Half Yearly Report

RNS Number : 9333M
Asian Total Return Invest Co PLC
30 August 2013
 



Half-Year Report

 

Asian Total Return Investment Company plc (the "Company") (formerly Henderson Asian Growth Trust plc) hereby submits its Half-Year Report for the period ended 30 June 2013 as required by the UK Listing Authority's Disclosure and Transparency Rule 4.2. 

 

The Half-Year Report is also being published on the Company's website www.asiantotalreturninvestmentcompany.com. Please click on the following link to view the document:

 

 

             

An abbreviated version, "Update for the half year ended 30 June 2013" will be circulated to shareholders in early September 2013.  The Company has submitted a pdf of the hard copy format of its Half-Year Report to the National Storage Mechanism and it will shortly be available for inspection at www.morningstar.co.uk/uk/NSM.

 

Enquiries:

 

John Spedding

Schroder Investment Management Limited                                         Tel: 020 7658 3206

 

30 August 2013

 

 

Financial Highlights

 


 

30 June 2013

 

31 December 2012

 

% Change

Net asset value ("NAV") per share

198.37p

201.15p

(1.4)

Share price

192.00p

185.00p

3.8

Discount

3.2%

8.0%


Net cash1

2.7%

0.2%


 

1At 30 June 2013 and 31 December 2012, cash exceeded borrowings and this is shown as a "Net cash" position. If borrowings were to exceed cash, this would be shown as "Gearing".

 

Performance1

 


6 months

1 year

3 years

5 years

10 years

Total returns to 30 June 2013

%

%

%

%

%

NAV per share2

(0.3)

12.7

14.3

56.7

220.3

Share price3

5.4

21.5

23.6

70.7

253.7

Reference index4

(2.2)

9.2

14.0

52.7

264.3

Peer Group NAV per share5

2.9

14.5

25.5

64.3

300.9

 

1The Company appointed a new investment manager (Schroder Investment Management Limited), with effect from close of business on 15 March 2013.

 

2Source: Morningstar. For periods of 6 months, 1, 3 and 5 years, the cum income net asset value total return is shown. For the 10 year period, the ex-income net asset value total return is shown.

 

3Source: Morningstar.

 

4Source: Thomson Financial Datastream. With effect from 15 March 2013, the Reference Index has been the MSCI AC Asia Pacific ex-Japan Index. Prior to that date, it was the MSCI AC Asia ex-Japan Index. The performance numbers shown are a combination of these two indices.

 

5Source: Morningstar. The performance of a group of nine investment trust competitors (arithmetic average).

 



 

Interim Management Report

 

Chairman's Statement

 

Changes to Investment Management, Investment policy and Company Name

 

At the General Meeting held on 15 March 2013, shareholders approved the appointment of Schroders as Investment Manager and the change of the Company's investment policy to provide a high rate of total return primarily through investment in equity and equity related securities in Asia Pacific Companies (excluding Japan). Later that day, the name of the Company was changed from Henderson Asian Growth Trust plc to Asian Total Return Investment Company plc. The Company's assets are now managed by Robin Parbrook and King Fuei Lee, based in Hong Kong and Singapore respectively, who transitioned the Company's portfolio to the new investment policy during the period. As at 30 June 2013, the Company held a total of 57 holdings and had a net cash position of 2.7%.

 

The Company does not tie its stock selection to the constituents of any benchmark. Instead, the size of stock positions are set on an absolute basis reflecting where the best potential risk adjusted returns are to be found. The MSCI All Countries Asia (ex Japan) Index was previously used for reference purposes and this has, since the appointment of the new manager, been changed to the MSCI All Countries Asia Pacific ex-Japan Index to reflect the inclusion of Australasia in the investment policy.

 

Tender Offer

 

At the General Meeting, shareholders also authorised a tender offer of up to 50% of the Company's issued share capital and as a result, 74,091,140 of the Company's ordinary shares were repurchased on 27 March 2013, of which 62,977,469 ordinary shares were cancelled and the remaining 11,113,671 ordinary shares were transferred to Treasury.

 

Discount Management and Re-Issue of Treasury Shares

 

As part of the package of measures adopted by shareholders at the General Meeting, the Board indicated that periodic tenders related to a discount wider than 10% in any six-month period would no longer be part of the Company's discount management policy and instead it would seek to manage the Company's discount on an on-going basis with the aim of ensuring that the discount to Net Asset Value per Share of the Company's shares was no greater than 9%, in normal market conditions, through the use of the Company's share buyback authorities.

