Source - LSE Regulatory
RNS Number : 1760Y
Schiehallion Fund Limited (The)
05 September 2022
 

RNS Announcement

The Schiehallion Fund Limited

Legal Entity Identifier: 213800NQOLJA1JCWXQ56

Regulated Information Classification: Half Yearly Financial Report

 

The following is the unaudited Interim Financial Report for the six months to 31 July 2022 which was approved by the Board on 2 September 2022.

 

Summary of Unaudited Results*

 

 

 

Ordinary shares

 

31 July

 2022

31 January 2022

 (audited)

 

%

change

Shareholders' funds

US$652.42m

US$791.66m


Net asset value per ordinary share

130.37¢

158.20¢

(17.6)

Share price

125.00¢

212.00¢

(41.0)

(Discount)/premium

(4.1%)

34.0%


Number of shares in issue

500,430,002

500,430,002


Market capitalisation

US$625.54m

US$1,060.91m


 


Six months

to 31 July 2022

Six months

to 31 July 2021

Revenue earnings per share

(0.57¢)

 (0.75¢)

 

 

C shares

 

31 July

 2022

31 January 2022

 (audited)

 

%

change

Shareholders' funds

US$605.73m

US$680.85m


Net asset value per C share

86.53¢

97.26¢

(11.0)

Share price

73.00¢

118.00¢

(38.1)

(Discount)/premium

(15.6%)

21.3%


Number of shares in issue

700,000,000

700,000,000


Market capitalisation

US$511.00m

US$826.00m


 


31 July 2022

Period from 26 April 2021#

to 31 July 2021

Revenue earnings per share

(0.31¢)

 (0.04¢)

 

 

Notes

* For a definition of terms see Glossary of Terms and Alternative Performance Measures at the end of this announcement.

†              Alternative performance measure, see Glossary of Terms and Alternative Performance Measures at the end of this announcement.

# 26 April 2021, the date the Company's C shares were admitted to trading on the Specialist Fund Segment of the Main   

  Market of the London Stock Exchange.

 

 

All investment strategies have the potential of profit and loss.

Past performance is not a guide to future performance.

 

Summary of Unaudited Results*(Ctd)

 



 

 


Period's High and Low

 

 

Six months to 31 July 2022

Year to 31 January 2022

Ordinary shares

High

Low

High

Low

Net asset value per ordinary share

159.79¢

126.31¢

198.40¢

146.57¢

Share price

214.00¢

119.50¢

296.00¢

180.00¢

Premium/(discount)

40.5%

(8.8%)

64.9%

17.4%

 

 

Six months to 31 July 2022

Period from 26 April 2021#

to 31 July 2022

C shares

High

Low

High

Low

Net asset value per C share

97.29¢

86.34¢

101.21¢

97.17¢

Share price

129.00¢

66.00¢

145.00¢

117.50¢

Premium/(discount)

36.1%

(24.6%)

42.4%

17.9%

 

Performance Since Inception

 

 

Ordinary shares

    31 July

 2022

 27 March

2019

%

change

Net asset value per ordinary share

130.37¢

99.66¢

30.8

Share price

125.00¢

100.00¢

25.0

 

 

C shares

    31 July

 2022

 26 April  

2021#

%

change

Net asset value per C share

86.53¢

99.25¢

(12.8)

Share price

73.00¢

124.00¢

(41.1)

 

 

Notes

* For a definition of terms see Glossary of Terms and Alternative Performance Measures at the end of this announcement.

 Alternative performance measure, see Glossary of Terms and Alternative Performance Measures at the end of this

   announcement.

27 March 2019, the date the Company's ordinary shares were admitted to trading on the Specialist Fund Segment
of the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange.

#  26 April 2021, the date the Company's C shares were admitted to trading on the Specialist Fund Segment of the Main

   Market of the London Stock Exchange.

 

 

 

All investment strategies have the potential of profit and loss.

Past performance is not a guide to future performance.


Investment Objective and Policy

 




 

Investment Objective


The Schiehallion Fund Limited seeks to generate capital growth for investors through making long-term minority investments in later stage private businesses that the Company considers to have transformational growth potential and to have the potential to become publicly traded.

 

Principal and Emerging Risks and Uncertainties

 

The principal and emerging risks facing the Company are:

-     Investment and Strategic Risks - Liquidity of investments; Market, Economic, Political and Environmental Risks; Valuation Risk; Investment Strategy Risk; Discount Risk; and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG).

-     External Risks - Political and Associated Economic Risk; Legal and Regulatory Risk; and Covid-19.

-     Operational Risks - Performance and Reliance on Third Party Service Providers; Cyber Security Threats; and Key Professionals.

-     Emerging Risks - Geopolitical tensions including the ongoing Russia Ukraine conflict, Cyber risk, Environmental Social and Governance issues (ESG), increasing energy prices and double-digit inflation.

An explanation of these risks and how they are managed is set out on pages 6 to 9 of the Company's Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year to 31 January 2022 which is available on the Company's website: schiehallionfund.com.

 

 

Responsibility Statement

 




 

The Directors of The Schiehallion Fund Limited confirm that to the best of their knowledge:

 

a)   the Interim Financial Report has been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting and the Directors have elected to prepare financial statements that comply with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board;

b)   the Interim Management Report includes a fair review of the information required by:

i)    DTR 4.2.7R of the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules, being an indication of important events that have occurred during the first six months of the financial year and their impact on the condensed set of financial statements, and a description of the principal risks and uncertainties for the remaining six months of the financial year; and

ii)   DTR 4.2.8R of the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules, being related party transactions that have taken place in the first six months of the current financial year and that have materially affected the financial position or the performance of the enterprise during that period.

 

By Order of the Board

Linda Yueh

Chairperson

2 September 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interim Management Report

 

 


The six month period to the end of July has been one of great market price volatility.

