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BGFD Baillie Gifford Japan Trust Plc

701.00
-9.00 (-1.27%)
Last Updated: 14:23:22
Delayed by 15 minutes
Share Name Share Symbol Market Type Share ISIN Share Description
Baillie Gifford Japan Trust Plc LSE:BGFD London Ordinary Share GB0000485838 ORD 5P
  Price Change % Change Share Price Bid Price Offer Price High Price Low Price Open Price Shares Traded Last Trade
  -9.00 -1.27% 701.00 699.00 702.00 702.00 700.00 702.00 74,750 14:23:22
Industry Sector Turnover Profit EPS - Basic PE Ratio Market Cap
Trust,ex Ed,religious,charty -34.37M -43.25M -0.4648 -15.08 652.26M

Baillie Gifford Japan Trust PLC Half-year Report (5047T)

21/03/2019 7:00am

UK Regulatory


TIDMBGFD

RNS Number : 5047T

Baillie Gifford Japan Trust PLC

21 March 2019

 
RNS Announcement 
---------------- 
 
 
The Baillie Gifford Japan Trust PLC 
=================================== 
 
 
Results for the six months to 28 February 2019 
---------------------------------------------- 
 

Legal Entity Identifier: 54930037AGTKN765Y741

Regulated Information Classification: Interim Financial Report.

The following is the unaudited Interim Financial Report for the six months to 28 February 2019.

Chairman's Statement

Board Changes

Your Board is committed to high standards of corporate governance. In particular, it recognises the need to have a balance of skills, experience and length of service, all of which forms part of our succession planning discussions during Nomination Committee meetings. After serving 5 years as your Chairman, I will be stepping down from the Board at the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting of the Company to be held in December. The Board has agreed that I will be replaced as Chairman by Keith Falconer who has been a Director since 2014 and I am confident that the Company will benefit from his stewardship. In turn, Keith will relinquish his position as Chair of the Company's Audit Committee. A replacement Audit Chair will be appointed in due course.

Management Fee

During the period, the Company announced a reduction in the annual management fee payable to Baillie Gifford & Co Limited, the Company's Managers and Secretaries. With effect from 1 January 2019 the Company's annual management fee will be calculated at 0.75% (was 0.95%) on the first GBP50 million of net assets, 0.65% on the next GBP200 million of net assets and 0.55% on the remainder.

Brexit

As a UK listed company, the Board and Managers have considered the implications of Brexit. Around half of the Company's investments are domestically focused within Japan and the remaining holdings have minimal exposure to the UK. The Board is therefore not concerned about the impact of Brexit on the portfolio.

Nick Bannerman

Chairman

20 March 2019

Interim Management Report

During the six months to the end of February 2019 the NAV of your Company, after deducting borrowings at fair value, decreased by 16.0% to 700.2p whilst the share price fell by 13.6%. The TOPIX fell by 8.9% in sterling terms during the same period. This is disappointing. However, we continue to believe that it is more meaningful to consider performance over longer time horizons. Over the past 3 years the NAV of your company is up by 64.4% and the share price by 68.3%. The TOPIX rose by 40.4% in sterling terms during the same period. This is encouraging. Herein we see one of the challenges of equity investing in action. Strategies can deliver good results over the long-term but that does not make them immune to short-term challenges. To achieve a good long-term outcome we need to be prepared to accept short-term volatility and focus on actual investing - holding a portfolio of good companies with attractive growth prospects for the long term.

During the last six months there have been various signs of a global slowdown. At this stage both the depth and duration remain unclear. When we have met with management in the manufacturing sector the general indication is that there has not yet been a rebound.

