Final Results

F&C Pacific Inv Tst 06 May 2005 Date: 6 May 2005 Contact: James Budden Christopher Purvis Witan Investment Services Chairman 020 7818 3121 Pacific Investment Trust PLC 020 7221 6985 F&C PACIFIC INVESTMENT TRUST PLC Unaudited Preliminary Statement of Results for the year ended 31 January 2005 SUMMARY OF RESULTS 31 January 2005 31 January 2004 % Change Net assets £198.1m £209.9m -5.6 Net assets per share 128.88p 122.74p +5.0 Dividend per share 1.05p 1.05p - Share price 115.00p 110.75p +3.8 Commenting on these results, Christopher Purvis the Chairman said: Dear Shareholder, Introduction | In addition to reporting on the results for the financial year ended 31 January 2005, I am pleased to be able to give details of the new management arrangements which were announced on 22 March 2005, the planning of which commenced during the year under review. We have introduced a new management structure for your Company. This includes the appointment of a new executive and commercial manager as well as two new investment managers together with a new company secretary, fund accountant and administrator. We believe the strengths of our new investment managers are likely to lead to better performance in the future. In addition, we believe that by putting in place this new structure, we have increased our flexibility and reduced our dependence on any one investment management group for the provision of all these services. In addition, we have reduced our dependence on any one investment style or approach. Witan Investment Services Limited ('Witan'), which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Witan Investment Trust plc, an independent global investment trust, takes on the newly created role of commercial and executive manager ('Executive Manager') with responsibility for the commercial management of the Company, including advising on, liaising with and monitoring the Company's investment managers and other third party service providers. Witan will also have responsibility for the marketing of the Company, and it is expected that this will include the administration and servicing of savings plans. Your two new investment managers are Aberdeen Asset Managers Limited ('Aberdeen') and Nomura Asset Management U.K. Limited ('Nomura') (together, the 'Investment Managers'), who between them, take the place of F&C Management Limited ('F&C Management'). They will be given 50 per cent of your assets each to manage, and each will have the same benchmark as now: the MSCI AC Asia Pacific Free Index, denominated in sterling. As part of the changes, arrangements have been made for a tender offer of up to 50 per cent of the Company's issued share capital for those shareholders wishing to realise shares in the Company, and a matching facility for those wishing to increase their investment. Details were sent to shareholders on 25 April 2005 and are expected to be approved at the Extraordinary General Meeting convened for 18 May 2005 along with a change of the Company's name to Witan Pacific Investment Trust PLC. Performance in the year under review | The table below illustrates the market environment and the performance of your Company during the year ended 31 January 2005: % increase NAV per share (total return) 5.9 Benchmark 10.3 Share price 3.8 Discount % 31 January 2004 9.8 31 January 2005 10.8 The markets in which your Company invests continued to perform well during the year, after a strong performance in the previous year. But once again the return of the Company was lower than that of the benchmark. The underperformance arose primarily because F&C Management invested in smaller and medium sized companies in Japan, which rose less than the index. This disappointing result, coming after four consecutive years in which your Company performed less well than the benchmark, was a matter of growing concern to your Board as the year progressed. Objectives and management | In October 2004, after the announcement that the lead manager, Christian Dangerfield, was leaving F&C Management, and in the light of the continuing disappointing investment performance, your Board undertook a review of the Company's objectives and its management arrangements. As part of this process, we took into account the views of those of our major shareholders to whom we had spoken as part of our regular programme of shareholder contact. Your Company provides its investors with a broad-based exposure to equity markets across the Pacific region. The Board understands that many investors, who consider that the Pacific region is attractive, choose to invest in the region through an investment trust which gives coverage of all of the major markets and whose managers make the asset allocation decisions between the various markets, as well as selecting stocks for the portfolio. Your Company is one of a small number of trusts that provides this service. Your Board believes that the case for a pan-Pacific mandate is now even stronger because of current economic trends, in particular with the integration of the region's economies. Within this context the