This has not impacted our investment approach. We are long-term growth investors who seek to value opportunities based on our assessment of their fundamental business prospects. Our strategy is to apply this consistently through all market environments, in the belief that this is the best path to long-term outperformance for Schiehallion shareholders. We have held to that thus far and will continue to do so.

This price volatility has impacted our portfolio carrying values. The NAV total return of the ordinary shares and the C shares during this period was -17.6% and -11.0% respectively. This is in line with our carrying valuations methodology, a reiteration of which is included in this interim report. Both the Company's ordinary and C shares each moved from trading at a premium to trading at a discount, as market sentiment turned against growth stocks.

Portfolio

Market price volatility has also had an impact on the opportunities we have been seeing. Companies are reluctant to raise money if this involves doing so at a lower valuation. As a result, many businesses with the option to defer capital raising have done so. We have also seen a growth in the number of convertible rounds taking place, many of them entirely with insiders. The result was an adverse selection effect, with many of the best companies selecting to postpone significant fundraises. This only started to abate towards the end of the period.

We only made two new additions during the period: Kepler Computing and Merlin Labs. These were both introductions through our relationship network. Both companies also fit into the subset of the portfolio that contains earlier-stage companies, and as such received smaller initial investments.

Whilst the vast majority of Schiehallion - by capital and by holdings - is made up of late-stage, revenue- and often cashflow-generating, rapid growth companies, we have always had some room for truly exceptional earlier stage opportunities. Roughly 10% of the portfolio is now in these companies. We do not anticipate significantly increasing our allocation to early-stage companies from here.

Given the market backdrop, more team time has been given to working with holdings. A subset of our portfolio holdings had been planning on raising capital through the period. Others have had their operations impacted by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the energy market turmoil caused by the ensuing sanctions.

Here again our approach has been consistent. The management of our holdings know that further capital support is not unconditional and must be underpinned by continued thesis conviction and appropriate upside. Where these have not been present, we have declined to participate in follow-on financings. In other instances, we have taken the opportunity to add to holdings at attractive prices. We have topped up our positions in Northvolt, Solugen, Tempus Labs, Daily Hunt (which, as mentioned in last year's interim report, can only be held in the ordinary share portion of the portfolio) and Affirm.

It is worth noting that our addition to Affirm has been done in public markets. A key part of Schiehallion's differentiated access comes from our ability to support companies even after they list. We reviewed Affirm following a period of extreme share price weakness and took the opportunity to add to our holding from within the C share portfolio.

Looking forwards

We have also added a new team member: a global investment analyst, based in Shanghai. We continue to see differentiated deal-flow in China, with roughly 9% of the current invested capital being into Chinese companies. Our admiration for the Chinese innovation economy is balanced with an awareness of the geopolitical risks. As such, it has been key for us to design this role from the outset as a globally-oriented position.

The period's volatility has reinforced our conviction that Schiehallion's structure helps us behave in a differentiated way through the market cycle. We have seen forced private market selling from crossover investors running open-ended and/or highly-levered structures, and have felt the benefits of the support of our public market colleagues in helping us make calm and long-term decisions around Schiehallion's public market holdings.

At the end of the reporting period, the C share pool was approximately 78% invested. As a reminder, conversion will take place once the C share pool reaches 85% invested. We have managed Schiehallion without differentiating between these share classes in anticipation of this moment.

The principal risks and uncertainties facing the Company are set out above.

 

Peter Singlehurst

Robert Natzler

 

 

Valuing Private Companies

 

We aim to hold our private company investments at 'fair value' i.e., the price that would be paid in an open-market transaction. Valuations are adjusted both during regular valuation cycles and on an ad hoc basis in response to 'trigger events'. Our valuation process ensures that private companies are valued in both a fair and timely manner.

The valuation process is overseen by a valuations committee at Baillie Gifford who take advice from an independent third party (S&P Global). The investment managers feed into the process, but the valuations committee owns the process and the investment managers only receive final valuation notifications once they have been applied.

We revalue the private holdings on a three-month rolling cycle, with one-third of the holdings reassessed each month. For Schiehallion, and our investment trusts, the prices are also reviewed twice per year by the respective boards and are subject to the scrutiny of external auditors in the annual audit process. Recent market volatility has meant that recent pricing has moved much more frequently than would have been the case with the quarterly valuations cycle.

Beyond the regular cycle, the valuations committee also monitors the portfolio for certain 'trigger events'. These may include changes in fundamentals; a takeover approach; an intention to carry out an Initial Public Offering (IPO); or changes to the valuation of comparable public companies. The valuations committee also monitors relevant market indices on a weekly basis and updates valuations in a manner consistent with our external valuer's (S&P Global) most recent valuation report where appropriate. When market volatility is particularly pronounced the team does these checks daily. Any ad hoc change to the fair valuation of any holding is implemented swiftly and reflected in the next published NAV. There is no delay.

 

The Schiehallion Fund*


Instruments valued

72

Revaluations performed

252

Percentage of portfolio revalued 2+ times

71%

Percentage of portfolio revalued 5+ times

11%

* Data reflecting period from 31 January 2022 to 31 July 2022.

 

 

Year to date, most revaluations have been decreases. A handful of companies have raised capital at an increased valuation. The average movement in both valuation and share price for those which have decreased in value is shown below.

 

 

 

 

Fund

Average movement in company valuation

Average movement in share price

Schiehallion*

Schiehallion* (excl. outliers)

-24%

-32%

-10%

-21%

* Data reflecting period from 31 January 2022 to 31 July 2022.

 

 

Share prices have decreased less than headline valuations because Baillie Gifford typically holds preference stock, which provides downside protection. The share price movement reflects a probability weighted average of both the regular valuation, which would be realised in an IPO, and the downside protected valuation, which would be normally be triggered in the event of a corporate sale or liquidation.

