Annual Financial Report

FIDELITY EUROPEAN VALUES PLC ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT, PROXY FORM AND ADDITIONAL DISCLOSURES TO THE PRELIMINARY RESULTS FOR THE YEAR TO 31 DECEMBER 2009 Further to the voluntary disclosure of the Company's annual results for the year ended 31 December 2009 by way of a preliminary announcement dated 5 March 2010, in accordance with the Disclosure and Transparency Rules ("the Rules") 4.1.3 and 6.3.5(2) this announcement contains the text of the preliminary announcement dated 5 March 2010 together with the additional text in compliance with the Rules. The Company's annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2009 together with the accompanying proxy form have been filed with the UK Listing Authority Document Disclosure team and will shortly be available for inspection at the UK Listing Authority's Document Viewing Facility which is situated at: Financial Services Authority 25 The North Colonnade Canary Wharf London E14 5HS Tel: 020 7676 1000 (Documents will usually be available for inspection within six normal business hours of this notice being given). The annual report and financial statements will shortly be available on the Company's website at www.fidelity.co.uk/its Rebecca Burtonwood, FIL Investments International, Company Secretary - 01737 836 869 25 March 2010 CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT I have pleasure in presenting the annual report of Fidelity European Values PLC for the year ended 31 December 2009. Performance At the start of 2009, markets were still very weak following the bankruptcy of Lehmans. Bank shares were particularly weak and there was some uncertainty whether government action worldwide would be sufficient to improve sentiment and permit banks and money markets to operate in a more normal fashion. In the event, good US bank results were announced in March and, with equity being oversold, markets began a rally which continued almost to year end. Against this background, the net asset value per share of Fidelity European Values PLC increased by 11.3% on a total return basis. This was less than its benchmark, the FTSE World Europe (ex UK) Index, which rose by 19.1%. The share price rose by 21.3% on a total return basis resulting in a narrowing of the discount. The major factor behind this weak relative performance was the portfolio's commitment to stocks with strong balance sheets and resilient profits. The best performing stocks were, however, more volatile companies with rather weaker fundamentals. Nevertheless, absolute returns were helped by the euro's appreciation against sterling. Throughout the trust's existence it has been our strategy never to hedge any of the trust's currency exposure. This remains the Board's policy and the Board would inform shareholders before any change was made. Another factor in 2009 was our approach to gearing. While the Board was right to remove all gearing on a net basis back in September 2007, it would (with the benefit of hindsight) have been more profitable to have reinstated the gearing last March. Discount management The Board remains active in issuing shares at a premium and buying back shares at a discount; a continuation of practice since launch. The purpose of this is to reduce share price volatility and it also results in an enhancement to the net asset value per share. Over the last year, share buybacks have been made, further details of which may be found in the Directors' Report in the annual report. Dividends As I do every year, I wish to reiterate that the Board will not influence the Manager in any way to determine the level of income of your Company's portfolio; it will remain the Board's policy to pay out earnings in full. This year the Board decided to pay an interim rather than a final dividend. This involved our estimating the level of earnings for the year. In the event our actual earnings were slightly less than this figure as a result of which we have had to make a small transfer from reserves. The interim dividend of 22.50 pence per share for the year ended 31 December 2009 compares with the previous year's final dividend of 23.26 pence per share and special dividend of 13.24 pence per share. This dividend will be paid on 31 March 2010 to shareholders on the register at close of business on 5 March 2010 (ex dividend date 3 March 2010). Directorate As detailed in my statement in last year's report, Mr Simpson retired from the Board after the Annual General Meeting and Mr van der Klugt assumed the role of Chairman of the Audit Committee and Senior Independent Director. I will retire as Director and Chairman after the 2010 Annual General Meeting. Mr van der Klugt will be appointed Chairman with effect from that date and Mr Robinson will be appointed Chairman of the Audit Committee and Senior Independent Director. I am delighted to confirm that Dr Niblett was appointed a Director on 14 January 2010 following a search using an external agency. Dr Niblett is Director and Chief Executive of Chatham House (the Royal Institute of International Affairs). Prior to this he worked for the Center for Strategic and International Studies, becoming Executive Vice President in 2001. Dr Niblett has already contributed greatly during his short tenure and he will be standing for election at the Annual General Meeting. Mr Fraser is subject to annual re-election under the Listing Rules due to his recent employment relationship with the Manager and his directorship of another investment trust managed by Fidelity, namely Fidelity Japanese Values PLC. The Board is convinced that Mr Fraser's experience serves the Company well, and Directors voted unanimously that he should remain a Director when he left the employment of Fidelity. As detailed in the biographies in the annual report the Directors have a wide range of appropriate skills and experience to make up a balanced Board for your Company. With the exception of Mr Fraser, all other Directors are totally independent. The Board has considered the proposal for the election and re-election of the Directors and recommends to shareholders that they vote in favour of the proposals. 