BlackRock
Throgmorton
Trust plc
Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
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Financial
highlights
for the year ended 30 November 2022
595.00p
1
Ordinary share price
-35.5%
2,3
626.10p
NAV per ordinary share
-31.1
2,3
£633.4m
Net assets
-32.3%
11.10p
Total dividends
+5.7
%
12.95p
Revenue earnings per share
+6.6%
NAV per share underperformed Benchmark Index
4
by
13.6
percentage points
3,5
Share price underperformed Benchmark Index
4
by
18.0 percentage points
3
Percentage comparisons are year-on-year against 30 November 2021.
¹
Mid-market.
²
Share price and NAV performance are calculated in Sterling terms with dividends reinvested.
³
Alternative Performance Measures. See Glossary on pages 131 to 133.
4
The Company uses the Numis Smaller Companies plus AIM (excluding Investment Companies) Index as
its Benchmark Index.
5
Calculated on NAV per ordinary share performance versus the Benchmark Index performance, both in
Sterling terms with dividends reinvested.
Section 1: Overview and performance
1
“onshoring”, potential for increased industrial spend as global companies seek to
diversify away from China & Taiwan / niche industrials in the UK mid market.
2
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
l
Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
A member of the Association of Investment Companies
Further details about the Company, including the latest annual and half yearly financial reports, fact
sheets and stock exchange announcements, are available on the website at blackrock.com/uk/thrg
Why BlackRock
Throgmorton
Trust plc?
Investment objective
The Company’s objective is to provide shareholders with long term capital growth and an
attractive total return through investment primarily in UK smaller and mid-capitalisation
companies traded on the London Stock Exchange.
Reasons to invest
Outperforming asset class
The Company offers investors exposure
to primarily UK smaller and mid-
capitalisation companies, an asset
class that has historically outperformed
larger companies by 4%
1
per annum.
Active management
Smaller and mid-capitalisation
companies operate in a less efficient
and under-researched area of the
market, which makes it an attractive
environment for active managers.
Additional alpha
opportunities
We are able to increase our long
exposure where we see opportunity, and
can also short companies that we find
unattractive, enabling the Company to
profit if their share prices rise or fall in
each case. This provides a differentiated
source of potential alpha.
Flexible market exposure
The Company has an enhanced
toolkit for generating outperformance.
Leverage enables us to increase overall
gross market exposure whilst varying
the net exposure through time, with
the aim of enhancing returns over the
long term.
Broader exposure
The Company is able to invest without
restriction in AIM listed companies, has
the ability to invest 15% of gross assets
in companies listed overseas and 2.5%
of net assets in unquoted companies.
This further expands our investment
universe and provides differentiation
from other trusts in the market.
Proven track record
Proven strategy with a long term
track record of over 4.5% annualised
outperformance over our Benchmark
Index.
2
1
Source: Datastream. For the period 1955 to 2022, Numis Smaller Companies Index plus AIM (excluding Investment Companies) Total Return Index (previously
known as Hoare Govett). Barclays Equity Total Return (December 1955 to December 2006), representative of smaller company performance. FTSE All-Share Total
Return (January 2008 to May 2022), representative of larger company performance.
2
Since BlackRock was appointed as Manager on 1 July 2008.
Section 1: Overview and performance
3
Contents
Section 1: Overview and performance
Financial highlights
1
Why BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc?
2
Performance record
4
Ten year record
5
Chairman’s statement
6
Investment Manager’s report
13
Section 2: Portfolio
Portfolio of investments
21
Fair value and gross market exposure of investments
26
Distribution of investments
27
Section 3: Governance
Governance structure
32
Directors’ biographies
33
Strategic report
37
Responsible ownership: BlackRock’s approach to sustainable investing
52
Directors’ report
54
Corporate governance statement
63
Report of the remuneration committee
69
Directors’ remuneration policy
73
Report of the Audit Committee
75
Statement of Directors’ responsibilities in respect of the Annual Report and
Financial Statements
79
Section 4: Financial Statements
Independent Auditor’s Report
82
Statement of Comprehensive Income
88
Statement of Changes in Equity
89
Statement of Financial Position
90
Cash Flow Statement
91
Notes to the Financial Statements
92
Section 5: Additional information
Shareholder information
120
Analysis of ordinary shareholders
123
Management and other service providers
124
AIFM Report on Remuneration (unaudited)
125
Other AIFMD disclosures (unaudited)
129
Information to be disclosed in accordance with Listing Rule 9.8.4
130
Glossary
131
Section 6: Annual general meeting
Notice of annual general meeting
136
Share fraud warning
140
4
BlackRock
Throgmorton Trust plc
l
Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
Performance record
As at
30 November
2022
As at
30 November
2021
Net assets (£’000)
1
633,357
935,148
Net asset value per ordinary share (pence)
626.10
921.91
Ordinary share price (mid-market) (pence)
595.00
935.00
Benchmark Index
2
15,652.96
18,968.77
(Discount)/premium to cum income net asset value
3
(5.0)%
1.4%
Average (discount)/premium to cum income net asset value for the year
3
(3.5)%
1.2%
Performance (with dividends reinvested)
Net asset value per share
3
(31.1)%
37.0%
Ordinary share price
3
(35.5)%
38.8%
Benchmark Index
2
(17.5)%
24.5%
For the year
ended
30 November
2022
For the year
ended
30 November
2021
Change
%
Revenue
Net revenue profit after taxation (£’000)
13,257
11,446
+15.8%
Revenue earnings per ordinary share (pence)
4
12.95
12.15
+6.6%
Dividends per ordinary share (pence)
Interim
2.60
2.50
+4.0%
Final
8.50
8.00
+6.3
%
Total dividends paid and payable
11.10
10.50
+5.7%
-45
-30
-15
0
15
30
45
Benchmark Index
5
Ordinary share price (mid-market)
NAV per share
Annual performance figures to 30 November change %, calculated in Sterling terms with dividends reinvested.
Sources: BlackRock and Datastream.
(31.1)
(2.7)
(9.0)
1.8
8.2
(17.5)
42.8
9.1
3.8
37.0
24.5
38.8
(35.5)
24.4
8.0
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
%
Annual performance for the five years to 30 November 2022
5
The Company’s Benchmark Index is the Numis Smaller Companies plus AIM (excluding Investment Companies) Index. With effect from 22 March 2018, the
Numis Smaller Companies plus AIM (excluding Investment Companies) Index replaced the Numis Smaller Companies excluding AIM (excluding Investment
Companies) Index as the Company’s Benchmark Index. From 1 December 2013 to 21 March 2018, the Company’s Benchmark Index was the Numis Smaller
Companies excluding AIM (excluding Investment Companies) Index. Prior to 1 December 2013, the Company’s Benchmark Index was the Numis Smaller
Companies plus AIM (excluding Investment Companies) Index. The performance of the Benchmark Indices during these periods has been blended to reflect
these changes.
1
The change in net assets reflects portfolio movements, dividends paid, share issues and share buybacks during the year.
2
The Company’s Benchmark Index is the Numis Smaller Companies plus AIM (excluding Investment Companies) Index.
3
Alternative Performance Measures, see Glossary on pages 131 to 133.
4
Further details are given in the Glossary on page
133.
1
Mid-market price.
2
Alternative Performance Measures, see Glossary on pages 131 to 133.
Equity shareholders’ funds (£m)
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
240.8
235.5
286.3
301.5
396.8
379.6
470.1
596.2
935.1
633.4
626.1
329.2
322.0
391.6
412.3
542.7
519.1
634.1
681.2
921.9
NAV per share (p)
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
Ordinary share price per share¹ (p)
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
290.0
270.0
339.5
325.0
457.5
457.0
640.0
682.0
935.0
595.0
(11.9)
(5.0)
(16.1)
(13.3)
(21.2)
(15.7)
(12.0)
0.9
1.4
0.1
Share price (discount)/premium to NAV² (%)
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
10.2%
Compound annual
growth rate over the
ten year period
Net revenue profit after taxation (£m)
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
13.3
3.7
3.8
5.9
5.7
7.4
8.1
6.3
5.4
11.4
12.95
4.99
5.19
8.08
7.83
10.11
11.02
8.56
6.57
12.15
Revenue return per ordinary share (p)
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
13.5%
Compound annual
growth rate over the
ten year period
Dividends per share (p)
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
11.10
4.00
4.40
6.70
7.50
9.00
10.00
10.20
+40.1
-1.1
+23.2
+7.3
+33.9
+37.0
-2.7
-31.1
+24.4
+9.1
Change in NAV per share (with dividends reinvested)² (%)
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
12.8%
Compound annual
growth rate over the
ten year period
11.9%
Compound annual
growth rate over the
ten year period
10.20
10.50
Section 1: Overview and performance
5
Ten year record
6
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
l
Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
Chairman’s
statement
Overview
In the Half Yearly Report, the Board
recognised that it had been a
particularly challenging period, the
NAV having underperformed the
benchmark by 16.9
percentage points
over the six months to 31 May 2022.
Our Manager’s growth style remained
firmly out of favour throughout as
investors switched allocations from
strongly performing growth companies
into energy, lower growth value and
defensive stocks. The market rotation
witnessed in the first quarter of 2022
therefore saw many of our high-quality
growth portfolio holdings de-rate
sharply and in many cases, with no
material change in the investment
thesis, trading or outlook. However, the
Company has had a stronger second
half of the financial year, regaining
some ground and outperforming the
index by 2.4 percentage points. This
meant the full year result was largely
a product of the underperformance
seen in the first six months of the year.
For the year to 30 November 2022, the
Company’s NAV underperformed the
benchmark by 13.6
percentage points.
Market background
In my report to shareholders this time
last year, the UK had led the developed
world with a successful vaccine roll-
out and there was, to some extent, a
degree of optimism as the spectre of
COVID-19 dissipated and economic
activity returned to more normal levels.
However, although the uncertainty
caused by COVID-19 related lockdowns
had been removed, there were
indications that there had been more
longer-term structural damage to the
UK economy. This damage became
evident as companies reported supply
chain bottle necks, labour shortages
and rising operating costs, which were
either absorbed, or in many cases,
passed onto the consumer.
As the UK economy struggled with
the challenge of transitioning from
a COVID-19 driven demand for
goods over services model, to a
more balanced goods and services-
based economy, this supply pressure
inevitably led to rising prices and in
turn rising inflation. These inflationary
forces were then exacerbated by
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in early
2022, triggering an energy supply
shock, with Europe being hit hardest
given its reliance on Russian gas. The
resultant spike in wholesale energy
prices, coupled with price hikes for
agricultural commodities, pushed up
the cost of many food staples, driving
up two of the key elements of inflation
to levels not seen in over 40 years. The
Year’s highlights
NAV underperformed the Benchmark Index over one year by 13.6 percentage points;
Share price underperformed the Benchmark Index over one year by 18.0 percentage points;
Stronger NAV performance in the six months to 30 November 2022, outperforming the Benchmark
Index by 2.4 percentage points;
1,773,900 new shares were issued for a total consideration of £16,550,000 and 2,051,000 ordinary
shares were bought back into treasury for a total consideration of £11,544,000, helping to reduce the
volatility of the Company’s share rating;
Share Price has remained close to NAV through most of a challenging year, trading at an average
discount of -3.5
%; and
Final dividend declared of 8.50p per share (2021: 8.00p)
(All returns are in Sterling terms with dividends reinvested.)
Christopher Samuel
Chairman
Section 1: Overview and performance
7
notion of ‘transitionary inflation’ was
now firmly discredited and inflation
not only persisted but continued to
rise unabated throughout the financial
year. At the time of writing UK inflation,
as measured by the Consumer Price
Index, is at 10.5%, having peaked at
11.1% in October 2022.
The Bank of England took decisive
action to combat soaring inflation
by reiterating its commitment to the
2% inflation target “at all costs” and
implemented tighter monetary policy
through several interest rate hikes
during the year. Similar action was
seen globally, as central banks sought
to unwind decades of accommodating
monetary policy resulting in excess
market liquidity which has acted to
stoke inflation. However, this action
has negatively impacted UK growth
forecasts and raised the likelihood of a
more prolonged economic recession.
The stock market responded by
adjusting valuations downward to
reflect this more challenging economic
back drop and the compounding effect
of a weakening pound, higher input
costs and rising wages on corporate
profit margins. This downward
revaluation was particularly acute in
the high-quality growth stocks within
our portfolio, and many were materially
re-rated, despite posting strong results
and material trading updates.
Performance
The Board has been in close dialogue
with our investment manager, Dan
Whitestone, throughout the year.
He has approached this challenging
backdrop by reducing gearing in the
portfolio, while continuing to focus
on the high quality, financially strong,
highly profitable, cash generative
growth companies that can weather the
storm and deliver for shareholders over
the longer term.
Over the twelve months to
30 November 2022, the Company’s
NAV returned -31.1%, compared
with a total return of -17.5% from
the Company’s Benchmark Index, the
Numis Smaller Companies plus AIM
(excluding Investment Companies)
Index, an underperformance of 13.6
percentage points. At the share
price level, the return was -35.5%,
resulting in an underperformance
against the benchmark index of 18.0
percentage points during the year as
the Company’s discount to NAV moved
from a premium of 1.4% at the start of
the financial year to a discount of 5.0%
at the period end.
This underperformance of the
Benchmark Index will be very
disappointing for shareholders but
the Board is reassured by a stronger
second half of the year in which our
portfolio manager recouped some
-40
-20
0
20
40
60
1 Year change %
Performance record to 30 November 2022 (with dividends reinvested)
NAV per share
Share price
Benchmark Index
3 Year change %
5 Year change %
%
40.9
-3.1
-35.5
24.7
3.0
-31.1
4.8
6.7
-17.5
8
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
l
Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
of the underperformance versus our
benchmark index, outperforming
the index by 2.4 percentage points.
Moreover, as you will read in the
Investment Manager’s report which
follows, our portfolio manager is
firmly of the view that the share
price weakness experienced in the
portfolio is not reflective of a material
deterioration in the investment case for
the stocks but a reflection of the market
turbulence of 2022, where companies
with higher growth prospects and more
expensive valuations fell harder.
This weak one year return should also
be viewed in the context of strong
results last year, with the Company
returning +37.0%, and the longer-
term performance delivered by
the Company. Our NAV return has
underperformed the Benchmark
Index by -3.7% over three years,
outperformed by 19.9% over five
years and by 108.3% over ten years.
The share price underperformed the
Benchmark Index by -9.8% over three
years, outperformed by 36.1% over
five years and 166.2% over ten years.
(All percentages calculated in Sterling
terms with dividends reinvested.)
As at close of business on 7
February
2023, the Company’s NAV had
increased by
6.0
%, compared to the
Benchmark Index which increased by
3.7%. The share price over the same
period increased by
9.2%. Further
information on portfolio performance,
positioning and the outlook for the
forthcoming year can be found in the
Investment Manager’s report on pages
13 to 17.
I would like to take this opportunity
to assure shareholders that although
our full year results have been
disappointing, both the Board and
our Manager remain focused on
achieving the Company’s objectives of
providing shareholders with long-term
capital growth and an attractive total
return and remain confident in the
investment approach and process. We
thank shareholders for your loyalty and
support.
Policy on share price
discount/premium
We recognise that a widening of, and
volatility in, the Company’s discount
is viewed by some investors as a key
disadvantage of investment trusts.
The Board believes that the best
way to address any discount over
the longer term is to generate good
performance and to create demand for
the Company’s shares in the secondary
market through effective marketing
to drive awareness of the Company’s
unique structure, robust investment
process and long term investment track
record in an attractive sector that is
difficult to navigate.
In support of this activity, and where
deemed to be in shareholders’ long-
term interests, the Board may exercise
its powers to issue or buy back shares
with the objective of ensuring that
neither an excessive discount or
premium to NAV arises.
The Board considers several factors
in determining whether the discount
or premium to NAV at which the
Company’s shares trade is excessive or
otherwise. These may include but are
not limited to: whether the share rating
is commensurate with the peer group
of UK Smaller Companies and whether
the Company’s shares are trading in
normal market conditions; the ongoing
attractiveness of the investment
proposition, in particular the strength
of the portfolio management team
and process; and the strong long-
term performance delivered for
shareholders, both in absolute and
relative terms.
Chairman’s statement
continued
Section 1: Overview and performance
9
Share issuance and buy back
activity
During the year to 30 November 2022
the Company’s share rating ranged
between a discount to NAV of 14.3%
and a premium to NAV of 2.7% and
ended the year at a discount of 5.0%
(30 November 2021: premium of 1.4%).
The 12-month average discount as at
30 November 2022 was 3.5% (average
premium 2021: 1.2%).
During the first three months of the
financial year, the Company issued
a total of
1,773,900 new shares
in
response to market demand (2021:
13,917,035)
, for a total consideration
of £16,550,000 including costs.
As the UK equity market declined
after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,
the Company’s share rating moved
from a premium to a discount to NAV
and continued to widen
. Following
consultation with the Manager and the
Company’s corporate broker, the Board
determined that it was in shareholders’
interests to buy back shares with the
objective of ensuring that an excessive
discount to NAV did not arise. The
Company subsequently bought back a
total of 2,051,000 ordinary shares for a
total consideration of
£11,757,360
. All
shares were bought back at a discount
to the prevailing NAV, were therefore
accretive to existing shareholders, and
were placed into Treasury for future
re-issue.
Since 30 November 2022 and up
to the latest practicable date of 7
February 2023, a further
45,000
shares have been bought back for a
total consideration of £
276,000
. As at
this date, the Company’s shares were
trading at a discount of 2.0%.
Despite what has been a challenging
and volatile year, it is pleasing that
the Company’s share rating has been
relatively stable and has traded within
a fairly tight range for most of the year.
The Board believes that the issuance
and buy back activity undertaken
has been beneficial in reducing the
volatility of our share rating and has
been in shareholders’ interest.
As set out in the most recent Annual
and Half Yearly reports, the extent
and speed of further share issuance,
especially given the recent volatility in
markets, will be kept under review and
there can therefore be no certainty that
issuance will continue at the same level
as it has in the past.
As it does each year, the Board will once
again seek at the Company’s Annual
General Meeting (AGM) to renew the
authorities granted by shareholders to
issue or buy back shares. We encourage
shareholders to vote in favour of these
resolutions which are described in
more detail in the Director’s Report on
pages
60
to
62
.
Revenue return and
dividends
The revenue return per share for the
year amounted to 12.95 pence per
share, compared with 12.15 pence
per share for the previous year. The
Board recognises that, although the
Company’s objective is capital growth,
shareholders value consistency in
the dividends paid by the Company;
the Directors are therefore pleased
to declare a proposed final dividend
of 8.50 pence per share for the year
ended 30 November 2022 (2021:
8.00p). This, together with the interim
dividend of 2.60 pence per share paid
on 26 August 2022, would give a total
dividend for the year of 11.10 pence
per share, increasing the total dividend
distributed to shareholders in the
prior financial year. This dividend will
be paid on 31 March 2023, subject
to shareholder approval at the
forthcoming AGM, to shareholders on
the Company’s register on 24
February
2023.
Corporate Governance
Matters
As I mentioned in my Chairman’s
statement in the Half Yearly Report,
the Board recognises the benefits of
diversity, including that of ethnicity,
and in 2022 has complied with the
Parker Review recommendation that
FTSE 350 companies have at least
one director from an ethnically diverse
background by 2024.
The Board has also considered the
recommendations of the BEIS-
sponsored FTSE Women Leaders
Review. The review set new targets
for FTSE 350 companies which are
designed to achieve boards with 40%
female representation (previously
33%) and at least one woman in the
role of Chair or Senior Independent
Director on the board by the end of
2025. I am pleased to report that the
Board is now fully compliant with the
recommendations of the Parker Review
and the FTSE Women Leaders Review
and following the conclusion of the
AGM will have a 50:50 gender ratio
. For
the first time this year, we have also
disclosed, amongst other data, the
ethnicity of the Board. The disclosure
can be found on page
6
4.
As it does each year, and as required by
the Corporate Governance Code, the
Company undertook a comprehensive
external Board evaluation this year.
This resulted in a small number of
proposals that the Company will
adopt, notwithstanding that the overall
conclusion was very positive in terms
of the effectiveness of the Board, the
skills, expertise and commitment of
the Directors. The combination of our
succession plan and structured search
and selection process through which
the Board identifies new appointments
to the Board and the annual
Board evaluation of their ongoing
performance means that the Board
remains confident that each Director is
effectively discharging their role.
We continue to focus on the high-quality, financially
strong, highly profitable, cash generative growth
companies that can weather the storm and deliver for
shareholders over the longer term.
10
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
l
Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
The Board is also cognisant of the
concept of “overboarding” and has
considered the time commitment
required by the Directors’ other roles,
taking into account their nature and
complexity. The Board reviews this
information annually, for each Director,
including my own as Chairman of the
Board, to ensure that all Directors have
sufficient capacity to carry out their
role effectively. Before recommending
a Director for re-election, their
independence, attendance record and
ongoing commitment to the affairs
of the Company is also considered. A
formal evaluation of the performance
of the Board is also carried out each
year, assisted by an external third
party firm.
Further information on the
evaluation of the performance of the
Board can be found on page
65
.
Board composition and
Diversity
The Board regularly considers its
composition and that of its committees
and has an ongoing succession plan
in place designed to ensure that
it retains an appropriate balance
of skills, knowledge, experience,
independence and diversity that meets
or exceeds relevant best practice and
the requirements of the UK Corporate
Governance Code, including guidance
on tenure and the composition of the
Board’s committees.
In accordance with the Board’s
succession plan, and to continue
to ensure we retain the experience,
expertise and diversity that is expected
of a company in the FTSE 250, the
Board, through its Nomination
Committee, agreed a search process
to identify a new director using a
third-
party recruitment firm, Fletcher
Jones. The Nomination Committee
determined the selection criteria,
the method of selection, and the
recruitment and appointment process.
Board diversity, including that of age,
ethnicity and gender, was taken into
account when establishing the search
criteria and candidate profile.
Following the completion of a thorough
search and selection process, which
identified several very high calibre
candidates, I am delighted to welcome
Glen Suarez to the Board. Glen was
appointed on 9 January 2023 and
brings a wealth of relevant industry
knowledge and experience. He is a
highly experienced Non-executive
Director and Chairman and his
appointment further strengthens
and diversifies the existing board.
Glen will also serve on the Company’s
Audit, Nomination, Remuneration
and Management Engagement
Committees, and his appointment is
subject to approval by shareholders at
the forthcoming AGM. Further details
of Glen’s background and experience,
and that of all the Directors, can be
found in their biographies on pages
33 to 36
. The Board’s policy on Board
diversity and associated data can be
found in the Corporate Governance
Statement on page
64
.
Following
nine years of diligent service
on the Board, and having also chaired
the Company’s Audit Committee during
his tenure, Loudon Greenlees has
advised the Board he will step down
as a Director of the Company at the
conclusion of the forthcoming AGM.
I would like to take this opportunity
to thank Loudon for his invaluable
contribution to the ongoing success
of the Company, his wise counsel
during his tenure, and in particular
for his leadership of the Company’s
Audit Committee, an important
and demanding role which he has
discharged to great effect over many
years.
In preparation for Loudon’s departure,
the Board, through its Nomination
Committee, has appointed Angela Lane
as his successor and she will take on
the role from the conclusion of the
AGM. Angela is both an experienced
Non-executive Director and Audit
Committee Chairman. She has recent
and relevant experience and is a
Chartered Accountant. As a result,
Angela stood down as Chairman of the
Company’s Remuneration Committee
and was succeeded in this role by Nigel
Burton with effect from 1 December
2022.
At the time of writing, and to facilitate
an orderly transition, the Board
consists of seven independent Non-
executive Directors, a higher number
than usual. This will reduce to six
following Loudon’s retirement at the
AGM. The Board will continue to keep
its composition under close review.
Our approach to
Environmental, Social
and Governance (ESG)
integration
Consideration of material ESG
issues is built into our Manager’s
investment process and climate
risk is considered to be a key part of
investment risk, an approach your
Board supports. The style of our
investment manager naturally steers
away from companies with weak
balance sheets and poor cash flow
which is a common characteristic
of the few resource stocks in the
benchmark index. It should be noted
that the Company does not have an
explicit mandate for sustainable, ESG
or impact-focused investment, nor has
it adopted exclusionary screens. The
investment manager’s integration of
ESG factors into his analysis is, though,
an important lens through which to
identify long term winners, just as poor
ESG outcomes provide a useful tool in
establishing candidates for the short
book.
Further information on the Manager's
approach to responsible investing can
be found on page 52.
Annual G
eneral Meeting
The Board is pleased to announce
that the Company’s Annual General
Meeting (AGM) will be held in person
on Thursday, 23 March 2023 at
12.00 p.m. at the offices of BlackRock
at 12 Throgmorton Avenue, London,
EC2N 2DL. Details of the business of
the meeting are set out in the Notice of
Annual General Meeting on pages 13
6
to 13
9
of this Annual Report.
Prior to the formal business of the
meeting, our Investment Manager will
make a presentation to shareholders.
This will be followed by a question and
answer session.
Shareholders who are unable to attend
the meeting in person but who wish to
Chairman’s statement
continued
Section 1: Overview and performance
11
follow the AGM proceedings can do so
via a live webinar this year. Details on
how to register, together with access
details, will be available shortly on the
Company’s website at: www.blackrock.
com/uk/thrg or by contacting the
Company Secretary at cosec@
blackrock.com. It is not possible to
attend, speak or vote via this medium
and it is solely intended to provide
shareholders with the ability to watch
the proceedings. Nevertheless, I trust
shareholders will find this new facility
helpful.
Additionally, if you are unable to attend
you can exercise your right to vote by
proxy or appoint a proxy to attend in
your place. Details of how to do this
are included on the AGM Proxy Card
provided to shareholders with the
annual report. If you hold your shares
through a platform or nominees, you
will need to contact them and ask them
to appoint you as a proxy in respect of
your shares in order to attend, speak
and vote at the AGM.
Further information on the business
of this year's AGM can be found in the
Notice of the AGM on pages
136 to
139
.
Shareholder communication
We appreciate how important access
to regular information is to our
shareholders. To supplement our
Company website, we now therefore
offer shareholders the ability to sign
up to the Trust Matters newsletter
which includes information on the
Company as well as news, views and
insights on the investment trust
market. Information on how to sign up
is included on the inside front cover of
this report.
As I did last year, and in the interest
of fostering greater shareholder
engagement and participation, I have
sought to engage with shareholders
who hold their shares through an
intermediary or platform via the
provisions of section 793 of the
Companies Act 2006
and encouraged
them to either attend the AGM or
exercise their right to vote by proxy. I
understand that certain retail platforms
are now providing shareholders with
the ability to vote electronically. The
Board encourages all shareholders to
exercise their vote.
Outlook
As we move into 2023, the Board
shares our investment manager’s
view that company specifics and the
strong trading reported by many of
the constituents of our portfolio can
triumph over the macroeconomic
malaise currently weighing heavily
on UK smaller company valuations
and growth stocks in particular. He
continues to believe that we will, in
time, see a return to the strong and
consistent investment performance
delivered to shareholders over many
years.
Our investment manager’s
fundamental philosophy remains
unchanged, with a continued focus
on financially strong companies with
innovative and disruptive business
models and differentiated offerings
which are capable of delivering
sustained growth over time. This
approach has served the Company well
over many years and the Board remains
fully supportive of our investment
manager.
CHRISTOPHER SAMUEL
Chairman
9 February 2023
Our investment
manager’s
fundamental
philosophy remains
unchanged, with
a continued focus
on financially
strong companies
with innovative
and disruptive
business models
and differentiated
offerings which
are capable
of delivering
sustained growth
over time.
Section 1: Overview and performance
13
Investment
Manager’s
report
For the 12 months ended 30 November 2022
Market review and overall investment performance
The past 12 months has been a period characterised by steep market declines and
high levels of volatility across many asset classes globally. The notable exception
was the FTSE 100
Index which managed a gain of 11.3% in the 12 month period
to the end of
November 2022. The FTSE 250
Index fell by
-12.5% on a total return
basis and the Company’s benchmark, the Numis Smaller Companies plus AIM
(excluding Investment Companies) Index fell by
-17.5% during this period.
As discussed in the Half Yearly Report, the first half of the year saw the UK stock
market rotating away from highly priced ‘growth’ shares towards lower growth
‘value’ and defensives. This was driven by concerns of higher inflation and energy
supply shocks exacerbated by the war in Ukraine. In the second half of the year
the subsequent response by central bankers to raise interest rates stoked fears of
a recession and markets declined further. As concerns around economic growth
grew, UK small and mid-caps mirrored their US peers and performed poorly
(down by
-9.4%) to 31 May 2022. These sections of the market are perceived
to be more cyclical and discretionary and were sold off to fund more ‘defensive’
positions. Within the UK equity market, the effect of this can be seen in the gap
between the performance year-to-date of the FTSE
100 Index (make up is over
50% in resources, staples and healthcare) and the FTSE 250
Index highlighted
above and which is the largest dispersion on record. These numbers should give
some measure of the extremes of positioning caused by the events of the past 12
months. The UK also saw notable sterling weakness during the year, with economic
weakness compounded by political uncertainty.
It is disappointing to report a negative return for the Company and
underperformance of the benchmark over this period. Many of our investments
have been caught up in the market turbulence and fallen sharply regardless of
the strength of their underlying operations and financial results. To be clear, we
do make mistakes at the individual company level (the consequences of which
are often very painful) but this is not a year where our poor performance can
be attributed to lots of profit warnings or negative developments to investment
Dan Whitestone
Investment Manager
“This trust consists
of highly profitable,
cash generative
growth companies,
many of which are
now trading on low
price to earnings
multiples, with high
single digit free
cash flow
yields
and in many cases
large percentages
of their market cap
in net cash.”
Pharmaceuticals business Ergomed outperformed the market as it continues to deliver
strong sales growth, particularly in North America. Its companies provide full-service
pharmacovigilance and specialist clinical trial solutions to the pharmaceutical and
biotechnology industries.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ERGOMED
theses. The underperformance has
been driven by our style bias towards
growth – and the market devaluation of
growth businesses. This is particularly
frustrating as whilst we understand
and agree with the logic to devalue
loss-making and cash-consumptive
speculative businesses as interest rates
rise, many profitable and differentiated
businesses have been unfairly
punished too.
Furthermore, it is with a sense of
real irony that many companies with
strong pricing power and no debt have
fared far worse than peers who have
inferior balance sheets and weaker
track records of volume growth and
margin expansion. Indeed, it is the
latter that are far more exposed to
inflationary cost pressures and higher
interest charges eroding profitability
and cashflows. We have continued to
apply our robust investment process
and most of our companies have
continued to execute well operationally
and financially through the year. Their
share price falls reflect a change in
valuation as the market reassesses the
appropriate price to pay for these type
of businesses, in context of greater
economic uncertainty and rising
interest rates.
We think it is far too simplistic to
respond by dismissing the long
book with words to the effect of “well
surely they were all far too expensive
to begin with” as we think this often
belies their impressive track records
of growth and returns, not to mention
underestimating their prospects to
grow their earnings significantly in
time, and therefore fails to reflect the
time horizon one needs to evaluate
success of small and mid-cap growth
companies. In hindsight, in 2022 the
aggregate draw-down in valuation
that has occurred was greater than
expected, and whilst this has been
very frustrating for us this year, it is
fortunately also a source of optimism.
Earnings expectations and company
valuations have fallen a long way.
The next few years will present new
challenges we have not seen before,
but we firmly believe the status quo
is unsustainable and that those
companies that can continue to deliver
will be appropriately rewarded in time.
Small and mid-cap does suffer during
these market rotations but this asset
class has proven to be an excellent
driver of long-term investment returns
since it was first established in 1955
and we believe that it will continue to
support long-term performance.
Performance review
The past 12 months has been an
extremely challenging period to
navigate, particularly for our quality
growth focused investment style.
The Company’s NAV total return of
-31.1% is disappointing and compares
Investment Manager’s report
continued
Promotional products sales and distribution specialist 4imprint delivered multiple upgrades during the year. Market share gains
and increased above-the-line advertising have helped drive record revenue levels.
PHOTO COURTESY OF 4IMPRINT
Section 1: Overview and performance
15
unfavourably to the benchmark total
return of -17.5% and for that I would
like to apologise to the Company’s loyal
shareholders. While the long-term track
record of the Company remains strong
in both absolute and relative terms, the
extent of underperformance has been
more than I anticipated, particularly
given the strength of trading that we
have continued to see across a large
portion of our long book. There are two
broad drivers of the underperformance
this year: i) a rotation away from quality
growth towards value; and ii) elevated
gross and net exposure at the start of
the year magnifying the draw-down in
performance.
The primary driver of underperformance
was the rotation from higher
growth companies, and a broad
de-rating across the UK small and
mid-cap market. Extraordinarily we
have had fewer company specific
disappointments than usual but in
the short-term share prices are also
influenced by additional factors,
including the macro and political
environment, the discount rate, liquidity,
and investor sentiment and flows which
can override strong company specifics.
It is these factors that have hurt. Over
the longer-term, we believe growth in
absolute value is all about the growth
of cash-backed earnings and we take
comfort that by continuing to focus on
differentiated and profitable growth
companies, that continue to meet and
beat expectations, our patience will be
rewarded with significant share price
recoveries in these holdings.
When looking over the second half
of the financial year, we can see that
performance certainly improved
compared to the first half, and the
outcome over the last 12 months has
really been a result of the market moves
that we experienced at the beginning
of 2022. The market rotation saw a
number of our core holdings, such as
Gamma Communications
,
Auction
Technology Group
and
YouGov
, fall
significantly due to the de-rating of
growth shares, despite all reporting
strong results with material upgrades
in the case of Gamma and YouGov.
The effect of this rotation/de-rating
was amplified by the high gross and
net exposure that the Company came
into the year with. As a reminder, we
were not making a call on a rising
market. It reflected the strength of
trading that many of our long positions
had delivered in 2021, along with
some huge positive revisions in their
forecasts. Following many meetings
with management teams, and various
channel checks, we felt extremely
confident that these companies would
continue to deliver (which on average
they have).
We reduced both the gross and net
exposures in the summer; in retrospect,
I recognise that de-risking sooner
would have helped cushion relative
performance. Whilst the short book
made a positive contribution (+0.6%)
the positive impact of this was reduced
due to the elevated net positioning of
the Company at the start of the year.
It is important to note that within
the world of UK small and mid-caps,
liquidity can disappear just when
you need it most. This did hamper us
somewhat in the first few months when
many of our investments sold off so
sharply on low liquidity. At the point
that the Company's exposure had been
Though a detractor over the year, we believe Watches of Switzerland, the portfolio’s largest holding, continues to present a very com-
pelling medium-term growth story as the company builds out its US and European network in a supply-constrained industry.
PHOTO COURTESY OF WATCHES OF SWITZERLAND
16
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
l
Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
reduced and de-risked, we felt it was
too risky to shareholders to increase
our short exposure materially.
In terms of stock specific detractors
during the year, the largest was
IntegraFin
, which we mentioned
in the Half Yearly report. It is a UK
wealth management platform for
financial advisers and disappointed
the market over their guidance for
costs. An attractive feature of this
business had been high levels of
recurring (and growing) revenues but
the management felt it necessary to
increase operating spend to deliver
best in class service resulting in
margins falling from their historic
mid 40% range. This should not really
change the fundamental long term
investment case as a market share
winner, but in the near term does raise
questions around what the normalised
margin will be. We reduced the position
until there is further clarity on the
medium-term margin.
Elsewhere within Financials, our
holding in
Impax Asset Management
fell as investors adjusted their earning
expectations as broader markets fell
despite the business continuing to
see net inflows. We remain confident
in their market leading franchise in
sustainable investing, which we think
will continue to take market share.
Shares in
Dechra Pharmaceuticals
, a
multi-year performer for this Company,
were weak and can be attributed to the
rising discount rate weighing on its
valuation.
In terms of positive contributors,
4imprint Group
delivered multiple
upgrades during the year, with
another 10% in the final month of our
financial year, bringing the upgrades
to forecasts in 2022 to 115%. 4imprint
Group has seen an acceleration in
market share gains after increased
investment through COVID as well
as adjusting their marketing efforts
to more prominent ‘above-the-line
advertising’ to drive brand awareness.
This has driven record revenue levels
despite the promotional products
industry remaining below its 2019
level. 4imprint still has a single digit
percentage market share, leaving lots
of runway for future market share
gains.
Ergomed
, a specialist service
provider to the pharmaceuticals
industry, outperformed the market
as it continues to deliver strong sales
growth, particularly in North America.
Recent acquisitions appear to be
integrating well and the management
team remain confident in their
long-term strategic progress, which
includes further expansion into new
geographies.
Portfolio Positioning &
Outlook
Financial markets and macro data
remain volatile and markets are likely
to continue to be driven by inflation
statistics and indications (or not)
of slowing the pace of monetary
tightening from central banks. This
push and pull dynamic is likely to
remain a recurring theme in the
foreseeable future, but ultimately we
continue to see evidence to support our
thesis that inflation has peaked and is
indeed falling and this will ultimately
lead to the
Federal Reserve (the Fed)
to
adjust their course. Some of the largest
contributors to headline inflation
(energy and food) are now showing
lower year-on-year increases and might
even turn negative year-on-year as we
move into the first quarter of 2023.
At the time of writing, four of the
seven categories in core inflation
(core inflation strips out food and
energy from headline inflation) saw
price declines in November data.
Based on the data we track, we see
leading indicators for shelter, the last
remaining large positive contributor
to core inflation, also reducing. We are
not predicting either an imminent pivot
by the Fed, nor a return to the ultra-
lax monetary policy of the 2020/2021
period. We suspect the Fed
will not
pivot until there is a CPI data showing
inflation close to 2% on a year-on-year
basis. Our current best guess is quarter
three of 2023, but we are not betting
the house on it and will be led by the
data. The change from hiking 75bps to
hiking only 50bps at the last meeting
demonstrates the direction of travel
Many of our
investments have
demonstrated
incredible earnings
resilience through
2022 despite
the challenges
they have faced
from rising input
costs, supply
chain pressures
and weakening
demand. They
continue to
generate cash
and have strong
balance sheets.
Investment Manager’s report
continued
Section 1: Overview and performance
17
here too. That said, we do not expect
this to be a smooth process and the
market is likely to remain sensitive to
both inflation data and any indications
of changes to
Fed
policy.
Turning attention to the portfolio,
we would urge investors not to
conflate share price weakness with
a deterioration in investment cases.
Many of our investments have
demonstrated incredible earnings
resilience through 2022 despite the
challenges they have faced from rising
input costs, supply chain pressures
and weakening demand. They continue
to generate cash and have strong
balance sheets. Valuations have been
reset and we feel that right now there
is an asymmetric risk/reward profile
developing within the portfolio. That is
not to say that we think the market has
definitively bottomed, but we do think
very much that the worst is behind us,
and share prices are already pricing in
extremely bearish scenarios with little
attention (and value) ascribed to their
long-term prospects, increasing profits
and growing cash flows. This will return
in time.
Whilst we are always open to adding
new short positions to the portfolio, we
continue to believe the best value in the
market today remains in well-financed
companies with enduring long term
organic growth prospects that will use
this period to enhance their position
to win more share. Industrials and
Consumer Services are two of the
sectors where we think some of the
most differentiated and interesting
investments reside and where we
continue to deploy capital even though
they are in the eye of the storm, so
to speak, as investors grapple with
headwinds to consumption and
industrial activity.
We look to the year ahead with
optimism and are comforted by the
strength of the holdings in the portfolio
and our belief in the ability of our
companies to navigate the upcoming
environment. We will continue to
follow our investment process that
focuses on profitable, cash generative
growth companies, many of which are
now trading on low price to earnings
multiples, with high single digit free
cash flow yields and in many cases
large percentages of their market
capital in net cash. We believe the
recovery potential in these shares is
significant: in time share prices will
follow earnings. We thank shareholders
for your ongoing support.
DAN WHITESTONE
BlackRock Investment Management
(UK) Limited
9 February 2023
Section 2: Portfolio
19
Portfolio
Gamma Communications reported strong results. During the year the company
announced a switch to Eco-SIM cards across its network of partners and customers.
Manufactured by Thales, Eco-SIM is the first SIM card made from 100% post
-
consumer recycled plastic.
PHOTO COURTESY OF GAMMA COMMUNICATIONS
20
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
l
Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
10
7
4
1
9
6
3
8
5
2
PHOTOS COURTESY OF WATCHES OF SWITZERLAND, OXFORD INSTRUMENTS, 4IMPRINT GROUP, RS GROUP, CVS GROUP, ERGOMED, GAMMA COMMUNICATIONS, DIPLOMA,
WHSMITH, AUCTION TECHNOLOGY GROUP.
Section 2: Portfolio
21
Portfolio of
investments
1
Watches of Switzerland
(2021: 2nd)
Personal Goods
Market value: £20,601,000
Share of net assets: 3.3%
(2021: 3.3%)
Retailer of luxury watches.
2
Oxford Instruments
(2021: 6th)
Electronic & Electrical Equipment
Market value: £19,805,000
1
Share of net assets: 3.1%
(2021: 2.7%)
Designer and manufacturer of tools and systems for industry
and research.
3
4imprint Group
(2021: 25th)
Media
Market value: £19,756,000
Share of net assets: 3.1%
(2021: 1.5%)
Supplier of promotional merchandise in the US.
4
RS Group
(2021: n/a)
Support Services
Market value: £18,447,000
Share of net assets: 2.9%
(2021: n/a)
Distributor of industrial and electronic products.
5
CVS Group*
(2021: 12th)
General Retailers
Market value: £18,348,000
Share of net assets: 2.9%
(2021: 1.9%)
Operator of veterinary surgeries.
6
Ergomed*
(
2021: 20th)
Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology
Market value: £18,100,000
1
Share of net assets: 2.9%
(2021: 1.7%)
Provider of pharmaceuticals services.
7
Gamma Communications*
(
2021: 3rd)
Mobile Telecommunications
Market value: £17,977,000
Share of net assets: 2.8%
(2021: 3.1%)
Provider of communication services to UK businesses.
8
Diploma
(2021: 39th)
Support Services
Market value: £16,958,000
1
Share of net assets: 2.7%
(2021: 1.2%)
Supplier of specialised technical products and services.
9
WH Smith
(2021: 24th)
General Retailers
Market value: £16,263,000
Share of net assets: 2.6%
(2021: 1.5%)
Retailer of books, stationery, magazines, newspapers and
confectionery.
10
Auction Technology Group
(
2021: 7th)
General Retailers
Market value: £16,202,000
Share of net assets: 2.6%
(2021: 2.7%)
Operator of marketplaces for curated online auctions.
*
Traded on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the London Stock
Exchange.
1
Includes long derivative positions.
Percentages shown are the share of net assets.