The three largest individual stock detractors to performance were the holdings in Cyberagent (internet advertising and content), Outsourcing (employment placement service) and Zozo (internet fashion retail, formerly named Start Today). These had individual negative attributions of between -0.9% and -1.3% over the six-month period. These are all dynamic businesses led by founders with large personal stakes in the businesses and that have managed to deliver good long term growth rates. Interestingly, when we take a step back and look at how these shares have contributed to the portfolio over the longer term the outcomes are much more positive Compared with acquisition cost the shares in Cyberagent are 76% higher, those in Outsourcing 181% higher, and those in Zozo are 247% higher in local currency terms. We continue to hold the shares and have conviction that backing such opportunities will deliver good results over the longer-term. During the six-month period no stock added more than +1.0% to performance. The largest positive attributions were Pan-Pacific holdings (discount store chain, formerly named Don Quijote) at +0.7% and H.I.S. (discount travel agency and theme parks) at +0.5%.

The Company retains a prudent level of net gearing of around 12% at the time of writing. This allows us to benefit from the long-term effects of investing in good quality businesses using low-cost debt but with little risk of feeling pressured to sell should share prices weaken in the short-term. However, the gearing was unhelpful in the six-month period, contributing -1.7%, as is typical when the market is weaker in local currency terms.

Over the period we bought three new holdings and sold five holdings. Turnover remained low in line with our long-term time horizon. Two of the new holdings, Gree and Mixi, create and operate games for mobile phones. In each case the company has experienced a growth setback, but the market has, in our view, over-reacted with the result that at least two-thirds of the value of each company is covered by the net cash position on the balance sheet. This seems very strange to us given that these are entrepreneurial companies operating with an increasing market opportunity. DMG Mori is a machine tool manufacturer where the size of the business has been transformed by its acquisition of German machine tool manufacturer Gildermeister. As the integration continues to progress we expect significant growth in profits. Of the holdings sold, Pigeon and Iriso Electronics are both cases where the company has shown good growth in earnings and share price, but we think it will be difficult for margins to expand further and therefore it will be difficult for growth rates to match the past. Toyo Tire, Sanbio and Renesas are cases where we changed our view on the fundamental attraction of the business. Sanbio, a stem cell company, had a major trial failure and we believe the path to a successful future is now significantly more complicated, while the managements of both Toyo Tire and Renesas acted in ways that we do not believe are aligned to the interests of long-term shareholders.

We continue to be excited about the opportunities for growth stock-picking in Japan and believe that a well-executed strategy delivers results. When we consider the strengths of the businesses held in the portfolio we remain optimistic about the future.

Past performance is not a guide to future performance

Total return information sourced from Refinitiv/Baillie Gifford. See disclaimer at end of this document.

See Glossary of Terms and Alternative Performance Measures in Note 13.

 
Responsibility statement 
======================== 
 

We confirm that to the best of our knowledge:

a) the condensed set of Financial Statements has been prepared in accordance with FRS 104 'Interim Financial Reporting';

b) the Interim Management Report includes a fair review of the information required by Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rule 4.2.7R (being an indication of important events that have occurred during the first six months of the financial year, their impact on the condensed set of Financial Statements and a description of the principal risks and uncertainties for the remaining six months of the year); and

c) the Interim Financial Report includes a fair review of the information required by Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rule 4.2.8R (disclosure of related party transactions and changes therein).

On behalf of the Board

Nick AC Bannerman

Chairman

20 March 2019

 
 
 