 

Since the change in manager, the shares have enjoyed a re-rating and between 27 March and 27 August 2013 the shares have traded at an average premium to net asset value of 0.6%. The Company has re-issued 290,000 ordinary shares from Treasury at a modest premium to net asset value.

 

Performance

 

In the six months to 30 June 2013, the net asset value total return of your Company fell by 0.3%, which compares to a 2.2% fall in the reference index in sterling terms (the MSCI AC Asia ex-Japan index until 15 March and subsequently the MSCI AC Asia Pacific ex Japan Index).

 

As outlined above, the period saw the appointment of a new investment manager, the approval of a new investment policy and half the portfolio, as at 15 March 2013, sold and the proceeds of realisation, less costs, used to buy back ordinary shares from the tendering shareholders. The timing of these changes, following approval at the General Meeting, meant that the portfolio in the first quarter of the year was managed in accordance with the old investment policy, with a transition to the new policy in late March that put the new policy and fund manager in place for the second quarter. The NAV underperformed in the first quarter, in part from the trading costs of the move to the new policy, and outperformed in the second quarter. Details of the latter are given in the Manager's Review.

 

Market Background

 

In distinct contrast with most developed markets, the first six months of the year were a weak period for Asian markets. The Company's reference index (chain-linked for the change in index in March) fell 2.2% in sterling terms, a return that contrasts with a rise of 21.6% from the US stock market and 24.4% from the Japanese stock market over the same period.*

 

Part of this lower return reflects Asian companies' profits and share prices having recovered more quickly from the 2008-10 recession. Thus, they have not had the same recovery potential as companies in the West. It also reflects the fact that investors' attention switched away from the region. The developed markets have had new attractions - signs of improvement in the US economy, a transformation in Japan's fiscal and monetary policies under a new Prime Minister, and the Eurozone's traumas seem temporarily in abeyance - while Asia, still growing faster than all three, has had some challenges.

 

The biggest has been China. The economy's above-average growth has been slowing, in part because of the government's desire to dampen the substantial growth in credit over recent years and the consequent risk of bank bad debts and rising inflation. The result has been local interest rate increases, falling Chinese share prices, and (for example) lower demand for commodities that has hit Australian mining shares. At the same time, concerns about how long Western quantitative easing will continue have impacted on Asian bond yields, which had previously benefited from inflows into emerging market bond funds.

 

The result was the region's large markets producing small gains or losses in the first half of the year, with Korea the worst as a loser from Japan's liquidity stimulus when the resulting weak yen fed through to its own competitiveness. The best performing markets were the Philippines and Malaysia, both benefiting from local recoveries in activity.

 

Gearing

 

While the Company's Articles limit the amount of gearing to a maximum of the Company's adjusted capital and reserves, the Board does not anticipate net effective gearing levels in excess of 30% of net asset value. The Board has agreed a disciplined framework for gearing, based on a number of specific market valuation levels. Currently, the Company does not employ gearing.

 

Outlook

 

It is disappointing - and relatively untypical - to see Asian markets underperforming strong Western markets. Nevertheless, there have been some encouraging developments.

 

First, with company profits continuing to increase, share ratings in Asia are become more appealing. Secondly, some of the macro-economic and financial concerns holding share prices back are themselves evidence that required long-term changes in the region may be starting. Asian bond yields, for example, had been driven to excessively low levels, with the attendant risk of capital being mispriced and poor investment decisions. The rise in yields suggests this bubble is over, and it is leading to policy decisions (for example India and Indonesia raising interest rates, Thailand and Indonesia cutting fuel and rice subsidies) that are unpopular in the short term but desirable in the longer term.

 

Similarly, while there is market concern about slowing Chinese growth this year, there is a longer term need for China to transition itself onto a lower growth path rebalanced away from investment towards domestic consumption - again involving short term pain but with the potential of a healthier long-term investment environment.

 

There is always the risk of Western events derailing Asian markets, particularly now when there is a danger of investors being too optimistic about US economic recovery and the impact of less quantitative easing. Asia's financial strengths remain, however, and the Board notes the Manager's belief that the volatility of individual stocks is starting to offer interesting new investment opportunities. The Board sees any short term weakness in Asia as a potential opportunity to be seized.

 

David Robins

 

Chairman

29 August 2013

 

* net income reinvested: source Schroders.

