Half Yearly Report

RNS Number : 1545R

Witan Investment Trust PLC

17 August 2010

 



WITAN INVESTMENT TRUST PLC

17 August 2010

WITAN INVESTMENT TRUST PLC

Financial Report for the Half Year ended 30 June 2010

HIGHLIGHTS

• During the six month period under review, the Company's Net Asset Value total return was -1.9% compared with a benchmark return of -3.8% for the same period - a relative outperformance of 1.9%.

• Eleven out of thirteen of the Company's manager mandates outperformed their respective benchmarks during the period.

• An interim dividend of 4.4p (2009: 4.3p) per ordinary share (an increase of 2.3%) will be paid on 17 September 2010 to shareholders on the register as at 27 August 2010.

• A new pan-European mandate was awarded to Marathon.

• Gearing (including futures exposure) increased from 5% at the year end to 8.8% at 30 June 2010.

Page 2 of 15

WITAN INVESTMENT TRUST PLC

Financial Report for the Half Year ended 30 June 2010

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Corporate Key Performance Indicators
	(Unaudited) 30 June  2010	Change since 31 December 2009	(Unaudited) 30 June 2009	(Audited) 31 December 2009
Share price	419.5p	-5.6%	344.5p	444.6p
Net asset value per ordinary share (debt at par    value)	487.3p	-3.1%	399.9p	502.7p
Net asset value per ordinary share (debt at fair    value)	480.7p	-3.3%	393.0p	497.0p
Dividends per ordinary share	4.4p		4.3p	10.5p
Discount (debt at par value)	13.9%		13.9%	11.6%
Discount (debt at fair value)	12.7%		12.3%	10.5%
Share buy-backs (A)	3.0%		0.5%	5.1%
Total expense ratio including performance    fees(B)	0.51%		0.62%	0.98%
Total expense ratio excluding performance    fees (B)	0.41%		0.37%	0.71%
Number of private investors (C)	38,389		40,034	39,580

(A)	The percentage of the ordinary share capital in issue at the previous year end that was bought back during the period.
(B)	The total of the management fees and other administrative expenses (excluding the expenses of the subsidiary company) as a percentage of the average of shareholders' funds at the beginning and end of the period.
(C)	The sum of the number of accounts on the Company's register of members and the number of accounts in Witan Wealthbuilder and Jump.

Performance
Total Returns to 30 June 2010	6 months % return	1 year % return	3 years % return	5 years % return
Total shareholder return (D)	-4.4	24.8	-7.9	30.1
Net asset value total return (E)	-1.9	24.4	-6.4	31.8
Benchmark (F)	-3.8	22.1	-8.2	25.6
FTSE All-Share Index	-6.2	21.1	-16.2	18.7
FTSE World (ex UK) Index	-2.0	23.2	-1.3	30.4

(D)	The movement in the ordinary share price adjusted to include the notional reinvestment of dividends.
(E)	The movement in the net asset value per share adjusted to include the notional reinvestment of dividends.
(F)	Since 1 October 2007 the benchmark has been a composite of four indices:  the FTSE All-Share Index 40%, the FTSE All-World North America Index 20%, the FTSE All-World Europe (ex UK) Index 20% and the FTSE All-World Asia Pacific Index 20%.  From 1 September 2004 to 30 September 2007 the benchmark comprised the FTSE All-Share Index 50% and the FTSE World (ex UK) Index 50%.
Source:  Datastream and Lipper (except the net asset value total return over 6 months and 1 year).

Page 3 of 15

WITAN INVESTMENT TRUST PLC

Financial Report for the Half Year ended 30 June 2010

OTHER FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
	(Unaudited) 30 June 2010	Change since 31 December 2009	(Unaudited) 30 June 2009	(Audited) 31 December 2009
Net assets	£962m	-5.9%	£853m	£1,023m
Number of ordinary shares in issue	197,385,220	-3.0%	213,234,054	203,464,280
Revenue return per ordinary share	6.32p		7.10p	10.63p
Gearing*	6.7%		5.2%	5.0%

* The total market value of the investments less shareholders' funds as a percentage of shareholders' funds.  Taking account of index futures investments, the gearing at 30 June 2010 was 8.8%.