Equity Portfolio by Growth Category as at 28 February 2019

 
 Secular                      Growth                        Special 
  Growth                %*     Stalwarts              %*     Situations        %*      Cyclical Growth     %* 
==================  ======   ====================  =====   ===============  =====   ==================  ===== 
 Rakuten               3.2    Zenkoku Hosho          1.4    SoftBank          6.4    Itochu              2.0 
                                                                                     Sumitomo Mitsui 
 SBI                   3.0    Nitori                 1.3    Sony              2.2     Trust              1.8 
                                                                                     Sumitomo Metal 
 Inpex                 2.5    Park24                 1.2    Tokyo Tatemono    1.3     Mining             1.8 
 Misumi                2.4    Fukuoka Financial      0.8    Colopl            1.3    Nifco               1.5 
                              Mitsubishi UFJ                                         Mitsubishi 
 Kubota                2.4     Lease & Finance       0.7    JAFCO             0.8     Electric           1.5 
 GMO Internet          2.4    Asics                  0.6    Gree              0.7    Murata              1.5 
 Fanuc                 2.3    Sawai Pharmaceutical   0.6    Mixi              0.6    Disco               1.3 
 Sysmex                2.2    Secom                  0.6                             Advantest           1.2 
 H.I.S.                2.1                                                           Iida Group          1.2 
                                                                                     Invincible 
 Recruit Holdings      2.1                                                            Investment         1.0 
 M3                    2.1                                                           Persol Holdings     1.0 
 Outsourcing           2.0                                                           DMG Mori            0.9 
 Yaskawa Electric      2.0                                                           Mazda Motor         0.7 
 Nidec                 1.9                                                           Katitas             0.6 
 SMC                   1.8                                                           Isuzu Motors        0.4 
 Shimadzu              1.8 
 Pan Pacific 
  International 
  Holdings             1.7 
 CyberAgent            1.7 
 ZOZO                  1.7 
 Sato Holdings         1.6 
 Topcon                1.3 
 MonotaRO              1.2 
 Toyota Tsusho         1.1 
 Istyle                1.1 
 Subaru                1.0 
 Infomart              0.9 
 Broadleaf             0.9 
 Digital Garage        0.9 
 Peptidream            0.9 
 Lifull                0.7 
 Keyence               0.7 
 Mercari               0.6 
 Nippon Ceramic        0.5 
 Noritsu Koki          0.5 
 Shimano               0.5 
 Rizap                 0.3 
 Cyberdyne             0.3 
 Healios K.K.          0.3 
 Total                56.6    Total                  7.2    Total            13.3    Total               18.4 
==================  ======   =====================  ====   ===============  =====   ==================  ===== 
 
 

* Percentage of total assets

A definition of growth categories can be found in the Managers' Report on page 10 of the Annual Report and Financial Statements at 31 December 2018.

See Glossary of Terms and Alternatie Performance Measures in Note 13.

 
Twenty Largest Holdings at 28 February 2019 (unaudited) 
======================================================= 
 
 
                                                                             Value  % of total 
Name                    Business                                           GBP'000     assets* 
======================  ================================================  ========  ========== 
SoftBank                Telecom operator and technology investor            48,287         6.4 
Rakuten                 Internet retail and financial services              24,015         3.2 
SBI                     Online financial services                           23,041         3.0 
Inpex                   Oil and gas producer                                18,995         2.5 
Misumi                  Online distributor of precision machinery parts     18,459         2.4 
Kubota                  Agricultural machinery                              18,248         2.4 
GMO Internet            Internet conglomerate                               17,833         2.4 
Fanuc                   Robotics manufacturer                               17,112         2.3 
Sysmex                  Medical testing equipment                           16,550         2.2 
Sony                    Consumer electronics, films and finance             16,521         2.2 
H.I.S.                  Discount travel agency and theme parks              16,261         2.1 
Reruit Holdings         Property, lifestyle and HR media                    16,221         2.1 
M3                      Online medical services                             15,834         2.1 
Itochu                  General trading firm                                15,181         2.0 
Outsourcing             Employment placement services                       15,087         2.0 
Yaskawa Electric        Specialist factory automation                       14,884         2.0 
Nidec                   Specialist motors                                   14,579         1.9 
Sumitomo Mitsui Trust   Japanese trust bank and investment manager          13,748         1.8 
SMC                     Producer of factory automation equipment            13,556         1.8 
Shimadzu                Precision tools and equipment maker                 13,533         1.8 
======================  ================================================  ========  ========== 
Total                                                                      367,945        48.6 
========================================================================  ========  ========== 
 

(*) See Glossary of Terms and Alternative Performance Measures in Note 13.

