £'000 |
|
| Fixed assets | ||||
| Investments | 9 | 271,760 | 264,076 | 241,312 |
| Current assets | ||||
| Derivative instruments | 9 | 2,312 | 2,829 | 1,882 |
| Debtors | 2,097 | 1,766 | 1,820 | |
| Amounts held at futures clearing houses and | ||||
| brokers | 2,645 | 1,937 | 1,302 | |
| Cash at bank | 11,395 | 14,822 | 14,901 | |
| 18,449 | 21,354 | 19,905 | ||
| Creditors | ||||
| Derivative instruments | 9 | (2,014) | (1,554) | (632) |
| Other creditors | (3,933) | (3,685) | (1,953) | |
| (5,947) | (5,239) | (2,585) | ||
| Net current assets | 12,502 | 16,115 | 17,320 | |
| Net assets | 284,262 | 280,191 | 258,632 | |
| Capital and reserves | ||||
| Share capital | 10 | 17,167 | 16,872 | 16,872 |
| Share premium account | 24,316 | 20,232 | 20,232 | |
| Capital redemption reserve | 3,197 | 3,197 | 3,197 | |
| Other non-distributable reserve | 7,367 | 7,367 | 7,367 | |
| Other reserve | 8,613 | 8,613 | 8,613 | |
| Capital reserve | 220,331 | 218,423 | 198,580 | |
| Revenue reserve | 3,271 | 5,487 | 3,771 | |
| Total shareholders' funds | 284,262 | 280,191 | 258,632 | |
| Net asset value per ordinary share | 11 | 413.96p | 415.17p | 383.23p |
| Diluted net asset value per ordinary share | 11 | 409.06p | 407.77p | 381.15p |
Fidelity Asian Values PLC is an Investment Company incorporated in England and Wales with a premium listing on the London Stock Exchange. The Company's registration number is 3183919, and its registered office is Beech Gate, Millfield Lane, Lower Kingswood, Tadworth, Surrey KT20 6RP. The Company has been approved by HM Revenue & Customs as an Investment Trust under Section 1158 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 and intends to conduct its affairs so as to continue to be approved.
The Financial Statements in this half-yearly financial report have not been audited by the Company's Independent Auditor and do not constitute statutory accounts as defined in section 434 of the Companies Act 2006 (the "Act"). The financial information for the year ended 31 July 2017 is extracted from the latest published financial statements of the Company. Those financial statements were delivered to the Registrar of Companies and included the Independent Auditor's Report which was unqualified and did not contain a statement under either section 498(2) or 498(3) of the Act.
The Company prepares its financial statements on a going concern basis and in accordance with UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice ("UK GAAP") and FRS 102: The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland, issued by the Financial Reporting Council. The financial statements are also prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Financial Statements of Investment Trust Companies and Venture Capital Trusts ("SORP") issued by the Association of Investment Companies ("AIC"), in November 2014 and updated in January 2017 with consequential amendments. FRS 104: Interim Financial Reporting has also been applied in preparing this condensed set of Financial Statements. The accounting policies followed are consistent with those disclosed in the Company's Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 July 2017.
| six months | six months | year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ended | ended | ended | |
| 31.01.18 | 31.01.17 | 31.07.17 | |
| unaudited | unaudited | audited | |
| £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | |
| Investment Income | |||
| Overseas dividends | 3,277 | 4,382 | 8,112 |
| Overseas scrip dividends | 130 | 49 | 207 |
| UK dividends | – | 11 | – |
| 3,407 | 4,442 | 8,319 | |
| Derivative income | |||
| Dividends on long CFDs | – | – | 90 |
| Interest on short CFDs | 38 | 8 | 13 |
| 38 | 8 | 103 | |
| Other income | |||
| Deposit interest | 21 | 5 | 17 |
| six months | six months | year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ended | ended | ended | |
| 31.01.18 | 31.01.17 | 31.07.17 | |
| unaudited | unaudited | audited | |
| £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | |
| Investment management fees | 1,314 | 1,167 | 2,500 |
FIL Investment Services (UK) Limited is the Company's Alternative Investment Fund Manager and has delegated portfolio management to FIL Investments International ("FII"). Both companies are Fidelity group companies. FII charges fees at an annual rate of 0.90% on the first £200 million of gross assets and 0.85% on gross assets over £200 million. Fees are payable quarterly in arrears and are calculated on the last business day of March, June, September and December.