 

PORTFOLIO INFORMATION

Portfolio by geographical classification as at 30 June 2010
United Kingdom	34.9%
North America	22.3%
Continental Europe	18.6%
Pacific	9.4%
Japan	8.7%
Other countries	1.9%
Cash	4.2%
	----------
	100.0%
	======

Page 4 of 15

WITAN INVESTMENT TRUST PLC

Financial Report for the Half Year ended 30 June 2010

INTERIM MANAGEMENT REPORT

Market Background

The first half of 2010 marked confirmation that most global economies, including the UK, had emerged from 2009's deep recession. Corporate earnings and dividends generally exceeded expectations which helped to underpin equity valuations. This enabled markets to shake off a bout of nerves early in the New Year, sparking a rally that peaked in April.

At this point, sentiment began to turn sour, with concerns initially centring on inflation risks stemming from the strength in commodity prices (driven by rapid growth in emerging economies). In addition, it became clear that markets had lost confidence in the ability of some European countries (such as Greece) to control their budget deficits. This led to significant volatility in bond markets and worries that the resulting fiscal austerity plans would pitch the region, and possibly the world, back into recession. Questions began to be asked about the future of the Euro currency in its current form, raising the risk of a renewed bout of financial sector turbulence, given that the bonds of the Euro zone countries viewed as at risk are widely held by European banks.

As the second quarter ended, equity markets closed near their 2010 low points, amid concerns about a double-dip recession. Better news from company trading results and economic growth was being ignored. Pessimists would say this was due to the unsustainability of the recovery, putting earnings estimates at risk. Optimists would counter that valuations already discounted a mediocre outlook.

Investment Income

There has been a recovery in dividend payouts this year, as recession-induced cuts dropped out of the picture and companies enjoyed a recovery in profitability. In the UK, overseas-sourced earnings were boosted by the strength of the dollar. An exception to this generally more optimistic picture was BP being forced to suspend its remaining quarterly dividends for 2010, as it grappled with the financial and political costs of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. This (even if only for one year) took nearly 10% from the UK market's dividend income for 2010. We were partly buffered from this by our underweighting of the UK market, and of BP within our UK portfolio, but it took the gloss off an underlying rise in income in the first half. In the event, our investment income fell by 2.5% in the first half.  Expenses were higher (although the total expense ratio fell - see the section headed Expenses below) and the VAT repayments received in 2009 were non-recurring. Accordingly, our revenue earnings per share fell by 11.0%. The underlying position (stripping out the effect of the VAT repayments received in 2009) was a decline of 3.0%.

Portfolio Changes

Witan's new Chief Executive, Andrew Bell, joined in early February. He and the Board have been reviewing a number of enhancements to the management of the portfolio, against the background of improving relative performance, with the majority of the managers having outperformed so far during 2010.

Witan has had the ability to invest using equity index futures for a number of years but has done so infrequently. Nonetheless, the Board views this as a valuable source of flexibility in a multi-manager portfolio where medium-term stock decisions by the managers are a significant feature and where, as a result, changes in managers' investment allocations are an imperfect way of adjusting shorter term market exposure. The Company has used equity index futures since June, initiating investments in a number of regional indices to take advantage of the correction in markets by edging the gearing higher. These investments (with an underlying value of about 2.0% of assets at the period end) were mainly in UK and European indices, where the greatest relative value was seen. This ability, which operates within policy guidelines set by the Board, also enables Witan to adjust its asset allocation, in the event that stock-driven decisions by managers take the geographical asset allocation outside a desired range.

Subsequent to the period end, Witan awarded a pan-European mandate to Marathon Asset Management, combining their existing UK-only mandate with Witan and the Europe ex-UK mandate previously managed by Wellington Management Company. The Board believes that the unconstrained ability to pick stocks across the wider pan-European index gives the manager additional scope to add value, as part of the Company's mix of national, regional and global managers.

Page 5 of 15

WITAN INVESTMENT TRUST PLC

Financial Report for the Half Year ended 30 June 2010

INTERIM MANAGEMENT REPORT, continued

A number of direct investments have been made in quoted investment companies so as to gain exposure to special opportunities and undervalued assets in areas not covered by the outsourced managers. These areas include private equity (with investments in 3i Group and HarbourVest Global Private Equity) and distressed debt (via the NB Distressed Debt Investment Fund). The Board believes that the ability to take advantage of special situations, such as undervalued assets and areas too specialist to merit a formal segregated mandate, adds a further route for Witan to add value for shareholders.