22
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
l
Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
#
Company
£’000
%
Description
11
YouGov*
Media
15,366
2.4
Provider of survey data and specialist data analytics
12
Breedon*
Construction & Materials
14,879
2.4
Supplier of construction materials
13
Grafton Group
Support Services
13,101
2.1
Builders merchants in the UK, Ireland and Netherlands
14
Dunelm Group
General Retailers
12,836
2.0
Retailer of homeware products
15
SigmaRoc*
Construction & Materials
12,555
2.0
Buy-and-build group targeting construction materials
assets in the UK and Northern Europe
16
Computacenter
Software & Computer Services
12,396
1
2.0
Computer services
17
Tatton Asset Management*
Financial Services
12,145
1.9
Provider of discretionary fund management services to
the IFA market
18
Baltic Classifieds Group
Software & Computer Services
11,530
1
1.8
Operator of online classified businesses in the Baltics
19
Games Workshop
Leisure Goods
11,079
1
1.8
Developer, publisher and manufacturer of miniature war
games
20
Qinetiq Group
Aerospace & Defence
11,056
1.7
Provider of scientific and technological services to the
defence, security and aerospace markets
21
Spirent
Technology Hardware & Equipment
10,992
1.7
Multinational telecommunications testing
22
Dechra Pharmaceuticals
Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology
10,340
1.6
Developer and supplier of pharmaceutical and other
products focused on the veterinary market
23
Rotork
Electronic & Electrical Equipment
9,972
1.6
Manufacturer of industrial flow equipment
24
Impax Asset Management*
Financial Services
9,828
1.6
Provider of asset management services
25
Mattioli Woods*
Financial Services
9,542
1.5
Provider of wealth management services
26
Euronext
Financial Services
8,779
1
1.4
European stock exchange
27
Robert Walters
Support Services
8,720
1.4
Provider of specialist recruitment services
28
Chemring Group
Aerospace & Defence
8,694
1.4
Provider of technology products and services to
aerospace, defence and security markets
29
Bytes Technology
Software & Computer Services
8,511
1.3
Specialist in software, security and cloud services
30
Boku*
Support Services
7,574
1.2
Digital payments platform
31
Workspace Group
Real Estate Investment Trusts
7,542
1.2
Supply of flexible workspace to businesses in London
32
OSB Group
Financial Services
6,941
1.1
Specialist lending business
33
Alfa Financial Software
Software & Computer Services
6,482
1.0
Provider of software to the finance industry
34
Hunting
Oil Equipment and Services
6,407
1
1.0
Oil services business
35
Leslie’s
Leisure Goods
6,373
1
1.0
US direct to consumer retailer of swimming pool
maintenance products
36
IntegraFin
Financial Services
6,244
1.0
UK savings platform for financial advisors
37
Hiscox
Non-life Insurance
6,203
1
1.0
Provider of insurance services
38
Serica Energy*
Oil, Gas & Coal
5,978
0.9
Oil and gas producer
39
AJ Bell
Financial Services
5,745
0.9
UK savings platform for financial advisors & individual
investors
Portfolio of investments
continued
Section 2: Portfolio
23
#
Company
£’000
%
Description
40
Morgan Sindall
Construction & Materials
5,719
1
0.9
Supplier of office fit out, construction and urban
regeneration services
41
Londonmetric Property
Real Estate Investment Trusts
5,690
1
0.9
Investor in, and developer of property
42
Axon Enterprise
Support Services
5,617
1
0.9
US based provider of technology and weapons products
43
Spectris
Electronic & Electrical Equipment
5,578
0.9
Supplier of productivity enhancing instrumentation and
controls
44
Serco Group
Support Services
5,561
0.9
Provider of public services across health, transport,
immigration, defence, justice and citizen services
45
Safestore
Real Estate Investment Trusts
5,375
0.8
Provider of self-storage units
46
Sirius Real Estate
Real Estate Investment & Services
5,282
0.8
Owner and operator of business parks, offices and
industrial complexes in Germany
47
Gaztransport et Technigaz
Oil, Gas & Coal
5,228
0.8
French multinational naval engineering business
48
Cranswick
Food Producers
5,036
0.8
Producer of premium, fresh and added-value food
products
49
Hill & Smith Holdings
Industrial Metals & Mining
4,991
0.8
Supplier of infrastructure products and galvanizing
services
50
Restore*
Support Services
4,981
0.8
Provider of records management services
51
Young & Co’s Brewery*
Travel & Leisure
4,965
0.8
Owner and operator of pubs mainly in the London area
52
Learning Technologies*
Software & Computer Services
4,961
0.8
Provider of e-learning services
53
Moneysupermarket.com
Software & Computer Services
4,810
1
0.8
Provider of price comparison website specialising in
financial services
54
Jet2*
Travel & Leisure
4,803
0.8
Low cost tour operator and airline
55
DiscoverIE
Electronic & Electrical Equipment
4,732
0.7
International designer, manufacturer and supplier of
customised electronics
56
GlobalData*
Media
4,538
1
0.7
Data analytics and consulting
57
Clarkson
Industrial Transportation
4,474
0.7
Provider of shipping services
58
Vesuvius
Industrial Engineering
4,339
1
0.7
British engineered ceramics company
59
Porvair
Industrial Engineering
4,240
0.7
Specialist filtration and environmental technology
60
Next Fifteen Communications*
Media
4,227
0.7
Provider of digital communication products and services
61
Accesso Technology*
Software & Computer Services
4,191
1
0.7
Provider of ticketing and virtual queuing solutions
62
BE Semiconductor
Technology Hardware & Equipment
4,093
1
0.6
Dutch company engaged in the development,
manufacturing, marketing, sales and service of
semiconductor assembly equipment for the global
semiconductor and electronics industries
63
Judges Scientific*
Electronic & Electrical Equipment
4,090
0.6
Designer and producer of scientific instruments
64
Zotefoams
Chemicals
3,987
1
0.6
Manufacturer of polyolefin foams used in sport,
construction, marine, automation, medical equipment
and aerospace
65
Xero*
Software & Computer Services
3,913
1
0.6
Software company specialising in accounting for small
businesses
66
Ashmore Group
Financial Services
3,874
1
0.6
Emerging market focused investment manager
67
The Pebble Group*
Media
3,780
0.6
Designer and manufacturer of promotional goods
24
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
l
Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
#
Company
£’000
%
Description
68
Polar Capital Holdings*
Financial Services
3,772
0.6
Provider of investment management services
69
Eckoh*
Software & Computer Services
3,618
0.6
Global provider of secure payments products
70
TP ICAP
Investment Banking & Brokerage
3,529
0.6
Inter-dealer broker
71
AB Dynamics*
Industrial Engineering
3,477
0.5
Developer and supplier of specialist automotive testing
systems
72
Kainos Group
Software & Computer Services
3,462
1
0.5
Provider of digital technology solutions
73
TT Electronics
Electronic & Electrical Equipment
3,447
1
0.5
Global manufacturer of electronic components
74
Team17*
Leisure Goods
3,385
0.5
Video game developer and publisher
75
Howden Joinery Group
General Retailers
3,343
1
0.5
Kitchen and joinery product supplier
76
SThree
Support Services
3,266
0.5
Provider of specialist professional recruitment services
77
Johnson Service Group*
Support Services
3,232
0.5
Provider of textile services
78
Advanced Medical Solutions*
Healthcare Equipment & Services
3,229
1
0.5
Developer and manufacturer of advanced wound care
solutions
79
Halfords
Specialty Retailers
3,174
0.5
Retailer of motoring and cycling products
80
Genuit Group
Construction & Materials
3,011
0.5
Manufacturer of plastic piping systems
81
Babcock International Group
Aerospace & Defence
2,875
0.5
British aerospace, defence and nuclear engineering
services company
82
Kier Group
Support Services
2,841
0.4
UK construction, services and property group
83
Victorian Plumbing*
Home Improvement Retailers
2,794
1
0.4
Online retailer of bathroom products
84
Big Technologies*
Software & Computer Services
2,760
0.4
Provider of remote personal monitoring products
85
Anpario*
Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology
2,705
0.4
Manufacturer and distributor of natural animal feed
additives for animal health, nutrition and biosecurity
86
Animalcare Group*
Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology
2,530
0.4
Veterinary pharmaceuticals business
87
Cerillion*
Software & Computer Services
2,489
0.4
Provider of billing, charging and customer management
systems
88
Renishaw
Electronic & Electrical Equipment
2,486
0.4
Engineering and scientific technology company
89
Future
Media
2,335
0.4
Multi-platform media business covering technology,
entertainment, creative arts, home interest and education
90
MaxCyte*
Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology
2,306
0.4
Clinical-stage global cell-based therapies and life
sciences company
91
Genus
Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology
2,166
0.3
Animal genetics company
92
Pets at Home
General Retailers
2,038
0.3
Retailer of pet supplies
93
Lok’nStore*
Real Estate Investment & Services
2,007
0.3
Provider of self-storage space in the UK
94
Luceco
Electronic & Electrical Equipment
1,593
0.3
Supplier & manufacturer of high quality LED lighting
products
95
XP Power
Electronic & Electrical Equipment
1,588
0.3
Leading provider of power solutions
Portfolio of investments
continued
Section 2: Portfolio
25
#
Company
£’000
%
Description
96
Gooch & Housego*
Electronic & Electrical Equipment
1,359
0.2
Designer and manufacturer of advanced photonic
systems
97
Moonpig Group
General Retailers
1,263
0.2
Internet based provider of personalised cards and gifts
98
Close Brothers Group
Banks
951
0.2
UK merchant banking group providing lending, deposit
taking, wealth management services and securities
trading
Long investment positions (excluding
BlackRock’s Institutional Cash Series plc
– Sterling Liquid Environmentally Aware
Fund)
676,373
106.8
Short investment positions
(15,637)
(2.5)
1
Includes long derivative positions.
*
Traded on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange.
Percentages shown are the share of net assets.
At 30 November 2022, the Company held equity interests in four companies comprising more than 3% of
a company’s share capital as follows: Tatton Asset Management: 4.3%; SigmaRoc: 3.6%; Eckoh: 3.1%
and
Mattioli Woods: 3.1%.
26
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
l
Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
Fair value
1
Gross market
exposure
2
Gross market exposure as a %
of net assets
2
£’000
£’000
2022
2021
Long investment positions (excluding BlackRock’s
Institutional Cash Series plc – Sterling Liquid
Environmentally Aware Fund)
579,502
676,373
106.8
121.4
Short investment positions
1
(133)
(15,637)
(2.5)
(2.7)
Cash and cash equivalents
1,3
103
(81,264)
(12.8)
(21.1)
BlackRock’s Institutional Cash Series plc - Sterling
Liquid Environmentally Aware Fund
58,690
58,690
9.3
2.7
Other net current liabilities
(4,805)
(4,805)
(0.8)
(0.3)
Net assets
633,357
633,357
100.0
100.0
The Company uses gearing through the use of long and short CFD positions. Gross and Net Gearing as at 30 November
2022 were 109.3% and 104.3% respectively (2021: 124.1% and 118.7% respectively). Gross and Net Gearing are Alternative
Performance Measures, see Glossary on pages 131
to
133
.
1
Fair value is determined as follows:
Listed and AIM quoted investments are valued at bid prices where available, otherwise at published price quotations.
The sum of the fair values of the long and short investment positions above is determined based on the difference between the purchase
price or transaction price and value of the underlying shares in the contract (in effect the unrealised gains/(losses) on the exposed
positions). The cost of securities held through long derivative positions directly in the market would have amounted to £96,871,000 at the
time of purchase, and subsequent market rises in prices have resulted in unrealised gains on the long derivative positions of £2,731,000,
resulting in the value of the total market exposure to the underlying securities increasing to £99,602,000 as at 30 November 2022.
The notional price of selling the securities to which exposure was gained via the short derivative positions would have been £15,504,000
at the time of entering into the contract, and subsequent price rises have resulted in unrealised losses on the short derivative positions
of £133,000 and the value of the market exposure of these investments increasing to £15,637,000 at 30 November 2022. If the short
derivative positions had been closed on 30 November 2022 this would have resulted in a loss of £133,000 for the Company.
2
Market exposure in the case of equity investments is the same as fair value. In the case of long and short derivative positions, it is the market
value of the underlying shares to which the portfolio is exposed via the contract.
3
The gross market exposure column for cash and cash equivalents has been adjusted to assume the Company traded direct holdings, rather
than exposure being gained through long and short derivative positions.
Fair value and gross market exposure of
investments
as at 30 November 2022
Section 2: Portfolio
27
Distribution of investments
as at 30 November 2022
Sector
% of
long portfolio
% of
short portfolio
% of
net portfolio
Aerospace & Defence
3.4
0.0
3.4
Construction & Materials
5.5
(0.5)
5.0
Electronic & Electrical Equipment
8.3
0.0
8.3
Industrial Engineering
1.8
0.0
1.8
Industrial Support Services
0.0
(0.2)
(0.2)
Industrial Transportation
0.7
0.0
0.7
Support Services
13.7
(0.2)
13.5
Industrials
33.4
(0.9)
32.5
General Retailers
10.6
0.0
10.6
Home Improvement Retailers
0.4
0.0
0.4
Household Furnishings
0.0
(0.2)
(0.2)
Leisure Goods
3.2
0.0
3.2
Media
7.6
0.0
7.6
Specialty Retailers
0.5
(0.3)
0.2
Travel & Leisure
1.5
0.0
1.5
Consumer Discretionary
23.8
(0.5)
23.3
Software & Computer Services
10.5
(0.6)
9.9
Technology Hardware & Equipment
2.3
0.0
2.3
Technology
12.8
(0.6)
12.2
Banks
0.1
0.0
0.1
Closed End Investments
0.0
(0.3)
(0.3)
Financial Services
10.1
0.0
10.1
Investment Banking & Brokerage
0.5
0.0
0.5
Non-life Insurance
0.9
0.0
0.9
Financials
11.6
(0.3)
11.3
Healthcare Equipment & Services
0.5
0.0
0.5
Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology
5.8
0.0
5.8
Health Care
6.3
0.0
6.3
Real Estate Investment & Services
1.1
0.0
1.1
Real Estate Investment Trusts
2.8
0.0
2.8
Real Estate
3.9
0.0
3.9
Beverages
0.0
(0.2)
(0.2)
Food Producers
0.8
0.0
0.8
Personal Goods
3.1
0.0
3.1
Consumer Staples
3.9
(0.2)
3.7
Oil, Gas & Coal
1.7
0.0
1.7
Oil Equipment and Services
1.0
0.0
1.0
Oil & Gas
2.7
0.0
2.7
Mobile Telecommunications
2.7
0.0
2.7
Telecommunications
2.7
0.0
2.7
Chemicals
0.6
0.0
0.6
Industrial Metals & Mining
0.8
0.0
0.8
Basic Materials
1.4
0.0
1.4
Total Investments
102.5
(2.5)
100.0
The above percentages are calculated on the net portfolio as at 30 November 2022. The net portfolio is calculated as long
equity and derivative positions, less short derivative positions as at 30 November 2022.
28
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
l
Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
0.9%
1.9%
11.3%
24.7%
18.2%
13.9%
12.6%
-1.1%
-0.3%
£10bn+
£2bn – £2.5bn
£2.5bn – £5bn
£5bn – £10bn
£1.5bn – £2bn
£0m – £500m
1
The above investments may comprise exposures to long equity and long derivative positions.
Source: BlackRock.
Long positions
1
% of net portfolio
Short positions
-10%
0%
10%
20%
30%
Market capitalisation
as at 30 November 2022
-0.6%
£500m – £1bn
0.0%
0.0%
-0.3%
0.0%
-0.2%
19.0%
£1bn – £1.5bn
-11
11
10
0
0
0
0
26
Long positions
1
Number of positions
1
The above investments may comprise exposures to long equity and long derivative positions.
Source: BlackRock.
Short positions
£2.5m – £5m
£0m – £2.5m
£20m +
£5m – £10m
£15m – £20m
-20
-10
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Position size
as at 30 November 2022
Market value
38
12
1
0
£10m – £15m
Analysis of the portfolio
Section 2: Portfolio
29
FTSE 250
51.4%
FTSE AIM
33.5%
FTSE Small Cap
6.6%
FTSE 100
4.2%
Other
4.3%
FTSE 250
50.7%
FTSE AIM
33.5%
FTSE Small Cap
6.9%
FTSE 100
4.3%
Other
4.6%
Portfolio holdings within Key Benchmark Indices
Gross Basis
1
Net Basis
2
Within Benchmark
56.8%
Off-Benchmark
43.2%
Source: BlackRock.
1
Long exposure plus short exposure as a percentage of the portfolio in aggregate excluding investment in BlackRock’s Institutional Cash
Series plc – Sterling Liquid Environmentally Aware Fund.
Long exposure less short exposure as a percentage of the portfolio excluding investment in BlackRock’s Institutional Cash
Series plc – Sterling Liquid Environmentally Aware Fund.
2
Within Benchmark
58.6%
Off-Benchmark
41.4%
Holdings included within the Benchmark Index as at 30 November 2021 were 63.9% on a Gross Basis and 62.9% on a Net Basis.
3
Portfolio holdings within Benchmark Index (the Numis Smaller Companies plus AIM
(excluding Investment companies) Index
Net Basis
2,3
Gross Basis
1,3
Source: BlackRock.
1
Long exposure plus short exposure as a percentage of the portfolio in aggregate excluding investment in BlackRock’s Institutional Cash Series plc – Sterling
Liquid Environmentally Aware Fund.
2
Long exposure less short exposure as a percentage of the portfolio excluding investment in BlackRock’s Institutional Cash Series plc – Sterling Liquid
Environmentally Aware Fund.
Governance
Section 3: Governance
31
During the year we increased our holding in Oxford Instruments, the specialist
provider of high technology products and services to industrial companies and
scientific research communities worldwide.
PHOTO COURTESY OF OXFORD INSTRUMENTS
32
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
l
Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
Governance structure
Responsibility for good governance lies with the Board. The governance
framework of the Company reflects the fact that, as an investment company,
the Company has no employees, the Directors are all non-executive and the
investment management and administration functions are outsourced to
the Manager and other service providers.
The Board
6 scheduled meetings per annum
Membership:
Seven Non-executive Directors (NED*), all independent of the
Investment Manager
Chairman
: Christopher Samuel
Key objectives:
• To determine and review the investment policy, strategy and parameters;
To provide leadership within a framework of prudent and effective controls
which enable risk to be assessed and managed, and the Company’s assets to be
safeguarded;
• To challenge constructively and scrutinise performance of all outsourced
activities; and
To establish the Company’s remuneration policy and keep it under review.
*
As at 30 November 2022 the Board consisted of six Non-executive Directors. This number
rose to seven following the appointment of Glen Suarez on 9 January 2023 and will reduce
back to six following Loudon Greenlees’ retirement at the conclusion of the year's AGM.
Audit Committee
1
3 scheduled meetings per annum*
Membership:
All NEDs
Chairman:
Loudon Greenlees
Key objectives:
• To oversee financial reporting;
• To review the reporting of the auditor and the effectiveness of the audit;
To consider the adequacy of the control environment and to review the
Company’s risk register; and
To review the performance of the third party service providers.
Following this year’s AGM, Loudon Greenlees will retire as Audit Committee Chair and be
replaced by Angela Lane.
*
The Committee has considered developing best practice around the number of times the
audit committee of a FTSE 250 company should meet each year and has concluded that
three meetings is appropriate. The Committee believes that it is not the number of meetings
held that determines its effectiveness, it is the robustness of the debate and challenge, and
the scope, timeliness and quality of the information which the committee considers.
Management
Engagement Committee
1
1 scheduled meeting per annum
Membership:
All NEDs
Chairman:
Christopher Samuel
Key objectives:
To be responsible for the annual review of the performance of the Manager and
Investment Manager; and
• To ensure that the provisions of the management agreement follow industry
practice, remain competitive and are in the best interest of shareholders.
Nomination Committee
1
1 scheduled meeting per annum
Membership:
All NEDs
Chairman:
Christopher Samuel
Key objectives:
To make recommendations for any new Board appointments;
• To review regularly the structure, size and composition of the Board; and
To consider and make recommendations to the Board on matters of succession
planning.
Remuneration
Committee
1,2
1 scheduled meeting per annum
Membership:
All NEDs
Chairman:
Angela Lane (since 1 February 2021
)
*
Key objectives:
• To make recommendations on remuneration of Directors; and
To determine and recommend to the Board a policy on Directors’ remuneration.
*
On 30 November 2022, Angela Lane retired as Remuneration Committee Chair and was
replaced by Nigel Burton.
1
Terms of reference for the committee are available at www.blackrock.com/uk/thrg
2
The Company's remuneration committee was appointed by the Board on 1 February 2021.
Section 3: Governance
33
Directors’ biographies
Christopher Samuel
Appointed 1 June 2016
Chairman
Christopher was Chief Executive
of Ignis Asset Management from
2009 until its sale to Standard
Life Investments in 2014. He was
previously a Non-executive Director
of Alliance Trust plc, Chief Operating
Officer at Gartmore and Hill Samuel
Asset Management and a Partner
at Cambridge Place Investment
Management. He is currently a
Non-executive Director of UIL Limited
1
and Quilter plc
2
. He is also Chairman
of JPMorgan Japanese Investment
Trust plc. He qualified as a Chartered
Accountant with KPMG.
Attendance record:
Board: 6/6
Audit Committee: 3/3
Management Engagement
Committee: 1/1
Nomination Committee: 1/1
Remuneration Committee: 1/1
None of the Directors has a service contract with the Company. The terms of their appointment are
detailed in a letter sent to them when they join the Board. These letters are available for inspection at the
registered office of the Company and will be available at the Annual General Meeting.
Louise Nash
Appointed 21 March 2019
Senior Independent Director
Louise was a UK Small and Mid-Cap
fund manager, firstly at Cazenove
Capital and latterly at M&G
Investments which she left in 2015.
She now works for family wine business
Höpler and also acts as a consultant
to JLC Investor Relations. Louise was
previously a Non-executive Director of
Stockdale Securities.
Attendance record:
Board: 6/6
Audit Committee: 3/3
Management and Engagement
Committee: 1/1
Nomination Committee: 1/1
Remuneration Committee: 1/1
1
He is also a Director of UIL Limited’s subsidiary, UIL Finance.
2
He is also Chairman of Quilter plc’s subsidiary, Quilter Financial Planning.
34
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
l
Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
Directors’ biographies
continued
Angela Lane
Appointed 10 June 2020
Chairman of the Remuneration
Committee until 30 November 2022.
Chairman designate of the Audit
Committee
Angela previously spent 18 years
working in private equity at 3i,
becoming a partner in 3i's Growth
Capital business managing the UK
portfolio. Since 2007, Angela has held
several non-executive and advisory
roles for small and medium capitalised
companies across a range of
industries including business services,
healthcare, travel, media, consumer
goods and infrastructure. She is
currently a Non-executive Director and
Chairman of the
A
udit Committee of
Pacific Horizon Investment Trust plc,
Seraphim Space Investment Trust plc
and Dunedin Enterprise Investment
Trust plc. She is a Fellow of the Institute
of Chartered Accountants in England
and Wales.
Attendance record:
Board: 6/6
Audit Committee: 3/3
Management Engagement
Committee: 1/1
Nomination Committee: 1/1
Remuneration Committee: 1/1
Loudon Greenlees
Appointed 26 March 2014
Chairman of the Audit Committee
Loudon was Chief Financial Officer
and Chief Operating Officer of Thames
River Capital from 1999 until 2007
and then Commercial Director until
May 2013. Prior to this he had been
Group Finance Director and Chief
Operating Officer of Rothschild Asset
Management and Group Finance
Director of Baring Asset Management.
He is a Chartered Accountant.
Attendance record:
Board: 6/6
Audit Committee: 3/3
Management Engagement
Committee: 1/1
Nomination Committee: 1/1
Remuneration Committee: 1/1
None of the Directors has a service contract with the Company. The terms of their appointment are
detailed in a letter sent to them when they join the Board. These letters are available for inspection at the
registered office of the Company and will be available at the Annual General Meeting.
Section 3: Governance
35
None of the Directors has a service contract with the Company. The terms of their appointment are
detailed in a letter sent to them when they join the Board. These letters are available for inspection at the
registered office of the Company and will be available at the Annual General Meeting.
Nigel Burton
Appointed 21 December 2020
Non-executive Director
Chairman of the Remuneration
Committee with effect from
1 December 2022.
Nigel spent over 14 years as an
investment banker at leading City
institutions including UBS Warburg
and Deutsche Bank, including as the
Managing Director responsible for the
energy and utilities sector. He then
spent 15 years as Chief Financial Officer
or Chief Executive Officer of a number
of private and public companies. Nigel
is currently a Non-executive Director of
AIM listed companies DeepVerge plc,
Microsaic Systems plc, eEnergy Group
plc and Location Sciences Group plc. He
was formerly a Non-executive Director
of Mobile Streams plc, Digitalbox plc,
Corcel plc, Modern Water plc, Alexander
Mining plc and Chairman of Remote
Monitored Systems plc.
Attendance record:
Board: 6/6
Audit Committee: 3/3
Management Engagement
Committee: 1/1
Nomination Committee: 1/1
Remuneration Committee: 1/1
Merryn Somerset Webb
Appointed 24 March 2021
Non-executive Director
Merryn has significant experience
of financial matters through her role
as Senior Columnist for Bloomberg
Opinion, and writes extensively on
personal finance matters across
radio and television. She brings
valuable investment trust specific
experience and is also currently a
Non-executive Director of Murray
Income Investment Trust plc. She was
formerly a Non-executive Director of
Baillie Gifford Shin Nippon PLC and
Netwealth Investments Limited.
Attendance record:
Board: 6/6
Audit Committee: 3/3
Management Engagement
Committee: 1/1
Nomination Committee: 1/1
Remuneration Committee: 1/1
36
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
l
Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
Glen Suarez
Appointed 9 January 2023
Glen Suarez was appointed to the
Board on 9 January 2023.
He is an
experienced director, having held both
executive and n
on-executive roles. He
is currently a Non-executive director of
Impax Environmental Markets plc and
chairman of the board of Knight Vinke
Asset Management. He is a senior
adviser to FMAP Limited, a consultancy
founded by Lord Maude which advises
governments on the implementation
of public sector reform. Glen was
chairman of The Edinburgh Investment
Trust plc until July 2022 and was a
committee member and co-chair of the
Capital Markets Advisory Committee,
an independent body advising the IASB
on accounting issues and standards
between 2014 and 2020. He is a
Fellow of the Institute of Chartered
Accountants in England and Wales and
a member of the Royal Society of Arts.
Attendance record:
Not applicable as appointed after the
year end.
Directors’ biographies
continued
Section 3: Governance
37
Strategic report
The Directors present the Strategic Report of the Company
for the year ended 30 November 2022.
Principal activities
The Company is a public company limited by shares which
carries on business as an investment trust and its principal
activity is portfolio investment.
Objective
The Company’s objective is to provide shareholders with long
term capital growth and an attractive total return through
investment primarily in UK smaller and mid-capitalisation
companies traded on the London Stock Exchange.
Strategy, business model, investment policy
and investment process
The Company invests in accordance with the objective given
above. The Board is collectively responsible to shareholders
for the long term success of the Company and is its
governing body. There is a clear division of responsibility
between the Board and the Manager, BlackRock Fund
Managers Limited (BFM). Matters for the Board include
setting the Company’s strategy, including its investment
objective and policy, setting limits on gearing (both bank
borrowings and the effect of derivatives), capital structure,
governance, and appointing and monitoring of performance
of service providers, including the Manager.
The Company’s business model follows that of an externally
managed investment trust; therefore the Company does not
have any employees and outsources its activities to third
party service providers, including the Manager who is the
principal service provider.
The management of the investment portfolio and the
administration of the Company have been contractually
delegated to BFM. The Manager, operating under guidelines
determined by the Board, has direct responsibility for the
decisions relating to the day-to-day running of the Company
and is accountable to the Board for the investment, financial
and operating performance of the Company.
Other service providers include the Depositary and the Fund
Accountant, The Bank of New York Mellon (International)
Limited, and the Registrar, Computershare Investor Services
PLC. Details of the contractual terms with third party service
providers are set out in the Directors’ Report.
Investment Policy
The Company’s performance is measured against the
Numis Smaller Companies plus AIM (excluding Investment
Companies) Index (the Benchmark Index). The Investment
Manager, BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited
(BIM (UK)), may invest in companies outside the Benchmark
Index without restriction, subject to the following limits.
The Company may hold up to 15% of its gross assets, at the
time of acquisition, in securities of companies which are
listed or traded on a stock exchange outside the UK.
In addition to the normal long only portfolio, the Company
will likely hold a mixture of long and short contracts for
difference (CFDs) and/or comparable equity derivatives that
would result in a typical net market exposure of between
100% and 115%. In extremis, the Company could deploy
the full 30% of permissible leverage into short CFDs and/or
comparable equity derivatives, thereby reducing its overall
net market exposure to 70%.
What makes BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc different?
A greater toolkit for
outperformance
Potential for enhanced
outperformance generation
through taking both long and
short positions
Ability to smooth out volatility
of returns whilst maintaining
exposure to the attractive,
but sometimes volatile, asset
class of UK smaller and
mid-capitalisation companies
Ability to flex overall market
exposure to potentially reduce
correlation to the market
A superior toolkit for outperformance
Risk management cannot fully eliminate the risk of investment loss. There is no guarantee that a positive investment outcome will be achieved.
Source: BlackRock. For illustrative purposes only.
Conventional
Long only fund
BlackRock Throgmorton
Trust plc
= long only + leverage
short alpha
alpha
potential
alpha
potential
Same net
market
exposure
38
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
l
Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
The Company may also invest up to 2.5% of its net assets
(measured at the time of investment) in unquoted securities,
including securities issued by companies incorporated
outside the United Kingdom. However, the Company may
invest more than 2.5%, but no more than 3.75%, of its
net assets (both measured at the time of investment), in
unquoted securities in circumstances where such investment
is in an existing investee company and, in the Investment
Manager’s opinion, a failure of the Company to make such
investment would have a material adverse effect on the value
of the Company’s investment in such investee company.
In addition, the Company is permitted to employ leverage up
to 30% of net assets, which it does primarily through the use
of CFDs and/or comparable equity derivatives, rather than
bank borrowings, therefore enabling the Company to have a
maximum net market exposure of 130%.
In normal circumstances the Company will likely hold a
mixture of long and short CFDs and/or comparable equity
derivatives that would result in a typical net market exposure
of between 100% and 115%*.
Portfolio risk will be mitigated by investment in a diversified
portfolio of holdings. No more than 5% of the Company’s
gross assets, at the time of acquisition, may be invested
in any one single holding, excluding holdings in cash or
money market funds, where up to 10% of the Company’s
gross assets may be held. The Company may also invest in
collective investment vehicles. However, the Company will
not invest more than 10% of its gross assets, at the time
of the acquisition, in other listed closed-ended investment
funds, unless such companies have a stated investment
policy not to invest more than 15% of their gross assets in
other listed closed-ended investment funds, in which case
the limit is 15% of gross assets.
The Board’s policy is that net gearing, borrowings less cash,
should not exceed 20% of gross assets. The Company
expects to employ any leverage primarily through its use of
CFDs and/or comparable equity derivatives.
No material change will be made to the investment objective
and policy without shareholder approval.
Investment process
A unique feature of the Company is that it has the ability
to go both long and short up to approximately 30% of the
Company’s net assets.
Notwithstanding recent positive returns from UK small and
mid-capitalisation companies, the sector has demonstrated
considerable volatility over the past 20 years. Such an
environment provides an attractive opportunity to add value
via derivatives: instruments which can exploit share price
moves whether up or down. As the maximum short portfolio
exposure through derivatives is 30% of net assets, the
Company will at all times retain an exposure to the market, as
shown in the chart on page 39
. In the course of their research
the investment management team comes across companies
A clear investment process underpins portfolio construction
Source: BlackRock. Investment process subject to change. For illustrative purposes only.
Idea generation
In-depth fundamental company analysis
Typical portfolio construction
Earnings
growth
Industry
Market
position
Cash
generation
Looking
through the
Long / Short
lens
BlackRock resources
Company meetings
External research
Macro / thematic
Diversification
c.130 positions
Longs c.1% to 5%
Shorts c.0.5% to 1%
Net: 90% to 115%
Gross: 100% to 130%
Lower, managed volatility
Balance
sheet
BlackRock
Emerging Companies Team
Portfolio Manager
Management
Regular engagement with BlackRock Investment Stewardship and Risk Function throughout the investment process
*
The AIC measures gearing at gross level, rather than net market exposure level (i.e. gearing is calculated as borrowings + long CFDs and/or
comparable equity derivatives + short CFDs and/or comparable equity derivatives) and therefore the published gearing figures will be higher
than the typical net market exposure of between 100% and 115%.
Strategic report
continued
Section 3: Governance
39
which they judge are likely to underperform; the ability to
take short positions therefore significantly enhances the
opportunity to make money for shareholders. This is not
possible in a conventional or long only portfolio.
When markets are expected to rise in the medium term, the
long/short strategy is used to generate additional market
exposure through ensuring that the long exposure exceeds
the short exposure in a range between 0% to 15% of the net
assets of the Company. Rising or ‘bull’ markets have
historically (in the UK) persisted for longer than falling or
‘bear’ markets. A typical net market exposure might therefore
be between 100% and 115%. This is lower than the ‘gross
exposure’, which is the combination of the long equity
positions, plus the net of long and short derivative positions
expressed as a percentage of net assets.
ESG integration
The Manager defines Environmental, Social and Governance
(ESG) integration as the practice of incorporating material
ESG information and consideration of sustainability risks
into investment decisions in order to enhance risk-adjusted
returns.
This statement does not imply that the Company has
an ESG-aligned investment objective, but rather describes how
ESG information is considered as part of the overall investment
process.
Of course, ESG information is not the sole consideration
for investment decisions; instead, the Manager assesses a
variety of economic and financial indicators which include
ESG considerations in combination with other information
in the research phase of the investment process to make
investment decisions appropriate to their client’s objectives.
This may also include relevant third party insight, as well as
internal engagement commentary and input from BlackRock
Investment Stewardship (BIS) on governance issues. The
Investment Manager conducts regular portfolio reviews with
the BlackRock Risk and Quantitative Analysis (RQA) team.
These reviews include discussion of the portfolio's exposure
to material ESG risks, as well as exposure to sustainability-
related business involvements, climate-related metrics,
traditional financial risks and other factors.
The Manager’s approach to ESG integration is to broaden
the total amount of information its investment professionals
consider in order to improve investment analysis, seeking to
meet or exceed economic return and financial risk targets.
ESG factors can be useful and relevant indicators for
investment purposes and can help portfolio managers with
their decision-making through identifying potentially negative
events or corporate behaviour.
The Investment Manager
works closely with BIS to assess the governance quality of
companies and understand any potential issues, risks or
opportunities.
The Manager’s research team monitors differing levels of
risk throughout the process and believes that avoiding major
downside events can generate significant outperformance
over the long term. Inputs from the RQA team are an integral
part of the investment process. The RQA team analyse market
and portfolio risk factors including stress tests, correlations,
factor returns, cross-sectional volatility and attributions. The
Manager’s evaluation procedures and financial analysis of
the companies within the portfolio also take into account
environmental, social and governance matters and other
business issues.
The Company does not meet the criteria for Article 8 or 9
products under the EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure
Regulation (SFDR) and the investments underlying this
financial product do not take into account the EU criteria
for environmentally sustainable economic activities. The
Investment Manager has access to a range of data sources,
including principal adverse indicator
(PAI)
data, when
making decisions on the selection of investments. However,
whilst BlackRock considers ESG risks for all portfolios and
these risks may coincide with environmental or social themes
associated with the PAIs
, the Company does not commit to
considering PAIs in driving the selection of its investments.
Further information on the Manager’s approach to ESG and
sustainability can be found in the report on Responsible
Investing on
page 52.
Performance
The Investment Manager’s report on pages
13 to 17 includes
a review of the main developments during the year, together
with information on investment activity within the Company’s
portfolio.
Net market exposure is the long equity positions, plus the net of
long and short derivative positions. For illustrative purposes only.
Typical market positioning – % of NAV (115% net
exposure)
Long positions
Short positions
Net market exposure
100
0
115%
120%
5%
%
40
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
l
Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
Results and dividends
The results for the Company are set out in the Statement
of Comprehensive Income on page
88. The total loss for
the year, after taxation, was £295,888,000 (2021: a profit
of £223,334,000) of which the revenue return amounted
to £13,257,000 (2021: £11,446,000) and a capital loss of
£309,145,000 (2021: profit of £211,888,000).
Details of the dividends declared in respect of the year are set
out in the Chairman’s Statement on page
9
.
Key performance indicators
At each Board meeting, the Directors consider a number of
performance measures to assess the Company’s success
in achieving its objectives. The key performance indicators
(KPIs) used to measure the progress and performance of
the Company over time, and which are comparable to those
reported by other investment trusts, are set out in the table
below. These KPIs fall within the definition of ‘Alternative
Performance Measures’ (APMs) under guidance issued by
the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), and
additional information explaining how these are calculated is
set out in the Glossary on pages 131 to 133
.
The Board monitors the KPIs at each meeting. Additionally, it
regularly reviews a number of indices and ratios to understand
the impact on the Company’s relative performance of the
various components such as asset allocation and stock
selection. This includes an assessment of the Company’s
performance and ongoing charges against its peer group of
investment trusts with similar investment objectives.
Year ended
30 November
2022
Year ended
30 November
2021
Net asset value total return
1,2
(31.1)%
37.0%
Share price total return
1,2
(35.5)%
38.8%
Benchmark Index total return
3
(17.5)%
24.5%
(Discount)/premium to cum income net asset value
2
(5.0)%
1.4%
Revenue return per share
12.95p
12.15p
Total dividend per share
11.10p
10.50p
Ongoing charges
2,4
0.54%
0.57%
Ongoing charges including performance fees
2,5
0.54%
1.38%
1
This measures the Company’s share price and NAV total return, which assumes dividends paid by the Company have been reinvested.
2
Alternative Performance Measures, see Glossary on pages
131 to 133
.
3
The Company's Benchmark Index is the Numis Smaller Companies plus AIM (excluding Investment Companies) Index.
4
Ongoing charges represent the management fee and all other operating expenses, excluding the performance fee, finance costs, direct
transaction costs, custody transaction charges, VAT recovered, taxation, prior year expenses written back and certain non-recurring items as
a % of average daily net assets.
5
Ongoing charges represent the management fee, performance fee and all other operating expenses, excluding finance costs, direct
transaction costs, custody transaction charges, VAT recovered, taxation, prior year expenses written back and certain non-recurring items as
a % of average daily net assets.
Share price discount/premium
The Directors recognise that it is in the long term interests
of shareholders that the Company’s shares do not trade at
an excessive discount or premium to their prevailing NAV
for any material length of time. In the year under review the
discount/premium to NAV of the ordinary shares on a cum
income basis has ranged between a discount of 14.3% and a
premium of 2.7%, with the average being a discount of 3.5%.
The shares ended the year at a discount of 5.0% on a cum
income basis. As at
7
February 2023 the discount was 2.0%.
As it does each year, the Board will also be seeking to renew
the authority from shareholders at the AGM to issue new
shares (or to reissue shares held in treasury) and to buy back
shares. Further information on these powers and the Board's
policy in this respect can also be found in the Chairman's
Statement on page 9
.
Principal risks
As required by the UK Code of Corporate Governance, the
Board has in place a robust, ongoing process to identify,
assess and monitor the principal and emerging risks of
the Company, including those that they consider would
threaten its business model, future performance, solvency
or liquidity. Emerging risks are considered by the Board
as they come into view and are incorporated into the
Company’s risk register where applicable. Additionally, the
Manager considers emerging risks in numerous forums
and the Risk and Quantitative Analysis team produces an
annual risk survey. Any material risks of relevance to the
Company identified through the annual risk survey will be
communicated to the Board.
A core element of this process is the Company’s risk register,
which identifies the risks facing the Company and the
likelihood and potential impact of each risk, together with
the controls established for mitigation. A residual risk rating
is calculated for each risk, which allows the effect of any
mitigating procedures to be reflected in the register. The
Strategic report
continued
Section 3: Governance
41
current risk register includes a range of risks spread between
investment performance risk, income/dividend risk, legal &
regulatory risk, counterparty risk, operational risk, market
risk, political risk and financial risk.
The risk register, its method of preparation and the operation
of key controls in the Manager’s and third party service
providers’ systems of internal control are reviewed on a
regular basis by the Audit Committee. In order to gain a
more comprehensive understanding of the Manager’s
and other third party service providers’ risk management
processes and how these apply to the Company’s business,
the Audit Committee periodically receives presentations from
BlackRock’s Internal Audit and Risk & Quantitative Analysis
teams. Where produced, the Audit Committee also reviews
summaries of the Service Organisation Control (SOC1)
reports from the Company’s service providers.
The principal risks and uncertainties faced by the Company
during the financial year, together with the potential effects,
controls and mitigating factors, are set out in the table on
pages
40
to 43
.
Principal Risk
Mitigation/Control
Investment performance
The Board is responsible for:
setting the investment policy to fulfil the Company’s objectives;
and
monitoring the performance of the Company’s Investment
Manager and the strategy adopted.
An inappropriate policy or strategy may lead to:
poor performance compared to the Company’s Benchmark
Index, peer group or shareholder expectations;
a widening discount to NAV;
a reduction or permanent loss of capital; and
dissatisfied shareholders and reputational damage.
To manage these risks the Board:
regularly reviews the Company’s investment mandate and long
term strategy;
has set, and regularly reviews, the investment guidelines and
has put in place appropriate limits on levels of gearing and the
use of derivatives;
receives from the Investment Manager a regular explanation of
stock selection decisions, portfolio gearing and any changes in
gearing and the rationale for the composition of the investment
portfolio;
receives from the Investment Manager regular reporting on the
portfolio’s exposure through derivatives, including the extent
to which the portfolio is geared in this manner and the value of
any short positions;
monitors the maintenance of an adequate spread of
investments in order to minimise the risks associated with
particular sectors, based on the diversification requirements
inherent in the Company’s investment policy; and
monitors the share price discount or premium to NAV.
Market risk
Market risk arises from changes to the prices of the Company’s
investments. It represents the potential loss the Company might
suffer through holding investments and derivatives. Market risk
includes the potential impact of events which are outside the
scope of the Company’s control, such as the UK’s decision to
leave the European Union, Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the
impacts of climate change.
The Board carefully considers the diversification of the portfolio,
asset allocation, stock selection, unquoted investments and levels
of gearing on a regular basis and has set investment restrictions
and guidelines which are monitored and reported on by the
Investment Manager. The Board monitors the implementation and
results of the investment process with the Investment Manager,
and key market risk factors are discussed.
The Board also recognises the benefits of a closed-end fund
structure in extremely volatile markets such as those experienced
with the COVID-19 pandemic and more recently the impact
of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on the global economy. Unlike
open-ended counterparts, closed-end funds are not obliged to
sell down portfolio holdings at low valuations to meet liquidity
requirements for redemptions. During times of elevated volatility
and market stress, the ability of a closed-end fund structure
to remain invested for the long term enables the
Investment
Manager to adhere to disciplined fundamental analysis from a
bottom-up perspective and be ready to respond to dislocations in
the market as opportunities present themselves.
42
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
l
Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
Principal Risk
Mitigation/Control
Income/dividend risk
The amount of dividends and future dividend growth will depend
on the performance of the Company’s underlying portfolio
holdings. Changes in the composition of the portfolio and any
change in the tax treatment of the dividends or interest received
by the Company may reduce the level of dividends received by
shareholders.
The Board monitors this risk through the receipt of detailed
income forecasts and considers the level of income at each
meeting. The Company also has a revenue reserve and powers
to pay dividends from capital which could potentially be used to
support the Company’s dividend if required.
