Interim Results - Amendment

Foreign&Colonial Enterprise Tst PLC 25 August 2000 The issuer has made the following amendment to the Interim Results announcement released on 9 August 2000 at 14.13 under RNS No 2281P. The interim results issued on 9 August 2000 contained comparatives in the Consolidated Statement of Total Return which had not been restated for the effects of FRS 16 'Current Taxation'. The figures previously reported for the period to 30 June 2000 have not changed. The effect of the change in accounting policy is to decrease both income and the tax charge by £192,000 for the six months to 30 June 1999 and £310,000 for the twelve months to 31 December 1999. There is no change to the revenue return attributable to equity shareholders for either of these periods. Neither is there any change in the net asset value attributable to equity shareholders. The restated Consolidated Statement of Total Return has been amended below. All other details remain unchanged. The full corrected version is shown below. ------------------------------------------------------------------- FOREIGN & COLONIAL ENTERPRISE TRUST PLC UNAUDITED RESULTS FOR THE HALF YEAR TO 30 JUNE 2000 SUMMARY 30 Jun 31 Dec % change to 2000 1999 30 Jun 2000 Shareholders' Funds £304.3m £299.2m +1.7% Net Assets per Share 323.6p 318.1p +1.7% Share price 291.5p 323.0p -9.8% KEY POINTS Shareholders' funds increased by 1.7% to £304.3 million Investments made and new commitments totalled £74.3 million Realisations from the investment portfolio totalled £34.6 million Commenting on the results, John Sclater, Chairman, said: 'In the six months to 30 June 2000 the net assets attributable to shareholders of Foreign & Colonial Enterprise Trust ('FACET') rose by 1.7% to £304.3 million (323.6p per share). FACET's share price fell by 9.8% to 291.5p. These movements compare with the fall of 6.6% in the FTSE All-Share Index in the period. At 31 December 1999 FACET's share price was at a premium of 1.5% to underlying net asset value. Following the fall in the share price the shares had moved to a discount of 9.9% on 30 June 2000. This was against the trend for other investment trusts in our sector, where the average discount to net assets for investment trusts specialising in unquoted investments (excluding 3i) narrowed from 12.3% to 4.2%. The Investment Portfolio Underlying the relatively small overall movement in net asset value in the period there were some substantial changes in the valuations of individual investments. The largest investment at the beginning of the year was Computacenter in which FACET held 5.8 million shares with a value of £59.5 million. The Computacenter share price has been highly volatile, moving from £10.18 on 31 December 1999 to a peak of £15.02 in February and subsequently falling to £3.78 on 30 June 2000. We believe that this volatility was partly a reflection of the general volatility in the technology sector and partly the consequence of a trading statement released in June. We sold 1.0 million Computacenter shares between March and May at an average price of £13.39, generating £13.4 million in proceeds. Taking into account the share sales, the overall negative effect of Computacenter on FACET's net asset value was £27.8 million in the period. By a small margin Computacenter remained FACET's largest investment at 30 June 2000 with a value of £18.3 million. While the recent share price performance of Computacenter is disappointing, it should be put into a longer term context. Since FACET first invested in Computacenter in 1985 the total cost of its investments in the company has been £2.3 million. This compares with the total of £69.3 million which has so far been realised in cash from the investment and the overall value of £87.6 million taking into account the valuation of the residual holding at 30 June 2000. Elsewhere in the investment portfolio there were overall net realised and unrealised gains of £31.8 million which more than compensated for the fall in the value of Computacenter. The most significant movements in the unquoted portfolio were in SBJ Group, where the valuation has increased by £8.1 million, and in Clinovia where the valuation was increased by £6.0 million to reflect the gain realised from its sale in early July. New Investments and Realisations In the six months to 30 June 2000 £34.7 million was invested in cash and a further £39.6 million was committed to the investment portfolio. There has been a significant increase in the rate of investment, with overall commitments to the investment portfolio in the period exceeding the total amount invested in the whole of 1999. This reflects both a stronger flow of new investment opportunities and the widening of FACET's investment policy which was described in the 1999 annual report. Cash realisations from the investment portfolio totalled £34.6 million of which £13.4 million came from the sales of Computacenter shares described above. A total of £7.9 million was realised from the unquoted portfolio. Liquidity FACET's liquid assets are available both for new investments and to meet undrawn commitments to the existing portfolio which totalled £52.6 million at 30 June 2000 compared with £15.9 million at the beginning of the year. At 31 December 1999 FACET had net liquid assets of £88.1 million. At 30 June 2000 this total was little changed at £87.7 million, but the composition had changed significantly. In the 1999 annual report we stated that we might index part of FACET's surplus liquidity to the UK stockmarket. We have now done this by investing £60.3 million in a portfolio designed to track the FTSE 350. This portfolio was established in March and was valued at £58.7 million at 30 June 2000. Outlook We believe that FACET's