For the year ended 31 December 2020
Company Registration Number: SV 430
Page
ANNUAL REPORT
Directors, Officers and other information 2
Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities 6
Financial Statements:
Statement of Financial Position 22
Statement of Comprehensive Income 25
Statement of Changes in Net Assets Attributable to Holders of Redeemable Shares 28
Statement of Changes in Equity Attributable to Founder Shareholders 30
Statement of Cash Flows 31
Notes to the Financial Statements 34
Independent Auditors
Report
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Directors Dr. Frank Chetcuti Dimech
Mr. Joseph Xuereb Mr. Michal
Kosac
Registered Office Central North
Business Centre Level 1, Sqaq il-Fawwara Sliema
SLM 1670
Malta
Company Registration Number SV 430
Administrator and Registrar Apex Fund Services
(Malta) Limited Central North
Business Centre Level 1, Sqaq il-Fawwara
Sliema SLM 1670 Malta
Company Secretary Apex Corporate
& Advisory Services Ltd Central
North Business Centre
Level 1, Sqaq il-Fawwara Sliema
SLM 1670
Malta
Investment Committee Mr. Joseph Xuereb Mr. Michal Kosac Mr. Joseph
Formosa
Statutory Auditors KPMG
92
Marina Street Pieta PTA 9044 Malta
The directors present their report and the audited financial
statements of Alpha Quest Funds SICAV
p.l.c. (the “Company”), covering the financial
year ended 31 December 2020.
The Company
was incorporated on 28 November
2016. The Company
is licensed and regulated by the Malta Financial Services Authority
(“MFSA”) under the Investment Services Act (CAP. 370, Laws of Malta) as a Professional Investor Fund
which targets Qualifying Investors as set out in the relevant Offering
Supplement.
The licensed sub-funds as at the end of the year were as follows:
-
Alpha Quest Balanced
Fund (PIF/430A); and
-
Alpha Quest Opportunity Fund (PIF/430 B).
During the year under review, there were no
subscriptions and redemptions in Alpha Quest Balanced Fund. Subscriptions
amounted to EUR Nil and redemptions amounted to EUR 12,439,236 in Alpha Quest Opportunity Fund.
The Company continued to purchase Romanian
restitution points and is currently one of the largest owners of these points on the Romanian
market holding roughly
252 million points (2019: roughly
295 million points) (having
nominal value of RON 1 per point)
as at 31 December 2020.
During the year, the Company
also issued on the Bratislava Stock Exchange an Unsecured Bond with a nominal value of Eur40 million maturing
in 2025. At the reporting date, the subscribed for and paid up bonds from this issue amounted to
EUR6,223,000 (refer to note 13 to the financial statements for further
details).
The results for the year under review are shown in the statement of comprehensive income.
A dividend amounting to EUR 1,759,377 (2019: EUR 3,570,350) has been
declared to the ‘A’ Class Shareholders
during the year. The proposed dividends after year-end amounted to EUR
1,216,543. Retained earnings
of the Company at end of year amounted to EUR 1,216,543
(2019: EUR Nil).
The
financial statements are drawn up in Euro (€), which is the currency in which
the Company's share capital
is denominated, in terms of section 187 of the Companies Act, 1995.
The
activities of the Company expose it to a variety of risks. The successful management
of risk is essential to enable the
Company to achieve its objectives. The ultimate responsibility for risk management rests with the Company’s
directors, who evaluate the Company’s risk appetite and formulate policies for identifying and managing such risks. The principal risks and uncertainties facing the Company
are included below.
The Company defines risk as the probability of a
permanent loss of capital. The risk management
effort targets the minimization of the probability of a permanent loss
of invested capital within its investment
objective. At the same time, it is also understood that the risk cannot be
completely eliminated. Risk is
considered acceptable by the Board of Directors if its sources are understood
and within appetite and tolerance
levels set by the Board of Directors after consulting the Investment Committee. It is important to understand
the sources of risk and carry risk only if there is adequate compensation in the form of return.
The Company carries the risk of losses due to
non-compliance with legal requirements towards the Maltese regulator and other regulators in whose jurisdiction the
Company may conduct its business, including
those in which the Company has issued securities on recognised exchanges, or
other potential institutions.
The internal compliance function of the Company is
carried out by experienced personnel. The Company
is subject to numerous laws and regulations covering a wide range of matters.
Failure to comply could have
financial or reputational implications and could materially affect the
Company’s ability to operate. The Company has embedded operating
policies and procedures to ensure compliance with existing legislation.
The Company’s investments in the points awarded
under indemnification decisions issued by the
Romanian Government need to be sourced from individual beneficiaries of
such points and acquired through
public deeds registered in Romania. There is no guarantee that the Company will
manage to source such points, or a
particular number of points. The Company may also be exposed to changes in the Romanian
Government’s interpretation of the points
system and/or to changes in the applicable laws. Romania has undergone a long period of economic
transition to a market economy, which has not
been smooth. An extensive programme of economic reforms included the
privatisation of several state-owned
enterprises and the restructuring of Romania’s energy, mining and industrial
sector. Externally, a slowdown in
global trade may have a high impact on Romania’s growth, mainly due to its reliance on other EU economies as
trading partners. Geopolitical tensions, combined with the increase
in the US Federal Reserve’s key-interest rate could lead to increased investor
caution, capital outflows
and depreciation of the local currency (RON).
The outbreak of
COVID-19 has proven to be quite erratic in its progression and continues to
rapidly evolve. The pandemic has adversely
impacted global and local commercial activities and its fluidity precludes
any accurate prediction of its ultimate
impact. The Company
has taken measures
to ensure operational capacity to its service
providers. In the meantime, the Board
continues to monitor the development
of this virus so that it may be able to counteract adverse effects in the most
effective manner.