Investment Performance

The all round performance of the managers has been very good, with 11 out of the 13 managers outperforming relative to their individual benchmarks. In total, these 11 were responsible for management of over 80% of Witan's assets during the period. This fed through to a strong relative performance by the portfolio as a whole, although the negative trend of markets in the second quarter meant that this was not enough to deliver a positive absolute return in the period. The portfolio total return before costs was -1.2% in the first half of the year (2.8% ahead of the benchmark).  Witan's net asset value total return after costs was -1.9%, beating the -3.8% total return of the benchmark by 1.9%.

The two laggards were Wellington in Europe, after a strong performance in 2009, and Comgest in Asia, whose fundamental value based approach delivered a positive return of 3.4% but lagged the 5.2% return from its Asian benchmark.

The UK managers all beat their benchmarks, with the smaller companies mandate managed by Henderson producing a 6.6% total return (for a 5.3% relative return) and the two more active mainstream UK managers also performing strongly, Artemis being 3.7% ahead of its benchmark and Marathon 2.8% ahead. Internationally, Southeastern continued its strong run from 2009, beating its global benchmark by 4.8%. Varenne's concentrated portfolio of pan-European equities performed outstandingly, with a total return of 8.4% in a period when its benchmark delivered minus 9.6%. Japan was also a bright spot, where Brandes delivered a total return of 9.6%, 4% ahead of the Japanese benchmark.

Expenses

The expenses rose in the first half of the year, owing to the effect of investment consultancy fees, higher asset values, the costs associated with the migration of the savings plans to an improved platform and, most important, the non-recurring nature of the VAT refunds received in 2009. Basic investment management fees rose by 43%, owing both to the effect of rising markets and the decline in sterling. Performance fees (at £1.0 million) were lower than in the first half of 2009 (£2.2 million) but higher than those incurred in the second half of 2009 (£0.4 million). Aside from the level of performance, the figures are affected by fluctuations between parts of the portfolio with differing fee structures. The total expense ratio ("TER") for the six months was 0.51%, compared with 0.62% for the first half of 2009. Without performance fees, the TERs were 0.41% for 2010 and 0.37% for 2009.

Gearing

The Company has structural borrowings of about £110 million, amounting to about 11% of net assets. In order to have liquidity for normal corporate expenses and to fund share buy-backs, Witan has typically held corporate cash balances, which (together with any balances held by the managers) has capped the Company's ability to gear at 6% to 7% of assets. There is also a currency difference between the investments (which are substantially non-sterling) and the borrowings (which are all in sterling). Whilst this has worked to the Company's advantage when sterling has been weak, as in recent years, this may not always be so.  The use of futures enables the Company to manage its gearing and asset allocation more flexibly.

The gearing rose from 5% at 31 December 2009 to 8.8% at the end of June (taking account of index futures investments), as advantage was taken of the market correction to raise equity exposure towards the end of the half year period.

Page 6 of 15

WITAN INVESTMENT TRUST PLC

Financial Report for the Half Year ended 30 June 2010

INTERIM MANAGEMENT REPORT, continued

Dividend

The Company has a 35 year record of dividend increases, including last year when dividend income was under greater pressure than in living memory. The Board believes that the underlying trend of corporate payouts is turning positive (despite the special situation of BP) and has decided to increase the first interim dividend for 2010 by 2.3% to 4.4p per ordinary share. This dividend will be paid on 17 September 2010 to holders on the register on 27 August 2010.

The revenue earnings per share (6.32p) in the first half more than cover the interim dividend proposed. Although there is a possibility that (with the setback from BP) the 2010 revenue profits per share will be lower than last year's 10.63p, the Company has revenue reserves to smooth such events. The Board currently expects that any drawdown on the accumulated revenue reserves (of £44.7 million after the dividend payment in September - equivalent to about 23p per share) would be modest. Its policy remains to grow the divided at least in line with inflation over time, subject to market circumstances.

Share Buy-backs

The Company has continued with its established policy of repurchasing shares at a discount, to reduce discount volatility and to be accretive to the net asset value per share. During the period, 3% of the shares were purchased for cancellation, adding 1.8p (approximately 0.36%) to the net asset value per share.  Despite this, during the period of global market turbulence and investors selling ahead of expected taxation changes in the UK budget, the discount widened to 11.6% (calculated excluding income and with the debt at fair value) at the period end.  During July and August, the discount has steadily improved (to 9.9% as at 13 August 2010).

