Interim Results

Investment Company PLC 17 November 2003 THE INVESTMENT COMPANY PLC FOUNDED 1868 REGISTERED No. 4205 ENGLAND AND WALES UNAUDITED INTERIM REPORT For the period 1st April 2003 to 30th September 2003 CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT The directors have declared an interim dividend of 3p per share payable on 19 December 2003 to shareholders on the register at 28 November 2003. This compares with an interim dividend of 4p paid last year. The ordinary shares will be marked ex-dividend on 26 November 2003. The total income for the half-year amounted to £472,003 compared with £594,583 in the equivalent six months last year. Income has been severely affected by the very late decision of the directors of Whitnash plc to pass the dividend due on that company's preference shares on 30th September 2003. At six seconds past six o'clock in the evening of Friday, 26th September, the company announced that it would not be paying the dividend although the shares had been quoted ex-dividend on 27th August 2003. As shareholders will be aware from the Report & Accounts at 31st March 2003, Whitnash was the company's largest investment representing 7.82% of the total portfolio. The dividends on these holdings represented 9.36% of the total income in the year to March 2003. The excuse given by the directors of Whitnash for the decision not to pay the dividend already declared ex-dividend was described as follows: 'As the current assets of Whitnash plc mainly relate to receivables from group companies and all the income of Whitnash plc is generated from group companies its prospects depend upon the performance of Automotive Products Group Limited and its subsidiaries.' 'The accounts of Automotive Products Group Limited for the year ended 31 December 2002 will soon be filed at Companies House. These show that at 31 December 2002 Automotive Products Group Limited had a pension fund deficit of £26.2 million calculated in accordance with FRS17. Following changes to pension legislation announced in June 2003, this pension fund deficit of Automotive Products Group Limited could increase further in value. These factors impact on the recoverability of amounts owed to Whitnash and thus Whitnash's ability to pay dividends. Therefore the directors have decided to defer the half year preferential dividends payable on 30 September 2003.' The directors of Whitnash have stated that the position will be reviewed again after the end of the financial year which is 31 December 2003 and we await further developments. However it is clear that TIC will be unable to maintain its ordinary dividend this year which will automatically diminish the participating element of the dividend on the preference shares. Nevertheless your company has revenue reserves and the dividends on Whitnash are cumulative. Consequently the directors have decided to reduce the interim dividend from 4p to 3p and will decide the amount of the final dividend when the results for the full year are known and when the prospects for the resumption of dividends from Whitnash can be assessed. The net asset value per 50p ordinary share at 30 September of 199.44p ex-dividend compares with 197.03p ex-dividend at 31 March 2003. The fall in value of the Whitnash holding in the last two days of the period under review almost eliminated the good work achieved earlier in the period in Bulmers and by the recovery of our holdings in zero dividend preference shares as mentioned in my statement in June. Nevertheless your directors expect TIC to weather this storm as it has other similar ones in the past. This Statement is being sent to all shareholders and is available to the public at the Company's registered office. P. F. Simms Registered Office: Chairman 3rd Floor Salisbury House London Wall 17th November 2003 London EC2M 5QS Registered No. 4205 England PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT For the six months ended 30th September 2003 Half-year to Half-year to Year to 30th September 30th September 31st March 2003 2002 2003 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) £ £ £ Total income 472,003 594,583 1,032,883 Expenses 157,248 153,155 326,351 Net revenue before taxation 314,755 441,428 706,532 Taxation - - - Net revenue after taxation 314,755 441,428 706,532 Dividends: Participating preference 342,914 403,064 648,406 Ordinary 83,958 111,944 277,974 Loss for the period (112,117) (73,580) (219,848) (Loss)/earnings per ordinary share after preference dividend (1.01)p 1.37p 2.08p STATEMENT