Preliminary Results

Schroder Split Investment Fund PLC 22 December 2005 22 December 2005 PRESS RELEASE PRELIMINARY RESULTS The Directors of Schroder Split Investment Fund plc ('the Company') and its subsidiary Schroder Split ZDP plc (together 'the Group') announce the unaudited preliminary results for the Group's year ended 31 October 2005. Highlights 31 October 2005 31 October 2004 % change Pence Pence Net asset value per Zero Dividend Preference Share 132.34p 122.82p +7.75% Ordinary Share 101.33p 82.73p +22.48% Share price per Zero Dividend Preference Share 137.75p 130.00p +5.96% Ordinary Share 87.00p 65.50p +32.82% Total return to shareholders Results for the year to 31 Results for the year to 31 October 2005 October 2004 £'000 £'000 Zero Dividend Preference Shares 2,614 2,433 NA Ordinary Shares 10,425 6,485 NA CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT Performance During the year ended 31 October 2005, the Group's assets, or funds attributable, produced a total return of 19.2%, very slightly lagging the FTSE All-Share Index (19.8%) and the FTSE 350 Higher Yield Index (19.9%). Since launch, the Group's assets performance has been significantly ahead of the FTSE All-Share Index, producing a total return of 34.1% whilst the Index produced a total return of 21.1% over the same period. During the year under review, the equity portion of the investment portfolio rose from 77% to 79%; the fixed income portion fell from 23% to 21%. The Company's fixed rate bank loan of £12.1 million represented 13.4% of total assets less current liabilities at the end of the year, a reduction from 15.1% at the beginning of the year. The hurdle rate for our ordinary shares to achieve an asset value equivalent to the 31 October 2005 market price (87p), had reduced to just 0.1%. Asset cover for our ZDP shares improved from 1.60 times to 1.84 times during the year to 31 October 2005. Dividends I am also pleased to report that the total dividends for the year ended 31 October 2005 amounted to 6.70p per share, following the declaration of a fourth interim dividend of 2.20p per share, payable on 31 December 2005. Total dividends for the year to 31 October 2005 have increased by 8.1% compared with 2003/2004. Share Price Performance The discount to net asset value on the Company's ordinary shares significantly narrowed during the year from 20.8% at the beginning of the year to 14.1% at 31 October 2005, as investor sentiment towards the sector improved. The discount remains volatile and dependent on changes in general market sentiment but I believe that in due course the discount should reduce. The premium on the Zero Dividend Preference Shares slightly reduced during the year from 5.9% at the beginning of the year to 4.1% at 31 October 2005. International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) From 1 November 2005 the Schroder Split Investment Fund plc is required to prepare its Group financial statements in accordance with IFRS, as adopted for use in the European Union. The interim results for the six months ended 30 April 2006 will be the first set of results prepared on this basis and the full year audited accounts will also do so, although the application of IFRS to investment trust companies may continue to evolve further in the meantime. Annual General Meeting The Annual General Meeting will be held on 8 March 2006 at 3.00 p.m. and shareholders are invited to attend. The meeting will follow its usual format, which includes a presentation on our investment strategy and the prospects for the economy generally. Current Performance Since 31 October 2005, the total assets less current liabilities and bank loan of the Group at 15 December 2005 increased by 4.5% (the Index up by 4.8%) to 109.04p attributable to each ordinary share. The share price has increased from 87p to 94.75p in this period, a rise of 8.9%. Outlook The year under review has again produced strong absolute net asset value total returns, building on the gains seen in the previous 2 years. In addition, the level of dividend paid on the ordinary shares has substantially increased. The mixture of investments in the portfolio and the conservative model for the Group has enabled us to outperform the market since its launch. I remain confident that solid comparative performance will continue in the future. John Padovan Chairman Unaudited Group Statement of Total Return Results for the year ended Results for the year ended 31 October 2005 31 October 2004 Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Gains on investments - 10,724 10,724 - 6,768 6,768 