Jump Savings/Wealthbuilder

The Witan savings plans have seen increased inflows this year, although there have also been more withdrawals than during the depressed period for markets in early 2009. The Coalition Government's decision to stop providing funding for new Child Trust Fund accounts cuts off one route for families to save for children but the Jump savings scheme remains open for both new and existing investors. In addition, existing Child Trust Fund savers within the Jump CTF scheme will be able to add to their investment (within the statutory limits). Witan Investment Services Limited is moving the administration of the schemes to a new platform, to introduce enhancements for savers, and will be in contact with investors shortly to set out the details.

Outlook

The equity markets' recovery in 2009 was fuelled by increasing confidence that the concerted stimulus measures adopted by global governments would spur an economic upturn. Although this has come to pass, the first half of 2010 has seen sharply fluctuating investor sentiment, in response to monetary tightening measures by faster growing economies, such as China, and fiscal tightening by slower growing regions, such as Europe. It is common for the transition from markets driven by interest rate cuts to those dependent on earnings recovery to be awkward and prone to worries that the previous source of fuel will run out before the new one becomes available. These worries are more acute because the debt overhang continues to erode private sector confidence, while national budget deficits constrain governments' ability to support growth. This has given rise to anxiety in some quarters that the world is doomed to slip back into recession, although these fears are probably exaggerated. With the global authorities having been given a severe fright by the volatility in European government debt markets, policy makers face a tricky balance between maintaining credibility with the bond markets and keeping policy sufficiently growth friendly to enable the debt overhang to be worked off in an orderly way.

During July, optimism on corporate earnings began to outweigh worries about renewed recession, spurring a global equity rally.  Despite this, sentiment remains fragile and the outlook for equity markets, in the short term at least, is continued volatility.  Accordingly, Witan's managers will continue to concentrate on choosing investments whose prospects are not solely dependent on the external environment while the Board will determine asset allocation and use gearing to take advantage of opportunities as they present themselves, while being mindful of the risks.

Page 7 of 15

WITAN INVESTMENT TRUST PLC

Financial Report for the Half Year ended 30 June 2010

INTERIM MANAGEMENT REPORT, continued

REGULATORY DISCLOSURES

Related Party Transactions

During the first six months of the current financial year, no transactions with related parties have taken place which have materially affected the financial position or performance of the Company during the period. Details of related party transactions are contained in the Company's Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2009.

Principal Risks and Uncertainties

The principal risks and uncertainties associated with the Company's business can be divided into various areas:

• a fall in equity prices

• the application of investment strategy: country, currency, industrial sector, stock selection, choice of investment manager

• the appropriateness of the corporate objective and strategy

• operational and regulatory risks.

Information on these risks is given in the Business Review and in the Notes to the Financial Statements in the Company's Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2009.

In the view of the Board these principal risks and uncertainties are applicable to the remaining six months of the financial year as they were to the six months under review.

Directors' Responsibility Statement

The Directors confirm that, to the best of their knowledge:

(a) the condensed set of financial statements has been prepared in accordance with IAS 34;

(b) the interim management report includes a fair review of the information required by Disclosure and Transparency Rule 4.2.7R (an indication of important events that have occurred during the first six months of the financial year and a description of the principal risks and uncertainties for the remaining six months of the financial year); and

(c) the interim management report includes a fair review of the information required by Disclosure and Transparency Rule 4.2.8R (disclosure of related party transactions and changes therein).

For and on behalf of the Board

Harry Henderson

Chairman

16 August 2010

Page 8 of 15

WITAN INVESTMENT TRUST PLC

Financial Report for the Half Year ended 30 June 2010

Investment Managers:  Assets under Management and Investment Performance as at 30 June 2010