Financial risk
The Company’s investment activities expose it to a variety of
financial risks that include market risk, foreign currency risk
and interest rate risk. At 30 November 2022, the Company
had approximately
33.5% of its gross asset value invested in
AIM traded equity securities and 4.3% of its gross assets in
international markets, and, by the very nature of its investment
objective, largely invests in smaller companies. Liquidity in these
securities can from time to time become constrained, making
these investments difficult to realise at or near published prices.
The Company is not materially exposed to foreign currency
and interest rate risk. For mitigation of market risk, see above.
There are also risks linked to the Company’s use of derivative
transactions including long and short investment positions.
Details are disclosed in note 11 on page
101
, together with a
summary of the policies for managing and controlling these risks
in note 16.
Operational risk
In common with most other investment trust companies, the
Company has no employees. The Company therefore relies upon
the services provided by BlackRock (the Manager and AIFM)
and The Bank of New York Mellon (International) Limited (the
Depositary and Fund Accountant) who maintain the Company’s
accounting records.
Failure by any service provider to carry out its obligations to the
Company could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s
performance. Disruption to the accounting, payment systems or
custody records, as a result of a cyber-attack or otherwise, could
impact the monitoring and reporting of the Company’s financial
position.
The security of the Company’s assets, dealing procedures,
accounting records and maintenance of regulatory and legal
requirements, depend on the effective operation of these
systems.
The Board reviews the overall performance of the Manager,
Investment Manager and all other third party service providers
and compliance with the investment management agreement on
a regular basis.
The Fund Accountant’s and the Manager’s internal control
processes are regularly tested and monitored throughout the year
and are evidenced through their Service Organisation Control
(SOC 1) reports, which are subject to review by an Independent
Service Assurance Auditor. The SOC 1 reports provide assurance
in respect of the effective operation of internal controls.
The Company’s financial instruments held in custody are subject
to a strict liability regime and in the event of a loss of such
financial instruments held in custody, the Depositary must return
assets of an identical type or the corresponding amount, unless
able to demonstrate that the loss was a result of an event beyond
its reasonable control.
The Board considers succession arrangements for key employees
of the Manager and the Board also considers the business
continuity arrangements of the Company’s key service providers
on an ongoing basis and reviews these as part of its review of
the Company’s risk register. In respect of the unprecedented
risks posed by the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of the ability of
service providers to function effectively, the Board has received
reports from key service providers setting out the measures that
they have put in place to address the crisis, in addition to their
existing business continuity framework. Having considered these
arrangements and reviewed service levels since the crisis has
evolved, the Board is confident that a good level of service has
and will be maintained.
The Board also receives regular updates from BlackRock’s internal
audit function and the Company’s Audit Committee Chairman
attends an annual briefing from the head of BlackRock’s internal
audit function once a year. This is supplemented by a written
report which describes the progress made against the current
internal audit plan, any issues identified and the plan for the
forthcoming year.
Strategic report
continued
Section 3: Governance
43
Principal Risk
Mitigation/Control
Legal and regulatory risk
The Company has been approved by HM Revenue & Customs as
an investment trust, subject to continuing to meet the relevant
eligibility conditions, and operates as an investment trust in
accordance with Chapter 4 of Part 24 of the Corporation Tax Act
2010. As such, the Company is exempt from capital gains tax on
the profits realised from the sale of its investments.
Any breach of the relevant eligibility conditions could lead to the
Company losing its investment trust status and being subject to
corporation tax on capital gains realised within the Company’s
portfolio. In such event the investment returns of the Company
may be adversely affected. Any serious breach could result in
the Company and/or the Directors being fined or the subject of
criminal proceedings or the suspension of the Company’s shares
which would in turn lead to a breach of the Corporation Tax Act
2010.
Risk of regulatory change
Amongst other relevant laws and regulations, the Company is
required to comply with the provisions of the Companies Act
2006, the Alternative Investment Fund Managers’ Directive (as
retained and onshored in the UK), the Market Abuse Regulation
(also as retained and onshored in the UK), the UK Listing Rules
and the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.
The Investment Manager monitors investment movements,
the level of forecast income and expenditure and the amount
of proposed dividends, if any, to ensure that the provisions of
Chapter 4 of Part 24 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 are not
breached, and the results are reported to the Board at each
meeting.
Following authorisation under the Alternative Investment Fund
Managers’ Directive as retained and onshored in the UK (AIFMD),
the Company and its appointed Alternative Investment Fund
Manager (AIFM) are subject to the risks that the requirements
of the AIFMD are not correctly complied with. The Board and the
AIFM also monitor changes in government policy and legislation
which may have an impact on the Company.
Compliance with the accounting standards applicable to quoted
companies and those applicable to investment trusts are also
regularly monitored to ensure compliance.
The Company Secretary and the Company’s professional advisers
monitor developments in relevant laws and regulations and
provide regular reports to the Board in respect of the Company’s
compliance.
The Market Abuse Regulation came into force across the EU
on 3 July 2016 and has been retained and onshored in the
UK following Brexit. The Board has taken steps to ensure that
individual Directors (and their Persons Closely Associated) are
aware of their obligations under the regulation and has updated
internal processes, where necessary, to ensure the risk of non-
compliance is effectively mitigated.
Counterparty risk
The potential loss that the Company could incur if a counterparty
is unable (or unwilling) to perform on its commitments. The
Company’s investment policy also permits the use of both
exchange-traded and over-the-counter derivatives (including
contracts for difference).
Due diligence is undertaken before contracts are entered into
and exposures are diversified across a number of counterparties.
The Board reviews the controls put in place by the Investment
Manager to monitor and to minimise counterparty exposure,
which include intra-day monitoring of exposures to ensure that
these are within set limits.
The Depositary is liable for restitution for the loss of financial
instruments held in custody, unless it is able to demonstrate that
the loss was due to an event beyond its reasonable control.
Viability statement
The Directors have assessed the prospects of the Company
over a longer period than the 12 months referred to by the
“Going Concern” guidelines.
The Board conducted this review for the period up to the
AGM in 2028, being a five-year period from the date that
this Annual Report will be approved by shareholders. This is
generally the investment holding period investors consider
while investing in the smaller companies’ sector. The Board
is cognisant of the uncertainty surrounding the potential
duration of the Russia/Ukraine conflict, its impact on the
global economy, and the prospects for the Company’s
portfolio holdings. In making its assessment the Board has
also considered the following factors:
the Company’s principal risks as set out on pages 40
to 43;
the impact of a significant fall in UK equity markets
on the value of the Company’s investment portfolio in
the light of the heightened volatility resulting from the
ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the impact on the global
economy, inflation and interest rates, of Russia’s invasion
of Ukraine;
the ongoing relevance of the Company’s investment
objective; and
the level of demand for the Company’s shares.
The Directors have also considered the Company’s revenue
and expense forecasts and the fact that expenses and
liabilities are relatively stable. The Company also has a
portfolio of investments which provides a level of cash
receipts in the form of dividends and which are considered to
be relatively realisable if required.
44
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
l
Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
The Directors reviewed the assumptions and considerations
underpinning the Company’s existing going concern
assertion (please see the disclosure in the Directors’ Report
on page
57), which are based on:
• processes for monitoring costs;
• key financial ratios;
• evaluation of risk management and controls;
compliance with the investment objective;
the Company’s ability to meet its liabilities as they fall due;
• portfolio risk profile;
share price discount to NAV;
• gearing;
• counterparty exposure and liquidity risk in the light of the
ongoing COVID-19 pandemic;
• the operational resilience of the Company and its key
service providers and their ability to continue to provide a
good level of service for the foreseeable future; and
the effectiveness of business continuity plans in place for
the Company and key service providers.
The Company has a relatively liquid portfolio and largely
fixed overheads (excluding any applicable performance fees)
which comprise a very small percentage of net assets (0.54%
excluding performance fees, 0.54% including performance
fees in 2022). The effective performance fee cap in the event
that the NAV return exceeds the Benchmark Index return over
the performance period is circa
0.90% of the average gross
assets over the two years and the applicable percentage to
be applied to the outperformance of the NAV total return
over the Benchmark Index return is 15%. In addition, the
maximum cap on total management and performance fees
is 1.25% of average gross assets (measured over a rolling
two-year period). Therefore, the Board has concluded that
the Company would be able to meet its ongoing operating
costs as they fall due.
On 30 December 2020, the UK and the EU signed the
UK/EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (UK/EU Trade
Agreement), which applied from 1 January 2021 and set
out the foundation of the economic and legal framework for
trade between the UK and the EU. The UK’s exit from the EU
has resulted in additional trade costs and disruptions in this
trading relationship. The terms of the future relationship may
cause continued uncertainty in the global financial markets,
and could potentially adversely affect the performance of
the Company. Volatility resulting from this uncertainty may
mean that the returns of the Company’s investments are
affected by market movements, the potential decline in the
value of Sterling or Euro, and the potential downgrading of
UK sovereign credit rating.
The Directors have also considered the impact of potential
changes in law, regulation and taxation and the matter of
foreign exchange risk. They have determined that although
there are a number of potential risks associated with the
legal, fiscal and regulatory landscape they do not believe
that this represents a material threat to the Company’s
strategy and business model, nor do they believe that the
Investment Manager will be materially impeded in achieving
the Company’s investment objective.
Based on the results of their analysis, the Directors have
a reasonable expectation that the Company will be able to
continue in operation and meet its liabilities as they fall due
over the period of their assessment.
Strategic report
continued
Section 3: Governance
45
Section 172 statement: Promoting the success of BlackRock
Throgmorton Trust plc
The Companies (Miscellaneous Reporting) Regulations 2018 require directors to explain more fully how they have discharged
their duties under Section 172(1) of the Companies Act 2006 in promoting the success of their companies for the benefit
of members as a whole. This enhanced disclosure covers how the Board has engaged with and understands the views of
stakeholders and how stakeholders’ needs have been taken into account, the outcome of this engagement and the impact that
it has had on the Board’s decisions.
As the Company is an externally managed investment company and does not have any employees or customers, the Board
considers the main stakeholders in the Company to be the shareholders and the key service providers (being the Manager and
Investment Manager, the Custodian, Depositary, Registrar and Broker). The reasons for this determination, and the Board’s
overarching approach to engagement, are set out in the table below:
Stakeholders
Shareholders
Manager and
Investment Manager
Other key service providers
Continued shareholder support
and engagement are critical to the
continued existence of the Company
and the successful delivery of its long-
term strategy. The Board is focused on
fostering good working relationships
with shareholders and on understanding
the views of shareholders in order to
incorporate them into the Board’s strategy
and objectives in delivering long-term
growth and income.
In turn, portfolio holdings are ultimately
shareholders’ assets, and the Board
recognises the importance of good
stewardship and communication with
investee companies in meeting the
Company’s investment objective and
strategy.
The Board’s main working relationship is
with the Manager, who is responsible for
the Company’s portfolio management
(including asset allocation, stock and
sector selection) and risk management,
as well as ancillary functions such as
administration, secretarial, accounting
and marketing services. The Manager has
sub-delegated portfolio management
to the Investment Manager. Successful
management of shareholders’ assets
by the Investment Manager is critical
for the Company to successfully deliver
its investment strategy and meet its
objective. The Company is also reliant on
the Manager as AIFM to provide support
in meeting relevant regulatory obligations
under the AIFMD and other relevant
legislation.
In order for the Company to function as
an investment trust with a listing on the
premium segment of the official list of
the FCA and trade on the London Stock
Exchange’s (LSE) main market for listed
securities, the Board relies on a diverse
range of advisors for support in meeting
relevant obligations and safeguarding the
Company’s assets. For this reason, the
Board considers the Company’s Custodian,
Depositary, Registrar and Broker to be
stakeholders. The Board, either directly or
through the Manager, maintains regular
contact with its key external providers
and receives regular reporting from
them through the Board and Committee
meetings, as well as outside of the regular
meeting cycle.
46
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
l
Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
A summary of the key areas of engagement undertaken by the Board with its key stakeholders in the year under review and
how Directors have acted upon this to promote the long term success of the Company are set out in the table below.
Area of Engagement
Issue
Engagement
Impact
Investment mandate
and objective
The Board is committed to
promoting the role and success
of the Company in delivering
on its investment mandate to
shareholders over the long term.
The Board also has responsibility
to shareholders to ensure that
the Company’s portfolio of assets
is invested in line with the stated
investment objective and in a way
that ensures an appropriate balance
between spread of risk and portfolio
returns.
The Board works closely with the
Investment Manager throughout
the year in further developing
our investment strategy and
underlying policies, not simply
for the purpose of achieving
the Company’s investment
objective but in the interests of
shareholders and future investors.
The Board is kept advised
in respect of the Manager’s
consideration of ESG factors as
part of the investment process; a
summary of BlackRock’s approach
to ESG matters is set out on
page
5
2
.
Details regarding the Company’s
NAV and share price performance
can be found in the Chairman’s
Statement on pages
7 and 8
and in the Strategic Report on
page 40.
The portfolio activities undertaken
by the Manager can be found in
the Investment Manager’s Report
on pages 13 to 17
.
Management of the
share rating
The Board believes that the best
way of addressing the discount over
the longer term is to continue to
generate good performance and to
create demand for the Company’s
shares in the secondary market
through broadening awareness of
the Company’s unique structure.
The Board believes that it is in
shareholders’ interests that the
share price does not trade at an
excessive premium or discount to
NAV. Therefore, where deemed to be
in shareholders’ long term interests,
it may exercise its powers to issue
shares or buy back shares with
the objective of ensuring that an
excessive premium or discount does
not arise.
The Manager reports total return
performance statistics to the Board
on a regular basis, along with the
portfolio yield and the impact of
dividends paid on brought forward
distributable reserves.
The Board reviews the Company’s
discount/premium to NAV on a
regular basis and holds regular
discussions with the Manager and
the Company’s broker regarding
the discount/premium level.
The Board believes that the best
way of maintaining the share
rating at an optimal level over the
long term is to create demand
for the shares in the secondary
market. To this end the Investment
Manager is devoting considerable
effort to broadening the awareness
of the Company, particularly to
wealth managers and to the wider
retail shareholder market.
The Manager provides the
Board with feedback and key
performance statistics regarding
the success of the Company’s
marketing initiatives.
The average discount for the year
to 30 November 2022 was 3.5%.
During the year the Company’s
share price has traded at a
maximum discount of 14.3% and
a maximum premium of 2.7%.
Strategic report
continued
Section 3: Governance
47
Area of Engagement
Issue
Engagement
Impact
Service levels of third
party providers
The Board acknowledges the
importance of ensuring that the
Company’s principal suppliers
are providing a suitable level of
service including: the Manager in
respect of investment performance
and delivering on the Company’s
investment mandate; the Depositary
in respect of its duties towards
safeguarding the Company’s assets;
the Registrar in its maintenance of
the Company’s share register and
dealing with investor queries and
the Company’s Brokers in respect
of the provision of advice and
acting as a market maker for the
Company’s shares.
The Manager reports to the Board
on the Company’s performance on
a regular basis. The Board carries
out a robust annual evaluation
of the Manager’s performance,
their commitment and available
resources.
The Board performs an annual
review of the service levels of all
third party service providers and
concludes on their suitability to
continue in their role.
The Board has received updates
in respect of business continuity
planning from the Company’s
Manager, Depositary, Fund
Administrator, Brokers, Registrar
and Printers, and is confident
that arrangements are in place to
ensure that a good level of service
will continue to be provided.
Performance evaluations were
performed on a timely basis and
the Board concluded that all third
party service providers, including
the Manager, Depositary and Fund
Administrator were operating
effectively and providing a good
level of service.
Board composition
The Board is committed to ensuring
that its own composition brings an
appropriate balance of knowledge,
experience and skills, and that it
is compliant with best corporate
governance practice under the
UK Corporate Governance Code,
including guidance on tenure and
the composition of the Board’s
committees.
During the year the Board undertook
a review of succession planning
arrangements and identified the
need for action to ensure that the
composition of the Board remained
appropriate and that there was an
ongoing process of refreshment,
bringing in new ideas and different
perspectives. The Board, through
its Nomination Committee, agreed
the selection criteria and the
method of selection, recruitment
and appointment. Board diversity,
including factors such as age,
ethnicity, and gender, was taken into
account when establishing the criteria.
All Directors are subject to a
formal evaluation process on an
annual basis (more details and
the conclusions in respect of the
2022 evaluation process are given
on
page 65). All Directors stand
for re-election by shareholders
annually. Shareholders may attend
the AGM and raise any queries
in respect of Board composition
or individual Directors in person
or may contact the Company
Secretary or the Chairman using
the details provided on page 124 if
they wish to raise any issues.
On 9 January 2023 the Board
announced the appointment of a
new Non-executive Director, Glen
Suarez, further strengthening
and divesifying the existing
Board. Further information on
Mr Suarez’s background and
experience, and that of all the
Directors, can be found on pages
33 to 36. As mentioned in the
Chairman’s Statement on page
1
0
,
following nine years of diligent
service on the Board Mr Greenlees
has decided to step down as a
Director at the conclusion of this
year’s AGM. He will be suceeded
as Chairman of the Company’s
Audit Committee by an existing
Director, Angela Lane.
The Directors are not aware of
any issues that have been raised
directly by shareholders in respect
of Board composition in 2022.
Details for the proxy voting results
in favour and against individual
Directors’ re-election at the 2022
AGM are given on the Company’s
website at www.blackrock.com/
uk/thrg.
48
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
l
Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
Area of Engagement
Issue
Engagement
Impact
Shareholders
Continued shareholder support
and engagement are critical to
the continued existence of the
Company and the successful
delivery of its long term strategy.
The dividend is funded out of
current year revenue and, where
deemed appropriate, may be
supported from revenue reserves if
current year revenue is insufficient.
The Company does not have a
policy of seeking income, however,
the portfolio has, to date, continued
to deliver a level of income such that
the Board is able to pay an attractive
dividend.
The Board is committed to
maintaining open channels of
communication and to engaging
with shareholders and welcomes
and encourages attendance and
participation from shareholders
at its Annual General Meetings.
Shareholders therefore have the
opportunity to meet the Directors
and Investment Manager and
to address questions to them
directly.
The Annual Report and
Half Yearly
financial report are available on
the BlackRock website and are
also circulated to shareholders
either in printed copy or via
electronic communications. In
addition, regular updates on
performance, monthly factsheets,
the daily NAV and other
information are also published
on the website at www.blackrock.
com/uk/thrg.
The Board values any feedback
and questions from shareholders
ahead of and during Annual
General Meetings in order to
gain an understanding of their
views and will take action when
and as appropriate. Feedback
and questions will also help the
Company evolve its reporting,
aiming to make reports more
transparent and understandable.
Feedback from all substantive
meetings between the Investment
Manager and shareholders will
be shared with the Board. The
Directors will also receive updates
from the Company’s broker on any
feedback from shareholders, as
well as share trading activity, share
price performance and an update
from the Investment Manager.
The Investment Manager attended
professional investor meetings
and held discussions with a range
of different wealth management
desks and offices in respect of
the Company during the year
under review. Investors were also
impressed with the wide pool
of resource available through
BlackRock’s Emerging Companies
team, and the rigorous ‘bottom-
up’ investment approach.
Strategic report
continued
Section 3: Governance
49
Area of Engagement
Issue
Engagement
Impact
Shareholders
(continued)
The Board also works closely
with the Manager to develop the
Company’s marketing strategy,
with the aim of ensuring effective
communication with shareholders
in respect of the investment
mandate and objective. Unlike
trading companies, shareholder
meetings usually take the form
of a meeting with the Investment
Manager as opposed to members
of the Board. As well as attending
regular investor meetings the
Investment Manager holds
regular discussions with wealth
management desks and offices
to build on the case for, and
understanding of, long term
investment opportunities in the
UK smaller companies’ sector.
However, the Board is ultimately
responsible for communication
with shareholders and all
substantive matters arising from
such communication are referred
to the Board.
The Manager also coordinates
public relations activity, including
meetings between the
Investment
Manager and relevant industry
publications to set out their
vision for the portfolio strategy
and outlook for the UK equity
market. The Manager releases the
daily NAV and monthly portfolio
updates to the market to ensure
that investors are kept up to date
in respect of performance and
other portfolio developments and
maintains a website on behalf
of the Company that contains
relevant information in respect
of the Company’s investment
mandate and objective. If
shareholders wish to raise issues
or concerns with the Board, they
are welcome to do so at any time.
The Chairman is available to
meet directly with shareholders
periodically to understand their
views on governance and the
Company’s performance where
they wish to do so. He may be
contacted via the Company
Secretary whose details are given
on page 124
.
50
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
l
Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
Area of Engagement
Issue
Engagement
Impact
Responsible
Investing
Consideration of material
Environmental, Social and
Governance (ESG) information and
sustainability risks are considered
when making investment decisions.
Climate change is becoming a
defining factor in companies’
long term prospects across
the investment spectrum, with
significant and lasting implications
for economic growth and prosperity.
The Board believes that
responsible investment and
sustainability are integral to
the longer-term delivery of the
Company’s success. The Board
works closely with the Investment
Manager to regularly review
the Company’s performance,
investment strategy and
underlying policies to ensure
that the Company’s investment
objective continues to be met
in an effective, responsible and
sustainable way in the interests of
shareholders and future investors.
The Investment Manager’s
approach to the consideration
of ESG factors in respect of the
Company’s information and
consideration of sustainability
risks are kept under review by the
Board.
The Investment Manager reports
to the Board in respect of its
consideration of sustainability
risks and these are integrated
into the investment process; a
summary of BlackRock’s approach
to ESG integration is set out
on page
39
. The Investment
Manager’s engagement and
voting policy is detailed on pages
56 and 57.
The Investment Manager believes
there is often a positive correlation
between good ESG practices on
the part of portfolio companies
and investment performance.
Details of the Company’s
performance in the year are given
in the Chairman’s Statement
on pages
7 and 8
and the
Performance Record on page 4
.
Strategic report
continued
Section 3: Governance
51
The Board’s approach to ESG
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues
can present both opportunities and threats to long term
investment performance. The Company does not have an
ESG mandate (and accordingly does not have an ESG or
impact focused investment strategy and has not adopted any
exclusionary screens) but our
Investment Manager does take
ESG factors into account as part of the investment process
as these elements can significantly influence a company’s
valuation. These ESG issues are a key focus of the Board, and
the Board is committed to a diligent oversight of the activities
of the Manager in these areas. The Board is aware of the
Company’s long term underweight position in extractive
industries, where innovative and disruptive business models
are rare and the non-participation in some capital raises
where ESG factors have been a concern.
The Board believes multi-year engagement and dialogue with
management is, in most cases, the most constructive way of
building understanding of an investee company's approach
to addressing material business risks and opportunities.
This is particularly true for our Manager given the extent of
BlackRock's shareholder engagement. Further detail of how
our Manager has voted and engaged with the companies in
our portfolio can be found on pages 56 and 57.
As well as the
understanding
afforded by its sheer scale,
the Board believes that BlackRock is well placed as
Manager to fulfil these requirements due to its approach
to ESG integration and its application of this to the
Company’s investment processes, the emphasis it places on
sustainability, its collaborative approach in its investment
stewardship activities and its position in the industry as one
of the largest suppliers of sustainable investment products
in the global market. More information on BlackRock’s
approach to sustainability and investment stewardship is set
out on
page 52.
Future prospects
The Board’s main focus is on the achievement of capital
growth and the future of the Company is dependent upon
the success of the investment strategy. The outlook for the
Company is discussed in the Chairman’s Statement on
page 11
and in the Investment Manager’s Report on pages
13 to 17
.
Social, community and human rights issues
As an investment trust, the Company has no direct social or
community responsibilities. However, the Company believes
that it is in shareholders’ interests to consider human rights
issues, and environmental, social and governance factors
when selecting and retaining investments. Details of the
Company’s approach to socially responsible investment is
set out above and on page 52.
Modern Slavery Act
As an investment vehicle the Company does not provide
goods or services in the normal course of business and does
not have customers. Accordingly, the Directors consider
that the Company is not required to make any slavery or
human trafficking statement under the Modern Slavery Act
2015. The Board considers the Company’s supply chain,
dealing predominantly with professional advisers and service
providers in the financial services industry, to be low risk in
relation to this matter.
Directors, gender representation and
employees
The Directors of the Company on 30 November 2022, all of
whom, with the exception of Glen Suarez who was appointed
after the year end on 9 January 2023, held office throughout
the year, are set out on pages
33 to 36. The Board recognises
the importance of having a range of experienced Directors
who, both individually and collectively, possess a suitable
balance of skills, knowledge, independence and diversity to
enable it to fulfil its obligations. As at 30 November 2022, the
Board consisted of three men and three women, resulting in
50% female representation. Following Glen’s appointment
this fell to 42% female representation. Following the
retirement of Loudon Greenlees at the forthcoming AGM to
be held on 23 March 2023 there will be 50:50 ratio of male
and female Directors.
The Company has no employees, and
all of its Directors are non-executive. Therefore, there are no
disclosures to be made in respect of employees.
The Chairman’s Statement on pages 6 to 11
and the
Investment Manager’s Report on pages
13 to 17 form part of
this Strategic Report.
The Strategic Report was approved by the Board at its
meeting on 9
February 2023.
By order of the Board
KEVIN MAYGER
for and on behalf of
BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited
Company Secretary
9
February 2023
52
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
l
Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
Responsible ownership – BlackRock’s
approach
Consistent with BlackRock’s fiduciary duty as an asset
manager, BlackRock Investment Stewardship (BIS) seeks
to support investee companies in their efforts to deliver
long-term durable financial performance on behalf of our
clients. These clients include public and private pension
plans, governments, insurance companies, endowments,
universities, charities and, ultimately, individual investors,
among others. BIS serves as an important link between
BlackRock’s clients and the companies they invest in. Clients
depend on BlackRock to help them meet their investment
goals; the business and governance decisions that companies
make will have a direct impact on BlackRock’s clients’ long-
term investment outcomes and financial well-being.
Global Principles
BlackRock’s approach to corporate governance and
stewardship is comprised in BIS’ Global Principles and
market-specific voting guidelines. BIS’ policies set out
the core elements of corporate governance that guide its
investment stewardship activities globally and within each
regional market, including when voting at shareholder
meetings for those clients who have authorized BIS to
vote on their behalf. Each year, BIS reviews its policies and
updates them as necessary to reflect changes in market
standards and regulations, insights gained over the year
through third-party and its own research, and feedback from
clients and companies. BIS’ Global Principles are available on
its website at www.blackrock.com/corporate/literature/fact-
sheet/blk-responsible-investment-engprinciples-global.pdf
Market-specific proxy voting guidelines
BIS’ voting guidelines are intended to help clients and
companies understand its thinking on key governance
matters. They are the benchmark against which it assesses a
company’s approach to corporate governance and the items
on the agenda to be voted on at the shareholder meeting. BIS
applies its guidelines pragmatically, taking into account a
company’s unique circumstances where relevant. BlackRock
informs voting decisions through research and engages as
necessary. BIS reviews its voting guidelines annually and
updates them as necessary to reflect changes in market
standards, evolving governance practice and insights gained
from engagement over the prior year.
BIS’ market-specific voting guidelines are available on
its website at www.blackrock.com/corporate/about-us/
investment-stewardship#stewardship-policies.
BIS also publishes voting bulletins explaining its voting
decisions, and the engagement and analysis underpinning
it, on certain high-profile proposals at company shareholder
meetings. Vote bulletins for 2022 can be found at
www.blackrock.com/corporate/about-us/investment-
stewardship#vote-bulletins.
BlackRock is committed to transparency in terms of
disclosure on its stewardship activities on behalf of
clients. BIS publishes its stewardship policies – such as
www.blackrock.com/corporate/literature/fact-sheet/blk-
responsible-investment-engprinciples-global.pdf Global
Principles, www.blackrock.com/corporate/literature/
publication/blk-stewardship-priorities-final.pdf engagement
priorities, and www.blackrock.com/corporate/about-us/
investment-stewardship#stewardship-policies – to help
BlackRock’s clients understand its work to advance their
interests as long-term investors in public companies.
Additionally, BIS published both annual and quarterly
www.blackrock.com/corporate/about-us/investment-
stewardship#stewardship-reports
detailing its stewardship
activities, as well as www.blackrock.com/corporate/about-
us/investment-stewardship#vote-bulletins
that describe
its rationale for certain votes at high profile shareholder
meetings. More detail in respect of BIS reporting can
be found at www.blackrock.com/corporate/about-us/
investment-stewardship
BlackRock’s reporting and disclosures
In terms of its own reporting, BlackRock believes that
the SASB provides a clear set of standards for reporting
sustainability information across a wide range of issues,
from labour practices to data privacy to business ethics.
For evaluating and reporting climate-related risks, as
well as the related governance issues that are essential to
managing them, the TCFD provides a valuable framework.
BlackRock recognises that reporting to these standards
requires significant time, analysis and effort. BlackRock’s
2021 TCFD report can be found at www.blackrock.com/
corporate/literature/continuous-disclosure-and-important-
information/tcfd-report
-2021
-blkinc.pdf.
The above forms part of the Strategic Report.
Responsible ownership: BlackRock’s
approach to sustainable investing
54
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
l
Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
The Directors present the Annual Report and Financial
Statements of the Company for the year ended 30 November
2022.
Status of the Company
The Company carries on business as an investment trust.
It has been approved by HM Revenue & Customs as an
investment trust in accordance with Sections 1158 and 1159
of the Corporation Tax Act 2010, subject to the Company
continuing to meet eligibility conditions. The Directors are
of the opinion that the Company has conducted its affairs
in a manner which will satisfy the conditions for continued
approval.
The Company is domiciled in the UK as an investment
company within the meaning of Section 833 of the Companies
Act 2006. It is not a close company and has no employees.
As an investment company that is managed and marketed
in the United Kingdom, the Company is an Alternative
Investment Fund (AIF) falling within the scope of, and
subject to the requirements of the Alternative Investment
Fund Managers’ Directive (AIFMD) (as implemented and
transposed into UK law). The Company is governed by the
provisions of the UK Alternative Investment Fund Managers
Regulations 2013 (the Regulations) and is required to be
authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). It
must comply with a number of obligations, including the
appointment of an Alternative Investment Fund Manager
(AIFM) and a depositary to carry out certain functions.
The Company must also comply with the Regulations
in respect of leverage, outsourcing, conflicts of interest,
risk management, valuation, remuneration and capital
requirements and must also make additional disclosures to
both shareholders and the FCA. Further details are set out
on the BlackRock website at blackrock.com/uk/thrg, the
Regulatory Disclosures section on pages 125 to 130 and in
note 16 of the Notes to the Financial Statements on pages
103 to 11
5
.
The Company’s ordinary shares are eligible for inclusion in
the Stocks & Shares component of an Individual Savings
Account (ISA).
Facilitating retail investments
The Company currently conducts its affairs so that its shares
can be recommended by an Independent Financial Advisor to
ordinary retail investors in accordance with the FCA’s rules in
relation to non-mainstream pooled investments and intends
to continue to do so for the foreseeable future. The shares
are excluded from the FCA’s restrictions which apply to non-
mainstream pooled investments because they are shares in
an investment trust.
The Common Reporting Standard
Tax legislation under The OECD (Organisation for Economic
Co-operation and Development) Common Reporting
Standard for Automatic Exchange of Financial Account
Information (The Common Reporting Standard) was
introduced on 1 January 2016.
The legislation requires investment trust companies to
provide personal information to HMRC about investors
who purchase shares in investment trusts. The Company
will have to provide information annually to the local tax
authority on the tax residencies of a number of non-UK
based certificated shareholders, and corporate entities. The
local tax authority to which the information is initially passed
may in turn exchange the information with the tax authorities
of another country or countries in which the shareholder may
be tax resident, where those countries (or tax authorities in
those countries) have entered into agreements to exchange
financial account information.
All new shareholders entered onto the share register,
excluding those whose shares are held in CREST, will be
sent a certification form for the purposes of collecting this
information.
Dividends
Details of dividends paid and payable are set out in the
Chairman’s Statement on page 9.
Investment management and
administration
BlackRock Fund Managers Limited (BFM) was appointed
as the Company’s AIFM with effect from 2 July 2014. The
management contract is terminable by either party on six
months’ notice.
BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited (BIM (UK))
continues to act as the Company’s Investment Manager under
a delegation agreement with BFM. BIM (UK) also acted as the
Company Secretary of the Company throughout the year.
BFM receives a base management fee of 0.35% of gross
assets per annum (calculated on the month end gross assets
of the Company, including the economic exposure of the
total long and short positions and index futures less current
liabilities). BFM is also entitled to a performance fee of
15% of Net Asset Value (NAV) total return outperformance
of the Benchmark Index measured and annualised on a
two-year rolling basis and applied on the average gross
assets over two years. The performance fee has an effective
cap of circa 0.9% of average gross assets over that period.
Outperformance is the amount by which the Fund Return
arithmetically exceeds the Benchmark Return. The cap
applies as a result of the maximum cap on total management
and performance fees of 1.25% of average gross assets over
a rolling two-year period.
The fee structure also includes a mechanism by which
any cumulative previous underperformance versus the
Benchmark Index return must be made good before any
future performance fee can be generated. Conversely, any
outperformance which has not been remunerated as a result
of the application of the maximum cap on total fees of 1.25%
(as above) may be carried forward solely for the purposes of
being applied to net off against any underperformance not
yet made good. The performance fee model for the Company
operates on a rolling two-year period, with an effective
Directors’ report
Section 3: Governance
55
annual cap of circa 0.9% on average gross assets over two
years. On the first day of the financial year outperformance
from the previous financial year (if any) is carried forward
and accrued in the daily NAV released to the London Stock
Exchange.
For the year ended 30 November 2022 a performance fee
of £nil (2021: £6,655,000) was payable to the Manager as a
result of the outperformance generated.
The Board believes that the fee structure is appropriately
aligned to the Company’s activities, investment objective
and shareholder interests. The low base fee minimises the
costs borne by shareholders, whilst the performance fee
is designed to reward the Manager at a level acceptable to
shareholders for the generation of superior performance.
Further details of the management fees are disclosed in note
4 on page 96.
No penalty on termination of the investment management
agreement is payable by the Company in the event that
six months’ written notice is given to BFM. There are no
provisions relating to payment of fees in lieu of notice.
The Company contributes to a focused investment trust sales
and marketing initiative operated by BIM (UK) on behalf of
the investment trusts under its management. The Company’s
contribution to the consortium element of the initiative,
which enables the trusts to achieve efficiencies by combining
certain sales and marketing activities, represented
0.025% per annum of its net assets (£984.5 million as at
31 December 2021) and this contribution is matched by BIM
(UK).
For the year ended 30 November 2022, £153,000
including
VAT (2021: £157,000 including VAT) has been accrued in
respect of these initiatives. The purpose of the programme
overall is to ensure effective communication with existing
shareholders and to attract new shareholders to the
Company. This has the benefit of improving liquidity in the
Company’s shares and helps sustain the stock market rating
of the Company.
BFM and BIM (UK) are subsidiaries of BlackRock, Inc. which
is a publicly traded corporation on the New York Stock
Exchange and operating as an independent firm.
Appointment of the Manager
The Board considers the arrangements for the provision of
investment management and other services to the Company
on an ongoing basis and a formal review is conducted
annually. As part of the annual review, the Board considers
the quality and continuity of the personnel assigned to
handle the Company’s affairs, the investment process and
the results achieved to date.
The Board believes that the continuing appointment of BFM
(the Manager) as AIFM, and the delegation of investment
management services to BIM (UK) (the Investment
Manager), on the terms disclosed above, is in the interests
of shareholders as a whole. The specialist nature of the
Company’s investment remit is, in the Board’s view, best
served by the Emerging Companies team at BlackRock,
which has a proven track record in successfully investing in
this sector.
Depositary and Custodian
The Company has appointed The Bank of New York Mellon
(International) Limited as its Depositary (the Depositary
or BNYM). Its duties and responsibilities are outlined in
the investment fund legislation (as contained in the FCA
AIF Rulebook). The main role of the Depositary under the
AIFMD is to act as a central custodian with additional
duties to monitor the operations of the Company, including
monitoring cash flows and ensuring the value of the
Company’s shares is calculated appropriately in accordance
with the relevant regulations and guidance. The Depositary
is also responsible for enquiring into the conduct of the AIFM
in each annual accounting period. The Depositary receives
a fee payable at 0.0095% of the net assets of the Company.
The Company has appointed the Depositary in a tripartite
agreement to which BFM as AIFM is also a signatory. The
Depositary is also liable for loss of financial instruments held
in custody.
Under the depositary agreement, custody services in respect
of the Company’s assets have been delegated to BNYM
which also receives a custody fee payable by the Company
at rates depending on the number of trades effected and the
location of securities held. Custody fees of £8,000 (2021:
£12,000) were paid to BNYM. The depositary agreement is
subject to 90 days’ notice of termination by any party.
Registrar
The Company has appointed Computershare Investor
Services PLC as its Registrar (the Registrar). The principal
duty of the Registrar is the maintenance of the register
of shareholders (including registering transfers). It also
provides services in relation to any corporate actions,
dividend administration, shareholder documentation and
compliance with the Common Reporting Standard.
The Registrar receives a fixed fee, plus disbursements and
VAT. Fees in respect of corporate actions are negotiated
as and when they arise. Registrar fees of £45,000 (2021:
£47,000) were paid to the Registrar.
Derivative counterparties
The Company transacts with multiple counterparties
for transacting in derivatives. At 30 November 2022, the
Company had master agreements with BNP Paribas, Credit
Suisse, Deutsche Bank AG and JPMorgan, to enable the
Company to gain long and short exposure on individual
securities through derivatives. Further details are given in
note 16 on pages 103 to 11
5
.
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Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
Change of control
There are no agreements which the Company is party to that
might be affected by a change in control of the Company.
Exercise of voting rights in investee
companies
The exercise of voting rights attached to the Company’s
portfolio has been delegated to the Investment Manager,
whose policy is set out below. BlackRock’s approach to voting
at shareholder meetings, engagement with companies
and corporate governance is framed within an investment
context. BlackRock believes that sound corporate governance
and sustainable business models contribute to companies’
long-term financial performance and thus to better risk-
adjusted returns.
BlackRock’s proxy voting process is led by the BlackRock
Investment Stewardship (BIS) team, located in ten offices
around the world. Collectively within BIS, 18 languages are
spoken and 31 academic disciplines are represented. The
team’s globally-coordinated, local presence and breadth
of experience enables more frequent and better-informed
dialogue with companies. The BIS team draws upon its own
expertise, as well as other internal and external resources
globally, to represent the long-term economic interests of
clients. Close collaboration takes place between BIS and
active portfolio managers. Active portfolio managers with
positions in a company can vote their shares independently
of BIS based on their views of what is best for their specific
fund and client base.
BIS’ Global Principles and market-specific proxy voting
guidelines, updated every year, form the foundation of the
team’s engagement with companies and voting decisions
at shareholder meetings on behalf of clients. The voting
guidelines are principles-based and not prescriptive because
BlackRock believes that each voting situation needs to be
assessed on its merits. Voting decisions are taken to
support the outcome that BlackRock believes is in the best
economic interests of clients. The Global Principles
are published on BlackRock’s website at:
www.blackrock.com/corporate/literature/fact-sheet/blk-
responsible-investmentengprinciples-global.pdf
During the year under review, the Investment Manager voted
on 1,411 proposals at 92 general meetings on behalf of
the Company. At these meetings the Investment Manager
voted in favour of most resolutions, as should be expected
when investing in well-run companies, but voted against
59 management resolutions and abstained or withheld from
voting on 16 resolutions. Most of the votes against were in
respect of proposals which contained insufficient disclosure
for the Investment Manager to make an informed decision,
or in respect of executive remuneration packages which were
considered to be poorly structured.
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc –
engagement with portfolio companies in
2022
Given the Board’s belief in the importance of engagement
and communication with portfolio companies, it receives
regular updates from the Manager in respect of activity
undertaken for the year under review. The Board notes that
over the year to 30 November 2022, BlackRock’s Investment
Stewardship team conducted a total of 58 company
engagements with the management teams of 46 portfolio
companies representing 49.0% of the portfolio by value at
30 November 2022. To put this into context, there were 94
companies in the BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc portfolio
at 30 November 2022. Additional information is set out in
the table and charts below as well as the key engagement
themes for the meetings held in respect of the Company’s
portfolio holdings.
As at
30 November
2022
Number of engagements held
58
Number of companies met
46
% of equity investments covered
49.0
Shareholder meetings voted at
92
Number of proposals voted on
1,411
Number of votes against management
59
% of total votes represented by votes against management
4.1%
Directors’ report
continued
Section 3: Governance
57
68.8%
13.8%
17.5%
Engagement themes *
1
Governance
Social
Environmental
Top 6 Engagement Topics *
1
Board Composition & Effectiveness
Governance Structure
Climate Risk Management
Human Capital Management
Corporate Strategy
Remuneration
52%
9%
17%
21%
10%
53%
*
Engagements include multiple company meetings during the year with the same company. Most engagement conversations cover multiple topics and
are based on BlackRock vote guidelines and BlackRock’s engagement priorities can be found at: www.blackrock.com/corporate/about-us/investment-
stewardship#engagement-priorities. Percentages reflect the number of meetings at which a particular topic is discussed as a percentage of the total meetings
held; as more than one topic is discussed at each meeting the total will not add up to 100%.
1
Sources: ISS Proxy Exchange and BlackRock Investment Stewardship.
Principal risks
The key risks faced by the Company are set out in the
Strategic Report on pages 40 to 43.
Going concern
The Financial Statements of the Company have been
prepared on a going concern basis. The forecast projections
and actual performance are reviewed on a regular basis
throughout the year and the Directors believe that this is the
appropriate basis, and the Company has adequate resources
to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable
future, being a period of at least 12 months from the date
these Financial Statements were approved, and is financially
sound. The Company is able to meet all of its liabilities
from its assets and the 2022 ongoing charges (excluding
performance fees) are approximately 0.54% (2021: 0.57%)
of the net assets.
Directors
Having carefully considered the Board’s composition and the
need to ensure that a suitable balance of skills, knowledge,
experience, independence and diversity is maintained, it
was agreed to commence a search and selection process to
identify new Directors in 2022. To assist them in their search
for the right candidates the Board engaged an independent
third party recruitment firm, Fletcher Jones Limited. Following
a thorough and detailed search, the Board resolved to appoint
Glen Suarez to the Board.
All of the Directors held office throughout the year under
review, with the exception of Glen Suarez, who was appointed
with effect from 9 January 2023.
Details of Directors’ interests in the ordinary shares of the
Company are set out in the Report of the Remuneration
Committee on pages 69 to 72. Further information on the
Directors of the Company as at 30 November 2022 and as at
the date of this report can be found on pages 33 to 36.
All appointments to the Board and re-elections of Directors
are carried out in accordance with the Companies Act and
the Company’s Articles of Association. The Company’s
Articles of Association provide that one third of Directors
retire by rotation each year. In addition, each Director shall
retire and offer themselves for re-election at intervals of no
more than three years. The Board may also appoint Directors
but any Director so appointed must stand for election by the
shareholders at the next Annual General Meeting. Directors
are also required to retire if they have served more than nine
years on the Board and then may offer themselves for annual
re-election.
However, in accordance with best practice and the
recommendations of the UK Code of Corporate Governance,
the Board has agreed that all Directors will retire each year
and if eligible, will offer themselves for re-election at the
forthcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM) to be held on
23 March 2023. The Board has considered the position of all
Directors standing for re-election at the AGM and believes
that it is in the Company’s best interests to support the
respective resolutions. The Board therefore recommends that
shareholders vote in favour of these resolutions.
