6 September 2021

Principal Risks

PRINCIPAL RISKS FOR THE REMAINING SIX MONTHS OF THE YEAR TO 31 DECEMBER 2021

The principal risks assessed by the Board relating to the Group were disclosed in the Annual Report and Audited Consolidated Financial Statements for the year to 31 December 2020 on pages 12 to 15. The Board and Investment Manager have reassessed the principal risks and do not consider these risks to have changed. Therefore, the following are the principal risks assessed by the Board and the Investment Manager as relating to the Group for the remaining six months of the year to 31 December 2021:

CYBERCRIME

The Group is subject to the risk of unauthorised access into systems, identification of passwords or deleting data, which could result in loss of sensitive data, breach of data physical and electronic, amongst other potential consequences.

LONG TERM STRATEGIC RISK

The Group's targeted returns are based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to significant business and economic uncertainties and contingencies and, consequently, the actual rate of return may be materially lower than the targeted returns. In addition, the pace of investment has in the past and may in the future be slower than expected or the principal on loans may be repaid earlier than anticipated, causing the return on affected investments to be less than expected. Furthermore, if repayments are not promptly re-invested this may result in cash drag, which may lower portfolio returns. As a result, the level of dividends to be paid by the Company may fluctuate and there is no guarantee that any such dividends will be paid. Since the Covid-19 pandemic the shares have traded at a discount to NAV per share and shareholders may be unable to realise their investments through the secondary market at NAV per share.

INTEREST RATE RISK

The Group is subject to the risk that the loan income and income from the cash and cash equivalents will fluctuate due to movements in interbank rates.

FOREIGN EXCHANGE RISK

The majority of the Group's investments are Euro denominated (circa 56.7 per cent as at 30 June 2021). The Group is subject to the risk that the exchange rates move unfavourably and that a) foreign exchange losses on the loan principal are incurred and b) that interest payments received are lower than anticipated when converted back to Sterling and therefore returns are lower than the underwritten returns.

Forward contracts used to manage the above risk could be broken early and in these circumstances, the forward curve may have moved since the forward contracts were placed which can impact the rate received. The Group is subject to the risk that it will need to post cash collateral against the mark to market on the forward contracts which could lead to liquidity issues or leave the Group unable to hedge new non-Sterling investments.

MARKET DETERIORATION RISK

The Group's investments are comprised principally of debt investments in the UK, and the European Union's internal market and it is therefore exposed to economic movements and changes in these markets. Any deterioration in the global, UK or European economy could have a significant adverse effect on the activities of the Group and may result in significant loan defaults or impairments.

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a material impact on global economies and on the operations of the Group's borrowers during 2020 and this has continued in 2021. The Covid-19 pandemic presents a major risk to growth and the full impact of the consequences for the world economy is unclear.

The UK's departure from the European Union represents a potential threat to its economy as well as wider Europe. On a cyclical view, national economies across Europe appear to be heading at best towards lower growth and alongside the economic impact of Covid-19, towards recession.

In the event of a loan default in the portfolio, the Group is generally entitled to accelerate the loan and enforce security, but the process may be expensive and lengthy, and the outcome is dependent on sufficient recoveries being made to repay the borrower's obligations and associated costs. Some of the investments held would rank behind senior debt tranches for repayment in the event that a borrower defaults, with the consequence of greater risk of partial or total loss. In addition, repayment of loans by the borrower at maturity could be subject to the availability of refinancing options, including the availability of senior and subordinated debt and is also subject to the underlying value of the real estate collateral at the date of maturity.

RISK OF DEFAULT UNDER THE REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITIES

The Group is subject to the risk that a borrower could be unable or unwilling to meet a commitment that it has entered into with the Group as outlined above under market deterioration risk. As a consequence of this, the Group could breach the covenants of its revolving credit facilities and fall into default itself.

Governance

Board of Directors

STEPHEN SMITH | Non-executive Chairman - Chairman of the Board

Stephen is Chairman of The PRS REIT which currently trades on the Main Market, and a non-executive director of Sancus Lending Group Limited (appointed on 11 May 2021) which trades on the AIM of the London Stock Exchange. He was (resigned 1 May 2021) also Chairman of AEW UK Long Lease REIT plc which trades on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange. Previously, he was the Chief Investment Officer of British Land Company PLC, the FTSE 100 real estate investment trust from January 2010 to March 2013 with responsibility for the group's property and investment strategy. He was formerly Global Head of Asset Management and Transactions at AXA Real Estate Investment Managers, where he was responsible for the asset management of a portfolio of more than EUR40 billion on behalf of life funds, listed property vehicles, unit linked and closed end funds. Prior to joining AXA in 1999 he was Managing Director at Sun Life Properties for five years. Stephen is a UK resident.

JOHN WHITTLE | Non-executive Director -

Audit Committee Chairman and Senior Independent Director

John is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and holds the Institute of Directors Diploma in Company Direction. He is a non-executive Director of Globalworth Real Estate Investments Limited, Sancus Lending Group Limited (formerly GLI Finance Limited) (both listed on AIM), Chenavari Toro Limited Income Fund Limited (listed on the SFS segment of the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange), and The Renewable Infrastructure Group Limited, a FTSE 250 company. He was previously Finance Director of Close Fund Services, a large independent fund administrator, where he successfully initiated a restructuring of client financial reporting services and was a key member of the business transition team. Prior to moving to Guernsey, he was at PriceWaterhouse in London before embarking on a career in business services, predominantly telecoms. He co-led the business turnaround of Talkland International (which became Vodafone Retail) and was directly responsible for the strategic shift into retail distribution and its subsequent implementation; he subsequently worked on the private equity acquisition of Ora Telecom. John is a resident of Guernsey.

SHELAGH MASON | Non-executive Director

Shelagh Mason is a solicitor specialising in English commercial property who retired as a consultant with Collas Crill LLP on 31st October 2020. She is the non-executive Chairman of the Channel Islands Property Fund Limited listed on the International Stock Exchange and is also non-executive Chairman of Riverside Capital PCC, sits on the board of Skipton International Limited, a Guernsey Licensed bank, and is a non-executive Director of The Renewable Infrastructure Group Limited, a FTSE 250 company, and Ruffer Investment Company Limited. Previously Shelagh was a member of the board of directors of Standard Life Investments Property Income Trust, a property fund listed on the London Stock Exchange for 10 years until December 2014. She retired from the board of Medicx Fund Limited, a main market listed investment company investing in primary healthcare facilities, in 2017 after 10 years on the board. She is a past Chairman of the Guernsey Branch of the Institute of Directors and a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Guernsey International Legal Association and she also holds the IOD Company Direction Certificate and Diploma with distinction. Shelagh is a resident of Guernsey.

CHARLOTTE DENTON | Non-executive Director (appointed 1 January 2021)

During Charlotte's executive career she worked in various locations through roles in diverse organisations, including KPMG, Rothschild, Northern Trust, a property development start up and a privately held financial services group. She has served on boards for over fourteen years and is currently a non-executive Director of various entities including Butterfield Bank (Guernsey) Limited, the GP boards of private equity groups Cinven and Hitec and the Investment Manager for Next Energy. Charlotte is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and holds a degree in politics from Durham University. She is also a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, a Chartered Director and a fellow of the Institute of Directors. Charlotte is a resident of Guernsey.

Statement of Directors' Responsibilities

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