 

Investment Manager's Review

 

Performance Analysis

 

The new investment manager took over the portfolio after the General Meeting on 15 March 2013, using the rest of the month to raise cash to meet the tender offer and move the remaining assets onto the new investment policy. Therefore, this policy having only been in place from the end of March, comments on performance cover from then until the end of June.

 

The start of the new policy coincided with a period of weakness in Asian markets, as they reacted to uncertainty both from the West (eg new uncertainty about how long US quantitative easing would continue) and locally, with continued concern about Chinese economic growth. The reference index, which changed to the MSCI AC Asia Pacific ex Japan Index, fell 7.5% in sterling terms in the second quarter, led by Australia (suffering both from falling commodity prices and a weak currency) and Korea (whose exporters suffered from the weaker yen, given the importance of Japanese competitors). There was also a widespread increase in bond yields in the region's emerging countries, another indicator of investors' newfound caution about some of the more optimistic forecasts for the region's future.

 

The portfolio was unable to avoid losses in this environment, with the NAV return being -3.5% over the three months. That the losses were half those of the reference index was due largely to limiting potential losses in the region's largest market, Australia, together with the portfolio's stock selection in North East Asia.

 

The relatively small exposure in Australia came from a perceived lack of opportunities locally, while the exposure was further reduced by hedges removing the risk of the Australian dollar falling - as indeed it has done. There was also a small contribution from the capital protection strategy, an integral part of the portfolio's new policy. Concern about the short term outlook led to a small portion of the assets being protected by put options that offset part of the losses as markets fell.

 

The portfolio's other successes were more company specific, as befits a policy which targets stock selection by the Manager's local team of analysts as a major part of future outperformance. In this quarter these included Taiwanese bicycle maker Giant, rising on strong results driven by its Chinese sales; China's Wuxi Pharmatech on the back of improving profitability; and Halla Visteon Climate Control Group, a Korean manufacturer of automotive air control equipment. The one area of missed opportunity was in Hong Kong, where there were falls in the share prices of trading companies Jardine and Swire, and by Chow Sang Sang, Hong Kong's largest jewellery chain.

 

The portfolio, through the use of derivative protection, was approximately 76% invested at the end of the second quarter and no gearing was utilised during that time.

 

Portfolio Positioning

 

The following table shows your Company's largest stock positions as at 30 June 2013.

 

Holding

Business

% of Total

Jardine Strategic Holdings

Regional conglomerate

4.3%

Jardine Matheson Holdings

Regional conglomerate

3.6%

Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg

Semiconductors

3.5%

AIA Group

Insurance

3.5%

Brambles

Australian-based pallets and logistics

3.2%

Kasikornbank

Thai bank

3.2%

Hongkong Land

Hong Kong commercial property

3.1%

HSBC

Global bank

3.0%

Sun Hung Kai Properties

Hong Kong and China property

2.9%

Hyundai Motor

Korean car maker

2.9%

 

The portfolio remains a stock specific selection of holdings where the fund managers believe that the shares are trading well below fair value. As at the time of the introduction of the new policy in March, the portfolio was concentrated in domestic Asian companies, particularly in Hong Kong and Singapore (eg trading companies and property shares, with the latter selling at significant discounts to their net asset value at a time of limited new supply); and in ASEAN (eg in banks, retail, and construction, all of which are expected to benefit from improvements in regional infrastructure and strong domestic consumer confidence). While the fund managers are not bullish on the global cycle, there is also a preference for industrial shares with good yield in industries with significant barriers to entry.

 

The resulting portfolio has materially more in ASEAN and Hong Kong-based companies than in the reference index and correspondingly less in the three largest countries (Australia, China and Korea), a reflection of where the fund managers see the opportunities at a stock level. It also has the mid-cap bias anticipated at the time of the appointment of the new manager, with the local analysts continuing to find opportunities across the size spectrum (eg China Lodging, selected small Indonesian banks and Astro Malaysia) at a time when many of the region's largest companies (eg Chinese banks and some of the North East Asian exporters) look less appealing. The portfolio is avoiding cyclicals and 'China-recovery' stocks.

 

Currently, we continue to believe it is prudent to have some capital protection in place, particularly because the cost of this protection is low by historic standards. At the end of June slightly under a quarter of the portfolio was hedged through exchange-traded index put options, and the fund managers continue to look to hedge the currency risk in the Australian holdings.