The Board ensures that each Director has sufficient time
to discharge their role and considers both the number and
nature of their other commitments, the time commitment
required and overall capacity. This may include a detailed
review of their time spent on other activities. Any new
external appointments must first be approved by the
Board and the Director concerns must demonstrate that
they have sufficient time to carry out the new role. Before
recommending a Director for re-election their time capacity,
independence, attendance record and ongoing commitment
to the affairs of the Company are considered. A formal
evaluation of their performance is also carried out each year.
The Board has specifically considered the time commitment
required of the Chairman, noting that he has various other
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Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
roles, including another chairmanship at a listed company.
The Chairman has provided the Board with a detailed
breakdown of his time commitments and a description of the
work he undertakes. The Board, noting that many of his other
roles are at investment companies, has formed the opinion
that his other directorships, in aggregate, are reasonable
and do not negatively impact on his ability to discharge his
duties to the Company. Moreover, the Board has noted that
he commits a significant amount of time to the Company
and demonstrates dedication in his role as Chairman of the
Board.
Having considered the Directors’ performance within the
annual Board performance evaluation process, further
details of which are provided on page
65, the Board believes
that it continues to be effective and that the Directors bring
extensive knowledge and experience, suitably aligned to
the activities of the Company, and demonstrate a range of
valuable business, financial and asset management skills,
as set out in the table above. Further details of their
experience and expertise can be found in their biographies
on pages 33 to 36.
Further details of the independence of the Board and Board
tenure is provided in the Corporate Governance Report on
page 62.
There were no contracts subsisting during the year under
review or up to the date of this report in which a Director of
the Company is or was materially interested and which is or
was significant in relation to the Company’s business. None
of the Directors is entitled to compensation for loss of office
on the takeover of the Company. None of the Directors has a
service contract with the Company.
Conflicts of interest
The Board has put in place a framework for Directors to
report conflicts of interest or potential conflicts of interest.
All Directors are required to notify the Company Secretary of
any situations, or potential situations where they consider
that they have or may have, a direct or indirect interest or
duty that conflicts or possibly conflicts with the interests of
the Company.
All new situations, or changes to previously reported
situations are reviewed on an individual basis and reviewed
at each meeting. Directors are also reminded at each
meeting that there remains a continuing obligation to notify
the Company Secretary of any new situations that may
arise or any changes that may occur to a previously notified
situation. The Board considers that the framework has
worked effectively throughout the year.
Directors’ remuneration report and policy
The Directors’ Remuneration Report can be found within the
Report of the Remuneration Committee on pages 69 to 72.
An advisory ordinary resolution to approve this report will be
put to shareholders at the Company’s AGM. The Company is
also required to put the Directors’ Remuneration Policy to a
binding shareholder vote every three years. The Company’s
Remuneration Policy was last put to shareholders at the AGM
in 2020, therefore, an ordinary resolution to approve the
policy will be put to shareholders at the forthcoming AGM to
be held on 23 March 2023. Further details can be found in
the Notice of AGM on page 136 and the Remuneration Policy
can be found on pages 73 and 74.
Directors’ responsibilities
The Directors’ responsibilities in preparing these Financial
Statements are noted on page 79.
Substantial share interests
As at 30 November 2022 and as at the date of this report, the
following investors had declared a notifiable interest of 3%
or more in the Company’s voting rights.
Shareholder
Number of
Ordinary
shares
% of issued
share
capital
1
Brewin Dolphin
13,714,472
13.
5
%
Investec Wealth & Management
5,728,500
5.6%
Rathbones
4,742,381
4.6%
1
Based upon 101,158,864 shares in issue at the year end.
Directors’ report
continued
Director
Asset and
Investment
Management
Finance and/or
Accounting
Investment Trust
experience
Marketing and
Distribution
Corporate Strategy
and Finance
Christopher Samuel
Loudon Greenlees
Merrryn Somerset Webb
Nigel Burton
Louise Nash
Angela Lane
Section 3: Governance
59
As at 7 February 2023, the following investors had declared a
notifiable interest in the Company’s voting rights:
Shareholder
Number of
Ordinary
shares
% of issued
share
capital
2
Brewin Dolphin
13,611,293
13.4%
Investec Wealth & Management
5,692,584
5.6%
Rathbones
4,732,966
4.6%
2
Based upon 101,113,864 shares in issue at the year end.
Articles of Association
Any amendments to the Company’s Articles of Association
must be made by a special resolution of the members of the
Company.
Share capital
Details of the Company’s share capital and voting rights are
given in note 14 on page 102. Details of the voting rights in
the Company’s shares as at the date of this report are also
given in note 16 to the Notice of Annual General Meeting on
page 139.
The ordinary shares carry the right to receive dividends
and have one voting right per ordinary share. There are no
restrictions on the voting rights of the ordinary shares or
on the transfer of the ordinary shares. There are no shares
which carry specific rights with regard to the control of the
Company.
Share issues and repurchases
The Board believes that the best way to address any discount
over the longer term is to generate good performance and to
create demand for the Company’s shares in the secondary
market through effective marketing to drive awareness of the
Company’s unique structure, robust investment process and
long term investment track record in an attractive sector that
is difficult to navigate.
In support of this activity, and where deemed to be in
shareholders’ long-term interests, the Board may exercise
its powers to issue or buy back shares with the objective of
ensuring that neither an excessive discount or premium to
NAV arises.
The Board considers several factors in determining whether
the discount or premium to NAV at which the Company’s
shares trade is excessive or otherwise. These may include but
are not limited to: whether the share rating is commensurate
with the peer group of UK Smaller Companies and whether
the Company’s shares are trading in normal market
conditions; the ongoing attractiveness of the investment
proposition, in particular the strength of the portfolio
management team and process; and the strong long-term
performance delivered for shareholders, both in absolute and
relative terms.
Although the Manager initiates any buybacks, the policy
and parameters are set by the Board and reviewed at regular
intervals. If needed, the Company would raise any cash
required to finance the purchase of such shares either by
selling securities in the Company’s portfolio or by short term
borrowing.
The Directors believe that it is in shareholders’ interests
to ensure that the Company has, at all times, the ability
to buy back shares and to issue new shares or sell shares
from treasury in order to manage any excessive share price
premium to NAV that may arise.
Although the Manager initiates any buybacks, the policy
and parameters would be set by the Board and reviewed at
regular intervals. If needed, the Company would raise any
cash required to finance the purchase of such shares either
by selling securities in the Company’s portfolio or by short-
term borrowing.
The Directors believe that it is in shareholders’ interests
to ensure that the Company has, at all times, the ability
to buy back shares and to issue new shares or sell shares
from treasury in order to manage any excessive share price
premium to NAV that may arise.
The current authority to repurchase ordinary shares was
granted to Directors on 24 March 2022 and expires at the
conclusion of the AGM in 2023.
The Directors are therefore proposing that their authority to
buy-back shares to be held in treasury, or for cancellation,
and to issue new shares or sell shares from treasury be
renewed at the forthcoming AGM.
Treasury shares
The Company is authorised to purchase its own ordinary
shares to be held in treasury for reissue or cancellation at a
future date. As at 30 November 2022, 2,051,000 shares were
held in treasury (2021: nil shares).
Treasury shares will only be reissued at prices at or above
the prevailing NAV per share thereby giving the Company
the ability to reissue shares quickly and cost effectively,
improving liquidity and providing the Company with
additional flexibility in the management of its capital base. It
also ensures a positive overall effect for shareholders when
shares are bought back at a discount and then sold at a price
at or above the NAV per share.
Streamlined Energy & Carbon Reporting
scheme (SECR) statement: greenhouse gas
(GHG) emissions and energy consumption
disclosure
As an externally managed investment company, the
Company has no greenhouse gas emissions to report from
its operations, nor does it have any responsibility for any
other emissions producing sources under the Companies Act
(Strategic Report and Directors’ Reports) Regulations 2013.
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Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
For the same reason, the Company considers itself to be a
low energy user under the SECR regulations and therefore is
not required to disclose energy and carbon information.
Business of the AGM
AGM Arrangements
UK government restrictions on public gatherings are no longer
in force in connection with COVID-19 and we therefore intend
to hold the AGM in the normal way with physical attendance
by shareholders. However, shareholders should be aware that
it is possible that restrictions could be reimposed prior to the
date of the AGM.
BlackRock requests that shareholders intending to attend
should comply with their COVID-19 safety protocols before
entering the venue. At the time of writing, visitors are not
permitted in BlackRock’s offices if they have tested positive
for COVID-19 in the past 10 days, are experiencing COVID-19
related symptoms, or are subject to government requirements
for self-isolation or quarantine.
The following information to be discussed at the
forthcoming Annual General Meeting is important and
requires your immediate attention. If you are in any doubt
about the action you should take, you should seek advice
from your stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant
or other financial adviser authorised under the Financial
Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended).
If you have sold or transferred all of your ordinary shares
in the Company, you should pass this document, together
with any other accompanying documents including the
form of proxy, at once to the purchaser or transferee, or to
the stockbroker, bank or other agent through whom the
sale or transfer was effected, for onward transmission to
the purchaser or transferee.
The business of this year’s AGM consists of 16 resolutions.
Resolutions 1 to 13 are proposed as ordinary resolutions
and resolutions 14 to 16 are being proposed as special
resolutions.
Ordinary Resolution 1 – Annual Report and
Financial Statements
This resolution seeks shareholder approval to receive the
report of the Directors and Financial Statements for the year
ended 30 November 2022 and the Auditor’s report thereon.
Ordinary Resolution 2 – Approval of the Directors’
Remuneration Report
This resolution is an advisory vote on the Directors’
Remuneration Report for the year ending 30 November
2022, excluding any content relating to the proposed future
remuneration policy as set out on pages 73 and 74.
Resolution 3 - Approval of the Directors’
Remuneration Policy
This is a binding resolution to approve the Directors’
Remuneration Policy as set out on pages 73 and 74.
Ordinary Resolution 4 – Approval of a final dividend
This resolution seeks shareholder approval of a final dividend
of 8.50 pence for the year ended 30 November 2022.
Ordinary Resolutions 5 to 10 – Election or
Re-election of the Directors
Resolutions 5 to 10 relate to the re-election of the Directors.
The Board has undertaken a formal performance evaluation
during the year and confirms that the performance of
the Directors standing for re-election continues to be
effective and that each Director continues to demonstrate
commitment to their role and has confirmed with each
Director, and specifically with the Chairman of the Board,
that they have sufficient time to effectively discharge their
duties to the Company. Their biographies on pages 33 to 36
provide details of their collective expertise and experience.
The Board believes their re-appointment is in the best
interests of shareholders and will promote the long term
success of the Company.
Ordinary Resolutions 11 and 12 – Appointment
of the external Auditor and the Auditor’s
Remuneration
These resolutions relate to the re-appointment and
remuneration of the Company’s auditor. The Company,
through its Audit Committee, has considered the
independence and objectivity of the external auditor and is
satisfied that the Auditor is independent. Further information
in relation to the assessment of the existing Auditor’s
independence can be found in the Report of the Audit
Committee on pages 77 and 78.
Resolutions relating to the following items of special
business will be proposed at the forthcoming AGM.
Ordinary Resolution 13 – Authority to allot
ordinary shares
The Directors may only allot shares for cash if authorised to
do so by shareholders in a general meeting. This resolution
seeks authority for the Directors to allot shares for cash
up to an aggregate nominal amount of £505,569.32 per
annum, which is equivalent to 10,113,864 ordinary shares
of 5p each and represents 10% of the Company’s issued
ordinary share capital (excluding treasury shares) as at the
date of the Notice of the AGM. This resolution will expire
at the conclusion of the AGM of the Company to be held in
2024 unless renewed prior to that date at an earlier general
meeting. All shares issued under this authority would be at a
premium to the prevailing NAV.
Directors’ report
continued
Section 3: Governance
61
Special Resolution 14 – Authority to disapply
pre-emption rights
By law, Directors require specific authority from shareholders
before allotting new shares or selling shares out of treasury
for cash without first offering them to existing shareholders
in proportion to their holdings.
Resolution 14 empowers the Directors to allot new shares
for cash or to sell shares held by the Company in treasury,
otherwise than to existing shareholders on a pro rata basis,
up to an aggregate nominal amount of £505,569.32 which
is equivalent to 10,113,864 ordinary shares of 5p each and
represents 10% of the Company’s issued ordinary share
capital (excluding treasury shares) as at the date of the Notice
of the AGM. This resolution, which is subject to the passing of
ordinary resolution 13, will expire at the conclusion of the AGM
of the Company to be held in 2024 unless renewed prior to
that date at an earlier general meeting. All shares issued under
this authority would be at a premium to the prevailing NAV.
Special Resolution 15 – Authority to buy back
ordinary shares
The resolution to be proposed will seek to renew the authority
granted to Directors enabling the Company to purchase its own
ordinary shares. The Directors will only consider repurchasing
shares in the market if they believe it to be in shareholders’
interests and as a means of correcting any imbalance between
supply and demand for the Company’s shares.
The Directors are seeking authority to purchase up to
15,156,968 ordinary shares (being 14.99% of the issued
ordinary share capital excluding treasury shares as at the
date of this report). This authority, unless renewed at an
earlier general meeting, will expire at the conclusion of the
AGM of the Company to be held in 2024.
Any ordinary shares purchased pursuant to this resolution
shall be cancelled immediately upon completion of the
purchase or held, sold, transferred or otherwise dealt with
as treasury shares in accordance with the provisions of the
Companies Act.
Special Resolution 16 – Notice period for General
Meetings
Special Resolution 16 empowers the Directors to hold
general meetings (other than annual general meetings)
on 14 days’ notice, which is the minimum notice period
permitted by the Companies Act 2006. The EU Shareholder
Rights Directive increases the minimum notice period to 21
days unless two conditions are met.
The first condition is that the Company offers facilities for
shareholders to vote by electronic means. The second condition
is that there is an annual resolution of shareholders approving
the reduction in the minimum notice period from 21 days to 14
days, hence this resolution being proposed. It is not intended
that this power will be used as a matter of course, rather that
this flexibility will be utilised where the Board believes that the
nature of the business to be conducted requires that a general
meeting be convened at 14 days’ notice.
Recommendation
The Board considers that each of the resolutions to be
proposed at the Annual General Meeting is likely to promote
the success of the Company for the benefit of its members
as a whole and is in the best interests of the Company and
its shareholders as a whole. The Directors unanimously
recommend that shareholders vote in favour of these
resolutions as they intend to do in respect of their own
beneficial holdings.
As mentioned in the Chairman’s statement, if you are unable
to attend the meeting in person you can cast your vote by
proxy, either by appointing the chairman as your proxy
or alternatively a third party. Details on how to do so are
included on the Proxy Card provided. If you hold your shares
through a Nominee or Platform you will need to contact
them directly to instruct them on how you wish to vote or to
request that they appoint you as a proxy in respect of your
shareholding should you wish to attend the meeting. It may
also be possible to vote electronically via the platform. If
you are able to do so we would encourage shareholders to
exercise your vote.
Corporate Governance
Full details are given in the Corporate governance statement
on pages 63 to 68. The Corporate Governance Statement
forms part of this Directors’ Report.
Audit information
As required by Section 418 of the Companies Act 2006 the
Directors who held office at the date of approval of this
Directors’ Report confirm that, so far as they are aware, there
is no relevant audit information of which the Company’s
auditor is unaware; and each Director has taken all the
steps that they ought to have taken as a Director to make
themselves aware of any relevant audit information and
to establish that the Company’s auditor is aware of that
information.
Independent Auditor
In line with EU regulations on mandatory audit rotation, an
audit tender process was carried out by the Company during
2018. Following this process, and on the recommendation
of the Company’s Audit Committee, the Board resolved
that PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP be appointed as the
Company’s independent auditor for the financial year
commencing on 1 December 2018. PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP have audited the Company’s Financial Statements for
the year ending 30 November 2022.
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Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
A resolution to re-appoint PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP as auditor of the Company will be proposed at the
forthcoming Annual General Meeting, together with a
resolution to authorise the Audit Committee to determine its
remuneration.
The Directors’ Report was approved by the Board at its meeting
on 9 February 2023.
By order of the Board
KEVIN MAYGER
for and on behalf of
BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited
Company Secretary
9
February 2023
Directors’ report
continued
Section 3: Governance
63
Introduction
Corporate governance is one of the processes by which the
Board seeks to safeguard shareholders’ interests and protect
and enhance shareholder value. Shareholders hold the
Directors responsible for the stewardship of the Company,
delegating authority and responsibility to the Directors to
manage the Company on their behalf and holding them
accountable for its performance.
The Board is ultimately responsible for framing and
executing the Company’s strategy and for closely
monitoring risks. We aim to run the Company in a manner
which is responsible and consistent with our belief in
honesty, transparency and accountability. In our view,
good governance means managing the business well and
engaging effectively with investors. We consider the practice
of good governance to be an integral part of the way we
manage the Company, and we are committed to maintaining
high standards of financial reporting, transparency and
business integrity.
As a UK-listed investment trust company our principal
reporting obligation is driven by the UK Corporate
Governance Code (the UK Code). However, as listed
investment trust companies differ in many ways from other
listed companies, the Association of Investment Companies
has drawn up its own set of guidelines, the AIC Code of
Corporate Governance (the AIC Code), which addresses the
governance issues relevant to investment companies and
meets the approval of the Financial Reporting Council.
The UK Code is available from the Financial Reporting
Council’s website at frc.org.uk. The AIC Code is available from
the Association of Investment Companies at www.theaic.co.uk.
This report, which forms part of the Directors’ Report,
explains how the Board deals with its responsibility, authority
and accountability.
Compliance
The Board has made the appropriate disclosures in this
report to ensure that the Company meets its continuing
obligations. It should be noted that, as an investment trust,
most of the Company’s day-to-day responsibilities are
delegated to third party service providers, the Company
has no employees and the Directors are all non-executives,
therefore not all the provisions of the UK Code are directly
applicable to the Company.
The Board considers that the Company has complied with
the recommendations of the AIC Code and the provisions
contained within the UK Code that are relevant to the
Company throughout the accounting period, except for those
relating to:
the role of the chief executive;
executive directors’ remuneration; and
the need for an internal audit function.
For the reasons set out in the AIC Guide, and explained in
the UK Code, the Board considers these provisions are not
relevant to the position of the Company, being an externally
managed investment company with no executive employees
and, in relation to internal audit function, in view of
BlackRock having an internal audit function.
Information on how the Company has applied the principles
of the AIC Code and the UK Code is set out below.
The Board
Board composition
As at 30 November 2022 the Board consisted of six
Non-executive Directors. As at the date of this report the Board
consists of seven Non-executive Directors, all of whom are
independent of the Company’s Manager. This is a higher
number than usual in order to facilitate the orderly transition
of a retiring director and a newly appointed director.
Following the AGM in March the number of directors will
reduce to six.
The provision of the UK Corporate Governance Code which
relates to the combination of the roles of the chairman
and chief executive does not apply as the Company has no
executive directors.
The Directors’ biographies, on pages 33 to 36, demonstrate
a breadth of investment knowledge, business and financial
experience relevant to the Company’s business which
enables the Board to provide effective strategic leadership
and proper governance of the Company. Details of the
Chairman’s other significant time commitments can also be
found on page 33.
Board independence and tenure
The Board’s independence, including that of the Chairman,
has been considered and all of the Directors are deemed to
be independent in character and have no relationships or
circumstances which are likely to affect their judgement.
The Board subscribes to the view expressed in the AIC
Code that long-serving Directors should not be prevented
from forming part of an independent majority. It does not
consider that the length of tenure, in isolation, reduces a
Director’s ability to act independently. The Board’s policy on
tenure is that continuity and experience add significantly
to the strength of the Board and, as such, no formal limit
on the overall length of service of any of the Company’s
Directors has been imposed, although the Board believes in
the merits of an ongoing and progressive refreshment of its
composition.
Succession planning
The Directors support a planned and progressive renewing
of the Board. The Board’s tenure and succession policy seeks
to ensure that the Board remains well balanced at all times
through the application of a formal succession plan, seeking
Corporate governance statement
64
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
l
Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
to identify and appoint new Directors, as required, who
possess a range of skills, knowledge and experience which
is aligned to the activities of the Company. Directors must
also be able to demonstrate sufficient commitment to the
Company, including the ability to commit sufficient time to
effectively discharge their duties.
Overboarding
The Board is cognisant of the concept of “overboarding”
and has considered the time commitment required by the
Directors’ other roles, taking into account their nature and
complexity. The Board does not believe that any of the
Directors are currently overboarded. The Board reviews this
information annually to ensure all Directors have sufficient
capacity to carry out their role effectively.
Time Commitment of the Chairman
The Board has specifically considered the time commitment
of the Chairman, noting that he has various roles, including
another chairmanship at a listed company. The Chairman
has provided the Board with a detailed breakdown of his
other time commitments and a description of the work he
undertakes. The Board, noting that many of his other roles
are at investment companies, has formed the opinion that his
other directorships, in aggregate, are reasonable and do not
negatively impact on his ability to discharge his duties to the
Company. Moreover, the Board has noted that he commits
a significant amount of the time to the Company and is
dedicated to his role as Chairman of the Board.
Further information on how the Board satisfies itself that
Directors have sufficient time to effectively discharge their
role is set out on pages 57 and 58.
Board Diversity
While the Board does not have a formal policy on diversity,
it recognises the benefits at Board level and believes that
Directors should have a mix of different skills, experience,
backgrounds, ethnicity, gender and other characteristics.
It has therefore agreed to comply with best practice and
applicable regulation in respect of diversity, including gender
and ethnicity.
A broad range of factors are taken into account when setting
an appointment brief and during the search and selection
process and have been applied during the recruitment
and that all Board appointments must be made on merit,
in the context of the skills, experience, independence and
knowledge which the Board as a whole requires to be
effective.
As at 30 November 2022 the Board had a 50:50 gender ratio,
in accordance with relevant regulation and best practice,
and will continue to consider other diversity characteristics,
such as age, ethnicity, gender, disability, educational
or professional background when appraising Board
composition.
The Board has complied with the recommendations of the
Parker Review in respect of board diversity
and the recent
changes to the FCA’s Listing Rules which set new diversity
targets and associated disclosure requirements for UK
companies listed on the premium and standard segment
of the London Stock Exchange. Listing Rule 9.8.6R (9)
requires listed companies to include a statement in their
annual reports and accounts in respect of certain targets on
board diversity, or if those new targets have not been met to
disclose the reasons for this. This new requirement applies
to accounting periods commencing on or after 1 April 2022
and therefore the Company intends to report against these
diversity targets for the year ending 30 November 2023.
Further information on the composition and diversity of the
Board can be found in the disclosure table which follows
below:
Gender
Number
of Board
members
Percentage
of Board
Number of
senior roles
held
1
Men
3
50
2
Women
3
50
1
Ethnicity
2
White British (or any
other white background)
5
83.
4
3
Asian or Asian British
1
16.6
0
1
A senior position is defined as the role of Chairman, Audit
Committee Chairman or Senior Independent Director.
2
Categorisation of ethnicity is stated in accordance with the Office
of National Statistics classification.
Directors’ induction and training
When a new Director is appointed to the Board, he or she
is provided with all the relevant information regarding the
Company and their duties and responsibilities as a Director.
In addition, a new Director will also spend some time with
representatives of the Manager, including the Investment
Manager and the Company Secretary, whereby he or she
will become familiar with the various processes which are
considered necessary for the performance of their duties and
responsibilities.
The Company’s policy is to encourage Directors to keep up
to date and attend training courses on matters which are
directly relevant to their involvement with the Company.
The Directors also receive regular briefings from, amongst
others, the Auditor and the Company Secretary regarding any
proposed developments or changes in law or regulations that
could affect themselves or the Company.
Directors’ liability insurance
The Company has maintained appropriate Directors’ Liability
Insurance cover throughout the year, which continues to be
in force as at the date of this report.
Corporate governance statement
continued
Section 3: Governance
65
The Board’s responsibilities
The Board is responsible to shareholders for the effective
stewardship of the Company. A formal schedule of matters
reserved for the decision of the Board has been adopted.
Investment policy and strategy are determined by the
Board. It is also responsible for the gearing policy, dividend
policy, public documents, such as the Annual Report and
Financial Statements, the buy-back policy and corporate
governance matters. In order to enable them to discharge
their responsibilities effectively the Board has full and timely
access to relevant information.
The Board currently meets at least six times a year to review
investments, performance, financial reports and other
reports of a strategic nature. Board or Board Committee
meetings are also held on an ad hoc basis to consider issues
as they arise. Key representatives of the Manager and/or
Investment Manager attend each meeting and between
these meetings there is regular contact with the Manager
and Investment Manager.
The Directors have direct access to company secretarial
advice and the services of the Manager, through a nominated
representative, who is responsible to the Board for ensuring
that Board and Committee procedures are followed and that
the Company complies with applicable rules and regulations.
Where necessary, in the furtherance of their duties, the
Directors may seek independent professional advice at the
expense of the Company.
Performance evaluation
In order to review the effectiveness of the Board, its
Committees and the individual Directors, the Board carries
out an annual appraisal process. The annual evaluation
for the year ended 30 November 2022 has been carried
out with the assistance of an independent third party
and took the form of electronic performance evaluation
questionnaires. The evaluation looked at several key
areas, including the performance of the Board and its
Committees, the effectiveness of the Board’s oversight of the
Investment Manager, investment strategy and performance,
risk management, external relations and succession
planning. The responses were then collated, analysed and
discussions held between the Chairman and the Directors.
The performance of the Chairman was reviewed by the other
Directors led by Louise Nash, Senior Independent Director.
The appraisal process is considered to be constructive in
terms of identifying areas in which the functioning and
performance of the Board and its Committees and the
contribution of individual Directors could be improved, as
well as building on and developing individual and collective
strengths. There were no significant issues arising from the
evaluation process and it was agreed that the Board and its
Committees were functioning effectively.
Delegation of responsibilities
The Board has delegated the following areas of responsibility:
Management and administration
The management of the investment portfolio and the
administration of the Company have been contractually
delegated to BlackRock Fund Managers Limited (BFM
or the Manager) as the Company’s AIFM, and BFM (with
the permission of the Company) has delegated certain
investment management and other ancillary services to
BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited (BIM (UK)
or the Investment Manager). The contractual arrangements
with the Manager are summarised on pages 54 and 55.
The Manager, operating under guidelines determined by
the Board, has responsibility for the decisions relating to
the day-to-day running of the Company and is accountable
to the Board for the investment, financial and operating
performance of the Company.
The Manager has delegated the fund accounting and
administration services to The Bank of New York Mellon
(International) Limited.
The review of the Manager’s performance is an ongoing duty
and responsibility of the Board which is carried out at every
Board Meeting. In addition, a formal review is undertaken
annually, details of which are set out on page 65 of the
Directors’ Report.
The assets of the Company have been entrusted to the
Depositary for safekeeping. The Company’s appointed
Depositary is The Bank of New York Mellon (International)
Limited. The address at which the business is conducted is
given on page 124.
The Board has delegated the exercise of voting rights
attaching to the securities held in the portfolio to the
Investment Manager. Details of the Investment Manager’s
approach to voting is set out on page 56.
Committees of the Board
The Board has appointed a number of committees as set out
below and on page 32. Copies of the terms of reference of
each committee are available on request from the Company’s
registered office, on the BlackRock website at blackrock.com/
uk/thrg and at each Annual General Meeting.
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee, is chaired by Loudon Greenlees and
consists of all the Directors of the Company. Following
his retirement from the Board at the conclusion of the
AGM, Angela Lane will take on the role of chairman of the
Company’s Audit Committee. Further details are provided in
the Report of the Audit Committee on pages 7
5
to 78.
Nomination Committee
The Nomination Committee, which comprises all the
Directors, is chaired by Christopher Samuel.
66
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
l
Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
The role of the Committee is to review Board structure, size
and composition, the balance of knowledge, experience and
skills range and to consider succession planning and tenure
policy. Appointments of new Directors will be made on a
formalised basis, with the Committee agreeing the selection
criteria and the method of selection, recruitment and
appointment. Board diversity, including gender and ethnicity,
will be taken into account in establishing the criteria. The
services of an external search consultant may be used to
identify potential candidates. The Committee meets at least
once a year and more often if required.
Management Engagement Committee
The Management Engagement Committee is chaired
by Christopher Samuel and comprises all the Directors
of the Company. The Committee annually reviews the
appropriateness of the Manager’s continued appointment,
together with the terms and conditions thereof.
In addition to reviewing performance, the Manager is also
assessed in relation to the quality of the fund management
and administration teams, commitment to their investment
trust business, strength of relationships with shareholders
and the appropriateness of the management contract,
including fees.
Remuneration Committee
The Remuneration Committee was established with effect
from 1 February 2021 and up to the financial year end, it
was chaired by Angela Lane and comprises all the Directors
of the Company. With effect from 1 December 2022, the
Board resolved to appoint Nigel Burton as
C
hairman of the
Company’s Remuneration Committee and Angela Lane
stepped down from this role. Angela will take on the role of
Chairman of the Audit Committee following the retirement
of Loudon Greenlees at the conclusion of this year’s AGM.
The Remuneration Committee has delegated responsibility
for determining and recommending to the Board a policy
for Directors’ remuneration. The Committee reports and
makes recommendations to the Board on all matters of
remuneration. Further details are provided in the Report of
the Remuneration Committee on pages 69 to 72.
Internal controls
The Board is responsible for ensuring the establishment and
maintenance of the Company’s system of internal controls
and for monitoring their adequacy and effectiveness, for
ensuring that financial information published or used
within the business is reliable, and for regularly monitoring
compliance with regulations governing the operation of
investment companies.
The Board reviews the effectiveness of the internal control
systems on an ongoing basis to identify, evaluate and
manage the Company’s significant risks. As part of that
process, there are procedures designed to capture and
evaluate any failings or weaknesses and should a matter
be categorised by the Board as significant, procedures
exist to ensure that necessary action is taken to remedy the
failing. The Board is not aware of any significant failings or
weaknesses arising during the year under review.
Control of the risks identified, covering financial, operational,
compliance and risk management, is embedded in the
operations of the service providers as delegated by the
Company. There is a monitoring and reporting process to
review these controls, which has been in place throughout
the year under review and up to the date of this report,
carried out by the Manager’s internal audit department. This
accords with the Financial Reporting Council’s: Guidance on
Risk Management and Internal Control.
The Company’s risk register sets out the risks relevant to the
Company and describes, where relevant, the internal controls
that are in place at the AIFM, the Investment Manager and
other third party service providers to mitigate these risks.
The Audit Committee formally reviews this register on a
semi-annual basis and BFM, as the Company’s AIFM, reports
on any significant issues that have been identified in the
period. The Depositary also reviews the control processes in
place at the Custodian, the Fund Accountant and the AIFM
and reports formally to the Committee twice yearly. Both the
AIFM and the Depositary will escalate issues and report to
the Committee outside of these meetings on an ad hoc basis
to the extent this is required. The Committee also receives
summaries of the annual Service Organisation Control (SOC
1) reports respectively from BlackRock and The Bank of
New York Mellon on the internal controls of their respective
operations, together with the opinion of their reporting
accountants.
The Board recognises that these control systems can only
be designed to manage rather than to eliminate the risk
of failure to achieve business objectives, and to provide
reasonable, but not absolute, assurance against material
misstatement or loss, and relies on the operating controls
established by the Manager and the Depositary.
The Manager prepares revenue forecasts and management
accounts which allow the Board to assess the Company’s
activities and review its performance at each Board meeting.
The Board and the Manager have agreed clearly defined
investment criteria and have specified levels of authority
and exposure limits. Reports on these issues, including
performance statistics and investment valuations, are
submitted to the Board at each meeting.
Internal audit
The Company does not have its own internal audit function,
as all the administration is delegated to the Manager whose
internal audit department reports to the Company’s Audit
Committee on a semi-annual basis on the results of testing
performed in relation to the Manager’s internal control
processes. The Board monitors the controls in place through
the Manager’s internal audit department and considers that
Corporate governance statement
continued
Section 3: Governance
67
there is currently no need for the Company to have its own
internal audit function although this matter is kept under
review.
Financial reporting
The production of the Annual Report and Financial
Statements is outsourced to the Fund Administrator and
is reviewed and approved by the Directors. The Statement
of Directors’ Responsibilities in respect of the Annual
Report and Financial Statements is set out on page 79, the
Independent Auditor’s Report on pages 8
2
to 87 and the
Statement of Going Concern on page 57.
Bribery prevention policy
The provision of bribes of any nature to third parties in
order to gain a commercial advantage is prohibited and is a
criminal offence. The Company has a zero-tolerance policy
towards bribery and a commitment to carry out business
fairly, honestly and openly. The Board takes its responsibility
to prevent bribery very seriously, and BlackRock has anti-
bribery policies and procedures in place which are high level,
proportionate and risk based, and which are periodically
reviewed by the Board. The Company’s other service
providers have been contacted in respect of their anti-bribery
policies and where necessary, contractual changes are made
to existing agreements in respect of anti-bribery provisions.
Criminal Finances Act 2017
The Company has a commitment to zero-tolerance towards
the criminal facilitation of tax evasion.
GDPR
Data protection rights were harmonised across the European
Union following the implementation of the General Data
Protection Regulation (GDPR) on 25 May 2018. The Board
has sought and received assurances from its third party
service providers that they have taken appropriate steps to
ensure compliance with GDPR.
Communication with shareholders
All shareholders have the opportunity to attend and vote
at the AGM. The Notice of the AGM sets out the business
of the Meeting and any special business is explained in the
Directors’ Report. The Notice of the AGM and related papers
are sent to shareholders at least 20 working days before the
meeting. Separate resolutions are proposed for substantive
issues.
The Chairman also writes to shareholders each year to
invite them to the AGM.
In addition, in recognition of the
importance of seeking to reach all shareholders, particularly
those who purchase their shares via an intermediary, the
Company has, as it did at this time last year, utilised the
S.793 process with the objective of communicating with the
Company’s broad shareholder base.
The Board believes that it is important that as many
shareholders as possible have the opportunity to attend the
AGM and, importantly, that they are encouraged to exercise
their votes.
Regular updates on performance are available to
shareholders on the website. The Investment Manager
will review the Company’s activities at the AGM, where the
Directors, including the Chairman of the Board and the
Chairman of the Audit Committee and representatives of the
Manager will be available to answer shareholders’ questions.
Proxy voting figures are announced to the shareholders
at the AGM and will be made available on the Manager’s
website shortly after the meeting.
In accordance with provision
4
of the 2018 UK Corporate
Governance Code, when, in the opinion of the Board, a
significant proportion of votes have been cast against a
resolution at any general meeting, the Board will explain,
when announcing the results of voting, what actions it
intends to take to understand the reasons behind the vote
result.
The Company’s willingness to enter into discussions
with shareholders is demonstrated by a programme of
presentations made by the Investment Manager. The Board
discusses with the Investment Manager at each Board
meeting any feedback from meetings with shareholders,
and it also receives reports from its corporate broker. The
Chairman and Senior Independent Director also meet
directly with shareholders providing a forum for canvassing
their views and enabling the Board to be aware of any issues
of concern.
There is also a clear channel of communication between the
Board and the Company’s shareholders via the Company
Secretary and the Board encourages shareholders to utilise
this. The Company Secretary has no express authority
to respond to enquiries addressed to the Board and all
communication, other than junk mail, is redirected to the
Chairman.
There is a section within this report entitled “Additional
Information – Shareholder Information”, on pages 120
to 122, which provides an overview of useful information
available to shareholders.
The Company’s financial statements, regular fact sheets
and other information, are also published on the BlackRock
website at www.blackrock.com/uk/thrg. The work undertaken
by the Auditor does not involve consideration of the
maintenance and integrity of the website and, accordingly,
the Auditor accepts no responsibility for any changes that
have occurred to the financial statements since they were
initially presented on the website. Visitors to the website
need to be aware that legislation in the United Kingdom
governing the preparation and dissemination of the financial
statements may differ from legislation in their jurisdiction.
68
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
l
Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
Packaged Retail and Insurance-Based Investment
Products (PRIIPs) Regulation (the Regulation)
The Regulation requires that anyone manufacturing,
advising on, or selling a PRIIP to retail investors in the
UK must comply with the Regulation. Shares issued by
Investment Trusts fall into scope of the Regulation.
Investors should be aware that the Regulation requires
the AIFM, as the PRIIP manufacturer, to prepare a key
information document (KID) in respect of the Company.
This KID must be made available, free of charge, to UK retail
investors prior to them making any investment decision and
as published on BlackRock’s website. Neither the Board nor
the Company is responsible for the information contained
in the KID and investors should note that the procedures
for calculating the risks, costs and potential returns are
prescribed by law. The figures in the KID may not reflect
the expected returns for the Company and anticipated
performance returns cannot be guaranteed.
The PRIIPs KID in respect of the Company can be found at:
www.blackrock.com/uk/thrg.
Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules
Other information required to be disclosed pursuant to the
Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules has been
placed in the Directors’ Report on pages
54
to 62 because it
is information which refers to events that have taken place
during the course of the year.
By order of the Board
CHRISTOPHER SAMUEL
Chairman
9
February 2023
Corporate governance statement
continued
Section 3: Governance
69
On behalf of the Board, the Remuneration Committee
presents the Directors’ Remuneration Report for the year
ended 30 November 2022 which has been prepared in
accordance with Sections 420-422 of the Companies Act
2006 and the Large and Medium-sized Companies and
Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008.
The law requires the Company’s Auditor to audit certain
of the disclosures provided. Where disclosures have been
audited, they are indicated as such. The Auditor’s opinion is
included in their report on pages 82 to 87.
Remuneration Committee
The Committee has delegated responsibility for determining
the policy for directors’ remuneration and setting
remuneration for the Company’s chair, Audit
C
ommittee
chair and independent Non-executive Director in accordance
with the principles and provisions of the UK Code. The
Committee reports and makes recommendations to the
Board on all matters of remuneration.
Statement by the Chairman of the
Remuneration Committee
A key driver of the Company’s Remuneration Policy is that
fees payable to Directors should be sufficient to attract and
retain individuals with suitable knowledge and experience. The
Company’s Directors are all non-executive and are independent
of the Manager. The Company’s Directors’ Remuneration Policy
was last reviewed on 8 December 2022. Following this review, it
was agreed that with effect from 1 December 2022 all Directors’
fees would be increased to the levels set out in the policy table
on page 74. In setting the appropriate level of Directors’ fees, a
number of factors have been considered;
the workload of the Directors, their responsibilities, any
change in these responsibilities and additional legal
duties (for example as a result of new legislation being
implemented);
the size and complexity of the Company;
the time commitment required;
the level of skills and appropriate experience required
and the need for Directors to maintain, on an ongoing
basis, an appropriate level of knowledge of regulatory and
compliance requirements in an industry environment of
increasing complexity;
the average rate of inflation during the period since the last
fee increase; and
the level of remuneration in comparison with other
investment trusts in UK Smaller Companies sector to
ensure that fees are in line with industry practice and with
that of a Trust of similar size and complexity.
Further detail on the Company’s remuneration policy and the
basis for determining the level of any change in Directors’
remuneration are set out in the Remuneration policy on pages
73 and 74. Directors’ fees were last increased on 1 December
2021. No discretionary fees have been paid to Directors
during the year or previous year or since inception and the
payment of such fees is expected to be a rare occurrence, only
necessary in exceptional circumstances. Any discretionary fees
paid to the Directors will be clearly disclosed in the Directors’
Remuneration Report accompanied by an explanation of the
work undertaken and why it was deemed necessary to pay such
additional remuneration. The Company’s Directors are all non-
executive and are independent of the Manager. No advice or
services were provided by any external agencies or third parties.
Implementation of the Remuneration Policy
in the year 2022
The Directors intend that the Remuneration Policy, which
forms part of this report, will be implemented as set out
on pages 73 and 74. The Directors do not receive any
performance related remuneration or incentives.
Discretionary payments are permitted under the policy;
however, such discretionary payments would only be
considered in exceptional circumstances.
Remuneration/service contracts
The maximum remuneration of the Directors is determined
within the limits of the Company’s Articles and the limit
currently amounts in aggregate to £250,000.
No element of the Directors’ remuneration is performance
related. The Company has not awarded any share options
or long term performance incentives to any of the Directors.
None of the Directors has a service contract with the
Company or receives any non-cash benefits or pension
entitlements. The terms of their appointment are detailed
in an appointment letter issued to them when they join
the Board. These letters are available for inspection at the
registered office of the Company.
Report of the remuneration committee
Angela Lane
Chairman of the
Remuneration Committee
70
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
l
Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
Remuneration implementation report
A single figure for the total remuneration of each Director is set out in the table below for the years ended 30 November 2022
and 2021. The information in the table below has been audited.
Year ended 30 November 2022
Year ended 30 November 2021
Directors
Base
Salary
Taxable
Benefits
1
Total
Base
Salary
Taxable
Benefits
1
Total
£
£
£
£
£
£
Christopher Samuel (Chairman)
44,000
775
44,775
41,000
41,000
Loudon Greenlees
35,000
275
35,275
32,500
32,500
Jean Matterson
2
8,745
8,745
Louise Nash
30,000
1,904
31,904
28,000
28,000
Angela Lane
30,000
654
30,654
28,000
28,000
Nigel Burton
30,000
300
30,300
26,389
26,389
Merryn Somerset Webb
3
30,000
1,703
31,703
19,255
19,255
Total
199,000
5,611
204,611
183,889
183,889
1
Taxable benefits relate to travel and subsistence costs.
2
Jean Matterson retired on 24 March 2021.
3
Merryn Somerset Webb was appointed as a Director with effect from 24 March 2021.
No discretionary payments were made in the year to 30 November 2022 (2021: £nil).
The amounts paid by the Company to the Directors were for services as Non-executive Directors. As at 30 November 2022,
fees of £17,000 (2021: £15,000) were outstanding to Directors in respect of their annual fees.
Relative importance of spend on pay
As the Company has no employees, the table below also comprises the total remuneration costs and benefits paid by the
Company. To enable shareholders to assess the relative importance of spend on pay, this has been shown in the table
below compared to the Company’s net profit on ordinary activities after taxation, total operating expenditure and dividend
distributions.
2022
£’000
2021
£’000
Change
£’000
Directors’ total remuneration
205
184
21
Dividends paid and payable
11,249
1
10,674
575
Net (loss)/profit on ordinary activities after taxation
(295,888)
223,334
(519,222)
Buyback of ordinary shares after costs
16,550
nil
16,550
1
Based on 101,113,864 ordinary shares in issue on 7 February 2023.
No payments were made in the period to any past Directors (2021: £nil).
Report of the remuneration committee
continued
Section 3: Governance
71
Annual percentage change in Directors’ remuneration
The following table sets out the annual percentage changes in Directors’ fees over the past five years.
Directors
30 November
2018
30 November
2019
30 November
2020
30 November
2021
30 November
2022
Christopher Samuel
1,2
27.5%
6.9%
2.6%
3.8%
7.3%
Loudon Greenlees
3
5.0%
7.1%
3.3%
4.8%
7.7%
Jean Matterson
4
0.0%
8.3%
3.8%
3.7%
n/a
Louise Nash
5
n/a
n/a
3.8%
3.7%
7.1%
Angela Lane
6
n/a
n/a
n/a
3.7%
7.1%
Nigel Burton
7
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
7.1%
Merryn Somerset Webb
8
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
7.1%
1
As Christopher Samuel was appointed as a Director on 1 June 2016, the percentage change in his annual fixed fee has been annualised.
