Interim Results
F&C Pacific Inv Tst
08 October 2004
Date: 8 October 2004
Contact: Christian Dangerfield Lisa Stanley
F&C Management Limited Lansons Communications
020 7628 8000 020 7294 3692
F&C PACIFIC INVESTMENT TRUST PLC
Unaudited Interim Statement of Results
for the half-year to 31 July 2004
SUMMARY OF RESULTS
31 July 2004 31 January 2004 % change
Net assets £189.5m £209.9m -9.7
Net asset value per share 117.08p 122.74p -4.6
Share price 104.50p 110.75p -5.6
Commenting on these results Christopher Purvis, the Chairman said:
MARKET ENVIRONMENT
The first three months of the period under review saw gains in most Asian
markets, with Japan leading strongly on hopes that the prolonged downturn in
that economy was coming to an end. The second three months saw sharp setbacks
across the region, as concerns about the global economy and, particularly, the
rising oil price overshadowed the more positive underlying outlook for Asia's
economies. Markets were particularly volatile as a result of the withdrawal of
many foreign investors from the region, following aggressive buying last year.
PORTFOLIO PERFORMANCE
Performance during the period was poor. The Company's benchmark, the MSCI AC
Asia Pacific Free Index, fell by 0.8%, the Company's net asset value per share
fell by 4.6%.
Sharp falls occurred in a number of your Company's larger holdings exposed to
Japan's domestic economy in the second half of the period, resulting in net
underperformance by the Company's portfolio of the Japanese market for the six
month period.
However, significant underperformance against our benchmark during the period
was caused by holdings in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan, where
markets were hit by concerns about the impact of a slowdown in China's economy.
While the Manager had reduced exposure to China ahead of market weakness in
April and May, the Company remained overweight in a number of other Asian
markets and was therefore exposed to the broad-based panic-selling which
occurred at that time. This was particularly acute in a number of the Company's
holdings in smaller companies in South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore.
Gearing during the period exacerbated underperformance.
DERIVATIVES
During the period under review your Board gave approval to the Manager to use
derivatives primarily for hedging purposes. At the end of the six months under
review your Manager protected part of the Japanese portfolio through the
purchase of put options. The effect of this was that approximately 20% of the
Japanese portfolio was protected against a fall in the Nikkei Index below
10,500.
SHARE BUY-BACKS
We have maintained our policy of repurchasing shares for cancellation. We
bought back 9,135,816 shares in the six months, with a market value of £10.04m
at an average discount of 11.4%. This is equivalent to 5.3% of the shares in
issue at the end of the last financial year.
MERGER OF F&C AND ISIS
On 2 July 2004 our Manager, F&C Management, announced that it would merge with
ISIS Asset Management. The combined group, to be named F&C Asset Management,
will become the fourth largest asset manager in the UK with assets under
management of £120bn. F&C Management has advised the Board that as a result of
the merger greater resources will be added to the management of your Company's
portfolio. Your Board confirms that the investment philosophy and objectives of
your Company remain unchanged.
OUTLOOK
The Manager believes that the long-term relative attractiveness of the region
continues to build.
Following weakness over the summer, valuations once again look appealing and, in
the case of Japan, have returned to 30-year lows. While China remains a
wildcard, growth within the region generally remains on track. However, the
rising price of oil and renewed doubts about the sustainability of the global
economy have once again clouded the region's more positive outlook.
In light of this your Manager has geared the portfolio to the level of
approximately 16%, as at 6 October, but has put in place derivative transactions
to provide some protection against a major fall in the Japanese, Korean and Hong
Kong stockmarkets. The Company's portfolio is currently overweight relative to
the benchmark in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.
Christopher Purvis
October 2004
Unaudited Balance Sheet
31 July 31 July 31 January 2004
2004 2003 £'000s
£'000s £'000s
Fixed assets
Investments 190,964 201,190 234,408
Current assets
Debtors 4,428 737 4,879
Taxation recoverable - 293 -
4,428 1,030 4,879
Cash at bank and short-term deposits 23,222 9,264 3,666
27,650 10,294 8,545
Current liabilities
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Loans (25,862) (5,161) (24,887)
Other (3,235) (2,858) (8,185)
(29,097) (8,019) (33,072)
Net current (liabilities)/assets (1,447) 2,275 (24,527)
Net assets 189,517 203,465 209,881
Capital and Reserves
Called up share capital 40,466 46,561 42,750
Capital redemption reserve 17,105 11,010 14,821
Share premium 5 5 5
Capital reserves 124,034 137,827 145,061
Revenue reserve 7,907 8,062 7,244
Total equity shareholders' funds 189,517 203,465 209,881
Net asset value per ordinary share - pence 117.08 109.25 122.74
The geographical distribution of investments at 31 July 2004 was:
Japan - 57.9%; Australasia - 13.9%; Singapore - 6.3%; Hong Kong - 4.8%; South
Korea - 4.6%; Taiwan - 3.1%; Other - 9.4%.
Unaudited Statement of Total Return (incorporating the Revenue Account*)
for the 6 months to 31 July
2004 2003
Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total
£'000s
£'000s £'000s £'000s £'000s £'000s
(Losses)/gains on investments - (11,569) (11,569) - 30,091 30,091
Exchange gains/(losses) - 395 395 - (120) (120)
Income 2,057 - 2,057 2,450 - 2,450
Management fee (607) - (607) (521) - (521)
Performance-related management
fee - 321 321 - 202 202
Other expenses (323) (33) (356) (334) (27) (361)
Net return before finance costs
and taxation 1,127 (10,886) (9,759) 1,595 30,146 31,741
Interest payable and similar
charges (183) - (183) (10) - (10)
Return on ordinary activities
before taxation 944 (10,886) (9,942) 1,585 30,146 31,731
Taxation on ordinary activities (281) (96) (377) (539) - (539)
Return attributable to equity
shareholders 663 (10,982) (10,319) 1,046 30,146 31,192
Dividend on ordinary shares - - - - - -
Amount transferred
to/(from) reserves 663 (10,982) (10,319) 1,046 30,146 31,192
Return per ordinary share -
pence 0.40 (6.64) (6.24) 0.56 16.05 16.61
* 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.
Unaudited Summarised Cash Flow Statement for the 6 months to 31 July
2004 2003
£'000s £'000s
Net cash inflow from operating activities 924 2,178
Interest paid (200) (11)
Total tax (paid)/received (366) 604
Net cash inflow from financial investment 32,106 11,592
Equity dividends paid (1,785) (1,967)
Net cash inflow before use of liquid resources and
financing 30,679 12,396
Increase in short-term deposits - (3,719)
Net cash outflow from financing (8,704) (2,518)
Increase in cash during the period 21,975 6,159
The Interim financial statements have been prepared on the basis of the
accounting policies set out in the Company's financial statements at 31 January
2004.
As the Company liquidated its three trading subsidiaries during the year ended
31 January 2004 consolidated accounts have not been prepared. The comparatives
for both the half-year to 31 July 2003 and at 31 January 2004 are also on a
company only basis.
The Board recommends that no interim dividend payment be made.
The Report and Accounts for the half-year to 31 July 2004 will be posted to
shareholders in mid October 2004. Copies may be obtained during normal business
hours from the Company's Registered Office, Exchange House, Primrose Street,
London EC2A 2NY.
By order of the Board
F&C Management Limited, Secretary
8 October 2004
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