INTERIM MANAGEMENT REPORT

CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT

Markets/Performance

The first half of 2023 has been a volatile period for financial markets. With high inflation globally, policy makers have continued to raise interest rates in an attempt to cool economic activity and reduce price increases. Investors are focused on how much further rates will rise and trying to assess the impact on corporate profitability from increased borrowing costs. From a global perspective, there are some signs that the UK economy might see inflationary pressure take a little longer to abate, not least due to the very tight labour market in the UK and the pressure in particular from recent public and private sector pay settlements.

Against this backdrop the Company has made modest positive progress in the first half of 2023 achieving a net asset value total return of +3.0% compared with a benchmark return of +1.9%, outperformance of 1.1%. The Company's share price total return has been in line with the benchmark at +2.0%.

Gearing/Asset Allocation

The Company started 2023 with an overweight position in equities and an underweight position in fixed interest investments compared with its benchmark (80% equities, 20% bonds). This position has not changed markedly during the first half of 2023 and the Company's gearing is also largely unchanged at 21.3% as at 30 June 2023 (21.4% as at 31 December 2022).

The Board regularly reviews the level of gearing with the Company's Fund Manager, and this has continued to be the case not least due to the increase in interest rates which impact the Company's overall borrowing costs, notwithstanding the fact that a proportion of the Company's borrowings are at fixed rates.

Dividends

The first interim dividend of 2.575 pence per share was paid on 28 April 2023 and a second interim dividend of the same amount was paid on 28 July 2023.

A third interim dividend, to be paid from the Company's revenue account, of 2.575 pence per share was announced on 17 July 2023 and this dividend will be paid on 27 October 2023 to shareholders registered at the close of business on 15 September 2023 (with the shares being quoted ex-dividend on 14 September 2023).

Looking across the corporate sector at recent results announcements it is encouraging that dividend payout levels continue to be relatively healthy and, notwithstanding the impact of higher borrowing costs on end demand and corporate profitability, UK corporate balance sheets remain in generally good health.

David Smith continues to regularly update the Board on prospective income levels from the Company's portfolio of investments and combined with the Company's current dividend reserves, the Board continues to have confidence in the Company's ability to deliver a high income return to shareholders.

Outlook

In the near term the outlook for markets will be driven by inflation expectations and the impact this will have on monetary policy. There are certainly some signs that inflation is easing a little, particularly in the US and across Europe. However, inflation in the UK is proving more problematic, and although the Bank of England has increased interest rates significantly in the first half of 2023, the expectation in the market is that they may have to rise a little further.

The UK corporate sector is in the midst of the interim results season and whilst there are certainly pockets of weakness, corporate results are for the most part holding up well. In particular, UK banks have announced positive updates showing relatively little sign of corporate and personal sector weakness, and capital levels within the banks are at very positive levels. In addition, the UK housing market, which is very important to the UK economy, is holding up reasonably well at this stage.

UK companies, where the majority of the Company's assets remain invested, still appear to be relatively attractively valued in a global context and are still delivering the income levels which will assist the Company's Fund Manager to deliver a high income return for shareholders whilst also retaining exposure to longer term capital growth.

Jeremy Rigg

Chairman

12 September 2023

Fund Manager's Report

Markets

After a strong start to the year for equity markets on fading recessionary fears and good corporate earnings, the UK market pared back some of those gains as a result of higher-than-expected inflation and the subsequent rise in interest rates. The FTSE All-Share Index returned 2.6% on a total return basis, which lagged both US and European equity markets. While inflation continued to fall from its peak in October last year, it remained stubbornly high in the UK, with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rising 8.7% in May. This prompted the Bank of England to raise interest rates four times in the period, from 3.5% to 5.0% as at the end of June. UK government bond yields also rose during the period due to concerns about inflation and the prospect of interest rates staying higher for longer, with the 10-year gilt yield increasing to 4.4% at the end of June, from 3.7% at the beginning of the period.