The exposure of the
above risks, the way these risks arise, and how the Company manages these risks are further disclosed in detail in
note 9 to these financial statements and in the Offering Documentation of the Company and the respective Sub-Fund.
There were no
subsequent events that could have a significant effect on the financial
statements as at 31 December 2020.
The Directors of the
Company who served during the year
were:
Dr. Frank Chetcuti Dimech
Mr. Joseph Xuereb
Mr. Michal
Kosac
In accordance with the Company’s
Articles of Association, the directors will remain in office.
During the year under
review, there were no breaches of the Standard Licence Conditions and no breaches of regulatory requirements, which
were subject to any administrative penalty or regulatory sanction.
We the undersigned are responsible for the preparation of the Annual Report of the Company
for the financial year ended 31 December
2020 and confirm
that to the best of our knowledge, it is complete
and accurate in all material respects and conforms with the MFSA’s
requirements in terms of the Company’s
License Conditions and any disclosures of the Company’s past performance are
accurate and in conformity with the MFSA’s
applicable requirements.
The auditors,
KPMG, have expressed
their willingness to continue in office and a resolution proposing their
reappointment and authorizing the directors to fix their remuneration will be
put before the members at the next general meeting.
Mr. Joseph Xuereb
Director
Approved by the Board
of Directors on 13 May 2021
and signed on its behalf by:
Mr. Michal Kosac Director
The Directors are required by the Companies Act,
1995 (Chapter 386, Laws of Malta) (the “Act”)
to prepare the financial statements which give a true and fair view of
the state of affairs of the Company as at the end of the financial
year and the results for that year.
In preparing the financial statements, the Directors are responsible for:
i.
Selecting and applying
appropriate accounting policies;
ii.
Ensuring the financial statements have been drawn up in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards adopted
by the EU;
iii.
Making accounting estimates
that are reasonable in the circumstances; and
iv.
Ensuring that financials
statements are prepared
on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Company
will continue in business as a going concern.
Mr. Joseph Xuereb Director
The Directors are also
responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy, at any time, the
financial position of the Company and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Act. The
Directors are also responsible for ensuring
that an appropriate system of internal control is in operation to provide them
with reasonable assurance that the
assets of the Company are being properly safeguarded and that fraud and other irregularities will be prevented and detected.
Mr. Michal Kosac Director
The name of the Company
is Alpha Quest Funds SICAV p.l.c. (the “Company”).
The registered
office of the Company is situated at Level 1, Central North Business Centre, Sqaq il- Fawwara, Sliema SLM 1670, Malta.
The Company was incorporated on 28 November
2016. The Company is organised as a multi-fund
limited liability investment company with variable share capital under
the laws of the Republic of Malta and
licensed by the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) with Licence Number
SV 430 under the Investment Services
Act (Chapter 370 of the Laws of Malta) as a Professional Investor Fund targeting Qualifying Investors.
The Company may establish a number of Sub-funds. Currently the Company has established two Sub- funds: the Alpha Quest Balanced Fund and
the Alpha Quest Opportunity Fund. Pursuant to Legal Notice 241 of 2006, the assets and liabilities of each individual Fund comprised in the Company
shall constitute a patrimony separate
from that of each other
Sub-fund of the Company so that the assets of one Sub-fund
shall be available exclusively for the creditors and holders of Shares in that Sub-fund.
LEI code: 213800JHGGP7KI184U67
ISIN: CZ0000000856
Telephone: (00356) 2258 4700
Fax: (00356) 2258 4701
The Company is not part of any group
and therefore, is not dependent
upon any entities.
The Company is an investment company with
variable share capital, the sole object of which is the collective investment of its funds in securities and other movable
or immovable property,
or in any of them,
with the aim of spreading investment risks and giving Members
the benefits of the results
of the management of its
funds.
The investment objective of both Sub-funds is to achieve capital
appreciation primarily through investments
in restitution points representing entitlement to immovable property located in
Romania with the purpose of redeeming
the points so acquired into cash or re-selling the immovable property so acquired. Such investments are derived
from indemnification decisions issued by the Romanian Government – National Authority for Property Restitution
(“ANRP”) regarding the measures for the completion
of the restitution process, in kind or in equivalent, of the properties
unlawfully seized during the Romanian
communist regime, as subsequently amended. The Romanian law provides that where restitution in kind to the former
owners is not possible, the restitution request is settled by granting compensation in the form of
points (hereinafter “Points”), with each point having a value of one Romanian Leu (RON 1). Starting from 1
January 2017, persons obtaining such points may use them in order to acquire immovable property from a National Fund
by public auction or, for a period of
five (5) years, to redeem them into cash up to a maximum of 20% of the nominal
value of Points per annum. There is no time-limit for utilizing Points to acquire
immovable property by public auction.
The Points will be acquired on the secondary market from existing owners
through a notarial deed executed and
registered in Romania. If Points are redeemed at public auctions, the Sub-fund
will not enter into any co-ownership deal and will only acquire
individual properties in their entirety.
No Points will be acquired from any of the members
of the Investment Committee and/ or any related parties to the Company.
SPECIFIC DISCLOSURES (CONTINUED)
The Sub-funds may also invest in government and corporate bonds in
developed markets. The Sub- funds may also enter into agreements with third party banks that desire to issue fixed income products
linked to the Sub-fund’s underlying assets and issue fixed income
securities. The Sub-fund may from time to time invest unutilized cash in bonds and currency
swaps. Such investments may be with various entities in various markets or industries
and in different geographical locations, without limitation. Depending on market conditions, the
Sub-fund may also from time to time invest in cash or money market
instruments for liquidity
purposes.
The Sub-funds are also exposed
to market, credit
and liquidity risks.
Further information are disclosed in the notes to the financial
statements.