| six months | six months | year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ended | ended | ended | |
| 31.01.18 | 31.01.17 | 31.07.17 | |
| unaudited | unaudited | audited | |
| £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | |
| Revenue – taxation on overseas dividends | 343 | 338 | 707 |
| Capital – Indian capital gains tax (received)/paid | |||
| in the period | (11) | 96 | 166 |
| Total taxation charge for the period | 332 | 434 | 873 |
| six months ended 31.01.18 unaudited |
six months ended 31.01.17 unaudited |
year ended 31.07.17 audited |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue return per ordinary share – basic | 1.71p | 3.53p | 6.08p |
| Capital return per ordinary share – basic | 2.81p | 32.21p | 61.62p |
| Total return per ordinary share – basic | 4.52p | 35.74p | 67.70p |
| Revenue return per ordinary share – diluted | 1.70p | n/a | 6.06p |
| Capital return per ordinary share – diluted | 2.80p | n/a | 61.43p |
| Total return per ordinary share – diluted | 4.50p | n/a | 67.49p |
The basic return per ordinary share is based on the net return on ordinary activities after taxation for the period divided by the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue held outside Treasury during the period.
| £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Net revenue return on ordinary activities after taxation for the period |
1,158 | 2,384 | 4,100 |
| Net capital return on ordinary activities after taxation for the period |
1,908 | 21,740 | 41,583 |
| Net total return on ordinary activities after taxation for the period |
3,066 | 24,124 | 45,683 |
| number | number | number | |
| Weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the period |
67,892,642 | 67,488,213 | 67,488,213 |
The diluted returns per ordinary share reflect the notional dilutive effect that would have occurred if the rights attached to the subscription shares had been exercised and additional ordinary shares had been issued. The returns on ordinary activities after taxation for the period used in the diluted calculation are the same as those for the basic returns on page 19. These returns are divided by the notional weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the period of 68,222,167. This number of shares reflects the additional number of ordinary shares that could have been purchased at the average ordinary share price for the period with the proceeds from the excess of the subscription share rights exercise price over the average ordinary share price.
| six months ended 31.01.18 unaudited |
six months ended 31.01.17 unaudited |
year ended 31.07.17 audited |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Dividend of 5.00 pence per ordinary share paid for the year ended 31 July 2017 |
3,374 | – | – |
| Dividend of 4.50 pence per ordinary share paid for the year ended 31 July 2016 |
– | 3,037 | 3,037 |
| 3,374 | 3,037 | 3,037 |
No dividend has been declared in respect of the six months ended 31 January 2018.
The Company is required to disclose the fair value hierarchy that classifies its financial instruments measured at fair value at one of three levels, according to the relative reliability of the inputs used to estimate the fair values.
| Classification | Input |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Valued using quoted prices in active markets for identical assets |
| Level 2 | Valued by reference to valuation techniques using observable inputs other than quoted prices included within level 1 |
| Level 3 | Valued by reference to valuation techniques using inputs that are not based on observable market data |
Categorisation within the hierarchy has been determined on the basis of the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement of the relevant asset. The table below sets out the Company's fair value hierarchy:
| 31 January 2018 unaudited |
31 July 2017 audited |
31 January 2017 unaudited |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| level 1 £'000 |
level 2 £'000 |
level 1 £'000 |
level 2 £'000 |
level 1 £'000 |
level 2 £'000 |
|
| Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss |
||||||
| Investments | 265,905 | 5,855 | 259,508 | 4,568 | 237,711 | 3,601 |
| Derivative instrument assets | 358 | 1,954 | 789 | 2,040 | 808 | 1,074 |
| 266,263 | 7,809 | 260,297 | 6,608 | 238,519 | 4,675 | |
| Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss |
||||||
| Derivative instrument liabilities | (6) | (2,008) | (60) | (1,494) | (78) | (554) |
| 10 Share Capital | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 January 2018 unaudited |
31 July 2017 audited |
31 January 2017 unaudited |
||||
| number of shares |
£'000 | number of shares |
£'000 | number of shares |
£'000 | |
| Ordinary shares of 25 pence each – issued, allotted and fully paid |
||||||
| Held outside Treasury | ||||||
| Beginning of the period | 67,488,213 | 16,872 | 67,488,213 | 16,872 | 67,488,213 | 16,872 |
