Interim Results
Graphite Enterprise Trust PLC
17 September 2004
GRAPHITE ENTERPRISE TRUST PLC
RESULTS FOR THE HALF YEAR
TO 30 JUNE 2004
FINANCIAL RESULTS
30 June 31 Dec % change to
2004 2003 30 June 2004
Shareholders' Funds £285.5m £258.7m +10.3%
Net assets per share 314.4p 284.9p +10.3%
Share Price 236.3p 222.3p +6.3%
FTSE All-Share Index 2,228.7 2,207.4 +1.0%
SUMMARY
• Net assets per share rose by 10.3%.
• The valuation of Maplin increased by £23.6 million.
• Since 30 June there have been four major realisations, including
Maplin.
CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT
Overall Performance
In the six months to 30 June 2004 the net assets of Graphite Enterprise Trust
PLC (the 'Enterprise Trust') rose by 10.3% from 284.9p to 314.4p per share. The
share price rose by 6.3% from 222.3p to 236.3p. These movements compare with an
increase of 1.0% in the FTSE All-Share Index in the period. The strong overall
performance of the Enterprise Trust was the result of a number of successful
realisations from the unquoted portfolio.
Events since 30 June
At 30 June a number of realisations were in progress that have been completed
since. These were the disposals of Maplin and Paperchase and the refinancings
of Ridgmont and Wagamama, all of which were completed between July and early
September. The net asset value at 30 June reflects the terms of these
realisations.
Following the completion of these realisations the share price has risen to
262.0p at the close of business on 16 September, the day before the announcement
of the interim results. At this price, and assuming an unchanged net asset
value since 30 June, the discount of the share price to the net asset value is
16.7%.
Investment Activity
In the six months to June realisations from the investment portfolio were £24.3
million by comparison with purchases of £12.5 million. The largest disposal
from the direct unquoted portfolio was Leapfrog, which generated £5.8 million.
This represented an uplift of £3.4 million over the valuation at the beginning
of the year. Total disposals from the direct unquoted portfolio were £8.9
million.
A total of £11.3 million was realised from the fund portfolio, of which £6.9
million came from the Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst Europe Fund, mostly as a result
of the disposal of the Fund's residual holding in Yell. There were £4.1 million
of disposals from the quoted portfolio.
Additions to the direct unquoted portfolio totalled £4.7 million, of which £3.1
million was represented by an investment in Preh, a German manufacturer of
automotive components. In the fund portfolio a new commitment of £3.4 million
was made to Sagitta Private Equity Partners III and £7.8 million was drawn down
against existing commitments.
Valuation Movements
Net gains in the investment portfolio were £28.0 million in the period, of which
£3.9 million was realised and £24.1 million was unrealised. The largest
increases in unrealised gains were in Maplin (£23.6 million), Wagamama (£7.9
million), Ridgmont (£3.6 million) and Paperchase (£2.8 million), in all cases
reflecting the terms of transactions that have been finalised since 30 June.
In 2001 the Enterprise Trust invested £5.2 million in Maplin, the fast-growing
retailer of electronic equipment and accessories. Maplin has been highly
successful, with turnover and profits growing rapidly in the last three years.
By 30 June 2004 a total of £9.2 million had been received from the investment in
capital proceeds and income. In early September the investment in Maplin was
sold for £40.7 million, taking total proceeds to £49.9 million. This represents
a multiple of 9.5 times cost and an annual internal rate of return over the
life of the investment of 120.6%.
Both Wagamama, the chain of Japanese noodle bars, and Ridgmont, the nursing home
group, have been refinanced since 30 June. The Enterprise Trust received £14.5
million from the refinancing of Wagamama, representing a multiple of 2.5 times
the cost of the investment. The refinancing of Ridgmont generated £4.8 million
or 2.1 times cost. In both cases the Enterprise Trust retains a substantial
equity stake.
The Enterprise Trust's investment in Paperchase, the specialist stationery
retailer, was sold in July for £7.4 million. After a difficult start, the
company grew rapidly. The exit proceeds represented a multiple of 3.7 times
cost.
Elsewhere in the investment portfolio there have been net falls in value of £9.9
million. The largest reduction was in Standard Brands (£4.4 million) to reflect
disappointing recent trading performance. The fund portfolio fell in value by
£1.5 million as a result of currency movements and the quoted portfolio fell
overall by £1.3 million.
Balance Sheet and Liquidity
At 30 June the Enterprise Trust had total net assets of £293.4 million. Taking
into account commitments it was fully invested. The investment portfolio, the
great majority of which was unquoted, had a value of £209.3 million, or 71.3% of
total net assets. The remaining £84.1 million, or 28.7% of the assets was held
in cash and near-cash. Commitments of £94.0 million represented 32.0% of total
net assets with the result that if all the commitments had been called, gearing
would have been 3.3%.
Revenue Account
The net revenue attributable to shareholders in the six months to 30 June was
£4.3 million, compared with the £4.4 million in the whole of 2003. In both
periods, however, substantial dividends were received from Maplin: this year the
dividend was £2.1 million. As there will be no further dividends from Maplin
following its disposal, it is likely that net revenue will fall, although in the
short term this should be at least partly offset by an increase in interest
income.
