Final Results
FIDELITY SPECIAL VALUES PLC
Preliminary Announcement of Audited Results
For the year ended 31 August 2012
Chairman's Statement
RESULTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED
31 AUGUST 2012
NAV: +15.0%
SHARE PRICE: +9.2%
BENCHMARK: +10.2%
DIVIDEND: 13.00p
I have pleasure in presenting the Annual Report for Fidelity Special Values
PLC.
CHANGE OF PORTFOLIO MANAGER
On 9 July 2012, the Board announced that Alex Wright had been appointed as
Portfolio Manager of the Company, with effect from 1 September 2012. This
reflected the Board's desire to take greater advantage of opportunities for
capital growth available from dynamic smaller and mid-cap companies, as well as
large companies. This is not a change of policy; it is a broadening of the
opportunity set in which to find special value investments. The Company's
performance will continue to be measured against both cash (over the long term)
and the FTSE All-Share Index. Alex has demonstrated considerable success in
smaller companies and across the broader market.
Alex has managed the Fidelity UK Smaller Companies Fund since its inception in
February 2008, and since its launch, Alex has been the number one performing
fund manager in his IMA peer group. Alex has also managed a pilot All Cap fund
since May 2010, investing in large, medium and small cap companies. Since
inception and to 31 August 2012 this fund had returned 40.9% versus a return of
23.7% for the FTSE All-Share Index (net).
Alex has a contrarian investment style, buying out-of-favour stocks with
downside protection and unrecognised growth potential. This, combined with a
search for value across the market capitalisation spectrum, makes his
investment approach an ideal fit for the Company.
This change allows Sanjeev Shah to focus exclusively on his open-ended fund and
the Board would like to thank him for his diligent management of the portfolio
in what has been a particularly challenging period in equity markets. Over his
tenure from 1 January 2008 to 31 August 2012, Sanjeev delivered a return of
13.0% for the NAV of the Company versus 7.9% for the FTSE All-Share Index (both
on a total return basis).
PERFORMANCE
Throughout the Company's financial year, the Company's investments were managed
by Sanjeev Shah.
The reporting year to 31 August 2012 has seen a marked improvement in the
performance of Fidelity Special Values PLC with a Net Asset Value total return
of +15.0% (compared to a total return of +10.2% from the FTSE All-Share Index).
The five year total return is +9.9%, broadly matching the FTSE All-Share Index
total return of +9.5% for the same period. Discounts widened over the period,
so the share price return was +9.2% and -0.1% over one and five years
respectively.
Sentiment and market direction during the year to end of August 2012 was driven
by the ongoing sovereign debt crisis in Europe and macroeconomic data in China
and the US. UK equities corrected sharply at the beginning of the Company's
financial year as investors became increasingly concerned over a possible
break-up of the Eurozone.
We saw a significant improvement in sentiment at the end of 2011 thanks to
improving US economic data and the European Central Bank's long term
refinancing operation ("LTRO") announcement. Equities continued to rally well
into March before correcting sharply on renewed fears of a Greek exit from the
Eurozone and a slowdown in global growth.
More recently, we witnessed a significant increase in policymaker commitment to
do `whatever it takes' to keep the Eurozone together, to which markets reacted
positively thinking that the risk of a Eurozone break-up had abated, at least
in the medium term. However, sentiment continues to ebb and flow, so the
outcome remains uncertain.
While the UK equity market continues to be overshadowed by macroeconomic and
political news, we have begun to see a renewed focus on company fundamentals
during the Company's year which was reflected in the Company's improved
performance.
Throughout the year, Sanjeev took advantage of market volatility to increase
exposure to unloved areas of the market which he felt were undervalued. This
included banks, housebuilders and retailers. The Company benefited from a
significant pick-up in merger and acquisition activity over the period, with
corporate buyers recognising the value Sanjeev identified in Logica and Aegis
amongst others. In addition the turnaround opportunities that Sanjeev
identified across a variety of different sectors have started to deliver.
