Final Results
THE THROGMORTON TRUST PLC
PRELIMINARY ANNOUNCEMENT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2005
• Continued strong outperformance by the Trust
• Net Asset Value per ordinary share 173.2p (2004:135.4p) see table below
• Increased final dividend of 1.25p per share (2004:1.1p) making a total of
1.75p (2004:1.6p)
NET ASSET VALUE
30.11.2004 30.11.2005 Year on year 25.01.2006
% change
The Throgmorton Trust PLC 135.4p 173.2p +27.9 187.0p
(debt at par)
(debt at market value) 129.6p 165.6p +27.8 179.3p
FTSE SmallCap (ex Inv. 2671.5 3108.9 +16.4 3336.2
Cos.)
FTSE All-Share 2345.2 2741.1 +16.9 2898.4
THE CHAIRMAN, RICHARD BERNAYS, COMMENTED:
At the end of my first year as Chairman, I am pleased to report another year of
strong performance by your company. For the 5th year running, we have
substantially outperformed our benchmark. In the year ended 30th November 2005,
the Company's net asset value ('NAV') per share (valuing debt at market value)
rose by 27.8% compared with a rise in our benchmark FTSE Small Cap (ex
Investment Companies) Index of 16.4%. The rise in the share price was higher
with a gain of 28.8%, reflecting a fall in the discount (valuing debt at market
value) from 14.9% to 14.2%. During the year, the discount has ranged from 10.1%
to 15.0%.
Discount against NAV
The Board regularly reviews the discount of the share price against the NAV. In
this review, we look at the debt valued at market price rather than at its
nominal value as we consider this is the most appropriate method of calculating
NAV. At the half year stage, I reported that your board was concerned at the
level of the discount against NAV which remains higher than the Board would
want given the excellent performance of the portfolio. In the second half of
the year, we have continued our policy of buying in shares and, over the year,
we have bought in 47 million shares at an average discount of 13.0%. This
policy of buying in shares at a discount has had a positive impact on NAV per
share, increasing it by 3.5%.
The board has also repurchased £25,000 of the Trust's 12 15/16% debenture. We
continue to look for opportunities to repurchase this expensive debt on
acceptable terms but rarely is stock available.
Revenue and Dividend
The Board is recommending a final dividend of 1.25p per share, making a total
dividend for the year of 1.75p, an increase of 9.38% over the previous year.
Generally it is the Board's policy to distribute the whole of the income
available to shareholders by way of dividend each year.
The Portfolio
Our investment manager has done well for us again this year. Over the years the
Manager has shown great skill in stock selection and the current year has been
no exception. An attribution analysis of the performance of the portfolio shows
that stock selection was the main contributor to the Trust's out-performance
against its benchmark. A substantial proportion (42%) of the portfolio is held
in AIM stocks. The AIM market attracts many exciting young companies and we
have benefited particularly from investment in new issues and placings in this
growing market. Within the portfolio as a whole, the Manager places strong
emphasis on sound balance sheets, strong management and tight financial
control. The Board and the Manager monitor carefully the risks within the
portfolio and consider that a good balance is achieved between risk and
potential return. The portfolio is currently well diversified with more than
170 holdings.
The Board
At the AGM in March, I took over from Lord Stewartby as Chairman. Lord
Stewartby had been Chairman since 1990 and had led the transformation of the
company from a highly geared trust with many illiquid and unquoted investments
into one of the leading specialist small company investment trusts. This was a
long and difficult path involving some very delicate negotiations. Lord
Stewartby and his colleagues on the Board successfully extricated the company
from these unsuitable investments, wound up or sold the underperforming
subsidiaries or associated companies and reduced debt. The current success of
the company owes much to his perspicacity. Fortunately, he has agreed to remain
on the Board and is seeking re-election for one more year.
Sir Victor Garland, who has been on the Board for 20 years and has been
Chairman of the Audit Committee since 1991, will be retiring at the next AGM.
Sir Victor has been an important influence on the Company and has played a
vital part in its transformation. We will miss his wise counsel. During the
year Eric Stobart took over from Sir Victor Garland as Chairman of the Audit
Committee.
