CQS NATURAL RES GROWTH & INCOME PLC

Fund Information / Factsheet • Aug 22, 2025

Investor Report

Key Facts¹

Portfolio Managers	Ian 'Franco' Francis Keith Watson Robert Crayfourd
Launch Date	August 2003
Total Gross Assets	£82.9m
Reference Currency	GBP
Ordinary Shares	Net Asset Value: 212.25p Mid-Market Price: 211.50p
Dividend Yield (est.)	8.0%
Net gearing4	13.3%
Discount	(0.4%)
Ordinary Shares in Issue	34,823,779
Ongoing Charge Ratio	2.00%
	Annual Management Fee Annual Management Fee 1.0% p.a. on net assets.
Bloomberg	CYN LN
Reuters	CYN.L
Sedol	0035392
Year End	30 June
Contact Information	CQSClientService@cqsm. com
Company Broker	Cavendish Capital Markets Limited 020 7220 0500
AGM	December
Dividend Information 2024/25	1.26p interim paid 22 Nov 2024
	1.26p interim paid 28 February 2025 1.26 interim paid on
	30 May 2025 4.25p interm payable 1 September 2025
Fiscal Year-End	30 June
Previous Dividend Information	2012/13 Total 5.50p 2013/14 Total 5.60p 2014/15 Total 5.60p
	2015/16 Total 5.60p
	2016/17 Total 5.60p
	2017/18 Total 5.60p
	2018/19 Total 5.60p
	2019/20 Total 5.60p
	2020/21 Total 5.60p 2021/22 Total 5.60p
	2022/23 Total 8.60p
	2023/24 Total 6.60p
Investor Report	Monthly Factsheet
Annual Report & Accounts Published: October
Results Announced	Finals: October Interims: March

31 July 2025

CQS Natural Resources Growth and Income PLC (the "Company")

Description

The Company aims to generate capital growth and income, predominantly from a portfolio of mining and resource equities, and from mining, resource and industrial fixed interest securities.

Key Advantages for the Investor

• Access to under-researched, mid and smaller-cap companies in the Natural Resources sector
• Quarterly dividend paid to shareholders
• Potential inflation hedge

Ordinary Share and NAV Performance²

	1 Month (%)	3 Months (%)	6 Months (%)	1 Year (%)	3 Year (%)	5 Year (%)	Since Inception (%)
NAV	1.85	8.44	4.53	6.33	10.24	134.79	692.20
Share Price	8.15	13.11	17.08	21.13	38.32	185.36	790.72
MSCI World Energy Sector Index3	6.29	10.84	(1.16)	(2.22)	17.85	167.15	528.56
MSCI World Metals & Mining Index3	4.54	6.96	4.24	0.66	20.71	62.32	483.17

Commentary⁴

This July, the Company had a return of 1.9%, which included the 4.25p interim dividend. The US trade policy remained the dominant influence on the global macroeconomic backdrop. Crude prices benefited the most, with Brent and WTI benchmarks rising 6-7% after Trump threatened to sanction Russia unless it agrees to end its conflict in Ukraine. Additionally, he imposed the threat of a secondary 25% tariff on goods imported into the US from India due to the latter's ongoing purchasing of Russian crude, proceeds of which are being used to help subsidise the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The EU and the UK also lowered their Russian oil price cap from \$60 to \$47.6/bbl. However, any supply disruption that creates a gap for OPEC, via potentially faster quotas, unwinds the performance of related Exploration & Production (E&P) equities. These equities lag the rise in crude prices, which is illustrated by the MSCI World Energy Index ending the month up at approximately 2.5%.

Following the passing of President Trump's deficit-funded 'One Big Beautiful Bill' (OBBB), the administration's focus returned to tariff negotiations with global trading partners to help generate tax income from foreign goods. This aimed to soften the borrowing requirement, with a 15% tariff being applied to most imports from the EU.

