Final Results
Rights and Issues Inv Trust PLC
17 February 2004
Chairman's Statement
2003 has proved to be a vintage year for smaller companies. A modest recovery
amongst major stocks after the three-year bear market was entirely eclipsed by
the rebound experienced by smaller company share prices. So while the FTSE
All-Share index rose by 16.6%, the FTSE Small Cap index increased by 36.0% and
FTSE Fledgling index stormed ahead by 57.4%. A note of caution though should
registered in that the largest recoveries were seen amongst the stocks that
previously performed worst over the preceding three years.
Your Trust fully participated in the small company bonanza with the net asset
value of the capital shares rising from 1640.6p to a record 2194.5p and that of
the income shares from 417.1p to 542.9p. These increases of 33.8% and 30.2%
comfortably outperformed the FTSE All-Share index by over 17% and 13%
respectively.
Your Directors have decided to raise the dividend to 34.5p per income share and
1.725p per capital share for 2003. This 5% increase confirms the prediction of
last year that future dividend growth would be more modest and reflects the
general difficult dividend background. The rise again exceeds the prevailing
rate of inflation.The supplementary capital dividend of 49.0976p per capital
share was paid on 2nd January 2004 and, barring unforeseen circumstances, the
supplementary capital dividend for the current year will be maintained at
49.0976p per capital share payable on 2nd January 2005. The pause in growth it
is perhaps not surprising after the recent bear market.
John Robertshaw is retiring at the forthcoming annual general meeting after
serving as a director for four decades. On behalf of your Board, I would like to
record our deep appreciation for the counsel and help that John Robertshaw has
provided over the years and to wish him a happy retirement.
Before looking forward it is appropriate to consider the progress achieved by
the Trust since it changed direction about twenty years ago. Shareholders Funds
have increased from £3m to nearly £50m. The net asset value of the capital
shares has increased by 1789% and that of the income shares by 1019% while the
FTSE All-Share index has risen by only 272%. This capital performance has been
matched in income performance with the dividend of the income shares rising by
807%.
The formula your Trust has followed of investing in sound companies has not
changed over the years though it has adapted to meet changing circumstances.
This has proved successful and there is no reason why this should not continue
in the current year and beyond.
S.H.J.A.Knott
Chairman
Unaudited Balance Company Group
Sheets
To 31st December 2003 2002 2003 2002
£ £ £ £
Fixed Assets
Intangible assets 0 0 65,191 74,506
Investments 47,941,937 39,335,766 47,510,465 38,904,294
Current assets
Debtors 782,490 334,363 283,985 236,114
Investments 0 0 452,872 141,923
Cash at bank and in 1,572,757 0 1,993,130 367,832
hand --------- --------- --------- ---------
2,355,247 334,363 2,729,987 745,869
Creditors: amounts 631,688 2,192,210 761,243 2,358,531
falling due within one --------- --------- --------- ---------
year
Net current liabilities/ 1,732,559 (1,857,847) 1,968,744 (1,612,662)
assets
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Total assets less 49,665,496 37,477,919 49,544,400 37,366,138
current liabilities ========= ========= ========= =========
Capital and reserves
Called up share 1,225,000 1,225,000 1,225,000 1,225,000
capital
Share premium account 225,326 225,326 225,326 225,326
Capital reserve 29,501,228 29,518,993 29,501,228 29,518,993
Other reserves
Revaluation reserve 17,678,956 5,553,858 17,678,956 5,553,858
Dividend equalisation 1,034,986 954,742 913,890 842,961
reserve
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Total shareholders 49,665,496 37,477,919 49,554,400 37,366,138
funds ========= ========= ========= =========
Net asset value per
share
Income shares 542.9p 417.1p
Capital shares 2194.5p 1640.6p
========= =========
Unaudited Cons Statement Twelve months ended 31st December 2003
of Total Return Revenue Capital Total
£ £ £
Gains/(losses) on investments 135,517 12,107,333 12,242,850
Income 2,112,818 0 2,112,818
Other expenses 446,553 0 446,553
----------- ----------- ------------
Net return before finance costs and 1,801,782 12,107,333 13,909,115
taxation
Interest payable and similar charges 37,662 0 37,662
----------- ----------- ------------
Return on ordinary activities before 1,764,120 12,107,333 13,871,453
tax
Tax on ordinary activities 0 0 0
----------- ----------- ------------
Return on ordinary activities after 1,764,120 12,107,333 13,871,453
tax for the financial year
Dividends and other appropriations in 11,000 0 11,000
respect of non-equity shares ----------- ----------- ------------
Return attributable to equity 1,753,120 12,107,333 13,860,453
shareholders
Dividends in respect of equity shares 1,682,191 0 1,682,191
----------- ----------- ------------
Transfer to reserves after aggregate 70,929 12,107,333 12,178,262
dividends paid and payable of =========== =========== ============
£1,693,191. (2002: £1,619,860)
Return per income share (p) 37.3 123.0 160.3
Return per capital share (p) 51.0 553.7 604.7
=========== =========== ============
Unaudited Cons Statement Twelve months ended 31st December 2002
of Total Return Revenue Capital Total
£ £ £
Gains/(losses) on investments 57,739 (4,761,400) (4,703,661)
Income 1,968,846 0 1,968,846
Other expenses 402,428 0 402,428
----------- ----------- ------------
Net return before finance costs and 1,624,157 (4,761,400) (3,137,243)
taxation
Interest payable and similar charges 16,248 0 16,248
----------- ----------- ------------
Return on ordinary activities before 1,607,909 (4,761,400) (3,153,491)
tax
Tax on ordinary activities (3,140) 0 (3,140)
----------- ----------- ------------
Return on ordinary activities after 1,611,049 (4,761,400) (3,150,351)
tax for the financial year
Dividends and other appropriations in 11,000 0 11,000
respect of non-equity shares ----------- ----------- ------------
Return attributable to equity 1,600,049 (4,761,400) (3,161,351)
shareholders
Dividends in respect of equity shares 1,608,860 0 1,608,860
----------- ----------- ------------
Transfer to reserves after aggregate (8,811) (4,761,400) (4,770,211)
dividends paid and payable of =========== =========== ============
£1,693,191. (2002: £1,619,860)
Return per income share (p) 32.7 (48.4) (15.7)
Return per capital share (p) 48.6 (217.8) (169.2)
=========== =========== ============
The final dividends are payable on 31st March 2004 to shareholders on the
register as at 27th February 2004.
Income Shares 23.75p (2002: 23.00p)
Capital Shares 1.725p (2002:1.650p)
The above release and full audited accounts will be available at the Registered
office.
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