Interim Results

F&C U.S. Smaller Companies PLC 15 March 2007 Date: 15 March 2007 Contact: Robert Siddles F&C Management Limited 020 7628 8000 F&C US SMALLER COMPANIES PLC Unaudited Interim Statement of Results for the half-year ended 31 December 2006 HIGHLIGHTS OF RESULTS • The NAV per share rose 0.1%, compared to a rise of 2.7% in the benchmark, the sterling adjusted Russell 2000 Index. The market was led by higher risk stocks and this did not suit the Company's conservative investment approach; • The Company bought back 1,184,684 of its own shares in the six month period at an average discount of 11.8%. SUMMARY OF UNAUDITED RESULTS FOR THE HALF-YEAR TO 31 DECEMBER 2006 31 December 2006 30 June 2006 Change Net assets £71.73m £75.46m -4.9% Net asset value per share 318.70p 318.52p +0.1% Russell 2000 Index (sterling adjusted) 402.45 391.81 +2.7% Share price 284.00p 287.50p -1.2% Increase in net asset value per share since inception on 8 March 1993 +218.9% Increase in the Russell 2000 Index (sterling adjusted) since 8 March 1993 +155.2% Chairman's Statement Dear Shareholder I am writing to report an increase of 0.1% in the net assets per share of your Company in the six-month period to 31 December 2006. The Company's benchmark, the sterling-adjusted Russell 2000 Index rose 2.7%. The under-performance with respect to the benchmark was disappointing; however, it should be borne in mind that this followed very strong out-performance in the 2005 calendar year. In the current period, the market was led by higher risk stocks and this did not suit the Company's conservative investment approach. Market Review During the period of six months under review, the Russell 2000 Index rose 8.7% in dollar terms, less than the Standard & Poors Composite Index, which gained 13.2% and the more technology-orientated NASDAQ Composite Index, which advanced 13.4%. Sterling investors suffered from a fall of 5.5% in the US dollar over the six months. The dollar was undermined by concerns that US economic growth might not be sustainable and, as a result, it declined to levels close to twenty-five year lows. After initial weakness in July, smaller companies made progress steadily during the period under review, helped by a strong rally in the bond market and a retreat in oil prices. The best performing sectors were utilities, consumer staples and integrated oils. The laggards were other energy, autos and transportation, and producer durables. Portfolio Review The portfolio continues to be substantially overweight in the consumer discretionary sector (which includes both business and consumer services) but underweight in technology, reflecting the Company's risk-averse style. In the financials sector, banks and REITs are under-weighted because of the potential impact of rising rates. Commercial finance and insurance are emphasised instead. In the last six months, the manager focused on areas of the market where growth will be more insulated from economic volatility, such as staples and niche growth areas, for example, distributors. CNA Surety was an example of a stock that was sold after a share price rise. This underwriter of surety bonds staged a strong recovery as economic conditions improved. The manager took profits in LKQ, a distributor of recycled car parts, as the shares began to look expensive. Bids were received for two portfolio holdings: Reynolds & Reynolds (software for car dealership) and Mercantile Bancshares (a Baltimore-based bank). Both were sold. Price Communications was sold following a board proposal to liquidate the company: its principal asset was the right to receive a distribution in Verizon stock. The biggest contributions to performance came from Reynolds & Reynolds and Cousins Properties, the Atlanta-based real estate developer. This real estate investment trust was lifted by the rally in the bond market. Poor performers included America's Car-Mart, a used car retailer, that was hurt by higher credit losses, as well as Universal Truckload Services and Transaction Systems Architects, both of which fell back on profit-taking. The former is a transportation service company and the latter provides electronic funds transfer software for large banks and retailers. Buy-backs and discount The Company bought back 1,184,684 of its own shares in the six-month period at an average discount of 11.8%. The Board will continue to apply its policy of buying back shares at appropriate times with a view to limiting the discount in the longer term to around 10%. The discount widened slightly from 9.7% at 30 June 2006 to 10.9% at 31 December 2006. As at 14 March 2007, the discount was 11.4%. Outlook Despite the sell-off in May 2006, smaller companies have rallied to new record highs. Although large companies led smaller ones in the last six-month period, there is no sign yet that the secular bull market in small companies, which began seven years ago, is over. The Board believes that the Company's risk-averse approach will continue to benefit shareholders over the longer term. Gordon Grender March 2007 UNAUDITED INCOME STATEMENT 6 months to 31 December 2006 6 months to 31 December 2005 Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total £'000s £'000s £'000s £'000s £'000s £'000s (Losses)/gains on investments - (504) (504) - 6,936 6,936 Exchange