Preliminary Announcement of Annual Results
FIDELITY ASIAN VALUES PLC
Preliminary Announcement of Unaudited Results
for the year ended 31 July 2005
Please note that past performance is not a guide to future returns. The value
of investments can go down as well as up and may be affected by exchange rate
fluctuations.
CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT
Performance and markets
The year under review has been very positive for Asian markets in general, and
for your Company. The net asset value of the Company increased by 46.8%, ahead
of the performance of the MSCI All Countries (Combined) Far East ex Japan
Index, which returned 41.2% in sterling terms over the same period. The share
price rose by 58.2% and the discount to net asset value narrowed to 8.3%.
In aggregate, stock markets across the Asian region delivered robust returns
over the twelve-month period, with all markets finishing in positive territory
in sterling terms. This was particularly encouraging as it was achieved during
a period of sustained high oil prices and rising interest rates globally and
demonstrated the improved resilience of Asian markets since the Asian Crisis in
the late 1990s. The weakness of the US dollar, to which a number of Asian
currencies have been historically tied, also played a part.
There was nonetheless considerable variation in the fortunes of individual
markets. The strongest among them were Korea and Indonesia, both of which rose
over 70% in sterling terms. Smaller markets such as Thailand
and Malaysia both returned a more modest 19% over the twelve months. Late in
the period China's announcement of its decision to revalue its currency, the
yuan, provided a boost to markets such as Hong Kong and China as anticipation
of further currency appreciation encouraged fund flows into these markets.
Gearing
The Board closely monitors the level of gearing within the Company and adjusts
it from time to time. In March 2005 US$ 14 million of the Company's facility
from HSBC Bank PLC was repaid from cash held in the Fidelity Institutional Cash
Fund. The remaining US$18 million is repayable in September 2006. At 31 July
2005 gross gearing was 11.6% of shareholders' funds and net gearing (after
deducting cash held including the Company's investment in the Fidelity
Institutional Cash Fund) was 10.1%. At today's date gross gearing stands at
11.3% and net gearing at 9.1%.
The Board
On 9 February 2005 Simon Haslam, the Chief Administrative Officer of Fidelity
International Limited, resigned as a Director of the Company. Simon's
contribution to the Company's interests over almost six years and his support
and counsel have been greatly appreciated. William Knight and Kathryn Matthews
were both appointed as Directors of the Company on 9 February 2005. William has
considerable experience in banking and investment management, particularly
relating to Asia. At the time of her appointment Kathryn was the Head of the
Portfolio Strategies Group of Fidelity and is now its Chief Investment Officer
for South East Asia, based in Hong Kong.
Continuation vote
A continuation vote is required only if the average discount has exceeded 15%
of the net asset value over the twelve months leading up to the Board meeting
at which the annual accounts and notice of Annual General Meeting ('AGM') are
approved. The average discount for the year to 22 September 2005, the date of
the relevant approvals, was 11.2%. Accordingly, there will be no vote on the
continuation of the Company at the Annual General Meeting this year.
In accordance with the Company's Articles of Association a continuation vote
will be required in any event at the Annual General Meeting in 2006. The Board
expect to propose an ordinary resolution that the Company should continue as an
investment trust for a further five years.
Outlook
After signs of weaker investor sentiment during the early months of 2005,
confidence in equities has improved. Reasons for this include continuing real
GDP growth in the region, the rising number of globally competitive companies,
Asia's increasing share of world exports, and the expansion of domestic demand
in major regional markets such as China and Korea. In addition, equity
valuations remain attractive compared with other markets, and dividend support
has improved as companies have become more shareholder friendly. Against this
background the Board remain confident that the Asia Pacific region offers
attractive, longer-term investment opportunities with stock selection, as
always, being the key.
Annual General Meeting
This year's AGM is scheduled for 14 November 2005 at Fidelity's Cannon Street
office commencing at 11.00 am. All shareholders, ISA, PEP and Share Plan
investors are invited to attend. The investment manager will be making a
presentation on the year under review and immediate prospects for the Company
Sir Victor Garland
Chairman
22 September 2005
Dividend
The Company does not declare a dividend for the year ended 31 July 2005.
