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
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