Larger cap companies continued to outperform mid-caps with the FTSE 100 up 3.2% versus the 0.6% decline in the FTSE 250. Sectors such as consumer discretionary, industrials and financials performed best, while consumer staples, basic materials and telecoms lagged.

Performance

The Company's NAV (with debt at fair value) rose by 3.0% during the period, outperforming the Company's benchmark return of 1.9%. Within the equity portfolio, holdings in 3i, B&M European Retail and Whitbread were positive for performance. Private equity group 3i announced strong trading from its largest holding, European discount retailer Action, which supported a significant uplift to its NAV. B&M is another discount retailer held by the portfolio which also delivered robust results, as pressure on consumer spending led to an increase in customers "trading down" to B&M's value proposition. Whitbread, the owner of budget hotel chain Premier Inn, reported good trading momentum with the company benefitting from the investment it made during the pandemic to emerge in a strong position versus its competitors. Elsewhere the portfolio's positions in Anglo American and British American Tobacco (BAT) detracted from returns. Anglo American shares came under pressure from falling commodity prices and fears the Chinese economic recovery was stalling, while BAT's underperformed after it stopped its share buyback program and announced it was to pay $635 million to the US Department of Justice for a historic breach of sanctions in North Korea.

Portfolio Activity

During the period the allocation to bonds was increased, taking advantage of the move higher in yields on UK investment grade credit. Bonds were purchased in typically non-cyclical businesses such as Sky (media) and EDF (utilities). The bond portfolio represented 11.5% and 13.9% of portfolio gross and net assets respectively as at the end of June. 

Within the equity portfolio new holdings were established in MoneySuperMarket.com, Conduit Re and DCC. MoneySuperMarket.com is the market leading price comparison website in the UK and should benefit from consumers looking to manage their bills in the current high inflation environment. Conduit Re is a specialist property and casualty reinsurer with a diversified portfolio of reinsurance risks. Capacity has reduced significantly in the reinsurance market after a number of years of large losses, and as a result, the market is entering a period of strong premium rate rises which should underpin high returns over the medium term.  DCC, an international sales, marketing and distribution company operating in the LPG, oil, technology and health care sector, has a resilient business with strong free cash flow, high returns and a robust balance sheet which should support further accretive acquisitions. The Company sold some of its overseas holdings during the period, including McDonalds, Deutsche Post and Nordea after a period of good performance.

David Smith

Fund Manager

12 September 2023

NOTES TO THE CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. Accounting policies: basis of accounting

The Company is a registered investment company as defined by Section 833 of the Companies Act 2006 and operates as an investment trust in accordance with Section 1158 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010.

The condensed set of financial statements has been prepared in accordance with FRS 104, Interim Financial Reporting, FRS 102, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland and the Statement of Recommended Practice for "Financial Statements of Investment Trust Companies and Venture Capital Trusts", which was updated by the Association of Investment Companies in July 2022.

For the period under review the Company's accounting policies have not varied from those described in the Annual Report for the year-ended 31 December 2022. The condensed set of financial statements has been neither audited nor reviewed by the Company's auditor.

2. Management fees

Management fees are charged in accordance with the terms of the management agreement which are set out in the Company's Annual Report for the year-ended 31 December 2022.

3. Revenue return/(loss) per ordinary share

The revenue return/(loss) per ordinary share is based on the following figures:

The Company does not have any dilutive securities therefore the basic and diluted returns per share are the same.

4. Fair values of financial assets and financial liabilities

The fair values of the financial assets and liabilities are either carried in the Statement of Financial Position at their fair value (investments and derivatives), or the statement of financial position amount is a reasonable approximation of fair value (due from brokers, dividends, and interest receivable, due to brokers, accruals, cash at bank, bank overdrafts and amounts due under the multi-currency loan facility). At 30 June 2023 the fair value of the senior unsecured note has been estimated to be £17,043,000 (30 June 2022: £19,636,000; 31 December 2022: £17,653,000) and is categorised as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.

