Final Results
CHELVERTON GROWTH TRUST PLC
PRELIMINARY ANNOUNCEMENT OF RESULTS
The Directors announce the unaudited statement of results for the year ended 31
August 2005 as follows:-
SUMMARISED STATEMENT OF TOTAL RETURN
(*incorporating the revenue account) of the Company
1 September 2004 1 September 2003
to 31 August 2005 to 31 August 2004
Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
Gains on investments - 826 826 - 1,104 1,104
Income 57 - 57 130 - 130
Investment management (44) (134) (178) (43) (128) (171)
fee
Other expenses (211) - (211) (213) - (213)
Net return before
finance
costs and taxation (198) 692 494 (126) 976 850
Interest payable (8) (26) (34) (8) (24) (32)
Return on ordinary
activities
before taxation (206) 666 460 (134) 952 818
Taxation on ordinary - - - - - -
activities
Return on ordinary
activities
after taxation (206) 666 460 (134) 952 818
Transfer (from)/to (206) 666 460 (134) 952 818
reserves
Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total
Pence Pence Pence Pence Pence Pence
Return per Ordinary (1.14) 3.67 2.53 (0.73) 5.21 4.48
share
* The revenue column of this statement is the revenue account of the Company.
BALANCE SHEET
As at 31 August 2005
31 August 2005 31 August 2004
£'000 £'000
Fixed assets
Investments 7,179 7,711
Current assets
Debtors 364 33
Cash at bank 41 -
405 33
Creditors - amounts falling due
within one year
Creditors 310 923
Net current assets / 95 (890)
(liabilities)
Net assets 7,274 6,821
Share capital and reserves
Called up share capital 182 182
Share premium account 2,674 2,674
Capital reserve
- realised 1,537 (611)
- unrealised (1,137) 352
- capital redemption reserve 7 7
Revenue reserve 4,011 4,217
Equity shareholders' funds 7,274 6,821
Pence Pence
Net Asset Value per Ordinary 40.10 37.55
share
SUMMARISED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
For the year ended 31 August 2005
1 September 2004 1 September 2003
to 31 August 2005 to 31 August 2004
£'000 £'000
Operating activities
Investment income received 69 100
Deposit interest received 5 3
Investment management fees paid (178) (170)
Secretarial fees paid (47) (45)
Other cash payments (160) (167)
Net cash outflow from operating (311) (279)
activities
Returns on investments and
servicing
of finance
Interest paid (42) (28)
Final distribution from subsidiary - 27
undertaking
Net cash outflow from returns on (42) (1)
investments
and servicing of finance
Capital expenditure and financial
investment
Purchases of investments (2,271) (1,811)
Sales of investments 3,302 2,168
Net cash inflow from capital
expenditure and financial 1,031 357
investment
Financing
Share repurchase (7) (133)
Net cash inflow/ (outflow) 671 (56)
Increase/ (decrease) in cash 671 (56)
NOTE
The above financial information does not constitute statutory accounts as
defined in Section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. This financial information
has been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies stated in the
statutory accounts for the year ended 31 August 2004. The auditors have
reported on those accounts; their report was unqualified and did not contain a
statement under Section 237 (2) or (3) of the Companies Act 1985. The 31 August
2004 accounts have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies.
CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT
The revival of investor interest in FTSE 100 companies, and the takeover
speculation around a number of companies in the FTSE 350, have distracted
investors from the progress being made in many smaller companies. The
development seen in the first six months has, therefore, not continued to the
end-of-year accounts. Since the fund was launched, however, it has outperformed
its benchmark, the FTSE All-Share Index, and since the merger in August 2001
the net asset value per share has increased by 16.8% compared to a rise of 2.7%
in the benchmark index.
Chelverton's net asset value per share has increased this year from 37.55p to
40.10p - an increase of 6.8%. In the same period the Company's benchmark index
rose by 20.1%, and the FTSE 100, which makes up over 90% of the FTSE All-Share
Index, rose 18.8%. While it is disappointing not to have outperformed the
benchmark index during the year, it is not surprising that periodically a
portfolio of smaller companies will perform less well than the larger market.
The discount of the share price to the net asset value per share has narrowed
in the last year from 24.1% to 15.2% and your Board and Manager continue to
work on reducing it further. The Manager will be introducing a Monthly Savings
Scheme across all of the funds managed by Chelverton Asset Management Limited,
and it is anticipated that a build up of regular monthly purchasing will
improve our market position.
During the year the Company purchased 21,875 shares from a number of
shareholders who took advantage of our free share dealing proposal. The
purchase of these shares at the mid-market price was marginally asset-enhancing
but was primarily designed to provide a simple exit for shareholders with
relatively small holdings. It is intended to renew these buy-back powers at the
forthcoming Annual General Meeting.
David Horner, the Manager, has increased his personal holding to 1,250,000
(6.9%) with the purchase of an additional 243,632 shares through the year and
has stated his intention, when not restricted by close periods, to continue to
acquire shares.
The political/economic situation remains uncertain at home and abroad, and that
uncertainty is compounded by challenges from natural phenomena. The price of
energy impacts on virtually every aspect of daily life, and if the oil price
remains at historically high levels, it will act as a drag on the world
economy. Closer to home the spending by the Government may have to be reined in
as the UK economy is proving to be less resilient than the Government's
projections.
Notwithstanding these uncertainties the portfolio is in good shape with
investments in some very interesting companies that would appear, given
conventional yardsticks, to be undervalued.
The Annual Report for the year ended 31 August 2005 will be the last for which
accounts are prepared on the basis of existing UK Generally Accepted Accounting
Principles ('UK GAAP'). For the financial year to 31 August 2006 our accounts
will be prepared under the requirements of the revised version of UK GAAP which
is converging with International Financial Reporting Standards ('IFRS'). The
main difference resulting from this change will be that the portfolio will be
valued at bid prices rather than the mid-market prices. If the new standards
had been applied at 31 August 2005, the resulting reduction in value of the
portfolio would have been in the order of 1.66p per Ordinary share.
Pratt Thompson
Chairman
19 October 2005