 

 

 


Baillie Gifford Statement on Stewardship

 

Reclaiming Activism for Long-Term Investors

 

Baillie Gifford's over-arching ethos is that we are 'actual' investors. We have a responsibility to behave as supportive and constructively engaged long-term investors. We invest in companies at different stages in their evolution, across vastly different industries and geographies and we celebrate their uniqueness. Consequently, we are wary of prescriptive policies and rules, believing that these often run counter to thoughtful and beneficial corporate stewardship. Our approach favours a small number of simple principles which help shape our interactions with companies.

 

Our Stewardship Principles

 

Prioritisation of long-term value creation

We encourage company management and their boards to be ambitious and focus their investments on long-term value creation. We understand that it is easy for businesses to be influenced by short-sighted demands for profit maximisation but believe these often lead to sub-optimal long-term outcomes.

We regard it as our responsibility to steer businesses away from destructive financial engineering towards activities that create genuine economic value over the long run. We are happy that our value will often be in supporting management when others do not.

 

A constructive and purposeful board

We believe that boards play a key role in supporting corporate success and representing the interests of minority shareholders. There is no fixed formula, but it is our expectation that boards have the resources, cognitive diversity and information they need to fulfil these responsibilities. We believe that a board works best when there is strong independent representation able to assist, advise and constructively test the thinking of management.

 

Long-term focused remuneration with stretching targets

We look for remuneration policies that are simple, transparent and reward superior strategic and operational endeavour. We believe incentive schemes can be important in driving behaviour, and we encourage policies which create alignment with genuine long-term shareholders. We are accepting of significant pay-outs to executives if these are commensurate with outstanding long-run value creation, but plans should not reward mediocre outcomes. We think that performance hurdles should be skewed towards long-term results and that remuneration plans should be subject to shareholder approval.

 

Fair treatment of stakeholders

We believe it is in the long-term interests of companies to maintain strong relationships with all stakeholders, treating employees, customers, suppliers, governments and regulators in a fair and transparent manner. We do not believe in one-size- fits-all governance and we recognise that different shareholder structures are appropriate for different businesses. However, regardless of structure, companies must always respect the rights of all equity owners.

 

Sustainable business practices

We look for companies to act as responsible corporate citizens, working within the spirit and not just the letter of the laws and regulations that govern them. We believe that corporate success will only be sustained if a business's long-run impact on society and the environment is taken into account. Management and boards should therefore understand and regularly review this aspect of their activities, disclosing such information publicly alongside plans for ongoing improvement.

 

 


List of Investments as at 31 July 2022 (unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

Name

 

 

 

 

Business

 

 

 

 

Country

2022 Ordinary Shares

Value

US$'000

 

2022

C Shares

Value

US$'000

 

2022

Total

Value US$'000

 

2022

% of

 net assets*

Scopely Inc

Online gaming company

United States

66,444

-

66,444

5.3

Space Exploration Technologies

  Corp

Designs, manufactures and launches

   advanced rockets and spacecraft

United States

63,739

-

63,739

5.1

Affirm Holdings Inc - Listed

Online platform which provides point of sale consumer finance

United States

23,909

28,861

52,770

4.2

Solugen Inc

Combines enzymes and metal catalysts

   to make chemicals

United States

-

47,881

47,881

3.8

ByteDance Ltd

Social media and news aggregation

  company

China

44,290

-

44,290

3.5

Brex Inc

Corporate credit cards for startups

United States

13,897

30,079

43,976

3.5

Daily Hunt (Ver Se Innovation

  Limited)

Telephone voice, data, text messaging,

  and roaming services

India

41,248

-

41,248

3.2

Stripe Inc

Online payment platform

United States

40,520

-

40,520

3.2

Genki Forest Technology Group

   Holdings Limited

Non-alcoholic beverages

China

-

39,229

39,229

3.0

Faire Wholesale Inc

Online wholesale marketplace

United States

-

36,847

36,847

3.0

Epic Games Inc

Video game developer

United States

34,507

-

34,507

2.8

Wise PLC - Listed

Online platform to send and receive

  money

United Kingdom

25,871

8,599

34,470

2.8

Northvolt AB

Lithium ion battery manufacturer

Sweden

23,423

10,537

33,960

2.8

Tempus Labs Inc

Oncological records aggregator and

  diagnostic testing provider

United States

28,793

4,892

33,685

2.7

Chime Financial Inc

Digital current account provider

United States

9,030

22,160

31,190

2.5

Grammarly Inc

Online platform for checking grammar,

  spelling and improving written

  communication

United States

-

29,075

29,075

2.3

McMakler GmbH

Real estate services

Germany

-

24,590

24,590

2.0

Rappi Inc

Provider of an on-demand delivery

  platform designed to connect

   consumers with local stores

Colombia

 

 

-

 

 

21,752

 

 

21,752

 

 

1.7

Nuro Inc

Developer of autonomous delivery

  vehicles

United States

8,955

11,966

20,921

1.7

Databricks Inc

Data software solutions

United States

-

20,727

20,727

1.6

Workrise Technologies Inc

Jobs marketplace for the energy sector

United States

20,280

-

20,280

1.6

Tanium Inc

Online security management

United States

18,598

-

18,598

1.5

Flix SE

European mobility provider

Germany

8,612

9,286

17,898

1.4

 

List of Investments as at 31 July 2022 (unaudited)

 

 

 

Name

 

 

Business

 

 

Country

2022 Ordinary Shares

Value

US$'000

 

2022

C Shares

Value

US$'000

 

2022

Total

Value US$'000

 

2022

% of

 net assets*

Warby Parker (JAND Inc) - Listed

Online and physical corrective eyewear

   retailer

United States

15,935

-

15,935

1.3

Convoy Inc

Marketplace for truckers and shippers

United States

10,783

4,719

15,502

1.3

Pet Circle (Millell Pty Ltd)

