Interim Results

Henderson TR Pacific Inv. Trust PLC 8 August 2000 HENDERSON TR PACIFIC INVESTMENT TRUST PLC UNAUDITED PRELIMINARY INTERIM RESULTS for the six months to 30 June 2000 Henderson TR Pacific Investment Trust plc, one of the largest investment trusts specialising in the Far East, excluding Australasia and Japan, reports its results for the six months to 30 June 2000. Highlights: * The markets consolidated after a strong advance in 1999 * Net asset value total return per ordinary share fell by 4.5% * Benchmark index, which has been significantly restructured, fell by 8.6% (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Audited) Year Half year Half year ended ended ended 31 Dec 30 June 30 June 1999 2000 1999 Net asset value 120.6p 93.7p 125.8p Share Price 110.3p 83.0p 117.0p Discount 8.5% 11.4% 7.0% Performance to 30 June 2000 6 months 12 months Net asset value (i) -4.5% 28.6% Share price (i) -5.6% 33.2% Peer group (i) and (ii) -7.8% 13.2% Benchmark Index (iii) -8.6% -0.6% (i) Source: AITC Services Ltd. (gross income reinvested). (ii) The company's performance is compared against a group of seven leading investment trust competitors on a net asset value basis. (iii)MSCI AC Far East Free (ex Japan) Index (gross income reinvested). Regarding prospects, Iain Dale, the Chairman, says: 'The global investment climate has become less clear as interest rate rises in the USA may not yet have been sufficient to cool excessive growth there. This is expected to dominate stock market sentiment in the short term. Looking ahead there is strong evidence of a prolonged and broadening recovery from the 1997 financial crisis, with a notable recovery in China. The Board believes Asia's long term underperformance is now ending. - 2 - HENDERSON TR PACIFIC INVESTMENT TRUST PLC UNAUDITED PRELIMINARY INTERIM RESULTS for the six months to 30 June 2000 Extract from the Chairman's Statement:- After strong performances in 1999, stock markets in the Pacific region were mixed in the first six months of 2000. Euphoria surrounding new technologies peaked over the first three months and this was followed by some severe corrections. Economic conditions continued to strengthen with significant recoveries, particularly in the northern economies. The outlook for China has turned strongly positive. Results and Performance The company had significantly outperformed the benchmark index in 1999 with its focus on technology and growth. Market conditions in the first six months allowed only a flat overall performance against considerable volatility within individual sectors and stock markets. The small negative total return to shareholders over the first six months of 2000 was better than the return achieved by either the benchmark index or the peer group. Comparisons of our portfolio to the benchmark on a geographical and sector basis at the year end and at 30 June are shown in Appendices 1 and 3. Sir Kerry St. Johnston It is sad to have to report the forthcoming retirement of my long-standing colleague, Sir Kerry St. Johnston, from the Board at the end of the year. Sir Kerry continues to be a very important and active influence on this company, and maintains close business interests in the Pacific region. We will miss him greatly after 18 years as a director of the company and its predecessor, TR Pacific Basin Investment Trust PLC. Outlook Stock market sentiment has been dominated by prospects for the US economy. Higher interest rates have been steadily implemented to slow growth there but it is not yet clear that this can be smoothly achieved. Asian economies in particular have benefited greatly from high exports to the USA. The latest signs are that the slowdown in the USA will be benign and interest rate rises are 'on hold' until this can be confirmed, but it is still too soon to be certain. In our view, Asia's economic recovery is beginning to spread from exports to the domestic economies, with an important lead from China. Whatever happens in the USA, capital is likely to flow back to Asia as investment opportunities improve. We believe that stock markets are now ending a period of long term underperformance against the rest of the world. - 3 - HENDERSON TR PACIFIC INVESTMENT TRUST PLC UNAUDITED PRELIMINARY INTERIM RESULTS for the six months to 30 June 2000 STATEMENT OF TOTAL RETURN (incorporating