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 the 2011 Annual General Meeting. Annual General Meeting The Annual General Meeting of the Company is due to take place on 18 May 2010 at midday at Fidelity's offices at 25 Cannon Street. Full details of the meeting are given in the annual report and I look forward to meeting you then. Amendments to the Company's Articles of Association to finalise the implementation of the Companies Act 2006 requirements are the subject of a special resolution. Conclusion I have been a Director of Fidelity European Values PLC since its inception in 1991; clearly I am proud to have been involved with a trust whose net asset value since launch has increased by 1,344.7% when the corresponding Index has increased by 446.9%. I believe passionately that investment decisions and fund managers should be judged on their long term performance. While I am sorry that a cautious approach by the Manager, supported by the Board, led to a year of relative underperformance, I believe that this approach and our concentration on stocks with stronger balance sheets will bear fruit and will in turn contribute to further outstanding longer term performance. Fidelity European Values PLC has only had three fund managers since it started - Anthony Bolton, Tim McCarron and Sudipto Banerji. While each has had a slightly different approach to investment, they were united in their belief in the value of detailed high quality research and regular and frequent meetings with company management. I am sure that this is the underlying reason for the trust's excellent long term record and I would be the first to pay tribute to each of our fund managers. Provided Fidelity remains committed to this discipline (and I am sure that it will), then I remain absolutely confident that your Company will show the same sort of performance over the next twenty years that it has shown to date. You have a strong united Board and I wish Humphrey van der Klugt as Chairman, the Board and all shareholders every success in the future. Robert Walther Chairman 5 March 2010 MANAGER'S REVIEW Performance review As shown in the Financial Summary in the annual report, the NAV per share of Fidelity European Values PLC increased 11.3% in the year to 31 December 2009, underperforming the FTSE World Europe (ex UK) Index, which rose by 19.1%. (All performance figures are quoted on a total return basis and in sterling.) Whilst generating positive absolute returns, the portfolio underperformed the broader market. During the period, investors started to take on more risk and more volatile, lower quality stocks with weaker balance sheets performed strongly. Companies with stronger underlying fundamentals and sound balance sheets were out of favour. The portfolio is tilted towards the latter and suffered as a result. Market background The beginning of the year saw turmoil in the financial markets as investors continued to sell banks on both sides of the Atlantic. Risk aversion was high and ratings agencies' concerns over the exposure of Western European banks to Eastern European markets, in view of the latter's external financing issues, exacerbated the negative sentiment for financials. Unprecedented and co-ordinated global action by Central Banks stemmed the spiralling crisis in financial markets. The dominant form of support was in quantitative easing measures that allowed the monetisation of some of the largest fiscal deficits in post war history. Additionally, in an unprecedented move, Central Banks took risky assets onto their balance sheets from the worst affected banks. This provided the backdrop for equities to rally. As the year progressed, market sentiment was improved by news that most Eurozone economies came out of recession in the second and third quarters of 2009, somewhat earlier than expected. This encouraged investors to move into more cyclical sectors such as materials and industrial stocks and to ignore more defensive shares such as utilities and healthcare. Portfolio review There were two major themes underlying portfolio activity in 2009. Firstly, the Manager concentrated the portfolio on shares with strong balance sheets and where there was strong confidence in the quality of underlying profits. This move was based on a belief that any economic recovery in Europe would be slow and might even be reversed. The second theme was, as indicated in the chart in the annual report, to move out of shares in the peripheral markets such as Greece and Spain and to switch these assets into shares in the core Eurozone markets such as Germany and France. Both these themes have been retained in the first quarter of 2010. Telecommunication companies lagged the more cyclical sectors, so exposure to stocks such as Belgacom and France Telecom detracted from relative performance. A significant contributor to relative performance was the overweight position in materials, particularly holdings in Umicore and Outokumpu. The sector had sold off heavily in the latter quarters of 2008, but began to outperform in 2009 as market and economic sentiment improved. Consumer stocks also contributed. Apparel retailer Hennes & Mauritz's performance proved resilient supported by a robust business model. Luxury retailer PPR contributed as its first-half profits beat