The Board of Hipgnosis Songs Fund Limited announces that it was notified on 13 October 2023 that Citrin Cooperman, the Company’s Independent Portfolio Valuer, has materially reduced its expectations of industry-wide retroactive payments in relation to the U.S. Copyright Royalty Board's  decision in relation to royalties payable to songwriters for the period covering 2018-2022 (“CRB III”) for its valuation of the Company’s portfolio as at 30 September 2023. As a result, the Board now expects to receive significantly lower retroactive payments in relation to CRB III and therefore intends to reduce its CRB III retroactive accrual to $9.9m, from $21.7m as at 31 March 2023.

Accordingly, in consequence of this unwinding of the CRB III accrual, the Board has decided to withdraw the proposed interim dividend of 1.3125 pence per share announced on 21 September 2023 in order to ensure compliance with its revolving credit facility’s Fixed Charge Cover Ratio covenant.

In addition, the Company is in discussion with the agent and the lenders to avoid any potential impacts of the unwinding of the CRB III accrual on future Fixed Charge Cover Ratio covenant compliance.

Subject to satisfactory conclusion to discussions with lenders, the Board expects to declare and pay future dividends as targeted. A further announcement will be made in due course.