Pet food and accessories

Australia

-

15,401

15,401

1.3

Loft Holdings Ltd

Online property platform

Brazil

-

15,386

15,386

1.2

Kepler Computing Inc

Semiconductor company

United States

-

15,000

15,000

1.2

Merlin Labs Inc

Autonomous flight technology

United States

-

15,000

15,000

1.2

Jiangxiaobai Holdings Ltd

Producer of alcoholic beverages

China

14,475

-

14,475

1.1

PsiQuantum

Silicon photonic quantum computing

United States

-

14,121

14,121

1.1

Graphcore Ltd

Computer chip developer 

United Kingdom

11,922

-

11,922

1.0

Allbirds Inc - Listed

Sustainable direct-to-customer footwear

   brand

United States

8,740

2,738

11,478

0.9

Away (JRSK Inc)

Travel and lifestyle brand 

United States

11,292

-

11,292

0.9

Blockstream Corp Inc

Financial software developer

United States

-

10,652

10,652

0.8

Carbon Inc

Manufactures and develops 3D printers

United States

10,634

-

10,634

0.8

Wayve Technologies Ltd

AI based software for self-driving cars

United Kingdom

-

10,568

10,568

0.8

HeartFlow Inc

Develops software for cardiovascular

  disease diagnosis and treatment

United States

9,127

-

9,127

0.7

Cohesity Inc

Data storage

United States

8,885

-

8,885

0.7

Airbnb Inc - Listed

Online market place for travel

  accommodation

United States

8,534

-

8,534

0.7

Honor Technology Inc

Provider of home-care services

United States

3,675

4,701

8,376

0.7

Indigo Agriculture Inc

Microbial seed treatments to increase

  crop yields and grain marketplace

United States

7,664

-

7,664

0.6

MasterClass (Yanka Industries Inc)

Online education platform

United States

6,591

-

6,591

0.5

Illumina Inc - Listed

Gene sequencing equipment and

  consumables

United States

5,843

-

5,843

0.4

Oscar Health Inc - Listed

Healthcare insurance provider

United States

4,431

-

4,431

0.3

Zymergen Inc - Listed

Synthetic biology

United States

1,505

-

1,505

0.1

Total investments



612,152

454,767

1,066,919

84.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name

 

2022 Ordinary Shares

Value

US$'000

 

2022

C Shares

Value

US$'000

 

2022

Total

Value US$'000

 

2022

% of

 net assets*

US Treasury Bill 08/09/2022

24,598 

24,598 

2.0 

US Treasury Bill 03/11/2022

24,440 

24,440 

1.9 

US Treasury Bill 29/12/2022

24,392 

24,392 

1.9 

US Treasury Bill 23/03/2023

24,657 

24,657 

2.0 

US Treasury Bill 18/05/2023

24,787 

24,787 

2.0 

US Treasury Bill 13/07/2023

24,549 

24,549 

1.9 

Total US Treasury Bills

147,423 

147,423 

11.7 

Cash

41,143 

4,586 

45,729 

3.7 

Other current assets and liabilities

(876)

(1,045)

(1,921)

(0.2)

Net current assets

40,267 

150,964 

191,231

15.2 

Net assets

652,419 

605,731 

1,258,150 

100.0 

 

*   See Glossary of Terms and Alternative Performance Measures at the end of this announcement.

 

The Company may hold various classes of shares in investee companies, some of which may have a preference on winding up.

 

 

 

 

Allocation of Net Assets (Unaudited)

 

 

 

Name

2022 Ordinary Shares

Value

US$'000

 

2022

C Shares

Value

US$'000

 

2022

Total

Value US$'000

 

2022

% of

 net assets*

Listed investments

94,768 

40,198 

134,966 

10.9 

Private company investments

517,384 

414,569 

931,953 

73.9 

US Treasury Bills

147,423 

147,423 

11.7 

Cash

41,143 

4,586 

45,729 

3.7 

Net current assets

(876)

(1,045)

(1,921)

(0.2)

Total net assets

652,419 

605,731 

1,258,150 

100.0 

* See Glossary of Terms and Alternative Performance Measures at the end of this announcement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distribution of Total Net Assets (unaudited)

 


Ordinary Shares Geographical

 

As at

31 July 2022

%

As at

31 January 2022

%

United States

67.7

69.4

United Kingdom

5.9

6.7

China

9.0

9.1

India

6.3

4.2

Sweden

3.6

3.0

Germany

1.3

1.3

Net current assets

6.2

6.3

Total

100.0

100.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ordinary Shares Sectoral

 

As at

31 July 2022

%

As at

31 January 2022

%

Communication Services

14.1

12.7

Consumer Discretionary

10.3

14.6

Consumer Staples

3.4

3.9

Financials

18.1

22.2

Healthcare

7.3

7.0

Industrials

17.3

14.2

Information Technology

23.1

18.7

Materials

0.2

0.4

Net current assets

6.2

6.3

Total

100.0

100.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

C Shares Geographical

 

As at

31 July 2022

%

As at

31 January 2022

%

United States

49.6

33.2

United Kingdom

3.0

4.2

Germany

5.6

5.9

Sweden

1.8

0.9

Australia

2.5

4.1

Brazil

2.5

2.8

China

6.5

4.8

Colombia

3.6

3.8

US Treasury Bills

24.3

39.4

Net Current Assets

0.6

0.9

Total

100.0

100.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

C Shares Sectoral

 

As at

31 July 2022

%

As at

31 January 2022

%

Consumer Discretionary

10.8

11.5

Consumer Staples

6.5

4.8

Financials

14.9

6.1

Healthcare

1.6

0.9

Industrials

6.8

4.7

Information Technology

20.0

20.6

Materials

7.9

4.1

Real Estate

6.6

7.0

US Treasury Bills

24.3

39.4

Net Current Assets

0.6

0.9

Total

100.0

100.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The above sectoral distribution is not derived from any index.