the revenue account) for the half year ended 30 June 2000 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) Half year ended 30 June 2000 Half year ended 30 June 1999 Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 ------- ------ ----- ------- ------- ----- Total capital (losses)/gains from investments - (11,003) (11,003) - 67,165 67,165 Income from fixed asset investments 2,166 - 2,166 1,426 - 1,426 Other interest receivable and similar income 320 - 320 423 - 423 ------ ------- ------- ----- ------ ------ Gross revenue and capital(losses)/gains 2,486 (11,003) (8,517) 1,849 67,165 69,014 Management fee (477) (477) (954) (356) (356) (712) Other administrative expenses (297) - (297) (202) - (202) ------ ------- ------ ----- ------ ------ Net return/(loss) on ordinary activities before finance costs and taxation 1,712 (11,480) (9,768) 1,291 66,809 68,100 Interest payable and similar charges (204) (611) (815) (169) (506) (675) ----- ------- ------ ----- ------ ------ Net return/(loss) on ordinary activities before taxation 1,508 (12,091) (10,583) 1,122 66,303 67,425 Taxation on net return on ordinary activities (504) 289 (215) (400) 261 (139) ----- ------ ------ ----- ------ =----- Net return/(loss) on ordinary activities after taxation 1,004 (11,802) (10,798) 722 66,564 67,286 Final dividend 1999: 0.25p - - - - - - ----- ------- ------ ----- ------ ------ Transfer to/(from) reserves 1,004 (11,802) (10,798) 722 66,564 67,286 ===== ======= ======= ===== ====== ====== Return/(loss) per ordinary share 0.49p (5.74p) (5.25p) 0.35p 32.39p 32.74p (Note 1) (Audited) Year ended 31 December 1999 Revenue Capital Total £'000 £'000 £'000 ------- ------- ----- Total capital (losses)/gains from investments - 134,459 134,459 Income from fixed asset investments 2,249 - 2,249 Other interest receivable and similar income 618 - 618 Gross revenue and capital(losses)/gains 2,867 134,459 137,326 Management fee (705) (705) (1,410) Other administrative expenses (474) - (474) ----- ------- ------- Net return/(loss) on ordinary activities before finance costs and taxation 1,688 133,754 135,442 Interest payable and similar charges (343) (1,028) (1,371) ----- ------- ------- Net return/(loss) on ordinary activities before taxation 1,345 132,726 134,071 Taxation on net return on ordinary activities (600) 453 (147) ----- ------- ------- Net return/(loss) on ordinary activities after taxation 745 133,179 133,924 Final dividend 1999: 0.25p (514) - (514) ----- ------- ------- Transfer to/(from) reserves 231 133,179 133,410 ===== ======= ======= Return/(loss) per ordinary share 0.36p 64.80p 65.16p (Note 1) The revenue columns of this statement represent the revenue accounts of the company. - 4 - HENDERSON TR PACIFIC INVESTMENT TRUST PLC UNAUDITED PRELIMINARY INTERIM RESULTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS TO 30 JUNE 2000 Balance Sheet As at 30 June 2000 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Audited) At 30 June At 30 June At 31 2000 1999 December £'000 £'000 1999 £'000 ----------- ----------- ---------- Fixed assets investments: Listed at market value - 243,954 195,626 277,870 overseas Unlisted - directors' 2,546 2,452 2,393 valuation ---------- --------- ---------- Total fixed asset investments 246,500 198,078 280,263 ---------- --------- ---------- Current assets Debtors 1,888 5,610 281 Bank balances and short term 23,977 12,051 3,708 deposits ---------- ---------- ---------- 25,865 17,661 3,989 Creditors: amounts falling due (4,711) (4,130) (7,002) within one year ---------- ---------- ---------- Net current 21,154 13,531 (3,013) assets/(liabilities) ---------- ---------- ---------- Total assets less current 267,654 211,609 277,250 liabilities Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year (19,816) (19,032) (18,614) Provisions for liabilities and - (65) - charges ---------- ---------- ---------- Total net assets 247,838 192,512 258,636 ====== ====== ====== Capital and reserves Called-up share capital 10,277 10,277 10,277 Capital redemption reserve 5,629 5,629 5,629 Special reserve 100,573 100,573 100,573 Other capital reserves 126,327 71,514 138,129 Revenue reserve 5,032 4,519 4,028 ---------- ---------- ---------- Equity shareholders' funds 247,838 192,512 258,636 ====== ====== ====== Net asset value per ordinary 120.6p 93.7p 125.8p share - 5 - HENDERSON TR