L1 Long Short Fund Limited (LSF) Earnings Call Transcript & Summary

Thank you for standing by, and welcome to the L1 Long Short Fund Limited Annual Meeting of Shareholders. I would now like to hand the conference over to Mr. Andrew Larke, Chairman. Please go ahead.

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Andrew Larke, and I have the privilege of being the Chairman of your company and also of today's meeting. It is my pleasure to welcome you to the 2021 Annual General Meeting of L1 Long Short Fund Limited. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this AGM will occur virtually. It is being conducted through the online platform provided by our share registrar, Link Market Services. As it is now 10 AM, and we have a quorum, I declare the meeting open. Firstly, I'd like to introduce my fellow directors: John Macfarlane, Harry Kingsley, Mark Landau, and Raphael Lamm. Also present is Mark Licciardo from Martin's Corporate Services, our Company Secretary; and Rob Kanner of Ernst & Young, our company's auditors. Notice of this meeting and the explanatory memorandum was sent to all shareholders, and I propose that this be taken as read. I'll now turn to my Chairman's address. The manager's investment performance in calendar year 2021 to 31 October has been exceptional, with returns being 35.7% for the period. This is on top of strong performances in 2020, plus 29.5%; and 2019, plus 25.5%. Three-year performance has been 26.4% per annum compared with 11.9% per annum for the S&P ASX 200 Accumulation Index, seeing an outperformance of 14.5% per annum over that period. Since IPO in April 2018, the portfolio has achieved annual returns of 14.6% on average compared with 10.3% on average for the S&P ASX 200 Accumulation Index, seeing an outperformance of 4.3% per annum over that period. The strong performance has enabled the company to pay its maiden fully franked dividend of $0.015 per share in March this year and a final fully franked dividend of $0.03 per share in October this year, bringing total fully franked dividends to $0.045 a share for the 2021 financial year. We expect total dividends to increase in 2022. Over the last 12 months to 31 October 2021, the share price discount to post tax NTA has reduced from 19% to just under 2%. As the company has a high turn rate for its underlying share portfolio, we believe the post-tax NTA is the most accurate reflection of the value of the company as it recognizes the tax that will be incurred and paid as positions are sold and both gains and losses are crystallized. Board believes that the following package of measures has helped to reduce the discount and will continue to do so over time: the strong investment performance of the manager; the enhanced engagement with shareholders, key advisory and wealth management groups as well as the market generally; greater transparency of fund performance with daily publication of the net tangible assets; the start of regular and growing dividend payments; an ongoing share buyback program where the company acquires shares when the discount to post-tax NTA is greater than 10%; strong manager alignment and long-term commitment. Since the last AGM, Rafi and Mark continued their on-market share purchases, acquiring approximately 4.9 million shares. In addition, Rafi and Mark and persons associated with the manager now hold approximately 14.3% of LSF after acquiring approximately 36.7 million shares as part of their reinvestment of the after-tax amount of the LSF performance fees. And finally, strong nonexecutive director alignment also. The independent nonexecutive directors own shares equivalent in value to over 10x their combined annual pretax salaries. In conclusion, your Board would like to thank the manager under the calm and expert guidance of Rafi Lamm and Mark Landau for their hard work and exceptional performance over the last 12 months, extending the strong performances achieved during 2019 and 2020. I'd also like to thank our shareholders for their continuing support of the company, which is very much appreciated. So I now turn to the business of today's meeting. I wish to advise that voting on the resolutions will be conducted by way of poll. Shareholders will be able to cast their vote using the electronic voting card received. I also confirm that I propose to vote those proxies left to my discretion as the Chairman in favor of all resolutions. Proxy voting received prior to the meeting will be shown on the screen for each item of business to be voted on today. Item 2 of this year's AGM is subject to a voting exclusion, as noted in the notice of meeting. In terms of questions, only shareholders, validly appointed proxies and corporate representatives are entitled to ask questions at today's meeting. If you wish to ask a question either please the click on the Ask Question button or if you have preregistered for a PIN number, please press star 1 on your telephone and ask your question. We'll answer any questions at the conclusion of the formal business of the meeting, including any questions for the investment manager. Please note that voting will remain open for 5 minutes after conclusion of the AGM. At your convenience, I also invite you to listen to the recorded webinar and presentation, which Mark Landau on 3 November, which is available on the company's website. The first item of business is to receive and consider the annual report, together with the directors' and auditors' reports for the year ended 30 June 2021. I will now turn to the items of business for which a vote is required. The second item of business today relates to the adoption of the remuneration report, as displayed on the screen. I will now table the outcome of proxy voting received prior to the meeting, as shown on the screen now. If you would like to vote and haven't already, please do so now using the electronic voting card. [Voting]

The third item of business today relates to the reelection of directors. Item 3.1 relates to the reelection of John Macfarlane as displayed on the screen. I'll invite John now to say a few words.

Good morning to all shareholders. My name is John Macfarlane, and I'm standing for reelection as an independent Non-Executive Director of LSF, and I would appreciate your support. I'm a career banker and risk manager. I've been involved in global financial markets for 35 years, and I've worked in markets in North America and Asia, in addition to Australia and New Zealand. I'm currently a Director of 2 public companies and a small number of private companies. Those responsibilities ensure that I have a focus not just on market opportunity and risk, but on regulatory developments and compliance, performance assurance and governance best practice. I enjoy representing shareholders and working with my fellow directors and the L1 management team in the endeavor of delivering favorable outcomes for LSF investors. I would appreciate your consideration and support as I put myself forward for reelection. Thank you.

Thank you, John. I will now table the outcome of proxy voting received prior to the meeting, as shown on the screen now. Please vote now using the electronic voting card. [Voting]

Item 3.2 relates to the reelection of Raphael Lamm, as displayed on the screen. I'll invite Rafi now to say a few words.

Hi. My name is Raphael Lamm, and I'm standing for reelection as a Director of LSF. I'm a joint portfolio manager and COO of L1 Capital, which I cofounded with Mark back in 2007. I have been in equity markets for over 18 years, and I've been a Board member of LSF since the formation of the company. I firmly support the majority independence of the LSF Board. And I think as a director, I complement the skill set of existing -- of the existing Board with my perspectives on the global and Australian investment landscapes and opportunities for this company. Thank you for your consideration and your vote.

Thank you, Rafi. I'll now table the outcome of proxy voting received prior to the meeting, as shown on the screen. Please vote now using the electronic voting card. [Voting]

Ladies and gentlemen, that concludes the items of business to be voted on at today's meeting. Shareholders are reminded that they can submit their vote online until 5 minutes after the meeting closes. I appoint Mr. Daniel Reid from Link Market Services as the returning officer for this poll as it will take some time for the poll results to be known. That will be announced on the Australian Stock Exchange later today. That concludes the formal business to be considered at this meeting. However, as I mentioned earlier, we now have the opportunity to address any questions from shareholders. Shareholders also have the opportunity to ask questions of the investment manager. Are there any questions? Moderator, are there any phone questions?

There are no questions.

Thank you, moderator. Jane, are there any online questions, please?

There are no question, Chairman.

Thank you, Jane. If there are no remaining questions, and in fact, no questions today, I'd like to thank everybody for their attendance, and I declare the meeting closed. Thank you, everybody. Have a good day.

That concludes our conference for today. Thank you for participating. You may now disconnect.