Income Statement (unaudited)

 

 


For the six months

 to 31 July 2022

For the six months

 to 31 July 2021

For the year to

 31 January 2022

 

Notes

Revenue

US$'000

Capital

US$'000

Total

US$'000

Revenue

US$'000

Capital

US$'000

Total

US$'000

Revenue

US$'000

Capital

US$'000

Total

US$'000

(Losses)/gains on investments

 

(209,332)

(209,332)

86,674

86,674 

39,460 

39,460 

Currency (losses)/gains

 

(33)

(33)

338

338 

(19)

(19)

Income

2

218 

218 

148 

-

148 

362 

362 

Investment management fee

3

(4,611)

(4,611)

(3,534)

-

(3,534)

(8,427)

(8,427)

Other administrative expenses

4

(595)

(595)

(509)

-

(509)

(1,100)

(1,100)

Operating (loss)/profit before finance costs and taxation

 

(4,988)

 

(209,365)

 

(214,353)

 

(3,895)

 

87,012

 

83,117 

 

(9,165)

 

39,441 

 

30,276 

Finance cost of borrowings

(9)

(9)

-

(7)

(7)

Operating (loss)/profit before taxation

(4,997)

(209,365)

(214,362)

(3,895)

87,012

83,117 

(9,172)

39,441 

30,269 

Tax on ordinary activities

-

-

 

(4,997)

 

(209,365)

 

(214,362)

 

(3,895)

 

87,012

 

83,117 

 

(9,172)

 

39,441 

 

30,269 

 

 

For the six months

 to 31 July 2022

For the six months

 to 31 July 2021

For the year to

 31 January 2022

 

 

Revenue

US$'000

Capital

US$'000

Total

US$'000

Revenue

US$'000

Capital

US$'000

Total

US$'000

Revenue

US$'000

Capital

US$'000

Total

US$'000

(Loss)/profit and total comprehensive (loss)/income for the period analysed as follows:

 

 




 



 

Attributable to ordinary shareholders

(2,835)

(136,408)

(139,243)

(3,645)

83,252

79,607

(7,238)

51,460 

44,222 

Attributable to C shareholders

(2,162)

(72,957)

(75,119)

(250)

3,760

3,510

(1,934)

(12,019)

(13,953)

(Loss)/profit and total comprehensive

(loss)/income for the period

 

(4,997)

 

(209,365)

 

(214,362)

 

(3,895)

 

87,012

 

83,117

 

(9,172)

 

39,441 

 

30,269 

(Loss)/earnings per ordinary share

(0.57¢)

(27.26¢)

(27.83¢)

(0.75¢)

17.15¢

16.40¢

(1.47¢)

10.46¢

8.99¢

(Loss)/earnings per C share

(0.31¢)

(10.42¢)

(10.73¢)

(0.04¢)

0.54¢

0.50¢

(0.28¢)

(1.72¢)

(2.00¢)

 

 

 

The total column of this Statement represents the Statement of Comprehensive Income of the Company. The supplementary revenue and capital columns are prepared under guidance published by the Association of Investment Companies.

 

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

 


Statement of Financial Position (unaudited)

 

 


Notes

At 31 July

2022

   US$'000    

At 31 July

2022

US$'000

At 31 January

2022

   US$'000    

At 31 January

2022

US$'000

Fixed assets

 

 




Investments held at fair value through profit or loss

7


1,066,919 


1,148,322 

Current assets

 

 


 


US Treasury Bills


147,423 


268,216 


Cash and cash equivalents

 

45,729 


86,898 


Debtors

 

557 

 

405 

 


193,709 


355,519 


Current liabilities


 

 


Amounts falling due within one year                                                     

(2,478)

 

(31,329)


Net current assets


191,231 

 

324,190 

Net assets


1,258,150 


1,472,512 

Capital and reserves

 


 


 

Share capital

8


1,216,503 


1,216,503 

Capital reserve

 


51,054 


260,419 

Revenue reserve

 


(9,407)


(4,410)

Shareholders' funds


1,258,150 


1,472,512 

 

 

 

 

 

At 31 July

2022

 

 

At 31 January

2022

 

Shareholders' funds per Ordinary share (US$'000)

 

 

652,419

 

791,663

Net asset value per Ordinary share

 

 

130.37¢

 

158.20¢

Number of Ordinary shares in issue

 


500,430,002 


500,430,002 

Shareholders' funds per C share (US$'000)

 


605,731 


680,849

Net asset value per C share

 


86.53¢


97.26¢

Number of C shares in issue

 


700,000,000 


700,000,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statement of Changes in Equity (unaudited)

 


Six months to 31 July 2022

 

 

Notes

Share

capital

US$'000

Capital reserve* US$'000

Revenue reserve US$'000

Shareholders'

funds

US$'000

Shareholders' funds at 31 January 2022

1,216,503

260,419 

(4,410)

1,472,512 

Ordinary shares issued                                                               8

-

C shares issued                                                                               8                   

-

Total comprehensive loss for the period - Ordinary shares                       

-

(136,408)

(2,835)

(139,243)

Total comprehensive loss for the period - C shares

-

(72,957)

(2,162)

(75,119)

Shareholders' funds at 31 July 2022

1,216,503

51,054 

(9,407)

1,258,150 

 

 

Six months to 31 July 2021

 

 

Notes

Share

capital

US$'000

Capital reserve* US$'000

Revenue reserve US$'000

Shareholders'

funds

US$'000

Shareholders' funds at 31 January 2021

480,340

220,978

4,762 

706,080 

Ordinary shares issued                                                               8

24,975

-

24,975 

C shares issued                                                                               8                   

694,802

-

694,802 

Total comprehensive income/(loss) for the period - Ordinary shares                       

-

83,252

(3,645)

79,607 

Total comprehensive income/(loss) for the period - C shares

-

3,760

(250)

3,510 

Shareholders' funds at 31 July 2021

1,200,117

307,990

867 

1,508,974 

 

*      Includes investment holdings gains of US$133,855,000 (31 July 2021 - US$307,643,000)



