Interim Results

Aurora Investment Trust PLC 27 November 2003 Aurora Investment Trust plc. Announcement of half-yearly results CHAIRMAN'S REVIEW Performance: I am very pleased to be able to report a quite considerable increase in the net asset value of your Company's shares during the first six months of the current year. It rose by 46.6% from 120.20p to 176.22p per share, including revenue reserves. This increase compares favourably with that of our benchmark, the FTSE All Share Index, which rose by 17.4%. At the start of the period equity markets world-wide were suffering from a number of uncertainties which included the prospect of a war in Iraq, uncertainty about a recovery in the US economy and the outbreak of SARS in the Far East. Happily these three uncertainties seem to have been laid to rest, for the moment at least. Perhaps the most important of the three from a stock market point of view, was the strength of the American economy; the news and statistics that are now emerging suggest that the recovery that is developing is quite robust and that the outlook for 2004 would seem to be quite encouraging. On the back of these developments, equity markets world-wide, including that of the UK, have recovered considerably. Our share price rose even more than the net asset value, increasing by 71.1% from 95p to 162.5p. This represented a considerable reduction in the discount which stood at 7.8%, representing, I believe, a recognition in the marketplace of the success achieved by James Barstow, our investment manager. James has done an excellent job in choosing the shares of companies that have performed well both absolutely and relatively; during the six and a half years from launch to 31 August 2003, the Company's net asset value outperformed the market by 88.2%. Since 1 September, he has continued to focus the portfolio on the same areas as before, including importantly on investments in housebuilders. The recent slippage in the prices of shares of housebuilders generally (caused by the recent increase in interest rates) and of BTG particularly has diminished our outperformance but not dented our long term belief in the main themes of the Trust's investment policy. Investment policy The Board notes the publication of the Investment Entities (Listing Rules and Conduct of Business) Instrument 2003. We have determined that, for the current year, our investment policy will not involve holding more than 15% of the Company's gross assets in UK listed investment companies. Outlook: After such a robust recovery in equity markets world-wide, it would not be surprising if there were a period of consolidation. The most important issue for equities is the underlying growth of corporate profits. Certainly, the increases in corporate profits in America have surprised everybody by their strength and the outlook for 2004 continues to be good. That is important because America is the engine economy driving global economic growth and if it is strong then other areas including the UK will benefit. The UK economy's strength is being driven by Government expenditure; that in turn is keeping unemployment low and consumer confidence reasonably high. In such circumstances - a strengthening global economy and a growing UK economy - it is likely that corporate profits in the UK will also grow. Given that the valuation of equities in the UK is not expensive and is somewhat supported by dividend yields, we believe the prospects for the UK market are reasonably good. Of more importance to us, is James's ability to identify areas and sectors that will do well and then pick the shares of the companies in those areas which will do particularly well. He clearly has succeeded in doing that in the past and, although we cannot always expect such good relative performance, I am confident that over a reasonable time period, James's management will result in further increases in our net asset value. ALEX HAMMOND-CHAMBERS CHAIRMAN 27 November 2003 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF TOTAL RETURN 6 months to 6 months 6 months 6 months 6 months 6 months 31 Aug. to 31 Aug. to 31 Aug. to 31 Aug. to 31 Aug. to 31 Aug. 2003 2003 2003 2002 2002 2002 Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Gains/(losses) on investments Realised - 866 866 - (72) (72) Unrealised - 7,621 7,621 - (1,107) (1,107) Exchange differences on overdraft - (32) (32) - - - Realised gains/(losses) of trading 68 - 68 7 - 7 subsidiary Unrealised gains/(losses) of trading 214 - 214 51 - 51 subsidiary Income 554 - 554 542 - 542 Investment management fees (58) (617) (675) (57) (57) (114) Other expenses (80) - (80) (75) - (75) Return on ordinary activities before finance costs and taxation 698 7,838 8,536 468 (1,236) (768) Interest payable and similar charges - (38) (38) (76) (77) (77) (154) bank overdraft interest Return on ordinary activities Before taxation 660 7,800 8,460 391 (1,313) (922) Taxation 2 - 2 (11) - (11) Return on ordinary activities after taxation 662 7,800 8,462 380 (1,313) (933) Dividends - - - - - - Transfers to/from reserves 662 7,800 8,462 380 (1,313) (933) Return per ordinary share 4.38p 51.63p 56.01p 2.52p (8.69p) (6.17p) SUMMARISED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET At 31 August At 31 August At 28 February 2003 2002 2003 £'000 £'000 £'000 Fixed assets - Investments at market value 30,147 22,310 21,763 Current asset investments 1,088 768 - Other current assets 481 256 826 1,569 1,024 826 Bank loan (4,397) (3,094) (3,729) Performance fee (559) - - Other current liabilities (138) (210) (700) (5,094) (3,304) (4,429) Net current liabilities (3,525) (2,280) (3,603) Total net assets 26,622 20,030 18,160 Share capital 3,777 3,777 3,777 Share premium account 10,997 10,997 10,997 Capital reserves 10,832 4,679 3,032 Revenue reserve 1,016 577 354 Equity shareholders funds 26,622 20,030 18,160 Net asset value per ordinary share 176.22p 132.59p 120.20p CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT For the six months ended 31 August 2003 2003 2002 £'000 £'000 Net Cash Outflow from Operating Activities (495) (381) Servicing of Finance Interest paid (103) (154) Taxation Taxation recovered 36 - Financial Investment Payments to acquire fixed asset investments (5,257) (5,096) Receipts on disposal of fixed asset investments 5,489 7,571 Net Cash Inflow from Investing Activities 232 2,475 Equity Dividends Paid (468) (394) Net Cash Inflow before Financing (798) 1,546 Increase(Decrease) in Cash (798) 1,546 RECONCILIATION OF NET DEBT £'000 £'000 Increase/(decrease) in cash in the period (798) 1,546 Translation difference (32) (139) Movement in net debt in the period (830) 1,407 Net debt at 1 March 2003 (3,322) (4,389) Net debt at 31 August 2003 (4,152) (2,982) NOTES These financial statements are not the Group's statutory accounts for the purposes of Section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. They are unaudited. The revenue column of the Statement of Total Return is the consolidated profit and loss account of the Group, comprising Aurora Investment Trust plc and AIT Trading Limited. All revenue and capital items in the above statement derive from continuing operations. No operations were acquired or discontinued in the period. Returns per share and net assets per share are based on 15,107,250 shares in issue throughout the period and at the Balance Sheet date (2002: 15,107,250 shares) Income is derived entirely from investments, with the exception of bank interest of £5,391 (2002: £3,526). In accordance with the stated policy of the Group, the directors do not recommend an interim dividend. The final dividend in respect of the year ending on 28 February 2004 is expected to be paid in May 2004. This interim report is being sent to shareholders and copies will be made available to the public at the registered office of the Group. SECRETARY & REGISTERED OFFICE Cavendish Administration Limited Crusader House 145-157 St John Street London EC1V 4RU This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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