analysts' estimates, helped by strengthening luxury product sales in Asia. Outlook European governments have succeeded generally in stabilising their economies but at the expense of increasing very considerably the level of public debt. The capacity of the public sector to continue to increase debt is rapidly diminishing and markets will soon require clear action by these governments to start to reduce their deficits. While low interest rates have so far supported the markets, further positive moves may be challenged by significantly increasing supplies of government debt. The recovery in equity markets and particularly of smaller more volatile stocks has been driven by an expansion in the price to earnings ratio. In 2010, corporate earnings will need to grow to support these higher valuations. While the earnings cycle appears to have troughed, any rebound in earnings is likely to be slower than in previous recoveries. It is against this background that the portfolio retains its focus on stronger companies whose balance sheets and business models should prove resilient in the continued uncertain environment. FIL Investments International 5 March 2010 PRINCIPAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES Due to the uncertain economic climate, shareholders will have greater concerns about the way their investments are managed. The Board confirms that there is an ongoing process for identifying, evaluating and managing the principal risks which fall under the general headings of strategic, operational and management. With the assistance of Fidelity's internal audit team the Board has constructed a risk matrix which identifies the key risks to the Company under these broad headings. The Board reviews and agrees policies, which have remained unchanged since the beginning of the accounting period, for managing risks and summaries of these are set out below. The process is regularly reviewed by the Board in accordance with the FRC's "Internal Control: Revised Guidance for Directors on the Combined Code". Risks are identified, introduced and graded. This process, together with the policies and procedures for the mitigation of risks, is updated and reviewed regularly in the form of internal controls reports considered by the Audit Committee. 1. Market risks The Company's assets consist mainly of listed securities and the principal risks are therefore market related such as market recessions, interest rate movements, deflation/inflation, terrorism and protectionism. The Portfolio Manager's success or failure to protect and increase the Company's assets against this background are core to the Company's continued success. Other factors affected by market forces, such as exchange and bond rates, contribute to risks which have to be taken as part of the Company's normal business. Risks to which the Company is exposed and which form part of the market risks category are included in Note 18 to the financial statements together with summaries of the policies for managing these risks. These comprise: market price risk, foreign currency risk, interest rate risk, liquidity risk, counterparty risk and credit risk. The Company has fixed term, fixed rate loan facilities in place, the first of which is due for repayment later in 2010. The extent to which any loan facilities will be retained or renewed will be kept under the most careful scrutiny. At the present time, cash is being held against the loans held by the Company to reduce the level of net gearing. However, should good opportunities for investment arise, these funds are readily available. In addition a revolving credit facility (currently nil drawn down) and a day to day overdraft facility can be used if required. The impact of limited finance from counterparties including suppliers has not impacted the Company to date, however there are alternative suppliers available in the market place should the need arise. The Company relies on a number of main counterparties, namely the Manager, Registrar, Custodian and Auditor. The Manager is the member of a privately owned group of companies on which a regular report is provided to the Board. The Manager, Registrar and Custodian are subject to regular audits by Fidelity's internal controls team and the counterparties' own internal controls reports are received by the Board and any concerns investigated. 2. Performance risk The achievement of the Company's performance objective relative to the market requires the application of risk. Strategy, asset allocation and stock selection might lead to underperformance of the benchmark Index and target. Management of the risks set out above is carried out by the Board which, at each Board meeting, considers the asset allocation of the portfolio and the risk associated with particular countries and industry sectors within the parameters of the investment objective. The Portfolio Manager is responsible for actively monitoring the portfolio selected in accordance with the asset allocation parameters and seeks to ensure that individual stocks meet an acceptable risk/reward profile. 3. Investment management and income risks - dividends In addition to the risk of the mis-management of funds by poor investment decisions, there is also a risk involved in income. The Company's objective is capital growth and as explained in the Chairman's Statement, the Portfolio Manager is not constrained in any way to determine the level of income. The Board monitors this risk through the receipt of detailed income reports and forecasts which are considered at each meeting. 