| Ordinary shares issued | 1,181,189 | 295 | – | – | – | – |
| End of the period | 68,669,402 | 17,167 | 67,488,213 | 16,872 | 67,488,213 | 16,872 |
| Subscription shares of 0.001 pence – issued, allotted and fully paid |
||||||
| Beginning of the period | 13,497,222 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Subscription shares issued | – | – | 13,497,222 | – | 13,497,222 | – |
| Cancellation of subscription shares on the exercise of rights |
(1,181,189) | – | – | – | – | – |
| End of the period | 12,316,033 | – | 13,497,222 | – | 13,497,222 | – |
| Total share capital | 17,167 | 16,872 | 16,872 |
A bonus issue of subscription shares to ordinary shareholders on the basis of one subscription share for every five ordinary shares held took place on 5 December 2016. Each subscription share gives the holder the right, but not the obligation, to subscribe for one ordinary share upon payment of the subscription price. The subscription price is based on the published unaudited NAV per ordinary share at 2 December 2016, plus a premium depending upon the year in which the right is exercised. The exercise dates, subscription prices and premiums are as follows:
| Exercise date | Exercise price | Premium | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First exercise date | 30 November 2017 | 370.75p | 1% |
| Second exercise date | 30 November 2018 | 381.75p | 4% |
| Final exercise date | 29 November 2019 | 392.75p | 7% |
After the final exercise date of 29 November 2019, the Company will appoint a trustee who will exercise any rights remaining that have not been exercised by shareholders, providing that by doing so a profit can be realised. To realise a profit the sale proceeds from selling the resulting ordinary shares in the market would need to be in excess of the 392.75 pence per share price of exercising the rights, plus any related expenses and fees. Any resulting profit will be paid to the holders of those outstanding subscription shares, unless the amount payable to an individual holder is less than £5, in which case such sum shall be retained for the benefit of the Company.
Subscription shares carry no rights to vote, to receive a dividend or to participate in the winding up of the Company.
During the period the Company issued 1,181,189 ordinary shares (year ended 31 July 2017 and six months ended 31 January 2017: nil) on the exercise of rights attached to subscription shares. The subscription share price of 370.75 pence per ordinary share issued represented a premium of 345.75 pence per share over the 25 pence nominal value of each share. The total premium received in the period on the issue of ordinary shares of £4,084,000 (year ended 31 July 2017 and six months ended 31 January 2017: nil) was credited to the share premium account.
The net asset value per ordinary share is based on net assets of £284,262,000 (31 July 2017: £280,191,000 and 31 January 2017: £258,632,000) and on 68,669,402 (31 July 2017: 67,488,213 and 31 January 2017: 67,488,213) ordinary shares, being the number of ordinary shares in issue at the period end.
The diluted net asset value per ordinary share reflects the potential dilution in the net asset value per ordinary share that would have resulted if the rights of the 12,316,033 subscription shares in issue had been exercised on 31 January 2018 at the next exercise date price of 381.75 pence per share. The basis of the calculation is in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the AIC.
The net asset value per ordinary share and the diluted net asset value per ordinary share are published by the London Stock Exchange on a daily basis.
FIL Investment Services (UK) Limited is the Company's Alternative Investment Fund Manager and has delegated portfolio management and the role of company secretary to FIL Investments International ("FII"). Both companies are Fidelity group companies. Details of the fee arrangements are given in Note 5. During the period fees for portfolio management services of £1,314,000 (six months ended 31 January 2017: £1,167,000 and year ended 31 July 2017: £2,500,000) and fees for secretarial and administration services of £38,000 (six months ended 31 January 2017: £37,000 and year ended 31 July 2017: £75,000) were payable to FII. At the Balance Sheet date fees for portfolio management services of £197,000 (31 January 2017: £206,000 and 31 July 2017: £220,000) and fees for secretarial and administration services of £6,000 (31 January 2017: £6,000 and 31 July 2017: £5,000) were accrued and included in other creditors. FII also provides the Company with marketing services. The total amount payable for these services during the period was £65,000 (six months ended 31 January 2017: £98,000 and year ended 31 July 2017: £144,000). At the Balance Sheet date £32,000 (31 January 2017: £7,000 and 31 July 2017: £3,000) for marketing services was accrued and included in other creditors.
