Interim Results

British Portfolio Trust PLC 19 June 2003 For Immediate Release 19th June 2003 BRITISH PORTFOLIO TRUST plc ANNOUNCEMENT OF UNAUDITED INTERIM RESULTS For the period from 1st November 2002 to 30th April 2003 Net Asset Value A summary of the results for the period from 1st November 2002 to 30th April 2003 is set out overleaf. The Net Asset Value (NAV) per Ordinary Share as at 30th April 2003 was 106.7p. This represents a decrease of 3.2% over the NAV as at 31st October 2002. Over the same period the Company's benchmark index, the FTSE All-Share Index, fell by 2.4%. However, since the period under review, the Company's NAV increased by 5.5% during May, (versus FTSE All-Share Index +4.1%), resulting in an increase in the NAV for the seven months to 31st May 2003 of +2.0% (FTSE All-Share Index +1.6%). Interim Dividend The Board has declared an interim dividend of 1.22p per Ordinary Share which will absorb £589,092 and is payable on 2nd September 2003 to all holders of Ordinary Shares on the Register of Members at the close of business on 1st August 2003. Share Buybacks During the period under review 1,192,986 Ordinary Shares were purchased for cancellation at a cost of £1.1m and at an average discount of 4.9%. In the period from 1st May 2003 until 19th June 2003 a further 216,700 Ordinary Shares have been repurchased for cancellation at a cost of £0.2m. Jos Holdings plc Reconstruction On 31st January 2003 investments and cash amounting to £7.1m and £0.1m respectively were transferred into the Company following the liquidation of Jos Holdings plc, and 7,573,707 new Ordinary Shares were issued. A special dividend of 0.28p per Ordinary Share was paid to shareholders on the register before the new shares were issued. Outlook The six month period under review has certainly been a volatile time for equities, with the FTSE All-Share Index peaking at 2,000, then falling as low as 1,593 just prior to the conflict in Iraq, eventually closing down just 2.4% over the period. Volatility was caused by the uncertainty over events in the Middle East but also by concerns about the state of the US economy. A short conflict in Iraq led to a relief rally in equity markets and it is encouraging to see that economic statistics have slightly improved in the US and the UK since the end of March. In the UK, low interest rates are providing attractive borrowing opportunities for consumers who are maintaining their spending at healthy levels and also ensuring that the housing market, especially outside the South East, remains resilient. The outlook for manufacturing remains tough but sterling weakness will provide some support near term. With geopolitical risks receding investors can return to focusing on company fundamentals. We believe that the equity markets can hold on to its gains and, with valuations looking supportive, provide a level from which to advance further. Accordingly the fund is now positively weighted towards the media, telecoms and financial sectors, which should benefit from an improving investment environment. These changes have been financed by taking profits in the more defensive sectors. 155 Bishopsgate By Order of the Board London EC2M 3AD P W I Ingram 19th June 2003 Secretary SUMMARY OF RESULTS STATEMENT OF TOTAL RETURN Six months ended 30th April 2003 Revenue Capital Total £'000s £'000s £'000s (Note 1) Net losses on investments - (424) (424) Income from fixed asset investments 1,017 - 1,017 Investment management fee (111) (246) (357) Administration expenses (76) - (76) Return before finance costs and taxation 830 (670) 160 Finance costs of borrowings (46) (136) (182) Return on ordinary activities before taxation 784 (806) (22) Taxation - - - Return after taxation attributable to Ordinary 784 (806) (22) Shareholders Dividends on Ordinary Shares Special 0.28p (117) - (117) Interim 1.22p (589) - (589) (706) - (706) Transfer to (from) reserves 78 (806) (728) Return per Ordinary Share (Note 2) 1.74p (1.79)p (0.05)p NET ASSET STATEMENT As at 30th April 2003 £'000s Fixed Asset Investments 52,740 Net Current Assets 4,790 Total Assets less Current Liabilities 57,530 Creditors - Amounts falling due after one year (6,000) Total Net Assets 51,530 Called up Share Capital 483 Share Premium Account 8,588 Special Reserve 58,509 Capital Reserves - Realised (7,253) Unrealised (8,915) Capital Redemption Reserve 29 Revenue Reserve 89 Shareholders' Funds 51,530 Net Asset Value per Ordinary Share 106.7p The net asset value is based on 48,286,242 Ordinary Shares in issue. SUMMARY OF RESULTS STATEMENT OF TOTAL RETURN for the period 13th December 2001 to 30th April 2002 Revenue Capital Total £'000s £'000s £'000s (Note 1) Net gains on investments - 172 172 Income from fixed asset investments 837 - 837 Investment management fee (83) (251) (334) Administration expenses (110) - (110) Return before finance costs and taxation 644 (79) 565 Finance costs of borrowings (35) (102) (137) Return on ordinary activities before taxation 609 (181) 428 Taxation - - - Return after taxation 609 (181) 