Data as at: 27/03/2024

Gearing

Gearing policy

The Board is responsible for determining the gearing strategy for the Company. Gearing is used selectively to leverage the Company's portfolio in order to enhance returns where this is considered appropriate. Borrowings are generally shorter term, but the Board may from time to time take out longer term borrowings where it is believed to be in the Company’s best interests to do so. Particular care is taken to ensure that any bank covenants permit maximum flexibility of investment policy.

Borrowing limits

The Board has restricted the maximum level of gearing to 25% of net assets although, in normal market conditions, the Company is unlikely to take out gearing in excess of 15% of net assets.

Ways in which investment companies can magnify income and capital returns, but which can also magnify losses.

At its simplest, gearing means borrowing money to buy more assets in the hope the company makes enough profit to pay back the debt and interest and leave something extra for shareholders.

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how gearing works table

However, if the investment portfolio doesn’t perform well, gearing can increase losses. The more an investment company gears, the higher the risk.

Investment companies can usually borrow at lower rates of interest than you’d get as an individual. They also have flexible ways to borrow – for example they might get an ordinary bank loan or, for split capital investment companies, issue different classes of share.

Not all investment companies use gearing, and most use relatively low levels of gearing.

An indication of the maximum and minimum levels that the company would expect to be geared in normal market conditions.

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