As at 31 January 2018, the Board consisted of five non-executive Directors (as shown in the Shareholder Directory on page 26), all of whom are considered to be independent by the Board. None of the Directors have a service contract with the Company. The Chairman receives an annual fee of £32,000, the Audit Committee Chairman an annual fee of £26,500 and each other Director an annual fee of £24,000. The following members of the Board held shares in the Company: Kate Bolsover 15,250 ordinary shares and 3,050 subscription shares, Timothy Scholefield 10,000 ordinary shares and 2,000 subscription shares, Philip Smiley 2,500 ordinary shares and 500 subscription shares, Grahame Stott 20,000 ordinary shares and 11,000 subscription shares and Michael Warren, 4,000 ordinary shares and 800 subscription shares.
Fidelity Asian Values PLC is a company listed on the London Stock Exchange and you can buy its shares through a stockbroker, share shop or bank. Fidelity also offers a range of options, so that you may invest in a way that is best for you. Details of how to invest can be found on Fidelity's website at www.fidelityinvestmenttrusts.com
Shareholders and Fidelity's Platform Investors should contact the appropriate administrator using the contact details given below and in the next column. Links to the websites of major platforms can be found online at www.fidelityinvestmenttrusts.com
Shareholders should note that Capita Asset Services was acquired by Link Group and is now known as Link Asset Services. There is no change in the services offered to shareholders.
Contact Link Asset Services, Registrar to Fidelity Asian Values PLC, The Registry, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 4TU.
Telephone: 0871 664 0300 (calls cost 12p per minute plus network extras. If you are outside the United Kingdom, call +44 371 664 0300. Calls outside the United Kingdom will be charged at the applicable international rate. Lines are open 9.00 am to 5.30 pm, Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays in England and Wales).
Details of individual shareholdings and other information can also be obtained from the Registrars' Share Portal at www.signalshares.com
Contact Fidelity, using the freephone numbers given below, or by writing to: UK Customer Service, Fidelity International, Oakhill House, 130 Tonbridge Road, Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent TN11 9DZ.
Website: www.fidelity.co.uk/fidelityits
Private investors: call free on 0800 41 41 10, 9.00 am to 6.00 pm, Monday to Saturday.
Financial advisers: call free on 0800 41 41 81, 8.00 am to 6.00 pm, Monday to Friday.
General enquiries should be made to the Secretary, at the Company's registered office: FIL Investments International, Investment Trusts, Beech Gate, Millfield Lane, Lower Kingswood, Tadworth, Surrey KT20 6RP. Telephone: 01732 36 11 44. Email: [email protected]; and website: fidelityinvestmenttrusts.com
| 31 January | – Half-Yearly period end |
|---|---|
| April | – Announcement of Half-Yearly results |
| April | – Publication of Half Yearly report |
| 31 July | – Financial year end |
| October | – Publication of Annual Report |
| December | – Annual General Meeting |
DIRECTORS' REPORTS
Kate Bolsover (Chairman) Philip Smiley (Senior Independent Director) Grahame Stott (Chairman of the Audit Committee) Timothy Schofield Michael Warren
FIL Investment Services (UK) Limited Oakhill House 130 Tonbridge Road Hildenborough Tonbridge Kent TN11 9DZ
FIL Investments International Beech Gate Millfield Lane Lower Kingswood Tadworth Surrey KT20 6RP Email: [email protected]
Stifel Nicolaus Europe Ltd 150 Cheapside London EC2V 6ET
Ernst & Young LLP 25 Churchill Place London E14 5EY
JPMorgan Chase Bank (London Branch) 125 London Wall London EC2Y 5AJ
J.P. Morgan Europe Limited 25 Bank Street London E14 5JP
Link Asset Services The Registry 34 Beckenham Road Beckenham Kent BR3 4TU
Charles Russell Speechlys LLP 5 Fleet Place London EC4M 7RD
Alternative Investment Fund ("AIF"). The Company is an AIF.
Alternative Investment Fund Manager ("AIFM"). The Board has appointed FIL Investment Services (UK) Limited to act as the Company's AIFM (the Manager).
The Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive ("AIFMD") is a European Union Directive and was implemented on 22 July 2014.
MSCI All Countries Asia ex Japan Index (net) in Sterling terms total return.
A contract for difference is a derivative. It is a contract between the Company and an investment house at the end of which the parties exchange the difference between the opening price and the closing price of an underlying asset of the specified financial instrument. It does not involve the Company buying or selling the underlying asset, only agreeing to receive or pay the movement in its share price. A contract for difference allows the Company to gain access to the movement in the share price by depositing a small amount of cash known as margin. The Company may reason that the asset price will rise, by buying ("long" position) or fall, by selling ("short" position). If the Company trades long, dividends are received and interest is paid. If the Company trades short, dividends are paid and interest is received.