Year to 31 August 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 5 years
NAV and Index total return
%
Fidelity Special Values PLC +15.0 -4.1 +1.3 +9.0 -9.8 +9.9
FTSE All-Share Index +10.2 +7.3 +10.6 -8.2 -8.7 +9.5
Difference +4.8 -11.4 -9.3 +17.2 -1.1 +0.4
OUTLOOK
Recent actions by central banks across the globe initially contributed to a
more positive outlook for equity markets generally and the future of the
Eurozone more specifically. That said, the Eurozone crisis is clearly far from
being solved, concerns remain over growth in China and the US fiscal cliff (as
a result of the introduction of the terms of the Budget Control Act 2011 coming
into effect at the end of 2012) is approaching. Markets are likely to remain
volatile in the near term as a result, but such volatility will continue to
present opportunities to identify companies whose value is not fully
appreciated by the market.
OTHER MATTERS
Other relevant matters are detailed below.
Discount
The Board is very mindful of the importance of the level of discount to our
Shareholders and we have conducted a number of share repurchases during the
year to help prevent the discount from widening further. The Board will
continue to monitor this closely and will consider taking further action where
we feel it to be effective.
Gearing
The Board believes that using Contracts For Difference for gearing purposes
continues to provide more flexibility for the Company's needs at a much lower
cost than traditional bank debt.
Dividend
The Board has decided to recommend a final dividend of 13.00 pence per share
for the year ended 31 August 2012, an increase of 15.6% over the 11.25 pence
paid for the year ended 31 August 2011. This dividend will be payable on 17
December 2012 to Shareholders on the register at close of business on 16
November 2012 (ex-dividend date 14 November 2012).
Board of Directors
It is my belief that the Board has the relevant skills and experience to serve
the Company well into the future. In common with our practice since 2004, all
Directors are subject to annual re-election and their biographical details are
included in the Annual Report to assist Shareholders when considering their
votes.
Retail Distribution Review ("RDR")
With effect from 31 December 2012, independent financial advisers will be
required to offer advice to investors after considering a full range of
investment options. Commission for advice will not be payable and fees will
have to be agreed with the client rather than commission based payments being
used.
RDR should open up the opportunity to a greater number of private investors to
invest in investment trusts when these have not been considered previously due
in part to lack of commission, limited availability of investment trusts on
fund platforms and less understanding within the IFA industry.
The Annual General Meeting: Thursday 13 December 2012 at 11.00am
The Annual General Meeting will be held at Fidelity's offices at 25 Cannon
Street, London EC4M 5TA (St Paul's or Mansion House tube stations) on Thursday
13 December 2012 at 11.00am.
It is the most important meeting that we, the Directors of your Company, have
each year. Alex Wright, the newly appointed Portfolio Manager, will be making a
presentation to Shareholders. We urge as many of you as possible to come and
join us for this occasion.
Lynn Ruddick
Chairman
6 November 2012
Enquiries:
Susan Platts-Martin - Head of Investment Trusts, FIL Investments International
- 01737 836916
Keren Holland - Corporate Communications, FIL Investments International - 0207
074 5262
Christopher Pirnie - Company Secretary, FIL Investment International, - 01737
837929
Income Statement for the year ended 31 August 2012
2012 2011
revenue capital total revenue capital total
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
Gains/(losses) on - 35,457 35,457 - (17,846) (17,846)
investments designated at
fair value through profit
or loss
Gains/(losses) on long - 557 557 - (6,642) (6,642)
CFDs held at fair value
through profit or loss
Gains on options and short - 36 36 - 5,147 5,147
CFDs held at fair value
through profit or loss
UK dividends 9,513 - 9,513 4,413 - 4,413
UK scrip dividends 908 - 908 5,499 - 5,499
Overseas dividends 857 - 857 178 - 178
Income form REIT 92 - 92 481 - 481
investments
42 - 42 41 - 41
Interest received on short
CFDs 447 - 447 727 - 727
Dividends received on long 66 - 66 57 - 57
CFDs
(341) - (341) (452) - (452)
Deposit interest
(502) - (502) (427) - (427)
Interest paid on long CFDs
Dividends paid on short
CFDs
Investment management fee (3,412) - (3,412) (3,711) - (3,711)
Other expenses (547) - (547) (562) - (562)
Exchange (losses)/gains on - (117) (117) 1 (67) (66)
other net assets
Net return/(loss) on 7,123 35,933 43,056 6,245 (19,408) (13,163)
ordinary activities before
taxation
Taxation on return/(loss) 228 - 228 250 - 250
on ordinary activities(¹)
Net return/(loss) on 7,351 35,933 43,284 6,495 (19,408) (12,913)
ordinary activities after
taxation for the year
Return/(loss) per ordinary 13.25p 64.78p 78.03p 11.43p (34.17p) (22.74p)
share
(¹) This relates to overseas taxation only.
A Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses has not been prepared as there
are no gains and losses other than those reported in this Income Statement.
The total column of the Income Statement is the profit and loss account of the
Company.
All revenue and capital items in the above statement derive from continuing
operations. No operations were acquired or discontinued in the year.
Balance Sheet as at 31 August 2012
2012 2011
£'000 £'000
Fixed assets
Investments designated at fair value through profit 326,618 301,931
or loss
Current assets
Derivative assets held at fair value through profit 3,839 1,553
or loss
Debtors 5,247 3,077
Amounts held at futures clearing houses and brokers 1,236 5,359
Cash at bank 8,451 7,716
18,773 17,705
Creditors - amounts falling due within one year
Derivative liabilities held at fair value through (5,115) (4,881)
profit or loss
Other creditors (1,652) (2,234)
(6,767) (7,115)
Net current assets 12,006 10,590
Total net assets 338,624 312,521
Capital and reserves
Share capital 13,594 14,131
Share premium account 95,767 95,767
Capital redemption reserve 3,194 2,657
Other non-distributable reserve 5,152 5,152
Capital reserve 212,058 186,987
Revenue reserve 8,859 7,827
Total equity Shareholders' funds 338,624 312,521
Net asset value per ordinary share 622.71p 552.85p
Reconciliation of Movements in Shareholders' Funds for the year ended 31 August
2012
share capital other non-
share premium redemption distributable capital revenue total
capital account reserve reserve reserve reserve equity
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
Opening 14,234 95,767 2,554 5,152 208,765 7,311 333,783
Shareholders'
funds:
1 September 2010
Repurchase of (103) - 103 - (2,370) - (2,370)
ordinary shares
Net (loss)/return - - - - (19,408) 6,495 (12,913)
on ordinary
activities after
taxation for the
year
Dividend paid to - - - - - (5,979) (5,979)
Shareholders
Closing 14,131 95,767 2,657 5,152 186,987 7,827 312,521
Shareholders'
funds:
31 August 2011
Repurchase of (537) - 537 - (10,862) - (10,862)
ordinary shares
Net return on - - - - 35,933 7,351 43,284
ordinary
activities after
taxation for the
year
Dividend paid to - - - - - (6,319) (6,319)
Shareholders
Closing 13,594 95,767 3,194 5,152 212,058 8,859 338,624
Shareholders'
funds:
31 August 2012
Cash Flow Statement for the year ended 31 August 2012
2012 2011
£'000 £'000
Operating activities
Investment income received 10,480 4,093
Net derivative expenses (354) (54)
Deposit interest received 67 57
Investment management fee paid (4,325) (2,790)
Directors' fees paid (160) (121)
Other cash payments (666) (367)
Net cash inflow from operating activities 5,042 818
Taxation
Overseas taxation recovered 249 290
Taxation recovered 249 290
Financial investment
Purchase of investments (147,520) (197,893)
Disposal of investments 157,186 204,937
Net cash inflow from financial investment 9,666 7,044
Derivative activities
Premium paid on options (281) (810)
Premium received on options 263 2,134
Payments on CFDs (1,441) (1,676)
Movements on amounts held at futures clearing 4,123 (2,889)
houses and brokers
Net cash inflow/(outflow) from derivative 2,664 (3,241)
activities
Dividend paid to Shareholders (6,319) (5,979)
Net cash inflow/(outflow) before financing 11,302 (1,068)
Financing
Repurchase of ordinary shares (10,450) (2,370)
Net cash outflow from financing (10,450) (2,370)
Increase/(decrease) in cash 852 (3,438)
The above statements have been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies
as set out in the annual financial statements to 31 August 2012. This
preliminary statement, which has been agreed with the Auditor, was approved by
the Board on 6 November 2012. It is not the Company's statutory financial
statements. The statutory financial statements for the financial year ended 31
August 2011 have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The statutory
financial statements for the financial year ended 31 August 2012 have been
approved and audited but have not yet been filed. The statutory financial
statements for the financial years ended 31 August 2011 and 31 August 2012
received unqualified audit reports, did not include a reference to any matters
to which the Auditor drew attention by way of emphasis without qualifying the
report and did not contain statements under section 498(2) and (3) of the
Companies Act 2006. The annual report and financial statements will be posted
to shareholders as soon as is practicable and in any event no later than 13
November 2012.