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RM Infrastructure Income PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2024
Strategic report >
Governance
Financial statements
Other Information
Portfolio at a glance
Market
Company objectives
Chair’s statement
Investment Manager’s report
Investment policy, results and other information
Risks and risk management
Stakeholder engagement
ESG
regulations and/or government policy affecting the Company or any
changes to current accountancy regulations and practice in the UK
may have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Company to
successfully pursue its investment policy and meet its investment
objective and/or on the value of the Company and the shares. In such
event, the performance of the Company, the NAV, the Company’s
earnings and returns to Shareholders may be materially adversely
affected.
Management of risks
The Company has contracted out relevant services to appropriately
qualified professionals. The Secretary and AIFM report on compliance
matters to the Board on a quarterly basis and the Board has
access to the advice of its Corporate Broker on a continuing basis.
The assessment of regulatory risks forms part of the Board’s risk
assessment program.
Emerging risks
The Board also has robust processes in place to identify and evaluate
emerging risks.
(vi) Business interruption
Failure in services provided by key service providers, meaning
information is not processed correctly or in a timely manner, resulting
in regulatory investigation or financial loss, failure of trade settlement,
or potential loss of investment trust status.
Failure to identify emerging risks may cause reactive actions rather
than being proactive and the Company could be forced to change its
structure, objective or strategy and, in worst case, could cause the
Company to become unviable or otherwise fail.
Management of risks
Each service provider has business continuity policies and procedures
in place to ensure that they are able to meet the Company’s needs and
all breaches of any nature are reported to the Board.
The following is a description of the Company’s service providers who
assist in identifying the Company’s emerging risks to the Board.
1. Investment Manager: the Investment Manager provides a report
to the Board at least quarterly on industry trends, insight to future
challenges in the sector, including the regulatory, political and
economic changes likely to impact the Company. The Chair also has
contact with the Investment Manager on a regular basis to discuss
any pertinent issues;
2. Alternative Investment Fund Manager: the AIFM maintains a
register of identified risks including emerging risks likely to impact
the Company, which is updated as required, following discussions
with the Investment Manager and other service providers. The
risks are documented on a risk register and classified in the
following categories: Counterparty Risks; Leverage and Borrowing
Risks; Liquidity Risks; Market Risks; Operational Risks; Corporate
Governance Risks; Compliance Risks and Other Risks;
3. Broker: provides advice periodically, specific to the Company on
the Company’s sector, competitors and the investment Company
market whilst working with the Board and Investment Manager to
communicate with Shareholders;
4. Company Secretary: briefs the Board on forthcoming legislation
and regulatory changes that might impact the Company. The
Secretary also liaises with the Company’s Legal Adviser, Auditors
including other regulatory bodies to ensure that industry and
regulatory updates are brought to the Board’s attention.
The Board regularly reviews the Company’s risk matrix, focusing
on risk mitigation and ensuring that the appropriate controls are in
place. Regular review ensures that the Company operates in line with
the risk matrix, prospectus and investment strategy. Emerging risks
are actively discussed throughout the year to ensure that risks are
identified and managed so far as practicable. The experience and
knowledge of the Board is invaluable to these discussions, as is advice
received from the Board’s service providers.
All key service providers produce annual internal control reports
for review by the Audit and Management Engagement Committee.
These reviews include consideration of their business continuity
plans and the associated cyber security risks. Service providers report
on cyber risk mitigation and management at least annually, which
includes confirmation of business continuity capability in the event
of a cyberattack. Penetration testing is carried out by the Investment
Manager and key service providers at least annually. Details of the
Directors’ assessment of the going concern status of the Company can
be found in the annual report. The Investment Manager complies with
all sanctioning regimes and presently views Russia as uninvestable.
(vii) ESG and Climate Change
The impact of climate change has come increasingly into focus and
is considered an emerging risk by both the Board and its Investment
Manager. While the Company itself faces limited direct risk from
the impact of climate change, the Company’s underlying holdings
selected by the Investment Manager are impacted. While efforts to
mitigate climate change continue, the physical impacts are already
emerging in the form of changing weather patterns. Extreme
weather events can result in flooding, drought, fires, storm damage,
potentially impairing the operations of a portfolio Company at a
certain location or impacting locations of companies within their
supply chain. Significant changes in climate, or the Government
measures to combat it, could present a material risk to the Company.
There is also potential reputational damage from non-compliance
with regulations or incorrect disclosures.
Management of risks
The Company incorporates ESG considerations into its investment
process and more details can be found in the Annual Report. The
Investment Manager also uses its position to engage with and
influence companies towards taking positive steps to contribute to
ESG and against climate change. The Company’s ESG Policy, which
is updated annually is also published on the Company’s website. The
Board has considered the impact of climate change on the financial
statements as documented in the Notes to the financial statements.
RM Funds is a signatory to the Principles of Responsible Investment
Initiative (“PRI”) and reports annually according to the PRI reporting
framework.