428 Dividends on Ordinary Shares (478) - (478) Transfer from reserves 131 (181) (50) Return per Ordinary Share (Note 2) 1.40p (0.42)p (0.98)p NET ASSET STATEMENT As at 30th April 2002 £'000s Fixed Asset Investments 66,302 Net Current Assets 2,047 Total Assets less Current Liabilities 68,349 Creditors- Amounts falling due after one year (6,000) Total Net Assets 62,349 Called up Share Capital 434 Share Premium Account 62,734 Capital Reserves - Realised (1,380) Unrealised 443 Capital Redemption Reserve 2 Revenue Reserve 116 Shareholders' Funds 62,349 Net Asset Value per Ordinary Share 143.6p The net asset value is based on 43,411,405 Ordinary Shares in issue. SUMMARY OF RESULTS STATEMENT OF TOTAL RETURN for the period 13th December 2001 to 31st October 2002 Revenue Capital Total £'000s £'000s £'000s (Note 1) Net losses on investments - (13,889) (13,889) Income from fixed asset investments 1,763 - 1,763 Investment management fee (211) (476) (687) Administration expenses (172) - (172) Return before finance costs and taxation 1,380 (14,365) (12,985) Finance costs of borrowings (81) (242) (323) Return on ordinary activities before taxation 1,299 (14,607) (13,308) Taxation - - - Return after taxation 1,299 (14,607) (13,308) Dividends on Ordinary Shares (1,273) - (1,273) Transfer to (from) reserves 26 (14,607) (14,581) Return per Ordinary Share (Note 2) 3.02p (33.99)p (30.97)p NET ASSET STATEMENT As at 31st October 2002 £'000s Fixed Asset Investments 48,926 Net Current Assets 3,245 Total Assets less Current Liabilities 52,171 Creditors- Amounts falling due after one year (6,000) Total Net Assets 46,171 Called up Share Capital 419 Share Premium Account 1,445 Special Reserve 59,642 Capital Reserves - Realised (3,446) Unrealised (11,917) Capital Redemption Reserve 17 Revenue Reserve 11 Shareholders' Funds 46,171 Net Asset Value per Ordinary Share 110.2p The net asset value is based on 41,905,521 Ordinary Shares in issue. SUMMARY OF RESULTS CASH FLOW STATEMENT Six Months to Period to Period to 30th April 30th April 2002 31st October 2003 2002 £'000s £'000s £'000s Net cash inflow (outflow) from operating activities 173 (220) 986 Servicing of finance Interest paid (181) (89) (274) Net cash outflow on servicing of finance (181) (89) (274) Financing Issue of Ordinary Shares - 1,455 1,455 Repurchase of Ordinary Shares for cancellation (1,133) (294) (1,939) Payment of issue costs - (1,904) (1,913) Cash transferred from Jos Holdings plc 121 - - Net cash outflow on financing (1,012) (743) (2,397) Investing activities Acquisition of fixed asset investments (9,670) (73,924) (83,910) Disposal of fixed asset investments 12,750 7,855 20,160 Net cash inflow (outflow) from financial investment 3,080 (66,069) (63,750) Dividends paid (913) - (476) Increase (decrease) in cash 1,147 (67,121) (65,911) TWENTY LARGEST EQUITY HOLDINGS As at 30th April 2003 Sector Valuation % of Total Assets* £000s Vodafone Group 4,440 7.7 BP 3,301 5.7 GlaxoSmithKline 3,226 5.6 Royal Bank of Scotland 3,172 5.5 HSBC 3,130 5.4 Shell Transport & Trading 2,253 3.9 AstraZeneca 1,985 3.5 Barclays 1,717 3.0 HBOS 1,448 2.5 ICAP 1,227 2.1 Tate & Lyle 1,078 1.9 Anglo American 1,048 1.8 Unilever 969 1.7 Geest 957 1.7 Lloyds TSB Group 938 1.6 BG Group 890 1.5 Aviva 838 1.5 Kelda 818 1.4 British Sky Broadcasting 784 1.4 BT Group 723 1.3 34,942 60.7 PORTFOLIO ANALYSIS As at 30th April 2003 Sector Valuation % of Total Assets* £000s Cyclical Services 7,632 13.3 Financials 16,445 28.6 Non Cyclical Services 5,929 10.3 Non Cyclical Consumer Goods 9,803 17.1 Resources 8,420 14.6 Information Technology 940 1.6 Utilities 2,287 4.0 Basic Industries 968 1.7 General Industrials 316 0.5 Net Current Assets 4,790 8.3 57,530 100 * Total Assets include current liabilities. Note 1 The revenue column of this statement is the profit and loss account of the Company. All revenue and capital items derive from continuing operations. No operations were acquired or discontinued in the period, other than the investments and cash totalling £7.2m transferred following the reconstruction of Jos Holdings plc. Note 2 The return per Ordinary Share is based on a weighted average number of shares in issue of 45,121,021 (30th April 2002: 42,981,078; 31st October 2002: 43,349,360). Note 3 The Statement of Total Return for the period from 13th December 2001 to 31st October 2002 has been extracted from the published accounts of the Company at that date which have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The Auditors' opinion on those accounts was unqualified and did not contain a statement under Section 237 (2) or (3) of the Companies Act 1985. The Interim Report will be sent to Shareholders shortly and made available to the public at the Registered Office of the Company, 155 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 3AD. For further information, please contact:- Allianz Dresdner Asset Management (UK) Ltd Simon White Tel: 020 7065 1539 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange ZBBB
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