 

Conclusion

 

The continuing volatility in world markets, as investors react to the challenges facing economies as different as China, the US and the Eurozone, could easily drive Asian markets lower despite their reasonably sound fundamentals, creating an attractive new entry point for Asian equities. If this happens we anticipate removing the hedges, and utilising the gearing facility.

 

Portfolio Managers

Robin Parbrook and King Fuei Lee

 

29 August 2013

 

Principal Risks and Uncertainties

 

The principal risks and uncertainties with the Company's business fall into the following categories: financial risk; gearing; strategic risk; and accounting, legal and regulatory risk. A detailed explanation of the principal risks and uncertainties in each of these categories can be found on pages 16 and 17 of the Company's published Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2012. These risks and uncertainties have not materially changed during the six months ended 30 June 2013.

 

Going Concern

 

The Directors believe, having considered the Company's investment objectives, risk management policies, capital management policies and procedures, nature of the portfolio and expenditure projections; that the Company has adequate resources, an appropriate financial structure and suitable management arrangements in place to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For these reasons, they consider there is reasonable evidence to continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the accounts.

 

Related Party Transactions

 

Details of transactions with the Manager can be found in note 21 on page 44 of the Company's published Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2012. There have been no other material transactions with the Company's related parties during the six months ended 30 June 2013.

 

Directors' Responsibility Statement

 

The Directors confirm that, to the best of their knowledge, this set of condensed financial statements has been prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (UK GAAP) and with the Statement of Recommended Practice Financial Statements of Investment Trust Companies and Venture Capital Trusts (SORP) issued in January 2009 and the Interim Management Report as set out above includes a fair review of the information required by 4.2.7R and 4.2.8R of the Financial Conduct Authority's Disclosure and Transparency Rules.

 

Income Statement

 


(Unaudited)

For the six months

ended 30 June 2013

(Unaudited)

For the six months

ended 30 June 2012

(Audited)

For the year ended

31 December 2012


Revenue

Capital

Total

Revenue

Capital

Total

Revenue

Capital

Total


£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

Gains on investments held at fair value through profit or loss

 

 

-

 

 

4,482

 

 

4,482

 

 

-

 

 

18,924

 

 

18,924

 

 

-

 

 

50,996

 

 

50,996

Net gains on forward currency contracts

 

-

 

631

 

631

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

Net foreign currency (losses)/gains

 

-

 

(77)

 

(77)

 

-

 

408

 

408

 

-

 

1,107

 

1,107

Income from investments

 

1,481

 

-

 

1,481

 

3,789

 

-

 

3,789

 

6,198

 

-

 

6,198

Other interest receivable and similar income

 

31

 

-

 

31

 

383

 

-

 

383

 

414

 

-

 

414

Gross return

1,512

5,036

6,548

4,172

19,332

23,504

6,612

52,103

58,715

Investment management fee (note 3)

 

 

(202)

 

 

(378)

 

 

(580)

 

 

(322)

 

 

(590)

 

 

(912)

 

 

(647)

 

 

(1,193)

 

 

(1,840)

Administrative expenses

 

(332)

 

-

 

(332)

 

(368)

 

-

 

(368)

 

(751)

 

-

 

(751)

Net return before finance costs and taxation

 

 

978

 

 

4,658

 

 

5,636

 

 

3,482

 

 

18,742

 

 

22,224

 

 

5,214

 

 

50,910

 

 

56,124

Finance costs

(1)

(2)

(3)

(31)

(95)

(126)

(71)

(214)

(285)

Net return on ordinary activities before taxation

 

 

977

 

 

4,656

 

 

5,633

 

 

3,451

 

 

18,647

 

 

22,098

 

 

5,143

 

 

50,696

 

 

55,839

Taxation (note 4)

(16)

(103)

(119)

(306)

-

(306)

(617)

-

(617)

Net return on ordinary activities after taxation

 

 

961

 

 

4,553

 

 

5,514

 

 

3,145

 

 

18,647

 

 

21,792

 

 

4,526

 

 

50,696

 

 

55,222

Return per ordinary share (note 5)

 

0.90p

 

4.26p

 

5.16p

 

1.99p

 

11.80p

 

13.79p

 

2.92p

 

32.68p

 

35.60p

 

The "Total" column of this statement is the profit and loss account of the Company. The "Revenue" and "Capital" columns represent supplementary information prepared under guidance issued by The Association of Investment Companies. The Total column includes all the information that is required to be disclosed in a Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses ("STRGL"). For this reason a STRGL has not been presented.