2
Christopher Samuel was appointed as Chairman on 24 July 2017.
3
Loudon Greenlees was appointed as Audit Committee Chairman on 22 March 2017.
4
As Jean Matterson retired as a Director on 24 March 2021, the percentage change in her annual fixed fee has been annualised.
5
As Louise Nash was appointed as a Director on 21 March 2019, the percentage change in her annual fixed fee has been annualised.
6
As Angela Lane was appointed as a Director on 10 June 2020, the percentage change in her annual fixed fee has been annualised.
7
As Nigel Burton was appointed as Director on 21 December 2020, there is no percentage change comparison.
8
As Merryn Somerset Webb was appointed as a Director on 24 March 2021, there is no percentage change comparison.
As previously noted, the Company does not have any employees and hence no comparisons are given in respect of the
comparison between Directors’ and employees’ pay increases.
Directors’ Shareholdings
The interests of the Directors in the ordinary shares of the Company are set out in the table below. The Company does not
have a share option scheme, therefore none of the Directors has an interest in any share options in the Company. There is no
requirement for Directors to hold shares in the Company.
9 February
2023
30 November
2022
30 November
2021
Ordinary
shares
Ordinary
shares
Ordinary
shares
Christopher Samuel
64,294
64,294
63,352
Loudon Greenlees
15,000
15,000
15,000
Louise Nash
3,900
3,900
2,100
Angela Lane
11,614
11,614
11,496
Nigel Burton
16,238
16,238
16,000
Merryn Somerset Webb
1
3,727
3,727
3,727
Glen Suarez
n/a
n/a
The information in the table above has been audited.
1
Merryn Somerset Webb held 1,959 shares upon her appointment to the Board on 24 March 2021.
All of the holdings of the Directors are beneficial. No changes to these holdings have been notified up to the date of this report.
72
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l
Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
Retirement of directors
Further details are given in the Directors’ Report on pages 57
and 58.
Performance
The graph below compares the Company’s NAV and share
price total returns with the total return on an equivalent
investment in the Benchmark Index
1
. This index is deemed
to be the most appropriate as the Company has a UK smaller
and mid-capitalisation companies’ objective.
Performance from 30 November 2012 to
30 November 2022
Share price performance
NAV performance
Benchmark Index
1
Nov 22
Nov 12
Nov 13
Nov 14
Nov 15
Nov 16
Nov 17
Nov 18
Nov 19
Nov 20
Nov 21
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
550
600
1
With effect from 22 March 2018, the Numis Smaller Companies
plus AIM (excluding Investment Companies) Index replaced the
Numis Smaller Companies excluding AIM (excluding Investment
Companies) Index as the Company’s Benchmark Index. From
1 December 2013 to 21 March 2018, the Company’s Benchmark
Index was the Numis Smaller Companies excluding AIM
(excluding Investment Companies) Index. Prior to 1 December
2013 the Company’s Benchmark Index was the Numis Smaller
Companies plus AIM (excluding Investment Companies) Index. The
performance of the Benchmark Indices during these periods has
been blended to reflect these changes.
Sources: BlackRock and Datastream.
Performance figures in Sterling terms with dividends reinvested,
rebased to 100 at 30 November 2012.
For and on behalf of the Board
ANGELA LANE
Chairman of the Remuneration Committee
9
February 2023
Report of the remuneration committee
continued
Section 3: Governance
73
In setting the appropriate level of Directors’ fees, a number
of factors are considered by the Company’s Remuneration
Committee, including:
the workload of the Directors, their responsibilities, any
change in these responsibilities and additional legal
duties (for example as a result of new legislation being
implemented);
the relationship with their suppliers (primarily the
Company’s third party service providers);
the size and complexity of the Company;
the time commitment required;
the level of skills and appropriate experience required;
the need for Directors to maintain on an ongoing basis
an appropriate level of knowledge of regulatory and
compliance requirements in an industry environment of
increasing complexity;
the average rate of inflation during the period since the last
fee increase;
the level of remuneration in comparison with other
investment trusts of a similar size and/or mandate; and
any data published by the Association of Investment
Companies to ensure that fees are in line with industry
practice.
This comparison, together with consideration of any
alteration in Non-executive Director responsibilities, is
used to review whether any change in remuneration is
necessary. The review is performed on an annual basis. The
Remuneration Committee is cognisant of the need to avoid
any potential conflicts of interest and has therefore agreed a
mechanism by which no Director is present when his or her
own pay is being considered.
The Company has no employees and consequently no
consideration is required to be given to employment
conditions elsewhere in setting this policy and there has
been no employee consultation.
No element of the Directors’ remuneration is performance
related or subject to recovery or withholding (except for tax).
Directors cannot be awarded any share options or long-
term performance incentives. None of the Directors has a
service contract with the Company or receives any non-cash
benefits (except as described in the policy table), pension
entitlements or compensation for loss of office.
The Remuneration Policy would be applied when agreeing
the remuneration package of any new Director. The terms
of Directors’ appointments are detailed in a letter sent to
them when they join the Board. These letters are available for
inspection at the registered office of the Company. Directors’
appointments do not have a fixed duration, but they can be
terminated by the Company in writing at any time without
obligation to pay compensation. On termination of the
appointment, Directors shall only be entitled to accrued fees
as at the date of termination together with reimbursement
of any expenses properly incurred prior to that date. No
payments for loss of office are made.
Directors are also subject to re-election at least every
three years and, if not elected, their appointment ceases
immediately. However, in accordance with the UK Corporate
Governance Code the Board have agreed that all Directors
will, being eligible, stand for re-election annually. The
continuation of an appointment is contingent on a
satisfactory performance evaluation and re-election by
shareholders at the AGM.
Consideration of shareholders’ views
In accordance with applicable law and regulation, an
ordinary resolution to approve the remuneration report is
put to shareholders at each AGM, and shareholders have the
opportunity to express their views and raise any queries in
respect of remuneration policy at this meeting. The Company
last obtained shareholder approval for its remuneration
policy at the AGM in 2020. In accordance with the Companies
Act 2006, the remuneration policy will next be subject to a
triennial binding shareholder vote at this year’s AGM.
At the Company’s AGM held on 25 March 2020, 99.84%
(including votes cast at the Chairman’s discretion) were in
favour of the resolution to approve the remuneration policy
and 0.16% of votes cast were against. The Company’s
remuneration policy is laid before shareholders every three
years.
At the Company’s AGM held on 24 March 2022, 99.80% of
votes cast were in favour of the resolution to approve the
Directors’ remuneration report in respect of the year ended
30 November 2021 and 0.20% against. The remuneration
report is laid before shareholders annually.
Any discretionary fees paid to the Directors will be
clearly disclosed in the Directors’ Remuneration Report
accompanied by an explanation of the work undertaken.
Directors’ remuneration policy
74
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
l
Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
Policy table
Purpose and link to
strategy
Fees payable to Directors should be sufficient to attract and retain individuals of high calibre
with knowledge and experience which is suitably aligned to the activities of the Company. Those
chairing the Board and key committees should be paid higher fees than other Directors in
recognition of their more demanding roles. Fees should reflect the time spent by Directors on the
Company’s affairs and the level of complexity of responsibilities borne by the Directors.
Description
Levels of fixed annual fee with effect from 1 December 2022:
Chairman – £46,700
Audit Committee Chairman – £37,000
Directors – £31,700
All reasonable expenses to be reimbursed.
Maximum levels
Remuneration consists of a fixed fee each year, set in accordance with the stated policies and any
increase granted must be in line with the stated policies.
The Company’s Articles of Association provide that until otherwise determined by the Company by
ordinary resolution, there shall be paid to the Directors (other than alternate Directors) such fees for
their services in the office of Director as the Directors may determine (not exceeding in the aggregate
an annual sum of £250,000 (subject to increase as provided above) or such larger amount as the
Company may by ordinary resolution decide) divided between the Directors as they agree.
In accordance with the provisions of the Company’s Articles of Association the Directors are also
entitled to be repaid all reasonable travelling, hotel and other expenses incurred by them respectively
in or about the performance of their duties as Directors including any expenses incurred in attending
meetings of the Board or of Committees of the Board or Annual General Meetings or General
Meetings. In addition, the Directors propose a limit of £10,000 in relation to the maximum that may
be paid in respect of taxable benefits. These ceilings have been set at a level to provide flexibility in
respect of the recruitment of additional Board members (where required) and inflation.
Policy on share
ownership
Directors are encouraged to own shares in the Company. All Directors are currently shareholders,
with the exception of Glen Suarez who was appointed after the financial year end.
Operation
Fixed fee element
The Board reviews the quantum of Directors’ fees each year to ensure that this is in line with the
level of Directors’ fees for other investment trusts of similar size and complexity.
When considering any changes in fees, the Board will take into account factors such as the
average rate of inflation over the period since the previous review, and the level and any change
in the Directors’ responsibilities (including additional time commitments as a result of increased
regulatory or corporate governance requirements). Directors are not eligible to be compensated for
loss of office, nor are they eligible for bonuses, pension benefits, share options or other incentives or
benefits. Directors do not have service contracts but are appointed under letters of appointment.
Discretionary
Payments
The Company’s Articles of Association authorise the payment of discretionary fees to Directors for
any additional work undertaken on behalf of the Company which is outside of their normal duties.
Any such extra work undertaken is subject to the prior approval of the Chairman or, in the case of
the Chairman undertaking the extra work, subject to the prior approval of the Chairman of the Audit
Committee. The level of discretionary fees shall be determined by the Directors and will be subject
to a maximum of £10,000 per annum per Director. Any discretionary fees paid will be disclosed in
the Directors’ Remuneration Report within the Annual Report.
Taxable benefits
Certain expenses incurred by Directors are required to be treated as taxable benefits. Taxable benefits
comprise, but are not limited to, travel expenses and subsistence incurred by the Directors in the
course of travel to attend Board and Committee meetings which are held at the Company’s registered
office in London, and which are reimbursed by the Company and therefore treated as a benefit in
kind and are subject to tax and national insurance. The Company’s policy in respect of this element
of remuneration is that all reasonable costs of this nature will be reimbursed as they are incurred,
including tax and national insurance costs incurred by the Directors on such expenses.
Directors’ remuneration policy
continued
Section 3: Governance
75
As Chairman of the Audit Committee (the Committee) I am
pleased to present the Committee’s report to shareholders
for the year ended 30 November 2022.
Composition
The Committee consists of all the Directors of the Company,
including the Board Chairman since 2019. Following the
publication of the latest AIC Code of Corporate Governance,
which permits the Board Chairman to be a member of the
Committee, the Board determined that it was appropriate
for him to become a member of the Committee, particularly
given that he is a Chartered Accountant and has recent and
relevant financial experience.
The Board considers that at least four members of the
Committee have recent and relevant financial experience
and specific competence in accounting and/or auditing
and the Committee, as a whole, has competence relevant to
the sector in which the Company operates to discharge its
function effectively. Further information on the experience
of the members of the Committee can also be found in their
biographies on pages 33 to 36.
Role and responsibilities
The Company has established a separately chaired
Committee whose duties include considering and
recommending to the Board for approval the contents of the
half yearly and annual financial statements and providing
an opinion as to whether the Annual Report and Financial
Statements, taken as a whole, are fair, balanced and
understandable and provide the information necessary for
shareholders to assess the Company’s performance, position,
business model and strategy.
The Committee reviews the external Auditor’s report thereon
and has primary responsibility for the relationship with the
external Auditor, including the development of a policy on
the provision of non-audit services, reviewing and forming
an opinion on the effectiveness of the external audit process
and audit quality. Other duties include reviewing the
appropriateness of the Company’s accounting policies and
monitoring the effectiveness of the internal control systems
and standards.
The Company operates within written terms of reference
detailing its scope and duties and these are available on the
Company’s website at blackrock.com/uk/thrg.
The Committee meets at least three times a year. Two of these
meetings are held prior to the Board meetings to approve
the half yearly and annual reports. The Committee will hold
additional meetings where deemed to be necessary. The
Committee also receives regular reports from the Manager’s
internal audit and compliance departments.
Responsibilities and review of the external
audit
During the year the principal activities of the Audit
Committee included:
considering and recommending to the Board for approval the
contents of the half yearly and annual financial statements
and reviewing the external auditors’ report thereon;
reviewing the scope, execution, results, cost effectiveness,
independence and objectivity of the external Auditor;
reviewing the audit and any non-audit fees payable to the
external Auditor and the terms of its engagement;
reviewing and approving the external Auditor’s plan for the
financial year, with a focus on the identification of areas of
audit risk, and consideration of the appropriateness of the
level of audit materiality adopted;
reviewing the effectiveness of the external audit process and
the quality of the audit engagement leader and the audit
team, and making a recommendation to the Board with
respect to the reappointment of the Auditor;
reviewing the role of the Manager and third party service
providers in an effective audit process;
considering the quality of the formal audit report to
shareholders;
reviewing the appropriateness of the Company’s accounting
policies;
monitoring the effectiveness of the Company’s risk
management and internal control systems and standards
and carrying out a review, at least annually, of their
effectiveness; and
evaluating the need for an internal audit function, as set out
in the Corporate Governance Statement on pages
66 and 67.
The fees paid to the external Auditor are set out in note 5
on page 97. An explanation on how auditor objectivity and
independence is safeguarded is reported under assessment
of the effectiveness of the external audit process on pages 77
and 78.
Whistleblowing policy
The Committee has also reviewed and accepted the
‘whistleblowing’ policy that has been put in place by the
Manager under which its staff, in confidence, can raise
concerns about possible improprieties in matters of financial
reporting or other matters, in so far as they affect the
Company.
Loudon Greenlees
Chairman of the
Audit Committee
Report of the Audit Committee
76
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
l
Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
Significant issues considered regarding the
Annual Report and Financial Statements
During the year, the Committee considered a number of
significant issues and areas of key audit risk in respect of the
Annual Report and Financial Statements. The Committee
reviewed the external audit plan at an early stage and
concluded that the appropriate areas of audit risk relevant
to the Company had been identified and that suitable audit
procedures had been put in place to obtain reasonable
assurance that the Financial Statements as a whole would
be free of material misstatements. The table below sets out
the key areas of risk identified by the Committee and also
explains how these were addressed.
Significant issue
How the issue was addressed
The accuracy of the valuation of the investment portfolio
Listed investments, long and short derivative positions and index
futures are valued using stock exchange prices from third party
vendors.
The Board reviews detailed portfolio valuations on a regular
basis throughout the year and receives confirmation from the
Manager that the pricing basis is appropriate, in line with relevant
accounting standards as adopted by the Company and that the
carrying values are materially correct.
The risk of misappropriation of assets and ownership of
investments
The Depositary is responsible for financial restitution for loss of
financial investments held in custody.
The Depositary reports to the Committee on a twice-yearly basis
and is also available to attend the Company’s Annual General
Meeting.
The Committee reviews reports from its service providers on key
controls over assets of the Company. Any significant issues are
reported by the Manager to the Committee. The Manager has
put in place procedures to ensure that investments can only be
made to the extent that the appropriate contractual and legal
arrangements are in place to protect the Company’s assets.
The accuracy of the calculation of management and
performance fees
The Manager reports to the Committee on the calculation of
any performance fee accruals that have been included in the
Company’s NAV on a regular basis. The management fee and any
performance fee are calculated in accordance with the contractual
terms in the investment management agreement by the
administrator, BNYM, and are reviewed in detail by the Manager
and are also subject to an analytical review by the Committee.
The risk that income is overstated, incomplete or inaccurate
through failure to recognise proper income entitlements
or to apply the appropriate accounting treatment for
recognition of income
The Committee reviews income forecasts, including special
dividends, and receives explanations from the Manager for any
variations or significant movements from previous forecasts and
prior year figures. The audit includes checks on the completeness
and accuracy of income, and also checks that this has been
recognised in accordance with stated accounting policies.
The provision of portfolio valuation, fund accounting and
administration services is delegated to the Manager, which
sub-delegates the provision of fund accounting to The Bank
of New York Mellon (International) Limited. The provision
of custody and depositary services is directly contracted by
the Company to The Bank of New York Mellon (International)
Limited. The Committee has therefore reviewed summaries
of the Service Organisation Control (SOC 1) reports prepared
by the Manager, Depositary and the Fund Accountants to
ensure that the relevant control procedures are in place to
cover these areas of risk as identified in the table above and
are adequate and appropriate and have been designated as
operating effectively by the reporting auditors.
The Committee receives and reviews regular reports on the
material risks faced by the Company and the key controls
employed to manage these risks. Consideration is given
regularly to the nature and extent of risks faced by the
Company and these risks are monitored and regularly re-
assessed. Where changes in risk have been identified during
the year, the Committee will assess whether any further
action is required to mitigate these risks.
The Committee has reviewed the effectiveness of the
Company’s risk management and internal controls systems,
which accord with the FRC ‘Guidance on Risk Management,
Internal Control and Related Financial and Business
Reporting’, and has procedures in place to review their
effectiveness on a regular basis. No material weaknesses
have been identified in the year under review and up to the
date of this report.
The Committee confirms that these procedures have been in
place throughout the Company’s financial year and continue
to be in place up to the date of approval of this report.
Report of the Audit Committee
continued
Section 3: Governance
77
Auditor and audit tenure
The Company’s current auditor PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP was appointed on 21 March 2019 following the result
of a tender process held in late 2018. The current audit
engagement leader is Mr Allan McGrath who has been
the Company’s audit engagement leader since September
2021. Prior to this date, the audit engagement leader was
Christopher Meyrick.
The Committee, in conjunction with the Board, is committed
to reviewing this appointment on a regular basis to ensure
the Company is receiving an optimal level of service. The
appointment of the Auditor is reviewed each year and the
audit engagement leader rotates at least every five years.
There are no contractual obligations that restrict the
Company’s choice of auditor.
The Committee is mindful of the EU Audit Reform (as
retained in UK law), including regulations on mandatory
auditor regulation which require a review of the appointment
of the auditor every ten years. The legislation also prohibits
certain non-audit consulting services and caps the amount
of additional fees auditors can charge their clients. The
Company carried out a formal tender process in 2018 and
following due consideration, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
was selected as the Company’s new Independent Auditor.
It is the Company’s policy to put the statutory audit out to
tender at least every ten years.
The Committee is satisfied that the Company has complied
with the provisions of the Statutory Audit Services for
Large Companies Market Investigation (Mandatory
Use of Competitive Processes and Audit Committee
Responsibilities) Order 2014, published by the Competition
and Markets Authority on 26 September 2014. In recognition
of underlying audit rotation requirements, the Committee
currently intends that a further tender process will be
undertaken during the year to 30 November 2029 to cover
the financial year ending 30 November 2029 onwards. The
Committee will continue to review the Auditor’s appointment
each year to ensure that the Company is receiving an optimal
level of service.
There were no fees paid to the Auditor in respect of non-audit
services during the year. The Company’s policy on non-audit
services is set out in full in the Audit Committee’s terms of
reference which are available on the Company’s website at
blackrock.com/uk/thrg.
Assessment of the effectiveness of the
external audit process
To assess the effectiveness of the external audit, members
of the Committee communicate regularly with BIM (UK)
and BFM to obtain a good understanding of the quality and
efficiency of the audit. The Committee has adopted a formal
framework in its review of the effectiveness of the external
audit process and audit quality. This includes a review of the
following areas:
the quality of the audit engagement leader and the audit
team;
the expertise of the audit firm and the resources available
to it;
identification of areas of audit risk;
planning, scope and execution of the audit;
consideration of the appropriateness of the level of audit
materiality adopted;
the role of the Committee, the Manager and third party
service providers in an effective audit process;
communication by the Auditor with the Committee;
monitoring and reviewing the supply of any non-audit
services, taking into account relevant ethical guidelines
regarding the provision of such services;
how the Auditor supports the work of the Committee and
how the audit contributes added value;
a review of the independence and objectivity of the audit
firm; and
the quality of the formal audit report to shareholders.
Feedback in relation to the audit process and the
effectiveness of the Manager in performing its role is also
sought from relevant involved parties, notably the audit
engagement leader and his team.
The external Auditor is invited to attend the Committee
meetings at which the half yearly and annual report and
financial statements are considered and to meet with the
Audit Committee without representatives of the Manager
being present on at least one occasion. The effectiveness of
the Board and the Manager in the external audit process is
assessed principally in relation to the timely identification
and resolution of any process errors or control breaches
that might impact the Company’s net asset values and
accounting records. It is also assessed by reference to how
successfully any issues in respect of areas of accounting
judgement are identified and resolved, the quality and
timeliness of papers analysing these judgements, the Board’s
and the Manager’s approach to the value of independent
audit and the booking of any audit adjustments arising, and
the timely provision of draft public documents for review by
the auditor and the Committee.
To form a conclusion with regard to the independence of the
external Auditor, the Committee considers whether the skills
and experience of the Auditor makes it a suitable supplier
of non-audit services and whether there are safeguards in
place to ensure that there is no threat to its objectivity and
78
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
l
Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
independence in the conduct of the audit resulting from
the provision of any such services. On a continuous basis,
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP reviews the independence of
its relationship with the Company and, on a semi-annual
basis, reports to the Committee, providing details of any
other relationship with the Manager. As part of this review,
the Committee also receives information about policies and
processes for maintaining independence and monitoring
compliance with relevant requirements from the Company’s
Auditor, including information on the rotation of the Audit
engagement leader and staff, the level of fees that the
Company pays in proportion to the overall fee income of the
firm, and the level of related fees, details of any relationships
between the Audit firm and its staff and the Company
as well as an overall confirmation from the Auditor of its
independence and objectivity. As a result of its review, the
Committee has concluded that PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
is independent of the Company and the Manager.
Conclusions in respect of the Annual Report
and Financial Statements
The production and the audit of the Company’s Annual
Report and Financial Statements is a comprehensive process
requiring input from a number of different contributors.
In order to reach a conclusion that the Annual Report and
Financial Statements are fair, balanced and understandable,
the Board has requested that the Committee advise
on whether these criteria are satisfied. In so doing, the
Committee has given consideration to the following:
the comprehensive control framework over the production
of the Annual Report and Financial Statements, including
the verification processes in place to deal with the factual
content;
the extensive levels of review that are undertaken in the
production process by the Manager, the Depositary and the
Committee;
the controls that are in place at the Manager and other
third party service providers to ensure the completeness
and accuracy of the Company’s financial records and the
security of the Company’s assets; and
the existence of satisfactory Service Organisation Control
reports that have been reviewed and reported on by
external auditors to verify the effectiveness of the internal
controls of the Manager, Custodian and Fund Accountant.
In addition to the work outlined above, the Committee has
reviewed the Annual Report and Financial Statements and
is satisfied that, taken as a whole, they are fair, balanced
and understandable and provide shareholders with the
information necessary to assess the Company’s position,
performance, business model and strategy. In reaching this
conclusion, the Committee has assumed that the reader
of the Annual Report and Financial Statements would
have a reasonable level of knowledge of the investment
trust industry in general. The Committee has reported on
these findings to the Board who affirms the Committee’s
conclusions in the Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities
in respect of the Annual Report and Financial Statements on
page 79.
As mentioned in this year’s
C
hairman’s Statement, having
served on the Board for 9 years I will step down as a Director
and as chairman of the Company’s Audit Committee at the
conclusion of this year’s AGM. I will be succeeded in this
role by Angela Lane. Angela is a chartered accountant and
a highly experienced Non-executive Director and Audit
Committee Chair with many years’ experience. I am confident
that I leave the Audit Committee in safe hands and that she
will lead with great diligence, prudence and integrity. I wish
her well in her new role.
LOUDON GREENLEES
Chairman of the Audit Committee
9 February 2023
Report of the Audit Committee
continued
Section 3: Governance
79
The Directors are responsible for preparing the Annual
Report and Financial Statements, (including the Directors’
Remuneration Report) in accordance with applicable United
Kingdom law and regulations.
Company law requires the Directors to prepare financial
statements for each financial year. Under that law, the
Directors are required to prepare the financial statements
in accordance with international accounting standards in
conformity with the requirements of the Companies Act
2006. Under company law the Directors must not approve
the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they
give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Company
and of the profit or loss of the Company for that period.
In preparing these Financial Statements, the Directors are
required to:
present fairly the financial position, financial performance
and cash flows of the Company;
select suitable accounting policies in accordance with
IAS 8, ‘Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting
Estimates and Errors’ and then apply them consistently;
present information, including accounting policies, in a
manner that provides relevant, reliable, comparable and
understandable information;
make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and
prudent;
state whether the Financial Statements have been
prepared in accordance with international accounting
standards in conformity with the requirements of the
Companies Act 2006, subject to any material departures
disclosed and explained in the Financial Statements;
provide additional disclosures when compliance with
the specific requirements in international accounting
standards in conformity with the requirements of the
Companies Act 2006, is insufficient to enable users to
understand the impact of particular transactions, other
events and conditions on the Company’s financial position
and financial performance; and
prepare the Financial Statements on the going concern
basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the
Company will continue in business.
The Directors are responsible for keeping adequate
accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain
the Company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable
accuracy at any time the financial position of the Company
and enable them to ensure that the Financial Statements
comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also
responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Company
and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention
and detection of fraud and other irregularities. The Directors
are also responsible for preparing the Strategic Report, the
Directors’ Report, the Directors’ Remuneration Report and
the Corporate Governance Statement in accordance with the
Companies Act 2006 and applicable regulations, including
the requirements of the Listing Rules and the Disclosure
Guidance and Transparency Rules. The Directors have
delegated responsibility to the Investment Manager and the
AIFM for the maintenance and integrity of the Company’s
corporate and financial information included on BlackRock’s
website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the
preparation and dissemination of Financial Statements may
differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
Each of the Directors, whose names are listed on pages 33 to
36, confirms to the best of his or her knowledge that:
the Financial Statements, which have been prepared in
accordance with international accounting standards in
conformity with the requirements of the Companies Act
2006, give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities,
financial position and net loss of the Company; and
the Annual Report and Financial Statements include a
fair review of the development and performance of the
business and the position of the Company, together with a
description of the principal risks and uncertainties that it
faces.
The 2018 UK Corporate Governance Code also requires
Directors to ensure that the Annual Report and Financial
Statements are fair, balanced and understandable. In
order to reach a conclusion on this matter, the Board has
requested that the Audit Committee advise on whether it
considers that the Annual Report and Financial Statements
fulfil these requirements. The process by which the
Committee has reached these conclusions is set out in the
Audit Committee’s report on pages 75 to 78. As a result, the
Board has concluded that the Annual Report and Financial
Statements for the year ended 30 November 2022, taken as
a whole, are fair, balanced and understandable and provided
the information necessary for shareholders to assess the
Company’s position, performance, business model and
strategy.
For and on behalf of the Board
CHRISTOPHER SAMUEL
Chairman
9 February 2023
Statement of Directors’ responsibilities
in respect of the Annual Report and
Financial Statements
Financial
Statements
Section 4: Financial
81
Global travel and UK high street retailer WHSmith reported strong trading on a
rebound in travel volumes, notably in the USA. District Market stores, including
the one shown here in San Francisco airport, represent one of several brands
within its portfolio of 600 international outlets.
PHOTO COURTESY OF WHSMITH
82
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
l
Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
Report on the audit of the financial
statements
Opinion
In our opinion, BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc’s financial
statements:
give a true and fair view of the state of the Company’s
affairs as at 30 November 2022 and of its loss and cash
flows for the year then ended;
have been properly prepared in accordance with UK-
adopted international accounting standards; and
have been prepared in accordance with the requirements
of the Companies Act 2006.
We have audited the financial statements, included within
the Annual Report and Financial Statements (the “Annual
Report”), which comprise: the Statement of Financial Position
as at 30 November 2022; the Statement of Comprehensive
Income, the Statement of Changes in Equity, and the Cash
Flow Statement for the year then ended; and the notes to
the financial statements, which include a description of the
significant accounting policies.
Our opinion is consistent with our reporting to the Audit
Committee.
Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International
Standards on Auditing (UK) (“ISAs (UK)”) and applicable law.
Our responsibilities under ISAs (UK) are further described
in the Auditors’ responsibilities for the audit of the financial
statements section of our report. We believe that the audit
evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to
provide a basis for our opinion.
Independence
We remained independent of the Company in accordance
with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our
audit of the financial statements in the UK, which includes
the FRC’s Ethical Standard, as applicable to listed public
interest entities, and we have fulfilled our other ethical
responsibilities in accordance with these requirements.
To the best of our knowledge and belief, we declare that non-
audit services prohibited by the FRC’s Ethical Standard were
not provided.
We have provided no non-audit services to the Company in
the period under audit.
Our audit approach
Overview
Audit scope
The Company is a standalone Investment
Trust Company and engages BlackRock
Fund Managers Limited (the ‘Manager’) to
manage its assets. The Manager engages
Bank of New York Mellon (International)
Limited (the “Fund Accountant”) to provide
administrative functions to the Company.
We tailored the scope of our audit taking
into account the type of investments within
the Company, the involvement of the third
parties, the accounting processes, controls,
and the industry in which the Company
operates.
Key audit
matters
Valuation and existence of investments
Accuracy, occurrence and completeness of
investment income
Materiality
Overall materiality: £6,333,544 (2021:
£9,351,480) based on 1% of net assets.
Performance materiality: £4,750,158
(2021: £7,013,610).
The scope of our audit
As part of designing our audit, we determined materiality and
assessed the risks of material misstatement in the financial
statements.
Key audit matters
Key audit matters are those matters that, in the auditors’
professional judgement, were of most significance in the
audit of the financial statements of the current period and
include the most significant assessed risks of material
misstatement (whether or not due to fraud) identified by the
auditors, including those which had the greatest effect on:
the overall audit strategy; the allocation of resources in the
audit; and directing the efforts of the engagement team.
These matters, and any comments we make on the results of
our procedures thereon, were addressed in the context of our
audit of the financial statements as a whole, and in forming
our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate
opinion on these matters.
This is not a complete list of all risks identified by our audit.
The key audit matters below are consistent with last year.
Independent Auditor’s Report
to the members of BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
Section 4: Financial Statements
83
Key audit matter
How our audit addressed the key audit matter
Valuation and existence of investments
Refer to the Report of the Audit Committee (page 75),
Accounting policies (page 92) and Notes to the financial
statements (page 92).
The investment portfolio at the year end comprised of
listed equity investments valued at £577 million and a net
holding of derivative Contracts for Difference (CFDs) with a
net fair value of £2.6m.
We focused on the valuation and existence of investments
because investments represent the principal element of
the net asset value (NAV) as disclosed on the Statement of
Financial Position in the Financial Statements.
Our audit work on the valuation and existence of the
investments included the following:
We tested the valuation of all investments and CFDs
by agreeing the valuation to independent third party
sources using our proprietary data analytics tool “Halo”.
Where further investigation was required into HALO
pricing, for example where no price was returned by
HALO, we manually agreed pricing to independent third
party sources.
We tested the existence of all of the investments
and CFDs by agreeing the Company’s holdings to an
independent custodian confirmation in the case of the
listed equity investments, as well as independent broker
confirmations for the portfolio of derivatives, as at
30 November 2022.
We have no matters to report as a result of this testing.
Accuracy, occurrence and completeness of investment
income
Income from investments consists primarily of dividend
income. Within dividend income there is a risk of
incomplete or inaccurate recognition of revenue through
the failure to recognise proper income entitlements
or to apply an inappropriate accounting treatment. In
addition, the Directors are required to exercise judgement
in determining whether income receivable in the form
of special dividends should be classified as ‘revenue’ or
‘capital’ in the Statement of Comprehensive Income.
We responded to this risk by performing the following audit
procedures:
We obtained an understanding of the processes and
controls around income recognition and classification
of special dividends by reviewing the internal control
reports of the Fund Accountant.
We assessed the appropriateness of the classification of
special dividends as revenue or capital by the Directors
with reference to publicly available information.
For all dividends recorded by the Company, we
performed our audit procedures through the use
of our proprietary testing tool Halo. Halo tested the
accuracy of their receipts by agreeing the dividend rates
from investments to independent market data. Halo
tested occurrence by examining for each investment
holding, that all dividends recorded in the year had
been declared in the market. To test for completeness,
Halo investigated that the appropriate dividends had
been received in the year by reference to independent
data of dividends declared for all investment holdings
held within the year. Testing the accuracy, occurrence,
and completeness of net profit from derivatives by
agreeing a sample of derivative returns against broker
statements; For the revenue generated by realised
gains, we test the accuracy and occurrence by agreeing
a sample of gains recorded to supporting evidence
such as bank statements and broker statements.
As stipulated by the requirements set out in the AIC
SORP, we tested the allocation and presentation of
dividend income between the revenue and capital
return columns of the Statement of comprehensive
income by determining reasons behind dividend
distributions.
We have no matters to report as a result of this testing.
84
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
l
Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
How we tailored the audit scope
We tailored the scope of our audit to ensure that we
performed enough work to be able to give an opinion on
the financial statements as a whole, taking into account the
structure of the Company, the accounting processes and
controls, and the industry in which it operates.
All audit procedures were conducted remotely by a UK audit
team. We tested and examined information using sampling
and other auditing techniques, to the extent we considered
necessary to provide a reasonable basis for us to form our
own judgements.
The impact of climate risk on our audit
In planning our audit, we made enquiries of the Directors
and the Investment Manager to understand the extent of the
potential impact of climate change risk on the Company’s
financial statements. The Directors and Investment
Manager concluded that the impact on the measurement
and disclosures within the financial statements is not
material because the majority of the Company’s investment
portfolio is made up of level 1 quoted securities which are
valued at fair value based on market prices. We found this
to be consistent with our understanding of the Company’s
investment activities. We also considered the consistency
of the climate change disclosures included in the Strategic
Report and Investment Manager Report with the financial
statements and our knowledge from our audit.
Materiality
The scope of our audit was influenced by our application
of materiality. We set certain quantitative thresholds for
materiality. These, together with qualitative considerations,
helped us to determine the scope of our audit and the nature,
timing and extent of our audit procedures on the individual
financial statement line items and disclosures and in
evaluating the effect of misstatements, both individually and
in aggregate on the financial statements as a whole.
Based on our professional judgement, we determined
materiality for the financial statements as a whole as follows:
Overall company materiality
£6,333,544 (2021: £9,351,480).
How we determined it
1% of net assets
Rationale for benchmark applied
We applied this benchmark, which is a generally accepted
auditing practice for investment trust audits.
We use performance materiality to reduce to an appropriately
low level the probability that the aggregate of uncorrected
and undetected misstatements exceeds overall materiality.
Specifically, we use performance materiality in determining
the scope of our audit and the nature and extent of our
testing of account balances, classes of transactions and
disclosures, for example in determining sample sizes. Our
performance materiality was 75% (2021: 75%) of overall
materiality, amounting to £4,750,158 (2021: £7,013,610) for
the Company financial statements.
In determining the performance materiality, we considered
a number of factors - the history of misstatements, risk
assessment and aggregation risk and the effectiveness of
controls - and concluded that an amount at the upper end of
our normal range was appropriate.
We agreed with the Audit Committee that we would report
to them misstatements identified during our audit above
£317,000 (2021: £468,000) as well as misstatements
below that amount that, in our view, warranted reporting for
qualitative reasons.
Conclusions relating to going concern
Our evaluation of the Directors’ assessment of the
Company’s ability to continue to adopt the going concern
basis of accounting included:
evaluating the Directors’ updated risk assessment and
considering whether it addressed relevant threats,
including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, rise of inflation and
the wider macroeconomic uncertainty;
evaluating the Directors’ assessment of potential
operational impacts, considering their consistency with
other available information and our understanding of
the business and assessed the potential impact on the
financial statements;
reviewing the Directors’ assessment of the Company’s
financial position in the context of its ability to meet
future expected operating expenses, their assessment of
liquidity as well as their review of the operational resilience
of the Company and oversight of key third-party service
providers; and
assessing the implication of significant reductions in
NAV as a result of a severe but plausible downside in
the market’s performance on the ongoing ability of the
Company to operate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified
any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions
that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt
on the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern for
a period of at least twelve months from when the financial
statements are authorised for issue.
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that
the Directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in
the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Independent Auditor’s Report
continued
Section 4: Financial Statements
85
However, because not all future events or conditions can
be predicted, this conclusion is not a guarantee as to the
Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
In relation to the Directors’ reporting on how they have
applied the UK Corporate Governance Code, we have
nothing material to add or draw attention to in relation to
the Directors’ statement in the financial statements about
whether the Directors considered it appropriate to adopt the
going concern basis of accounting.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the Directors
with respect to going concern are described in the relevant
sections of this report.
Reporting on other information
The other information comprises all of the information in
the Annual Report other than the financial statements and
our auditors’ report thereon. The Directors are responsible
for the other information. Our opinion on the financial
statements does not cover the other information and,
accordingly, we do not express an audit opinion or, except to
the extent otherwise explicitly stated in this report, any form
of assurance thereon.
In connection with our audit of the financial statements,
our responsibility is to read the other information and,
in doing so, consider whether the other information is
materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our
knowledge obtained in the audit, or otherwise appears to
be materially misstated. If we identify an apparent material
inconsistency or material misstatement, we are required to
perform procedures to conclude whether there is a material
misstatement of the financial statements or a material
misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work
we have performed, we conclude that there is a material
misstatement of this other information, we are required to
report that fact. We have nothing to report based on these
responsibilities.
With respect to the Strategic Report and Directors’ Report, we
also considered whether the disclosures required by the UK
Companies Act 2006 have been included.
Based on our work undertaken in the course of the audit,
the Companies Act 2006 requires us also to report certain
opinions and matters as described below.
Strategic Report and Directors’ Report
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course
of the audit, the information given in the Strategic Report
and Directors’ Report for the year ended 30 November 2022
is consistent with the financial statements and has been
prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
In light of the knowledge and understanding of the Company
and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we
did not identify any material misstatements in the Strategic
Report and Directors’ Report.
Directors’ remuneration
In our opinion, the part of the report of the remuneration
committee to be audited has been properly prepared in
accordance with the Companies Act 2006.
Corporate governance statement
The Listing Rules require us to review the Directors’
statements in relation to going concern, longer-term viability
and that part of the corporate governance statement relating
to the Company’s compliance with the provisions of the UK
Corporate Governance Code specified for our review. Our
additional responsibilities with respect to the corporate
governance statement as other information are described in
the reporting on other information section of this report.
Based on the work undertaken as part of our audit, we
have concluded that each of the following elements of the
corporate governance statement is materially consistent with
the financial statements and our knowledge obtained during
the audit, and we have nothing material to add or draw
attention to in relation to:
The Directors’ confirmation that they have carried out a
robust assessment of the emerging and principal risks;
The disclosures in the Annual Report that describe those
principal risks, what procedures are in place to identify
emerging risks and an explanation of how these are being
managed or mitigated;
The Directors’ statement in the financial statements
about whether they considered it appropriate to adopt
the going concern basis of accounting in preparing them,
and their identification of any material uncertainties to
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;
The Directors’ explanation as to their assessment of the
Company’s prospects, the period this assessment covers
and why the period is appropriate; and
The Directors’ statement as to whether they have a
reasonable expectation that the Company will be able
to continue in operation and meet its liabilities as they
fall due over the period of its assessment, including any
related disclosures drawing attention to any necessary
qualifications or assumptions.
Our review of the Directors’ statement regarding the longer-
term viability of the Company was substantially less in
scope than an audit and only consisted of making inquiries
and considering the Directors’ process supporting their
statement; checking that the statement is in alignment with
the relevant provisions of the UK Corporate Governance
Code; and considering whether the statement is consistent
with the financial statements and our knowledge and
understanding of the Company and its environment obtained
in the course of the audit.
86
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
l
Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
In addition, based on the work undertaken as part of our
audit, we have concluded that each of the following elements
of the corporate governance statement is materially
consistent with the financial statements and our knowledge
obtained during the audit:
The Directors’ statement that they consider the
Annual Report, taken as a whole, is fair, balanced and
understandable, and provides the information necessary
for the members to assess the Company’s position,
performance, business model and strategy;
The section of the Annual Report that describes the review
of effectiveness of risk management and internal control
systems; and
The section of the Annual Report describing the work of the
Audit Committee.
We have nothing to report in respect of our responsibility
to report when the Directors’ statement relating to the
Company’s compliance with the Code does not properly
disclose a departure from a relevant provision of the Code
specified under the Listing Rules for review by the auditors.
Responsibilities for the financial statements
and the audit
Responsibilities of the Directors for the financial
statements
As explained more fully in the Statement of Directors’
responsibilities in respect of the Annual Report and Financial
Statements, the Directors are responsible for the preparation
of the financial statements in accordance with the applicable
framework and for being satisfied that they give a true
and fair view. The Directors are also responsible for such
internal control as they determine is necessary to enable
the preparation of financial statements that are free from
material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial statements, the Directors are
responsible for assessing the Company’s ability to continue
as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related
to going concern and using the going concern basis of
accounting unless the Directors either intend to liquidate
the Company or to cease operations, or have no realistic
alternative but to do so.
Auditors’ responsibilities for the audit of the
financial statements
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about
whether the financial statements as a whole are free from
material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and
to issue an auditors’ report that includes our opinion.
Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is
not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with
ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it
exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are
considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they
could reasonably be expected to influence the economic
decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial
statements.
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-
compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures
in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect
material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including
fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of
detecting irregularities, including fraud, is detailed below.
Based on our understanding of the Company and industry,
we identified that the principal risks of non-compliance
with laws and regulations related to breaches of Section
1158 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 (see page 40 of the
Annual Report), and we considered the extent to which non-
compliance might have a material effect on the financial
statements. We also considered those laws and regulations
that have a direct impact on the financial statements such
as the Companies Act 2006. We evaluated management’s
incentives and opportunities for fraudulent manipulation
of the financial statements (including the risk of override
of controls), and determined that the principal risks were
related to posting inappropriate journal entries to increase
net asset value. Audit procedures performed by the
engagement team included:
discussions with the Manager and the Audit Committee,
including consideration of known or suspected instances
of non-compliance with laws and regulation and fraud;
understand the controls implemented by the Company
and the Fund Accountant designed to prevent and detect
irregularities;
assessment of the Company’s compliance with the
requirements of Section 1158 of the Corporation Tax Act
2010, including recalculation of numerical aspects of the
eligibility conditions;
identifying and testing journal entries, in particular year
end journal entries posted by the Fund Accountant during
the preparation of the financial statements;
designing audit procedures to incorporate unpredictability
around the nature, timing or extent of our testing for
example, targeting transactions that otherwise would be
immaterial; and
reviewing relevant meeting minutes, including those of the
Audit Committee.
There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures
described above. We are less likely to become aware of
instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations that
are not closely related to events and transactions reflected
in the financial statements. Also, the risk of not detecting a
material misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of
not detecting one resulting from error, as fraud may involve
deliberate concealment by, for example, forgery or intentional
misrepresentations, or through collusion.
Independent Auditor’s Report
continued
Section 4: Financial Statements
87
Our audit testing might include testing complete populations
of certain transactions and balances, possibly using data
auditing techniques. However, it typically involves selecting
a limited number of items for testing, rather than testing
complete populations. We will often seek to target particular
items for testing based on their size or risk characteristics. In
other cases, we will use audit sampling to enable us to draw
a conclusion about the population from which the sample is
selected.
A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of
the financial statements is located on the FRC’s website at:
www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description
forms part of our auditors’ report.
