Blom Arab Markets Balanced Fund Annual Fund Report 2017 Mohamadiya Area, Al-Oula Building 3rd Floor, King Fahd Road, Riyadh 11482, Saudi Arabia P.O. Box 8151 Tel: +966 11 4949555 Fax: +966 11 4949551 www.blom.sa Blom Arab Markets Balanced Fund Arabia is a public fund managed by Blominvest Saudi Arabia ( BSA ). BSA is a Joint Stock company with a capital of SAR 245 million paid in full under CR 1010254040 date 24/07/1429 H issued from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. BSA is licensed by the Saudi Capital Market Authority under number 37-08094 to offer the services of Dealing as Principle, Agent, Underwriting, Managing, Arranging, Advising and Custody in Securities Business.
Contents Investment Fund Information... 3 Fund Performance... 4 Fund Expenses... 4 Fund Manager... 7 Custodian... 8 Auditor... 9 Financial Statements... 9 2
Investment Fund Information Fund Name Blom Arab Markets Balanced Fund Benchmark 55% S&P Pan Arab Composite Index. 45% S&P MENA Bond and Sukuk Index Investment Objectives and Policies The Fund is designed to provide Investors with an opportunity to achieve growth in invested capital over the medium to long term. It is planning to make its investments in accordance with medium and long term strategies, by investing in stocks, equity-linked securities, money market instruments, and fixed income securities, and in mutual Funds that invest in such securities and financial instruments, including investment Funds that are managed by the Fund Manager or its affiliates in the MENA region Strategies of the Fund The Fund aims to provide Investors with the opportunity to achieve capital growth over the medium to long term, using the investment strategies described below. Whilst the Fund will not limit its investments to those securities that form part of the Benchmark, it will benchmark itself against the Benchmark for the purposes of giving Investors an indication of performance relative to an existing standard. HSBC Saudi Arabia Limited will calculate the benchmark and provide it to the Fund Manager on every valuation day. The fees payable to the Fund Manager will not, however, be determined by reference to performance measured against the Benchmark or another comparable. Level of Concentration - Sector and Country The Fund will not use a strategy that excludes any particular industries, but will maintain the highest possible level of flexibility, while its investments will be limited to investments in MENA region. The Fund Manager intends to observe the following restrictions in all its investments: A maximum of 70% of the Fund NAV will be invested in equity-linked securities and stocks; At least 30% of the Fund NAV will be invested in money market and fixed income instruments; No more than 45% of the Fund NAV will be invested in Saudi Arabia; and No more than 20% of the Fund NAV will be invested in any other country. Other Restrictions - on the type of securities / other investment assets The Fund s investment strategy will be subject to the following restrictions: No more than 10% of the value of the securities of any single issuer may be held by the Fund. The Fund's exposure to any one issuer will not exceed 20% of the Fund NAV at any time. The Fund may not invest more than 10% of its NAV at any time in any class of securities issued by any single issuer (at the time of investment in such securities), except the securities issued by the government of the Kingdom Saudi Arabia, governments of member states of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). 3
The Fund may not invest more than 10% of its NAV from time to time in illiquid investments. The Fund may not assume, guarantee, endorse, or become directly or contingently liable for any obligation or indebtedness of any person (whether natural or legal). The portfolio of the Fund will not include any security where a call is to be made for any sum unpaid on that security unless that call could be met in full out of cash or through securities that can be converted into cash from the Fund's portfolio within five days. The Fund may not invest more than 10% of its NAV in derivatives. The Fund may not lend money to any person (whether natural or legal), but it may acquire debt instruments in conformity with its investment objectives as set out in this Information Memorandum. Borrowing Powers The maximum borrowing limit of the Fund will not exceed 10% its NAV at the time of borrowing, except in the case of borrowing from the Fund Manager or an affiliate of the Fund Manager to meet redemption requests in accordance with the Regulations. Investment in Other Funds The Fund may not acquire units of any other investment fund if the total units acquired exceed 25% of the NAV of the acquiring fund or 20% of the NAV of the target fund. The Fund investment in other investment fund units may not exceed 15% of the Fund NAV at any time. Distribution of income and gain policy Dividends and/or income are reinvested in the Fund not paid out or distributed to investors. The Fund Reports are available upon request free of charge at Blominvest Saudi Arabia website: www.blom.sa 4
