Final Results
Foreign & Colonial Eurotrust PLC
13 November 2000
Date: 13 November 2000
Contact: Stephen White
Foreign & Colonial Management 020 7628 8000
Louise Dolan
Financial Dynamics 020 7831 3113
FOREIGN & COLONIAL EUROTRUST PLC
Unaudited Preliminary Statement of Results for the year ended 30 September
2000
Highlights
* Net asset value outperformance: Net asset value per share rose by 33.2%
compared with a rise of 18.7% in the FT/S&P AWI-Europe Index, excluding
the UK, and adjusted to sterling.
* Ordinary dividend: The Board has recommended an unchanged dividend of
1.70p.
* During the year the Company has reduced its exposure to the telecoms
sector, remained overweight in the oil sector and added to the
pharmaceuticals and food and drink companies.
* Outlook: Economic activity in Europe should continue to be supported by
a high level of consumer confidence, some loosening in fiscal policy and
the low level of the euro.
Corporate earnings should show further growth, albeit at a slower rate.
The markets should respond positively to these factors.
* Board change: Mr Jean Bonna decides to stand down after 16 years on the
Board. His place is taken by Mr Philippe Sarasin who is a managing partner
of Lombard Odier & Cie. and is responsible for their investment management
activities.
SUMMARY OF RESULTS
30 Sept 30 Sept %
2000 1999 Change
Attributable to equity shareholders
Net assets £519.60m £390.02m +33.2
Net asset value per share 690.54p 518.32p +33.2
Earnings per share 1.02p 2.07p -50.7
Annual dividend per share 1.70p 1.70p --
Share price 653.5p 495.0p +32.0
FOREIGN & COLONIAL EUROTRUST PLC
Unaudited Preliminary Statement of Results for the year ended 30 September
2000
Balance Sheet
at 30 Sept at 30 Sept
2000 1999
£'000s £'000s
Investments
Listed in United Kingdom 21,489 13,620
Listed outside United Kingdom 540,475 417,354
561,964 430,974
Unlisted at directors' valuation 12 13
561,976 430,987
Current assets
Debtors 4,433 13,860
Taxation recoverable 1,080 1,308
Cash at bank and short-term deposits 1,024 7,305
6,537 22,473
Current liabilities
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Foreign currency loans (44,370) (48,538)
Other (4,539) (14,906)
(48,909) (63,444)
Net current liabilities (42,372) (40,971)
Net assets 519,604 390,016
Capital and reserves
Called up equity share capital 18,811 18,811
Share premium 123,749 123,749
Capital reserves 374,750 244,648
Revenue reserve 2,294 2,808
Total equity shareholders' funds 519,604 390,016
Net asset value per ordinary share - pence 690.54 518.32
Geographical distribution of total assets less current liabilities at 30
September 2000 was: France - 28.5%; Germany - 14.6%; Netherlands - 12.1%;
Italy - 7.5%; Switzerland - 7.5%; Other - 29.8%.
FOREIGN & COLONIAL EUROTRUST PLC
Unaudited Preliminary Statement of Results for the year ended 30 September
2000
Statement of Total Return (incorporating the revenue account*)
- 2000 - -1999-
(restated **)
Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total
£'000s £'000s £'000s £'000s £'000s £'000s
Gains on investments - 127,580 127,580 - 81,418 81,418
Exchange gains and losses on
currency balances (56) 2,539 2,483 (59) 1,476 1,417
Income 8,141 - 8,141 7,271 - 7,271
Management fee (4,483) - (4,483) (3,691) - (3,691)
Other expenses (956) (17) (973) (626) (15) (641)
Net return before finance 2,646 130,102 132,748 2,895 82,879 85,774
costs and taxation
Interest payable and
similar charges (1,526) - (1,526) (1,057) - (1,057)
Return on ordinary 1,120 130,102 131,222 1,838 82,879 84,717
activities before taxation
Taxation on ordinary (355) - (355) (280) - (280)
activities
Return attributable to 765 130,102 130,867 1,558 82,879 84,437
equity shareholders
Amount transferred (from)/ (514) 130,102 129,588 279 82,879 83,158
to reserves
Return per ordinary share - 1.02 172.90 173.92 2.07 110.14 112.21
pence
*The revenue column of this statement is the profit and loss account of the
Company.
** The revenue results for the year ended 30 September 1999 have been restated
in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 16 (FRS 16) 'Current
Taxation'. The effect of this change in accounting policy is to decrease
Revenue Return on Ordinary Activities before Taxation by £773,000. However,
there is no effect on Revenue Return on Ordinary Activities after Taxation or
on Equity Shareholders' Funds.
FOREIGN & COLONIAL EUROTRUST PLC
Unaudited Preliminary Statement of Results the year ended 30 September 2000
Cash Flow Statement
2000 1999
£'000s £'000s
Net cash inflow from operating activities 2,935 3,030
Net cash outflow from servicing of finance (1,503) (993)
Total tax (paid)/recovered (233) 344
Net cash outflow from financial investment (4,572) (16,324)
Equity dividends paid (1,279) (301)
Net cash outflow before use of liquid resources and financing (4,652) (14,244)
Management of liquid resources 4,456 7,898
Net cash (outflow)/inflow from financing (1,401) 8,764
(Decrease)/increase in cash (1,597) 2,418
The Directors propose a final dividend of 1.70p (1999 - 1.70p) per share
payable on 21 December 2000 to shareholders registered on 24 November 2000.
The financial information set out in this announcement does not constitute the
Company's statutory accounts for the years ended 30 September 2000 or 30
September 1999. The financial information for the year ended 30 September 1999
(restated to comply with FRS 16) has been extracted from the statutory
accounts for that year which have been delivered to the Registrar of
Companies. The auditors reported on those accounts: their report was
unqualified and did not contain a statement under either Section 237(2) or
Section 237(3) of the Companies Act 1985. The statutory accounts for the year
ended 30 September 2000 will be finalised on the basis of the financial
information presented by the directors in this preliminary announcement and
will be delivered to the Registrar of Companies following the Company's Annual
General Meeting.
The Audited Report and Accounts will be posted to shareholders on 17 November
2000. Copies
may be obtained during normal business hours from the Company's Registered
Office, Exchange House, Primrose Street, London EC2A 2NY.
The Annual General Meeting will be held at Stationers' Hall, Ave Maria Lane,
London, EC4 on Tuesday 19 December 2000 at 11:30am.
By order of the Board
Foreign & Colonial Management Limited - Secretary
10 November 2000