Interim Results

Personal Assets Trust PLC 25 November 2002 To: Company Announcements From: Personal Assets Trust plc Date: 25 November 2002 Interim Results (unaudited) for the six months to 31 October 2002 The Directors of Personal Assets Trust ('PAT') are pleased to announce the Group's interim results (unaudited) for the six months to 31 October 2002. The key points are as follows: • PAT is an independently managed investment trust run for private investors. • Over the six months to 31 October 2002 PAT's PAT's net asset value fell by 10.9 per cent to £181.17 over the six months to 31 October 1999. This compares favourably with the fall of 22.8 per cent in PAT's benchmark, the FTSE All-Share Index. PAT's share price fell by £20 to £189.50 over the same period to £200.50. • The Board measures PAT's performance over rolling three-year periods. Over the three years to 31 October 2002 the net asset value fell by 8.0 per cent compared to the FTSE All-Share Index's fall of 33.2 per cent, equivalent to an outperformance of 11.3 per cent per annum. • On 16 September 2002 PAT acquired 510 contracts in a FTSE 100 future. This had the effect of reducing the Company's liquidity to 40 per cent at 31 October 2002 from just under 60 per cent in mid July (30 April 2002: 50 per cent). It is the Board's view that markets continue to be significantly overvalued and the level of liquidity reflects the Board's stated aim of protecting the value of shareholders' funds, in anticipation of investing in equities. • Over the six months PAT's shares traded in a narrow range around net asset value. 46,246 new ordinary shares (raising just over £9 million of new capital) were issued at a small premium to satisfy continuing demand for the Company's shares, principally through its zero-charge Investment Plans. At 31 October 2002, 44.4 per cent of the Company's share capital was held in these Plans. • Earnings for the period were £1.69 per share (2001: £2.21). Earnings for the first six months should not be taken as a guide for the full year. • The first interim dividend of £1.40 per ordinary share, announced on 16 October 2002, is the same as that paid in the previous year and was paid to shareholders on 22 November 2002. The Group's unaudited statement of total return, balance sheet and cash flow statement follow. For further information contact: Ian Rushbrook Investment Director Tel: 0131-465 1000 GROUP STATEMENT OF TOTAL RETURN FOR THE SIX MONTHS TO 31 OCTOBER 2002 (unaudited) Six months to 31 October 2002 Revenue Capital Total Notes £'000 £'000 £'000 Losses on investments - (13,926) (13,926) Exchange differences - 3,262 3,262 Income 1,220 6 1,226 Investment management fee (144) (268) (412) Other expenses (189) - (189) Return on ordinary activities before tax 887 (10,926) (10,039) Tax on ordinary activities (86) 86 - Return attributable to equity shareholders 801 (10,840) (10,039) Dividends in respect of equity shares 2 (701) - (701) Transfer to/(from) reserves 100 (10,840) (10,740) Return per ordinary £12.50 share 3 £1.69 (£22.86) (£21.17) 1. The revenue column of this statement is the profit and loss account of the Group. 2. A first interim dividend of £1.40 per ordinary share was paid on 22 November 2002 to shareholders on the register on 8 November 2002. 3. The return per ordinary share is based on 474,234 shares, being the weighted average number of shares in issue (31 October 2001: 387,575, 30 April 2002: 409,592). 4. Earnings for the six months should not be taken as a guide for the full year. GROUP STATEMENT OF TOTAL RETURN FOR THE SIX MONTHS TO 31 OCTOBER 2002 (unaudited) Six months to 31 October 2001 Revenue Capital Total Notes £'000 £'000 £'000 Losses on investments - (3,761) (3,761) Exchange differences - 897 897 Income 1,309 - 1,309 Investment management fee (126) (233) (359) Other expenses (159) - (159) Return on ordinary activities before tax 1,024 (3,097) (2,073) Tax on ordinary activities (169) 161 (8) Return attributable to equity shareholders 855 (2,936) (2,081) Dividends in respect of equity shares 2 (567) - (567) Transfer to/(from) reserves 288 (2,936) (2,648) Return per ordinary £12.50 share 3 £2.21 (£7.58) (£5.37) GROUP STATEMENT OF TOTAL RETURN FOR THE SIX MONTHS TO 31 OCTOBER 2002 (unaudited) Year to 30 April 2002 Revenue Capital Total Notes £'000 £'000 £'000 Losses on investments - (2,890) (2,890) Exchange differences - 1,265 1,265 Income 2,456 15 2,471 Investment management fee (260) (482) (742) Other expenses (330) - (330) Return on ordinary activities before tax 1,866 (2,092) (226) Tax on ordinary activities (278) 145 (133) Return attributable to equity shareholders 1,588 (1,947) (359) Dividends in respect of equity shares 2 (1,207) - (1,207) Transfer to/(from) reserves 381 (1,947) (1,566) Return per ordinary £12.50 share 3 £3.88 (£4.75) (£0.87) SUMMARISED GROUP STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE SIX MONTHS TO 31 OCTOBER 2002 (unaudited) Six months to 31 Six months to 31 Year to October 2002 October 30 April 2001 2002 £'000 £'000 £'000 Net cash inflow from operating activities 608 688 1,394 Taxation - - 53 Capital expenditure and financial investment (1,039) 969 (16,951) Equity dividends paid (637) (509) (1,079) Financing 8,972 5,772 15,996 Increase/(decrease) in cash 7,904 6,920 (587) Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net funds Increase/(decrease) in cash 7,904 6,920 (587) Effect of foreign exchange rates 3,656 (220) (231) Change in net funds 11,560 6,700 (818) Net funds at the beginning of the period 1,323 2,141 2,141 Net funds at the end of the period 12,883 8,841 1,323 Reconciliation of net revenue before tax to net cash inflow from operation activities Net revenue before taxation 887 1,024 1,866 Management fee charge to capital (268) (233) (482) Changes in working capital (11) (103) 10 Net cash inflow from operating activities 608 688 1,394 Group Balance Sheet as at 1994 PDS 000s 31 October 2002 31 October 2001 30 April 2002 £' 000s £' 000s £' 000s (unaudited) Investments Equities Investments 33,909 37,950 45,627 Fixed Interest 42,996 33,370 44,484 76,905 71,320 90,111 Net Current assets 13,809 9,801 2,319 Total Assets 90,714 81,121 92,430 Ordinary Shareholders' Funds 90,714 81,121 92,430 Net Asset Value per Ordinary £12.50 Share £181.17 £200.50 £203.38 Shares in Issue at 31 October 2002 were 500,718 (31 October 2001 - 404,586, 30 April 2002 - 454,472) 1. These are not statutory accounts in terms of Section 240 of the Companies Act 1985 and are unaudited. Full accounts for the year to 30 April 2002, which received an unqualified audit report, have been lodged with the Registrar of Companies. No accounts in respect of any period after 30 April 2002 have been reported on by the Company's auditors or delivered to the Registrar of Companies. 2. During the period the Directors allotted 46,246 ordinary shares. 3. The Interim Report will be posted to Shareholders and copies will be available from the Company's registered office at One Charlotte Square, Edinburgh, EH2 4DZ. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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