Performance For the half year ended 30 June 2010 and from inception to 30 June 2010 Investment Manager	Value of funds under management £m at 30.06.10	% of Witan's funds under management at 30.06.10*	Performance in the period 01.01.10 to 30.06.10 (%)	Benchmark Performance 01.01.10 to 30.06.10 (%)	Performance in the period since inception to 30.06.10 (%) (annualised)	Benchmark Performance since inception to 30.06.10 (%) (annualised)
Henderson Global Investors (UK mid-large)	165.6	15.9	-6.0	-6.4	6.1(B)	5.6(B)
Artemis Investment Management (UK)	83.5	8.0	-2.7	-6.1	1.5(F)	-6.0(F)
Marathon Asset Management (UK)	75.8	7.3	-3.5	-6.1	-3.5(F)	-6.0(F)
Henderson Global Investors (UK smaller)	25.9	2.5	6.6	1.2	9.1(A)	8.7(A)
Southeastern Asset Management (Global)	148.1	14.2	2.9	-1.9	6.3(B)	7.4(B)
MFS International (Global)	120.3	11.5	-1.7	-1.9	9.5(B)	7.4(B)
Thomas White International (Global)	104.1	10.0	1.0	-1.9	0.0(D)	-1.2(D)
Wellington Management Company (Europe)	72.7	7.0	-13.9	-10.5	5.9(B)	8.2(B)
Varenne Capital (Europe including the UK)	29.2	2.8	8.4	-9.6	-2.5(E)	-7.1(E)
Henderson Global Investors (North America)	36.5	3.5	1.0	0.8	5.5(A)	5.2(A)
Brandes Investment Partners (Japan)	59.8	5.7	9.6	5.4	6.2(B)	4.2(B)
Comgest (Asia Pacific excluding Japan)	67.5	6.5	3.4	5.2	7.4(C)	7.9(C)
Orbis Investment Management (Australasia)	17.0	1.6	-8.8	-8.9	3.5(C)	2.1(C)
CEO Growth Opportunities Portfolio (directly held)	36.2	3.5	not applicable		-6.0†	-11.1†

Notes:

*	The figures exclude the cash balances held centrally by Witan and the unquoted investments.
	(A) from 31.08.04	(C) from 31.07.07	(E) from 30.04.08
	(B) from 30.09.04	(D) from 28.09.07	(F) from 06.05.08
†	The CEO Growth Opportunities Portfolio comprises holdings selected by the CEO; the first investments were made in March 2010.
Source:  The WM Company.

Page 9 of 15

WITAN INVESTMENT TRUST PLC

Financial Report for the Half Year ended 30 June 2010

Consolidated Income Statement

	(Unaudited)   Half year ended   30 June 2010			(Unaudited)   Half year ended   30 June 2009			(Audited) Year ended 31 December 2009
	Revenue return £'000	Capital return £'000	Total £'000	Revenue return £'000	Capital return £'000	Total £'000	Revenue return £'000	Capital return £'000	Total £'000
Investment income	17,458	-	17,458	17,891	-	17,891	29,199	-	29,199
Other income	729	-	729	1,598	-	1,598	2,304	-	2,304
(Losses)/gains on investments    held at fair value through profit or loss (Note 2)	-	(28,688)	(28,688)	-	(19,286)	(19,286)	-	196,885	196,885
	----------	----------	----------	----------	----------	----------	----------	----------	----------
Total income/(loss)	18,187	(28,688)	(10,501)	19,489	(19,286)	203	31,503	196,885	228,388
Expenses
Management and performance    fees	(364)	(2,093)	(2,457)	(255)	(2,954)	(3,209)	(583)	(4,310)	(4,893)
Write-back of prior years' VAT	-	-	-	1,249	-	1,249	1,249	-	1,249
Other expenses	(3,004)	(148)	(3,152)	(2,664)	-	(2,664)	(5,172)	(74)	(5,246)
	----------	----------	----------	----------	----------	----------	----------	----------	----------
Profit/(loss) before finance costs    and taxation	14,819	(30,929)	(16,110)	17,819	(22,240)	(4,421)	26,997	192,501	219,498
Finance costs	(1,025)	(2,948)	(3,973)	(1,120)	(3,233)	(4,353)	(2,146)	(6,189)	(8,335)
	---------	---------	---------	---------	---------	---------	---------	---------	---------
Profit/(loss) before taxation	13,794	(33,877)	(20,083)	16,699	(25,473)	(8,774)	24,851	186,312	211,163
Taxation	(1,163)	-	(1,163)	(1,539)	364	(1,175)	(2,327)	723	(1,604)
	----------	----------	----------	----------	----------	----------	----------	----------	----------
Profit/(loss) attributable to    equity holders of the parent     company	12,631	(33,877)	(21,246)	15,160	(25,109)	(9,949)	22,524	187,035	209,559
	======	======	======	======	======	======	======	======	======
Earnings/(loss) per ordinary    share (Note 3)	6.32p	(16.95)p	(10.63)p	7.10p	(11.76)p	(4.66)p	10.63p	88.27p	98.90p
	======	======	======	======	======	======	======	======	======

A Statement of Comprehensive Income has not been prepared as there is no other comprehensive income.

