Final Results

ABERFORTH GEARED CAPITAL & INCOME TRUST plc PRELIMINARY RESULTS For the year-ended 31 December 2005 FEATURES Total Returns Total Assets + 24.9% Net Asset Value of Notional Package(1) + 35.8% Net Asset Value of Capital Shares(2) + 58.1% Total Dividend per Income Share 8.62p (+2.6%) 1 Notional Package is made up of 70% Income Shares and 30% Capital Shares. 2 Capital Shares asset performance assumes Income Shares have a capital entitlement of 100p each. Aberforth Geared Capital & Income Trust plc invests only in small UK quoted companies, does not invest in any unquoted securities, AIM listed securities or securities issued by investment trusts or investment companies. CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT TO SHAREHOLDERS INTRODUCTION I am pleased to report that 2005 has been a good year for Aberforth Geared Capital & Income Trust plc (AGCiT). In a repeat of 2004 the UK stockmarket has generated a strong positive return and the return for AGCiT's chosen asset class - small UK quoted companies - has been relatively good. Specifically the FTSE All-Share Index registered a total return of 22.0% and the Hoare Govett Smaller Companies Index (Excluding Investment Companies) achieved a total return of 27.8%. Against this background, AGCiT achieved a total return on total assets of 24.9%. Given this level of absolute return on total assets, the gearing employed by AGCiT has worked beneficially and the return on Shareholders' Funds has been 35.8%. After allowance has been made for the 100p final capital entitlement of the Income Shares, the net asset value of a Capital Share has risen from 296.0p on 31 December 2004 (restated as a consequence of changes in accounting practices) to 467.9p, an increase of 58.1%. DIVIDEND The dividend performance from AGCiT's investments has been satisfactory in the period under review. Your Board is pleased to declare a second interim dividend of 5.39p per Income Share, an increase of 2.6% on the 5.255p paid in respect of the comparative period last year. Taken together with the first interim dividend of 3.23p, the total dividend for the year of 8.62p represents an increase of 2.6% on the dividends paid in respect of 2004. Following the dividend payment relating to 2005, revenue reserves will represent approximately 2.6p per Income Share. A feature of small UK quoted companies since AGCiT's inception has been that the aggregate dividend performance has been robust. This has been beneficial to AGCiT and has been one of the factors allowing the consistent increase in dividend payments to AGCiT's Income Shareholders whilst simultaneously building a healthy revenue reserve. It is your Board's intention to attempt to sustain the smooth trend of dividend payments over the Company's life and to use revenue reserves, if necessary, to achieve this. Any revenue reserves present at the date of wind-up are, of course, the entitlement of the Income Shareholders. ACCOUNTING CHANGES There is an unusually large number of changes to the presentation of AGCiT's accounts this year owing to the introduction of new Accounting Standards. These are detailed in the paragraphs below. It is the Board's view that the changes do nothing to simplify AGCiT's financial statements, their presentation or interpretation. The Company is a split capital investment trust. In the Director's opinion the Income Shares and the Capital Shares are the true equity of the company, despite the fact that the Income Shares must now be disclosed as "financial liabilities" and included as creditors. Shareholders should be reassured that no changes will be made to the investment portfolio or investment strategy as a result of these accounting changes. AGCiT continues to prepare its financial statements under UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (GAAP) and the AITC's Statement of Recommended Practice. As intimated in the Interim Statement in July, your Board, after due consideration and advice, has resolved not to adopt International Accounting Standards at this time. Your Board will keep the position under review. However, these financial statements do incorporate a number of necessary changes to accounting practices in the form of Financial Reporting Standards (FRS) 21, 25 and 26. Adoption of these standards has required a change in the treatment and presentation of dividends, the basis of valuing investments in the portfolio, the reclassification of the Income Shares to "financial liabilities" and finally the treatment and presentation of the interest rate swap. The Board has concluded that the amount of £24.5m raised through the issue of the Income Shares falls under the definition of a financial liability within FRS 25. Consequently this amount has been recorded as a long-term liability. This re- classification is reflected on the Balance Sheet but has no effect on the net asset attributable to either the Income Shares or Capital Shares. The change in the basis of valuing investments involves valuing the investment portfolio at "bid" rather than "mid" prices, which has reduced ACGiT's portfolio value by about 0.7%. Changes in the fair valuation of the interest rate swap now are recognised on the Income Statement and Balance Sheet. Further information regarding the changes is provided in the notes to these financial statements. INVESTMENT MANAGERS On 1 December 2005, the assets and business of Aberforth Partners transferred to Aberforth Partners