 

All revenue and capital items in the above statement derive from continuing operations. No operations were acquired or discontinued in the period.

 



 

 

 

Reconciliation of Movements in Shareholders' Funds

 


For the six months ended 30 June 2013 (Unaudited)


Called-up share capital

Share premium

Capital

redemption

reserve

Special

reserve

Other  capital reserves

Revenue

reserve

Total


£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

At 31 December 2012

7,409

-

8,497

29,182

239,712

13,276

298,076

Re-issue of shares from Treasury

 

-

 

5

 

-

 

-

 

487

 

-

 

492

Repurchase and cancellation of the Company's own shares








following a Tender Offer

 

(3,149)

 

-

 

3,149

 

-

 

(151,812)

 

-

 

(151,812)

Net return on ordinary activities

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

4,553

 

961

 

5,514

Ordinary dividend paid in the period








-

-

-

-

-

(4,816)

(4,816)

At 30 June 2013

4,260

5

11,646

29,182

92,940

9,421

147,454

                       

 


For the six months ended 30 June 2012 (Unaudited)


Called-up

share

capital

Share

premium

Capital

redemption

reserve

Special

reserve

Other

capital

reserves

Revenue

reserve

Total


£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

At 31 December 2011

8,044

-

7,862

50,616

189,016

13,879

269,417

Repurchase and cancellation

of the Company's own shares








 

 

(243)

 

 

-

 

 

243

 

 

(8,495)

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

(8,495)

Net return on ordinary activities

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

18,647

 

3,145

 

21,792

Ordinary dividend paid in the period








-

-

-

-

-

(5,129)

(5,129)

At 30 June 2012

7,801

-

8,105

42,121

207,663

11,895

277,585

 


For the year ended 31 December 2012 (Audited)


Called-up

share

capital

Share

premium

Capital

redemption

reserve

Special

reserve

Other

capital

reserves

Revenue

reserve

Total


£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

At 31 December 2011

8,044

-

7,862

50,616

189,016

13,879

269,417

Repurchase and cancellation of the Company's own shares








(635)

-

635

(21,434)

-

-

(21,434)

Net return on ordinary activities

-

-

-

-

50,696

4,526

55,222

Ordinary dividend paid in the year

-

-

-

-

-

(5,129)

(5,129)

At 31 December 2012

7,409

-

8,497

29,182

239,712

13,276

298,076

 



 

 

Balance Sheet

 


(Unaudited)

30 June

2013

 £'000

(Unaudited)

30 June

 2012

 £'000

(Audited)

31 December

 2012

 £'000

Fixed assets




Investments held at fair value through profit or loss

144,751

285,118

298,003

Current assets




Debtors

95

1,346

395

Cash and short-term deposits

3,929

-

451


4,024

1,346

846

Current liabilities




Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

(1,321)

(8,879)

(773)

Net current assets/(liabilities)

2,703

(7,533)

73

Net assets

147,454

277,585

298,076

Capital and reserves




Called-up share capital (note 6)

4,260

7,801

7,409

Share premium

5

-

-

Capital redemption reserve

11,646

8,105

8,497

Special reserve

29,182

42,121

29,182

Capital reserves

92,940

207,663

239,712

Revenue reserve

9,421

11,895

13,276

Total equity shareholders' funds

147,454

277,585

298,076

Net asset value per ordinary share (note 7)

198.37p

177.92p

201.15p

 

 Cash Flow Statement

 


(Unaudited)

 For the

 six months

 ended

 30 June

2013

 £'000

(Unaudited)

For the

 six months

 ended

 30 June

2012

(Audited)

For the

year ended

 31 December

 2012

£'000

 

Net cash inflow from operating activities (note 8)

294

2,180

3,696

Net cash outflow from servicing of finance

(20)

(126)

(288)

Taxation

(103)

-

-

Net cash inflow from investment activities

158,723

13,947

33,569

Dividends paid

(4,816)

(5,129)

(5,129)

Net cash outflow from financing (note 6)

 (150,523)

(8,495)

(21,434)

Net cash inflow in the period

3,555

2,377

10,414

 

Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net funds/(debt)


 

Net cash inflow in the period

3,555

2,377

10,414

Exchange movements

(77)

408

1,107

Changes in net funds/debt arising from cash flows

3,478

2,785

11,521

Net funds/(debt) at the beginning of the period

451

(11,070)

(11,070)

Net funds/(debt) at the end of the period

3,929

(8,285)

451

 

Represesented by:




Cash and short-term deposits

3,929

-

451

Bank overdrafts

-

(8,285)

-

Net funds/(debt)

3,929

(8,285)

451

 



 

 

Notes to the Accounts

 

1.         Financial Statements

 

The information contained within the accounts in this half-year report has not been audited or reviewed by the Company's auditors.