OF TOTAL RECOGNISED GAINS AND LOSSES For the six months ended 30th September 2003 Half-year to Half-year to Year to 30th September 30th September 31st March 2003 2002 2003 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) £ £ £ Distributable profits Net revenue after taxation 314,755 441,428 706,532 Non-distributable profits Net profit/(loss) on disposal of investments 146,717 (653,146) (533,218) Writedown in value of investments - - (1,112,399) Movement in unrealised appreciation of investments 32,906 66,473 137,144 179,623 (586,673) (1,508,473) Total recognised gains/ (losses) 494,378 (145,245) (801,941) BALANCE SHEET At 30th September 2003 30th September 30th September 31st March 2003 2002 2003 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) £ £ £ Fixed assets Investments at cost 13,146,439 14,257,920 13,433,242 Unrealised depreciation (292,820) (396,397) (325,726) 12,853,619 13,861,523 13,107,516 Current assets Debtors 7,200 979,647 231,972 Cash at bank 17,823 287,690 14,081 25,023 1,267,337 246,053 Current liabilities Bank overdraft 473,548 763,911 517,206 Dividends 426,872 515,008 413,258 Corporation tax 1,050 1,050 1,050 Other creditors 160,724 259,836 673,113 1,062,194 1,539,805 1,604,627 Net current liabilities (1,037,171) (272,468) (1,358,574) Net assets 11,816,448 13,589,055 11,748,942 Capital and reserves Called-up share capital 4,566,695 4,954,195 4,566,695 Revaluation reserve (292,820) (396,397) (325,726) Capital reserve brought forward 4,510,426 6,156,043 6,156,043 Realised profits/(losses) 146,717 (653,146) (1,645,617) Capital reserve carried forward 4,657,143 5,502,897 4,510,426 Capital redemption reserve 2,439,800 2,052,300 2,439,800 Revenue account brought forward 557,747 1,549,640 1,549,640 Net revenue for period (112,117) (73,580) (219,848) Purchase of own shares - - (772,045) Revenue account carried forward 445,630 1,476,060 557,747 Total shareholders' funds 11,816,448 13,589,055 11,748,942 Net asset value per Participating preference share 100.00p 100.00p 100.00p Ordinary share 199.44p xd 235.09p xd 197.03p xd UNAUDITED CASHFLOW STATEMENT For the six months ended 30th September 2003 Half -year to Half-year to Year to 30th September 30th September 31st March 2003 2002 2003 Notes (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) £ £ £ Net cash inflow from operating activities (1) 315,295 436,163 748,049 Returns on investments and servicing of finance (260,665) (251,935) (664,215) Taxation - (1,746) (1,746) 54,630 182,482 82,088 Capital expenditure and financial investment Purchase of investments (1,213,752) (1,289,395) (2,101,932) Purchase of own shares (498,841) - (273,204) Sale of investments 1,869,536 611,415 1,883,914 156,943 (677,980) (491,222) Equity dividends paid (164,173) (192,859) (306,127) Increase/(decrease) in cash (2) 47,400 (688,357) (715,261) NOTES TO THE CASHFLOW STATEMENT For the six months ended 30 September 2003 1. Reconciliation of operating profit to net cashflow from operations Half -year to Half-year to Year to 30th September 30th September 31st March 2003 2002 2003 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) Net revenue before taxation 314,755 441,428 706,532 Interest payable 15,322 6,592 15,808 (Increase)/decrease in debtors (5,576) (23,915) 289 (Decrease)/increase in creditors (9,206) 12,058 25,420 315,295 436,163 748,049 2. Analysis of net debt At 30th September At 1st April 2003 Cash flow 2003 Cash at bank 17,823 3,742 14,081 Bank overdraft (473,548) 43,658 (517,206) (455,725) 47,400 (503,125) NOTES TO THE INTERIM REPORT 1. Financial information The financial information above does not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of Section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. The interim financial information has not been audited but has been reviewed by the Company's auditors. 2. Taxation No tax liabilities are expected to arise from the activities in the six months to 30th September 2003. Deferred tax has not been provided. 3. (Losses)/earnings per share Half-year to Half-year to Year to 30th September 30th September 31st March 2003 2002 2003 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) £ £ £ Net revenue after taxation 314,755 441,428 706,532 Participating preference dividend (342,914) (403,064) (648,406) Loss)/profit attributable to ordinary shareholders (28,159) 38,364 58,126 Number of ordinary shares in issue 2,798,584 2,798,584 2,798,584 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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