Outlook
Our investments are predominately in the UK so it is the outlook for this
economy that is relevant to the future of The Throgmorton Trust. After three
years of exceptional growth and the UK economy showing signs of slowing down,
it would be optimistic to expect smaller companies to continue to perform as
well as they have in the past few years. However, as a slowdown in the UK
economy rather than a recession is likely, I would expect our Manager to
continue to find attractive opportunities to buy undervalued smaller growth
companies.
Richard Bernays
Chairman
26 January 2006
The Throgmorton Trust PLC
Preliminary statement for the year ended 30 November 2005
Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses
Year to 30 November 2005
(unaudited)
Revenue Capital Total
£000s £000s £000s
Realised gains - 70,184 70,184
Unrealised gains - 3,618 3,618
Income 7,064 - 7,064
Management fee (1,439) (1,439) (2,878)
Other expenses (459) - (459)
Net return before finance costs and 5,166 72,363 77,529
taxation
Interest payable and similar (1,973) (1,906) (3,879)
charges
Premium paid on repurchase of - (9) (9)
debenture stock
Return on ordinary activities 3,193 70,448 73,641
before taxation
Tax on ordinary activities - - -
Return on ordinary activities after 3,193 70,448 73,641
taxation attributable to equity
shareholders
Dividends in respect of equity (3,010) - (3,010)
shares
Transfer to reserves 183 70,448 70,631
Return per ordinary share
- basic 1.58p 34.92p 36.50p
The revenue column of this statement is the profit and loss account of the
company. All revenue and capital items in this statement derive from continuing
operations. No operations were acquired or discontinued in the year.
The Throgmorton Trust PLC
Preliminary statement for the year ended 30 November 2004
Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses (Continued)
Year to 30 November 2004
(audited)
Revenue Capital Total
£000s £000s £000s
Realised gains - 29,830 29,830
Unrealised gains - 43,880 43,880
Income 7,428 - 7,428
Management fee (1,333) (1,333) (2,666)
Other expenses (382) - (382)
Net return before finance costs and 5,713 72,377 78,090
taxation
Interest payable and similar (2,136) (2,014) (4,150)
charges
Premium paid on repurchase of - (683) (683)
debenture stock
Return on ordinary activities 3,577 69,680 73,257
before taxation
Tax on ordinary activities - - -
Return on ordinary activities after 3,577 69,680 73,257
taxation attributable to equity
shareholders
Dividends in respect of equity (3,676) - (3,676)
shares
Transfer (from)/to reserves (99) 69,680 69,581
Return per ordinary share
- basic 1.55p 30.25p 31.80p
The Revenue column of this statement is the profit and loss account of the
company. All revenue and capital items in this statement derive from continuing
operations. No operations were acquired or discontinued in the year.
The Throgmorton Trust PLC
Preliminary statement for the year ended 30 November 2005
Revenue Account
For the year ended 30 November £000s 2005 £000s 2004
(unaudited) (audited)
£000s £000s
Income from fixed asset investments 5,721 6,386
Franked income 412 832
Unfranked income
6,133 7,218
Other income 837 147
Interest receivable 94 63
Fees and commissions
931 210
Gross Income 7,064 7,428
Expenses and interest 1,439 1,333
Management fee 459 382
Administration expenses 1,973 2,136
Interest payable
(3,871) (3,851)
Net revenue from ordinary 3,193 3,577
activities (after taxation)
Dividends (249) -
Ordinary shares: 976 1,149
Adjustment to 2004 accrual 2,283 2,527
Interim
Final
3,010 3,676
Transfer to/(from) reserves 183 (99)
Earnings per share - basic 1.58p 1.55p
The revenue account is a fuller version of the profit and loss account of the
Company.
All revenue is derived from continuing operations.
No operations were acquired or discontinued during the year.
