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Shires Income PLC

Looking for high-quality investments for a high, regular income


Morningstar rating:
4 out of 5
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Latest news

An update from our investment manager, Iain Pyle - 1 September 2020

The valuations of UK equities remain highly dispersed and share prices remain volatile as the market still looks for clear direction on the recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic and the economic impact. The top and bottom quintiles of the market on valuation are as dispersed as they have ever been and stable growth stocks continue to attract a significant valuation premium. We retain a relatively cautious view in the short term. The UK economy has so far proved resilient, but has been helped significantly by unprecedented government support and we need to see how the situation changes as this is withdrawn towards the end of the year. Longer term, however, we are more constructive. The timing of a working vaccine against Covid-19 may be uncertain, but early trial results have been positive and the scale and focus of efforts on the vaccine will surely yield positive results within our investment time horizon.

Investing for income has proved difficult this year with many companies cutting dividends and equity income as an asset class has struggled. Since the last monthly update we have seen further dividend cuts, with BP and Prudential amongst the high profile names to reduce dividends for 2020. However, we hope there is a chance of dividend resumption and growth as we move into 2021.

The Trust has not been immune from these trends given its high yield, but the high level of income from preference shares has allowed us to hold a broader range of stocks and to outperform the benchmark. We have also seen some companies in the portfolio growing dividends.

This shows that if we can find the right companies, even in challenged sectors, then there are still attractive income opportunities out there and that they can lead to outperformance. If we take a longer term view, better economic data and the resumption of dividend payments for many stocks should allow income to recover – but picking the right names with the right cashflow characteristics will remain key.

Read manager Iain Pyle's latest article
Read the latest QuotedData research note
Access the Company's latest Regulatory News Service (RNS) announcements

About us

Hear more from our investment manager Iain Pyle:

 

Key people

Iain Pyle

Iain Pyle

Investment Director

Iain has been an Investment Director in the UK Equities team for Aberdeen Standard Investments since 2015. He is the lead manager of Shires Income plc and is deputy manager for Murray Income Trust and Aberdeen Standard Equity Income Trust plc. Within his role, he manages the UK Equity High Income Fund and the Bothwell UK Equity Income Fund and has sector responsibility for oil & gas and banks.

Iain has been covering analyst for the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors. He is also a member of the Pan-European fund management team. Prior to joining Standard Life Investments, Iain was a Vice President on the number one ranked European Oil & Gas research team at Sanford Bernstein from 2007. He also worked as a management consultant at PwC. Iain holds an MSc, Masters in Chemical Engineering, ACA, CFA and is a qualified accountant.

Charles-Luke

Charles Luke

Investment Director

Charles Luke is an Investment Director on the UK and European equities team having joined Aberdeen in 2000. Charles started his career at Framlington Investment Management in 1998, covering UK equities.

Charles graduated with a BA in Economics and Japanese Studies from Leeds University and an MSc in Business and Economic History from the London School of Economics.

  • Iain Pyle

    Investment Director

    Iain has been an Investment Director in the UK Equities team for Aberdeen Standard Investments since 2015. He is the lead manager of Shires Income plc and is deputy manager for Murray Income Trust and Aberdeen Standard Equity Income Trust plc. Within his role, he manages the UK Equity High Income Fund and the Bothwell UK Equity Income Fund and has sector responsibility for oil & gas and banks.

    Iain has been covering analyst for the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors. He is also a member of the Pan-European fund management team. Prior to joining Standard Life Investments, Iain was a Vice President on the number one ranked European Oil & Gas research team at Sanford Bernstein from 2007. He also worked as a management consultant at PwC. Iain holds an MSc, Masters in Chemical Engineering, ACA, CFA and is a qualified accountant.

  • Charles Luke

    Investment Director

    Charles Luke is an Investment Director on the UK and European equities team having joined Aberdeen in 2000. Charles started his career at Framlington Investment Management in 1998, covering UK equities.

    Charles graduated with a BA in Economics and Japanese Studies from Leeds University and an MSc in Business and Economic History from the London School of Economics.