Board believes that investment managers should be able to exploit investment opportunities across the region and be able to switch between the different markets and industries. In assessing investment performance, the Board measures the successes and failures of an investment manager by comparing performance against a benchmark index. New management structure | We undertook a search process in which a number of potential investment managers were interviewed. We concluded that there would be considerable benefit in appointing two managers, together with an Executive Manager to oversee the Investment Managers and the other service providers to the Company. We believe that this approach will engage the expertise of fund managers with particular knowledge of the region as a whole and that the blend should serve to improve returns for investors. The Board is convinced that a strategy which blends investment approaches and investment styles is more likely to result in outperformance for shareholders over a market cycle. Furthermore the Board believes the flexibility inherent in the new management structure where each service provider is separately employed will enhance the smooth operation of the Company and avoids the risks inherent in being tied to a particular investment house or investment style for all aspects of the management of the Company. Appointment of Executive Manager and new Investment Managers | After the year end, your Board appointed Witan as Executive Manager and Aberdeen and Nomura as the new Investment Managers. Witan has experience in this field. Both the Aberdeen and Nomura groups have significant resources and excellent records of investment in the Pacific region. Benchmark | Having concluded in our review that the investment objective and policy of the Company should not be changed, your Board also decided that the benchmark against which investment performance would be measured would remain the MSCI AC Asia Pacific Free Index, denominated in sterling. Both of the Investment Managers will be assuming a pan-Pacific mandate, initially on the basis of 50 per cent of the Company's assets each. They will have responsibility for asset allocation decisions and gearing levels for their own portfolios, within parameters set by the Board. They may invest across the whole Asia Pacific region, including Australasia and India. Gearing policy | The Company will continue with its existing policy towards gearing and will, if necessary, put in place bank facilities such that each Investment Manager may utilise borrowings within agreed parameters set and monitored by the Board. Fund accounting, secretarial and custody arrangements | BNP Paribas Fund Services UK Limited ('BNP') has been appointed to provide fund accounting and secretarial services to the Company in place of F&C Management. JPMorgan Chase Bank will continue to act as custodian. Expenses and dividend | The Board believes that the overall costs of operating the Company under these new management arrangements (excluding performance fee arrangements) are likely to be less than the costs have been. The total expense ratio in the year under review, excluding the payment of a fee under the performance fee arrangements by F&C Management to the Company of £644,000, was 0.8 per cent (including the payment of the fee it was 0.5 per cent). Your Board is recommending an unchanged dividend of 1.05 pence per share. New savings scheme and PEP/ISA arrangements | Notwithstanding the Company's new management arrangements with Aberdeen and Nomura, the savings scheme arrangements in which existing investors currently participate will remain in place for the time being. As Witan will have responsibility for the marketing of the Company, it is expected that this will include the administration and servicing of any new savings schemes launched in due course. Buybacks and discount management | During the year, 17,332,590 shares (10.1 per cent of the shares in issue at the beginning of the period) were purchased for cancellation at an average discount to net asset value of 11.6 per cent. Buying back shares at a discount has raised net asset value per share by approximately 1.2 per cent. There have been no buybacks since the Company's year end. As a result of the Company's tender offer and the appointment of the new Investment Managers, Aberdeen and Nomura, the Board expects the discount of the Company to perform at least in line with its peers. In the past the Board has shown a willingness to use share buy backs and will do so again in order to manage the discount appropriately. The Board will propose to the Annual General Meeting that powers for further purchases should be taken. Directors | Les Atkinson and Kevin Jones stand for re-election to the Board at the Annual General Meeting. Les plays important roles as Senior Independent Director and as Chairman of the Nominations Committee, as well as bringing great breadth of business experience to our deliberations. Kevin's consultancy background, with his particular knowledge of China and Japan is of great value; and he chairs