Use of this report
This report, including the opinions, has been prepared
for and only for the Company’s members as a body in
accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act
2006 and for no other purpose. We do not, in giving these
opinions, accept or assume responsibility for any other
purpose or to any other person to whom this report is shown
or into whose hands it may come save where expressly
agreed by our prior consent in writing.
Other required reporting
Companies Act 2006 exception reporting
Under the Companies Act 2006 we are required to report to
you if, in our opinion:
we have not obtained all the information and explanations
we require for our audit; or
adequate accounting records have not been kept by the
Company, or returns adequate for our audit have not been
received from branches not visited by us; or
certain disclosures of Directors’ remuneration specified by
law are not made; or
the financial statements and the part of the Report of
the remuneration committee to be audited are not in
agreement with the accounting records and returns.
We have no exceptions to report arising from this
responsibility.
Appointment
Following the recommendation of the Audit Committee, we
were appointed by the Directors on 21 March 2019 to audit
the financial statements for the year ended 30 November
2019 and subsequent financial periods. The period of total
uninterrupted engagement is 4 years, covering the years
ended 30 November 2019 to 30 November 2022.
Allan McGrath
(Senior Statutory Auditor)
for and on behalf of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditors
Edinburgh
9 February 2023
88
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
l
Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
Statement of Comprehensive Income
for the year ended 30 November 2022
2022
2021
Notes
Revenue
Capital
Total
Revenue
Capital
Total
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
Income from investments held at fair value through profit
or loss
3
12,585
91
12,676
12,188
12,188
Net income from derivatives
3, 11
1,526
1,526
1,272
1,272
Other income
3
749
749
7
7
Total income
14,860
91
14,951
13,467
13,467
Net (loss)/profit on investments held at fair value through
profit or loss
10
(250,583) (250,583)
192,102
192,102
Net (loss)/profit on foreign exchange
(676)
(676)
141
141
Net (loss)/profit from derivatives
11
(55,673)
(55,673)
29,070
29,070
Total
14,860
(306,841) (291,981)
13,467
221,313
234,780
Expenses
Investment management and performance fees
4
(756)
(2,269)
(3,025)
(913)
(9,394)
(10,307)
Other operating expenses
5
(843)
(20)
(863)
(1,078)
(27)
(1,105)
Total operating expenses
(1,599)
(2,289)
(3,888)
(1,991)
(9,421)
(11,412)
Net profit/(loss) on ordinary activities before finance
costs and taxation
13,261
(309,130) (295,869)
11,476
211,892
223,368
Finance costs
6
(5)
(15)
(20)
(1)
(4)
(5)
Net profit/(loss) on ordinary activities before taxation
13,256
(309,145) (295,889)
11,475
211,888
223,363
Taxation
7
1
1
(29)
(29)
Net profit/(loss) on ordinary activities after taxation
13,257
(309,145) (295,888)
11,446
211,888
223,334
Earnings/(loss) per ordinary share (pence)
9
12.95
(302.05)
(289.10)
12.15
224.96
237.11
The total columns of this statement represents the Company’s Statement of Comprehensive Income, prepared in accordance
with UK-adopted International Accounting Standards (IASs). The supplementary revenue and capital accounts are both
prepared under guidance published by the Association of Investment Companies (AIC). All items in the above statement derive
from continuing operations. No operations were acquired or discontinued during the year. All income is attributable to the
equity holders of the Company.
The Company does not have any other comprehensive income/(loss). The net profit/(loss) for the year disclosed above
represents the Company’s total comprehensive income/(loss).
The notes on pages 92 to 116 form part of these Financial Statements.
Section 4: Financial Statements
89
Statement of Changes in Equity
for the year ended 30 November 2022
The notes on pages 92 to 116 form part of these Financial Statements.
Notes
Called
up share
capital
Share
premium
account
Capital
redemption
reserve
Special
reserve
Capital
reserves
Revenue
reserve
Total
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
For the year ended 30 November 2022
At 30 November 2021
5,072
225,660
11,905
44,582
637,028
10,901
935,148
Total comprehensive (loss)/income:
Net (loss)/profit for the year
(309,145)
13,257
(295,888)
Transactions with owners, recorded directly
to equity:
Ordinary shares issued
14, 15
88
16,479
16,567
Share issue costs
15
(17)
(17)
Ordinary shares bought back into treasury
15
(11,487)
(11,487)
Share purchase costs
15
(57)
(57)
Dividends paid
1
8
(10,909)
(10,909)
At 30 November 2022
5,160
242,122
11,905
33,038
327,883
13,249
633,357
For the year ended 30 November 2021
At 30 November 2020
4,376
101,368
11,905
44,580
425,140
8,846
596,215
Total comprehensive income:
Net profit for the year
211,888
11,446
223,334
Transactions with owners, recorded directly
to equity:
Ordinary shares issued
696
124,418
125,114
Share issue costs
(126)
(126)
Tender costs written back
2
2
Dividends paid
2
(9,391)
(9,391)
At 30 November 2021
5,072
225,660
11,905
44,582
637,028
10,901
935,148
1
Final dividend of 8.00p per share for the year ended 30 November 2021, declared on 7 February 2022 and paid on 31 March 2022 and
interim dividend of 2.60p per share for the year ended 30 November 2022, declared on 20 July 2022 and paid on 26 August 2022.
2
Final dividend of 7.70p per share for the year ended 30 November 2020, declared on 10 February 2021 and paid on 1 April 2021 and interim
dividend of 2.50p per share for the year ended 30 November 2021, declared on 23 July 2021 and paid on 27 August 2021.
For information on the Company’s distributable reserves please refer to note 15 on page 103.
90
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
l
Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
Notes
2022
2021
£’000
£’000
Non current assets
Investments held at fair value through profit or loss
10
576,771
921,204
Current assets
Current tax asset
174
81
Other receivables
12
3,131
2,984
Derivative financial assets held at fair value through profit or loss
11, 16
4,800
Cash collateral pledged with brokers
11, 16
7,380
Cash and cash equivalents
11, 16
58,793
25,223
Total current assets
66,898
35,668
Total assets
643,669
956,872
Current liabilities
Other payables
13
(2,240)
(13,008)
Derivative financial liabilities held at fair value through profit or loss
11, 16
(2,202)
(8,716)
Liability for cash collateral received
11, 16
(5,870)
Total current liabilities
(10,312)
(21,724)
Net assets
633,357
935,148
Equity attributable to equity holders
Called up share capital
14
5,160
5,072
Share premium account
15
242,122
225,660
Capital redemption reserve
15
11,905
11,905
Special reserve
15
33,038
44,582
Capital reserves
15
327,883
637,028
Revenue reserve
15
13,249
10,901
Total equity
633,357
935,148
Net asset value per ordinary share (pence)
9
626.10
921.91
The Financial Statements on pages
88 to 116
were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 9 February
2023 and signed on its behalf by Mr Christopher Samuel, Chairman.
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
Registered in England, No. 00594634
Statement of Financial Position
as at 30 November 2022
The notes on pages 92 to 116 form part of these Financial Statements.
Section 4: Financial Statements
91
Cash Flow Statement
for the year ended 30 November 2022
2022
2021
£’000
£’000
Operating activities
Net (loss)/profit on ordinary activities before taxation
(295,889)
223,363
Add back finance costs
20
5
Loss/(profit) on investments held at fair value through profit or loss (including
transaction costs)
250,583
(192,102)
Net loss/(profit) from derivatives (including transaction costs)
55,673
(29,070)
Financing costs on derivatives
(1,101)
(516)
Net loss/(profit) on foreign exchange
676
(141)
Sales of investments held at fair value through profit or loss
325,600
322,822
Purchases of investments held at fair value through profit or loss
(231,750)
(461,699)
Net (payments)/receipts on closure of derivatives
(65,886)
42,306
Increase in other receivables
(279)
(64)
(Decrease)/increase in other payables
(8,169)
3,517
(Increase)/decrease in amounts due from brokers
(998)
3,977
Decrease in amounts due to brokers
(2,599)
(4,798)
Net cash collateral received/(pledged)
13,250
(8,540)
Net cash inflow/(outflow) from operating activities before taxation
39,131
(100,940)
Taxation paid
(92)
(83)
Net cash inflow/(outflow) from operating activities
39,039
(101,023)
Financing activities
Interest paid
(20)
(5)
Cash proceeds from ordinary shares issued
17,680
123,859
Cash paid for ordinary shares bought back into treasury
(11,544)
Dividends paid
(10,909)
(9,391)
Net cash (outflow)/inflow from financing activities
(4,793)
114,463
Increase in cash and cash equivalents
34,246
13,440
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes
(676)
141
Change in cash and cash equivalents
33,570
13,581
Cash and cash equivalents at start of year
25,223
11,642
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
58,793
25,223
Comprised of:
Cash at bank
103
143
Cash Fund
1
58,690
25,080
58,793
25,223
1
Cash Fund represents funds held on deposit with the BlackRock Institutional Cash Series plc – Sterling Liquid Environmentally Aware Fund.
The notes on pages 92 to 116 form part of these Financial Statements.
92
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
l
Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
1. Principal activity
The principal activity of the Company is that of an investment
trust company within the meaning of Section 1158 of the
Corporation Tax Act 2010.
2. Accounting policies
The principal accounting policies adopted by the Company
have been applied consistently, other than where new
policies have been adopted and are set out below.
(a)
Basis of preparation
On 31 December 2020, International Financial Reporting
Standards (IFRS) as adopted by the European Union at
that date was brought into UK law and became UK-adopted
International Accounting Standards, with future changes
being subject to endorsement by the UK Endorsement Board
and with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 as
applicable to companies reporting under those standards.
The Company transitioned to UK-adopted International
Accounting Standards in its Financial Statements with effect
from 1 December 2021. There was no impact or changes in
accounting policies from the transition.
The Financial Statements have been prepared under the
historic cost convention modified by the revaluation of
certain financial assets and financial liabilities held at fair
value through profit or loss and in accordance with UK-
adopted International Accounting Standards (IASs). All of the
Company’s operations are of a continuing nature.
Insofar as the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP)
for investment trust companies and venture capital trusts
issued by the Association of Investment Companies (AIC)
in October 2019 and updated in July 2022 is compatible
with UK-adopted International Accounting Standards, the
Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with
the guidance set out in the SORP.
Substantially all of 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 the period for the
foreseeable future, for the period to 9 February 2024, being
a period of at least twelve months from the date of approval
of the Financial Statements and therefore consider the going
concern assumption to be appropriate. The Directors have
considered any potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,
its potential longer-term effects on the global economy
and the mitigation measures which key service providers,
including the Manager, have in place to maintain operational
resilience on the going concern of the Company. The
Directors have reviewed the income and expense projections
and the liquidity of the investment portfolio in making their
assessment.
The Directors have considered the impact of climate
change on the value of the investments included in the
Financial Statements and have concluded that there was
no further impact of climate change to be considered as the
investments are valued based on market pricing as required
by IFRS 13.
None of the Company’s other assets and liabilities were
considered to be potentially impacted by climate change.
The Company’s Financial Statements are presented in
Sterling, which is the functional currency of the Company
and the currency of the primary economic environment in
which the Company operates. All values are rounded to the
nearest thousand pounds (£’000) except where otherwise
indicated.
Relevant International Accounting Standards that have
yet to be adopted:
IFRS 17 – Insurance contracts
(effective 1 January 2023).
This standard replaces IFRS 4, which currently permits a wide
range of accounting practices in accounting for insurance
contracts. IFRS 17 will fundamentally change the accounting
by all entities that issue insurance contracts and investment
contracts with discretionary participation features.
This standard is unlikely to have any impact on the Company
as it has no insurance contracts.
IAS 12 - Deferred tax related to assets and liabilities
arising from a single transaction
(effective 1 January 2023).
The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) has
amended IAS 12 Income taxes to require companies to
recognise deferred tax on particular transactions that, on
initial recognition, give rise to equal amounts of taxable and
deductible temporary differences. According to the amended
guidance, a temporary difference that arises on initial
recognition of an asset or liability is not subject to the initial
recognition exemption if that transaction gave rise to equal
amounts of taxable and deductible temporary differences.
These amendments might have a significant impact on the
preparation of financial statements by companies that have
substantial balances of right-of-use assets, lease liabilities,
decommissioning, restoration and similar liabilities. The
impact for those affected would be the recognition of
additional deferred tax assets and liabilities.
The amendment of this standard is unlikely to have any
significant impact on the Company.
None of the standards that have been issued but are not
yet effective are expected to have a material impact on the
Company.
(b) Presentation of the Statement of Comprehensive
Income
In order to better reflect the activities of an investment trust
company and in accordance with guidance issued by the AIC,
supplementary information which analyses the Statement
of Comprehensive Income between items of a revenue and a
capital nature has been presented alongside the Statement
of Comprehensive Income.
Notes to the Financial Statements
for the year ended 30 November 2022
Section 4: Financial Statements
93
(c) Segmental reporting
The Directors are of the opinion that the Company is
engaged in a single segment of business being investment
business.
(d) Income
Dividends receivable on equity shares are recognised as
revenue for the year on an ex-dividend basis. Where no ex-
dividend date is available, dividends receivable on or before
the year end are treated as revenue for the year. Provision is
made for any dividends not expected to be received. Special
dividends, if any, are treated as a capital or a revenue receipt
depending on the facts or circumstances of each particular
case. The return on a debt security is recognised on a time
apportionment basis so as to reflect the effective yield on the
debt security.
Deposit interest receivable is accounted for on an accruals
basis. Interest income from the Cash Fund is accounted for
on an accruals basis.
Where the Company has elected to receive its dividends in
the form of additional shares rather than in cash, the cash
equivalent of the dividend is recognised as income. Any
excess in the value of the shares received over the amount of
the cash dividend is recognised in capital.
(e) Expenses
All expenses, including finance costs, are accounted for on
an accruals basis. Expenses have been charged wholly to the
revenue column of the Statement of Comprehensive Income,
except as follows:
expenses which are incidental to the acquisition or sale
of an investment are charged to the capital column
of the Statement of Comprehensive Income. Details
of transaction costs on the purchases and sales of
investments are disclosed within note 10 to the Financial
Statements on page 100;
expenses are treated as capital where a connection with
the maintenance or enhancement of the value of the
investments can be demonstrated;
the investment management fee and finance costs have
been allocated 75% to the capital column and 25% to
the revenue column of the Statement of Comprehensive
Income in line with the Board’s expected long term
split of returns, in the form of capital gains and income,
respectively, from the investment portfolio; and
performance fees are allocated 100% to the capital
column of the Statement of Comprehensive Income as fees
are generated in connection with enhancing the value of
the investment portfolio.
(f) Taxation
The tax expense represents the sum of the tax currently
payable and deferred tax. The tax currently payable is based
on the taxable profit for the year. Taxable profit differs from
net profit as reported in the Statement of Comprehensive
Income because it excludes items of income or expenses
that are taxable or deductible in other years and it further
excludes items that are never taxable or deductible. The
Company’s liability for current tax is calculated using tax
rates that were applicable at the balance sheet date.
Where expenses are allocated between capital and revenue
accounts, any tax relief in respect of expenses is allocated
between capital and revenue returns on the marginal basis
using the Company’s effective rate of corporation tax for the
accounting period.
Deferred taxation is recognised in respect of all temporary
differences that have originated but not reversed at the
financial reporting date, where transactions or events that
result in an obligation to pay more taxation in the future or
right to pay less taxation in the future have occurred at the
financial reporting date. This is subject to deferred taxation
assets only being recognised if it is considered more likely
than not that there will be suitable profits from which the
future reversal of the temporary differences can be deducted.
Deferred taxation assets and liabilities are measured at the
rates applicable to the legal jurisdictions in which they arise.
(g) Investments held at fair value through profit or loss
In accordance with IFRS 9, the Company classifies its
investments at initial recognition as held at fair value
through profit or loss and are managed and evaluated on a
fair value basis in accordance with its investment strategy
and business model.
All investments are measured initially and subsequently at
fair value through profit or loss. Purchases of investments
are recognised on a trade date basis. Sales of investments
are recognised at the trade date of the disposal.
The fair value of the financial investments is based on their
quoted bid price at the financial reporting date, without
deduction for the estimated selling costs. This policy applies
to all current and non-current asset investments held by the
Company.
Changes in the value of investments held at fair value
through profit or loss and gains and losses on disposal are
recognised in the Statement of Comprehensive Income
as “Net profit/(loss) on investments held at fair value
through profit or loss”. Also included within the heading
are transaction costs in relation to the purchase or sale of
investments.
94
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l
Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
2.
Accounting policies
continued
For all financial instruments not traded in an active market,
the fair value is determined by using various valuation
techniques. Valuation techniques include market approach
(i.e., using recent arm’s length market transactions adjusted
as necessary and reference to the current market value
of another instrument that is substantially the same) and
the income approach (e.g., discounted cash flow analysis
and option pricing models making use of available and
supportable market data where possible). See note 2(o) below.
(h) Derivatives
The Company can hold long and short positions in contracts
for difference (CFDs) and index futures which are held at fair
value based on the bid prices of the underlying securities
in respect of long positions and the offer prices of the
underlying securities in respect of short positions.
Profits and losses on derivative transactions are recognised in
the Statement of Comprehensive Income. They are shown in
the capital column of the Statement of Comprehensive Income
if they are of a capital nature and are shown in the revenue
column of the Statement of Comprehensive Income if they are
of a revenue nature. To the extent that any profits or losses are
of a mixed revenue and capital nature, they are apportioned
between revenue and capital accordingly. Derivative assets and
derivative liabilities that are subject to netting arrangements are
offset in the Statement of Financial Position.
(i) Other receivables and other payables
Other receivables and other payables do not carry any
interest and are short term in nature and are accordingly
stated on an amortised cost basis.
(j) Dividends payable
Under IASs, final dividends should not be accrued in the
Financial Statements unless they have been approved by
shareholders before the financial reporting date. Interim
dividends should not be recognised in the Financial
Statements unless they have been paid.
Dividends payable to equity shareholders are recognised in
the Statement of Changes in Equity.
(k) Foreign currency translation
Transactions involving foreign currencies are converted
at the rate ruling at the date of the transaction. Foreign
currency monetary assets and liabilities and non-monetary
assets held at fair value are translated into Sterling at
the rate ruling on the financial reporting date. Foreign
exchange differences arising on translation are recognised
in the Statement of Comprehensive Income as a revenue or
capital item depending on the income or expense to which
they relate. For investment transactions and investments
held at the year end, denominated in a foreign currency,
the resulting gains or losses are included in the gain on
investments held at fair value through profit or loss in the
Statement of Comprehensive Income.
(l) Cash and cash equivalents
Cash comprises cash in hand and on demand deposits. Cash
equivalents are short term, highly liquid investments that are
readily convertible to known amounts of cash and that are
subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value.
The Cash Fund is managed by BlackRock Asset Management
Ireland Limited and is subject to fees and expenses which are
capped at 0.03% of the NAV. The investment is managed as
part of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents as defined
under IAS 7 and is presented as a cash equivalent in the
Financial Statements.
(m) Bank borrowings
Bank overdrafts are recorded as the proceeds received.
Finance charges, including any premium payable on
settlement or redemption and direct issue costs, are
accounted for on an accruals basis in the Statement of
Comprehensive Income using the effective interest rate
method and are added to the carrying amount of the
instruments to the extent that they are not settled in the
period in which they arise.
(n) Share repurchases, share reissues and new share
issues
Shares repurchased and subsequently cancelled – share
capital is reduced by the nominal value of the shares
repurchased, and the capital redemption reserve is
correspondingly increased in accordance with Section 733
of the Companies Act 2006. The full cost of the repurchase is
charged to the special reserve.
Shares repurchased and held in treasury – the full cost of the
repurchase is charged to the special reserve.
Where treasury shares are subsequently re-issued:
amounts received to the extent of the repurchase price are
credited to the special reserve; and
any surplus received in excess of the repurchase price is
taken to the share premium account.
Where new shares are issued, the par value is taken to called
up share capital and amounts received to the extent of any
surplus received in excess of the par value are taken to the
share premium account.
Share issue costs are charged to the share premium account.
Costs on share reissues are charged to the special reserve
and capital reserves.
(o) Critical accounting estimates and judgements
The Directors of the Company make estimates and
assumptions concerning the future. The resulting accounting
estimates and assumptions will, by definition, seldom equal the
related actual results. Estimates and judgements are regularly
evaluated and are based on historical experience and other
factors, including expectations of future events that are believed
to be reasonable under the circumstances. The Directors do not
believe that any accounting judgements or estimates have a
significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying
amount of assets and liabilities within the next financial year.
There are no critical accounting estimates or judgements.
Notes to the Financial Statements
continued
Section 4: Financial Statements
95
3. Income
2022
2021
£’000
£’000
Investment income:
UK dividends
9,654
8,940
UK special dividends
839
1,320
UK stock dividends
68
108
UK REIT dividends
509
464
Overseas dividends
1,515
1,186
Overseas special dividends
170
Total investment income
1
12,585
12,188
Net income from derivatives
1,526
1,272
Other income:
Deposit interest
111
Interest from Cash Fund
594
7
Collateral interest
44
749
7
Total income
14,860
13,467
1
UK and overseas dividends are presented based on the country of domicile of the respective underlying portfolio company.
Dividends and interest received in cash during the year amounted to £12,223,000 and £615,000 (2021: £11,919,000 and
£6,000).
Special dividends of £91,000 have been recognised in capital during the year (2021: £nil).
96
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
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Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
4. Investment management and performance fees
2022
2021
Revenue
Capital
Total
Revenue
Capital
Total
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
Investment management fee
756
2,269
3,025
913
2,739
3,652
Performance fee
6,655
6,655
Total
756
2,269
3,025
913
9,394
10,307
The performance fee is 15% of the Net Asset Value total return outperformance of the Benchmark Index, measured and
annualised over a two year rolling basis and applied on the average Gross Assets of that period. Outperformance is the amount
by which the Fund Return arithmetically exceeds the Benchmark Return.
The performance fee is calculated and accrued on a daily basis and payable on 30 November each year in relation to the
two year performance period ending on that date. Gross Assets are defined as the value at risk, the gross asset value of
the long-only portfolio plus the gross value of the underlying equities, long and short, to which the Company is exposed
through derivatives including CFDs and index futures. There is a
C
ap (the “Capped amount” or the “Cap”) on the annual total
management and performance fees of 1.25% of average Gross Assets over a two year period which has the effect of capping
annual performance fees at circa 0.9%. The amount of excess outperformance on which a performance fee has not been paid
in a financial year due to the application of the
C
ap, can be carried forward to offset against future shortfall returns. As at 30
November 2022, the carried forward unpaid outperformance available to offset against future shortfall returns was 10.7% (30
November 2021: 14.6%).
On the first day of the financial year, any performance fee for the ongoing performance period not yet recognised, due to the
application of the Cap in the prior financial year, is accrued in the daily NAV released to the London Stock Exchange on that
day.
Performance fees have been wholly allocated to the capital account of the Statement of Comprehensive Income as the
performance has been predominantly generated through capital returns from the investment portfolio. For the year ended
30 November 2022, no performance fee has been accrued (2021: £6,655,000).
The investment management fee is calculated at the rate of 0.35% per annum on month end Gross Assets. The management
fee is charged 25% to revenue account and 75% to capital account of the Statement of Comprehensive Income. There is no
additional fee for company secretarial and administration services.
Notes to the Financial Statements
continued
Section 4: Financial Statements
97
5. Other operating expenses
2022
2021
£’000
£’000
Allocated to revenue:
Custody fee
8
12
Auditor’s remuneration
1
52
52
Registrar’s fee
45
47
Directors’ emoluments
2
205
184
Broker fees
35
45
Depositary fees
83
92
Marketing fees
153
157
FCA fees
28
19
Printing and postage fees
42
76
AIC fees
21
16
Stock exchange listing fees
102
268
Write back of prior year expenses
3
(26)
Other administrative costs
95
110
843
1,078
Allocated to capital:
Custody transaction charges
4
20
27
863
1,105
The Company’s ongoing charges
5
, calculated as a percentage of average daily net assets and
using the management fee and all other operating expenses, excluding performance fees,
finance costs, direct transaction costs, custody transaction charges, VAT recovered, taxation,
prior year expenses written back and certain non-recurring items, were:
0.54%
0.57%
The Company’s ongoing charges
5
, calculated as a percentage of average daily net assets
and using the management fee and all other operating expenses and including performance
fees but excluding finance costs, direct transaction costs, custody transaction charges, VAT
recovered, taxation, prior year expenses written back and certain non-recurring items, were:
0.54%
1.38%
1
No non-audit services were provided by the Company’s auditors.
2
Further information on Directors’ emoluments can be found in the Directors’ Remuneration Report on page 70. The Company has no
employees.
3
Relates to Directors’ expenses, legal fees, registration fees and miscellaneous fees written back during the year (2021: no expenses were
written back).
4
For the year ended 30 November 2022, expenses of £20,000 (2021: £27,000) were charged to the capital account of the Statement of
Comprehensive Income. These relate to transaction costs charged by the Custodian on sale and purchase trades.
5
Alternative Performance Measures, see Glossary on pages
131 to 133
.
98
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
l
Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
6. Finance costs
2022
2021
Revenue
£’000
Capital
£’000
Total
£’000
Revenue
£’000
Capital
£’000
Total
£’000
Interest payable - bank overdraft
1
1
1
4
5
Collateral interest paid
5
14
19
5
15
20
1
4
5
7. Taxation
(a) Analysis of (credit)/charge in year
2022
2021
Revenue
£’000
Capital
£’000
Total
£’000
Revenue
£’000
Capital
£’000
Total
£’000
Current taxation:
Overseas tax suffered
30
30
Prior year adjustment
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
Total taxation (credit)/charge (note 7(b))
(1)
(1)
29
29
(b) Factors affecting total taxation (credit)/charge for the year
The taxation assessed for the year is higher (2021: lower) than the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK of 19.00% (2021:
19.00%). The differences are explained below:
2022
2021
Revenue
£’000
Capital
£’000
Total
£’000
Revenue
£’000
Capital
£’000
Total
£’000
Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities before taxation
13,256
(309,145)
(295,889)
11,475
211,888
223,363
Taxation on profit/(loss) on ordinary activities at
standard rate of corporation tax of 19.00% (2021:
19.00%)
2,519
(58,738)
(56,219)
2,180
40,259
42,439
Effects of:
Non taxable UK dividend income
(2,001)
(17)
(2,018)
(1,969)
(1,969)
Non taxable overseas dividend income
(288)
(288)
(258)
(258)
Overseas tax suffered
30
30
Net loss/(profit) on investments held at fair value
through profit or loss
47,611
47,611
(36,500)
(36,500)
Net loss/(profit) from derivatives
10,578
10,578
(5,523)
(5,523)
Non-taxable stock dividend income
(13)
(13)
Net foreign exchange loss/(profit)
128
128
(27)
(27)
Disallowed expenses
4
4
5
5
Management expenses not (utilised)/relieved
(217)
434
217
47
1,786
1,833
Prior year adjustment
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(2,520)
58,738
56,218
(2,151)
(40,259)
(42,410)
Total taxation (credit)/charge for the year
(note 7(a))
(1)
(1)
29
29
For the year ended/as at 30 November 2022 the Company had net surplus management expenses of £102.7 million (2021:
£101.6 million) and a non-trade loan relationship deficit of £49.2 million (2021: £49.2 million). A deferred tax asset has not
been recognised in respect of these losses because the Company is not expected to generate taxable income in a future
period in excess of the deductible expenses of that future period. Accordingly, it is unlikely that the Company will be able
to reduce future tax liabilities through the use of existing tax losses. Accordingly, the deferred tax asset of £38.0 million
(2021: £37.7 million) has not been recognised as at 30 November 2022 which has been calculated based on a prospective
corporation tax rate from 1 April 2023 of 25%, as enacted by the Finance Act 2021.
Notes to the Financial Statements
continued
Section 4: Financial Statements
99
8. Dividends
2022
2021
Dividends paid on equity shares:
Record date
Payment date
£’000
£’000
Final dividend of 8.00p per share for the year
ended 30 November 2021 (2020: 7.70p)
18 February 2022
31 March 2022
8,255
6,972
Interim dividend of 2.60p per share for the year
ended 30 November 2022 (2021: 2.50p)
29 July 2022
26 August 2022
2,654
2,419
10,909
9,391
The total dividends payable in respect of the year ended 30 November 2022 which form the basis of Section 1158 of the
Corporation Tax Act 2010 and Section 833 of the Companies Act 2006, and the amounts proposed, meet the relevant
requirements as set out in this legislation.
2022
2021
Dividends paid or declared on equity shares:
£’000
£’000
Interim dividend of 2.60p per share for the year ended 30 November 2022 (2021: 2.50p)
2,654
2,419
Final dividend of 8.50p per share for the year ended 30 November 2022
1
(2021: 8.00p)
8,595
8,255
11,249
10,674
1
Based on 101,113,864 ordinary shares in issue on 7 February 2023.
9. Earnings/(loss) and net asset value per ordinary share
Total revenue, capital (loss)/earnings and net asset value per ordinary share are shown below and have been calculated using
the following:
Year ended
30 November
2022
Year ended
30 November
2021
Net revenue profit attributable to ordinary shareholders (£’000)
13,257
11,446
Net capital (loss)/profit attributable to ordinary shareholders (£’000)
(309,145)
211,888
Total (loss)/profit attributable to ordinary shareholders (£’000)
(295,888)
223,334
Equity shareholders’ funds (£’000) as at 30 November
633,357
935,148
The weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the year on which the
earnings per ordinary share was calculated was:
102,346,782
94,190,181
The actual number of ordinary shares in issue at the year end on which the net asset value per
ordinary share was calculated was:
101,158,864
101,435,964
Earnings/(loss) per ordinary share
Revenue earnings per share (pence) – basic and diluted
12.95
12.15
Capital (loss)/earnings per share (pence) – basic and diluted
(302.05)
224.96
Total (loss)/earnings per share (pence) - basic and diluted
(289.10)
237.11
As at
30 November
2022
As at
30 November
2021
Net asset value per ordinary share (pence)
626.10
921.91
Ordinary share price (pence)
595.00
935.00
There were no dilutive securities at the year end.
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Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
10. Investments held at fair value through profit or loss
2022
2021
£’000
£’000
UK listed equity investments held at fair value through profit or loss
386,123
610,695
AIM traded stocks
190,648
310,509
Total value of financial asset investments at 30 November
576,771
921,204
Opening book cost of investments
674,311
446,195
Investment holding gains
246,893
144,030
Opening fair value
921,204
590,225
Analysis of transactions made during the year:
Purchases at cost
231,750
461,699
Sales proceeds received
(325,600)
(322,822)
(Losses)/gains on investments
1
(250,583)
192,102
Closing fair value
576,771
921,204
Closing book cost of investments
572,761
674,311
Closing investment holding gains
4,010
246,893
Closing fair value
576,771
921,204
1
The (losses)/gains on investment do not include special dividends totalling £91,000 (2021: £nil) that were recognised in capital (please see
note 3).
The Company received £325,600,000 (2021: £322,822,000) from investments sold in the year. The book cost of these investments
when they were purchased was £333,300,000 (2021: £233,583,000). These investments have been revalued over time and until
they were sold any unrealised gains/losses were included in the fair value of investments.
During the year, transaction costs of £858,000 (2021: £1,619,000) were incurred on the acquisition of investments. Costs relating
to the disposal of investments during the year amounted to £230,000 (2021: £224,000). All transactions costs have been included
within the capital reserves.
Notes to the Financial Statements
continued
Section 4: Financial Statements
101
11. Derivatives
The Company may use a variety of derivative contracts, and during the year entered into a number of index futures contracts
and contracts for difference (CFDs). CFDs are synthetic equities and are valued by reference to the market values of the
investments’ underlying securities.
The sources of the return under the derivative contract (e.g., notional dividends, financing costs, interest returns and realised
and unrealised gains and losses) are allocated to the revenue and capital accounts in alignment with the nature of the
underlying source of income and in accordance with the guidance given in the AIC SORP. Notional dividend income or expense
arising on long or short positions is apportioned wholly to the revenue account. Notional interest income on short positions
is allocated wholly to the revenue account. Notional interest expense on long and short positions is apportioned between
revenue and capital in accordance with the Board’s long term expected returns of the Company (currently determined to be
25% to revenue and 75% to capital). Changes in value relating to underlying price movements of securities in relation to long
and short derivative exposures are allocated to capital. A summary of the various sources of return on the derivative contracts
is given in the table below.
2022
2021
Revenue
£’000
Capital
£’000
Total
£’000
Revenue
£’000
Capital
£’000
Total
£’000
Net realised (losses)/gains relating to underlying
price movements
(65,886)
(65,886)
42,306
42,306
Net change in unrealised gains/(losses) relating to
underlying price movements
11,314
11,314
(12,720)
(12,720)
Notional dividend income on long positions
2,378
2,378
1,734
1,734
Notional dividend expense on short positions
(490)
(490)
(290)
(290)
Notional interest expense on long positions
(369)
(1,111)
(1,480)
(124)
(367)
(491)
Notional interest income/(expense) on short positions
7
10
17
(48)
(149)
(197)
Total return on derivative contracts for the year
1,526
(55,673)
(54,147)
1,272
29,070
30,342
The net fair values of derivative financial assets and liabilities are set out in the table below:
2022
2021
£’000
£’000
Derivative financial assets held at fair value through profit or loss
4,800
Derivative financial liabilities held at fair value through profit or loss
(2,202)
(8,716)
Total net derivative financial assets/(liabilities)
2,598
(8,716)
The fair value of derivative positions at 30 November 2022 was positive £2,598,000 (2021: negative £8,716,000), comprising
gross revaluation gains of £5,912,000 (2021: £3,439,000) and gross revaluation losses of £3,314,000 (2021: £12,155,000).
Net realised losses of £65,886,000 (2021: gains of £42,306,000) comprised realised gains of £79,832,000 (2021:
£122,906,000) and realised losses of £145,718,000 (2021: £80,600,000).
As at 30 November 2022, the Company held cash and cash equivalent balances of £58,793,000 (2021: £25,223,000). The
Company also pledged cash of £nil (2021: £7,380,000) on margin accounts with counterparty brokers. This cash represents
collateral posted to broker margin accounts in relation to amounts due to brokers in respect of unrealised losses on open
derivative positions.
As at 30 November 2022 the Company also owed £5,870,000 (2021: £nil) to brokers in respect of cash collateral received
relating to amounts owed by these brokers to cover unrealised gains on open derivative positions. These cash balances are
disclosed within cash and cash equivalents on the Statement of Financial Position of £58,793,000 (2021: £25,223,000), and
an equivalent creditor of £5,870,000 (2021: £nil) is also shown to reflect the economic entitlement of the broker to these
margins until such a time as the open derivative positions are closed out and the profits are realised. To the extent there are
any unrealised losses on CFD contracts, the Company will transfer margin monies across to these broker margin deposit
accounts. The Investment Manager monitors margin positions on a daily basis to ensure any margin deposit balances are
minimised and any amounts owed to the Company are transferred on a timely basis. In the event of default, legal ownership of
any monies held in the margin deposit accounts resides with the counterparty broker.
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Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
12. Other receivables
2022
2021
£’000
£’000
Amounts due from brokers
2,033
1,035
Share issue receivable
1,130
Prepayments and accrued income
1,098
819
3,131
2,984
13. Other payables
2022
2021
£’000
£’000
Amounts due to brokers
443
3,042
Accruals for expenses and interest payable
1,797
3,311
Performance fee accrual
6,655
2,240
13,008
14. Called up share capital
Ordinary shares
in issue
Treasury
shares
Total
shares
Nominal
value
number
number
number
£’000
Allotted, called up and fully paid share capital
comprised:
Ordinary shares of 5 pence each:
At 30 November 2021
101,435,964
101,435,964
5,072
Ordinary shares issued
1,773,900
1,773,900
88
Ordinary shares bought back into treasury
(2,051,000)
2,051,000
At 30 November 2022
101,158,864
2,051,000
103,209,864
5,160
During the year ended 30 November 2022, the Company bought back 2,051,000 shares into treasury (2021: nil) for a total
consideration of £11,544,000 (2021: £nil) including costs.
During the year ended 30 November 2022, the Company issued 1,773,900 new shares (2021: 13,917,035) for a total consideration
of £16,550,000 (2021: £124,988,000) including costs.
Since 30 November 2022 and up to the date of this report,
no
shares have been reissued. 45,000 shares have been bought back into
treasury for a total consideration of £276,000.
The ordinary shares give shareholders voting rights, the entitlement to all of the capital growth in the Company’s assets and to all
income from the Company that is resolved to be distributed.
Notes to the Financial Statements
continued
Section 4: Financial Statements
103
15. Reserves
Distributable reserves
Share
premium
account
Capital
redemption
reserve
Special
reserve
Capital
reserve
arising on
investments
sold
Capital
reserve
arising on
revaluation
of
investments
held
Revenue
reserve
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
At 30 November 2021
225,660
11,905
44,582
398,865
238,163
10,901
Movement during the year:
Total comprehensive (loss)/income
(Loss)/profit for the year
(77,591)
(231,554)
13,257
Transactions with owners, recorded
directly to equity:
Ordinary shares issued
16,479
Share issue costs
(17)
Ordinary shares bought back into
treasury
(11,487)
Share purchase costs
(57)
Dividends paid
(10,909)
At 30 November 2022
242,122
11,905
33,038
321,274
6,609
13,249
The share premium account and capital redemption reserves are not distributable reserves under the Companies Act 2006. In
accordance with ICAEW Technical Release 02/17BL on Guidance on Realised and Distributable Profits under the Companies
Act 2006, the special reserve and capital reserves may be used as distributable reserves for all purposes and, in particular, the
repurchase by the Company of its ordinary shares and for payments as dividends. In accordance with the Company’s Articles
of Association, the special reserve, capital reserves and the revenue reserve may be distributed by way of dividend. The gain
on capital reserve arising on the revaluation of investments of £6,609,000 (2021: gain of £238,163,000) is subject to fair
value movements and may not be readily realisable at short notice, as such any gains may not be entirely distributable. The
investments are subject to financial risks; as such capital reserves (arising on investments sold) and the revenue reserve may
not be entirely distributable if a loss occurred during the realisation of these investments.
16. Risk management policies and procedures
The Company’s investment activities expose it to various types of risks which are associated with the financial instruments
and markets in which it invests. The following information is not intended to be a comprehensive summary of all risks and
shareholders should refer to the Alternative Investment Fund Managers’ Directive FUND 3.2.2R Disclosures which can be
found at www.blackrock.com/uk/thrg for a more detailed discussion of the risks inherent in investing in the Company.
Risk management framework
The following information refers to the risk management framework of the Alternative Investment Fund Manager (AIFM).
However, as disclosed in the Corporate Governance Statement on pages
63 to 68
and in the Statement of Directors’
Responsibilities on page 79, it is the ultimate responsibility of the Board to ensure that the Company’s risks are appropriately
monitored, and to the extent that elements of this are delegated to third party service providers, the Board is responsible for
ensuring that the relevant parties are discharging their duties in accordance with the terms of the relevant agreements and
taking appropriate action to the extent issues are identified.
The Directors of the AIFM review quarterly investment performance reports and receive semi-annual presentations in
person from the Investment Manager covering the Company’s performance and risk profile during the year. The AIFM
has delegated the day-to-day administration of the investment programme to the Investment Manager. The Investment
Manager is also responsible for ensuring that the Company is managed within the terms of its investment guidelines and
limits set out in the Alternative Investment Fund Managers’ Directive FUND 3.2.2R Disclosures which can be found at
www.blackrock.com/uk/thrg.
104
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Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
16. Risk management policies and procedures
continued
The AIFM is responsible for monitoring investment performance, product risk monitoring and oversight and has the
responsibility for the monitoring and oversight of regulatory and operational risk for the Company. The Directors of the AIFM
have appointed a Risk Manager who has responsibility for the daily risk management process with assistance from key risk
management personnel of the Investment Manager, including members of the Risk and Quantitative Analysis Group (RQA)
which is a centralised group which performs an independent risk management function. RQA independently identifies,
measures and monitors investment risk, including climate-related risk, and tracks the actual risk management practices
being deployed across the Company. By breaking down the components of the process, RQA has the ability to determine if the
appropriate risk management processes are in place. This captures the risk management tools employed, how the levels of risk
are controlled, ensuring risk/return is considered in portfolio construction and reviewing outcomes.
The AIFM reports to the Audit Committee twice yearly on key risk metrics and risk management processes; in addition, the
Depositary monitors the performance of the AIFM and reports to the Audit Committee semi-annually. Any significant issues
are reported to the Board as they arise.
Risk exposures
The risk exposures of the Company are set out as follows:
(a) Market risk
Market risk arises mainly from uncertainty about future values of financial instruments influenced by currency, interest rate
and other price movements. It represents the potential loss the Company may suffer through holding market positions in
financial instruments in the face of market movements.
A key metric RQA uses to measure market risk is Value-at
-Risk (VaR) which encompasses price, currency and interest rate risk.
VaR is a statistical risk measure that estimates the potential portfolio loss from adverse market moves in an ordinary market
environment. VaR analysis reflects the interdependencies between risk variables (including foreign currency risk, interest rate
risk and other price risk), unlike a traditional sensitivity analysis.
The VaR calculations are based on a confidence level of 99% with a holding period of not greater than one day and a historical
observation period of not less than one year (250 days). A VaR number is defined at a specified probability and a specified
time horizon. A 99% one day VaR means that the expectation is that 99% of the time over a one day period the Company will
lose less than this number in percentage terms. Therefore, higher VaR numbers indicate higher risk. It is noted that the use
of VaR methodology has limitations, namely assumptions that risk factor returns are normally distributed and that the use of
historical market data as a basis for estimating future events does not encompass all possible scenarios, particularly those
that are of an extreme nature and that the use of a specified confidence level (e.g., 99%) does not take into account losses
that occur beyond this level. There is some probability that the loss could be greater than the VaR percentage amounts. These
limitations, and the nature of the VaR measure, mean that the Company can neither guarantee that losses will not exceed the
VaR amounts indicated, nor that losses in excess of the VaR amounts will not occur more frequently.
The one-day VaR as at 30 November 2022 and 30 November 2021 (based on a 99% confidence level) was 4.58% and 2.66%,
respectively.
(i) Market risk arising from other price risk
Exposure to other price risk
Other price risk is the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in
market prices (other than those arising from interest rate risk or currency risk), whether those changes are caused by factors
specific to the individual financial instrument or its issuer, or factors affecting similar financial instruments traded in the
market. Local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health
issues, recessions, climate change, or other events could have a significant impact on the Company and the market price of its
investments.
The current environment of heightened geo-political risk given the Russian invasion of Ukraine has undermined investor
confidence and market direction. In addition to the tragic and devastating events in Ukraine, the war has constricted supplies
of key commodities, pushing prices up and creating a level of market uncertainty and volatility which is likely to persist for
some time.
Notes to the Financial Statements
continued
Section 4: Financial Statements
105
The impact of the coronavirus outbreak was profound across all aspects of society. In developed economies, it is clear that
the worst of the impact is now over. However, there is an expectation that seasonal peaks and new variants could give rise
to renewed travel restrictions, enhanced health screenings at ports of entry and elsewhere, disruption of and delays in
healthcare service preparation and delivery and supply chain disruptions which will create ongoing challenges. Widescale and
comprehensive vaccination programmes have been put in place by many countries which have had a positive effect.