Income 3,797 - 3,797 3,568 - 3,568 Investment management fee (201) (303) (504) (165) (247) (412) Other administrative expenses (239) - (239) (276) - (276) Return on ordinary activities 3,357 10,421 13,778 3,127 6,521 9,648 before finance costs and taxation Interest payable (295) (444) (739) (292) (438) (730) Provision for the redemption of Zero - (2,614) (2,614) - (2,433) (2,433) dividend preference shares in the subsidiary Return on ordinary activities 3,062 7,363 10,425 2,835 3,650 6,485 before taxation Taxation on ordinary activities (149) 149 - (179) 179 - Return after taxation attributable 2,913 7,512 10,425 2,656 3,829 6,485 to ordinary shareholders Dividends : ordinary shares - first interim dividend (618) - (618) (577) - (577) - second interim dividend (618) - (618) (577) - (577) - third interim dividend (618) - (618) (577) - (577) - third interim dividend (906) - (906) (824) - (824) Transfer to reserves 153 7,512 7,665 101 3,829 3,930 Return per ordinary share - pence 7.07p 18.23p 25.30p 6.45p 9.29p 15.74p Return per Zero Dividend Preference Share in the subsidiary - pence - 9.52p 9.52p - 8.86p 8.86p Dividend per ordinary share - pence 6.70p - 6.70p 6.20p - 6.20p Unaudited Group Cash Flow Statement Results for the Results for the Year ended 31 October 2005 year ended 31 October 2004 £'000 £'000 Net cash inflow from operating 3,032 3,026 activities Bank loan interest paid (739) (730) Dividends paid (2,678) (2,473) UK tax received - 160 Net cash (outflow)/inflow from (1,138) 2,034 investing activities Net cash (outflow)/inflow (1,523) 2,017 Summary Unaudited Balance Summary Unaudited Summary Balance Summary Balance Sheet at Sheet at 31 October 2005 Balance Sheet at 31 Sheet at 31 October 31 October 2004 October 2005 2004 Group Company Company Group £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Fixed Asset Investments Equities listed 72,033 72,033 60,101 60,101 in the United Kingdom Fixed interest 18,523 18,523 18,160 18,160 investments Investment in - 50 - 50 subsidiary 90,556 90,606 78,261 78,311 Net current (356) (406) 1,660 1,610 (liabilities)/ assets Creditors : Amounts falling due after more than one year Loan facility (12,100) (12,100) (12,100) (12,100) Amount owed to - (36,349) - (33,735) group undertaking Zero dividend (36,349) - (33,735) - preference shares in the subsidiary Net Assets 41,751 41,751 34,086 34,086 Group assets or Funds attributable* to Ordinary shares 41,751 34,086 Zero dividend 36,349 33,735 preference shares in the subsidiary 78,100 67,821 Net asset value 132.34p 122.82p per zero dividend preference share Net asset value 101.33p 82.73p per ordinary share *Group assets, or funds attributable are defined as the net assets attributable to ordinary shares plus net assets attributable to zero dividend preference shares. Notes 1. The above financial information is unaudited and does not amount to statutory accounts under Section 240 of the Companies Act 1985 (as amended) for the year ended 31 October 2005 or the year ended 31 October 2004. The statutory accounts for the year to 31 October 2004 have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies following the Company's annual general meeting. The auditors reported on those accounts; their report was unqualified and did not contain a statement under s237(2) or (3) Companies Act 1985. The statutory accounts for the year ended 31 October 2005 will be finalised on the basis of the financial information presented by the directors in this preliminary announcement and will be delivered to the Registrar of Companies following the company's annual general meeting. 2. The Group accounts consolidate the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary Schroder Split ZDP plc. This announcement is prepared on the basis of the accounting policies as set out in the most recent published set of annual financial statements. 3. As permitted by Section 230 of the Companies Act 1985, the Company has not presented its own revenue account. The net revenue after taxation for the year to 31 October 2005 of the Company dealt with in the accounts of the Group was £2,913,000 (31 October 2004: £2,656,000.) This statement was approved by the Board of Directors on 22 December 2005. Report and Accounts The Report and Accounts will be mailed to shareholders at their registered addresses in January 2006 and, from the date of release, copies will be available to the public at the Company's registered office: 31 Gresham Street, London, EC2V 7QA. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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