During the current and comparative year, one of the sub-funds of the
Company issued subordinated unsecured yield bond with maturity date on 22.12.2021 with a yield
of 4.5% p.a. in the nominal value
of CZK 100,000 per bond, ISIN CZ0000000856 (the “Bond”). Bonds
represents debt obligations issued in
the Czech Republic in accordance with Czech legal regulations. Bonds are traded
at the Prague Stock Exchange, a.s.
Issued Bonds as at 31
December 2020 amounted to CZK 1,000 million.
During the current year, one of the sub-funds of the Company issued
subordinated unsecured yield bond
with maturity date on 15.12.2025 with a yield of 5% p.a., ISN SK4000018206 (the
“Bond”). Bonds represent debt
obligations issued in the Euro and traded at the Bratislava Stock Exchange. Issued
Bonds as at 31 December 2020 amounted to EUR
6.223 million.
As at
31 December 2020, neither
the Bond nor the sub-Fund
had a credit rating.
Organizational chart
Directors
The affairs of the Company
are managed by a Board of Directors. The judicial and legal representation of the Company
shall be vested
in any two directors acting
jointly. The Company’s
Board of Directors
is composed of three Directors approved
by the MFSA and appointed
by the holders of Founder
Shares upon incorporation of
the Company. Each Director shall have one vote. The Board of Directors was at 31 December 2020 composed of the following:
Frank Chetcuti Dimech
Dr. Frank Chetcuti Dimech co-founded CDF
Advocates in Malta in 1993. He practices financial services, company, taxation and international law. He holds a
Doctorate of Laws and a Masters in Financial
Services from the University of Malta and an International Investment Advice
Certificate from the Securities and Investment Institute, London.
Joseph Xuereb
Mr. Joseph Xuereb ACIB, IFS Associate is a
Maltese national and a Banker by profession. He joined the Central Bank of Malta in 1979 occupying various roles at
the dealing and investment department. In
1995 he joined APS Bank as Senior Manager Treasury Unit where he was
responsible for all currency dealing,
all investment portfolios and asset liability management. In 2000 he was
appointed Head of the Asset Management of the Bank, responsible for the Treasury
Unit, the Investment Services Unit and the Portfolio
Management Unit. He was also a member of investment committees outside the banking
sector, including insurance and airline companies. He currently sits on the
investment committees of other Maltese funds.
Michal Kosac
Mr. Michal Kosac is working as a partner at Astone finance, s.r.o., a
financial boutique regulated by the
Czech National Bank. His primary responsibility lies in creating investment
strategies for the company’s clients.
Michal started his career at Merrill Lynch in New London and Boston where he worked as an analyst in a private wealth
management team. He then continued his career at WOOD & Company s.a. in Prague where he was responsible for the
initial set up of the WOOD & Company Funds
SICAV plc (an MFSA regulated entity) as well as administering its sub-funds and
later co- managing the WOOD &
Company Central & Eastern European Equity Fund as well as the WOOD Textiles Fund. He is also a member of the
Investment Committee of IJC Funds SICAV plc which is regulated by the MFSA. Michal received his degree with honors from Connecticut College,
Connecticut, United States.
Investment
Committee
The Board of Directors of the Company shall
appoint an Investment Committee for each Fund. The Investment Committee consists
of three members,
who are individuals. The Investment Committee of Company shall
meet at least four times a year with the majority of meetings to be held in
Malta, and shall be responsible for
the day-to-day management of the Sub-funds, including amongst others the following:
·
to monitor and review the investment
policy and performance of a Sub-fund;
·
to establish
and review guidelines for investment by a Sub-fund;
·
to issue rules for financial instrument selection and set the portfolio structure
and asset allocation;
·
to make recommendations to the Board of
Directors.
Investment
Committee (continued)
The Investment Committee
shall report to the Board of Directors
on its activities and the performance of a Sub-fund at least four times a
year. The Investment Committee is conducting the day-to-day management of the assets of the sub-Funds
and ensure that the assets of the sub-Funds are managed within the investment objectives, policies and restrictions of
that sub-Fund. The Board of Directors may from time to time appoint
advisers to the Investment Committee. Such advisers shall
only provide guidance to the Investment Committee on
the availability of assets and their relative prices and all investment decisions shall be undertaken solely
by the Investment Committee.
Investment Committee was as at 31 December 2020
composed of the following voting members: Joseph Xuereb
Joseph Formosa Michal
Kosac
Joseph Formosa
Mr Formosa has occupied a number of executive and managerial positions
at Bank of Valletta p.l.c., Malta and for the last three years of his career
with the bank occupied the post of Chief Officer,
where he made a significant
contribution to the growth and development of the Bank particularly in relation to its mortgage related business. Mr
Formosa was also Chairman of the Banks’ Card Services Ltd. This company was responsible for all of
the Bank’s credit card business. Mr Formosa has held the position of General Manager of Lohombus Bank Ltd, and is
currently a Consultant with Middlesea Valletta Life Assurance Co focusing particularly on the areas of marketing, management and finance.
Annual general
meeting
The Administrator
The Custodian
Conflicts of Interest
The officers of the
Company have disclosed the following:
1.
Mr Joseph Xuereb is a
Director of the Company, a member of the Investment Committee and also the holder of 100% of the Founder
Shares of the Company;
2.
Dr Frank Chetcuti
Dimech is a Director of the Company as well as its legal advisor as to Maltese law; and
3.
Mr. Michal Kosac who is the Director of the Company
is also Director
in Fraternity Capital
Limited, who holds half of the “A” class shares in the
Company.
The Founder
Shares
The "A" Ordinary Shares
(100) "A" Ordinary Shares but which
shall not constitute a distinct fund, shall rank equally in all respects, shall not carry the right to
vote, and, save as provided in Article 26.1 of the Articles of Association, shall not carry a right to
participate in any dividends or other distributions of the Company, if applicable, or in the assets
of the Company on a winding up, except repayment of paid up capital following
settlement of any and all amounts due to the Investor Shares
and Founder Shares.