Nevertheless, the impact of COVID-19 continues to adversely affect the economies of many nations across the globe and this
in turn may continue to impact investments held by the Company.
The Company is exposed to market price risk arising from its equity investments and its exposure to derivative positions.
The movements in the prices of these investments result in movements in the performance of the Company. Other price risk
sensitivity has been covered by the VaR analysis under the market risk section above.
The Company’s exposure to other changes in market prices at 30 November 2022 on its equity investments was £576,771,000
(2021: £921,204,000). In addition, the Company’s gross market exposure to these price changes through its derivatives
exposure is set out below.
Use of derivatives
The Company may utilise both contracts for difference (CFDs) and index futures, as part of its investment policy. These
instruments can be highly volatile and potentially expose investors to a higher risk of loss. The low initial margin deposits
normally required to establish a position in such instruments permit a high degree of leverage in respect of each transaction.
As a result, depending on the type of instrument, a relatively small movement in the price of a contract may result in a profit or
loss which is high in proportion to the value of the net exposures in the underlying derivative positions.
The Company’s current investment strategy specifically utilises CFDs and index futures. The Company limits the gross market
exposure, and therefore the leverage, of this strategy to approximately 30% of the Company’s net assets. The long and short
CFD positions have a linear performance to referenced stocks quoted on exchanges and therefore have a volatility profile
similar to the underlying stocks. See ‘Management of OTC financial derivative instruments’ paragraph below for gearing
through the use of derivatives.
Management of other price risk
By diversifying the portfolio, where this is appropriate and consistent with the Company’s objective, the risk that a price
change of a particular investment will have a material impact on the NAV of the Company is reduced which is in line with the
investment objective of the Company.
Management of over-the-counter (OTC) financial derivative instruments
Economic exposure through derivatives is restricted to 30% of the net asset value of the Company. The gross value represents
the aggregate of the long and short exposure without netting and so within this limit market exposure may be significantly
less. The net exposure refers to the market exposure the Company has to the underlying securities on long derivative positions,
less the market exposure of the underlying securities on which the Company has taken in short derivative positions. Further
definitions are provided in the Glossary on pages
131 to 133
. To the extent derivatives are used to gear the Company’s
portfolio, aggregate leverage through the use of derivatives will not exceed 30% of net assets. The Board’s policy is that net
gearing, borrowing less cash, should not exceed 20% of gross assets.
Exposures are monitored daily by the Investment Manager and its independent risk management team and can be closed out
at any time by the Company, subject to market liquidity. The Company’s Board also reviews exposures regularly.
The CFD positions are diversified across sectors and geographies comprising 37 positions as at 30 November 2022 (2021: 62).
106
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Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
16. Risk management policies and procedures
continued
The gross underlying notional exposures through derivatives at 30 November 2022 and 30 November 2021 were:
2022
£’000
% of net
assets
2021
£’000
% of net
assets
Gross exposure relating to long derivative positions
99,602
15.7
213,568
22.8
Gross exposure relating to short derivative positions
15,637
2.5
24,925
2.7
Gross economic exposure subject to a 30% restriction
(see above)
115,239
18.2
238,493
25.5
Net market exposure
83,965
13.2
188,643
20.1
Concentration of exposure to market risks
An analysis of the Company’s investment portfolio, and sector analysis, is shown on pages 21 to 29. At 30 November 2022,
this shows the majority of the portfolio’s value is in UK companies. Accordingly, there is concentration of exposure to the UK,
although it is recognised that an investment’s country of domicile or of listing does not necessarily equate to its exposure to
the economic conditions in that country.
(ii) Market risk arising from foreign currency risk
Exposure to foreign currency risk
Foreign currency risk is the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of
changes in foreign exchange rates. Foreign currency sensitivity risk has been covered by the VaR analysis under the market
risk section.
As the Company’s objective is to achieve capital growth for shareholders through investment mainly in smaller UK quoted
companies, substantially all of the Company’s assets are Sterling denominated. Up to 15% of the Company’s portfolio can
be invested in overseas companies. Consequently, at any time a very small proportion of the Company’s assets, liabilities and
income may be denominated in currencies other than Sterling (the Company’s functional currency and that in which it reports
its results). There were five non-Sterling denominated long investment positions and there were no non-Sterling denominated
short investment positions held within the Company’s portfolio at 30 November 2022 (2021: fourteen long positions, one
short position).
The fair values of the Company’s monetary items which have foreign currency exposure at 30 November 2022 and
30 November 2021 are shown below. Where the Company’s equity investments which are not monetary items are
denominated in a foreign currency, they have been included separately in the analysis so as to show the overall level of
exposure.
Australian
Dollar
Euro
Swedish
Krona
Swiss
Franc
US
Dollar
2022
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
Receivables (due from brokers, dividends and other
income receivable)
1,272
Derivatives – long positions (gross exposure)
3,913
12,872
11,370
Derivatives – short positions (gross exposure)
Payables
(7)
(87)
(22)
Total foreign currency exposure on net monetary items
3,906
12,785
12,620
Investments at fair value through profit and loss that are
equities
5,227
619
Total net foreign currency exposure
3,906
18,012
13,239
Total net foreign currency exposure as a % of net assets
0.62%
2.84%
2.09%
Notes to the Financial Statements
continued
Section 4: Financial Statements
107
Australian
Dollar
Euro
Swedish
Krona
Swiss
Franc
US
Dollar
2021
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
Receivables (due from brokers, dividends and other
income receivable)
3
304
15
3
Derivatives – long positions (gross exposure)
7,645
11,697
9,516
49,701
Derivatives – short positions (gross exposure)
(2,954)
Payables
(1)
(3)
(515)
Total foreign currency exposure on net monetary items
7,644
8,746
9,817
15
49,189
Investments at fair value through profit and loss that are
equities
Total net foreign currency exposure
7,644
8,746
9,817
15
49,189
Total net foreign currency exposure as a % of net assets
0.82%
0.94%
1.05%
5.26%
Management of foreign currency risk
The Investment Manager monitors the Company’s exposure to foreign currencies on a daily basis and reports to the Board of the
Company on a regular basis.
The Investment Manager measures the risk to the Company of the foreign currency exposure by considering the effect on the
Company’s net asset value and income of a movement in the exchange rate to which the Company’s assets, liabilities, income
and expenses are exposed.
The Company does not use financial instruments to mitigate the currency exposure in the period between the time that income
is included in the Financial Statements and its receipt. Although permitted, derivative contracts are not used to hedge against
exposure to foreign currency risk.
Consequently, the Company is exposed to risks that the exchange rate of its reporting currencies relative to other currencies may
change in a manner which has an adverse effect on the value of the portion of the Company’s assets which are denominated in
currencies other than their own currencies.
(iii) Market risk arising from interest rate risk
Exposure to interest rate risk
Interest rate risk is the risk that the fair value of future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in
market interest rates.
The Company is exposed to interest rate risk specifically through its cash holdings and on positions within the CFD portfolio.
Interest rate movements may affect the level of income receivable from any cash at bank and on deposits. The effect of interest
rate changes on the earnings of the companies held within the portfolio may have a significant impact on the valuation of the
Company’s investments. Movements in interest rates will also have an impact on the financing costs of the CFD derivative
contracts. Interest rate sensitivity risk has been covered by the VaR analysis under the market risk section.
Interest rate exposure
The exposure at 30 November 2022 and 30 November 2021 of financial assets and liabilities to interest rate risk is shown by
reference to:
floating interest rates – when the interest rate is due to be re-set; and
fixed interest rates – when the financial instrument is due for repayment.
108
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Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
16. Risk management policies and procedures
continued
2022
Within one
year
2021
Within one
year
£’000
£’000
Exposure to floating interest rates:
Derivative contracts
– Notional long derivative positions
99,602
213,568
– Notional short derivative positions
(15,637)
(24,925)
Cash Fund
58,690
25,080
Cash collateral held with brokers
7,380
Cash at bank
103
143
Cash collateral received
(5,870)
Management of interest rate risk
The Company is exposed to interest rate risk on cash holdings and CFD positions. The Company incurs charges on long
positions when held.
The Company incurred a charge based on LIBOR plus 25 basis points for long CFD positions and received a benefit based
on LIBOR minus 35 basis points for short positions. For non-Sterling long positions, the Company incurred a charge based
on EURIBOR plus 25 basis points for positions denominated in Euros, Bank Bill Swap Rate plus 25 basis points for positions
denominated in Australian Dollars, CHF LIBOR plus 30 basis points for positions denominated in Swiss Francs and the Federal
Funds Rate plus 18 basis points for positions denominated in US Dollars. For non-Sterling short positions, the Company
received a benefit based on EURIBOR minus 25 basis points for positions denominated in Euros and CHF LIBOR minus
30 basis points for positions denominated in Swiss Francs.
Notional interest is determined on a gross basis; i.e., for this purpose long and short positions or exposures within the master
agreement are not netted for calculation of notional interest. Further details of notional interest arising in the year in relation
to derivative positions are given within note 11 to the Financial Statements on page 101.
The Company has additional exposure to interest rate risk in relation to its holding in the Cash Fund. Interest received on this
holding in the year was on average 1.27% (2021: 0.10%).
The Company does not have any fixed rate exposure at 30 November 2022 or 30 November 2021.
Interest rates received on cash balances or paid on bank borrowings, respectively, is set out in the table below:
Interest
received
Interest
paid
2022
%
%
Sterling
0.96
4.20
Interest
received
Interest
paid
2021
%
%
Sterling
3.10
(b) Counterparty credit risk
Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a financial instrument will fail to fulfil an obligation or commitment that it has entered
into with the Company.
The Company is exposed to counterparty credit risk from the parties with which it trades and will bear the risk of settlement
default. Counterparty credit risk to the Company arises from transactions to purchase or sell investments and through its
positions in long and short derivatives.
The major counterparties engaged with the Company are all widely recognised and regulated entities.
Notes to the Financial Statements
continued
Section 4: Financial Statements
109
Depositary
The Company’s Depositary is The Bank of New York Mellon (International) Limited (BNYM or the Depositary) (S&P long term
credit rating as at 30 November 2022: AA- (2021: AA-)). The Company’s listed investments are held on its behalf by The Bank
of New York Mellon (International) Limited (BNYM) as the Company’s custodian (as sub-delegated by the Depositary). All
of the equity assets and cash of the Company are held within the custodial network of the global custodian appointed by
the Depositary. Bankruptcy or insolvency of the Depositary/Custodian may cause the Company’s rights with respect to its
investments held by the Depositary/Custodian to be delayed or limited. The maximum exposure to this risk at 30 November
2022 is the total value of equity investments held with the Depositary/Custodian and cash and cash equivalents in the
Statement of Financial Position.
In accordance with the requirements of the depositary agreement, the Depositary will ensure that any agents it appoints to
assist in safekeeping the assets of the Company will segregate the assets of the Company. Thus, in the event of insolvency or
bankruptcy of the Depositary, the Company’s non-cash assets are segregated and this reduces counterparty credit risk. The
Company will, however, be exposed to the counterparty credit risk of the Depositary in relation to the Company’s cash held
by the Depositary. In the event of the insolvency or bankruptcy of the Depositary, the Company will be treated as a general
creditor of the Depositary in relation to cash holdings of the Company. The Board monitors the Company’s risk by reviewing
the custodian’s internal control reports.
Counterparties/brokers
The Company only invests directly in markets that operate on a delivery versus payment basis, and consequently most
investment transactions in listed securities involve simultaneous delivery of securities against cash payment using an
approved broker. The risk of default is considered minimal, and the trade will fail if either party fails to meet its obligation.
Cash held as security by a counterparty to financial derivative contracts is subject to the credit risk of the counterparty. The
following table details the total number of counterparties to which the Company is exposed, the maximum exposure to any one
counterparty, the collateral held by the Company against this exposure, the total exposure to all other counterparties and the
lowest long term credit rating of any one counterparty (or its ultimate parent if unrated).
Total number
of
counterparties
Maximum
exposure
to any one
counterparty
1
Collateral
held
1
Total exposure
to all other
counterparties
1
Lowest
credit rating
of any one
counterparty
2
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
2022
8
4,005
729
A-
2021
5
358
7,380
1,950
BBB+
1
Calculated on a net exposure basis.
2
Standard & Poor’s ratings.
The Company may also be exposed to counterparty risk should there be any rehypothecation of pledged collateral. Collateral
is received/paid where the client service agreement states that there should be collateral movements agreed with the
counterparty, where there is a requirement for a mark-to-market process or collateralisation to ensure that the Company is
protected against any counterparty default.
Collateral
The Company engages in activities which may require collateral to be provided to a counterparty (pledged collateral) or may
hold collateral received (inbound collateral) from a counterparty. Pledged and Inbound cash collateral is paid/received in
Sterling. The Company uses inbound collateral received from a counterparty to reduce the counterparty credit risk associated
with any trading activity in which the Company has engaged.
The collateral received/posted by the Company under the ISDA Master Agreement in respect of variation margin is transferred
bilaterally under a title transfer arrangement. Collateral received by the Company in respect of variation margin is held in an
account in the name of the Depositary on behalf of the Company. Collateral received is segregated from the assets belonging
to the Company’s Depositary.
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Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
16. Risk management policies and procedures
continued
At 30 November 2022, all cash collateral received by the Company in respect of CFD transactions was re-invested in the Cash
Fund managed by the Manager or its affiliates as disclosed in the Schedule of Investments. The Company is the legal owner of
inbound collateral and can sell the assets and withhold the cash in the case of default. All cash received or posted as collateral
has an open maturity tenor as it is not subject to a contractual maturity date.
The returns earned by the Company from the reinvestment of cash collateral in the Cash Fund during the year ended 30
November 2022 was 1.27% (2021: 0.10%).
Cash collateral pledged by the Company is separately identified as an asset in the Statement of Financial Position and is not
included as a component of cash and cash equivalents. Inbound cash collateral received by the Company is reflected as a
liability on the Statement of Financial Position as cash collateral payable. The cash is subject to certain counterparty credit
risk as the Company’s access to its cash could be delayed should the counterparties become insolvent or bankrupt.
The fair value of inbound cash collateral and cash collateral pledged is reflected in the Statement of Financial Position and is
set out in the table below:
Pledged collateral
Liability for inbound collateral
As at
30 November
2022
As at
30 November
2021
As at
30 November
2022
As at
30 November
2021
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
Cash collateral
7,380
(5,870)
Receivables
Amounts due from brokers are disclosed on the Statement of Financial Position as receivables. The counterparties included
in receivables are the same counterparties discussed previously under counterparty credit risk and subject to the same
scrutiny by the BlackRock RQA Counterparty and Concentration Risk Team (RQA CCR). The Company monitors the ageing of
receivables to mitigate the risk of debtor balances becoming overdue.
In summary, the exposure to credit risk at 30 November 2022 and 30 November 2021 was as follows:
2022
3 months
or less
2021
3 months
or less
£’000
£’000
Derivative positions – amounts due from brokers
4,800
Cash Fund
58,690
25,080
Cash collateral held with brokers
7,380
Cash at bank
103
143
Amounts due from brokers
2,033
1,035
Share issue receivable
1,130
65,626
34,768
The following table details the Company’s exposure to derivatives and net cash collateral (received/pledged in Sterling)
analysed by counterparty as at the balance sheet date:
2022
Name of counterparty
Counterparty
country of
incorporation
Receivable/
(payable) for
derivatives
Cash collateral
pledged/
(received)
£’000
£’000
JPMorgan
United States
4,577
(4,160)
Société Générale
France
223
(580)
BNP Paribas
France
(2,202)
(1,130)
2,598
(5,870)
Notes to the Financial Statements
continued
Section 4: Financial Statements
111
2021
Name of counterparty
Counterparty
country of
incorporation
Receivable/
(payable) for
derivatives
Cash collateral
pledged/
(received)
£’000
£’000
Deutsche Bank AG
Germany
270
BNP Paribas
France
(163)
JPMorgan
United States
(3,762)
2,250
Credit Suisse
Switzerland
(4,791)
4,860
(8,716)
7,380
Management of counterparty credit risk
Credit risk is monitored and managed by RQA CCR. The team is headed by BlackRock’s Chief Credit Officer who reports to the
Global Head of RQA. Credit authority resides with the Chief Credit Officer and selected team members to whom specific credit
authority has been delegated. As such, counterparty approvals may be granted by the Chief Credit Officer, or by identified RQA
Credit Risk Officers who have been formally delegated authority by the Chief Credit Officer.
The counterparty/credit risk is managed as follows:
transactions are only entered into with those counterparties approved by RQA CCR, with a formal review carried out for each
new counterparty and with counterparties selected by RQA CCR on the basis of a number of risk mitigation criteria designed
to reduce the risk to the Company of default;
the creditworthiness of financial institutions with whom cash is held is reviewed regularly by the RQA CCR team; and
the RQA CCR team reviews the credit standard of the Company’s brokers on a periodic basis and set limits on the amount
that may be due from any one broker.
The Board monitors the Company’s counterparty risk by reviewing:
the semi-annual report from the Depositary, which includes the results of periodic site visits to the Company’s custodian
where controls are reviewed and tested;
the custodian’s Service Organisation Control (SOC 1) reports which include a report by the custodian’s auditors. This report
sets out any exceptions or issues noted as a result of the auditor’s review of the custodian’s processes;
the Manager’s internal control reports which include a report by the Manager’s auditors. This report sets out any exceptions
or issues noted as a result of the auditor’s review of the Manager’s control processes; and
in addition, the Depositary and the Manager report any significant breaches or issues arising to the Board as soon as these
are identified.
There were no past due assets as at 30 November 2022 (2021: nil).
Offsetting disclosures
In order to better define its contractual rights and to secure rights that will help the Company mitigate its counterparty risk, the
Company may enter into an ISDA Master Agreement or similar agreement with its OTC derivative contract counterparties. An
ISDA Master Agreement is an agreement between the Company and the counterparty that governs OTC derivative contracts
and typically contains, among other things, collateral posting terms and netting provisions in the event of a default and/or
termination event. Under an ISDA Master Agreement, the Company has a contractual right to offset with the counterparty
certain derivative financial instruments payables and/or receivables with collateral held and/or posted and create one single
net payment in the event of default including the bankruptcy or insolvency of the counterparty. However, bankruptcy or
insolvency laws of a particular jurisdiction may impose restrictions on or prohibitions against the right of offset in bankruptcy,
insolvency or other events.
For financial reporting purposes, the Company does offset derivative assets and derivative liabilities that are subject to netting
arrangements in the Statement of Financial Position. The disclosures set out in the following table include financial assets and
financial liabilities that are subject to an enforceable master netting agreement or similar agreement.
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Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
16. Risk management policies and procedures
continued
At 30 November 2022 and 2021, the Company’s derivative assets and liabilities (by type) are as follows:
At 30 November 2022
At 30 November 2021
Assets
Liabilities
Assets
Liabilities
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
Derivatives
Long derivative positions
5,422
(2,692)
2,106
(11,682)
Short derivative positions
490
(622)
1,333
(473)
Total derivative assets and liabilities in the Statement
of Financial Position
5,912
(3,314)
3,439
(12,155)
Derivatives not subject to a master netting agreement
Total assets and liabilities subject to a master netting
agreement
5,912
(3,314)
3,439
(12,155)
The following table presents the Company’s derivative assets and liabilities by counterparty, net of amounts available for
offset, under a master netting agreement and net of any related collateral paid/(received) by the Company at 30 November
2022 and 30 November 2021:
Derivative
assets/
(liabilities)
subject to a
master
netting
agreement
by a
counterparty
Derivatives
available
for offset
Net amount
as per
statement
of financial
position
Non-cash
collateral
given
Cash
collateral
Net amount
of derivative
assets/
(liabilities)
1
Counterparty
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
At 30 November 2022
JPMorgan
5,537
(960)
4,577
(4,160)
417
Société Générale
288
(65)
223
(223)
BNP Paribas
87
(2,289)
(2,202)
(1,130)
(3,332)
Total as at 30 November 2022
5,912
(3,314)
2,598
(5,513)
(2,915)
At 30 November 2021
BNP Paribas
187
(350)
(163)
(163)
Credit Suisse
203
(4,994)
(4,791)
4,791
JPMorgan
3,049
(6,811)
(3,762)
2,250
(1,512)
Total as at 30 November 2021
3,439
(12,155)
(8,716)
7,041
(1,675)
1
Amount represents the net amount receivable/(payable) from/(to) the counterparty in the event of default, and does not include over-
collateralised positions.
(c) Liquidity risk
Liquidity risk is the risk that the Company will encounter difficulties in meeting obligations associated with financial liabilities.
The Company is also exposed to the liquidity risk for margin calls on derivative instruments. At the year end, the Company had
no overdraft facility (2021: nil).
Notes to the Financial Statements
continued
Section 4: Financial Statements
113
Liquidity risk exposure
The remaining undiscounted gross cash flows of the financial liabilities as at 30 November 2022 and 30 November 2021,
which are payable in the next 90 days, were as follows:
2022
3 months
or less
2021
3 months
or less
£’000
£’000
Amounts due to brokers, accruals and provisions
2,240
13,008
Derivative financial liabilities held at fair value through
profit or loss
2,202
8,716
Cash collateral received in respect of derivatives
5,870
10,312
21,724
Management of liquidity risk
Liquidity risk is minimised by holding sufficient liquid investments which can be readily realised to meet liquidity demands.
Asset disposals may also be required to meet liquidity needs. However, the timely sale of trading positions can be impaired
by many factors including decreased trading volume and increased price volatility. As a result, the Company may experience
difficulties in disposing of assets to satisfy liquidity demands. Liquidity risk is not significant as the Company’s assets are
investments in listed securities that are readily realisable.
The Company is also exposed to liquidity risks from the leverage employed through exposure to long and short derivative
positions. The underlying securities of the CFD contracts are all quoted investments that can be realised readily. Short
derivative positions are backed by sufficient margin cash to reduce risk. Additional cash is held within the portfolio to further
mitigate risk.
The Company’s liquidity risk is managed on a daily basis by the Investment Manager in accordance with established policies
and procedures in place. The Investment Manager reviews daily forward-looking cash reports which project cash obligations.
These reports allow them to manage their obligations.
For the avoidance of doubt, none of the assets of the Company are subject to special liquidity arrangements.
(d) Valuation of financial instruments
Financial assets and financial liabilities are either carried in the Statement of Financial Position at their fair value (investments
and derivatives) or at an amount which is a reasonable approximation of fair value (due from brokers, dividends and interest
receivable, due to brokers, accruals, cash at bank and bank overdrafts). IFRS 13 requires the Company to classify fair value
measurements using a fair value hierarchy that reflects the significance of inputs used in making the measurements. The
valuation techniques used by the Company are explained in the accounting policies note 2(g) to the Financial Statements on
pages 93 and 94.
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 or liability.
The fair value hierarchy has the following levels:
Level 1 – Quoted market price for identical instruments in active markets
A financial instrument is regarded as quoted in an active market if quoted prices are readily and regularly available from an
exchange, dealer, broker, industry group, pricing service or regulatory agency and those prices represent actual and regularly
occurring market transactions on an arm’s length basis. The Company does not adjust the quoted price for these instruments.
114
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Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
16. Risk management policies and procedures
continued
Level 2 – Valuation techniques using observable inputs
This category includes instruments valued using quoted prices for similar instruments in markets that are considered less
than active, or other valuation techniques where all significant inputs are directly or indirectly observable from market data.
Valuation techniques used for non-standardised financial instruments such as options, currency swaps and other over-the-
counter derivatives include the use of comparable recent arm’s length transactions, reference to other instruments that are
substantially the same, discounted cash flow analysis, option pricing models and other valuation techniques commonly used
by market participants making the maximum use of market inputs and relying as little as possible on entity specific inputs.
As at the year end the long and short derivative positions were valued using the underlying equity bid price (offer price in
respect of short positions) and the contract price at the inception of the trade or at the trade reset date. There have been no
changes to the valuation technique since the previous year or as at the date of this report.
Contracts for difference have been classified as Level 2 investments as their valuation has been based on market observable
inputs represented by the market prices of the underlying quoted securities to which these contracts expose the Company.
Level 3 – Valuation techniques using significant unobservable inputs
This category includes all instruments where the valuation technique includes inputs not based on market data and these
inputs could have a significant impact on the instrument’s valuation.
This category also includes instruments that are valued based on quoted prices for similar instruments where significant
entity determined adjustments or assumptions are required to reflect differences between the instruments and instruments
for which there is no active market. The Investment Manager considers observable data to be that market data that is readily
available, regularly distributed or updated, reliable and verifiable, not proprietary, and provided by independent sources that
are actively involved in the relevant market.
The level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement is categorised in its entirety is determined on the
basis of the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement. If a fair value measurement uses observable
inputs that require significant adjustment based on unobservable inputs, that measurement is a Level 3 measurement.
Assessing the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgement, considering
factors specific to the asset or liability. The determination of what constitutes ‘observable’ inputs requires significant
judgement by the Investment Manager.
Fair values of financial assets and financial liabilities
The table below sets out fair value measurements using the IFRS 13 fair value hierarchy.
Financial assets/(liabilities) at fair value through profit
or loss at 30 November 2022
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Total
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
Assets:
Equity investments
576,771
576,771
Contracts for difference (fair value)
4,800
4,800
Liabilities:
Contracts for difference (fair value)
(2,202)
(2,202)
576,771
2,598
579,369
Financial assets/(liabilities) at fair value through profit
or loss at 30 November 2021
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Total
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
Assets:
Equity investments
921,204
921,204
Contracts for difference (fair value)
Liabilities:
Contracts for difference (fair value)
(8,716)
(8,716)
921,204
(8,716)
912,488
Notes to the Financial Statements
continued
Section 4: Financial Statements
115
There were no transfers between levels for financial assets and financial liabilities during the year recorded at fair value as at
30 November 2022 and 30 November 2021. The Company did not hold any Level 3 securities throughout the financial year or
as at 30 November 2022 (2021: nil).
For exchange listed equity investments, the quoted price is the bid price. Contracts for difference are valued based on the
bid price of the underlying quoted securities that the contracts relate to. Substantially, all investments are valued based on
unadjusted quoted market prices. Where such quoted prices are readily available in an active market, such prices are not
required to be assessed or adjusted for any business risks, including climate change risk, in accordance with the fair value
related requirements of the Company’s financial reporting framework.
(e) Capital management policies and procedures
The Company’s capital management objectives are:
to ensure it will be able to continue as a going concern; and
secure long term capital growth and an attractive total return primarily through investing in quoted securities in the UK, as
well as through investment in a portfolio of long and short derivative positions and/or comparable equity derivatives.
This is to be achieved through an appropriate balance of equity capital, investment in derivatives, and gearing. The policy is
that any leverage arising through the Company’s derivative contracts, should not exceed 30% of net assets. Additionally net
gearing (borrowing less cash) should not exceed 20% of net assets.
The Company’s total capital at 30 November 2022 was £633,357,000 (2021: £935,148,000), comprising capital and reserves.
The Board with the assistance of the Investment Manager monitors and reviews the broad structure of the Company’s capital
on an ongoing basis. This review includes:
the planned level of gearing, which takes into account the Investment Manager’s view on the market; and
the need to buy back equity shares, either for cancellation or to be held in treasury, which takes account of the difference
between the NAV per share and the share price (i.e. the level of share price discount or premium).
The Company is subject to externally imposed capital requirements:
as a public company, the Company has a minimum share capital of £50,000; and
in order to be able to pay dividends out of profits available for distribution, the Company has to be able to meet one of the
two capital restrictions tests imposed on investment companies by law.
During the year, the Company complied with the externally imposed capital requirements to which it was subject.
116
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Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
17. Related party disclosure
Directors’ emoluments
At the date of this report, the Board consists of seven Non-executive Directors, all of whom are considered to be independent
of the Manager by the Board.
Disclosures of the Directors’ interests in the ordinary shares of the Company and fees and expenses payable to the Directors
are set out in the Directors’ Remuneration Report on pages 69 to 72. At 30 November 2022 £17,000 (2021: £15,000) was
outstanding in respect of Directors’ fees.
Significant Holdings
The following investors are:
a.
funds managed by the BlackRock Group or are affiliates of BlackRock Inc. (Related BlackRock Funds) or
b.
investors (other than those listed in (a) above) who held more than 20% of the voting shares in issue in the Company
and are as a result, considered to be related parties to the Company (Significant Investors).
As at 30 November 2022
Total % of shares held by Related
BlackRock Funds
Total % of shares held by Significant
Investors who are not affiliates of
BlackRock Group or BlackRock, Inc.
Number of Significant Investors who
are not affiliates of BlackRock Group or
BlackRock, Inc.
1.84
n/a
n/a
As at 30 November 2021
Total % of shares held by Related
BlackRock Funds
Total % of shares held by Significant
Investors who are not affiliates of
BlackRock Group or BlackRock, Inc.
Number of Significant Investors who
are not affiliates of BlackRock Group or
BlackRock, Inc.
1.78
n/a
n/a
18. Transactions with the Investment Manager and AIFM
BlackRock Fund Managers Limited (BFM) provides management and administration services to the Company under a
contract which is terminable on six months’ notice. BFM has (with the Company’s consent) delegated certain portfolio and risk
management services, and other ancillary services, to BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited (BIM (UK)). Further
details of the investment management contract are disclosed in the Directors’ Report on pages
54 and 55
.
The investment management fee due for the year ended 30 November 2022 amounted to £3,025,000 (2021: £3,652,000). In
addition, there was no performance fee (2021: £6,655,000) payable for the year. At the year end, £1,272,000 was outstanding
in respect of management fees (2021: £2,923,000) and £nil (2021: £6,655,000) outstanding in respect of performance fees.
In addition to the above services, BIM (UK) has provided marketing services. The total fees paid or payable for these services
for the year ended 30 November 2022 amounted to £153,000 excluding VAT (2021: £157,000). Marketing fees of £120,000
(2021: £120,000) were outstanding at the year end.
The Company has an investment in the BlackRock Institutional Cash Series plc - Sterling Liquid Environmentally Aware Fund
of £58,690,000 (2021: £25,080,000) which for the year ended 30 November 2022 and 30 November 2021 has been presented
in the financial statements as a cash equivalent.
The ultimate holding company of the Manager and the Investment Manager is BlackRock, Inc., a company incorporated in
Delaware USA.
19. Contingent liabilities
There were no contingent liabilities at 30 November 2022 (2021: nil).
Notes to the Financial Statements
continued
Section 5: Additional information
119
Additional
information
We also increased our holding in veterinary services provider CVS Group.
The company continues to integrate quality practices to its network of over
500 veterinary surgeries.
120
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
l
Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
Financial calendar
The timing of the announcement and publication of the
Company’s results may normally be expected in the months
shown below:
February
Annual results announced and Annual
Report and Financial Statements
published.
March
Annual General Meeting.
April
Final dividend paid.
July
Interim figures announced and half yearly
financial report published.
August
Interim dividend paid.
Dividend
The proposed final dividend in respect of the year ended
30 November 2022 is 8.50 pence per share. The Board also
declared an interim dividend of 2.6 pence per share which
was paid on 26 August 2022 to shareholders on the register
on 29 July 2022.
Dividend timetable
Ordinary shares
Ex-dividend date (shares transferred without
the dividend)
23 February 2023
Record date (last date for registering
transfers to receive the dividend)
24 February 2023
Dividend payment date
31 March 2023
Payment of dividends
Cash dividends will be sent by cheque to the first-named
shareholder at their registered address. Dividends may
also be paid direct into a shareholder’s bank account via
BACSTEL-IP (Bankers’ Automated Clearing Service – Telecom
Internet Protocol). This may be arranged by contacting the
Company’s registrar, Computershare Investor Services PLC,
through their secure website investorcentre.co.uk, on 0370
707 4016 or by completing the Mandate Instructions section
on the reverse of your dividend counterfoil and sending
this to the Company’s registrar, Computershare. Dividend
confirmations will be sent to shareholders at their registered
address, unless other instructions have been given, to arrive
on the payment date.
Dividend tax allowance
The annual tax-free allowance on dividend income across
an individual’s entire share portfolio is currently £2,000,
reducing to £1,000 from 6 April 2023 and then £500 from 6
April 2024. Above this amount, individuals pay tax on their
dividend income at a rate dependent on their income tax
bracket and personal circumstances.
The Company continues to provide registered shareholders
with confirmation of the dividends paid and this should be
included with any other dividend income received when
calculating and reporting total dividend income received. It is
a shareholder’s responsibility to include all dividend income
when calculating any tax liability.
If you have any tax queries, please contact a financial advisor.
Dividend reinvestment plan (DRIP)
Shareholders may request that their dividends be used
to purchase further shares in the Company. Dividend
reinvestment forms may be obtained from Computershare
Investor Services PLC, through their secure website
investorcentre.co.uk, or on 0370 707 4016. Shareholders
who have already opted to have their dividends reinvested
do not need to reapply. The last date for registering for this
service for the forthcoming dividend is 10 March 2022.
Share price
The Company’s mid-market ordinary share price is
quoted daily in The Financial Times and The Times under
‘Investment Companies’ and in The Daily Telegraph under
‘Investment Trusts’. The share price is also available on the
BlackRock website at blackrock.com/uk/thrg.
ISIN/SEDOL numbers
The ISIN/SEDOL numbers and mnemonic codes for the
Company’s shares are:
Ordinary shares
ISIN
GB0008910555
SEDOL
0891055
Reuters
THRG.L
Bloomberg code
THRG:LN
Share dealing
Investors wishing to purchase more shares in the Company
or sell all or part of their existing holding may do so
through a stockbroker. Most banks also offer this service.
Alternatively, please go to http://www.computershare.com/
dealing/uk for a range of dealing services made available by
Computershare.
Internet dealing
– The fee for this service is 1% of the value
of the transaction (subject to a minimum of £30).
Telephone dealing
– The fee for this service will be 1% of the
value of the transaction (plus £50).
Electronic communications
We encourage you to play your part in reducing our impact
on the environment and elect to be notified by email when
your shareholder communications become available online.
This means you will receive timely, cost-effective and greener
online annual reports, half yearly financial reports and other
relevant documentation.
Shareholders who opt for this service will receive an e-mail
from Computershare with a link to the relevant section of the
BlackRock website where the documents can be viewed and
downloaded.
Please submit your email address by visiting investorcentre.
co.uk/ecomms (you will need your shareholder reference
number, which is given on your share certificate or dividend
confirmation).
Shareholder information
Section 5: Additional information
121
You will continue to receive a printed copy of these reports
if you have elected to do so. Alternatively, if you have not
submitted your email address nor have elected to receive
printed reports, we will write and let you know where you can
view these reports online.
Electronic proxy voting
Shareholders are able to submit their proxy votes
electronically via Computershare’s internet site at
eproxyappointment.com using a unique identification PIN
which will be provided with voting instructions and the Notice
of Annual General Meeting.
CREST members who wish to appoint one or more proxies
or give an instruction through the CREST electronic proxy
appointment service may do so by using the procedures
described in the CREST manual. More details are set out
in the notes on the Form of Proxy and the Notice of Annual
General Meeting.
CREST
The Company’s shares may be held in CREST, an electronic
system for uncertificated securities trading.
Private investors can continue to retain their share
certificates and remain outside the CREST system. Private
investors are able to buy and sell their holdings in the same
way as they did prior to the introduction of CREST, although
there may be differences in dealing charges.
Nominee code
Where shares are held in a nominee company name, the
Company undertakes:
to provide the nominee company with multiple copies of
shareholder communications, so long as an indication of
quantities has been provided in advance; and
to allow investors holding shares through a nominee
company to attend general meetings, provided the
correct authority from the nominee company is available.
Nominee companies are encouraged to provide the
necessary authority to underlying shareholders to attend the
Company’s general meetings.
Publication of net asset value/portfolio
analysis
The NAV per share of the Company is calculated daily, with
details of the Company’s investments and performance
being published monthly.
The daily NAV and monthly information are released through
the London Stock Exchange’s Regulatory News Service and
are available on the BlackRock website at blackrock.com/uk/
thrg and through the Reuters News Service under the code
‘BLRKINDEX’, on page 8800 on Topic 3 (ICV terminals) and
under ‘BLRK’ on Bloomberg (monthly information only).
Online access
Other details about the Company are also available on the
BlackRock website at blackrock.com/uk/thrg.
The Financial Statements and other literature are published
on the BlackRock website. Visitors to the website need to be
aware that legislation in the United Kingdom governing the
preparation and dissemination of the Financial Statements
may differ from legislation in their jurisdiction.
Shareholders can also manage their shareholding online by
using Investor Centre, Computershare’s secure website, at
investorcentre.co.uk. To access Computershare’s website, you
will need your shareholder reference number (SRN) which
can be found on paper or electronic communications you
have previously received from Computershare. Shareholders
who hold a share certificate which has been issued by
Capita Registrars should insert a ‘C’ before the shareholder
reference number quoted on the certificate.
Listed below are the most frequently used features of the
website.
Holding enquiry – view balances, values, history, payments
and reinvestments.
Payments enquiry – view your dividends and other
payment types.
Address change – change your registered address.
Bank details update – choose to receive your dividend
payment directly into your bank account instead of by
cheque.
e-Comms sign
-up – choose to receive e-mail notification
when your shareholder communications become available
instead of paper communications.
Outstanding payments – reissue payments using the
online replacement service.
Downloadable forms – including dividend mandates, stock
transfer, dividend reinvestment and change of address forms.
Individual savings accounts (ISAs)
ISAs are a tax-efficient method of investment in the UK and
the Company’s shares are eligible investments within a
stocks and shares ISA. In the 2021/2022 tax year, investors
will be able to invest up to £20,000 in ISAs either as cash
or shares.
122
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Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
Shareholder enquiries
The Company’s registrar is Computershare Investor Services
PLC. Certain details relating to your holding can be checked
through the Computershare Investor Centre website. As
a security check, specific information needs to be input
accurately to gain access to an individual’s account. This
includes the shareholder reference number, available
from either the share certificate, form of proxy or dividend
confirmation or other electronic communications previously
received from Computershare. Shareholders who hold a
share certificate which has been issued by Capita Registrars
should insert a ‘C’ before the shareholder reference number
quoted on the certificate.
The address of the Computershare website is investorcentre.
co.uk. Alternatively, please contact the registrar on 0370 707
4016.
Changes of name or address must be notified to the registrar
either through Computershare’s website, or in writing to:
Computershare Investor Services PLC
The Pavilions
Bridgwater Road
Bristol BS99 6ZZ
General enquiries
Enquiries about the Company should be directed to:
The Company Secretary
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
12 Throgmorton Avenue
London EC2N 2DL
Telephone: 020 7743 3000
Email: cosec@blackrock.com
Shareholder information
continued
Section 5: Additional information
123
Analysis of ordinary shareholders
as at 30 November 2022
By type of holder
Number
of shares
2022
Number
of shares
2021*
% of total
2022
% of total
2021
Individuals
3,584,913
3,702,685
5.54
3.65
Bank or Nominees
97,015,227
96,459,885
93.35
95.21
Other
558,724
1,153,294
1.11
1.14
Total
101,158,864
101,315,864
100.00
100.00
Excludes 2,051,000 treasury shares held as at 30 November 2022.
Number
of holders
2022
Number
of holders
2021
% of total
2022
% of total
2021
Individuals
766
794
59.59
53.07
Bank or Nominees
366
660
37.46
44.12
Other
44
42
2.95
2.81
Total
1,176
1,496
100.00
100.00
By size of holding
Number
of shares
2022
Number
of shares
2021*
% of total
2022
% of total
2021
1 – 10,000
2,572,450
3,195,429
2.54
3.15
10,001 – 100,000
5,956,406
6,936,663
5.89
6.85
100,001 – 1,000,000
24,673,468
25,962,292
24.39
25.63
1,000,001 – 5,000,000
46,866,431
44,614,438
46.33
44.03
Over 5,000,000
21,090,109
20,607,042
20.85
20.34
Total
101,158,864
101,315,864
100.00
100.00
Excludes 2,051,000 treasury shares held as at 30 November 2022.
Number
of holders
2022
Number
of holders
2021
% of total
2022
% of total
2021
1 – 10,000
887
1,174
75.42
78.47
10,001 – 100,000
193
223
16.41
14.91
100,001 – 1,000,000
75
77
6.38
5.15
1,000,001 – 5,000,000
18
19
1.62
1.27
Over 5,000,000
3
3
0.26
0.20
Total
1,176
1,496
100.00
100.00
*
Excludes unsettled share issuance trades of 120,100 shares as at 30 November 2021.
124
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
l
Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
Registered Office
(Registered in England and Wales, No. 00594634)
12 Throgmorton Avenue
London EC2N 2DL
Investment Manager and Company
Secretary
BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited
1
12 Throgmorton Avenue
London EC2N 2DL
Email: cosec@blackrock.com
Alternative Investment Fund Manager
2
BlackRock Fund Managers Limited
1
12 Throgmorton Avenue
London EC2N 2DL
Telephone: 020 7743 3000
Banker, Custodian and Depositary
The Bank of New York Mellon (International) Limited
1
160 Queen Victoria Street
London EC4V 4LA
Registrar
Computershare Investor Services PLC
1
The Pavilions
Bridgwater Road
Bristol BS99 6ZZ
Telephone: 0370 707 4016
Independent Auditor
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Atria One
144 Morrison Street
Edinburgh
EH3 8EX
Stockbroker
Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited
1
150 Cheapside
London EC2V 6ET
Solicitor
Stephenson Harwood LLP
1 Finsbury Circus
London, EC2M 7SH
Management and other service providers
1
Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
2
BlackRock Fund Managers Limited (BFM) was appointed as the Alternative Investment Fund Manager on 2 July 2014. BlackRock Investment Management (UK)
Limited continues to act as the Investment Manager of the Company under a delegation agreement with BFM.
Section 5: Additional information
125
The below disclosures are made in respect of the
remuneration policies of the BlackRock group (“BlackRock”),
as they apply to BlackRock Fund Managers Limited (the
“Manager”). The disclosures are made in accordance with
the provisions in the UK implementing the Alternative
Investment Fund Managers Directive (the “AIFMD”), the
European Commission Delegated Regulation supplementing
the AIFMD (the “Delegated Regulation”) and the “Guidelines
on sound remuneration policies under the AIFMD” issued by
the European Securities and Markets Authority.
The BlackRock AIFM Remuneration Policy (the “AIFM
Remuneration Policy”) will apply to the EEA entities within
the BlackRock group authorised as a manager of alternative
investment funds in accordance with the AIFMD and will
ensure compliance with the requirements of Annex II of
the AIFMD and to UK entities within the BlackRock group
authorised as a manager of a UK alternative investment fund
in accordance with the AIFMD as implemented, retained and
onshored in the UK.
The Manager has adopted the AIFM Remuneration Policy, a
summary of which is set out below.
Remuneration Governance
BlackRock’s remuneration governance in EMEA operates
as a tiered structure which includes: (a) the Management
Development and Compensation Committee (“MDCC”)
(which is the global, independent remuneration committee
for BlackRock, Inc. and (b) the Manager’s board of directors
(the “Manager’s Board”). These bodies are responsible for the
determination of BlackRock’s remuneration policies.