 
Income Statement (unaudited) 
============================ 
 
 
                                                       For the six months ended            For the six months ended 
                                                           28 February 2019                    28 February 2018 
                                                    Revenue      Capital         Total    Revenue    Capital     Total 
                                                    GBP'000      GBP'000       GBP'000    GBP'000    GBP'000   GBP'000 
==============================================  ===========  ===========  ============  =========  =========  ======== 
Gains on sales of investments                             -       31,470        31,470          -     26,651    26,651 
Movement in investment holding gains                      -    (157,356)     (157,356)          -     74,391    74,391 
Currency gains                                            -        2,173         2,173          -      2,046     2,046 
Income from investments and interest 
 receivable                                           6,096            -         6,096      4,908          -     4,908 
Investment management fee                           (2,035)            -       (2,035)    (2,097)          -   (2,097) 
Other administrative expenses                         (309)            -         (309)      (305)          -     (305) 
==============================================  ===========  ===========  ============  =========  =========  ======== 
Net return before finance costs and taxation          3,752    (123,713)     (119,961)      2,506    103,088   105,594 
==============================================  ===========  ===========  ============  =========  =========  ======== 
Finance costs of borrowings                         (1,190)            -       (1,190)    (1,238)          -   (1,238) 
==============================================  ===========  ===========  ============  =========  =========  ======== 
Net return on ordinary activities before 
 taxation                                             2,562    (123,713)     (121,151)      1,268    103,088   104,356 
==============================================  ===========  ===========  ============  =========  =========  ======== 
Tax on ordinary activities                            (610)            -         (610)      (490)          -     (490) 
==============================================  ===========  ===========  ============  =========  =========  ======== 
Net return on ordinary activities after 
 taxation                                             1,952    (123,713)     (121,761)        778    103,088   103,866 
==============================================  ===========  ===========  ============  =========  =========  ======== 
Net return per ordinary share (note 5)                2.14p    (135.32p)     (133.18p)      0.90p    119.32p   120.22p 
==============================================  ===========  ===========  ============  =========  =========  ======== 
 
 

The total column of this statement is the profit and loss account of the Company. The supplementary revenue and capital columns are prepared under guidance published by the Association of Investment Companies.

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

A Statement of Comprehensive Income is not required as all gains and losses of the Company have been reflected in the above statement.

 
Balance Sheet (unaudited) 
========================= 
 
 
                                                                 At 28 February 2019  At 31 August 2018 
                                                                             GBP'000            GBP'000 
Fixed assets 
Investments held at fair value through profit or loss (note 6)               723,155            842,045 
===============================================================  ===================  ================= 
 
Current assets 
Debtors                                                                        2,148              4,700 
Cash and cash equivalents                                                     34,077             27,788 
===============================================================  ===================  ================= 
                                                                              36,225             32,488 
===============================================================  ===================  ================= 
 
Creditors 
Amounts falling due within one year                                          (1,951)            (3,943) 
Net current assets                                                            34,274             28,545 
===============================================================  ===================  ================= 
Total assets less current liabilities                                        757,429            870,590 
===============================================================  ===================  ================= 
 
Creditors 
Amounts falling due after more than one year: 
Bank loans (note 7)                                                        (111,436)          (114,486) 
===============================================================  ===================  ================= 
Net assets                                                                   645,993            756,104 
===============================================================  ===================  ================= 
 
Capital and reserves 
Share capital                                                                  4,600              4,523 
Share premium                                                                187,577            175,455 
Capital redemption reserve                                                       203                203 
Capital reserve                                                              451,735            575,448 
Revenue reserve                                                                1,878                475 
===============================================================  ===================  ================= 
Shareholders' funds                                                          645,993            756,104 
===============================================================  ===================  ================= 
Net asset value per ordinary share*                                           702.2p             835.8p 
===============================================================  ===================  ================= 
Ordinary shares in issue (note 8)                                         91,999,925         90,459,925 
===============================================================  ===================  ================= 
 

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

 
Statement of Changes in Equity (unaudited) 
========================================== 
 

