Legal & General Fixed Interest Trust Interim Manager s Short Report for the period ended 5 March Distribution Number 47

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1 Legal & General Fixed Interest Trust Interim Manager s Short Report for the period ended 5 March 2017 Distribution Number 47

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3 Investment Objective and Policy The investment objective is to invest for high income and the prospects of capital growth from fixed interest securities, including overseas issues. The Manager will choose from a variety of fixed interest instruments including convertible and preference shares. Risk Profile Credit Risk This Trust is invested in financial securities such as bonds. With these investments, there is a risk of suffering loss due to a party not meeting its financial obligations. This risk is managed by monitoring the financial stability of investments and companies, via credit ratings. Derivative instruments such as Credit Default Swaps (CDS) may also be used to adjust the credit profile, duration, or reflect perceived changes in market sentiment. Market Risk Market risk arises mainly from uncertainty about future prices. It represents the potential loss the Trust may suffer through holding market positions in the face of market movements. The Manager adheres to the investment guidelines and in this way, monitors and controls the exposure to risk from any type of security, sector or issuer. Currency Risk This Trust holds investments in overseas financial securities. The performance of the Trust may therefore be affected by changes in exchange rates. This risk may be managed by the use of forward currency contracts, which aim to manage the effect of changing exchange rates. Interest Rate Risk This Trust is invested in interest bearing securities. The performance of the Trust may therefore be affected by changes in interest rates. The active monitoring and adjustment of the investments in the portfolio manages this risk. Trust Facts Period End Dates for Distributions: 5 Mar, Jun, Sep and Dec Distribution Dates: 5 Feb, May, Aug and Nov Ongoing Charges Figures: 5 Mar 17 5 Sep 16 R-Class 0.92% 0.92% A-Class 0.92% 0.92% I-Class 0.33% 0.33% F-Class 0.57% 0.57% The Ongoing Charges Figure (OCF) is the ratio of the Trust s total discloseable costs (excluding overdraft interest) to the average net assets of the Trust. The OCF is intended to provide a reliable figure which gives the most accurate measure of what it costs to invest in a trust and is calculated based on the last period s figures. 1

4 Risk and Reward Profile Lower risk Higher risk Potentially lower rewards Potentially higher rewards This risk and reward profile is based on historical data which may not be a reliable indication of the Trust s risk and reward category in the future. The category is based on the rate at which the value of the Trust has moved up and down in the past. This Trust is in category four because it invests in investment grade bonds which generally provide higher rewards and higher risks than investments in cash and lower rewards and lower risks than investments in sub-investment grade bonds or company shares. The Trust s category is not guaranteed to remain the same and may change over time. Even a trust in the lowest category is not a risk free investment. Distribution Information R-Class The distribution payable on 5 May 2017 is p per unit for distribution units and p per unit for accumulation units. A-Class The distribution payable on 5 May 2017 is p per unit for distribution units and p per unit for accumulation units. I-Class The distribution payable on 5 May 2017 is p per unit for distribution units and p per unit for accumulation units. F-Class The distribution payable on 5 May 2017 is p per unit for distribution units and p per unit for accumulation units. 2

5 Net Asset Values and Units in Issue Net Asset Net Asset Units Value per Class Value ( ) in Issue Unit (p) R-Class Distribution Units 667,617, ,588, Accumulation Units 352,739, ,462, A-Class Distribution Units 236, , Accumulation Units 919, , I-Class Distribution Units 169,846, ,437, Accumulation Units 188,970, ,239, F-Class Distribution Units 209, , Accumulation Units 626, , Past performance is not a guide to future performance. The price of units and any income from them may go down as well as up. Exchange rate changes may cause the value of any overseas investments to rise or fall. 3

