Final Results - NAV Up 27.1%

Foreign & Colonial Eurotrust PLC 15 November 1999 Contact: Stephen White Foreign & Colonial Management 0171 628 8000 Claire Barry Financial Dynamics 0171 831 3113 FOREIGN & COLONIAL EUROTRUST PLC Unaudited Preliminary Statement for the year ended 30 September 1999 Highlights - Net asset value outperformance: Net asset value per share rose by 27.1% compared with a rise of 20.7% in the FT/S&P AWI-Europe Index, excluding the UK, and adjusted to sterling; - Ordinary dividend: Recommends increase of 6.3% to 1.70p - During the past year the company's portfolio has outperformed its benchmark by a satisfactory margin, helped by gearing in the first quarter of the financial year, and followed by positive sector allocation and stock selection in the latter part of the year; - The fundamentals for Europe are more favourable today than they were at the beginning of the year. Once bond markets stabilise and investors' recent enthusiasm for other parts of the world has run its course, we believe attention will focus again on Europe and the equity markets should respond accordingly. - Eurotrust supports the AITC's current TV advertising campaign 'its', as the aim is to broaden the knowledge of investment trusts to a wider public and to promote their powerful attractions as savings vehicles. We believe that the campaign will result in additional demand for investment trusts and a narrowing of discounts. SUMMARY OF RESULTS 30 Sept 30 Sept % 1999 1998 Change Attributable to equity shareholders Net assets £390.02m £306.86m +27.1 Net assets per share 518.32p 407.81p +27.1 Earnings per share 2.07p 3.30p* -37.3 Annual dividend (per share) 1.70p 1.60p +6.3 Post merger dividend (per share) - 0.40p N/A Share price 495.00p 379.00p +30.6 * Includes 1.07p relating to a special dividend from Daimler. Chairman's Statement Over the year to 30 September 1999, the continental European markets performed strongly, and I am pleased to report that Eurotrust shareholders participated fully in this development as the net asset value per share of the Company rose from 407.8p to 518.3p, a gain of 27.1%. This compares with a rise, over the same period, of 20.7% in the FT/S&P AWI-Europe Index, excluding the UK, and adjusted to sterling. Investment Review As mentioned above, the European markets performed well in the period under review. However, most of the gains occurred in the first three months of our financial year as world markets generally recovered from the sharp correction seen last autumn. Sentiment was encouraged by the decisive action of the US Federal Reserve Board to loosen monetary policy, the recovery of the yen and major initiatives such as the IMF assistance package for Brazil and the fiscal stimulus in Japan. While Wall Street was a key influence, investors in Europe, nonetheless, could also draw comfort at home from cuts in domestic interest rates, continuing major corporate activity and increasing cross-border investment with the arrival of the Euro. During this period, the leaders within the markets tended to be the interest-sensitive companies, such as the insurance companies, telecom utilities and growth stocks in general. The main laggards were the oils and cyclical stocks. The performance of the continental markets since the beginning of 1999, by contrast, was much less exciting, both in absolute and in relative terms. This was not due to any change in the fundamental situation for Europe, as the background continued to brighten. Economic activity gained momentum as export orders and investment spending joined consumer demand as the motors of growth. Corporate results reflected the improving economic environment at home, as well as the favourable implications of the weaker Euro. As results were accompanied by generally upbeat statements analysts were prompted to revise steadily upwards their earnings forecasts. At the same time, merger and acquisition activity remained buoyant. What held the markets back, however, were two factors. First, with more buoyant economic conditions in Europe, signs of recovery in both the Far East and Japan and a firming in many commodity prices, in particular oil, long bond yields worldwide moved higher as investors gradually came to realise that the next moves in short term rates, both in the US and Europe, would be upwards. Secondly, the technical situation was unfavourable. Many international investors seemed to prefer to allocate money to areas such as Japan and the emerging markets where after a long period of underperformance there were signs of recovery. At the same time, there was no shortage of new issues and secondary placings. During this latter period, the best performers