For the six months ended 28 February 2019

 
                             Share                       Capital redemption    Capital                   Shareholders' 
                           capital  Share premium                   reserve   reserve*  Revenue reserve          funds 
                           GBP'000        GBP'000                   GBP'000    GBP'000          GBP'000        GBP'000 
========================  ========  =============  ========================  =========  ===============  ============= 
Shareholders' funds at 1 
 September 2018              4,523        175,455                       203    575,448              475        756,104 
Shares Issued                   77         12,122                         -          -                -         12,199 
Net return on ordinary 
 activities after 
 taxation                        -              -                         -  (123,713)            1,952      (121,761) 
Dividends paid during 
 the year (note 4)               -              -                         -          -            (549)          (549) 
Shareholders' funds at 
 28 February 2019            4,600        187,577                       203    451,735            1,878        645,993 
========================  ========  =============  ========================  =========  ===============  ============= 
 

For the six months ended 28 February 2018

 
                             Share                       Capital redemption    Capital                   Shareholders' 
                           capital  Share premium                   reserve   reserve*  Revenue reserve          funds 
                           GBP'000        GBP'000                   GBP'000    GBP'000          GBP'000        GBP'000 
========================  ========  =============  ========================  =========  ===============  ============= 
Shareholders' funds at 1 
 September 2017              4,194        122,698                       203    449,885          (1,759)        575,221 
Shares Issued                  264         42,026                         -          -                -         42,290 
Net return on ordinary 
 activities after 
 taxation                        -              -                         -    103,088              778        103,866 
Shareholders' funds at 
 28 February 2018            4,458        164,724                       203    552,973            (981)        721,377 
========================  ========  =============  ========================  =========  ===============  ============= 
 

* The Capital Reserve balance as at 28 February 2019 includes investment holding gains on investments of GBP236,297,000 (28 February 2018 - gains of GBP409,233,000).

 
Condensed Cash Flow Statement (unaudited) 
========================================= 
 
 
                                                          Six months to      Six months to 
                                                       28 February 2019   28 February 2018 
                                                                GBP'000            GBP'000 
Cash flows from operating activities 
Net return on ordinary activities before taxation             (121,151)            104,356 
Net losses/(gains) on investments                               125,886          (101,042) 
Currency gains                                                  (2,173)            (2,046) 
Finance costs of borrowings                                       1,190              1,238 
Overseas withholding tax                                          (563)              (427) 
Changes in debtors and creditors                                  (737)            (2,178) 
====================================================  =================  ================= 
Cash from operations                                              2,452               (99) 
Interest paid                                                   (1,220)            (1,027) 
====================================================  =================  ================= 
Net cash inflow/(outflow) from operating activities               1,232            (1,126) 
====================================================  =================  ================= 
Cash flows from investing activities 
Acquisitions of investments                                    (70,505)          (117,343) 
Disposals of investments                                         64,789             47,249 
Exchange differences                                              (209)                269 
====================================================  =================  ================= 
Net cash outflow from investing activities                      (5,925)           (69,825) 
====================================================  =================  ================= 
Shares issued                                                    12,199             42,290 
Equity dividends paid                                             (549)                  - 
Bank loans drawn down                                                 -             62,873 
Bank loans repaid                                                     -           (20,045) 
Net cash inflow from financing activities                        11,650             85,118 
====================================================  =================  ================= 
Increase in cash and cash equivalents                             6,957             14,167 
Exchange movements                                                (668)            (1,122) 
Cash and cash equivalents at 1 September                         27,788             10,585 
Cash and cash equivalents at 28 February*                        34,077             23,630 
====================================================  =================  ================= 
 

* Cash and cash equivalents represent cash at bank and short term money market deposits repayable on demand.

 
Notes to the Condensed Financial Statements (unaudited) 
======================================================= 
 