The total column of this statement represent the Group's Income Statement, prepared in accordance with IFRS as adopted by the European Union. 

The revenue return and capital return columns are supplementary to this and are prepared under guidance published by the Association of Investment Companies.  All items in the above statement derive from continuing operations.

All income is attributable to the equity holders of Witan Investment Trust plc, the parent company.  There are no minority interests.

Page 10 of 15

WITAN INVESTMENT TRUST PLC

Financial Report for the Half Year ended 30 June 2010

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

			(Unaudited) Half year ended 30 June 2010
		Ordinary share capital £'000	Share premium account £'000	Capital redemption reserve £'000	Other capital reserves £'000	Revenue reserve £'000	Total £'000
At 31 December 2009		50,866	16,237	42,960	859,595	53,161	1,022,819
(Loss)/profit for the period		-	-	-	(33,877)	12,631	(21,246)
Ordinary dividend paid		-	-	-	-	(12,385)	(12,385)
Buy-backs of ordinary shares	(Note 5)	(1,520)	-	1,520	(27,379)	-	(27,379)
		----------	-----------	----------	-------------	-----------	------------
At 30 June 2010		49,346	16,237	44,480	798,339	53,407	961,809
		======	======	======	========	======	=======

			(Unaudited) Half year ended 30 June 2009
		Ordinary share capital £'000	Share premium account £'000	Capital redemption reserve £'000	Other capital reserves £'000	Revenue reserve £'000	Total £'000
At 31 December 2008		53,600	16,237	40,226	716,756	52,428	879,247
(Loss)/profit for the period		-	-	-	(25,109)	15,160	(9,949)
Ordinary dividend paid		-	-	-	-	(12,629)	(12,629)
Buy-backs of ordinary shares	(Note 5)	(291)	-	291	(3,970)	-	(3,970)
		----------	-----------	----------	-------------	-----------	------------
At 30 June 2009		53,309	16,237	40,517	687,677	54,959	852,699
		======	======	======	========	======	=======

			(Audited) Year ended 31 December 2009
		Ordinary share capital £'000	Share premium account £'000	Capital redemption reserve £'000	Other capital reserves £'000	Revenue reserve £'000	Total £'000
At 31 December 2008		53,600	16,237	40,226	716,756	52,428	879,247
Profit for the period		-	-	-	187,035	22,524	209,559
Ordinary dividends paid		-	-	-	-	(21,791)	(21,791)
Buy-backs of ordinary shares	(Note 5)	(2,734)	-	2,734	(44,196)	-	(44,196)
		------------	------------	------------	-------------	---------	------------
At 31 December 2009		50,866	16,237	42,960	859,595	53,161	1,022,819
		=======	======	=======	========	=====	=======

Page 11 of 15

WITAN INVESTMENT TRUST PLC

Financial Report for the Half Year ended 30 June 2010

Consolidated Balance Sheet

	(Unaudited) 30 June  2010 £'000	(Unaudited) 30 June 2009 £'000	(Audited) 31 December 2009 £'000
Non current assets
Investments held at fair value through profit or loss	1,026,577	896,927	1,074,189
	--------------	--------------	-------------
Current assets
Other receivables	7,986	12,830	5,978
Cash and cash equivalents	47,087	62,995	58,638
	--------------	--------------	-------------
	55,073	75,825	64,616
	--------------	--------------	-------------
Total assets	1,081,650	972,752	1,138,805
	--------------	--------------	-------------
Current liabilities
Other payables	(9,635)	(9,927)	(5,820)
	--------------	--------------	-------------
Total assets less current liabilities	1,072,015	962,825	1,132,985
	--------------	--------------	--------------
Non current liabilities
8½ per cent. Debenture Stock 2016	(44,589)	(44,589)	(44,589)
6.125 per cent. Secured Bonds due 2025	(63,062)	(62,982)	(63,022)
3.4 per cent. cumulative preference shares of £1	(2,055)	(2,055)	(2,055)
2.7 per cent. cumulative preference shares of £1	(500)	(500)	(500)
	--------------	--------------	--------------
	(110,206)	(110,126)	(110,166)
	--------------	--------------	--------------
Net assets	961,809	852,699	1,022,819
	========	========	========
Equity attributable to equity holders
Ordinary share capital	49,346	53,309	50,866
Share premium account	16,237	16,237	16,237
Capital redemption reserve	44,480	40,517	42,960
Retained earnings:
Other capital reserves	798,339	687,677	859,595
Revenue reserve	53,407	54,959	53,161
	--------------	--------------	-------------
Total equity	961,809	852,699	1,022,819
	========	========	========
Net asset value per ordinary share (Note 6)	487.3p	399.9p	502.7p
	========	========	========