Robert Talbut

Robert Talbut

Chairman

Robert Talbut was formerly Chief Investment Officer of Royal London Asset Management and has over 30 years of financial services experience. He has represented the asset management industry through the chairmanship of both the ABI Investment Committee and the Asset Management Committee of the Investment Association. He has also been a member of the Audit & Assurance Council of the FRC and the FCAs Listing Authority Advisory Panel. He is a member of the M&G With Profits Committee and a non-executive director of Pacific Assets Trust plc, JPMorgan American Investment Trust PLC and Schroder UK Mid Cap Fund plc.

Robin Archibald

Robin Archibald

Non-Executive Director

Robin Archibald has a wide range of experience in advising and managing transactions in the UK closed-ended funds sector over his thirty five year career as a corporate financier including with Samuel Montagu, S G Warburg and Natwest Markets. He retired from Winterflood Investment Trusts in May 2014, where he was formerly Head of Corporate Finance and Broking. He is currently a non-executive director of Albion Technology & General VCT PLC, Ediston Property Investment Company PLC, Capital Gearing Trust PLC and Henderson European Focus Trust plc. He is Chairman of the Audit Committee.

Marian Glen

Marian Glen

Non-Executive Director

Marian Glen is a non-executive director of Martin Currie Global Portfolio Trust Plc and The Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland. She was a non-executive director of Murray Income Trust Plc, Friends Life Group Limited and other companies in the Friends Life group of companies. She was formerly the General Counsel of AEGON UK and prior to that was a corporate partner and head of funds and financial services at Shepherd and Wedderburn.

Jane Pearce

Jane Pearce

Non-Executive Director

Jane Pearce is a Co-opted External Member of the Audit and Risk Committee of the University of St Andrews. She had an executive career as an Equity Analyst at leading investment banks and latterly was an Equity Strategist at Lehman Brothers and Nomura International. She is a Chartered Accountant and was a Member of the Governing Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland from 1999-2000.

  • Robert Talbut

    Chairman

    Robert Talbut was formerly Chief Investment Officer of Royal London Asset Management and has over 30 years of financial services experience. He has represented the asset management industry through the chairmanship of both the ABI Investment Committee and the Asset Management Committee of the Investment Association. He has also been a member of the Audit & Assurance Council of the FRC and the FCAs Listing Authority Advisory Panel. He is a member of the M&G With Profits Committee and a non-executive director of Pacific Assets Trust plc, JPMorgan American Investment Trust PLC and Schroder UK Mid Cap Fund plc.

  • Robin Archibald

    Non-Executive Director

    Robin Archibald has a wide range of experience in advising and managing transactions in the UK closed-ended funds sector over his thirty five year career as a corporate financier including with Samuel Montagu, S G Warburg and Natwest Markets. He retired from Winterflood Investment Trusts in May 2014, where he was formerly Head of Corporate Finance and Broking. He is currently a non-executive director of Albion Technology & General VCT PLC, Ediston Property Investment Company PLC, Capital Gearing Trust PLC and Henderson European Focus Trust plc. He is Chairman of the Audit Committee.

  • Marian Glen

    Non-Executive Director

    Marian Glen is a non-executive director of Martin Currie Global Portfolio Trust Plc and The Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland. She was a non-executive director of Murray Income Trust Plc, Friends Life Group Limited and other companies in the Friends Life group of companies. She was formerly the General Counsel of AEGON UK and prior to that was a corporate partner and head of funds and financial services at Shepherd and Wedderburn.

  • Jane Pearce

    Non-Executive Director
    Jane Pearce is a Co-opted External Member of the Audit and Risk Committee of the University of St Andrews. She had an executive career as an Equity Analyst at leading investment banks and latterly was an Equity Strategist at Lehman Brothers and Nomura International. She is a Chartered Accountant and was a Member of the Governing Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland from 1999-2000.

 

Financial calendar

Year End 31 March
Accounts published June
Annual General Meeting July
Dividend Paid January, April, July, October

Trust details

Shires Income PLC

Registered Office:
Bow Bells House,
One Bread Street,
London
EC4M 9HH

Registered in England as an Investment Company Number 386561

Launch Date: March 1929

Risk Warning
Risk warning
The value of investments and the income from them can go down as well as up and you may get back less than the amount invested. The tax benefits relating to ISA investments may not be maintained. Investors should review the relevant Key Information Document (KID) brochure prior to making an investment decision.
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