4. Share price, NAV and discount volatility risk The price of the Company's shares relative to the benchmark Index and in absolute terms, as well as its discount to net asset value, are not factors the Company is able to control. Some short term influence over the discount may be exercised by the use of share repurchases at acceptable prices. Details of repurchases during the year are given in the annual report. The Company's share price, NAV and discount volatility are monitored daily by the Manager and considered by the Board at each of its meetings. 5. Gearing risk The Company has the option to invest up to the total of its loan facilities in equities. In a rising market the Company will benefit but in a falling market the impact would be detrimental. In order to manage the level of gearing the Board regularly considers gearing and gearing risk and sets limits accordingly. The Portfolio Manager follows these and may hold short term cash deposits to control the level of net gearing appropriate to the circumstances as viewed at the time. 6. Control systems, regulation, governance including shareholder relations risks The Company is dependent on the Manager's control systems and those of its Custodian and Registrars, both of which are monitored and managed by the Manager in the context of the Company's assets and interests on behalf of the Board. The security of the Company's assets, dealing procedures and the maintenance of investment trust status under s842 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988, among other things, rely on the effective operation of such systems. These are regularly tested and a programme of internal audits is carried out by the Manager to maintain standards. Other risks Other risks monitored on a regular basis include loan covenants, which are subject to daily monitoring, together with the Company's cash position, and the continuation vote (at a time of poor performance). RELATED PARTIES Mr Fraser was employed by Fidelity International until the end of December 2008. Mr Fraser is a Director of Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC. The Company has a current loan relationship with Barclays Bank PLC. Mr Fraser has no influence over the decisions by Barclays Bank PLC in its lending relationship with the Company. FIL Limited has an interest of 112,379 shares or 0.22% in the Company (2008: 112,379 shares or 0.20%). No Director is under a contract of service with the Company and no contracts existed during or at the end of the financial period in which any Director was materially interested and which were significant in relation to the Company's business, except as disclosed previously in relation to Mr Fraser's interest in the Management Agreement and his directorship of Barclays Bank PLC. There have been no other related party transactions requiring disclosure under Financial Reporting Standard ("FRS") 8. STATEMENT OF DIRECTORS' RESPONSIBILITIES The Directors are responsible for preparing the annual report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations. Company law requires the Directors to prepare financial statements for each financial period. Under that law they have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice. The financial statements are required by law to give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Company and of the profit or loss for the period. In preparing these financial statements, the Directors are required to: • select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; • make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; • state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and • prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Company will continue in business. The Directors are responsible for ensuring that adequate accounting records are kept which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Company and to enable them to ensure that its financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Under applicable law and regulations the Directors are also responsible for preparing a Directors' Report, including a Business Review, a Directors' Remuneration Report and a Corporate Governance Statement that comply with that law and those regulations. The Directors are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the Company's pages of the Manager's website www.fidelity.co.uk/its. Visitors to the website need to be aware that legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of the financial statements may differ from legislation in their own jurisdictions. We confirm that to the best of our knowledge the financial statements, prepared in accordance with the applicable set of accounting standards, give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of the Company; and the Directors' Report includes a fair review of the development and performance of the business and the position of the Company together with a description of the principal risks and uncertainties it faces. Approved by the Board on 5 March 2010 and signed on its behalf. Robert Walther Chairman 5 March 2010 Enquiries: Chris Davies, FIL Investments International - 01737 837 723 Rebecca Burtonwood, Company Secretary, FIL Investments International - 01737 836 869 FIDELITY EUROPEAN VALUES PLC Income Statement - for the year ended 31 December 2009 2009 2008 revenue capital total revenue capital total £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Gains/(losses) on - 46,288 46,288 - (158,681) (158,681) investments designated at fair value through profit or loss Income - Dividends 22,684 - 22,684 23,757 - 23,757 - Interest income - - - 42 - 42 - Deposit interest 165 - 165 1,888 - 1,888 - Interest on VAT - - - 1,429 - 1,429 recovered on investment management fee - Fidelity Institutional 412 - 412 2,534 - 2,534 Cash Fund plc Investment management and (4,582) - (4,582) (5,491) (7,458) (12,949) performance fee