Page 12 of 15

WITAN INVESTMENT TRUST PLC

Financial Report for the Half Year ended 30 June 2010

Consolidated Cash Flow Statement

	(Unaudited) Half Year ended 30 June 2010 £'000	(Unaudited) Half Year ended 30 June 2009 £'000	(Audited) Year ended  31 December 2009 £'000
Operating activities
(Loss)/profit before taxation	(20,083)	(8,774)	211,163
Interest paid	3,866	4,327	8,233
Losses/(gains) on investments held at fair value    through profit or loss	28,688	19,286	(196,885)
Net sales/(purchases) of investments held at fair    value through profit or loss	19,750	(32,054)	17,248
(Increase)/decrease in other receivables	(351)	6,631	1,367
(Decrease)/increase in other payables	(117)	5,327	864
Cash inflow/(outflow) from futures contracts	758	(89)	1,101
Scrip dividends included in investment income	-	-	(94)
	-----------	-----------	-----------
Net cash inflow/(outflow) from operating     activities before interest and taxation	32,511	(5,346)	42,997
Interest paid	(3,866)	(4,327)	(8,233)
Amortisation of debt issue costs	40	39	79
Tax on overseas income	(1,325)	(1,124)	(1,513)
	----------	----------	------------
Net cash inflow/(outflow) from operating    activities	27,360	(10,758)	33,330
	----------	----------	------------
Financing activities
Equity dividends paid	(12,385)	(12,629)	(21,791)
Buy-backs of ordinary shares	(27,067)	(4,376)	(44,316)
Buy-backs of secured bonds and debenture stock	-	(32,039)	(32,038)
	-----------	-----------	------------
Net cash outflow from financing activities	(39,452)	(49,044)	(98,145)
	-----------	-----------	------------
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(12,092)	(59,802)	(64,815)
Cash and cash equivalents at the start of the period	58,638	124,383	124,383
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes	541	(1,586)	(930)
	------------	-----------	------------
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the    period	47,087	62,995	58,638
	=======	=======	=======

Page 13 of 15

WITAN INVESTMENT TRUST PLC

Financial Report for the Half Year ended 30 June 2010

Notes to the Financial Statements

1	Basis of preparation The condensed set of financial statements for the half year ended 30 June 2010 has been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies set out in the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2009.
2	Transaction costs The (losses)/gains on investments held at fair value through profit or loss include purchase transaction costs of £598,000 (half year ended 30 June 2009:  £430,000; year ended 31 December 2009:  £962,000) and sale transaction costs of £283,000 (half year ended 30 June 2009:  £172,000; year ended 31 December 2009:  £444,000).  The purchase transaction costs comprise mainly stamp duty and commissions.  The sale transaction costs comprise mainly commissions.
3	Earnings/(loss) per ordinary share The loss per ordinary share figure is based on the net loss for the half year of £21,246,000 (half year ended 30 June 2009: loss of £9,949,000; year ended 31 December 2009: gain of £209,559,000) and on 199,775,901 ordinary shares (half year ended 30 June 2009: 213,663,775; year ended 31 December 2009: 211,898,833), being the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the period. The earnings per ordinary share figure detailed above can be further analysed between revenue and capital, as below.
		(Unaudited) Half year ended 30 June 2010 £'000	(Unaudited) Half year ended 30 June 2009 £'000	(Audited) Year ended 31 December 2009 £'000
	Net revenue profit	12,631	15,160	22,524
	Net capital (loss)/profit	(33,877)	(25,109)	187,035
		--------------	--------------	--------------
	Net total (loss)/profit	(21,246)	(9,949)	209,559
		========	========	========
	Weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the period	199,775,901	213,663,775	211,898,833
		Pence	Pence	Pence
	Revenue earnings per ordinary share	6.32	7.10	10.63
	Capital (loss)/earnings per ordinary share	(16.95)	(11.76)	88.27
		--------------	--------------	--------------
	Total (loss)/earnings per ordinary share	(10.63)	(4.66)	98.90
		========	========	========