Outlook
We have been pleased with the performance of the Enterprise Trust in the year to
date. We believe, despite the sluggish stockmarket, that this has been an
excellent period in which to realise investments in unquoted companies. As a
result we have made the disposals described above. Against this background it
is perhaps unsurprising that while we have considered a large number of
potential new investments, we have made few additions to the portfolio.
We believe that the Enterprise Trust's remaining investment portfolio provides a
solid platform as we look forward to meeting the challenge of reinvesting the
proceeds of the successful disposals of the last few months.
John Sclater
Chairman
For further information, please contact:
Rod Richards / William Eccles Tel: 020 7825 5300
Graphite Capital Management Limited
GRAPHITE ENTERPRISE TRUST PLC
SUMMARY RESULTS FOR THE HALF YEAR TO 30 JUNE
Consolidated Statement of Total Return Half year to Year to
(incorporating the Revenue Account) 30 June 31 Dec
(Unaudited) (Audited)
2004 2003 2003
£000 £000 £000
Revenue Return
Income 6,008 5,051 7,537
Investment management fee (576) (533) (1,076)
Other expenses (368) (408) (770)
Net return before finance costs and taxation 5,064 4,110 5,691
Interest payable and similar charges - - (15)
Return on ordinary activities before taxation 5,064 4,110 5,676
Taxation on ordinary activities (818) (785) (1,242)
Return attributable to equity shareholders 4,246 3,325 4,434
Dividends in respect of ordinary shares (equity) - - (3,904)
Transfer to reserves 4,246 3,325 530
Capital Return
Net gains on investments 28,007 9,516 26,319
Investment management charges (1,233) (1,600)
(3,229)
Other expenses (780) (4) (152)
Taxation on ordinary activities 818 480 1,245
26,812 8,392 24,183
Minority interests (4,312) (969) (1,406)
Net capital return 22,500 7,423 22,777
Total Return 26,746 10,748 23,307
Revenue return per ordinary share 4.68p 3.66p 4.88p
Capital return per ordinary share 24.78p 8.18p 25.08p
Total return per ordinary share 29.46p 11.84p 29.96p
Consolidated Assets 30 June 31 Dec
(Unaudited) (Audited)
2004 2003 2003
£000 £000 £000
Listed investments 19,271 20,222 24,614
Unlisted investments at directors' valuation 189,997 159,318 168,467
Total investments 209,268 179,540 193,081
Net current assets 84,153 70,714 69,734
Total net assets 293,421 250,254 262,815
Minority interest (7,970) (4,108) (4,110)
Equity Shareholders' funds 285,451 246,146 258,705
Net asset value per share 314.4p 271.1p 284.9p
Consolidated Cash Flow Statement Half year to Year to
30 June 31 Dec
(Unaudited) (Audited)
2004 2003 2003
£000 £000 £000
Net cash flow from operating activities 1,931 942 943
Returns on investments and servicing of finance - - (15)
Taxation 642 173 544
Acquisitions and disposals 11,826 (4,139) (865)
Equity dividends paid (3,904) (3,904) (3,904)
Net cash inflow/(outflow) before financing 10,495 (6,928) (3,297)
Management of liquid resources - 26,000 18,500
Financing (457) (791) (1,321)
Increase in cash 10,038 18,281 13,882
Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net debt
Increase in cash 10,038 18,281 13,882
Cash outflow from change in liquid resources - (26,000) (18,500)
Change in net liquid funds resulting from cash flows 10,038 (7,719) (4,618)
Exchange difference
(227) (4) (39)
Income received via capital
874 866 1,550
Movement of net liquid funds 10,685 (6,857) (3,107)
Net liquid funds at 1 January 73,528 76,635 76,635
Net liquid funds 30 June/31 December 84,213 69,778 73,528
Reconciliation of operating profit to net cash flow from
operating activities
Net revenue on ordinary activities before taxation 5,064 4,110 5,676
Add back interest payable - - 15
Income before interest payable and taxation 5,064 4,110 5,691
(Increase)/decrease in debtors
(466) (388) 241
Increase in creditors 812 81 88
Income received via capital (874) (866) (1,550)
Tax on investment income within income (873) (395) (298)
Management charges taken to capital (1,732) (1,600) (3,229)
Net cash inflow from operating activities
1,931 942 943
Geographical distribution of portfolio investments
at 30 June 2004 UK Non-UK Total
% % %
Listed 9 - 9
Unlisted 71 20 91
80 20 100
Notes
Revenue return before taxation and revenue return per ordinary share for the
half year are not necessarily indicative of the likely outcome for the full
year.
As in previous years, the directors do not propose to pay an interim dividend.
The summary financial statements at 31 December 2003 have been compiled from the
latest published accounts. Those accounts have been delivered to the Registrar
of Companies: the report of the independent auditors thereon was unqualified.
The financial information for the year ended 31 December 2003 included within
this interim report does not constitute full accounts within the meaning of
section 240 of the Companies Act 1985.
Copies of the Interim Report will be posted to all shareholders on or around 30
September 2004 and copies may be obtained during normal business hours from the
Company's registered office thereafter.
By order of the Board Registered Office
Graphite Capital Management Limited Berkeley Square House
Secretary Berkeley Square
London W1J 6BQ
Tel: 020 7825 5300
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