 

Statement of Cash Flows (unaudited)

 

   

                   Six months to

                   31 July 2022

                      Six months to

                      31 July 2021

Notes

US$'000

US$'000

US$'000

US$'000

Cash flows from operating activities

 

 

 

 

Operating (loss)/profit before taxation

 

(214,362)

 

83,117 

US Treasury Bills interest

 

(60)

 

(78)

Net losses/(gains) on investments

 

209,332

 

(86,674)

Currency losses/(gains)

 

33 

 

(338)

Changes in debtors and creditors

 

(422)

 

481 

Net cash used in operating activities*


(5,479)


(3,492)

Cash flows from investing activities

 

 

 

 

Acquisitions of US Treasury Bills

(93,886)

 

(752,036)

 

Disposals of US Treasury Bills

214,739

 

251,524 

 

Acquisitions of investments

(158,358)

 

(196,956)

 

Disposals of investments

1,848 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities


(35,657)


(697,468)

Cash flows from financing activities





Ordinary shares issued

 

24,821 

 

C shares issued

 

694,802 

 

Net cash inflow from financing activities



719,623 

Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents


(41,136)


18,663 

Effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash and cash   

  equivalents


 

(33)

 

 

338 

Cash and cash equivalents at start of period


86,898 

 

16,113 

Cash and cash equivalents at 31 July

 

45,729

 

35,114 

 

*      Cash from operations includes interest received of US$33,000 (2021 - US$1,000)

 

 



 


Notes to the Financial Statements (unaudited)

 

1.    

Basis of Accounting

 

The condensed Financial Statements for the six months to 31 July 2022 comprise the statements set out on the previous pages together with the related notes below. They have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The Financial Statements for the six months to 31 July 2022 have been prepared on the basis of the same accounting policies as set out in the Company's Annual Report and Financial Statements at 31 January 2022.

Equity instruments

The ordinary shares and C shares of the Company are classified as equity in accordance with the definition of equity instruments under IAS 32 Financial Instruments: presentation (IAS 32). The proceeds from the issue of shares are recognised in the Statement of Changes in Equity net of incremental issuance costs.

Going Concern

In accordance with The Financial Reporting Council's guidance on going concern and liquidity risk, including its Covid-19 guidance, the Directors have undertaken a rigorous review of the Company's ability to continue as a going concern and specifically in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, the hostilities in Ukraine and current economic conditions.

Having considered the Company's principal risks and uncertainties, as set out in the inside front cover, together with its current position, investment objective and policy, its assets and liabilities, and projected income and expenditure, it is the Directors' opinion that the Company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. The Directors have considered the Company's principal and emerging risks as detailed on pages 6 to 9 of the Company's Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year to 31 January 2022 and the Investment Manager ensures that the Company holds at all times a proportion of assets that is sufficiently liquid to enable it to discharge its payment obligations. Accordingly, the Directors consider it appropriate to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing these Financial Statements and confirm that they are not aware of any material uncertainties which may affect the Company's ability to continue to do so over a period of at least twelve months from the date of approval of the Financial Statements.

2.    

Income



6 months to

31 July 2022

US$'000

6 months to

31 July 2021

US$'000

Year to

31 January 2022

US$'000


US Treasury Bills interest

60

148

166


Overseas interest

124

-

195


Deposit interest

34

-

1


Total income

218

148

362



3.

Investment Management Fee               



6 months to

31 July 2022

US$'000

6 months to

31 July 2021

US$'000

Year to

31 January 2022

US$'000


Investment Management Fee

4,611

3,534

8,427

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Company has appointed Baillie Gifford & Co Limited as its Investment Manager (the 'Investment Manager'). As the entity appointed to be responsible for risk management and portfolio management, the Investment Manager has also been appointed as the Company's Alternative Investment Fund Manager ('AIFM'). Baillie Gifford & Co Limited has delegated portfolio management services to Baillie Gifford Overseas Limited. The Investment Management Agreement is terminable on not less than six months' notice.

Under the terms of the Investment Management Agreement, the Investment Manager will be entitled to an annual fee (exclusive of VAT, which shall be added where applicable) of: 0.9% on the net asset value excluding cash or cash equivalent assets up to and including US$650 million; 0.8% on the net asset value of the Company excluding cash or cash equivalent assets exceeding US$650 million up to and including US$1.3 billion; and 0.7% on the net asset value excluding cash or cash equivalent assets exceeding US$1.3 billion. Management fees are calculated and payable quarterly. Cash equivalents include US Treasury Bills.

Notes to the Financial Statements (unaudited) (Ctd)

 








 

4.

Other Administrative Expenses



6 months to

31 July 2022

US$'000

6 months to

31 July 2021

US$'000

Year to

 31 January 2022

US$'000


General administrative expenses

202

239

511


Administrator's fee

74

55

92


Auditor's remuneration for audit services

121

113

248


Directors' Fees*

198

102

249



595

509

1,100

 

 

 

 

5.

Expenses relating directly to a share class are charged to that share class. Expenses pertaining to both ordinary and C share classes are split equally between these share classes.

*      Each Director, appointed at the time of the C share issuance, received a one-off fee of £5,000 (US$6,953 equivalent) which covered services relating to the initial listing of the Company's C shares in the year to 31 January 2022.