within the European markets were the oils and many of the cyclicals, while the utilities, insurance companies and many growth stocks suffered from the weakness in the bond markets Portfolio Strategy With the arrival of the Euro, our investment approach has moved from a country-based allocation towards a sector-based allocation. We see this as a trend that will be adopted increasingly elsewhere as investors come to see Europe as a single entity from a stock market point of view given the monetary, currency and economic convergence which has taken place. Viewed from our sector approach, we made only a few changes to the portfolio over the past year. The most important of these was to add to the oil stocks as the outlook for the price of crude improved and to emphasise further companies set to benefit most from the upswing in economic activity. We financed these through taking profits in some of the telecoms, which had done particularly well, and certain financials which we felt were most vulnerable to difficult bond markets. We also sold some of our smaller company holdings given investors' continuing preference for larger capitalisation stocks. Over the past year, the portfolio outperformed the benchmark by a satisfactory margin. Although the gearing helped in the first three months of our financial year, more important for our relative performance overall was our positive sector allocation and positive stock selection in the latter part of the year. Revenue The income on our statement of total return shows only a small increase on the year before. Although many of our companies increased their dividends, the previous year's revenue had been boosted by Daimler's payment of a special one-off distribution of reserves. Total expenses were higher than the year before,the main reason being the rise in the management fee, which follows from the increase in the value of the portfolio. Interest expenses were slightly lower as the Company benefited from low interest rates, particularly on its Swiss franc borrowings. In view of all the above, net revenue attributable to shareholders fell from £2,192m to £1,558m. Dividend The prior year was an exception in that we paid both an interim and a one-off post merger dividend. The interim dividend of 1.6p per share, equivalent to the full ordinary dividend of the year before, was paid to shareholders of Eurotrust shortly before the merger with Foreign & Colonial German Investment Trust (German) in order to protect their revenue entitlement. However, owing to the receipt of higher than expected dividend income thereafter and in order to maintain our investment trust status a further final dividend of 0.4p per share was paid to all shareholders. For the financial year just finished, your Board has decided to recommend an increase of 6.3% in the ordinary annual dividend from 1.6p to 1.7p. This is made possible by the underlying healthier state of the revenue account, and your Board is mindful of the fact that there was no increase in the dividend in the previous three years. Management Fee As part of their regular review, your Board asked the Audit Committee to consider the management fee paid to Foreign & Colonial Management. It was felt an appropriate moment to do this given the increase in the Company's assets following the merger with German. The proposal put forward by the Audit Committee was endorsed by the Board and agreed subsequently with Foreign & Colonial Management. Under the new terms, the fee payable on funds under management will be at the rate of 0.75% per annum up to £ 400m and at 0.50% thereafter. The new fee was implemented as from the quarter ended 30 September 1999. Your Board believes that the new fee is fair to shareholders, takes full account of all the investment management, administration and marketing services provided by the Manager and is in keeping with industry practice. Corporate Governance We comply with the recommendations for best practice in corporate governance published by the Cadbury Committee and the Association of Investment Trust Companies. Private Investor Plan At the end of September, there were over two thousand individuals participating in the private investor plan on a regular monthly basis. I believe it justifies fully its cost to the Company. We now have nearly 22,000 shareholders and the percentage of the Company's share capital owned by private individuals is 72%. This is one of the highest levels of individual ownership in the investment trust sector, and a feature of the Company we are keen to see continue. 