Nevertheless, US debt continues to increase at an alarming pace, with the deficit estimated to be running at approximately \$1.8Trn/ yr, highlighting potential risks to the sustainability of the growing US debt burden, which is currently estimated at \$36.5 Trn. This issue of debt is amplified by the US FED's balancing act of setting interest rates to manage inflationary pressures versus a slowdown in US employment markets as the impact of tariffs feeds through to the economy.

While applying tariffs on imports into the US is a politically palatable way of effectively imposing taxes on the US consumers ahead of the mid-term elections next year, it is estimated that incremental taxes raised will fall well short of the current budget deficit. The cost of borrowing is shown to remain uncomfortably high, whilst Trump has also already flagged his desire for rates to return to 1% from the current 4.8% on the US 30-year treasuries. Futhermore, Trump is seeking to replace US Fed Chair Jerome Powell. Ultimately, this negatively impacts the FED's perceived independence, a crucial prop to the dollar's status as a global reserve currency. Whilst Trump may succeed in pressuring rates lower, inflation remains stubbornly high, this risk exacerbates stagflation (stagnating growth and high inflation) pressures, which is a positive backdrop to gold. Finally, we can note that generalists remain broadly underweight precious metals and would anticipate a rotation back in the sector given the protective properties against this backdrop and strong sector earnings.

Sources:

• 1 Manulife | CQS Investment Management and Frostrow LLP as at the last business day of the month indicated at the top of this investor report.
• 2 Total return performance net of fees and expenses as at the last business day of the month indicated at the top of this investor report.
• 3 Source: MSCI is total return.
• 4 All market data sourced from Bloomberg unless otherwise stated. All returns quoted in local currency unless otherwise stated.

The Company may since have exited some or all of the positions detailed in the commentary.

Commentary (continued)⁴

Meanwhile, in China, anecdotal data indicated growth was being maintained with electricity consumption rising 5.4% over the 12-month period to end-June, though within this the industrial usage was nearer flat. The Chinese authorities are highlighting that they will continue to pursue its consumer-led stimulus with fixed asset investment programmes targeting productivity-enhancing projects rather than the property sector. Nevertheless, Iron ore gained 8%, although this largely reflected its bounce from recent lows. With little obvious support for the industrial demand and an outlook for waning stock building following recent activity to pre-empt tariffs, base metals struggled with the benchmark LME copper price closing July 5% lower, a move mirrored by copper miners broadly. This resulted in the MSCI World Mining Index closing the month with a modest 0.9% return. Moreover, the significant price premium for US copper versus LME benchmarks, which peaked at over \$3,200/t, rapidly unwound when it was confirmed that refined copper would be excluded from import tariffs. Its prices closed July at near parity, around \$10,000/t at the end of the month.

This July, the underlying trading in the continuing Company was relatively limited. Of note, the Fund added back to Sigma Lithium given the prospects for some supply correction, particularly from supply rationalisation from Chinese lepidolite mines to tighten the market, and to benefit from the currently depressed prices of lithium products and related mining equities.

The majority of equities have now been sold in the tender pool.

Portfolio Analysis1,2

Top 20 Holdings (% of MV) 1,2

Name	(% of MV)
NEXGEN ENERGY NPV	7.7
EMERALD RESOURCES NPV	4.7
WEST AFRICAN RESOURCES NPV	4.4
FRONTLINE USD1.0000	4.1
BW LPG LTD USD 0.0100	3.6
REA HLDGS 9% CUM PREF GBP1	3.3
ORA BANDA MINING NPV	3.2
UR ENERGY NPV	3.1
EQUINOX GOLD CORP NPV	3.1
GREATLAND RESOURCES NPV	3.0
Top 10 Holdings Represent	40.2