The Board of Directors is authorised for a period of five (5) years, to
issue and allot "A" Ordinary Shares up to
the maximum amount specified in this
paragraph.
Article 26.1 of Articles
of Association
The Investor Shares
(Redeemable Shares)
Classes
With the prior approval of the MFSA, the
Directors may from time to time establish a sub-Fund by the issue of separate classes of Shares of the Company on such
terms as the Directors may resolve. Apart from Investor shares,
the Company has issued by way
of subscription:
·
1,000 Founder
Shares which are fully paid up and subscribed by Joseph Xuereb;
·
50 “A” Ordinary
Shares which are fully paid up and subscribed by Ovidiu Fer; and
·
50 “A” Ordinary
Shares which are fully paid up and subscribed by Fraternity Capital Limited.
Description of the decision
making procedures of the statutory body
As per the Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association sections 15
to 17, decision making is as follows:
15.1 General Meetings
15.1 All general meetings of the
Members in the Company enjoying a right to vote shall be held in Malta,
or at such other place as the Directors may determine for any specific general meeting.
15.2 The Company shall in each year hold a general meeting
as its annual general meeting
in addition to any other meeting in that year. Not
more than fifteen (15) months shall elapse between the date of one annual general
meeting of the Company and that of the next provided that so long as the Company holds
its first annual
general meeting within
eighteen (18) months of its incorporation it need not hold it in the year of its incorporation.
Subsequent annual general meetings shall be held once in each year and not more than six (6) months
after the end of the Accounting Period
of the Company as determined by the Directors from time to time at such time and place in
Malta as may be determined by the Directors.
15.3 All general meetings (other
than annual general meetings) shall be called extraordinary general meetings.
15.4 The Directors may call an extraordinary general meeting whenever
they think fit and extraordinary general meetings shall be
convened on such requisition, or in default may be convened by such
requisitions, and in such manner as provided by the Act.
16. Notice of General Meetings
16.1 At least fourteen (14) Clear Days’ notice specifying the place, the day and the time of the meeting, and in the case of special business the
general nature of such business (and in the case of an extraordinary general meeting
specifying the meeting
as such) shall be given in the manner hereinafter mentioned to the Founder
Shareholders being the holders of shares entitled to attend
and vote.
16.2 The Directors and the Auditors shall also be entitled to receive notice
of, and attend
and speak at, any
general meeting of the Company.
16.3 Every notice convening a meeting to pass an Extraordinary Resolution shall specify the intention to propose the Resolution, and in each notice calling
a meeting of the Founder
Shareholders, being the members entitled
to attend and vote, there shall appear
with reasonable prominence a statement that a Member
entitled to attend and vote is entitled
to appoint one or more proxies to attend and vote instead
of him and that a proxy need not also be a Member.
16.4 The accidental omission to give
notice to, or the non-receipt of notice by, any person entitled to receive
notice shall not invalidate
the proceedings at any general meeting.
16.
Notice of General Meetings
(continued)
17. Proceedings at General Meetings
17.1 All business shall be deemed
special that is transacted at an extraordinary general meeting and also all business that is transacted at an
annual general meeting, with the exception of: a. the consideration of the accounts and Statement of Financial
Position; b. the reports of the Directors and
Auditors, c. the election of Directors in the place of those retiring or
resigning or being removed and the fixing of their remuneration, d. the appointment of the Auditors
and the fixing of the remuneration of the Auditors (directly or in such
manner as the general meeting may determine); provided that the appointment of a new Director shall also
require the approval of the MFSA.
17.2 Subject to Article 17.3 hereof,
no business shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum is present. Two (2) Members, having
the right to vote, present either in person or by proxy, shall be a quorum for a general meeting. A representative of a
corporation or company authorised pursuant
to Article 18.14 to be present at any meeting
of the Company shall be deemed to be a Member for the
purpose of the constitution of a quorum.
17.3 If within half an hour from the time appointed for a meeting,
a quorum is not present,
the meeting, howsoever convened, shall proceed with
such Members entitled to attend and vote as are present and they shall constitute a quorum even if there is only
one member.
17.4 A Director nominated by the
Directors shall preside as chairman at every general meeting of the Company, but if at any meeting none of
the Directors be present within fifteen (15) minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting, or
if all the Directors present decline to take the chair, the Founder
Shareholders shall choose some Member present to be chairman of the meeting.
17.5 The chairman may with the
consent of any meeting at which a quorum is present (and shall if so directed
by the meeting) adjourn the meeting from time to time and from place
to place but no business
shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting except business which might lawfully have been transacted at the meeting from which the
adjournment took place. When a meeting is adjourned for fourteen (14) days or more, another fourteen (14) days Clear
Notice at the least specifying the place, the day and the hour of the adjourned
meeting, shall be given as in the case of the original
meeting but it shall not be necessary to specify in
such notice the nature of the business to be transacted at the adjourned meeting or to attach thereto any
documents already sent with a prior notice. Save as aforesaid, it shall not be necessary to give any notice of an
adjournment or of the business to be transacted at an
adjourned meeting.
17.6 At any general meeting,
a resolution put to the vote of the meeting
shall be decided
on a show of hands unless before or upon the
declaration of the result of the show of hands a poll is demanded by the chairman or by any Members present
representing at least one-tenth in number or value of the shares in issue having the right to vote
at the meeting. Unless a poll is so demanded, a declaration by the chairman that a resolution has been carried,
or carried unanimously, or by a particular majority, or lost, or not
carried by a particular majority, and an entry to that effect in the book
containing the minutes of the
proceedings of the Company shall be conclusive evidence of the fact without
proof of the number or proportion of
the votes recorded in favour of or against such resolution; provided that where a resolution requires a particular
majority in value, the resolution shall not be deemed to have been carried on a show of hands by the
required majority unless there be present at the meeting, whether in person or by proxy, a number of
Members holding in the aggregate the required majority as aforesaid.
