Final Results
Fidelity Asian Values PLC
Preliminary Announcement of Audited Results
For the year ended 31 July 2011
Chairman's Statement
PERFORMANCE
In the year to 31 July 2011, the Net Asset Value (NAV) per share of the Company
increased by 19.3% whereas its benchmark, the MSCI All Countries (Combined) Far
East ex Japan Index (Benchmark Index), rose by 16.3% (All figures in UK
sterling terms and on a total return basis). Although the ordinary share price
increased by 15.3% over the year, the discount widened from 8.6% to 11.6%.
MARKETS
Asia Pacific equities advanced over the year under review, although markets
turned increasingly volatile in 2011. Consumer discretionary stocks led the
advance across the region as rising income levels boosted corporate earnings
and raised growth expectations. Consumer staples stocks also advanced,
particularly benefiting from rising risk aversion during the last quarter of
the year. South Korean automobile manufacturers and Chinese retailers were
among the best performers. Materials and energy stocks advanced in line with
rising international prices. Both these sectors gave up some of their gains
during the last quarter of the review period as Chinese policymakers
intensified efforts to contain the rise in inflation and asset prices. In
contrast, information technology, utilities, and telecommunications stocks
underperformed the Benchmark Index.
The latter half of the period was characterised by increased volatility as the
sovereign debt crisis in the European Union, political unrest in the
Middle-East and North Africa, the devastating effects of the earthquake and
tsunami in Japan and rising concerns about global economic growth dampened
investor sentiment. Furthermore, weakening economic data in the US, the end of
the second round of quantitative easing and an increasingly polarised debate
about the US sovereign debt limit towards the end of the period contributed to
risk aversion. Meanwhile, the rise in inflationary pressures across Asia
resulted in a number of Central Banks raising interest rates, which adversely
impacted share prices. Nevertheless, optimism driven by the changing
composition of growth in Asia - from export led to domestic demand driven -
together with healthy corporate earnings growth, contributed to positive stock
market performance.
OUTLOOK
Asian markets have dropped sharply in response to recent developments in the US
and in the European Union, as they remain correlated to the West, but the
region's economy is significantly less reliant on the West than in the past.
Relative to the rest of the world, Asia has better potential for sustainable
earnings growth, making it a favoured market for investors. Most Asian central
banks have been tightening their monetary policies in the last few quarters.
They will have the flexibility to relax interest rates and credit policy to
offset a potential marginal downward revision in OECD growth. The Board
continues to believe that Asia's healthy financial system, robust domestic
demand, low debt levels and high savings rates will continue to support a
multiyear growth cycle.
SUBSCRIPTION SHARES
On 4 March 2010 the Company allotted a total of 12,188,212 subscriptions shares
to qualifying shareholders and dealings in these shares commenced on 8 March
2010 with an exercise price of 191.00 pence per share. Details of the
subscription shares exercised during the year are outlined in Note 13 on page
43.
GEARING
On 3 February 2011 the Company renewed its one year revolving credit facility
for US$15 million with ING Bank N.V. The facility is fully drawn down at
present and the Board continues to review the gearing position on a regular
basis.
Up to 31 July 2011, the Company issued a total of 686,469 ordinary shares on
the exercise of the rights attaching to subscription shares leaving 11,501,743
subscription shares remaining to be exercised before 31 May 2013.
DIVIDEND
Subject to shareholders' approval at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting,
the Directors recommend a final dividend of one penny per ordinary share (2010:
nil). This dividend will be payable on 8 December 2011 to shareholders on the
register at close of business on 7 October 2011 (ex-dividend date 5 October
2011). As the Company's objective is long term capital growth, any revenue
surplus is a function of a particular year's business and it should not be
assumed that dividends will continue to be paid in future.
CONTINUATION VOTE
In accordance with the Articles of Association of the Company, an ordinary
resolution that the Company continue as an investment trust for a further two
years was passed at the 2009 Annual General Meeting. A further continuation
vote will take place at this year's Annual General Meeting. The Company's
performance record has been excellent since launch with a NAV increase of
145.2% compared to an increase in the Benchmark Index of 69.4%. During the past
12 months the Company's NAV has outperformed the Benchmark Index by 3.0% and is
also ahead of the Benchmark Index over 3, 5 and 10 years. Therefore your Board
recommends that shareholders vote in favour of the continuation vote. A further
continuation vote will take place at the Annual General Meeting in 2013.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The 2011 Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday, 23 November 2011 at
Fidelity's Cannon Street office commencing at 11.00 am. All shareholders and
Fidelity Saving Plan and ISA Scheme investors are invited to attend. The
Portfolio Manager will be making a presentation on the year under review and
the immediate prospects for the Company.