 
1.   The condensed Financial Statements for the six months to 28 February 2019 comprise the statements 
      set out on the previous pages together with the related notes below. They have been prepared 
      in accordance with FRS 104 'Interim Financial Reporting' and the AIC's Statement of Recommended 
      Practice issued in November 2014, updated in February 2018 with consequential amendments and 
      have not been audited or reviewed by the Auditor pursuant to the Auditing Practices Board 
      Guidance on 'Review of Interim Financial Information'. The Financial Statements for the six 
      months to 28 February 2019 have been prepared on the basis of the same accounting policies 
      as set out in the Company's Annual Report and Financial Statements at 31 August 2018. 
      Going Concern 
      Having considered the Company's principal risks and uncertainties, as set out in the inside 
      front cover, together with its current position, investment objective and policy, its assets 
      and liabilities, and projected income and expenditure, it is the Directors' opinion that the 
      Company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. 
      The Company's assets, the majority of which are investments in quoted securities which are 
      readily realisable, exceed its liabilities significantly. All borrowings require the prior 
      approval of the Board. Gearing levels and compliance with borrowing covenants are reviewed 
      by the Board on a regular basis. In accordance with the Company's Articles of Association, 
      shareholders have the right to vote annually at the Annual General Meeting on whether to continue 
      the Company. The next continuation vote will be in December 2019. The Directors have no reason 
      to believe that the continuation resolution will not be passed at the Annual General Meeting. 
      Accordingly, the Directors consider it appropriate to adopt the going concern basis of accounting 
      in preparing these Financial Statements and confirm that they are not aware of any material 
      uncertainties which may affect the Company's ability to continue to do so over a period of 
      at least twelve months from the date of approval of these Financial Statements. 
2.   The financial information contained within this Interim Financial Report does not constitute 
      statutory accounts as defined in sections 434 to 436 of the Companies Act 2006. The financial 
      information for the year ended 31 August 2018 has been extracted from the statutory accounts 
      which have been filed with the Registrar of Companies. The Auditor's Report on those accounts 
      was not qualified, did not include a reference to any matters to which the Auditor drew attention 
      by way of emphasis without qualifying its report and did not contain statements under sections 
      498(2) or (3) of the Companies Act 2006. 
3.   Baillie Gifford & Co Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Baillie Gifford & Co, has been 
      appointed by the Company as its Alternative Investment Fund Manager and Company Secretary. 
      The investment management function has been delegated to Baillie Gifford & Co. The management 
      agreement can be terminated on not less than 6 months' notice, or on shorter notice in certain 
      circumstances. With effect from 1 January 2019, the annual management fee is 0.75% on the 
      first GBP50 million of net assets, 0.65% on the next GBP200 million of net assets and 0.55% 
      on the remaining net assets, calculated and payable quarterly. Prior to 1 January 2019, the 
      annual management fee was 0.95% on the first GBP50 million of net assets, 0.65% on the next 
      GBP200 million of net assets and 0.55% the remaining net assets, calculated and payable quarterly. 
                                                                                    Six months to      Six months to 
                                                                                 28 February 2019   28 February 2018 
                                                                                          GBP'000            GBP'000 
     ========================================================================   =================  ================= 
4.   Dividends 
     Amounts recognised as distribution in the period: 
 Previous year's final dividend of 0.60p (2018: nil), paid 14 December 
  2018                                                                                        549                  - 
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------      -----------------  ----------------- 
                                                                                              549                  - 
  ============================================================================  =================  ================= 
 No interim dividend will be declared. 
 
 
Notes to the condensed financial statements (unaudited) (continued) 
=================================================================== 
 