The current estimated fair value of the senior unsecured note is calculated using a discount rate based on the redemption yield of the relevant existing reference UK Gilt plus a suitable estimated credit spread. The estimated credit spread is based on the spread between the yield of the ICE BofA 10-15 Year A Sterling Non-Gilt Index and the redemption yield of the ICE BofA 10-15 Year UK Gilt Index. The discount rate is calculated and updated at each month end and applied daily to determine the Company's published fair value NAVs.

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:

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

·      Level 2: valued by reference to valuation techniques using observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1.

·      Level 3: valued by reference to valuation techniques using inputs that are not based on observable market data.

The Company's holdings in options are included within Level 2 and are included in creditors amounts falling due within one year in the Statement of Financial Position. 

Premiums from written options during the half-year ended 30 June 2023 were £239,000 (half-year ended 30 June 2022: £175,000; year-ended 31 December 2022: £289,000).

5. Net asset value per ordinary share

The net asset value per ordinary share is based on the net assets attributable to the ordinary shares of £213,571,000 (half-year ended 30 June 2022: £213,444,000; year ended 31 December 2022: £214,277,000) and on the 129,796,278 ordinary shares in issue at 30 June 2023 (30 June 2022: 129,796,278; 31 December 2022: 129,796,278).

6. Share capital

During the six months under review, the Company issued no shares (half-year ended 30 June 2022: 1,200,000; year ended 31 December 2022: 1,200,000). Between 1 July and 12 September 2023, no further shares have been issued. The Company has no shares held in Treasury.

7. Dividends

9. Related party transactions

The Company's current related parties are its Directors and Janus Henderson. There have been no material transactions between the Company and its Directors during the period and the only amounts paid to them were in respect of expenses and remuneration, for which there were no outstanding amounts payable at the period end.

In relation to the provision of services by Janus Henderson, other than fees payable by the Company in the ordinary course of business and the provision of marketing services, there have been no material transactions with Janus Henderson affecting the financial position of the Company during the period under review.

10. Going concern

The assets of the Company consist of securities that are readily realisable and, accordingly, the Directors believe that the Company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for at least twelve months from the date of approval of the financial statements.

The Company's shareholders are asked every five years to vote for the continuation of the Company. An ordinary resolution to this effect was passed by the shareholders at the annual general meeting held on 23 June 2020.

The Directors have considered the risks associated with rising interest rates and its impact on the broader financial system, as well as considering cash flow forecasting, a review of covenant compliance including the headroom above the most restrictive covenants and an assessment of the liquidity of the portfolio. They have concluded that they are able to meet their financial obligations, including the repayment of the bank loan, as they fall due for a period of at least twelve months from the date of issuance. Having assessed these factors, the principal risks and other matters discussed in connection with the viability statement, the Board has determined that it is appropriate for the financial statements to be prepared on a going concern basis.

11. Half-year report

The half-year report is available at www.hendersonhighincome.com or in hard copy from the Corporate Secretary by emailing itsecretariat@janushenderson.com. An abbreviated version of this half-year report, the 'Update', will be circulated to shareholders in September 2023.

12. General information

a) Company Status

The Company is a UK domiciled investment trust company with registered number 02422514.

SEDOL/ISIN number: 0958057

London Stock Exchange (TIDM) code: HHI

Global Intermediary Identification Number (GIIN): JBA08I.99999.SL.826

Legal Entity Identifier (LEI): 213800OEXAGFSF7Y6G11

b) Directors, Corporate Secretary and Registered Office

The Directors of the Company are Jeremy Rigg (Chairman), Jonathan Silver (Chairman of the Audit & Risk Committee), Zoe King (Senior Independent Director), Richard Cranfield and Francesca Ecsery. The Corporate Secretary is Janus Henderson Secretarial Services UK Limited, represented by Samantha McDonald, ACG. The registered office is 201 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 3AE. 

c) Website

Details of the Company's share price and net asset value, together with general information about the Company, monthly factsheets and data, copies of announcements, reports and details of general meetings can be found at www.hendersonhighincome.com