The Throgmorton Trust PLC
Preliminary statement for the year ended 30 November 2005
Balance Sheet
As at 30 November £000s 2005 £000s 2004
(unaudited) (audited)
£000s £000s
Fixed asset investments 332,646 343,991
Listed - 44
- United Kingdom 2,439 2,535
- Overseas
Subsidiary undertakings
335,085 346,570
Current assets 2,603 2,456
Debtors 19,347 123
Cash at bank
21,950 2,579
Creditors: 4,356 1,517
Amounts falling due within one year 1,081 1,055
Trade creditors 887 825
Amounts owed to subsidiary 2,283 2,527
undertakings
Sundry creditors
Proposed dividend on ordinary
shares
(8,607) (5,924)
Net current assets/(liabilities) 13,343 (3,345)
Total assets less current 348,428 343,225
liabilities
(32,169) (32,194)
Creditors:
Amounts falling due after one year
Debentures and loans
Net assets 316,259 311,031
Capital and reserves 6,060 9,130 3,702 11,488
Called up share capital 73,897 35,272 70,279 35,272
Share premium account 188,367 268,324 186,940 260,921
Capital reserves 3,533 3,350
Capital redemption reserve
Revaluation reserve
Realised capital profits
Revenue reserve
Total equity shareholders' funds 316,259 311,031
Net asset value per share 173.19p 135.37p
Net asset value adjusted for `fair 165.58p 129.56p
value' of debt
The Throgmorton Trust PLC
Preliminary statement for the year ended 30 November 2005
Reconciliation of Movements in Shareholders' Funds
For the year ended 30 November 2005 2004
(unaudited) (audited)
£000s £000s
Net surplus revenue for distribution 3,193 3,577
Dividends (3,010) (3,676)
Net transferred to/(from) reserves 183 (99)
Non distributable capital gain 70,448 69,680
Repurchase of ordinary shares (65,403) (1,988)
Net increase to shareholders' funds 5,228 67,593
Opening shareholders' funds 311,031 243,438
Closing shareholders' funds 316,259 311,031
The Throgmorton Trust PLC
Preliminary statement for the year ended 30 November 2005
Cash Flow Statement
For the year ended 30 November 2005 2004
(unaudited) (audited)
£000s £000s
Operating activities 6,203 6,974
Cash received from investments 837 147
Interest received 68 52
Underwriting commission (1,435) (1,285)
Management fee (135) (98)
Cash paid to and on behalf (277) (329)
of the directors
Other cash payments
Net cash inflow from operating activities 5,261 5,461
Servicing of finance (1,973) (2,136)
Interest paid - revenue
Taxation - 8
Taxation recovered
Capital expenditure and financial investment (138,870) (111,745)
Purchases of investments 226,213 121,181
Sales of investments (1,435) (1,285)
Capital management fee (1,906) (2,014)
Interest charged to capital 625 100
Net payments from subsidiaries
Net cash inflow from investing activities 84,627 6,237
Dividends (3,254) (3,456)
Dividends paid - equity shares
Net cash inflow before financing 84,661 6,114
Financing (65,403) (2,010)
Repurchase of ordinary shares
Repurchase of debenture stock (34) (2,608)
Net cash outflow from financing (65,437) (4,618)
Increase in cash 19,224 1,496
Notes:
The financial information set out in the announcement does not constitute the
Company's statutory accounts for the years ended 30 November 2005 or 2004. The
financial information for the year ended 30 November 2004 is derived from the
statutory accounts for that year which have been delivered to the Registrar of
Companies. The auditors reported on those accounts; their report was
unqualified and did not contain a statement under s237(2) or (3) Companies Act
1985. The statutory accounts for the year ended 30 November 2005 will be
finalised on the basis of the financial information presented by the directors
in this preliminary announcement and will be delivered to the Registrar of
Companies following the Company's annual general meeting.
The financial information has been prepared on the basis of the accounting
policies set out in the Company's financial statements for the year ended 30
November 2004.
The board has recommended the payment of a final dividend of 1.25p per share in
respect of the year ended 30 November 2005. Subject to approval by shareholders
at the Company's annual general meeting, the dividend will be paid on 5 April
2006 to shareholders on the register of the Company on 3 March 2006.