6 Portfolio Information The top 10 holdings and their associated weighting at the current period end and preceding year end were: Top 10 Holdings at Top 10 Holdings at 5 March September 2016 Percentage of Percentage of Holding Net Asset Value Holding Net Asset Value Prudential % 29/05/ % Treasury 3.5% 22/01/ % Treasury 4.25% 07/03/ % RSA Insurance Group 6.701% Open Maturity 1.19% Society of Lloyds 7.421% Open Maturity 1.15% Western Power Distribution East 5.25% 17/01/ % AT&T 7% 30/04/ % GlaxoSmithKline Capital 5.25% 19/12/ % Treasury 4.25% 07/12/ % BAA Funding 7.125% 14/02/ % Prudential % 29/05/ % AT&T 7% 30/04/ % Treasury 4.25% 07/03/ % GE Capital Funding 8% 14/01/ % National Grid 7.375% 13/01/ % E.ON International Finance 6% 30/10/ % Society of Lloyds 7.421% Open Maturity 1.10% Centrica 7% 19/09/ % Western Power Distribution East 5.25% 17/01/ % GlaxoSmithKline Capital 5.25% 19/12/ % 4

7 Trust Holdings as at 5 March % 60% 52% 50% 40% 30% 28% 20% 10% 0% Corporate Bonds - Long Dated Corporate Bonds - Medium Dated 11% Corporate Bonds - Short Dated 5% Government Stocks - Long Dated 3% Net Other Assets 1% Government Stocks - Short Dated Trust Holdings as at 5 September % 60% 58% 50% 40% 30% 26% 20% 10% 0% Corporate Bonds - Long Dated Corporate Bonds - Medium Dated 11% 3% Corporate Government Bonds - Stocks - Short Dated Long Dated 1% 1% Net Other Assets Government Stocks - Medium Dated 5

8 Manager s Investment Report During the six-month period under review, the Trust s R-Class accumulation units fell by 2.65%, compared to a fall of 2.20% in the iboxx Sterling Collateralized and Corporates Total Return Index (Source: Bloomberg). Past performance is not a guide to future performance. The value of investments and any income from them may go down as well as up. Exchange rate changes may cause the value of any overseas investments to rise or fall. Market/Economic Review Government bond markets struggled to make headway over the review period as investors began to discount an end to the low growth, low inflation environment, which has prevailed since the global financial crisis, resulting in higher interest rates. Although credit spreads (the difference in yield between corporate bonds and government bonds from the same region) fell over the review period, this was not enough to offset the negative effect of higher underlying interest rates, and corporate bonds also delivered negative returns. The spotlight fell on central bank action. As expected, the US Federal Reserve raised interest rates in December 2016, although signs that borrowing costs could rise more steeply this year than had been forecast surprised some investors. In Europe, following Italy s change of Prime Minister after Matteo Renzi s defeat in the constitutional reform referendum, the European Central Bank announced a future reduction in the monthly bond repurchase total but extended the buying timeframe until at least the end of In the UK, the Bank of England made no changes to policy over the review period, although consumer price inflation rose to its highest level in over two years following the sharp fall in the value of the Pound during the summer of Trust Review The trust delivered negative returns over the review period, although being marginally short, interest rate risk exposure compared to the benchmark helped to underpin performance. We also maintained our theme of favouring the defensive collateralised sector. However, our wary view on commodities and relatively low exposure to mining companies detracted from returns. Although portfolio activity was generally muted, we broadly reduced risk. We trimmed our positive stance towards utilities, lowering exposure to senior and subordinated bonds, and retained the proceeds in cash. Ahead of the US election we participated in a new sub-investment grade issue from Ladbrokes. We reduced exposure to HSBC subordinated bonds as well as debt from social housing provider Places for People, clothing retailer Next and property firm Hammerson. Elsewhere, we reduced risk through sales of long-dated debt from Vodafone and Volkswagen following recent performance. Among utilities, sales included ENEL and 6