Name	(% of MV)
TAMBORAN RESOURCES CORP CDI NPV	2.8%
POLYMETALS RESOURCES NPV	2.5%
LYNAS RARE EARTHS NPV	2.5%
TRANSOCEAN USD0.01	2.4%
SOUTHERN CROSS GOLD CONS-CDI NPV	2.4%
WHEATON PRECIOUS METALS CORP	2.2%
SIGMA LITHIUM CORP NPV	2.2%
TALON METALS CORP NPV	2.1%
ROBEX RESOURCES NPV	2.1%
DIAMONDBACK ENERGY USD0.01	1.8%
Top 20 Holdings Represent	63.2

AIFMD Leverage Limit Report (% of NAV)

	Gross Leverage (%)3	Commitment Leverage (%)3
CQS Natural Resources Growth and Income	96	104

Sources:

1 Manulife | CQS Investment Management and Frostrow LLP as at the last business day of the month indicated at the top of this investor report.

2 All holdings data are rounded to one decimal place. Totals may therefore differ to sum of constituents.

3 Manulife | CQS Investment Management, as at the last business day of the month indicated at the top of this investor report. For methodology details see Article 4(3) of Directive 2011/61/EU (AIFMD) and Articles 6, 7, 9 and 10 of Delegated Regulation 231/2013.

4 Manulife | CQS Investment Management as at the last business day of the month indicated at the top of this investor report. For methodology details see Article 4(3) of Directive 2011/61/EU (AIFMD) and Articles 6, 8, 9, 10 and 11 of Delegated Regulation 231/2013.These include historic returns and past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. The value of investments can go down as well as up. Please read the important legal notice at the end of this document.

Important Information

Manulife | CQS Investment Management is a trading name of CQS (UK) LLP which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. This document has been issued by CQS (UK) LLP and/or CQS (US), LLC which is a registered investment adviser with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, The term "CQS" or "Manulife | CQS Investment Management" as used herein may include one or more of CQS (UK) LLP, CQS (US), LLC or any other affiliated entity. The information is intended solely for sophisticated investors who are (a) professional investors as defined in Article 4 of the European Directive 2011/61/EU or (b) accredited investors (within the meaning given to such term in Regulation D under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended) and qualified purchasers (within the meaning given to such term in Section 2(a)(51) of the U.S Investment Company Act 1940, as amended). This document is not intended for distribution to, or use by, the public or any person or entity in any jurisdiction where such use is prohibited by law or regulation.

Manulife | CQS Investment Management is a wholly owned subsidiary of Manulife Investment Management (Europe) Limited.

This document is a marketing communication prepared for general information purposes only and has not been delivered for registration in any jurisdiction nor has its content been reviewed by any regulatory authority in any jurisdiction. The information contained herein does not constitute: (i) a binding legal agreement; (ii) legal, regulatory, tax, accounting or other advice; (iii) an offer, recommendation or solicitation to buy or sell shares or interests in any fund or investment vehicle managed or advised by CQS (a "CQS Fund") or any other security, commodity, financial instrument, or derivative; or (iv) an offer to enter into any other transaction whatsoever (each a "Transaction"). Any decision to enter into a Transaction should be based on your own independent investigation of the Transaction and appraisal of the risks, benefits and appropriateness of such Transaction in light of your circumstances. Any decision to enter into any Transaction should be based on the terms described in the relevant offering memorandum, prospectus or similar offering document, subscription document, key investor information document (where applicable), and constitutional documents and/or any other relevant document as appropriate (together, the "Offering Documents"). Any Transaction will be subject to the terms set out in the Offering Documents and all applicable laws and regulations. The Offering Documents supersede this document and any information contained herein. The Offering Documents for CQS UCITS range of funds is available here (https://www.cqs.com/ucits-funds#global-convertibles) in English (US persons will not be eligible to invest in CQS managed UCITS funds save to the extent set out in the relevant Offering Document). A copy of CQS' Complaints Policy, which sets out a summary of investors' rights, is available here (www.cqs.com/site-services/regulatory-disclosures) in English. CQS may terminate the arrangements for marketing or distribution of any CQS Fund at any time.