An entity that holds (as intermediary) the Company's assets, arranges the settlement of transactions and administers income, proxy voting and corporate actions. The Company's Custodian is JPMorgan Chase Bank.
An entity that oversees the custody, cash arrangements and other AIFM responsibilities of the Company. J.P. Morgan Europe act as the Company's Depositary.
Financial instruments (such as futures, options and contracts for difference) whose value is derived from the value of an underlying asset.
The diluted net asset value per ordinary share reflects what the net asset value per ordinary share would have been if all the rights attached to the outstanding subscription shares had been exercised at the period end date. A dilution occurs when the exercise price of the subscription share rights is less than the net asset value per ordinary share.
If the share price of the Company is lower than the net asset value per share, the Company's shares are said to be trading at a discount. The discount is shown as a percentage of the net asset value. The opposite of a discount is a premium. It is more common for an investment trust to trade at a discount than a premium.
The fair value is the best measure of the realisable value of the investments, including derivatives, at a point in time and this is measured as:
Agreements to buy or sell a stated amount of a security at a specific future date and at a preagreed price.
Gearing describes the level of the Company's exposure and is expressed as a percentage of shareholders' funds. It reflects the amount of exposure the Company uses to invest in the market. It can be obtained through the use of bank loans, bank overdrafts and derivatives, in order to increase the Company's exposure to investments. If assets rise in value, gearing magnifies the return to shareholders. Correspondingly, if assets fall in value, gearing magnifies the fall. Derivatives are used as a way of gaining exposure to the price movements of shares without buying the underlying shares directly.
In a simple example, if a company has £100 million of net assets and a total portfolio of £108 million, with £8 million of borrowings (either via bank loans or derivatives), then the shareholders' funds are 8% geared. Normally, the higher the gearing percentage, the more sensitive the Company's shares will be to the movements up and down in the value of the investment portfolio.
A measure of the Company's total equity exposure. It is calculated as the sum of all long exposures, after taking account of hedging positions and the absolute value of all short exposures.
A strategy aimed at minimising or eliminating the risk or loss through adverse movements normally involving taking a position in a derivative such as future or option.
Net asset value is sometimes also described as "shareholders' funds", and represents the total value of the Company's assets less the total value of its liabilities. For valuation purposes it is common to express the net asset value on a per share basis.
The net asset value divided by the number of ordinary shares in issue.
A measure of the Company's net equity exposure. It is calculated as the total of all long exposures (less the total of any exposures hedging the portfolio) less the total of all short exposures.
An option is a contract which gives the right but not the obligation to buy or sell an underlying asset at an agreed price on or before an agreed date. Options may be calls (buy) or puts (sell) and are used to gain or reduce exposure to the underlying asset on a conditional basis.
Nitin Bajaj is the appointed Portfolio Manager for the Company and is responsible for managing the Company's assets.
If the share price of the Company is higher than the net asset value per ordinary share, the Company's shares are said to be trading at a premium. The premium is shown as a percentage of the net asset value. The opposite of a premium is a discount.
An entity that manages the Company's shareholders register. The Company's Registrar is Link Asset Services.
The return generated in the period from the investments:
Shareholders' funds are also described as net asset value and represent the total value of the Company's assets less the total value of its liabilities.
The return on the share price or net asset value per ordinary share taking into account the rise and fall of share prices and the dividends paid to shareholders. Any dividends received by the shareholder are assumed to have been reinvested in additional shares (for share price total return) or the Company's assets (for net asset value total return).
Ordinary shares of the Company that have been repurchased by the Company and not cancelled but held in Treasury. These shares do not receive dividends, have no voting rights and are excluded from the net asset value per ordinary share calculation.
Fidelity, Fidelity International, the Fidelity International logo and symbol are trademarks of FIL Limited
100% of the inks used are vegetable oil based 95% of press chemicals are recycled for further use and on average 99% of any waste associated with this production will be recycled.
The FSC® logo identifies products which contain wood from well-managed forests certified in accordance with the rules of the Forest Stewardship Council®.
This document is printed on Cocoon Silk; a paper made using 50% recycled fibre from genuine waste paper and 50% virgin fibre.
The unavoidable carbon emissions generated during the manufacture and delivery of this document, have been reduced to net zero through a verified, carbon offsetting project.
Building tools?
Free accounts include 100 API calls/year for testing.
Have a question? We'll get back to you promptly.