VAT recovered on 37 - 37 5,995 - 5,995 investment management fee Other expenses (793) - (793) (875) - (875) Exchange gains/(losses) 161 (8,056) (7,895) (107) 25,141 25,034 on other net assets Exchange gains/(losses) - 6,867 6,867 - (26,695) (26,695) on loans Net return/(loss)before 18,084 45,099 63,183 29,172 (167,693) (138,521) finance costs and taxation Interest payable (3,768) - (3,768) (4,427) - (4,427) Net return/(loss)on 14,316 45,099 59,415 24,745 (167,693) (142,948) ordinary activities before taxation Taxation on return/(loss) (3,434) 506 (2,928) (4,128) 1,509 (2,619) on ordinary activities* Net return/(loss)on 10,882 45,605 56,487 20,617 (166,184) (145,567) ordinary activities after taxation for the year Return/(loss)per ordinary 20.59p 86.27p 106.86p 36.77p (296.35p) (259.58p) share (1) 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. * This relates to overseas taxation only FIDELITY EUROPEAN VALUES PLC Reconciliation of Movements in Shareholders' Funds - for the year ended 31 December2009 called share capital capital revenue total up premium redemption reserve reserve equity share account reserve capital £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Opening shareholders' 14,737 58,615 1,088 767,645 12,560 854,645 funds: 1 January 2008 Net recognised capital - - - (160,235) - (160,235) losses for the year Repurchase of ordinary (1,009) - 1,009 (51,106) - (51,106) shares Performance fee charged - - - (7,458) - (7,458) to capital Taxation credited to - - - 1,509 - 1,509 capital Net revenue after - - - - 20,617 20,617 taxation for the year Dividend paid to - - - - (7,991) (7,991) shareholders Closing shareholders' 13,728 58,615 2,097 550,355 25,186 649,981 funds: 31 December 2008 Net recognised capital - - - 45,099 - 45,099 gains for the year Repurchase of ordinary (949) - 949 (37,913) - (37,913) shares Taxation credited to - - - 506 - 506 capital Net revenue after - - - - 10,882 10,882 taxation for the year Dividend paid to - - - - (19,620) (19,620) shareholders Closing shareholders' 12,779 58,615 3,046 558,047 16,448 648,935 funds: 31 December 2009 FIDELITY EUROPEAN VALUES PLC Balance Sheet - as at 31 December 2009 2009 2008 £'000 £'000 Fixed assets Investments designated at fair value through 658,771 657,544 profit or loss Current assets Debtors 7,760 1,890 Fidelity Institutional Cash Fund plc 45,823 48,764 Cash at bank 40,973 50,907 94,556 101,561 Creditors - amounts falling due within one year Fixed rate unsecured loan (35,471) - Other creditors (11,280) (9,145) (46,751) (9,145) Net current assets 47,805 92,416 Total assets less current liabilities 706,576 749,960 Creditors - amounts falling due after more than one year Fixed rate unsecured loans (57,641) (99,979) Total net assets 648,935 649,981 Capital and reserves Called up share capital 12,779 13,728 Share premium account 58,615 58,615 Capital redemption reserve 3,046 2,097 Capital reserve 558,047 550,355 Revenue reserve 16,448 25,186 Total equity shareholders' funds 648,935 649,981 Net asset value per ordinary share 1,269.52p 1,183.61p FIDELITY EUROPEAN VALUES PLC Cash Flow Statement - for the year ended 31 December2009 2009 2008 £'000 £'000 Operating activities Investment income received 17,088 18,280 Deposit interest received 657 6,162 Investment management fee paid (4,602) (6,011) Performance fee paid for prior year (7,458) - VAT recovered on investment management fee paid 37 6,043 Directors' fees paid (113) (104) Other cash payments (659) (762) Net cash inflow from operating activities 4,950 23,608 Returns on investments and servicing of finance Interest paid (3,794) (4,505) Net cash outflow from returns on investments and (3,794) (4,505) servicing of finance Taxation Overseas taxation recovered 1,218 740 Taxationrecovered 1,218 740 Financial investment Purchase of investments (834,557) (937,042) Disposal of investments 882,130 982,820 Net cash inflowfrom financial investment 47,573 45,778 Dividend paidto shareholders (19,620) (7,991) Net cash inflowbefore use of liquid resources and 30,327 57,630 financing Cash flow from management of liquid resources Fidelity Institutional Cash Fund plc 2,941 (48,764) Net cash inflow/(outflow) from management of liquid 2,941 (48,764) resources Net cash inflow before financing 33,268 8,866 Financing Repurchase of ordinary shares (36,004) (51,906) 3.54% fixed rate unsecured loan repaid - (29,736) Net cash outflowfrom financing (36,004) (81,642) Decreasein cash (2,736) (72,776) 1. Returns/(losses) per ordinary share are based on the net revenue return on ordinary activities after taxation in the year of £10,882,000 (2008: £ 20,617,000), the capital return in the year of £45,605,000 (2008: loss £ 166,184,000) and the total return in the year of £56,487,000 (2008: loss £ 145,567,000) and on 52,862,338 ordinary shares (2008: 56,077,724) being the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the year. The above statements have been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies as set out in the financial statements in the annual report to 31 December 2009. This preliminary statement, which has been agreed with the Auditor, was approved by the Board on 5 March 2010. It is not the Company's statutory financial statements. The statutory financial statements for the financial year ended 31 December 2008 have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The statutory financial statements for the financial year ended 31 December 2009 have been approved and audited but have not yet been filed. The statutory financial statements for the financial years ended 31 December 2008 and 31 December 2009 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 15 April 2010.
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