17. Proceedings at
General Meetings (continued)
17.7 If a poll is duly demanded, it
shall be taken in such manner and at such time and place as the chairman may direct (including the use of
ballot or voting papers or tickets) and the result of a poll shall be
deemed to be a resolution
of the meeting at which the poll was demanded.
17.8 The chairman may, in the event
of a poll, appoint scrutineers (who need not be Members) and may adjourn the meeting to some place and
time fixed by him for the purpose of declaring the result of the
poll.
17.9 In the case of an equality of votes,
whether on a show of hands or on a poll, the chairman of the meeting
at which the show of hands takes place or at which the poll is demanded
shall be entitled
to a second or casting vote.
17.10 A poll demanded on the election
of a chairman and a poll demanded on
a question of adjournment shall be taken forthwith. A poll demanded on any
other question shall be taken at such time and place as the chairman
directs not being
more than thirty days from the date of the meeting or adjourned meeting
at which the poll
was demanded.
17.11 The demand for a poll shall not
prevent the continuance of a meeting for the transaction of any business
other than the question
on which the poll has been
demanded.
17.12 A demand for a poll may be withdrawn
and no notice need be given of a poll not taken immediately.
Remuneration
of Directors
Remuneration
of Investment Committee members
Remuneration
of Founder Shareholders
Founder Shareholders shall not be entitled to any remuneration but may be paid reasonable travelling, accommodation and other incidental expenses incurred in attending general
meetings of the Company.
Monetary and
non-monetary benefits received by Directors and Investment Committee Members
for the year
Total monetary income of Directors of the
Company for 2020 amounted to EUR 20,650 (2019: EUR 17,700). Out of total monetary
income, two directors received EUR 8,260 (2019: EUR 7,080) and two Investment Committee Members
received EUR 12,390 (2019: EUR 10,620).
Neither the Directors nor the Investment Committee Members received
any non-monetary income.
The Issuer has not voluntarily adopted the
Corporate Governance Code prepared in 2018 by Czech Institute of Directors together with Deloitte and issued in
2019. This Code is available on the website
of Czech Ministry of Finance www.mfcr.cz.
However, the Issuer’s Corporate Governance is organized in accordance
with the principles outlined in this
document, as defined in the internal policies and statutes of the Issuer. In
addition to its own policies, the corporate governance is fully in line with
applicable law.
The above mentioned code has not been
voluntarily adopted because in addition to the simple shareholder structure, the Issuer considers the existing
policies of the corporate governance fully adequate and functional.
The Board of Directors is responsible for
implementing adequate administrative and accounting procedures for the preparation of the financial statements. The
Board of Directors has responsibility for the planning,
management and monitoring of those processes relating, in particular, to management and accounting information flows
(including the automated data processing and accounting reporting systems) and for attesting to their
adequacy and effective application, as defined by the relevant laws and regulations. The Company also
established a position of a compliance officer ensuring the Company
complies with its outside
regulatory requirements and internal
policies.
The Board of Directors identifies and assesses the risks on financial information, identifies and carries
out the appropriate controls, targeted at mitigating the possibility
that such risks will occur, and monitors
and assesses the efficiency of the controls in relation to the financial
information process. The Administrator
calculates the Net Asset Value (“NAV”) of the Sub-funds as at the date of the statement of financial position or at the
settlement date of new investors and prepares draft financial statements. NAV calculation and financial statements are approved
by the Board of Directors.
Investment committee approves each new investment (at least 2 members of the Investment committee shall
approve it), evaluates the performance of the investment in Sub-funds and
reports to the Board of Directors on its activities and the performance of each Sub-fund at least four times a
year.
-
Risk of newly formed company: The
Company does not have long enough history to show proven track record.
-
Sub-funds being economically separated entities: The assets
of other sub-funds
cannot be used to satisfy
obligations of other sub-funds. Thus only the assets of the sub-fund
issuing financial obligation can be used to repay
such obligation.
-
Payment titles issued by Romanian government: The major part of the sub-fund’s portfolio
is invested in obligations
issued by the Romanian state. This instrument is not publicly traded thus it is uncertain if it can be sold at
a fair price at any time in the market place. The Fund’s investments in the points awarded under indemnification
decisions issued by the Romanian Government
need to be sourced from individual beneficiaries of such points and acquired through public deeds registered in
Romania. There is no guarantee that the sub-Fund will manage to source such points, or a particular number of points.
The sub-Fund may also be exposed to changes in the Romanian
Government’s interpretation of the points
system and/or to changes in the applicable laws.
-
Specific risks when investing
in Romania: Although Romania is a full member of the European Union,
it is still susceptible to a shaky political and economic outlook and a relatively volatile business environment in which corporate
financial information is sometimes neither
readily available nor sufficiently reliable.
Following the collapse
of communist rule in 1989,
Romania has undergone a long period of economic transition to a market economy, which has not been smooth.
Since 2000, there has been more progress. An
extensive programme of economic reforms included the privatisation of
several state-owned enterprises and the restructuring of Romania’s energy,
mining and industrial sector. Externally, a slowdown in global trade
may have a high impact
on Romania’s growth,
mainly due to its reliance
on other EU economies as trading partners. Geopolitical tensions, combined
with the increase
in the US Federal Reserve’s
key-interest rate could
lead to increased investor caution, capital outflows and depreciation of the local currency
(RON).
-
Market risk: Most of the assets of
the sub-funds are invested in Romania which is considered an emerging market.
-
Sub-fund’s assets not being publicly traded:
The Sub-funds invest in the Romanian instruments which are not publicly traded.
Such instruments are considered risky and speculative in nature.