'Its' Campaign We support the current advertising campaign underway by the AITC. All advertisements, posters and television commercials brandish the 'Its' logo for Investment Trusts. The aim of the campaign is to broaden knowledge of investment trusts to a wider public and to promote their powerful attractions over other forms of investment and savings vehicles. Should this lead to a new wave of demand for investment trusts and with it a narrowing in discounts, the money will have been well spent. AGM We hope that as many shareholders as possible will attend the Annual General Meeting. This will be held at 12.15 p.m. on Tuesday, 14 December at Foreign & Colonial's offices at Exchange House. Prospects Europe has lagged this year for the reasons mentioned earlier. It has not been due to any deterioration in the fundamentals for Europe as the outlook there appears more favourable today than it was at the beginning of the year. Business activity on the continent continues to accelerate and this has led to further upward revisions for economic growth this year and next. Consumer spending, which had been the initial motor for growth, is now being accompanied by rising export demand following the recovery in the Far East and the favourable currency situation with the weak Euro. As a result, corporate profits are likely to continue to surprise on the upside. At the same time, investor interest in the markets will be maintained by the wave of corporate merger and acquisition activity. Once bond markets stabilise, and it may well require a rise in short term rates for this to happen, and the recent enthusiasm for other parts of the world has run its course, we believe investors will focus again on the positive fundamentals for Europe. Directors and Staff As you know, I succeeded Tim Abell on his retirement as chairman of your Board in May this year. He had been chairman of Eurotrust since 1989, and over those ten years the net assets of the Company rose more than sixfold. On behalf of shareholders, I should like to thank him for all his contribution to the success of the Company and to wish him well in his retirement. Finally, may I thank the staff of Foreign & Colonial Management once again for the excellent service they have given your Company over the past year. Douglas McDougall November 1999 ASSETS Attributable to equity shareholders at 30 at 30 Sept Sept 1999 1998 £'000s £'000s Total assets less current liabilities 438,554 349,366 (excluding loans) Foreign currency loans: due within one year (48,538) (42,508) Total assets attributable to ordinary 390,016 306,858 shareholders Net asset value per share 518.32p 407.81p Geographical distribution of investments: France 29.1% Germany 16.2% Netherlands 12.7% Switzerland 7.6% Italy 8.3% Sweden 5.6% Finland 5.4% Spain 3.9% Portugal 3.6% United Kingdom 3.1% Denmark 2.0% Belgium 1.1% Norway 1.0% Austria 0.4% Statement of Total Return (incorporating the Revenue Account *) for the year ended 30 September 1999 1998 Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total £'000s £'000s £'000s £'000s £'000s £'000s Gains/(losses) on investments - 81,418 81,418 - (15,680) (15,680) Exchange gains and losses on currency (59) 1,476 1,417 32 67 99 balances Income 8,044 - 8,044 7,830 - 7,830 Management fee (3,691) - (3,691) (3,027) - (3,027) Other expenses (626) (15) (641) (494) (23) (517) Net return before finance costs and 3.668 82,879 86.547 4,341 (15,636) (11,295) taxation Interest payable and (1,057) - (1,057) (1,185) - (1,185) similar charges Return on ordinary activities 2,611 82,879 85,490 3,156 (15,636) (12,480) before taxation Taxation on ordinary (1,053) - (1,053) (964) - (964) activities Return attributable to equity shareholders 1,558 82,879 84,437 2,192 (15,636) (13,444) Dividends on ordinary shares (equity) Interim (foreign income dividend) of NIL (1998 - 1.60p) - - - (997) - (997) Proposed final dividend of 1.70p (1998- 0.40p) (1,279) - (1,279) (301) - (301) Amount transferred to/(from) reserves 279 82,879 83,158 894 (15,636) (14,742) Return per ordinary share - pence 2.07p 110.14p 112.21p 3.30p (23.51)p (20.21)p * The revenue column of this statement is the profit and loss account of the Company. Both the revenue and capital returns are based on 75,245,568 ordinary shares in issue during the year. The Directors propose a final dividend of 1.70 per share, payable on 20 December 1999 to shareholders registered on 26 November 1999. The Annual General Meeting will be held at 12.15pm on Tuesday, 14 December 1999 at Exchange House, Primrose Street, London EC2A 2NY. The Report and Accounts will be posted to shareholders on 20 November 1999. 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 Foreign & Colonial Management Limited - Secretary 12 November 1999
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