Fund Performance 2015 2016 2017 NAV at year-end (SAR) 10,969,891 10,000,030 9163917.73 NAV/unit at year-end (SAR) 991.60 999.85 980.7795 Lowest NAV (SAR) 955.94 910.40 962.96 Highest NAV(SAR) 1,108.42 1,023.03 1,008.27 Units at year-end 11,063.04 10,001.56 9,343.51 Distribution/ unit - - - Expense Ratio 2.65% 2.37% 2.55% 1 year 3 year Since Inception Total Return -1.91% -9.98% -1.92% 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Annual Total Return 8.92% 4.3% -8.99% 0.83% -1.91% Fund Expenses Fee Type Amount Pct. Of average NAV Management Expense USD 143,297 1.50% Custodian Expense USD 24,000 0.25% Administrator Expense USD 24,000 0.25% Transaction Expense USD 4,050 0.04% Audit Expense USD 12,000 0.13% Fund Board Expense USD 10,000 0.10% CMA Expense USD 2,495 0.03% Miscellaneous USD 23,496 0.25% Total USD 243,338 2.55% The Fund Manager did not elect to waive or rebate any fees. The measures of performance have been consistently applied. Material changes that occurred during the period and that affected the performance of the fund. No Material changes occurred during 2017 Exercise of annual voting rights The Fund Manager abstained from voting during 2017 5
Fund board meeting Board Resolution dated 01/08/2017 Discussion Topics a. Performance review of the Fund. b. Approval of the financial statements (year-end 2016) c. Changes to the Terms and Conditions to reflect the amended IFR. d. Compliance with IFR (specifically investment limitations). Resolutions a. The board approved the performance of the fund. b. The board approved the financial statements (year-end 2016). c. The board approved the change of Terms and Conditions to reflect the change in the amended IFR. d. The board approved the suggested method of monitoring investment limitations and urged implementation. Board Resolution dated 06/11/2017 Discussion Topics a. Potential conflict of interest. b. Review of resolutions made on the first BOD meeting in 2017. c. Fund performance. d. CMA letter regarding the delay announcing of the funds prices on Tadawul. e. Forward-looking strategy for the funds. Resolutions a. Board discussed membership in other mutual funds managed by Blominvest and found no conflict. b. The board approved steps taken to avoid future delays in posting funds prices as well as the consequences of such delays, the board also requested that the compliance team must closely monitor the matter. 6
Fund Manager Fund Manager BLOMINVEST Saudi Arabia, with its registered office at Al Oula Building, 3rd floor, King Fahad Road, Riyadh, P.O. Box 8151, Riyadh 11482, Saudi Arabia. Names and addresses of sub-manager and/or investment adviser The Fund Manager did not appoint a sub-manager or investment advisor Investment activities during the period The Arab markets have remained flat in aggregate during 2017 due to increased geopolitical risks despite a 20+% increase in average oil price. Average P/E and P/B have inched down from 13.2x to 12.5x and 1.61x to 1.58x respectively over the 12 months of 2017. The Fund manager increased the Fund s equity exposure to Saudi, Kuwait, UAE and Egypt at various occasions during 2017: Bullish primary on the banking sector of the GCC being the primary beneficiaries of rising US interest rates that is expected be translated automatically into higher rates in KSA and the UAR given the currency peg. Inclusion of Kuwait and mostly Saudi in major emerging market benchmarks. In fact the Fund was throughout 2017 overweight Kuwait; as attractive valuations would eventually find a catalyst during the events leading to the FTSE Russell EM Index- inclusion. USD-EGP has been remarkably stable in 2017, barring a brief move to EGP15 and back again in February. The Fund Manager over-weighed Egyptian equities; mainly focusing on Financials, Real Estate as well as industrials which rallied 11.4%, 21.13% and 131% receptively as sectors in the S&P Pan Arab Index Composite. Fund Manager also found value in its treasury bills as they grossed a yield of 18%+ during. Given the political raft resulting in lack of clarity the fund manager chose to reduce position Qatar which ended the year with a 13% drop. Investment fund s performance during the period YTD The Fund ended the year down -1.91% vs +2.42% for the benchmark. Since Inception The Fund ended 2017 down -1.92 % vs +7.03% for the benchmark. 7
1,300.00 1,250.00 1,200.00 1,150.00 1,100.00 1,050.00 1,000.00 950.00 900.00 NAV Benchmark 850.00 6/19/2013 6/19/2014 6/19/2015 6/19/2016 6/19/2017 Details of any material changes made during the period No material changes took place during the period. Any other information that would enable unitholders to make an informed judgment about the fund s activities during the period. Not Applicable Investment fund invests substantially in other investment funds The fund invested in 3 mutual funds: Fund Name Fund Manager % exposure at year-end Blom MSCI SA Select MinVol Fund Blominvest Saudi Arabia 10.13% Ashmore FI Private Placement Fund Ashmore Capital 3.68% Blom Money Market Fund USD Blominvest Bank SAL 2.17% The Fund manager did not receive any special commission during 2017. Other data and other information required to be included in this report. Not Applicable. 8
Custodian Custodian HSBC Saudi Arabia Limited HSBC Building, Olaya Road, Al-Murooj l Riyadh 11413 l P.O. Box 9084, Saudi Arabia 9
Auditor & Financial Statements Auditor Ernst & Young Al Faisaliah Office Tower l King Fahad Road l P.O. Box 2732 l Riyadh 11461, Saudi Arabia. 10