Earnings per Share



6 months to

31 July 2022

6 months to

31 July 2021

Year to

31 January 2022


Ordinary shares

US$'000

¢

US$'000

¢

US$'000

¢


Revenue return on ordinary activities after taxation

(2,835)

(0.57)

(3,645)

(0.75)

(7,238)

(1.47)


Capital return on ordinary activities after taxation

(136,408)

(27.26)

83,252 

17.15 

51,460 

10.46 


(Loss)/profit and total comprehensive (loss)/income for the period

 

(139,243)

 

(27.83)

 

79,607 

 

16.40 

 

44,222 


Weighted average number of Ordinary shares in issue

 

500,430,002

 

485,476,079

 

491,934,440



 

 

 


 

 

6 months to

31 July 2022

 

Period from 26 April 2021 to 31 July 2021

Period from 26 April 2021 to 31 January 2022


C shares

US$'000

¢

US$'000

¢

US$'000

¢


Revenue return on ordinary activities after taxation

(2,162)

(0.31)

(250)

(0.04)

(1,934)

(0.28)


Capital return on ordinary activities after taxation

(72,957)

(10.42)

3,760 

0.54 

(12,019)

(1.72)


(Loss)/profit and total comprehensive (loss)/income for the period

 

(75,119)

 

(10.73)

 

3,510 

 

0.50 

 

(13,953)

 

(2.00)


Weighted average number of C shares in issue

700,000,000

700,000,000

700,000,000




Net return per share is based on the above totals of revenue and capital and the weighted average number of shares in issue during each period. There are no dilutive or potentially dilutive shares in issue.



6.

Ordinary Dividends


There were no dividends paid or proposed in respect of the six months for either the ordinary shares or for the C shares (2021 - none).

Notes to the Financial Statements (unaudited) (Ctd)

 












 

7.

Financial Instruments

Fair Value Hierarchy

The fair value hierarchy used to analyse the fair values of financial assets is described below. The levels are determined by the lowest (that is the least reliable or least independently observable) level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement for the individual investment in its entirety as follows:

Level 1 - using unadjusted quoted prices for identical instruments in an active market;

Level 2 - using inputs, other than quoted prices included within Level 1, that are directly or indirectly observable (based on market data); and

Level 3 - using inputs that are unobservable (for which market data is unavailable).


 

As at 31 July 2022

Level 1

US$'000

Level 2

US$'000

Level 3

US$'000

Total

US$'000

Listed equities

134,966

-

-

134,966

Unlisted ordinary shares

-

-

181,929

181,929

Unlisted preference shares*

-

-

745,634

745,634

Unlisted convertible promissory notes

-

-

4,390

4,390

Total financial asset investments

134,966

-

931,953

1,066,919



 

 

 

 


 

As at 31 January 2022

Level 1

US$'000

Level 2

US$'000

Level 3

US$'000

Total

US$'000

Listed equities

211,039

-

-

211,039

Unlisted ordinary shares

-

-

167,268

167,268

Unlisted preference shares*

-

-

765,207

765,207

Unlisted convertible promissory notes

-

-

4,808

4,808


Total financial asset investments

211,039

-

937,283

1,148,322


* The investments in preference shares are not classified as equity holdings as they include liquidation preference rights that determine the repayment (or multiple thereof) of the original investment in the event of a liquidation event such as a take-over.

During the six months to 31 July 2022, no investments were transferred from Level 3 to Level 1 on becoming listed. During the year ended 31 January 2022, investments with a fair value (IPO price) of US$197,699,000 were transferred from Level 3 to Level 1 on becoming listed.

The valuation techniques used by the Company are explained in the accounting policies on page 46 of the Company's Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year to 31 January 2022. Listed investments are categorised as Level 1 if they are valued using unadjusted quoted prices for identical instruments in an active market and as Level 2 if they do not meet all these criteria but are, nonetheless, valued using market data. The Company's holdings in unlisted investments are categorised as Level 3 as unobservable data is a significant input to their fair value measurements.








 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes to the Financial Statements (unaudited) (Ctd)

 

8.

Share Capital

 

 

 

 



31 July

2022

Number

31 July

2022

US$'000

31 January

2022

Number

31 January

2022

US$'000


Allotted, called up and fully paid Ordinary shares of US$1 each

500,430,002

521,701

500,430,002

521,701


Allotted, called up and fully paid C shares of US$1 each

700,000,000

694,802

700,000,000

694,802


By way of a special resolution dated 15 March 2019 the Directors have a general authority to allot up to 720,000,000 ordinary shares or C shares, such figure to include the ordinary shares issued at the initial placing. 477,250,000 ordinary shares were issued at the Company's initial placing, with a further 23,180,002 ordinary shares subsequently issued, the Company has the ability to issue a further 219,570,000 shares under this existing authority which expires at the end of the period concluding immediately prior to the Annual General Meeting of the Company to be held in 2024 (or, if earlier, five years from the date of the resolution). During the six months to 31 July 2022 the Company issued no ordinary shares. As at 31 July 2022 the Company has the authority to issue 75,014,457 ordinary shares. In the period from 1 August 2022 to 1 September 2022 the Company issued no further shares.

By way of a special resolution dated 18 March 2021 the Directors have a general authority to allot up to 700,000,000 C shares. On 26 April 2021, the Company issued 700,000,000 C shares of US$1 each and raised gross proceeds of US$700,000,000. The issue costs in respect of the C share issue were US$5,198,000. These costs consisted of mainly broker commission (US$4,066,000), legal fees (US$601,000) and listing fees (US$396,000).

By way of an ordinary resolution passed on 12 May 2022 the Directors of the Company have general authority to make market purchases of up to 75,014,457 ordinary shares, being 14.99% of the ordinary shares in issue as at 28 March 2022, being the latest practicable date prior to the publication of the Company's Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 January 2022. This authority will expire at the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting of the Company to be held in respect of the year ending 31 January 2023. No shares have been bought back during the six months ended 31 July 2022 (31 July 2021 - nil) hence the authority remains at 75,014,457 ordinary shares.

Holders of ordinary shares have the right to receive income and capital from assets attributable to such share class. Ordinary shareholders have the right to receive notice of general meetings of the Company and have the right to attend and vote at all general meetings.

Holders of C shares have the right to receive income and capital from assets attributable to such share class. C shareholders have the right to receive notice of general meetings of the Company and have the right to attend and vote at all general meetings.

9.