 
5.    Net return per ordinary share                                            Six months to        Six months to 
                                                                            28 February 2019     28 February 2018 
                                                                                     GBP'000              GBP'000 
      ===============================================================   ====================  =================== 
 Revenue return on ordinary activities after taxation                                  1,952                  778 
 Capital return on ordinary activities after taxation                              (123,713)              103,088 
 ================================================================  ===  ====================  =================== 
 Net return per ordinary share is based on the above totals of revenue and capital and on 91,423,682 
  ordinary shares (28 February 2018 - 86,399,787), being the weighted average number of ordinary 
  shares in issue during each period. There are no dilutive or potentially dilutive shares in 
  issue. 
6.    Fair Value 
       The fair value hierarchy used to analyse the basis on which the fair values of financial instruments 
       held at fair value through the profit or loss account are measured is described below. Fair 
       value measurements are categorised on the basis of the lowest level input that is significant 
       to the fair value measurement. 
       Level 1 - using unadjusted quoted prices for identical instruments in an active market; 
       Level 2 - using inputs, other than quoted prices included within Level 1, that are directly 
       or indirectly observable (based on market data); and 
       Level 3 - using inputs that are unobservable (for which market data is unavailable). 
       The fair value of listed investments is the last traded price which is equivalent to the bid 
       price on Japanese markets. 
       The financial assets designated as valued at fair value through profit or loss are all categorised 
       as Level 1 in the above hierarchy. None of the financial liabilities are designated at fair 
       value through profit or loss in the Financial Statements. 
       All of the Company's investments fall into Level 1 for the periods reported. 
7.    Bank loans of GBP111.4million (Yen16.5billion) have been drawn down under yen loan facilities 
       which are repayable between August 2020 and November 2024 (31 August 2018 - GBP114.5million 
       (Yen16.5billion)). 
8.    The Company has the authority to issue shares/sell treasury shares at a premium to net asset 
       value as well as to buy back shares at a discount to net asset value. During the period, 1,540,000 
       shares (28 February 2018 - 5,275,000) were issued at a premium to net asset value raising 
       net proceeds of GBP12,199,000 (28 February 2018 - GBP42,290,043). 
9.    Transaction costs incurred on the purchase and sale of the investments are added to the purchase 
       cost or deducted from the sales proceeds, as appropriate. During the period, transaction costs 
       on purchases amounted to GBP35,000 (28 February 2018 - GBP54,000) and transaction costs on 
       sales amounted to GBP37,000 (28 February 2018 - GBP29,000) 
10.   Related Party Transactions 
 There have been no transactions with related parties during the first six months of the current 
  financial year that have materially affected the financial position or the performance of 
  the Company during that period and there have been no changes in the related party transactions 
  described in the last Annual Report and Financial Statements that could have had such an effect 
  on the Company during that period 
 

Notes to the condensed financial statements (unaudited) (continued)

 
11.  Principal Risks and Uncertainties 
      The principal risks facing the Company are financial risk, investment strategy risk, discount 
      risk, regulatory risk, custody and depositary risk, smaller company risk, operational risk, 
      leverage risk and political risk. An explanation of these risks and how they are managed is 
      set out on page 8 of the Company's Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year to 
      31 August 2018 and is available on the Company's website www.japantrustplc.co.uk . The principal 
      risks and uncertainties have not changed since the date of that report. 
12.  The Interim Financial Report is available at www.japantrustplc.co.uk and will be posted to 
      shareholders on or around 5 April 2019. 
13.  Glossary of Terms and Alternative Performance Measures (APM) 
     Total Assets 
      Total assets less current liabilities, before deduction of all borrowings. 
     Net Asset Value 
      Net Asset value (NAV) is the value of total assets less liabilities (including borrowings). 
      The NAV per share is calculated by dividing this amount by the number of ordinary shares in 
      issue. 
     Net Asset Value (Borrowings at Fair Value) (APM) 
      Borrowings are valued at an estimate of their market worth. 
     Net Asset Value (Borrowings at Par Value) 
      Borrowings are valued at their nominal par value. The Company's yen denominated loans are 
      valued at its sterling equivalent. Par value approximates amortised cost. 
     Net Asset Value (Reconciliation of NAV at Par to NAV at Fair) 
                                             28 February 2019   31 August 2018 
                                                       GBP'000          GBP'000 
       ====================================  =================  =============== 
        Shareholders' funds (borrowings 
         at par value)                                 645,993          756,104 
        Add: par value of borrowings                   111,436          114,486 
        Less: fair value of borrowings               (113,250)        (116,111) 
       ====================================  =================  =============== 
        Shareholders' funds (borrowings 
         at fair value)                                644,179          754,479 
       ====================================  =================  =============== 
        Shares in issue                             91,999,925       90,459,925 
       ====================================  =================  =============== 
        Net Asset Value per ordinary share 
         (borrowings at fair value)                     700.2p           834.0p 
       ====================================  =================  =============== 
     Net Liquid Assets 
      Net liquid assets comprise current assets less current liabilities, excluding borrowings. 
     Discount/Premium/ (APM) 
      As stockmarkets and share prices vary, an investment trust's share price is rarely the same 
      as its NAV. When the share price is lower than the NAV per share it is said to be trading 
      at a discount. The size of the discount is calculated by subtracting the share price from 
      the NAV per share and is usually expressed as a percentage of the NAV per share. If the share 
      price is higher than the NAV per share, this situation is called a premium. 
     Total Return (APM) 
      The total return is the return to shareholders after reinvesting the net dividend on the date 
      that the share price goes ex-dividend. 
 
