Final Results
ADVANCE FOCUS FUND LIMITED
Preliminary announcement of results for the year ended 30 September
2006
CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT
The year to 30 September 2006 saw the net asset value of the trust
rise by 19.8% to 133.4 pence per Share, a creditable result for our
new investment policy and well ahead of the 14.7% delivered by the
FTSE All-Share Total Return Index.
Our Company's Share price rose by 11.2% over the financial year and
our shares moved from trading at a small premium against net asset
value to a 6.6% discount. Since the year end the discount has
narrowed and as at 8 December 2006 was 5.3%. The Board stands ready
to use the share repurchase powers granted by the shareholders when
appropriate and early in the Company's accounting year authorised the
repurchase of 1,718,042 Shares for cancellation. This added 0.2 pence
per share to the net asset value.
The net revenue return for the year was 2.3 pence per Share. After
eliminating brought forward revenue losses, the Board recommends the
payment of a final dividend of 1 pence per Share for the year ended
30 September 2006. Future dividend payments will more closely reflect
the revenue return generated in the relevant accounting year.
When we changed the Company's investment objective in April 2005 the
Board and the Manager felt that, primarily for reasons of liquidity,
we should invest in constituents of the FTSE All-Share Index. Since
that time we have seen a remarkable expansion in the AIM market as it
has captured most new issues and a number of companies have moved
from the main market (including some that the Manager had been
evaluating as potential investments). Having reviewed the situation,
the Board now feels that the exclusion of AIM is restricting the
Manager's access to interesting and suitable situations and thus
limiting the scope for performance. The Board is, therefore, seeking
shareholder approval for the Manager also to invest in AIM stocks
subject to their market capitalisation exceeding the minimum required
to qualify for the FTSE All-Share Index at the time of investment.
Resolution 6 at the Annual General Meeting requests that approval.
The Board would like to thank Marshall Securities for their work on
behalf of the Company at its inception and over the past three years
and has recently appointed Cenkos Securities as stockbroker to the
Company, with a view to raising the profile of the Fund and
increasing the liquidity of its Shares.
Since the year end, the FTSE All-Share Total Return Index has risen
by 4.7% and the Company's net asset value has been outperforming,
rising by 7.3% over the period from 1 October 2006 until 8 December
2006. Because the Manager concentrates on special situations, like
structural alterations, management change, and asset realisations,
the Company's performance is not expected directly to mirror overall
market movements. Also, sentiment changes affect discount levels and
investor confidence that special situations will be resolved. This
is reflected in the valuation of the portfolio during active market
phases, both bull and bear. The general outlook for the UK economy is
for a consumer slowdown, but only a small rise in interest rates. The
tightening of liquidity that is occurring now makes the general
outlook for the equity market more difficult, as consumers adjust
their expenditure and the availability of finance for corporate
restructuring is curtailed. Nevertheless, the environment for our
Manager's style is generally satisfactory and we remain optimistic
for 2007.
The Annual General Meeting of the Company will be held on 30 January
2007 at 9.00 am at 1 Le Marchant Street, St. Peter Port, Guernsey.
Christopher Clark
14 December 2006
Shareholders may contact the Chairman directly on
ADFChairman@pro-asset.com
INCOME STATEMENT
For the year ended 30 September 2006
2006 2005
Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
Gains on
investments
- realised - 3,221 3,221 - 3,078 3,078
- unrealised 1,667 1,667 - (1,240) (1,240)
Capital losses on currency movements - - - - (121) (121)
Net gains 4,888 4,888 - 1,717 1,717
Income 1,107 - 1,107 509 - 509
Investment management fee (304) (162) (466) (128) (192) (320)
Other expenses (227) - (227) (203) - (203)
Return on ordinary activities before 576 4,726 5,302 178 1,525 1,703
taxation
Taxation - - - - - -
Return on ordinary activities after 576 4,726 5,302 178 1,525 1,703
taxation
Return per Redeemable Preference Share 2.27p 18.64p 20.91p 0.85p 7.32p 8.17p
BALANCE SHEET
At 30 September 2006
2006 2005
£'000 £'000
FIXED ASSETS
Investments 31,493 28,683
CURRENT ASSETS
Sales for future settlements 700 202
Other debtors 132 139
Cash at bank and in hand 1,465 1,530
2,297 1,871
CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
Purchases for future settlement - (429)
Accrued liabilities (107) (54)
Performance fee (162) -
(269) (483)
NET CURRENT ASSETS 2,028 1,388
