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.
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