-
Interest rates changing risk: Fixed income
instruments, which can be bought
as an investment by the
sub-funds, have an inverse relationship with changing interest rates. Unstable
interest rates environment could have
a negative impact on the fixed income instruments held by the sub-funds. If the level
of market interest
rates rises, the prices of interest-bearing securities in the Fund’s
portfolio can fall substantially. This is even more the case, if the Fund holds interest-bearing securities having a longer residual
term to maturity
with normal return/yield.
-
Liquidity risk: Since the Romanian obligations are not publicly
traded, it might be hard to sell should the Romanian government start defaulting on its obligations.
-
High
leverage risk: Since Alpha Quest Balanced Fund is an issuer of publicly traded
bonds, it is exposing itself
to enormous amount
of risk should its investment strategy produce negative
returns.
SPECIFIC DISCLOSURES (CONTINUED)
-
Inflationary risk: Rising prices can affect the value of the underlying assets of the portfolio.
-
Foreign exchange risk: The functional currency
of the Company and its sub-funds is the EUR while the assets of the portfolio are denominated mainly
in RON. Where the Fund holds assets
denominated in foreign
currency or currencies, it is exposed
to a direct currency risk (provided the foreign currency positions have not
been hedged). In case of RON depreciation, this will have negative effect on the underlying net asset value of the sub-funds. Conversely, the foreign exchange market also offers opportunities
for gains. Besides direct risks, indirect currency risks also exist. Internationally active companies are more or
less strongly dependent on the exchange rate development, which can have an indirect
influence on the price development of investments.
-
Concentration risk: The majority of
fund’s assets are invested in the Romanian restitution points. This creates a risk for the underlying net assets value should the Romanian government default on its obligations.
-
Management compensation: Management have variable compensation based on the performance of the sub-funds. This can incentivize them to undertake
speculative investments in order to produce extraordinary returns.
-
Operating risk: It can be created
in the absence of rigorous
internal processes.
-
Company founded under different
law: The Company
and its sub-funds have been incorporated
under the laws of Malta. Maltese law can substantially differ from Czech laws and Slovak laws under which the publicly
traded bonds of one of the sub-funds have been
issued.
-
Political, economic and social risks:
Romania is classified as an emerging and post-socialist market, which up to this date faced significant political, economic and social
risk which could
negatively impact the sub-funds’ performance and their net asset value.
Cashing in process
has started in 2017, thus 1H 2017 was the first accounting period during which the Company
has received actual payment
titles for cashing in.
Comparing 2019 and 2020, the Company was in line with its objectives, receipt
of payment titles
was on expected track. The
cashing in process has taken place prior to the 180 day period from issuance of payment titles.
During the year 2020, total amount of money
cashed in from Romanian government was of RON
106,466,564 (2019: RON 82,352,226) for Balanced Fund and RON 41,432,564 (2019: RON
21,629,132)
for Opportunity Fund.
In terms of
NAV, comparing 2020 with 2019,
figures are as follows:
Alpha Quest Balanced
Fund EUR 1,582.8095 per investor share as at December 31st 2019, compared
to EUR 1,815.4437 as at December
31st 2020.
Alpha Quest
Opportunity Fund EUR 1,480.5613 per investor
share as at December 31st 2019 compared
to EUR 1,642.0531 as at December
31st 2020.
SPECIFIC DISCLOSURES (CONTINUED)
Idle cash was invested
during both periods
in money market
instruments to achieve
high liquidity and safety.
Portfolio composition as at December
31st 2020:
Alpha Quest
Balanced Fund
Romanian restitution points: EUR
30,032,897
Cash: EUR 1,645,320
Bonds (including bonds repurchased by Fund): EUR 15,578,579
Alpha Quest Opportunity Fund
Romanian restitution points: EUR
9,769,261
Bank Overdraft
(Net): (EUR 1,799,370)
Bonds: EUR
8,775,703
Fund investments: EUR 4,108,404
Besides points
investments, cash received
and not placed
into points purchases, is deployed to purchases of highly
graded and highly liquid Czech
issued corporate bonds.
Alpha Quest Balanced as at December 31st 2020
owned total of three bonds being: Alpha Quest
Balanced Fund; publicly traded bond issued by sub-fund itself, Nupeh CZ
SRO and Auctor Finance SRO.
Alpha Quest Opportunity Fund as December 31st
2020 owned total of four bonds and that being:
Alpha Quest Balanced Fund; publicly traded bond issued by other sub-fund
of Alpha Quest Funds SICAV plc, TD Beta, s.r.o., issuer has the same
director as Alpha Quest Funds SICAV plc, JTRE
Financing and Auctor Finance SRO.
Alpha Quest Opportunity fund as at December
31st 2020 has also invested in a collective investment scheme; Alpha Quest Balanced Fund, sub-fund of Alpha Quest
Funds SICAV plc, thus this is considered a cross-investment.
Information about the Company's total assets
and financial situation as at 31 Decemebr 2020 can be found in the Statement of Financial Position
in the financial statements which form part of the Annual Report.
Evaluation of the business
environment during reporting
year 2020
Both sub-Funds performed very well and in line with
Investment Committees’ expectations, mainly due
to the fact the payments from the Romanian Government are on track and on time.
Both sub- Funds received the expected
20% of the nominal value of all points held well ahead of the due date. Performance of both sub-Funds was further
boosted by the leverage that the Balanced Fund currently has. Both sub-Funds
also gained by investing free liquidity
in corporate bonds.
In 2021, the Company expects a
very similar scenario compared to prior year. The Company can already confirm that the Romanian
Government should pay ahead of the 180-day due date. During the first quarter of 2021, the Company has received over 66% of the payment
titles to be cashed in this year.
The statutory auditor's remuneration
(including VAT) for the year amounted to EUR 36,055 (2019: EUR 32,834), out of which EUR 32,834
(2019: EUR 21,064) is outstanding at year end. Other non- audit services provided by the auditors
during the year comprised of tax services amounting to EUR 1,481 (2019: EUR 1,351) (including VAT).