PACIFIC INVESTMENT TRUST PLC UNAUDITED PRELIMINARY INTERIM RESULTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS TO 30 JUNE 2000 Cash Flow Statement for the half year to 30 June 2000 (Unaudite (Unaudit (Audited) d) ed) Year Half year Half ended ended year 31 30 June ended December 2000 30 June 1999 £'000 1999 £'000 £'000 --------- -------- --------- Net cash inflow from operating 643 833 1,078 activities Interest paid (811) (656) (1,342) Total tax recovered - 802 805 Net cash inflow/(outflow) from 24,637 (1,980) (14,956) financial investments Equity dividends paid (514) (2,056) (2,056) Cash (placed on)/withdrawn from (14,619) 1,835 5,816 short term deposit --------- -------- --------- Net cash inflow/(outflow) before 9,336 (1,222) (10,655) financing Net cash (outflow)/inflow from (4,550) - 4,621 financing --------- -------- --------- Increase/(decrease) in cash 4,786 (1,222) (6,034) ====== ====== ====== Reconciliation of operating revenue to net cash inflow from operating activities Net revenue before interest payable 1,712 1,291 1,688 and taxation (Increase)/decrease in accrued (225) 161 360 income (Increase)/decrease in other debtors (48) (103) 20 (Decrease)/increase in creditors (2) 11 34 Management charge taken to other (477) (356) (705) capital reserves UK income tax deducted at source (102) (85) (164) Overseas withholding tax (215) (86) (155) --------- -------- --------- Net cash inflow from operating 643 833 1,078 activities ====== ====== ====== Reconciliation of net cash inflow to movement in net debt Increase/(decrease) in cash as above 4,786 (1,222) (6,034) Cash outflow/(inflow) from short 14,619 (1,835) (5,816) term deposits Cash outflow/(inflow) from financing 4,550 - (4,621) --------- -------- --------- Change in net debt resulting from 23,955 (3,057) (16,471) cash flows Exchange movements (235) (911) (75) --------- -------- --------- Movement in net debt during the year 23,720 (3,968) (16,546) Net debt at beginning of the period (19,559) (3,013) (3,013) --------- -------- --------- Net funds/(debt) at the end of the 4,161 (6,981) (19,559) period ====== ====== ====== Represented by: Cash at bank and short term deposits 23,977 12,051 3,708 Debt falling due within one year - - (4,653) Debt falling due after more than one (19,816) (19,032) (18,614) year --------- -------- --------- 4,161 (6,981) (19,559) ====== ====== ====== - 6 - HENDERSON TR PACIFIC INVESTMENT TRUST PLC UNAUDITED PRELIMINARY INTERIM RESULTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS TO 30 JUNE 2000 Notes 1. Return per share Revenue return per ordinary share is based on earnings attributable of £1,004,000 (half year ended 30 June 1999: £722,000; year ended 31 December 1999: £745,000) and on the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue of 205,540,359 (30 June and 31 December 1999: 205,540,359). Capital return per ordinary share is based on net capital losses attributable of £11,802,000 (half year ended 30 June 1999: gains of £66,564,000; year ended 31 December 1999: gains of £133,179,000) and on the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue of 205,540,359 (30 June and 31 December 1999: 205,540,359). 2. Net asset value per share Net asset value per share is calculated on the basis of shareholders' funds attributable to ordinary shares divided by the number of shares in issue at 30 June 2000, being 205,540,359 ordinary shares (30 June 1999 and 31 December 1999: 205,540,359). 3. 1999 Accounts The figures and financial information for the year ended 31 December 1999 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 237(2) or 237(3) of the Companies Act 1985. 4. Share Buy-Backs The company has not yet used the powers to buy-back its own issued ordinary shares as authorised by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting held on 10 April 2000. 