(a) MDCC
The MDCC’s purposes include:
providing oversight of:
BlackRock’s executive compensation programmes;
BlackRock’s employee benefit plans; and
such other compensation plans as may be established
by BlackRock from time to time for which the MDCC is
deemed as administrator;
reviewing and discussing the compensation discussion
and analysis included in the BlackRock, Inc. annual proxy
statement with management and approving the MDCC’s
report for inclusion in the proxy statement;
reviewing, assessing and making reports and
recommendations to the BlackRock, Inc. Board of Directors
(the ‘BlackRock, Inc. Board’) as appropriate on BlackRock’s
talent development and succession planning, with the
emphasis on performance and succession at the highest
management levels; and
supporting the boards of the Company’s EMEA regulated
entities in meeting their remuneration-related obligations
by overseeing the design and implementation of EMEA
remuneration policy in accordance with applicable
regulations.
The MDCC directly retains its own independent
compensation consultant, Semler Brossy Consulting Group
LLC, who has no relationship with BlackRock Inc. or the
BlackRock, Inc. Board that would interfere with its ability to
provide independent advice to the MDCC on compensation
matters.
The BlackRock, Inc. Board has determined that all of the
members of the MDCC are “independent” within the meaning
of the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange
(NYSE), which requires each meet a “non-employee director”
standard.
The MDCC held 8 meetings during 2021. The MDCC charter
is available on BlackRock, Inc.’s website (www.blackrock.com).
(b)
The Manager’s Board
The Manager’s Board has the task of supervising and
providing oversight of the AIFM Remuneration Policy as it
applies to the Manager and its Identified Staff.
Decision-making process
Remuneration decisions for employees are made once
annually in January following the end of the performance
year. This timing allows full-year financial results to be
considered along with other non-financial goals and
objectives. Although the framework for remuneration
decision-making is tied to financial performance,
significant discretion is used to determine individual
variable remuneration based on achievement of strategic
and operating results and other considerations such as
management and leadership capabilities.
No set formulas are established and no fixed benchmarks are
used in determining annual incentive awards. In determining
specific individual remuneration amounts, a number of
factors are considered including non-financial goals and
objectives and overall financial and investment performance.
These results are viewed in the aggregate without any
specific weighting, and there is no direct correlation between
any particular performance measure and the resulting
annual incentive award. The variable remuneration awarded
to any individual(s) for a particular performance year may
also be zero.
Annual incentive awards are paid from a bonus pool.
The size of the projected bonus pool, including cash and
equity awards, is reviewed throughout the year by the MDCC
and the final total bonus pool is approved after year-end. As
part of this review, the MDCC receives actual and projected
financial information over the course of the year as well as
final year-end information. The financial information that
the MDCC receives and considers includes the current year
projected income statement and other financial measures
AIFM report on remuneration (unaudited)
126
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
l
Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
compared with prior year results and the current year budget.
The MDCC additionally reviews other metrics of BlackRock’s
financial performance (e.g., net inflows of AUM and
investment performance) as well as information regarding
market conditions and competitive compensation levels.
The MDCC regularly considers management’s
recommendation as to the percentage of preincentive
operating income that will be accrued and reflected as a
compensation expense throughout the year for the cash
portion of the total annual bonus pool (the “accrual rate”).
The accrual rate of the cash portion of the total annual bonus
pool may be modified by the MDCC during the year based on
its review of the financial information described above. The
MDCC does not apply any particular weighting or formula to
the information it considers when determining the size of the
total bonus pool or the accruals made for the cash portion of
the total bonus pool.
Following the end of the performance year, the MDCC
approves the final bonus pool amount.
As part of the year-end review process the Enterprise Risk
and Regulatory Compliance departments report to the
MDCC on any activities, incidents or events that warrant
consideration in making compensation decisions.
Individuals are not involved in setting their own
remuneration.
Control functions
Each of the control functions (Enterprise Risk, Legal &
Compliance, and Internal Audit) has its own organisational
structure which is independent of the business units. The
head of each control function is either a member of the
Global Executive Committee (“GEC”), the global management
committee, or has a reporting obligation to the board of
directors of BlackRock Group Limited, the parent company
of all of BlackRock’s EMEA regulated entities, including the
Manager.
Functional bonus pools are determined with reference to the
performance of each individual function. The remuneration
of the senior members of control functions is directly
overseen by the MDCC.
Link between pay and performance
There is a clear and well defined pay-for-performance
philosophy and compensation programmes which are
designed to meet the following key objectives as detailed
below:
appropriately balance BlackRock’s financial results
between shareholders and employees;
attract, retain and motivate employees capable of making
significant contributions to the long term success of the
business;
align the interests of senior employees with those of
shareholders by awarding BlackRock Inc.’s stock as a
significant part of both annual and long term incentive
awards;
control fixed costs by ensuring that compensation expense
varies with profitability;
link a significant portion of an employee’s total
compensation to the financial and operational
performance of the business;
promote sound and effective risk management across all
risk categories, including sustainability risk;
discourage excessive risk-taking (sustainability related or
otherwise); and
ensure that client interests are not negatively impacted by
remuneration awarded on a short term, mid term and/or
long term basis.
Driving a high-performance culture is dependent on the
ability to measure performance against objectives, values
and behaviours in a clear and consistent way. Managers use
a 5-point rating scale to provide an overall assessment of an
employee’s performance, and employees also provide a self-
evaluation. The overall, final rating is reconciled during each
employee’s performance appraisal. Employees are assessed
on the manner in which performance is attained as well as
the absolute performance itself.
In keeping with the pay-for-performance philosophy, ratings
are used to differentiate and reward individual performance
– but don’t pre-determine compensation outcomes.
Compensation decisions remain discretionary and are made
as part of the year-end compensation process.
When setting remuneration levels other factors are
considered, as well as individual performance, which may
include:
the performance of the Manager, the funds managed by
the Manager and/or the relevant functional department;
factors relevant to an employee individually; relationships
with clients and colleagues; teamwork; skills; any
conduct issues; and, subject to any applicable policy, the
impact that any relevant leave of absence may have on
contribution to the business);
the management of risk within the risk profiles appropriate
for BlackRock’s clients;
strategic business needs, including intentions regarding
retention;
market intelligence; and
criticality to business.
AIFM report on remuneration (unaudited)
continued
Section 5: Additional information
127
A primary product tool is risk management and, while
employees are compensated for strong performance in their
management of client assets, they are required to manage
risk within the risk profiles appropriate for their clients.
Therefore, employees are not rewarded for engaging in
high-risk transactions outside of established parameters.
Remuneration practices do not provide undue incentives for
short term planning or short term financial rewards, do not
reward unreasonable risk and provide a reasonable balance
between the many and substantial risks inherent within the
business of investment management, risk management and
advisory services.
BlackRock operates a total compensation model for
remuneration which includes a base salary, which is
contractual, and a discretionary bonus scheme.
BlackRock operates an annual discretionary bonus scheme.
Although all employees are eligible to be considered for a
discretionary bonus, there is no contractual obligation to
make any award to an employee under its discretionary
bonus scheme. In exercising discretion to award a
discretionary bonus, the factors listed above (under the
heading “Link between pay and performance”) may be taken
into account in addition to any other matters which become
relevant to the exercise of discretion in the course of the
performance year.
Discretionary bonus awards for all employees, including
executive officers, are subject to a guideline that determines
the portion paid in cash and the portion paid in BlackRock,
Inc. stock and subject to additional vesting/clawback
conditions. Stock awards are subject to further performance
adjustment through variation in BlackRock, Inc.’s share
price over the vesting period. As total annual compensation
increases, a greater portion is deferred into stock. The MDCC
adopted this approach in 2006 to substantially increase
the retention value and shareholder alignment of the
compensation package for eligible employees, including the
executive officers. The portion deferred into stock vests into
three equal instalments over the three years following grant.
Supplementary to the annual discretionary bonus as
described above, equity awards may be made to select
individuals to provide greater linkage with future business
results. These long term incentive awards have been
established individually to provide meaningful incentive for
continued performance over a multi-year period recognising
the scope of the individual’s role, business expertise and
leadership skills.
Selected senior leaders are eligible to receive performance-
adjusted equity-based awards from the “BlackRock
Performance Incentive Plan” (“BPIP”). Awards made from
the BPIP have a three-year performance period based on a
measurement of As Adjusted Operating Margin
1
and Organic
Revenue Growth
2
. Determination of pay-out will be made
based on the firm’s achievement relative to target financial
results at the conclusion of the performance period. The
maximum number of shares that can be earned is 165% of
the award in those situations where both metrics achieve
pre-determined financial targets. No shares will be earned
where the firm’s financial performance in both of the above
metrics is below a pre-determined performance threshold.
These metrics have been selected as key measures of
shareholder value which endure across market cycles.
A limited number of investment professionals have a portion
of their annual discretionary bonus (as described above)
awarded as deferred cash that notionally tracks investment
in selected products managed by the employee. The intention
of these awards is to align investment professionals with the
investment returns of the products they manage through the
deferral of compensation into those products. Clients and
external evaluators have increasingly viewed more favourably
those products where key investors have “skin in the game”
through significant personal investments.
Identified Staff
The AIFM Remuneration Policy sets out the process that
will be applied to identify staff as Identified Staff, being
categories of staff of the Manager, including senior
management, risk takers, control functions and any
employee receiving total remuneration that takes them into
the same remuneration bracket as senior management and
risk takers, whose professional activities have a material
impact on the risk profiles of the Manager or of the funds it
manages.
The list of Identified Staff will be subject to regular review,
being formally reviewed in the event of, but not limited to:
organisational changes;
new business initiatives;
changes in significant influence function lists;
changes in role responsibilities; and
revised regulatory direction.
Quantitative Remuneration Disclosure
The Manager is required to make quantitative disclosures of
remuneration in accordance with the AIFMD, the Delegated
Regulation and the FCA FUND Handbook. These disclosures
are made in line with BlackRock’s interpretation of currently
available regulatory guidance on quantitative remuneration
disclosures. As market or regulatory practice develops
BlackRock may consider it appropriate to make changes to
1
As Adjusted Operating Margin: As reported in BlackRock’s external filings, reflects adjusted Operating Income divided by Total Revenue net of distribution and
servicing expenses and amortisation of deferred sales commissions.
2
Organic Revenue Growth: Equal to net new base fees plus net new Aladdin revenue generated in the year (in US Dollars).
128
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
l
Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
the way in which quantitative remuneration disclosures are
calculated. Where such changes are made, this may result
in disclosures in relation to a fund not being comparable to
the disclosures made in the prior year, or in relation to other
BlackRock fund disclosures in that same year.
Disclosures are provided in relation to (a) the staff of the
Manager; (b) staff who are senior management; and (c) staff
who have the ability to materially affect the risk profile of
the Fund, including individuals who, although not directly
employed by the Manager, are assigned by their employer to
carry out services directly for the Manager.
All individuals included in the aggregated figures disclosed
are rewarded in line with BlackRock’s remuneration policy
for their responsibilities across the relevant BlackRock
business area. As all individuals have a number of areas of
responsibilities, only the portion of remuneration for those
individuals’ services attributable to the Fund is included in
the aggregate figures disclosed.
Members of staff and senior management of the Manager
typically provide both AIFMD and non-AIFMD related
services in respect of multiple funds, clients and functions
of the Manager and across the broader BlackRock
group. Therefore, the figures disclosed are a sum of
each individual’s portion of remuneration attributable to
the Manager according to an objective apportionment
methodology which acknowledges the multiple-service
nature of the Manager. Accordingly the figures are not
representative of any individual’s actual remuneration or
their remuneration structure.
The amount of the total remuneration awarded by the
Manager to its staff which has been attributed to the
Manager’s AIFMD-related business in respect of the
Manager’s financial year ending 31 December 2021
is US$105.4 million. This figure is comprised of fixed
remuneration of GBP£1.6 million and variable remuneration
of GBP£78.1 million. There were a total of 67 beneficiaries of
the remuneration described above.
The amount of the aggregate remuneration awarded by
the Manager, which has been attributed to the Manager’s
AIFMD-related business in respect of the Manager’s financial
year ending 31 December 2021, to its senior management
was GBP£0.1 million, and to members of its staff whose
actions have a material impact on the risk profile of the
Manager’s AIFMD-related business was GBP£79.7 million.
AIFM report on remuneration (unaudited)
continued
Section 5: Additional information
129
Report on remuneration
The Alternative Investment Fund Managers’ Directive (the
AIFMD) requires certain disclosures to be made with regard
to the remuneration policy of the Company’s AIFM. Details
of the BlackRock AIFM Remuneration Policy are disclosed on
the Company’s website at www.blackrock.com/uk/thrg and
have applied to the Manager since 1 January 2015, being the
beginning of the first financial year of BlackRock following
the Manager’s authorisation as an AIFM.
Quantitative remuneration disclosure
Appropriate disclosures will be made in due course in
accordance with FUND 3.3.5, Article 22(2)(e) and 22(2)(f) of
the AIFMD and Article 107 of the Delegated Regulation.
Leverage
The Company may employ leverage and borrow cash in
accordance with its stated investment policy or investment
strategy. Consistent with its investment objectives and policy,
the Company may utilise derivative instruments as part of its
investment policy.
The use of derivatives may expose the Company to a higher
degree of risk. In particular, derivative contracts can be highly
volatile, and the amount of initial margin is generally small
relative to the size of the contract so that transactions may
be leveraged in terms of market exposure. A relatively small
market movement may have a potentially larger impact on
derivatives than on standard underlying bonds or equities.
Leveraged derivative positions can therefore increase the
Company’s volatility. The use of borrowings and leverage
has attendant risks and can, in certain circumstances,
substantially increase the adverse impact to which the
Company’s investment portfolio may be subject. Derivatives
were used for leverage purposes during the year.
For the purposes of this disclosure, leverage is any method
by which the Company’s exposure is increased, whether
through borrowing of cash or securities, or leverage
embedded in foreign exchange forward contracts or by any
other means. The AIFMD requires that each leverage ratio be
expressed as the ratio between a Company’s exposure and its
NAV, and prescribes two required methodologies, the gross
methodology and the commitment methodology (as set out
in AIFMD Level 2 Implementation Guidance), for calculating
such exposure.
Using the methodologies prescribed under the AIFMD, the
leverage of the Company is disclosed in the table below:
Derivatives:
Commitment
Leverage
as at
30 November
2022
Gross
Leverage
as at
30 November
2022
Leverage ratio
1.08
1.13
Other risk disclosures
The financial risk disclosures relating to risk framework
and liquidity risk are set out in note 16 to the notes to the
Financial Statements on pages
103 to 115
.
Pre-investment disclosures
The AIFMD requires certain information to be made
available to investors in AIFs before they invest and requires
that material changes to this information be disclosed
in the annual report of each AIF. An Investor Disclosure
Document, which sets out information on the Company’s
investment strategy and policies, leverage, risk, liquidity,
administration, management, fees, conflicts of interest and
other shareholder information is available on the website at
blackrock.com/uk/thrg.
There have been no material changes (other than those
reflected in these Financial Statements) to this information
requiring disclosure. Any information requiring immediate
disclosure pursuant to the AIFMD will be disclosed to the
London Stock Exchange through a primary information
provider.
In addition, the European Union’s PRIIPs Regulation
requires that a key information document (KID) also be
made available to investors before they invest. The PRIIPs
compliant KID can also be found on the Company’s website
at blackrock.com/uk/thrg.
KEVIN MAYGER
For and on behalf of
BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited
Company Secretary
9
February 2023
Other AIFMD Disclosures (unaudited)
130
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
l
Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
The disclosures below are made in compliance with the requirements of Listing Rule 9.8.4.
9.8.4 (1) The Company has not capitalised any interest in the period under review.
9.8.4 (2) The Company has not published any unaudited financial information in a class 1 circular or prospectus or any profit
forecast or profit estimate.
9.8.4 (3) This provision has been deleted.
9.8.4 (4) The Company does not have any long term incentive schemes in operation.
9.8.4 (5) and (6) No Director of the Company has waived or agreed to waive any current or future emoluments from the
Company or any subsidiary undertaking.
9.8.4 (7) The Company allotted no ordinary shares during the year.
The Company is a stand-alone entity therefore Listing Rules 9.8.4 (8) and 9.8.4 (9) are not applicable.
9.8.4 (10) There were no contracts of significance subsisting during the period under review to which the Company is a party
and in which a Director of the Company is or was materially interested, or between the Company and a controlling shareholder.
9.8.4 (11) This provision is not applicable to the Company.
9.8.4 (12) and (13) There were no arrangements under which a shareholder has waived or agreed to waive any dividends or
future dividends.
9.8.4 (14) This provision is not applicable to the Company.
KEVIN MAYGER
For and on behalf of
BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited
Company Secretary
9
February 2023
Information to be disclosed in accordance
with Listing Rule 9.8.4
Section 5: Additional information
131
Alternative Performance Measure (APM)
An APM is a measure of performance or financial position
that is not defined in applicable accounting standards and
cannot be directly derived from the Financial Statements.
The Company’s APMs are set out below and are
cross-referenced where relevant to the financial inputs used
to derive them as contained in other sections of the Annual
Report.
Benchmark Index
The Company’s Benchmark Index used for performance
comparative purposes is the Numis Smaller Companies plus
AIM (excluding Investment Companies) Index.
Benchmark Index outperformance/underperformance is
measured by comparing the Company’s net asset value
return (NAV) total return, with the performance of the
Benchmark Index on a total return basis.
As at 30 November 2022, the Company’s NAV total return
was -31.1% and the total return of the Benchmark Index was
-17.5%, therefore the Company’s NAV underperformance of
the Benchmark Index was 13.6 percentage points.
As at 30 November 2022, the Company’s share price
return was -35.5% and the total return of the Benchmark
Index was -17.5%, therefore the Company’s Share Price
underperformance of the Benchmark Index was 18.0
percentage points.
Closed-ended company
An investment trust works along the same lines as a unit
trust, in that it pools money from investors which is then
managed on a collective basis. The main difference is that an
investment trust is a company listed on the Stock Exchange
and, in most cases, trading takes place in shares which have
already been issued, rather than through the creation or
redemption of units. As the number of shares which can be
issued or cancelled at any one time is limited, and requires
the approval of existing shareholders, investment trusts are
known as closed-ended funds or companies. This means
that investment trusts are not subject to the same liquidity
constraints as open-ended funds and can therefore invest in
less liquid investments.
Contract for difference (CFD)
A contract for difference is an agreement to exchange the
difference in value of a particular share or index between
the time at which a contract is opened and the time at which
it is closed. A CFD allows an investor to gain access to the
movement in the share price or index by putting down a
small amount of cash known as a margin.
CFDs do not have an expiry date like options or futures
contracts. As opposed to an expiry date a CFD is effectively
renewed at the close of each trading day and rolled forward if
desired.
Discount and premium*
Investment trust shares frequently trade at a discount to
NAV. This occurs when the share price (based on the mid-
market share price) is less than the NAV. In this circumstance,
the price that an investor pays or receives for a share would
be less than the value attributable to it by reference to the
underlying assets. The discount is the difference between the
share price and the NAV, expressed as a percentage of the
NAV. As at 30 November 2022, the share price was 595.00p
(2021: 935.00p) and the audited NAV per share was 626.10p
(2021: 921.91p), therefore giving a discount of 5.0% (2021:
a premium of 1.4%) (please see note 9 of the Financial
Statements for the audited inputs to the calculations).
A premium occurs when the share price (based on the mid-
market share price) is more than the NAV and investors
would therefore be paying more than the value attributable
to the shares by reference to the underlying assets. For
example, if the share price was 370p and the NAV 365p, the
premium would be 1.4%.
Discounts and premia are mainly the consequence of supply
and demand for the shares on the stock market.
Gearing and borrowings*
The Company may achieve gearing through borrowings
or the effect of gearing through an appropriate balance of
equity capital, investment in derivatives and borrowings. The
maximum exposure the Company may have to derivatives
for investment purposes and efficient portfolio management
purposes, in aggregate, is 120% of the Company’s gross
assets. The Company may use borrowings and enter into
derivative transactions that have the effect of gearing the
Company’s portfolio to enhance performance.
Glossary
*
Alternative Performance Measures.
132
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
l
Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
The Company’s gross and net gearing through the use of
long and short CFD positions as at 30 November 2022 and
30 November 2021 is set out in the table below.
Net gearing
calculation
Page
30 November
2022
£’000
30 November
2021
£’000
Long investment
positions (excluding
BlackRock's
Institutional
Cash Series plc
- Sterling Liquid
Environmentally
Aware Fund)
26
676,373
1,134,772
(a)
Short investment
positions
26
15,637
24,925
(b)
Gross geared
exposure (c = a + b)
692,010
1,159,697
(c)
Net geared
exposure (d = a - b)
26
660,736
1,109,847
(d)
Net assets
26
633,357
935,148
(e)
Gross gearing % of
net assets
(f = c/e x 100)
109.3%
124.1%
(f)
Net gearing % of
net assets
(g = d/e x 100)
104.3%
118.7%
(g)
Gross and net exposure
Market exposure gained through a CFD contract refers
to the gross market value of the underlying securities to
which the investor is exposed through the CFD contract.
Gross exposure refers to the total exposure the investor has
through both long and short positions added together. For
example, an investor who has 110% long market exposure
through CFDs and 20% short market exposure through
CFDs has gross market exposure of 130%.
Net exposure refers to the exposure the investor has through
long positions less any short positions. For example, an
investor who has 110% long market exposure through CFDs
and 20% short market exposure through CFDs has net
market exposure of 90%; this method of measurement is
looking at the net directional market exposure and takes into
account the fact that long and short positions theoretically
offset one another when the market moves in a particular
direction.
Leverage
Leverage is defined in the AIFMD as “any method by which
the AIFM increases the exposure of an AIF it manages
whether through borrowing of cash or securities, or leverage
embedded in derivative positions or by any other means”.
Leverage is measured in terms of ‘exposure’ and is expressed
as a ratio of net asset value:
Leverage ratio
=
exposure
net asset value
The Directive sets out two methodologies for calculating
exposure. These are the Gross Method and the Commitment
Method. The treatment of cash and cash equivalent balances
in terms of calculating what constitutes an “exposure” under
AIFMD differs for these two methods. The definitions for
calculating the Gross Method exposures require that “the
value of any cash and cash equivalents which are highly
liquid investments held in the base currency of the AIF,
that are readily convertible to a known amount of cash, are
subject to an insignificant risk of change in value and provide
a return no greater than the rate of a three-month high
quality government bond” should be excluded from exposure
calculations.
The Commitment Method enables instruments to be netted
off to reflect ‘netting’ or ‘hedging’ arrangements and the
entity’s exposure is effectively reduced.
Long and short exposure
CFDs enable an investor to benefit from the price of a stock
falling as well as rising. This enables the investor to benefit
from negative as well as positive views on individual stocks.
Entering into a CFD that results in a profit if the share price
movement falls, is referred to as taking a short position.
The counterparty pays the investor interest on the cash
deposited with it, which collateralises the short positions
and deductions are made from the value of the short CFD
contract in respect of dividends payable in relation to these
stocks. Entering into a CFD contract that results in a profit
if the share price movement rises, is referred to as taking a
long position. The investor pays a financing charge on long
positions and receives payments from the counterparty
in respect of dividends payable in relation to these long
positions.
NAV per share (Cum income NAV)
This is the value of the Company’s assets attributable
to one ordinary share. It is calculated by dividing ‘total
equity’ by the total number of ordinary shares in issue
(excluding treasury shares) as set out in note 9 to the
Financial Statements on page
99
for the audited inputs to
the calculation. For example, as at 30 November 2022, total
equity was £633,357,000 (2021: 935,148,000) and there
were 101,158,864 (2021: 101,435,964) ordinary shares in
issue (excluding treasury shares) as set out in note 9 to the
Financial Statements on page
99
for the audited inputs to
the calculation; the NAV was therefore 626.10p per ordinary
share (2021: 921.91p).
Total equity is calculated by deducting from the Company’s
total assets, its current and long term liabilities and any
provision for liabilities and charges.
*
Alternative Performance Measures.
Glossary
continued
Section 5: Additional information
133
Net asset value (NAV) and share price return
(with dividends reinvested)*
Performance statistics enable the investor to make
performance comparisons between investment trusts with
different dividend policies. The performance measures the
combined effect of any dividends paid, together with the
rise or fall in the share price or NAV. This is calculated by
the movement in the share price or NAV plus the dividends
paid by the Company assuming these are reinvested in the
Company at the prevailing NAV/Share price (please see note
9 of the financial statements for the audited inputs to the
calculations).
NAV total return
Page
30 November
2022
30 November
2021
Closing NAV per
share (pence)
99
626.10
921.91
Add back quarterly
dividends (pence)
99
10.60
10.20
Effect of dividend
reinvestment
(pence)
(1.66)
1.40
Adjusted closing
NAV (pence)
635.04
933.51
(a)
Opening NAV per
share (pence)
99
921.91
681.24
(b)
NAV total return
(c = ((a - b)/b))
(31.1)%
37.0%
(c)
Share price total
return
Page
30 November
2022
30 November
2021
Closing share price
(pence)
99
595.00
935.00
Add back quarterly
dividends (pence)
99
10.60
10.20
Effect of dividend
reinvestment
(pence)
(2.11)
1.43
Adjusted closing
share price (pence)
603.49
946.63
(a)
Opening share price
(pence)
99
935.00
682.00
(b)
Share price total
return
(c = ((a - b)/b))
(35.5)%
38.8%
(c)
Ongoing charges ratio*
Ongoing charges (%)
=
Annualised ongoing charges
Average undiluted net asset value
in the period
Ongoing charges are those expenses of a type which are
likely to recur in the foreseeable future, whether charged to
capital or revenue, and which relate to the operation of the
investment company as a collective fund. Ongoing charges
are based on costs incurred in the year as being the best
estimate of future costs and include the annual management
charge.
As recommended by the AIC in its guidance, ongoing charges
are calculated using the Company’s annualised revenue and
capital expenses (excluding finance costs, direct transaction
costs, custody transaction charges, VAT recovered, taxation,
prior year expenses written back and certain non-recurring
items) expressed as a percentage of the average daily net
assets of the Company during the year.
The inputs that have been used to calculate the ongoing
charges percentage are set out in the following table:
Ongoing charges
calculation
Page
30 November
2022
£’000
30 November
2021
£’000
Management fee
96
3,025
3,652
Other operating
expenses
1, 2
97
816
1,078
Total management
fee and other
operating expenses
3,841
4,730
(a)
Performance fee
96
6,655
(b)
Total management
and performance
fees and other
operating expenses
(c = a + b)
3,841
11,385
(c)
Average daily net
assets in the year
710,265
824,909
(d)
Ongoing charges in
the year excluding
performance fees
(e = a/d)
0.54%
0.57%
(e)
Ongoing charges in
the year including
performance fees
(f = c/d)
0.54%
1.38%
(f)
1
Excluding prior year expenses written off during the year and non-recurring
expenses relating to stock exchange listing fees of £53,000 incurred during
the year ended 30 November 2022 (30 November 2021: £nil).
Revenue profit and revenue reserves
Revenue profit is the net revenue income earned after
deduction of fees and expenses allocated to the revenue
account and taxation suffered by the Company. Revenue
reserves is the undistributed income that the Company keeps
as reserves. Investment trusts do not have to distribute all
the income they generate after expenses. They may retain
up to 15% of revenue generated which will be held in a
revenue reserve. This reserve can be used at a later date to
supplement dividend payments to shareholders.
Treasury shares
Treasury shares are shares that a company keeps in its own
treasury which are not currently issued to the public. These
shares do not pay dividends, have no voting rights and
are not included in a company’s total issued share capital
amount for calculating percentage ownership. Treasury
stock may have come from a repurchase or buy back from
shareholders, or it may never have been issued to the public
in the first place. Treasury shares may be reissued from
treasury to the public to meet demand for a company’s
shares in certain circumstances.
*
Alternative Performance Measures.
Section 6: Notice of annual general meeting
135
Annual
general
meeting
Diploma PLC was one of the portfolio’s ten largest holdings at year end. An international
Group, Diploma is a value-added distributor of specialised technical products and
services, operating in its three Sectors: Controls, Seals and Life Sciences. The Group’s
largest business is Windy City Wire (pictured), accounting for around 25% of total
revenue. Part of the Controls Sector, Windy City Wire is a value-added distributor of
premium quality, low voltage wire and cable.
PHOTO COURTESY OF DIPLOMA GROUP
136
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
l
Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc will be held at the offices
of BlackRock, 12 Throgmorton Avenue, London EC2N 2DL
on Thursday, 23 March 2023 at 12.00 p.m. for the purpose
of considering and, if thought fit, passing the following
resolutions (which will be proposed in the case of resolutions
1 to 13, as ordinary resolutions and, in the case of resolutions
14 to 16, as special resolutions).
Ordinary business
1.
To receive the report of the Directors of the Company
and the Financial Statements for the year ended
30 November 2022, together with the report of the
auditor thereon.
2.
To approve the Directors’ Remuneration Report for the
year ended 30 November 2022 (excluding any content
relating to the remuneration policy).
3.
To approve the Directors’ Remuneration Policy as set out
on pages 73 and 74.
4.
To approve a final dividend of 8.50 pence per share.
5.
To re-elect Christopher Samuel as a Director of the
Company.
6.
To re-elect Louise Nash as a Director of the Company.
7.
To re-elect Angela Lane as a Director of the Company.
8.
To re-elect Nigel Burton as a Director of the Company.
9.
To re-elect Merryn Somerset Webb as a Director of the
Company.
10. To elect Glen Suarez as a Director of the Company.
11.
To re-appoint PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as Auditor
to the Company to hold office until the conclusion of the
next Annual General Meeting of the Company.
12.
To authorise the Audit Committee to determine the
Auditor’s remuneration.
Special business
Ordinary resolutions
13.
That, in substitution for all existing authorities, the
Directors of the Company be and they are hereby generally
and unconditionally authorised pursuant to Section 551
of the Companies Act 2006 (the Act), to exercise all the
powers of the Company to allot shares in the Company
and to grant rights to subscribe for or to convert any
security into shares in the Company up to an aggregate
nominal amount of £505,569.32 (being 10% of the
aggregate nominal amount of the issued share capital
excluding treasury shares of the Company at the date
of this notice) provided that this authority shall expire at
the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting of the
Company to be held in 2024 but so that the Company may,
before such expiry, make any offer or agreement which
would or might require relevant securities to be allotted
pursuant to any such offer or agreement as if the authority
hereby conferred had not expired.
Special resolutions
14.
That, in substitution for all existing authorities and
subject to the passing of resolution 13, the Directors of
the Company be and are hereby empowered pursuant
to Sections 570 and 573 of the Companies Act 2006
(the Act) to allot equity securities (as defined in Section
560 of the Act), and to sell equity securities held by the
Company as treasury shares (as defined in Section 724
of the Act) for cash pursuant to the authority granted by
resolution 13, as if Section 561(1) of the Act did not apply
to any such allotments and sales of equity securities,
provided that this power:
(a)
shall expire at the conclusion of the next Annual
General Meeting of the Company to be held in 2024,
except that the Company may before such expiry
make offers or agreements which would or might
require equity securities to be allotted or sold after
such expiry and notwithstanding such expiry the
Directors may allot and sell equity securities in
pursuance of such offers or agreements;
(b)
shall be limited to the allotment of equity securities
and/or sale of equity securities held in treasury
for cash up to an aggregate nominal amount of
£505,569.32 (representing 10% of the aggregate
nominal amount of the issued share capital,
excluding treasury shares of the Company at the
date of this notice); and
(c)
shall be limited to the allotment of equity securities
and/or the sale of equity securities held in treasury
at a price of not less than the net asset value per
share as close as practicable to the allotment or
sale.
15.
That, in substitution for the Company’s existing authority
to make market purchases of ordinary shares of 5p in
the Company (Shares), the Company be and is hereby
authorised in accordance with Section 701 of the
Companies Act 2006 (the Act) to make market purchases
of Shares (within the meaning of Section 693 of the Act),
provided that:
(a)
the maximum number of Shares hereby authorised
to be purchased is 15,156,968 (being 14.99% of the
Company’s issued ordinary share capital, excluding
treasury shares at the date of this notice);
(b)
the minimum price (exclusive of expenses) which
may be paid for a Share shall be 5p being the
nominal value per share;
Notice of annual general meeting
Section 6: Notice of annual general meeting
137
(c)
the maximum price (exclusive of expenses) which
may be paid for a Share shall be the higher of: (i) 5%
above the average of the market value of a Share
for the five business days immediately preceding
the date of purchase as derived from the Daily
Official List of the London Stock Exchange; and
(ii) the higher of the price quoted for (a) the last
independent trade of; and (b) the highest current
independent bid for, any number of Shares on the
trading venue where the purchase is carried out;
and
(d)
unless renewed, the authority hereby conferred shall
expire at the conclusion of the next Annual General
Meeting of the Company to be held in 2024 save
that the Company may, prior to such expiry, enter
into a contract to purchase Shares which will or may
be completed or executed wholly or partly after such
expiry.
All Shares purchased pursuant to the above authority shall
be either:
(i)
held, sold, transferred or otherwise dealt with as
treasury shares in accordance with the provisions of
the Act; or
(ii)
cancelled immediately upon completion of the
purchase.
16.
That, the period of notice required for general meetings
of the Company (other than Annual General Meetings)
shall be not less than 14 clear days’ notice.
By order of the Board
KEVIN MAYGER
For and on behalf of
BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited
Company Secretary
9 February 2023
Registered Office:
12 Throgmorton Avenue
London EC2N 2DL
138
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
l
Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
Notes:
1.
A member entitled to attend and vote at the meeting
convened by the above Notice is entitled to appoint one
or more proxies to exercise all or any of the rights of the
member to attend, speak and vote in his place. A proxy need
not be a member of the Company. If a member appoints more
than one proxy to attend the meeting, each proxy must be
appointed to exercise the rights attached to a different share
or shares held by the member.
2.
To appoint a proxy, you may use the form of proxy enclosed
with this annual report. To be valid, the form of proxy,
together with the power of attorney or other authority (if any)
under which it is signed or a notarially certified or office copy
of the same, must be completed and returned to the office of
the Company’s registrar in accordance with the instructions
printed thereon as soon as possible and in any event by
not later than 12.00 p.m. on 21 March 2023. Amended
instructions must also be received by the Company’s
registrar by the deadline for receipt of forms of proxy.
Alternatively, you can vote or appoint a proxy electronically by
visiting eproxyappointment.com. You will be asked to enter
the Control Number, the Shareholder Reference Number and
PIN which are printed on the form of proxy. The latest time for
the submission of proxy votes electronically is 12.00 p.m. on
21 March 2023.
3.
Proxymity Voting – if you are an institutional investor you
may also be able to appoint a proxy electronically via the
Proxymity platform, a process which has been agreed by
the Company and approved by the Registrar. For further
information regarding Proxymity, please go to www.
proxymity.io. Your proxy must be lodged by 12.00 p.m. on
21 March 2023 in order to be considered valid. Before you
can appoint a proxy via this process you will need to have
agreed to Proxymity’s associated terms and conditions. It is
important that you read these carefully as you will be bound
by them and they will govern the electronic appointment of
your proxy.
4.
Completion and return of the form of proxy will not prevent
you from attending the meeting and voting in person. If you
have appointed a proxy and attend the meeting in person,
your proxy appointment will be automatically terminated.
5.
Any person receiving a copy of this Notice as a person
nominated by a member to enjoy information rights under
Section 146 of the Companies Act 2006 (a Nominated
Person) should note that the provisions in Notes 1 and 2
above concerning the appointment of a proxy or proxies to
attend the meeting in place of a member, do not apply to a
Nominated Person as only ordinary shareholders have the
right to appoint a proxy. However, a Nominated Person may
have a right under an agreement between the Nominated
Person and the member by whom he or she was nominated
to be appointed, or to have someone else appointed, as proxy
for the meeting. If a Nominated Person has no such proxy
appointment right or does not wish to exercise it, he/she may
have a right under such agreement to give instructions to the
member as to the exercise of voting rights at the meeting.
6.
Nominated Persons should also remember that their main
point of contact in terms of their investment in the Company
remains the member who nominated the Nominated Person
to enjoy the information rights (or perhaps the custodian
or broker who administers the investment on their behalf).
Nominated Persons should continue to contact that member,
custodian or broker (and not the Company) regarding any
changes or queries relating to the Nominated Person’s
personal details and interest in the Company (including any
administrative matter). The only exception to this is where the
Company expressly requests a response from the Nominated
Person.
7.
Only shareholders registered in the register of members of
the Company by not later than 6.00 p.m. two days prior to
the time fixed for the meeting shall be entitled to attend and
vote at the meeting in respect of the number of the ordinary
shares registered in their name at such time. If the meeting
is adjourned, the time by which a person must be entered
on the register of members of the Company in order to have
the right to attend and vote at the adjourned meeting is
6.00 p.m. two days prior to the time of adjournment. Changes
to the register of members after the relevant times shall be
disregarded in determining the rights of any person to attend
and vote at the meeting.
8.
In the case of joint holders, the vote of the senior holder
who tenders a vote, whether in person or by proxy, shall
be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of the other joint
holders and, for this purpose, seniority will be determined
by the order in which the names stand in the register of
members of the Company in respect of the relevant joint
holding.
9.
Shareholders who hold their ordinary shares electronically
may submit their votes through CREST, by submitting the
appropriate and authenticated CREST message so as to be
received by the Company’s registrar not later than 48 hours
before the start of the meeting. Instructions on how to vote
through CREST can be found by accessing the following
website: euroclear.com/CREST. Shareholders are advised
that CREST and the internet are the only methods by which
completed proxies can be submitted electronically.
10. If you are a CREST system user (including a CREST personal
member) you can appoint one or more proxies or give an
instruction to a proxy by having an appropriate CREST
message transmitted. To appoint one or more proxies or to
give an instruction to a proxy (whether previously appointed
or otherwise) via the CREST system, CREST messages must
be received by Computershare (ID number 3RA50) not later
than 48 hours before the time appointed for holding the
meeting. For this purpose, the time of receipt will be taken
to be the time (as determined by the timestamp generated
by the CREST system) from which Computershare is able
to retrieve the message. CREST personal members or other
CREST sponsored members should contact their CREST
sponsor for assistance with appointing proxies via CREST.
For further information on CREST procedures, limitations
and system timings please refer to the CREST manual. The
Company may treat as invalid a proxy appointment sent by
CREST in the circumstances set out in Regulation 35(5)(a) of
The Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001.
11. If the Chairman, as a result of a proxy appointment, is given
discretion as to how the votes subject of those proxies are
cast and voting rights in respect of those discretionary
proxies, when added to the interest in the Company’s
securities already held by the Chairman, result in the
Chairman holding such number of voting rights that he has
a notifiable obligation under the Disclosure Guidance and
Transparency Rules, the Chairman will make the necessary
notifications to the Company and the Financial Conduct
Authority. As a result, any member holding 3% or more of
the voting rights in the Company, who grants the Chairman
a discretionary proxy in respect of some or all of those voting
rights and so would otherwise have a notification obligation
under the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules,
need not make a separate notification to the Company and
Financial Conduct Authority.
12. Any questions relevant to the business of the meeting may
be asked at the meeting by anyone permitted to speak at the
meeting. A shareholder may alternatively submit a question
in advance by a letter addressed to the Company Secretary
at the Company’s registered office. Under Section 319A of
the Companies Act 2006, the Company must answer any
Notice of annual general meeting
continued
Section 6: Notice of annual general meeting
139
question a shareholder asks relating to the business being
dealt with at the meeting, unless (i) answering the question
would interfere unduly with the preparation for the meeting
or involve the disclosure of confidential information; (ii) the
answer had already been given on a website in the form of an
answer to a question; or (iii) it is undesirable in the interests
of the Company or the good order of the meeting that the
question be answered.
13. Any corporation which is a member can appoint one or
more corporate representatives who may exercise on its
behalf all of its powers as a member provided that, if it
is appointing more than one corporate representative, it
does not do so in relation to the same shares. It is therefore
no longer necessary to nominate a designated corporate
representative.
14. Under Section 527 of the Companies Act 2006, members
meeting the threshold requirements set out in that section
have the right to require the Company to publish on a website
a statement setting out any matter relating to:
(i)
the audit of the Company’s Financial Statements
(including the auditor’s report and the conduct of the
audit) that are to be laid before the meeting; or
(ii)
any circumstance connected with an auditor of the
Company ceasing to hold office since the previous
meeting at which annual financial statements and
reports were laid in accordance with Section 437 of the
Companies Act 2006.
The Company may not require the members requesting any
such website publication to pay its expenses in complying
with Sections 527 or 528 of the Companies Act 2006. Where
the Company is required to place a statement on a website
under Section 527 of the Companies Act 2006, it must
forward the statement to the Company’s auditors not later
than the time when it makes the statement available on the
website. The business which may be dealt with at the meeting
includes any statement that the Company has been required
under Section 527 of the Companies Act 2006 to publish on
a website.
15. Under Sections 338 and 338A of the Act, members meeting
the threshold requirements in those sections have the right
to require the Company:
(i)
to give, to members of the Company entitled to receive
notice of the meeting, notice of a resolution which may
properly be moved and is intended to be moved at the
meeting; and/or
(ii)
to include in the business to be dealt with at the
meeting any matter (other than a proposed resolution)
which may be properly included in the business.
A resolution may properly be moved, or a matter may properly
be included in the business unless:
(a)
(in the case of a resolution only) it would, if passed,
be ineffective (whether by reason of inconsistency
with any enactment or the Company’s constitution or
otherwise);
(b)
it is defamatory of any person; or
(c)
it is frivolous or vexatious.
Such a request may be in hard copy form or in electronic
form, and must identify the resolution of which notice is to
be given or the matter to be included in the business, must
be authorised by the person or persons making it, must be
received by the Company not later than 9 February 2023,
being the date six weeks clear before the meeting and (in the
case of a matter to be included in the business only) must be
accompanied by a statement setting out the grounds for the
request.
16. As at 7 February 2023 (being the last practicable date prior to
the publication of this Notice of Annual General Meeting), the
Company’s issued share capital consisted of 101,113,864
ordinary shares of 5p each, excluding shares held in treasury.
Each ordinary share carries the right to one vote and
therefore the total voting rights in the Company as at the
date of this report are 101,113,864.
17. Further information regarding the meeting which the
Company is required by Section 311A of the Companies Act
2006 to publish on a website in advance of the meeting, can
be accessed at blackrock.com/uk/thrg.
18. No service contracts exist between the Company and any of
the Directors, who hold office in accordance with letters of
appointment and the Articles of Association.
Be ScamSmart
Investment scams are designed
to look like genuine investments
Spot the warning signs
Have you been:
contacted out of the blue
promised tempting returns and told the investment is safe
called repeatedly, or
told the offer is only available for a limited time?
If so, you might have been contacted by fraudsters.
Avoid investment fraud
Reject cold calls
Check the FCA Warning List
Get impartial advice
you hand over any money. Seek advice from someone
Report a scam
Find out more at
www.fca.org.uk/scamsmart
1
2
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Remember: if it sounds too good to
be true, it probably is!
The FCA Warning List is a list of firms and individuals we
know are operating without our authorisation.
If you’ve received unsolicited contact about an investment
opportunity, chances are it’s a high risk investment or a
scam. You should treat the call with extreme caution.
The safest thing to do is to hang up.
If you suspect that you have been approached by
fraudsters please tell the FCA using the reporting form at
www.fca.org.uk/consumers.
You can also call the
FCA Consumer Helpline on
0800 111 6768
If you have lost money to investment fraud, you should
report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or online at
www.actionfraud.police.uk
SGN001
Share fraud warning
140
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
l
Annual Report and Financial Statements 30 November 2022
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www.blackrock.com/uk/thrg