Enquiries:
Barbara Powley - Fidelity Investments International
01737 836883
FIDELITY ASIAN VALUES PLC
Statement of Total Return (unaudited)
(incorporating the revenue account) of the Company for the year ended 31 July
2005 2004
Restated*
Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
Gains/(losses) on - 28,065 28,065 - (358) (358)
investments
Income from dividends 2,641 - 2,641 1,973 - 1,973
Income from scrip 144 - 144 60 - 60
dividends
Overseas interest 253 - 253 291 - 291
Deposit income 41 - 41 12 - 12
Investment management (900) - (900) (793) - (793)
fee
Other expenses (391) - (391) (383) - (383)
Exchange losses (10) (85) (95) - (216) (216)
Exchange(losses)/ - (89) (89) - 2,250 2,250
gains on loan
Net return before
finance costs and 1,778 27,891 29,669 1,160 1,676 2,836
taxation
Interest payable (924) - (924) (1,119) - (1,119)
Loan redemption costs - (168) (168) - - -
Return on ordinary
activities before tax 854 27,723 28,577 41 1,676 1,717
Tax on ordinary (308) - (308) (212) - (212)
activities (overseas)
Return/(loss) on
ordinary
activities after tax
for the
year attributable to
equity
shareholders 546 27,723 28,269 (171) 1,676 1,505
Return/(loss) per
ordinary share
Basic and diluted 0.58p 29.65p 30.23p (0.18p) 1.79p 1.61p
All revenue and capital items in the above statement derive from continuing
operations.
No operations were acquired or discontinued in the year.
* The capital net return before finance costs and taxation for the year ended
31 July 2004 has been restated from a loss of £574,000 to a gain of £1,676,000.
This restatement has been necessary as exchange gains/(losses) are now included
as part of the net return before finance costs rather than a finance cost. This
restatement has no impact on the Company's return on ordinary activities for
the year ended 31 July 2004.
Balance Sheet (unaudited)
as at 31 July
2005 2004
£'000 £'000
Fixed assets
Investments 97,779 71,445
Current assets
Debtors 2,325 2,269
Cash at bank 919 6,196
3,244 8,465
Creditors - amounts falling due (2,067) (1,855)
within one year
Net current assets 1,177 6,610
Total assets less current liabilities 98,956 78,055
Creditors - amounts falling due after
more than one year
Fixed rate unsecured loan (10,252) (17,620)
Total net assets 88,704 60,435
Capital and reserves
Called up share capital 23,376 23,376
Share premium account 7 7
Capital redemption reserve 2.330 2,330
Other reserves
Other reserve 59,282 59,282
Warrant reserve 7,369 7,369
Capital reserve - realised (25,543) (35,263)
Capital reserve - unrealised 23,471 5,468
Revenue reserve (1,588) (2,134)
Total equity shareholders' funds 88,704 60,435
Net asset value per ordinary share:
Basic and diluted 94.86p 64.63p
Cash Flow Statement (unaudited)
for the year ended 31 July
2005 2004
£'000 £'000
Operating activities
Investment income received 2,123 1,637
Interest received 294 303
Investment management fees paid (848) (793)
Directors' fees paid (51) (36)
Other cash payments (338) (335)
Net cash inflow from operating 1,180 776
activities
Returns on investments and servicing of
finance
Interest paid (966) (1,130)
Loan redemption costs (168) -
Net cash outflow from returns on
investments
and servicing of finance (1,134) (1,130)
Financial investment
Purchase of investments (73,315) (72,447)
Disposal of investments 75,555 78,549
Net cash inflow from financial 2,240 6,102
investment
Net cash inflow before financing 2,286 5,748
Financing
6.28% fixed rate unsecured loan part (7,457) -
repaid
Net cash outflow from financing (7,457) -
(Decrease)/ increase in cash (5,171) 5,748
Statement of changes in equity
Share Capital Other Warrant Capital Capital Revenue
premium redemption reserve reserve reserve reserve reserve
account reserve realised unrealised
£'000 £'000 £'000
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
Beginning of year 7 2,330 59,282 7,369 (35,263) 5,468 (2,134)
Exchange losses on - - - - (25) (60) -
other net assets
Net gain on - - - - 8,270 - -
realisation of
investments
Net (depreciation)/ - - - - (398) 398 -
appreciation therein
already recognised
in prior periods
Increase in - - - - - 19,795 -
unrealised
appreciation
Exchange gains/ - - - - 2,041 (2,130) -
(losses) on loans
Loan redemption - - - - (168) - -
costs
Retained net revenue - - - - - - 546
for the year
End of year 7 2,330 59,282 7,369 (25,543) 23,471 (1,588)
The above statements have been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies
as set out in the most recently published set of annual financial statements.
The figures for the year ended 31 July 2004 have been extracted from the
accounts for the year ended 31 July 2004 which have been delivered to the
Registrar of Companies and on which the Auditors gave an unqualified report.
The annual report and accounts will be posted to shareholders in October 2005
and copies will also be available from the Secretary, Fidelity Investments
International, Beech Gate, Millfield Lane, Lower Kingswood, Tadworth, Surrey
KT20 6RP.