The Company is not a party to any litigation or arbitration proceedings.
Alpha Quest Funds SICAV p.l.c. and its
sub-funds, namely Alpha Quest Balanced Fund and Alpha Quest Opportunity Fund, have not entered into any major contract that would affect its regular
course of business or pose any
risk to its business
objective.
The Company did not have an organizational unit located
abroad in 2020.
During the year,
no acquisition of own shares (treasury shares) occurred.
The Company
did not incur any research and development expenditure during the year.
The Company did not make any significant investments in tangible
and intangible fixed assets during
the year.
The Company complies with all legal
requirements in the field of environmental protection and complies
with applicable legislation in the field of
labor relations.
The Board of Directors of Alpha Quest Funds
SICAV p.l.c. declares that the Annual Report and financial statements provide a true and fair view of the financial position, business activities and results of the Company for the past accounting
year and to the best of its knowledge, all the information and data in the Annual Report and financial
statements correspond to the prospects
for future financial and business performance and no significant circumstances have been
omitted.
Mr. Joseph Xuereb Director
Approved by
the Board of Directors on 13 May
2021 and signed on its
behalf by:
Mr. Michal Kosac Director
Statement of financial position |
|
|||
As at 31 December 2020 |
||||
|
|
The Company |
|
The Company (Restated) * |
|
Notes |
31.12.20 EUR |
|
31.12.19 EUR |
Non-current assets |
|
|
|
|
Restitution points |
12 |
16,071,618 |
|
28,552,144 |
Total Non-current assets |
|
16,071,618 |
|
28,552,144 |
Current assets |
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash
equivalents |
5 |
3,168,809 |
|
2,221,130 |
Financial assets at fair value
through profit or loss |
11 |
15,021,761 |
|
1,253,395 |
Loans and interest receivable |
18 |
6,551,750 |
|
5,199,344 |
Prepaid expenses |
|
15,838 |
|
12,860 |
Other receivables |
|
100,845 |
|
32,429 |
Restitution points |
12 |
23,730,540 |
|
17,913,477 |
Receivable from Government of Romania |
|
- |
|
2,962,156 |
Receivable from "A" Class Shareholders |
8 |
350,000 |
|
231,208 |
Total Current
assets |
|
48,939,543 |
|
29,825,999 |
Total assets |
|
65,011,161 |
|
58,378,143 |
Equity and Liabilities |
|
|
|
|
Share capital
and Reserves |
|
|
|
|
Share capital |
6 |
1,100 |
|
1,100 |
Retained earnings |
|
1,216,543 |
|
- |
Total equity |
|
1,217,643 |
|
1,100 |
Liabilities |
|
|
|
|
Non-current liabilities |
|
|
|
|
Bonds issued |
13 |
6,223,000 |
|
27,211,955 |
Total Non-current liabilities |
|
6,223,000 |
|
27,211,955 |
Current liabilities |
|
|
|
|
Bank overdraft |
5 |
2,148,953 |
|
- |
Bonds payable |
13 |
28,557,290 |
|
- |
Dividends payable |
8 |
- |
|
17,915 |
Interest payable |
13 |
51,194 |
|
43,633 |
Administration fees payable |
14 |
8,500 |
|
- |
Audit fees payable |
|
32,834 |
|
21,064 |
Due to “A” Class Shareholders |
|
- |
|
24,012 |
Other payables |
14 |
198,421 |
|
275,131 |
Total Current liabilities |
|
30,997,192 |
|
381,755 |
Total liabilities |
|
37,220,192 |
|
27,593,710 |
Net assets
attributable to holders of redeemable |
|
|
|
|
shares |
7 |
26,573,326 |
|
30,783,333 |
Total Equity
and Liabilities |
|
65,011,161 |
|
58,378,143 |
* Refer to Notes 7, 11, 13 and 14 in relation to the restatement
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
financial statements. These also include
more detailed information about the amounts
attributable to the founder shareholders and the attributable to unit holders
of investor shares,
in the next two pages.
Mr Joseph Xuereb Director
The financial
statements on pages 22 to 53 were approved and authorised for issue by the
Board of Directors on 13 May 2021 and were signed on its behalf
by:
Mr Michal Kosac Director
The following
table provides more detailed information about the amounts attributable to
founder shareholders and amounts
attributable to unit holders of investor shares. This information is being
presented in accordance with the prevalent
local practice.