13.  Glossary of Terms and Alternative Performance Measures (APM) (Continued) 
 
      Ongoing Charges (APM) 
      The total expenses (excluding borrowing costs) incurred by the Company as a percentage of 
      the average net asset value (with borrowings at fair value). The ongoing charges have been 
      calculated on the basis prescribed by the Association of Investment Companies. 
     Gearing (APM) 
      At its simplest, gearing is borrowing. Just like any other public company, an investment trust 
      can borrow money to invest in additional investments for its portfolio. The effect of the 
      borrowing on the shareholders' assets is called 'gearing'. If the Company's assets grow, the 
      shareholders' assets grow proportionately more because the debt remains the same. But if the 
      value of the Company's assets falls, the situation is reversed. Gearing can therefore enhance 
      performance in rising markets but can adversely impact performance in falling markets. 
      Gearing is the Company's borrowings at par less cash and cash equivalents expressed as a percentage 
      of shareholders' funds. 
      Potential gearing is the Company's borrowings expressed as a percentage of shareholders' funds. 
     Leverage (APM) 
 
      For the purposes of the Alternative Investment Fund Managers (AIFM) Directive, leverage is 
      any method which increases the Company's exposure, including the borrowing of cash and the 
      use of derivatives. It is expressed as a ratio between the Company's exposure and its net 
      asset value and can be calculated on a gross and a commitment method. Under the gross method, 
      exposure represents the sum of the Company's positions after the deduction of sterling cash 
      balances, without taking into account any hedging and netting arrangements. Under the commitment 
      method, exposure is calculated without the deduction of sterling cash balances and after certain 
      hedging and netting positions are offset against each other. 
     Active Share (APM) 
      Active share, a measure of how actively a portfolio is managed, is the percentage of the portfolio 
      that differs from its comparative index. It is calculated by deducting from 100 the percentage 
      of the portfolio that overlaps with the comparative index. An active share of 100 indicates 
      no overlap with the index and an active share of zero indicates a portfolio that tracks the 
      index. 
 

The Baillie Gifford Japan Trust aims to achieve long term capital growth principally through investment in medium and smaller sized Japanese companies which are believed to have above average prospects for growth, although it invests in larger companies when considered appropriate. At 28 February 2019, the Company had total assets of GBP757.4m (before deduction of bank loans of GBP111.4m).

The Company is managed by Baillie Gifford, an Edinburgh based fund management group with around GBP190bn under management and advice as at 20 March 2019.

Past performance is not a guide to future performance. The value of an investment and any income from it is not guaranteed and may go down as well as up and investors may not get back the amount invested. This is because the share price is determined by the changing conditions in the relevant stock markets in which the Company invests and by the supply and demand for the Company's shares. You should view your investment as long term. You can find up to date performance information about The Baillie Gifford Japan Trust PLC on the Company website at www.japantrustplc.co.uk.

20 March 2019

For further information please contact:

Alex Blake, Baillie Gifford & Co

Tel: 0131 275 2859

Roland Cross, Director

Four Broadgate

Tel: 0203 697 4200 or 07831 401 309

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

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

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Without limiting the foregoing, no Provider shall have any liability whatsoever to you, whether in contract (including under an indemnity), in tort (including negligence), under a warranty, under statute or otherwise, in respect of any loss or damage suffered by you as a result of or in connection with any opinions, recommendations, forecasts, judgments, or any other conclusions, or any course of action determined, by you or any third party, whether or not based on the content, information or materials contained herein.

- Ends -

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