TOTAL NET ASSETS 33,521 30,071
CAPITAL AND RESERVES
Share capital 252 269
Share premium account 19,052 19,052
Share purchase reserve 6,217 8,069
Capital redemption reserve 17 -
Realised capital reserve 5,628 2,569
Unrealised capital reserve 1,929 262
Revenue reserve 426 (150)
SHAREHOLDERS' FUNDS 33,521 30,071
Net assets per Redeemable Preference Share 133.35p 111.97p
RECONCILIATION OF MOVEMENTS IN SHAREHOLDERS' FUNDS
For the year ended 30 September 2006
Share Share Capital Realised Unrealised
Share Premium Purchase Redemption Capital Capital Revenue
Capital Account Reserve Reserve Reserve Reserve Reserve Total
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
Opening 269 19,052 8,069 - 2,569 262 (150) 30,071
shareholders'
funds
Adjustment to
opening
balance for - - - - - (187) - (187)
bid price
valuation of
investments
Purchase of (17) - (1,852) 17 - - - (1,852)
own shares
Profit for - - - - 3,059 1,854 576 5,489
the year*
Closing 252 19,052 6,217 17 5,628 1,929 426 33,521
shareholders'
funds
For the year ended 30 September 2005
Share Share Capital Realised Unrealised
Share Premium Purchase Redemption Capital Capital Revenue
Capital Account Reserve Reserve Reserve Reserve Reserve Total
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
Opening 163 7,613 8,069 - (201) 1,507 (328) 16,823
shareholders'
funds
Shares issued 106 11,694 - - - - - 11,800
during the
year
Share issue - (255) - - - - - (255)
expenses
Profit for - - - - 2,770 (1,245) 178 1,703
the year
Closing 269 19,052 8,069 - 2,569 262 (150) 30,071
shareholders'
funds
* excluding adjustment to opening balance for bid price valuation of
investments.
CASH FLOW STATEMENT
For the year ended 30 September 2006
2006 2005
£'000 £'000
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Cash inflow from investment income and bank 1,110 378
interest
Cash outflow from management expenses (474) (548)
Cash inflow from disposal of investments 13,668 43,307
Cash outflow from purchase of investments (12,517) (53,172)
Cash inflow from foreign exchange forward contracts - 152
1,787 (9,883)
NET CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
FINANCING
Repurchase of own shares (1,852) -
Issue of share capital (net of expenses) - 11,545
Decrease in bank borrowings - (132)
NET CASH FLOW FROM FINANCING (1,852) 11,413
(DECREASE) / INCREASE IN CASH (65) 1,530
2006 2005
£'000 £'000
Opening cash balance (as previously stated) 1,530 (132)
Reclassification of bank overdraft as financing - 132
Opening balance (as restated) 1,530 -
Cash inflow/(outflow) (65) 1,530
Balance at 30 September 1,465 1,530
NOTES
The Company is a closed-ended investment company incorporated and
resident in Guernsey.
This report has been prepared in accordance with applicable United
Kingdom accounting standards and with the Statement of Recommended
Practice 'Financial Statements of Investment Trust Companies ("SORP")
issued by the Association of Investment Companies. The accounts have
been prepared in accordance with the SORP as it is considered best
practice. The Company is not an investment trust and as an overseas
company does not meet all the criteria set out in the SORP.
Changes to accounting policy
Valuation of investments
In the comparative figures for the year ended 30 September 2005,
securities were valued at their mid market prices. The impact of
valuing the portfolio at market bid price as at 30 September 2005
would have resulted in a downward adjustment of £186,810, equivalent
to 0.70p per Share. Under the transitional provisions of FRS 26, the
comparative figures for 2005 have not been adjusted.
Returns per share
Returns per Redeemable preference share are based on the weighted
average of 25,355,426 (2005: 20,840,309) Redeemable Preference Shares
in issue during the year.
Net assets per share
The figure for net assets per Redeemable Preference Share is based on
25,137,453 (2005:26,855,495) Redeemable Preference Shares in issue at
the Balance Sheet date.
The figure for net assets per Redeemable Preference Share as stated
at 30 September 2005 adjusted for bid price valuation of investments
was 111.27p.
Dividend
The directors recommend a final dividend of 1p per share. If
approved by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting, the dividend
will be paid on 7 February 2007 to shareholders on the register at 12
January 2007.
Status of the financial information
These financial statements are not the Company's statutory accounts.
The annual report will be sent to shareholders and copies will be
made available to the public at the registered office of the Company
and at the address of the UK Administration Agent.
The preliminary announcement was approved by the Board on 14 December
2006.
REGISTERED OFFICE
1 Le Marchant Street
St Peter Port
Guernsey
GY1 4HP
UK ADMINISTRATION AGENT
Cavendish Administration Limited
Crusader House
145-157 St John Street
London
EC1V 4RU
14 December 2006
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