Attributable to
founder
Attributable to unit holders
of
investor shares
of:
|
|
shareholders |
|
Alpha Quest Balanced Fund |
Alpha Quest Opportunity Fund |
Notes |
31.12.20 EUR |
|
31.12.20 EUR |
31.12.20 EUR |
|
Non-current assets Restitution points |
12 |
- |
|
11,908,147 |
4,163,471 |
Total Non-current assets |
|
- |
|
11,908,147 |
4,163,471 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current assets Cash and cash equivalents |
5 |
1,173,906 |
|
1,645,320 |
349,583 |
Financial
assets at fair value through profit or loss |
11 |
- |
|
7,739,261 |
9,967,573 |
Loans and interest receivable |
18 |
- |
|
6,056,413 |
495,337 |
Due from founder
shareholders |
8 |
- |
|
7,579,663 |
- |
Due from
sub-funds |
8 |
- |
|
2,506,199 |
- |
Prepaid expenses |
|
- |
|
7,919 |
7,919 |
Other receivables Management and performance fee receivable |
14 |
- 5,923,006 |
|
65,437 - |
35,408 - |
Restitution
points Receivable from
"A" Class Shareholders |
12 8 |
- 350,000
|
|
18,124,750 - |
5,605,790 - |
Total Current
assets |
|
7,446,912 |
|
43,724,962 |
16,461,610 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets |
|
7,446,912 |
|
55,633,109 |
20,625,081 |
Equity and Liabilities Share capital and Reserves Share capital |
6 |
1,100 |
|
- |
- |
Retained Earnings |
|
1,216,543 |
|
- |
- |
Total equity |
|
1,217,643 |
|
- |
- |
Liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
Non-current liabilities Bonds issued |
13 |
- |
|
6,223,000 |
- |
Total Non-current liabilities |
|
- |
|
6,223,000 |
- |
Current liabilities Bank overdraft |
5 |
- |
|
- |
2,148,953 |
Bonds payable |
13 |
- |
|
30,080,345 |
- |
Interest payable |
13 |
- |
|
51,194 |
- |
Administration fees payable |
14 |
- |
|
4,250 |
4,250 |
Audit fees payable |
|
- |
|
16,417 |
16,417 |
Management fees payable |
14 |
- |
|
829,921 |
153,024 |
Performance fees payable |
14 |
- |
|
3,620,096 |
1,319,964 |
Other payables |
14 |
- |
|
162,645 |
5,927 |
Due to sub-funds |
8 |
6,229,269 |
|
- |
2,506,199 |
Due to founder
shareholders |
8 |
- |
|
- |
1,350,392 |
Total Current liabilities |
|
6,229,269 |
|
34,764,868 |
7,505,126 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities |
|
6,229,269 |
|
40,987,868 |
7,505,126 |
Net assets attributable to
holders of redeemable shares |
7 |
- |
|
14,645,241 |
13,119,955 |
Total Equity
and Liabilities |
|
7,446,912 |
|
55,633,109 |
20,625,081 |
The above information is an integral
part of the notes to these financial statements.
The following
table provides more detailed information about the amounts attributable to
founder shareholders and amounts
attributable to unit holders of investor shares. This information is being
presented in accordance with the prevalent
local practice.
|
Attributable to founder |
Attributable to unitholders of investor shares of: |
|||
shareholders |
Alpha Alpha Quest Quest Opportunity |
||||
|
Balanced Fund Fund |
||||
31.12.19 |
(Restated) * 31.12.19 31.12.19 |
||||
|
Notes |
EUR |
EUR EUR |
||
Non-current assets |
|
|
|
||
Restitution points |
12 |
- |
20,413,410 8,138,734 |
||
Total Non-current assets |
|
- |
20,413,410 8,138,734 |
||
Current assets Cash and cash equivalents |
5 |
681,548 |
|
1,224,123 |
315,459 |
Financial assets at fair value
through profit or loss |
11 |
- |
|
1,253,395 |
14,783,554 |
Loans and interest receivable |
18 |
- |
|
4,711,680 |
487,664 |
Due from founder
shareholders |
8 |
- |
|
7,398,285 |
- |
Due from
sub-funds |
8 |
3,441,839 |
|
1,626,725 |
- |
Prepaid expenses |
|
- |
|
6,430 |
6,430 |
Other receivables Management and performance fee receivable |
14 |
- 3,062,705 |
|
23,463 - |
8,966 - |
Restitution points |
12 |
- |
|
13,753,315 |
4,160,162 |
Receivable from Government of Romania |
|
- |
|
846,825 |
2,115,331 |
Receivable from "A" Class Shareholders |
8 |
231,208 |
|
- - |
|
Total Current
assets |
|
7,417,300 |
|
30,844,241 21,877,566 |
|
Total assets |
|
7,417,300 |
|
51,257,651 30,016,300
|
|
Equity and Liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
Share capital and Reserves Share capital |
6 |
1,100 |
|
- - |
|
Retained earnings |
|
- |
|
- - |
|
Total equity |
|
1,100 |
|
- -
|
|
Liabilities Non-current liabilities Bonds
issued |
13 |
- |
|
36,177,743 - |
|
Total Non-current liabilities |
|
- |
|
36,177,743 - |
|
Current liabilities Dividends payable |
8 |
17,915 |
|
- |
- |
Interest payable |
13 |
- |
|
43,633 |
- |
Administration fees payable |
14 |
- |
|
- |
- |
Audit fees payable |
|
- |
|
10,532 |
10,532 |
Management fees payable |
14 |
- |
|
268,669 |
66,430 |
Performance fees payable |
14 |
- |
|
1,966,759 |
760,847 |
Due to "A" Class Shareholders |
8 |
- |
|
1,044 |
22,968 |
Other payables |
14 |
- |
|
20,699 |
205,120 |
Due to sub-funds |
8 |
7,398,285 |
|
- |
1,626,725 |
Due to founder shareholders |
8 |
- |
- 3,441,839 |
||
Total Current liabilities |
|
7,416,200 |
2,311,336 6,134,461 |
||
Total liabilities |
7,416,200 |
|
38,489,079 |
6,134,461 |
|
Net assets attributable to holders of redeemable |
|
|
|
|
|
shares |
7 |
- |
12,768,572 23,881,839 |
||
Total Equity
and Liabilities |
7,417,300 |
51,257,651 |
30,016,300 |
* Refer to Notes 7, 11, 13 and 14 in relation to the restatement
The above
information is an integral part of the notes to these financial statements.
![]() |
|
Notes |
The Company 31.12.20 EUR |
|
The Company (Restated) * 31.12.19 EUR |
Income Net gain/(loss) on financial assets at fair
value through profit or loss |
|
(451,152) |
|
76,968 |
Income from restitution points |
|
9,922,442 |
|
10,242,366 |
Net loss on foreign exchange Interest income calculated using the effective interest method |
15 |
(939,056) 1,016,825 |
|
(1,394,355) 735,381 |
Total investment income |
|
9,549,059 |
|
9,660,360 |
Expenditure |
|
|
|
|
Administration fees |
14 |
(36,000) |
|
(26,000) |
Audit fees Directors and investment committee fees |
14 |