Nothing contained herein shall give rise to a partnership, joint venture or any fiduciary or equitable duties. The information contained herein is provided on a non-reliance basis, not warranted as to completeness or accuracy, and is subject to change without notice. Any information contained herein relating to any non-affiliated third party is the sole responsibility of such third party and has not been independently verified by CQS. The accuracy of data from third party vendors is not guaranteed. If such information is not accurate, some of the conclusions reached or statements made may be adversely affected. CQS is not liable for any decisions made or action taken by you or others based on the contents of this document and neither CQS nor any of its directors, officers, employees or representatives accept any liability whatsoever for any errors or omissions or any loss howsoever arising from the use of this document.

Information contained in this document should not be viewed as indicative of future results as past performance of any Transaction is not indicative of future results. Any investment in a CQS Fund or any of its affiliates involves a high degree of risk, including the risk of loss of the entire amount invested. The value of investments can go down as well as up. Don't invest unless you're prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you are unlikely to be protected if something goes wrong. Future performance is subject to taxation which depends on the personal situation of each investor and which may change in the future. Investments may lead to a financial loss if no guarantee on the capital is in place. An investment in any CQS Fund will involve a number of material risks which include, without limitation, risks associated with adverse market developments, currency and exchange rate risks, risk of counterparty or issuer default, and risk of illiquidity. Any assumptions, assessments, targets (including target returns and volatility targets), statements or other such views expressed herein (collectively "Statements") regarding future events and circumstances or that are forward looking in nature constitute CQS' subjective views or beliefs and involve inherent risk and uncertainties beyond CQS' control. Any indices included in this document are for illustrative purposes only and are not representative of CQS Funds in terms of either composition or risk (including volatility and other risk related factors). Unless stated to the contrary CQS Funds are not managed to a specific index.

The information contained herein is confidential and may be legally privileged and is intended for the exclusive use of the intended recipient(s) to which the document has been provided. In accepting receipt of the information transmitted you agree that you and/or your affiliates, partners, directors, officers and employees, as applicable, will keep all information strictly confidential. Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon, this information is prohibited. Any distribution or reproduction of this document is not authorized and prohibited without the express written consent of CQS, or any of its affiliates. Unless otherwise stated to the contrary herein, CQS owns all intellectual property rights in this document.

MSCI Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein (the "Information") is sourced from/copyright of MSCI Inc., MSCI ESG Research LLC, or their affiliates ("MSCI"), or information providers (together the "MSCI Parties") and may have been used to calculate scores, signals, or other indicators. The Information is for internal use only and may not be reproduced or disseminated in whole or part without prior written permission. The Information may not be used for, nor does it constitute, an offer to buy or sell, or a promotion or recommendation of, any security, financial instrument or product, trading strategy, or index, nor should it be taken as an indication or guarantee of any future performance. Some funds may be based on or linked to MSCI indexes, and MSCI may be compensated based on the fund's assets under management or other measures. MSCI has established an information barrier between index research and certain Information. None of the Information in and of itself can be used to determine which securities to buy or sell or when to buy or sell them. The Information is provided "as is" and the user assumes the entire risk of any use it may make or permit to be made of the Information. No MSCI Party warrants or guarantees the originality, accuracy and/or completeness of the Information and each expressly disclaims all express or implied warranties. No MSCI Party shall have any liability for any errors or omissions in connection with any Information herein, or any liability for any direct, indirect, special, punitive, consequential or any other damages (including lost profits) even if notified of the possibility of such damages.

PRI Note: PRI is an investor initiative in partnership with UNEP Finance and the UN Global Compact.

GMv12. G1401200 / 08.25

CQSClientService@cqsm.com | www.cqs.com

London 4th Floor, One Strand, London WC2N 5HR, United Kingdom T: +44 (0) 20 7201 6900 F: +44 (0) 20 7201 1200