gains/(losses) on currency balances - (111) (111) - 30 30 Income 616 - 616 667 - 667 Management fee (293) - (293) (302) - (302) Other expenses (107) (2) (109) (96) (4) (100) Net return before finance costs and taxation 216 (617) (401) 269 6,962 7,231 Interest payable and similar charges - - - - - - Return on ordinary activities before taxation 216 (617) (401) 269 6,962 7,231 Taxation on ordinary activities (88) - (88) (98) - (98) Return attributable to equity shareholders 128 (617) (489) 171 6,962 7,133 Return per ordinary share - pence 0.55 (2.67) (2.12) 0.72 29.11 29.83 The total column is the profit and loss account of the Company. All revenue and capital items in the above statement derive from continuing operations. A statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses is not required as all gains and losses of the Company have been reflected in the above statement. UNAUDITED RECONCILIATION OF MOVEMENTS IN SHAREHOLDERS' FUNDS Called- up Share Non- Capital Total share premium distributable redemption Special Capital Revenue shareholders' capital account reserve reserve reserve reserves reserve funds £'000s £'000s £'000s £'000s £'000s £'000s £'000s £'000s Balance brought forward at 1 July 2005 6,026 2,468 841 7,326 5,346 50,720 (1,377) 71,350 Shares purchased by the Company (103) - - 103 (1,111) - - (1,111) Return attributable to equity shareholders - - - - - 6,962 171 7,133 Balance carried forward 31 December 2005 5,923 2,468 841 7,429 4,235 57,682 (1,206) 77,372 Balance brought forward at 1 July 2005 6,026 2,468 841 7,326 5,346 50,720 (1,377) 71,350 Shares purchased by the Company (103) - - 103 (1,111) - - (1,111) Return attributable to equity shareholders - - - - - 5,061 164 5,225 Balance carried forward at 30 June 2006 5,923 2,468 841 7,429 4,235 55,781 (1,213) 75,464 Balance brought forward at 1 July 2006 5,923 2,468 841 7,429 4,235 55,781 (1,213) 75,464 Shares purchased by the Company (296) - - 296 (3,244) - - (3,244) Return attributable to equity shareholders - - - - - (617) 128 (489) Balance carried forward at 31 December 2006 5,627 2,468 841 7,725 991 55,164 (1,085) 71,731 UNAUDITED BALANCE SHEET At 31 Dec 2006 At 31 Dec 2005 At 30 June 2006 £'000s £'000s £'000s Fixed assets Listed investments 69,810 75,979 73,081 Current assets Debtors 81 238 57 Cash at bank and short-term deposits 2,039 1,343 2,664 2,120 1,581 2,721 Current liabilities (199) (188) (338) Net current assets 1,921 1,393 2,383 Net assets 71,731 77,372 75,464 Shareholders equity Called-up share capital 5,627 5,923 5,923 Share premium account 2,468 2,468 2,468 Non-distributable reserve 841 841 841 Capital redemption reserve 7,725 7,429 7,429 Special reserve 991 4,235 4,235 Capital reserves 55,164 57,682 55,781 Revenue reserve (1,085) (1,206) (1,213) Total equity shareholders' funds 71,731 77,372 75,464 Net asset value per ordinary share - pence 318.70 326.57 318.52 UNAUDITED CASH FLOW STATEMENT 6 months to 6 months to 31 December 2006 31 December 2005 £'000s £'000s Net cash inflow/(outflow) from operating activities 198 (116) Total tax paid (89) (63) Net cash inflow from purchases and sales of investments 2,621 1,219 Net cash inflow before use of liquid resources and financing 2,730 1,040 Decrease in short-term deposits - 21 Net cash outflow from financing (3,244) (1,204) Decrease in cash during the period (514) (143) Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net funds Decrease in cash during the period (514) (143) Decrease in short-term deposits - (21) Exchange movement (111) 30 Movement in net funds in the period (625) (134) Net funds at the beginning of the period 2,664 1,477 Net funds at the end of the period 2,039 1,343 Notes 1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES The interim financial statements have been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies set out in the Company's financial statements at 30 June 2006. 2 DIVIDEND The directors do not propose to pay an interim dividend. 3 RETURN PER ORDINARY SHARE Returns per ordinary share attributable to ordinary shareholders reflects the overall performance of the Company in the period. Net revenue recognised in the first six months is not indicative of the total likely to be received in the full accounting year. 6 months to 6 months to Year to 31 Dec 2006 31 Dec 05 30 June 06 £'000s £'000s £'000s Total return (489) 7,133 5,225 Revenue return 128 171 164 Capital return (617) 6,962 5,061 Weighted average ordinary shares in issue 23,079,953 23,912,845 23,803,464 4 RESULTS The results for the six months to 31 December 2006 and 31 December 2005, which are unaudited, constitute non-statutory accounts within the meaning of Section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. The latest published accounts which have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies are for the year ended 30 June 2006; the report of the auditors thereon was unqualified and did not contain a statement under Section 237 of the Companies Act 1985. The abridged financial statements shown above for the year ended 30 June 2006 are an extract from those accounts. By order of the Board F&C Management Limited, Secretary Exchange House, Primrose Street, London EC2A 2NY 15 March 2007 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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