Page 14 of 15

WITAN INVESTMENT TRUST PLC

Financial Report for the Half Year ended 30 June 2010

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

4	Interim dividend The directors have declared an interim dividend of 4.40p (2009: 4.30p) per ordinary share, payable on Friday 17 September 2010 to shareholders registered on Friday 27 August 2010.  The shares will be quoted ex-dividend on 25 August 2010.
5	Ordinary share capital At 30 June 2010 there were 197,385,220 ordinary shares in issue (30 June 2009: 213,234,054; 31 December 2009: 203,464,280). During the half year ended 30 June 2010 the Company bought 6,079,060 of its own issued ordinary shares in the market for cancellation (half year ended 30 June 2009: 1,164,600; year ended 31 December 2009: 10,934,374). The cost of the share buy-backs, including stamp duty, amounted to £27,379,000 (half year ended 30 June 2009: £3,970,000; year ended 31 December 2009: £44,196,000).
6	Net asset value per ordinary share The net asset value per ordinary share is based on the net assets attributable to the equity shareholders of £961,809,000 (30 June 2009: £852,699,000; 31 December 2009: £1,022,819,000) and on 197,385,220 (30 June 2009: 213,234,054; 31 December 2009: 203,464,280) ordinary shares, being the number of ordinary shares in issue at the period end.
7	Subsidiary undertaking The Company has an investment in the issued ordinary share capital of its wholly owned subsidiary undertaking, Witan Investment Services Limited, which is registered in England and Wales, operates in the United Kingdom and is regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
8	Segment Reporting As detailed in the Company's Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2009, geographical segments are considered to be the Group's primary reporting segment and business segments the secondary reporting segment.  The Group has two business segments:  its activity as an investment trust, which is the business of the parent company, and the business of the subsidiary company, Witan Investment Services Limited, which provides management services within the United Kingdom only.  The investment trust is managed by reference to a geographical benchmark, as detailed on page 2 above; the geographical allocation of the portfolio, as at 30 June 2010, is set out on page 3 above.  The schedule on page 8 above summarises the assets under management and investment performance relating to each investment manager.  This information is updated and reviewed regularly for internal management purposes and is essential for assessing the structure of the overall portfolio and the performance of each investment manager.
		Half year ended 30 June 2010		Half year ended 30 June 2009		Year ended 31 December 2009
		Investment trust £'000	Management services £'000	Investment trust £'000	Management services £'000	Investment trust £'000	Management services £'000
	Revenue from external customers	17,754*	433	19,136*	353	30,779*	724
	Carrying amount of assets	960,796	1,013	851,714	985	1,021,803	1,016
	*The investment and other income of the parent company.

Page 15 of 15

WITAN INVESTMENT TRUST PLC

Financial Report for the Half Year ended 30 June 2010

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

9	Half year accounts The condensed set of financial statements, forming the half year accounts, has been neither audited nor reviewed by the Company's auditors.
10	Comparative information The financial information contained in this half year financial report does not constitute statutory accounts as defined in section 434 of the Companies Act 2006. The financial information for the half years ended 30 June 2010 and 30 June 2009 has been neither audited nor reviewed by the auditors. The figures and financial information for the year ended 31 December 2009 are extracted from the latest published audited financial statements of the Company and do not constitute the statutory accounts for that year.  The audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2009 have been filed with the Registrar of Companies. The report of the independent auditors on those accounts contained no qualification or statement under section 498(2) or section 498(3) of the Companies Act 2006.
11	Financial report for the half year ended 30 June 2010 The financial report for the half year ended 30 June 2010 will be filed with the UK Listing Authority by 31 August 2010 and will be made available on the Company's website.  Printed copies will be sent to shareholders in September 2010 and will be available thereafter from the Secretary at the Company's registered office, 201 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 3AE.

For further information please contact:

Andrew Bell

Chief Executive Officer

Witan Investment Trust plc

Telephone:  [phone]

James Frost

Marketing Director

Witan Investment Trust plc

Telephone:  [phone]

-  ENDS -

 

END

 

 

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