 

The figures and financial information for the year ended 31 December 2012 are extracted from the latest published accounts of the Company and do not constitute statutory accounts for that year. Those accounts have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies and included the report of the auditors which was unqualified and did not contain a statement under either section 498(2) or 498(3) of the Companies Act 2006.

 

2.         Accounting Policies

 

Basis of accounting

 

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice and with the Statement of Recommended Practice "Financial Statements of Investment Trust Companies and Venture Capital Trusts" issued in January 2009.

 

All of the Company's operations are of a continuing nature.

 

The accounting policies applied to these interim accounts are consistent with those applied in the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2012.

 

3.         Investment management fee

 

Following a review of its investment management arrangements, the Board appointed Schroders to manage the Company's assets with effect from 15 March 2013. Under the terms of the management agreement, the base management fee is calculated at a rate of 0.65% per annum of gross assets less cash. There will also be a performance fee of 10% of the excess annual NAV total return above a 7% hurdle. The base and performance fee will be capped at 2% (in aggregate) of the Company's net assets. Schroders has agreed to waive the management fee and any performance fee for a period of 6 months following appointment and therefore these fees will apply from 15 September 2013.

 

4.         Taxation

 

The Company's effective corporation tax rate is nil, as deductible expenses exceed taxable income. The taxation charge comprises irrecoverable overseas withholding tax on dividends receivable, and overseas capital gains tax.

 

5.         Return per ordinary share

           


(Unaudited)

For the

six months ended

30 June 2013

(Unaudited)

For the

six months ended

30 June 2012

 

(Audited)

For the

year ended

31 December 2012





£'000

£'000

£'000

Revenue return

961

3,145

4,526

Capital return

4,553

18,647

50,696

Total return

5,514

21,792

55,222

Weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the period

 

106,921,728

 

158,055,354

 

155,131,153

Revenue return per ordinary share

0.90p

1.99p

2.92p

Capital return per ordinary share

4.26p

11.80p

32.68p

Total return per ordinary share

5.16p

13.79p

35.60p

 

6.         Called-up share capital

 

The Company's share capital consists of ordinary shares of 5p each.

 

During the period, the Company repurchased 74,091,140 ordinary shares (50% of its share capital) following a Tender Offer, for a total consideration of £151,812,000. Of these, 62,977,469 ordinary shares were cancelled and the remaining 11,113,671 ordinary shares held in Treasury. A total of 290,000 ordinary shares have been subsequently re-issued from Treasury for a total consideration of £585,801.

 

7.         Net asset value per ordinary share

 

Net asset value per ordinary share is calculated by dividing shareholders' funds by the number of ordinary shares in issue at 30 June 2013 of 74,331,141 (30 June 2012: 156,012,512 and 31 December 2012: 148,182,281).

 

8.         Reconciliation of total return on ordinary activities before finance costs and taxation to net cash inflow from operating activities

 


(Unaudited)

 For the

 six months ended

 30 June

2013

£'000

(Unaudited)

 For the

 six months ended

 30 June

2012

 £'000

(Audited)

For the

year ended

 31 December

 2012

 £'000

Total return on ordinary activities before finance costs and taxation

5,636

22,224

56,124

Less capital return on ordinary activities before finance costs and taxation

(4,658)

(18,742)

(50,910)

Stock dividends received as income

-

(137)

(572)

Decrease/(increase) in prepayments and accrued income

371

(631)

308

Decrease/(increase) in other debtors

24

(9)

3

(Decrease)/increase in creditors

(685)

371

553

Management fee allocated to capital

(378)

(590)

(1,193)

Overseas withholding tax deducted at source

(16)

(306)

(617)

Net cash inflow from operating activities

294

2,180

3,696

 

 

List and Valuation of Investments at 30 June 2013

 

Stocks in bold are the 20 largest investments, which by value account for 55.0% of the total investments.