LLP, a limited liability partnership. As a consequence, the investment management, administration and company secretarial services previously provided by Aberforth Partners are now provided by Aberforth Partners LLP. There was no change to the terms of these services as a result. SUMMARY AND OUTLOOK 2005 marked the third consecutive year of high absolute returns from AGCiT and its chosen asset class. It would be unusual if the scale of returns enjoyed these past three years were repeated in 2006. Indeed there are reasons for caution. The UK economy is faltering at a time when seemingly cheap and abundant debt is causing asset prices to rise and is fuelling M&A activity. There are, however, also reasons to be sanguine. The vast majority of UK listed companies has strong balance sheets, good cash flows and is earning high real returns on capital employed. In turn, these are the very features that are driving the debt fuelled M&A, which, in part, has supported the recent attractive returns enjoyed by investors. Whatever the future holds, your Board is confident that your Managers have the skill and experience to serve Shareholders well. Alastair C. Dempster Chairman 18 January 2006 The Income Statement, Balance Sheet, Reconciliation of Movements in Shareholders' Funds, and summary Cash Flow Statement are set out below: - INCOME STATEMENT For the year ended 31 December 2005 (unaudited) 2005 2004 (Restated) Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Realised gains on sales - 7,627 7,627 - 10,886 10,886 Unrealised gains - 12,497 12,497 - 7,281 7,281 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Gains on investments - 20,124 20,124 - 18,167 18,167 Dividend income 3,324 761 4,085 3,214 - 3,214 Interest income 22 - 22 40 - 40 Other income 1 - 1 9 - 9 Investment management fee (245) (571) (816) (199) (464) (663) Other expenses (201) (338) (539) (183) (623) (806) ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Net return before finance costs 2,901 19,976 22,877 2,881 17,080 19,961 and taxation Finance costs: interest (675) (1,926) (2,601) (650) (1,656) (2,306) ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ 2,226 18,050 20,276 2,231 15,424 17,655 Finance costs on Income Shares (2,078) - (2,078)(2,028) - (2,028) ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Return on ordinary activities 148 18,050 18,198 203 15,424 15,627 before tax Tax on ordinary activities - - - - - - ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Return attributable to equity 148 18,050 18,198 203 15,424 15,627 shareholders ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== Returns per share Income Share 9.09p - 9.09p 9.11p - 9.11p ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Capital Share - 171.90p 171.90p - 146.90p 146.90p ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ NOTES 1.The total column of this statement is the profit and loss account of the Company. The supplementary revenue and capital columns are both prepared under guidance published by the Association of Investment Trust Companies. All revenue and capital items in the above statement derive from continuing operations. No operations were acquired or discontinued in the period. A Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses is not required as all gains and losses of the Company have been reflected in the above statement. The various changes in accounting policies, as disclosed in the Notes at the end of this announcement, have had a cumulative effect of decreasing return attributable to equity shareholders by £2,386,000 to £15,627,000 for the year ended 31 December 2004. 2.The calculations of revenue return per Income Share are based on net revenue on ordinary activities before distributions of £2.226 million (2004: £2.231 million) and on 24.5 million Income Shares. The calculations of capital return per Capital Share are based on net capital profits of £18.050 million (2004: profits of £15.424 million) and on 10.5 million Capital Shares. BALANCE SHEET As at 31 December 2005 (unaudited) 31 31 December December 2005 2004 (restated) £'000 £'000 Fixed Assets: Investments Investments at fair value through 111,640 94,186 profit or loss -------- ------- Current assets Debtors 328 258 Creditors (amounts falling due within (708) (1,743) one year) -------- ------- Net current liabilities (380) (1,485) -------- ------- Total assets less current liabilities 111,260 92,701 Creditors (amounts falling due after (60,175) (59,814) more than one year) -------- ------- TOTAL NET ASSETS 51,085 32,887 ======= ======= CAPITAL AND RESERVES Called up share capital 105 105 Reserves: Capital redemption reserve 50 50 Special reserve 9,674 9,674 Capital reserve - realised 10,450 4,545 Capital reserve - unrealised 28,852 16,707 Revenue reserve 1,954 1,806 ------- ------- TOTAL EQUITY 51,085 32,887 ======= ======= Net Asset Values: - per Income Share (Income Shares 79.72p 73.73p are classified as financial liabilities) - per Capital Share 533.84p 374.50p NOTE The Company had 24.5m Income Shares and 10.5m Capital Shares in issue as at 31 December 2005 and 31 December 2004. RECONCILIATION OF MOVEMENTS IN SHAREHOLDERS' FUNDS For the year ended 31 December 2005 (unaudited) 2005 2004 (restated) £'000 £'000 Opening shareholder'' funds as 58,055 42,101 previously reported Prior year adjustments (25,168) (24,841) ---------- --------- Opening shareholder'' funds 32,887 17,260 (restated) Return attributable to equity 