Transaction Costs


During the period the Company incurred transaction costs on purchases of investments of US$57,000 (31 July 2021 - US$99,000; 31 January 2022 - US$99,000) and transaction costs on sales of US$nil (31 July 2021 - US$nil; 31 January 2022 - US$nil).



10.

Transactions with Related Parties and the Investment Manager and Administrator


There have been no transactions with related parties during the first six months of the current financial year that have materially affected the financial position or the performance of the Company during that period and there have been no changes in the related party transactions described in the last Annual Report and Financial Statements that could have such an effect on the Company during that period.




None of the views expressed in this document should be construed as advice to buy or sell a particular investment.










 


Glossary of Terms and Alternative Performance Measures ('APM')

Total Assets

The total value of all assets held less all liabilities (other than liabilities in the form of borrowings).

Shareholders' Funds and Net Asset Value

Shareholders' Funds is the value of all assets held less all liabilities, with borrowings deducted at book cost. Net Asset Value (NAV) is the value of all assets held less all liabilities, with borrowings deducted at either fair value or par value. Per share amounts are calculated by dividing the relevant figure by the number of Ordinary shares in issue.

Net Liquid Assets

Net liquid assets comprise current assets less current liabilities (excluding borrowings).

Premium/(Discount) (APM)

As stock markets and share prices vary, an investment trust's share price is rarely the same as its NAV. When the share price is lower than the NAV per share it is said to be trading at a discount. The size of the discount is calculated by subtracting the share price from the NAV per share and is usually expressed as a percentage of the NAV per share. If the share price is higher than the NAV per share, it is said to be trading at a premium.


Ordinary shares


31 July 2022

31 January 2022


Closing NAV per share

(a)

130.37¢

158.20¢


Closing share price

(b)

125.00¢

212.00¢


(Discount)/premium expressed as a percentage

(b-a) ÷ a

(4.1%)

34.0%







C shares


31 July 2022

26 April 2022


Closing NAV per share

(a)

86.53¢

97.26¢


Closing share price

(b)

73.00¢

118.00¢


(Discount)/premium expressed as a percentage

(b-a) ÷ a

(15.6%)

21.3%


 

 

 

 

 

Other Shareholder Information

 

Automatic Exchange of Information

 

In order to fulfil its legal obligations under the Guernsey Common Reporting Standard Legislation relating to the Automatic Exchange of Information, the Company is required to collect and report certain information about certain shareholders.

The legislation will require investment companies to provide personal information to the Guernsey authorities on certain investors who purchase shares in investment funds. As an affected company, The Schiehallion Fund Limited will have to provide information annually to the local authority on the tax residencies of non-UK based certificated shareholders and corporate entities.

 

 

 

 

 

Other Shareholder Information (Ctd)

 

Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act

 

Pursuant to the reciprocal information sharing inter-governmental agreement entered into by the

States of Guernsey and the US Treasury, and for the purposes of the US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act ('FATCA') of the Company registered with the Internal Revenue Service ('IRS') as a Foreign Financial Institution ('FFI') and received a Global Intermediary Identification Number (R2NXXB.9999.SL.831).

The Company can be located on the IRS FFI list.

 

Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation ('SFDR')

 

The EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation ('SFDR') does not have a direct impact in the UK due to Brexit, however, it applies to third-country products marketed in the EU. As The Schiehallion Fund Limited is marketed in the EU by the AIFM, BG & Co Limited, via the National Private Placement Regime (NPPR) the following disclosures have been provided to comply with the high-level requirements of SFDR.

The AIFM has adopted Baillie Gifford & Co's Governance and Sustainable Principles and Guidelines as its policy on integration of sustainability risks in investment decisions.

Baillie Gifford & Co's approach to investment is based on identifying and holding high quality growth businesses that enjoy sustainable competitive advantages in their marketplace. To do this it looks beyond current financial performance, undertaking proprietary research to build an in-depth knowledge of an individual company and a view on its long-term prospects. This includes the consideration of sustainability factors (environmental, social and/or governance matters) which it believes will positively or negatively influence the financial returns of an investment.

More detail on the Managers' approach to sustainability can be found in the Governance and Sustainability Principles and Guidelines document, available publicly on the Baillie Gifford website bailliegifford.com/literature-library/corporate- governance/our-stewardship-approach-esg- principles-and-guidelines-2022

 

Taxonomy Regulation

The Taxonomy Regulation establishes an EU-wide framework of criteria for environmentally sustainable economic activities in respect of six environmental objectives. It builds on the disclosure requirements under SFDR by introducing additional disclosure obligations in respect of alternative investment funds that invest in an economic activity that contributes to an environmental objective.

The Company does not commit to make sustainable investments as defined under SFDR. As such, the underlying investments do not take into account the EU criteria for environmentally sustainable economic activities.

 

 

None of the views expressed in this document should be construed as advice to buy or sell a particular investment.

 

You can find up to date performance information about The Schiehallion Fund on the Schiehallion Fund page of the Managers' website at schiehallionfund.com

 

The Schiehallion Fund Limited is managed by Baillie Gifford, the Edinburgh based fund management group with around £356 billion under management and advice in active equity and bond portfolios for clients in the UK and throughout the world (as at 1 September 2021). The Administrator, Secretary and Designated Manager is Alter Domus (Guernsey) Limited.

 

‡    Neither the contents of the Managers' website nor the contents of any website accessible from hyperlinks on the Managers' website (or any other website) is incorporated into, or forms part of, this announcement.

 

Past performance is not a guide to future performance.  The value of an investment and any income from it is not guaranteed and may go down as well as up and investors may not get back the amount invested.  This is because the share price is determined by the changing conditions in the relevant stock markets in which the Company invests and by the supply and demand for the Company's shares.

 2 September 2022

For further information please contact:

 

Alex Blake, Baillie Gifford & Co

Tel: 0131 275 2859 or 07773 246035

 

Jonathan Atkins, Four Communications

Tel: 0203 920 0555 or 07872 495396

- ends -

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