 


£'000

%

AUSTRALIA



Amcor

2,283

1.6

Brambles

4,682

3.2

Newcrest Mining

1,137

0.8

Resmed1

2,381

1.7

Rio Tinto

1,501

1.0

TOTAL AUSTRALIA

11,984

8.3




CHINA



China Lodging Group1

1,860

1.3

China Shineway Pharmaceutical

2,015

1.4

Shenzou International

2,364

1.6

Wuxi Pharmatech1

2,930

2.0

TOTAL CHINA

9,169

6.3




HONG KONG



AIA Group

4,919

3.4

Chow Sang Sang Holdings

1,808

1.3

Hang Lung Group

2,939

2.0

Hongkong Land2

4,548

3.1

HSBC

4,470

3.1

Hysan Development

2,503

1.7

Jardine Matheson2

5,266

3.6

Jardine Strategic2

6,318

4.4

Johnson Electric Holding

1,990

1.4

Stella International Holdings

1,429

1.0

Sun Hung Kai Properties

4,322

3.0

Swire Properties

3,224

2.2

Techtronic Industries

2,513

1.7

Wing Hang Bank

1,584

1.1

TOTAL HONG KONG

47,833

33.0




INDIA



Eredene Capital3

199

0.1

Apollo Hospitals Enterprise (JPM) 07/11/174

2,635

1.8

Axis Bank (JPM) 08/02/174

2,083

1.4

Phoenix Mills (Merrill Lynch) 18/05/184

680

0.5

Phoenix Mills (Merrill Lynch) 18/06/184

639

0.4

Shriram Transport Finance (JPM) 30/4/184

1,409

1.0

Zee Entertainment Enterprises (JPM) 20/03/174

1,966

1.4

TOTAL INDIA

9,611

 6.6




INDONESIA



Bank Mandiri

3,556

2.5

Bank Pan Indonesia

1,065

0.7

Bank Permata

703

0.5

Sumber Alfaria Trijaya

1,374

0.9

TOTAL INDONESIA

6,698

4.6








£'000

%

KOREA



Halla Visteon Climate Control

2,084

1.4

Hyundai Motor

4,278

3.0

Samsung Electronics

2,674

1.8

TOTAL KOREA

9,036

6.2




MALAYSIA



Astro Malaysia Holdings

2,337

1.6

TOTAL MALAYSIA

2,337

1.6




PHILIPPINES



Alliance Global

2,192

1.5

Ayala Corp

1,527

1.1

Ayala Land

2,944

2.0

GMA Network

1,707

1.2

GT Capital Holdings

2,463

1.7

RFM Corporation

1,368

0.9

TOTAL PHILIPPINES

12,201

8.4




SINGAPORE



Great Eastern Holding

1,460

1.0

Jardine Cycle & Carriage

2,209

1.5

Keppel Corporation

3,703

2.6

UOL Group

1,812

1.3

TOTAL SINGAPORE

9,184

6.4




TAIWAN



Asustek Computer

1,209

0.8

Giant Manufacturing

2,819

2.0

Radiant Opto Electronics

1,281

0.9

Taiwan Semicon Manufacturing

5,038

3.5

TOTAL TAIWAN

10,347

7.2




THAILAND



Bank of Ayudhya

3,752

2.6

Hemaraj Land & Development

1,875

1.3

Kasikornbank

4,578

3.2

Land & Houses

1,902

1.3

TOTAL THAILAND

12,107

8.4




OTHER



LVMH5

2,139

1.5

TOTAL OTHER

2,139

1.5

SUB TOTAL

142,646

98.5




OPTIONS



CBOE S&P 500 Put Option 1615 July 2013

134

0.1

KOSPI Put Option 252.5 August 2013

439

0.3

KOSPI Put Option 257.5 August 2013

506

0.4

S&P/ASX 200 Put Option 4750 August 2013

201

0.1

S&P/ASX 200 Put Option 4775 August 2013

213

0.2

S&P/ASX 200 Put Option 5200 August 2013

612

0.4

TOTAL OPTIONS6

2,105

1.5

TOTAL INVESTMENTS

144,751

100.0

                       

1Listed in the USA.

2Listed in Singapore.

3Listed in the UK, on AIM.

4Participatory notes.

5Listed in France.

6The combined effect of the options gives downside protection to 24% of total investments.

 

Investments are classified by the investment manager in the country of their main business operations.

With the exception of the options and participatory notes shown above, all other investments are in equities.

 

 


This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
 
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