18,198 15,627 shareholders ---------- --------- Closing equity shareholders' funds 51,085 32,887 ---------- --------- SUMMARY CASH FLOW STATEMENT For the Year ended 31 December 2005 (unaudited) 2005 2004 £'000 £'000 CASH FLOW STATEMENT Net cash inflow from operating 3,094 2,498 activities ---------- ---------- Returns on investment and servicing of finance Dividends paid (2,078) (2,028) Interest and other finance costs (2,239) (2,135) paid ---------- ---------- Net cash outflow from returns on investment and servicing of (4,317) (4,163) finance ---------- ---------- Capital expenditure and financial investment Payments to acquire investments (25,268) (45,658) Receipts from sales of investments 27,543 42,298 ---------- ---------- Net cash inflow/(outflow) from 2,275 (3,360) capital expenditure and financial investment ---------- ---------- Net cash inflow/(outflow) before 1,052 (5,025) financing activities ---------- ---------- Financing activities Loans drawn-down - 3,339 ---------- ---------- Net cash inflow from - 3,339 financing activities ---------- ---------- Change in cash during the period 1,052 (1,686) ========== ========== Reconciliation of change in cash to movement in net debt Change in cash during the period 1,052 (1,686) Loans drawn-down - (3,339) Change in fair valuation of interest (352) (139) rate swap Amortisation of issue costs during (9) (9) the period ---------- ---------- Change in net debt 691 (5,173) Opening net debt (61,499) (56,326) ---------- ---------- Closing net debt (60,808) (61,499) ========== ========== NOTES 1. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with applicable accounting standards and the AITC's Statement of Recommended Practice " Financial Statements of Investment Trust Companies". Comparatives have been restated following the adoption of FRS 21 "Events after the Balance Sheet Date", FRS 25 "Financial Instruments: Disclosure & Presentation" and FRS 26 `Financial Instruments: Measurement'. The adoption of FRS 21 has resulted in a change in accounting for dividends. Dividends payable by the Company are now recorded as a liability following a dividend declaration by the Board and therefore the second interim dividend of 5.39p per share, declared today, has not been recorded as a liability of the Company as at 31 December 2005 (2004: 5.255p per share). In previous financial statements, dividends declared were recognised in respect of the period to which they related. This change in accounting policy has increased Shareholders' funds by £1,287,000 as at 31 December 2004. The adoption of FRS 26 has resulted in a change in the basis of valuation of investments. Under FRS 26, the Company's investments have been categorised as "financial assets at fair value through profit or loss" and therefore quoted investments are now valued at bid prices. Previously, quoted investments were valued at middle market prices. This change in accounting policy has reduced Shareholders' funds by £876,000 as at 31 December 2004. The adoption of FRS 25 resulted in the classification of Income Shares as "financial liabilities" and as a consequence the fair value at tome of issue of £24.5million has been accounted for within creditors. Dividends paid to Income Shareholders are now treated as finance costs and appear within this category on the Income Statement. As a further consequence of investments being categorised as "financial assets at fair value through profit or loss", the gains on investments on the Income Statement has been restated and now reflects the movements in unrealised appreciation, based on bid prices. Transaction costs incidental to the acquisition or disposal of investments which are now treated as a capital expense and included within expenses under the capital column of the Income Statement. Previously such transaction costs were included within book cost of investments and proceeds from sales. This change in accounting policy has reduced the total return attributable to Shareholders for the year ended 31 December 2004 by £219,000 as at 31 December 2004. FRS 26 requires derivatives to be measured at fair value. The Company's interest rate swap is not a designated as a cash flow hedge and changes in its fair value are recognised in the Income Statement. In previous financial statements the fair value of derivatives was not included on the Balance Sheet or Income Statement. The change in accounting policy for derivatives has reduced the return attributable to Capital Shares for the year to 31 December 2004 by £139,000 and by £1,079,000 as at 31 December 2004. 2. The foregoing do not comprise Statutory Accounts (as defined in section 240(5) of the Companies Act 1985) of the Company. The statutory accounts for the year to 31 December 2004, which contained an unqualified Report of the Auditors under section 235 of the Companies Act,have been lodged with the Registrar of Companies and did not contain a statement required under section 237(2) or (3) of the Companies Act 1985. 3. It is anticipated that the Annual Report will be posted to shareholders during week commencing 23 January 2006. Members of the public may obtain copies from Aberforth Partners LLP, 14 Melville Street, Edinburgh EH3 7NS or from its website at www.aberforth.co.uk. CONTACT: John Evans or David Ross of Aberforth Partners LLP on 0131 220 0733 Aberforth Partners LLP, Secretaries - 18 January 2006 ANNOUNCEMENT ENDS
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