our Audit Committee with great skill. The Board recommends to you the re-election of both of them. Annual General Meeting | We hope that you will be able to attend the Company's Annual General Meeting. The Annual General Meeting this year will again be held at Stationers' Hall, at 12 noon on Tuesday 21 June 2005. It will be an opportunity for you to hear directly from the new managers. Conclusion | Your Company has had a number of years of disappointing performance. The new arrangements are designed to correct this: to provide those investors wishing to have broad exposure to the region with an investment vehicle that consistently outperforms its benchmark. Your Board will continue to pursue this objective with vigilance and energy. Christopher Purvis | May 2005 Balance Sheet at 31 January 2005 2004 £'000s £'000s Fixed assets Investments Listed outside Great Britain 205,955 231,456 Unlisted at Directors' valuation 3,689 2,952 209,644 234,408 Current assets Debtors 986 4,879 Cash at bank and short-term deposits 5,488 3,666 6,474 8,545 Current liabilities Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Loans (14,845) (24,887) Other (3,219) (8,185) (18,064) (33,072) Net current liabilities (11,590) (24,527) Net assets 198,054 209,881 Capital and Reserves Called up share capital 38,420 42,750 Capital redemption reserve 19,151 14,821 Share premium 5 5 Capital reserves 133,637 145,061 Revenue reserve 6,841 7,244 Total shareholders' funds - equity 198,054 209,881 Net asset value per ordinary share - pence 128.88 122.74 The geographical distribution of investments at 31 January 2005 was: Japan - 53.3%, Australia - 12.6%, Singapore - 8.4%, Hong Kong - 6.8%, South Korea - 3.8%, Taiwan - 3.4%, China - 2.4%, Malaysia - 2.3%, Indonesia - 2.1%, India - 1.9%, Thailand - 1.6%, New Zealand - 1.3%, Vietnam - 0.1%. Statement of Total Return (incorporating the Revenue Account*) for the year ended 31 January 2005 2004 Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total £'000s £'000s £'000s £'000s £'000s £'000s Gains on Investments - 7,400 7,400 - 53,257 53,257 Exchange gains/(losses) 4 (259) (255) 7 137 144 Income 3,962 - 3,962 4,814 - 4,814 Management fee (1,158) - (1,158) (1,117) - (1,117) Performance related management fee - 644 644 - 619 619 Other expenses (597) (59) (656) (625) (60) (685) Net return before finance costs and taxation 2,211 7,726 9,937 3,079 53,953 57,032 Interest payable and similar charges (395) - (395) (121) - (121) Return on ordinary activities before taxation 1,816 7,726 9,542 2,958 53,953 56,911 Taxation on ordinary activities (616) (193) (809) (957) (186) (1,143) Return attributable to equity shareholders 1,200 7,533 8,733 2,001 53,767 55,768 Dividends on ordinary shares Proposed final of 1.05p (2004: nil) (1,603) - (1,603) - - - Dividend in lieu of a final dividend nil (2004: 1.05p) - - - (1,773) - (1,773) Amount transferred (from)/to reserves (403) 7,533 7,130 228 53,767 53,995 Return per ordinary share - pence 0.74 4.63 5.37 1.10 29.56 30.66 * The revenue column of this statement is the profit and loss account of the Company. All revenue and capital items in the above statement derive from continuing operations. Cash Flow Statement For the year ended 31 January 2005 2004 £'000s £'000s Net cash inflow from operating activities 2,054 3,398 Interest paid (402) (93) Taxation (paid)/received (685) 414 Net cash inflow/(outflow) from capital expenditure and financial investment 34,958 (2,535) Equity dividends paid (1,785) (1,967) Net cash inflow/(outflow) before use of liquid resources and financing 34,140 (783) Increase in short-term deposits (3,826) (9) Net cash (outflow)/inflow from financing (28,644) 2,958 Increase in cash 1,670 2,166 Notes The Board propose a final dividend of 1.05p per share (2004 - 1.05p per share in lieu of a final dividend) payable on 24 June 2005 to shareholders on the register at close of business on 13 May 2005. The above financial information comprises non-statutory accounts within the meaning of section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. The financial information for the year ended 31 January 2004 has been extracted from published accounts for the year ended 31 January 2004 that have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies and on which the report of the auditors has been unqualified. As the Company liquidated its three trading subsidiaries during the year ended 31 January 2004 consolidated accounts have not been prepared for the year ended 31 January 2005. The comparatives for the year ended 31 January 2004 are also on a company only basis. The Annual General Meeting will be held at Stationers' Hall, Ave Maria Lane, London EC4 at 12 noon on Tuesday 21 June 2005. The Report and Accounts will be posted to shareholders in late May 2005. Copies may be obtained during normal business hours from the offices of BNP Paribas Services UK Limited, 55 Moorgate London EC2R 6PA. By order of the Board F&C Management Limited, Secretary 5 May 2005 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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