net asset value performance in the first half of the year has been satisfactory in generally difficult markets. The share price has, however, been weak. Following a further fall since 30 June 2000 the share price has moved to a significant discount to underlying net assets for the first time in over four years. At the Annual General Meeting in April shareholders gave the Company powers to buy back up to 14.9% of its shares, and we shall begin to use these powers if we believe that it is in shareholders' interests to do so. We have been encouraged by the increase in the rate of investment in the first six months of the year and the resulting greater exposure to unquoted companies. We shall continue to look for attractive new investments in the second half. Looking beyond any short term movements in quoted markets, we remain confident in the overall prospects for the portfolio.' For further information, please contact: James Nelson / William Eccles F&C Ventures Tel: 020 7825 5300 FOREIGN & COLONIAL ENTERPRISE TRUST PLC UNAUDITED RESULTS FOR THE HALF YEAR TO 30 JUNE Consolidated Assets 30 Jun 31 Dec 2000 1999 1999 £'000s £'000s £'000s Listed investments 109,888 108,861 136,460 Unlisted investments at directors' valuation 106,718 63,623 74,654 Portfolio investments 216,606 172,484 211,114 Zero coupon preference shares 12,228 11,995 12,008 FTSE 350 Index fund 58,695 - - Total investments 287,529 184,479 223,122 Net current assets 21,422 80,601 80,934 Total assets less current liabilities 308,951 265,080 304,056 Minority interest (4,619) (1,197) (4,862) Net assets attributable to ordinary shareholders 304,332 263,883 299,194 Net asset value per share 323.6p 280.6p 318.1p Geographical distribution of investments Continental North at 30 June 2000 UK Europe America Total % % % % Listed 40% - 1% 41% Unlisted 45% 12% 2% 59% 85% 12% 3% 100% Consolidated Statement of Total Return 30 Jun 31 Dec (incorporating the Revenue Account) 2000 1999* 1999* £'000s £'000s £'000s Revenue Return Income 3,707 4,108 8,215 Investment management fee (676) (561) (1,200) Other expenses (430) (225) (1,002) Net return before finance costs and taxation 2,601 3,322 6,013 Interest payable and similar charges (16) (29) (54) Return on ordinary activities before tax 2,585 3,293 5,959 Tax on ordinary activities (263) (760) (1,099) Return attributable to equity shareholders 2,322 2,533 4,860 Dividends in respect of ordinary shares (equity) - - (4,044) Transfer to reserves 2,322 2,533 816 Capital Return Gains on investments 4,220 9,860 51,912 Investment management fee (2,029) (1,684) (3,600) Other expenses (212) 173 209 Tax on ordinary activities 614 522 1,089 2,593 8,871 49,610 Minority interests 222 (76) (3,787) Net capital return 2,815 8,795 45,823 Total Return 5,137 11,328 46,639 Revenue return per ordinary share 2.47p 2.70p 5.17p Capital return per ordinary share 2.99p 9.35p 48.72p Total return per ordinary share 5.46p 12.05p 53.89p * restated to comply with FRS 16 ' Current Taxation'. Consolidated Cash Flow Statement 30 Jun 31 Dec 2000 1999 1999 £'000s £'000s £'000s Net cash inflow from operating activities 129 1,385 2,546 Returns on investments and servicing of finance (30) - (58) Taxation - (2) (239) Acquisitions and disposals (60,363) 3,272 6,698 Equity dividends paid (4,044) (4,044) (4,044) Management of liquid resources 48,512 20,363 27,378 Net cash outflow before financing (15,796) 20,974 32,281 Financing 13 (71) (147) (Decrease)/increase in cash (15,783) 20,903 32,134 Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net debt (Decrease)/increase in cash (15,783) 20,903 32,134 Cash inflow from change in liquid resources (48,512) (20,363) (27,378) Change in net liquid funds resulting from cash flows (64,295) 540 4,756 Exchange difference 524 173 209 Movement of net liquid funds (63,771) 713 4,965 Net liquid funds at 1 January 84,760 79,795 79,795 Net liquid funds 30 June/31 December 20,989 80,508 84,760 Reconciliation of operating profit to net cash flow from operating activities Net revenue on ordinary activities before taxation 2,585 3,485 6,269 Add back interest payable 16 29 54 Income before interest payable and taxation 2,601 3,514 6,323 Decrease/(increase) in debtors 288 (135) (243) (Decrease)/increase in creditors (226) (10) 622 Income capitalised (304) - - Tax on investment income within income (201) (300) (556) Management fee charged to capital (2,029) (1,684) (3,600) Net cash inflow from operating activities 129 1,385 2,546 The abridged financial statements at 31 December 1999 have been compiled from the latest published accounts. Those accounts have delivered to the Registrar of Companies: the report of the auditors thereon was unqualified. Copies of the interim Report will be posted to all shareholders on or around 23 August 2000 and copies may be obtained during normal business hours from the Company's registered office, Exchange House, Primrose Street, London, EC2A 2NY thereafter. By order of the Board Registered Office Foreign & Colonial Management Limited Exchange House Secretary Primrose Street London EC2A 2NY Tel: 020 7628 8000 EDITORS' NOTE Foreign & Colonial Enterprise Trust PLC ('FACET') FACET is a UK listed investment trust whose investment objective is to provide shareholders with long term capital growth through investment in unquoted and smaller quoted companies. F&C Ventures Limited - The Manager F&C Ventures, the manager of Foreign & Colonial Enterprise Trust PLC, has a long established position in the private equity market and extensive experience of making unquoted investments. It invests in companies at all stages of development with particular emphasis on finance for expansion, acquisitions and management buy-outs.
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