Mr Hugh Bolland
Chairman
26 September 2011
Enquiries:
Chris Davies - Head of Investment Trusts, FIL Investments International - 01737
837 723
Anne Read - Corporate Communications, FIL Investments International - 0207 961
4409
Christopher Pirnie - Company Secretary, FIL Investment International, - 01737
837 929
Income Statement for the year ended 31 July 2011
2011 2010
revenue capital total revenue capital total
Notes £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
Gains on 9 - 22,068 22,068 - 25,432 25,432
investments
designated at fair
value through
profit or loss
Income 2 3,070 - 3,070 2,446 - 2,446
Investment 3 (1,509) - (1,509) (1,161) - (1,161)
management fee
Other expenses 4 (522) - (522) (799) - (799)
Exchange gains/ 7 (54) (47) 9 181 190
(losses) on other
net assets
Exchange gains/ - 287 287 - (178) (178)
(losses) on loans
Net return before 1,046 22,301 23,347 495 25,435 25,930
finance costs and
taxation
Finance costs 5 (214) - (214) (131) - (131)
Net return on 832 22,301 23,133 364 25,435 25,799
ordinary activities
before taxation
Taxation on return 6 (312) - (312) (200) - (200)
on ordinary
activities
Net return on 520 22,301 22,821 164 25,435 25,599
ordinary activities
after taxation for
the year
Return per ordinary
share
Undiluted 7 0.85p 36.35p 37.20p 0.27p 41.73p 42.00p
Diluted 7 0.84p 36.10p 36.94p n/a n/a n/a
A Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses has not been prepared as there
are no gains and losses other than those reported in this Income Statement.
The total column of the Income Statement is the profit and loss account of the
Company.
All revenue and capital items in the above statement derive from continuing
operations.
No operations were acquired or discontinued in the year.
Reconciliation of Movements in Shareholders' Funds
for the year ended 31 July 2011
share capital other non-
share premium redemption distributable other capital revenue total
capital account reserve reserve reserve reserve reserve equity
Notes £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
Opening
shareholders'
funds:
1 August 2009 15,235 - 1,785 7,367 19,239 47,523 985 92,134
Bonus issue 1 - - - (1) - - -
of
subscription
shares*
Exercise of - - - - - - - -
rights
attached to
subscription
shares and
conversion
into ordinary
shares*
Issue of 9 60 - - - - - 69
ordinary
shares on
exercise of
rights
attached to
subscription
shares
Net return on
ordinary
activities
after - - - - - 25,435 164 25,599
taxation for
the year
Dividend paid 8 - - - - - - (609) (609)
to
shareholders
Closing
shareholders'
funds:
31 July 2010 15,245 60 1,785 7,367 19,238 72,958 540 117,193
Exercise of 13 - - - - - - - -
rights
attached to
subscription
shares and
conversion
into ordinary
shares
Issue of 13 163 1,080 - - - - - 1,243
ordinary
shares on
exercise of
rights
attached to
subscription
shares
Net return on - - - - - 22,301 520 22,821
ordinary
activities
after
taxation for
the year
Closing 15,408 1,140 1,785 7,367 19,238 95,259 1,060 141,257
shareholders'
funds:
31 July 2011
* Restated from 5 pence last year to reflect that the nominal value of the
subscription shares is 0.01 pence.
Balance Sheet as at 31 July 2011
2011 2010
Notes £'000 £'000
Fixed assets
Investments designated at fair value 9 146,156 121,786
through profit or loss
Current assets
Debtors 10 738 1,187
Cash at bank 4,423 1,272
5,161 2,459
Creditors
Bank loans 11 (9,116) (5,729)
Other creditors 12 (944) (1,323)
(10,060) (7,052)
Net current liabilities (4,899) (4,593)
Total net assets 141,257 117,193
Capital and reserves
Share capital 13 15,408 15,245
Share premium account 1,140 60
Capital redemption reserve 1,785 1,785
Other non-distributable reserve 7,367 7,367
Other reserve 19,238 19,238
Capital reserve 95,259 72,958
Revenue reserve 1,060 540
Total equity shareholders' funds 141,257 117,193
Net asset value per ordinary share
Undiluted 14 229.21p 192.19p
Diluted 14 223.20p 191.99p
Cash Flow Statement for the year ended 31 July 2011
2011 2010
Notes £'000 £'000
Operating activities
Investment income received 2,410 2,257
Investment management fee paid (1,105) (1,145)
Directors' fees paid (78) (93)
Other cash payments (322) (720)
Net cash inflow from operating activities 15 905 299
Servicing of finance
Interest paid on bank loans (215) (215)
Net cash outflow from servicing of finance (215) (215)
Financial investment
Purchase of investments (142,254) (91,819)
Disposal of investments 139,813 94,199
Net cash (outflow)/inflow from financial (2,441) 2,380
investment
Dividend paid to shareholders 8 - (609)
Net cash (outflow)/inflow before financing (1,751) 1,855
Financing
Exercise of rights attached to subscription 1,244 52
shares
Unsecured loan drawn down 22,028 5,857
Unsecured loan repaid (18,354) (6,890)
Net cash inflow/(outflow) from financing 4,918 (981)
Increase in cash 16 3,167 874
The above statements have been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies
as set out in the annual financial statements to 31 July 2011. This preliminary
statement, which has been agreed with the Auditor, was approved by the Board on
26 September 2011. It is not the Company's statutory financial statements. The
statutory financial statements for the financial year ended 31 July 2010 have
been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The statutory financial
statements for the financial year ended 31 July 2011 have been approved and
audited but have not yet been filed. The statutory financial statements for the
financial years ended 31 July 2010 and 31 July 2011 received unqualified audit
reports, did not include a reference to any matters to which the Auditor drew
attention by way of emphasis without qualifying the report and did not contain
statements under section 498(2) and (3) of the Companies Act 2006. The annual
report and financial statements will be posted to shareholders as soon as is
practicable and in any event no later than 24 October 2011.