9 Manager s Investment Report continued Severn Trent, where we believe an increased focus on shareholders could be detrimental to the interest of bondholders. Outlook Looking ahead, market momentum appears to be robust, focusing on improving global growth, while monetary policy remains largely supportive. The question is whether the US Dollar will continue to rally and if US real yields will climb to levels that undermine this generally positive backdrop for risk assets. US economic strength continues to be demonstrated mainly by sentiment indicators rather than hard data, and neither inflation nor wages have yet reached uncomfortable levels. Nevertheless, pressure does appear to be building, and further clarification of President Trump s economic policies might boost growth and inflation expectations. Emerging markets are in the crosshairs should the US Dollar appreciate further. In the meantime, European political risk looks likely to remain high as the French Presidential election approaches. Importantly, we believe both equity and credit valuations are at expensive levels, which leaves us reluctant to chase the current rally. Legal & General Investment Management Limited (Investment Adviser) 16 March

10 Manager s Report and Accounts Copies of the most recent Interim and Annual Long Form Manager s Reports are available free of charge by telephoning , by writing to the Manager or are available on the internet at Call charges will vary. We may record and monitor calls. EU Savings Directive The Trust has been reviewed against the requirements of the Directive 2003/48/EC on Taxation of savings in the form of interest payments (ESD), following the HM Revenue & Customs debt investment reporting guidance notes. Under the Directive, information is collected about the payment of distributions to residents in certain other countries and is reported to HM Revenue & Customs to be exchanged with Tax authorities in those countries. The Trust falls within the 25% debt investment reporting threshold. This means that details of all distributions and redemption proceeds paid to non UK investors will be reported by Legal & General (Unit Trust Managers) Limited to HM Revenue & Customs to be exchanged with the relevant Tax authorities. Dual Pricing Arrangement The Manager s fixed dual pricing arrangement has a set spread to account for the costs of transacting in a particular Trust. Where the Manager operates a box through which unit subscriptions and unit redemptions are netted into a single trade instruction to the Trustee, the netting reduces the actual transaction costs and this generates a revenue to the Manager. With effect from 1 January 2016, the revenue generated from this activity is calculated on a monthly basis and returned to the Trust in the form of a payment from the manager. This provides an enhanced return to the Trust, through the size of any return will be dependent on the size of subscriptions and redemptions. 8

11 Minimum Investment Amounts The minimum initial lump sum investment amounts for each class are as follows: R-Class 500 A-Class 500 I-Class 1,000,000 F-Class 500 In addition, monthly contributions can be made into the R-Class, A-Class and F-Class only, with a minimum amount of 50 per month. F-Class units are only available to: i) investors who have received advice from authorised intermediaries and platforms in relation to their investment in units in the Trust and ii) authorised intermediaries or distributers who the Manager reasonably considers will adequately bear the costs of marketing to and acquiring investors at no or limited cost to the Manager, and to whom the Manager has confirmed that such distributer or investor meets the criteria for investment in such units. Other Information The information in this report is designed to enable unitholders to understand how the Trust has performed during the period under review and how it is invested at the period end. Further information on the activities and performance of the Trust can be obtained by telephoning or by writing to the Manager. Significant Changes Gross Distribution Payments We'd like to make you aware of an HM Revenue & Customs ruling which became effective from 6 April Where interest distributions were previously paid net, we are required to start paying all interest distributions on a gross basis, starting with the May 2017 distribution payment. Prior to 6 April 2017, interest distributions were paid to clients after the deduction of 20% income tax, unless the client has completed a gross declaration form. From 6 April 2017, we will not deduct tax on any interest distributions and all payments will be made gross. It will become your responsibility to make any declarations to HM Revenue & Customs. If you are in any doubt as to your taxation position, please consult a professional adviser. 9

12 Authorised Fund Manager Legal & General (Unit Trust Managers) Limited Registered in England and Wales No Registered office: One Coleman Street, London EC2R 5AA Telephone: Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority Call charges will vary. We may record and monitor calls. Trustee Northern Trust Global Services Limited 50 Bank Street, Canary Wharf, London E14 5NT Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority Independent Auditors PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP 7 More London Riverside London SE1 2RT 10

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16 Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority Legal & General (Unit Trust Managers) Limited Registered in England and Wales No Registered office: One Coleman Street, London EC2R 5AA FII