5. Interim Report The Interim Report will be posted to shareholders in August and will be available from the Registered Office at 3 Finsbury Avenue, London, EC2M 2PA thereafter. - 7 - HENDERSON TR PACIFIC INVESTMENT TRUST PLC UNAUDITED PRELIMINARY INTERIM RESULTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS TO 30 JUNE 2000 APPENDIX 1 Geographical Distribution of the Investment Portfolio As at 30 June 2000 As at 31 December 1999 Company Index* Company Index* South Korea 25.2% 20.6% 27.7% 23.0% Taiwan 21.5% 18.8% 19.6% 19.7% China 13.5% 9.7% 2.8% 0.8% Hong Kong 19.5% 25.5% 23.1% 31.7% Thailand 5.2% 2.4% 6.9% 4.7% The Philippines 0.3% 1.1% 1.6% 2.0% Malaysia 3.8% 9.6% 3.0% 0.0% Singapore 10.9% 11.0% 15.2% 15.3% Vietnam 0.1% 0.0% 0.1% 0.0% Indonesia 0.0% 1.3% 0.0% 2.8% --------- --------- --------- --------- 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% ===== ===== ===== ===== * MSCI AC FarEast Free (ex Japan) Index Country Weightings APPENDIX 2 Stock Market Performance Half year to 30 June 2000 Local Currency Sterling Adjusted South Korea -20.1% -13.6% Taiwan -2.2% 6.0% China -1.1% 5.3% Hong Kong -4.8% 1.1% Thailand -32.4% -31.1% The Philippines -28.4% -29.0% Malaysia 2.6% 9.2% Singapore -17.2% -15.0% Indonesia -23.9% -34.7% - 8 - HENDERSON TR PACIFIC INVESTMENT TRUST PLC UNAUDITED PRELIMINARY INTERIM RESULTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS TO 30 JUNE 2000 APPENDIX 3 Sector Analysis of Investments at 30 June 2000 As at 30 June 2000 As at 31 December 1999 Company Index* Company Index* Collective Investment Vehicles 2.9% 0.0% 1.4% 0.0% Computers & Peripherals 9.3% 3.4% 6.9% 3.2% Consumption 16.1% 7.6% 12.5% 7.9% Electrical Equipment 4.0% 2.3% 2.8% 2.0% Finance & Real Estate 14.8% 29.5% 12.6% 41.3% Resources & Heavy Industrial 8.3% 10.0% 7.8% 9.6% Semiconductors & Electronics 23.2% 18.9% 27.5% 14.9% Software Services 0.0% 1.8% 2.7% 0.0% Telecommunications 10.8% 16.7% 18.4% 11.4% Transport & Distribution 6.3% 4.0% 4.6% 4.1% Utilities 4.3% 5.8% 2.8% 5.6% --------- ------ --------- ------- 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% ========= ====== ========= ======= * MSCI AC Far East Free (ex Japan) Index Sector Weightings - 9 - HENDERSON TR PACIFIC INVESTMENT TRUST PLC UNAUDITED PRELIMINARY INTERIM RESULTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS TO 30 JUNE 2000 APPENDIX 4 List and Valuation of Investments as at 30 June 2000 Market Market Value Value % £'000 % £'000 CHINA 13.5 33,166 VIETNAM 0.1 227 Beijing Capital The Vietnam Fund 227 International Airport 2,338 China Heartland Fund 1,829 China Mobile (HK) 9,338 SOUTH KOREA 25.2 62,186 China Resource Enterprise 3,328 Cosco Pacific 4,186 Atlantis Kosdaq Fund 2,725 Guangdong Kelon 1,074 Dacom 3,354 Huaneng Power International 1,671 Housing&Commercial Bank 4,248 Legend Holdings 2,551 Hyundai Motor 2,716 Petrochina 3,422 Kook Min Bank 4,214 SHK Pearl River Delta* 477 Korea Electric Power 4,097 Want Want 1,268 Korea Telecom Freetel 2,819 Zhejiang Expressway 1,684 Korea Telecom 6,536 LG Chemical 2,381 HONG KONG 19.5 48,187 Mirae 2,021 Pohang Iron & Steel 1,528 Cheung Kong 5,442 Samsung Corporation 2,278 ChinaVest II-A* 1,305 Samsung Electronics 10,945 Hong Kong Venture Shinhan Bank 2,467 Investment Trust* 56 Hong Kong & China Gas 4,759 SK Corporation 3,552 Hutchinson Whampoa 3,309 SK Telecom 4,797 Johnson Electric Holdings 10,016 Trigem Computer 1,508 Li & Fung 10,562 Swire Pacific 3,868 SINGAPORE 10.9 26,920 Television Broadcasts 6,578 Varitronix 2,292 Chartered 5,945 International Semiconductor City Developments 1,778 TAIWAN 21.5 53,105 Datacraft Asia 4,822 Natsteel Electronic 3,023 Acer Peripherals 2,668 Overseas Chinese 3,342 Banking Corporation Asustek Computer 3,710 Parkway 3,385 Bank Sinopac 2,665 Singapore Press 4,625 China Steel 3,145 Chinatrust 1,993 THE PHILIPPINES 0.3 708 Compal Electronics 3,125 Evergreen Marine 2,547 Philippine Long Term 708 Equity Fund* Far Eastern Textile 3,277 President Chain Store 3,929 THAILAND 5.2 12,704 Ritek 3,449 Siliconware Precision 4,208 Grammy Entertainment 1,190 Synnex Technology 3,692 Hana Microelectronics 4,136 Systex Corporation 985 Pizza Company 840 Taiwan Semiconductor 8,002 PTT Exploration & 1,290 Production Winbond Electronics 5,710 Shin Corporations 2,762 Siam Cement 2,486 MALAYSIA 3.8 9,297 Malaysian International 2,618 TOTAL INVESTMENTS 100.0 246,500 Shipping Resorts World 2,907 Unisem 3,772 * Unlisted Investments - 10 - HENDERSON TR PACIFIC INVESTMENT TRUST PLC UNAUDITED PRELIMINARY INTERIM RESULTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS TO 30 JUNE 2000 For further information contact: Michael Watt, Director and Manager David Hardy Iain Dale, Chairman Binns & Co. PR Tel: 020 7410 4100 Tel: 020 7786 9600 Stephen Westwood Head of Investment Trusts Tel: 020 7410 5517
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