Half-yearly Report
PRESS RELEASE
19 November 2007
SVM UK EMERGING FUND plc
Unaudited results for the six months to 30 September 2007
KEY POINTS
* Net asset value rose by 12.5% to 71.51p as at 30 September 2007, compared
to a fall of 1.9% in the FTSE AIM Index, the company's benchmark index.
* Net asset value up 122% against rises of 24% in AIM Index and 61% in FTSE
All Share Index since remit changed in September 2004.
* Concentrated portfolio of special situations with heavy AIM exposure.
Residual legacy holding reduced to minimal levels.
* Financial and property exposures sold in advance of the August correction.
Additions made in resources and consumer service companies.
For further information, please contact:
Donald Robertson SVM Asset Management 0131 226 6699
Roland Cross Broadgate 020 7726 6111
SVM UK EMERGING FUND PLC
Chairman's Statement
Unaudited results for the six months to 30 September 2007
Commenting on the results for the six months to 30 September, Chairman, Peter
Dicks, said:
"I am pleased to report that the last six month's asset value and share price
performance have been positive both on a relative and absolute basis. The
Fund's asset value rose 12.5% over the six months against the benchmark, FTSE
AIM Index, which fell 1.9% and the broader market, FTSE All Share index, rise
of only 2.7%. The Fund's share price performed much better, rising 27.2%. The
end of September is the third anniversary of the change of investment remit and
I am pleased to report that the asset value has increased by 122% against the
rises of 24% in the AIM Index and 61% in the FTSE All Share Index.
Although equity markets in general have been broadly positive, 2007 has
repeated what can broadly be categorised as a `small companies effect', namely
small companies out-performed in the first part of the year only to
underperform over the summer and rally towards the end of the year. In
addition, following the US induced correction in August, there was a perceived
flight to quality which many took to mean large companies. The Managers believe
that this is perverse as the level of risk, especially financial, in small
companies can be much lower as they are typically less leveraged.
The Fund continues to be concentrated on a relatively small number of special
situations. There are thirty five companies in the portfolio with approximately
90% invested in AIM companies. The balance is spread equally between unquoted
investments and a small number of residual companies still quoted on the junior
PLUS markets. In terms of sectors, the Fund continues to be heavily exposed to
resources (both basic material and oil & gas), consumer services and
healthcare. The Fund's exposure to financials and property were disposed of
well in advance of the August correction.
The Managers continue to shun new issues, preferring to support more seasoned
investments with greater visibility. In addition, there are more attractive
returns available from existing investments that require follow-on capital in
order to reach profitability or fulfil their objectives. Not only are the
discounts more attractive, there is less competition and this gives a more
attractive risk reward profile. The major acquisitions in the period were in
Maghreb Minerals (lead/zinc exploration company), BetBrokers (UK's first
brokerage / clearing house for the sports betting industry) and Sports Media
Group which recently acquired the Sport range of newspapers.
The Board and the Managers believe that the Fund should continue to extend the
recent out-performance and is well placed to deliver long term capital growth."
Peter Dicks
Chairman
19 November 2007
Summarised Income Statement
(unaudited)
Six months to 30 September Six months to 30 September
2007 2006
Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
Gains on sale of - 321 321 - 183 183
investments
Movement in unrealised - 207 207 - (69) (69)
depreciation
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Gains on investments - 528 528 - 114 114
Income 9 - 9 3 - 3
Investment management fees - - - - - -
Other expenses (35) (4) (39) (20) (4) (24)
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Return before (26) 524 498 (17) 110 93
interest and taxation
Bank overdraft (21) - (21) (18) - (18)
interest
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Transfer to / (from) (47) 524 477 (35) 110 75
reserves
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Return per ordinary (0.78p) 8.72p 7.94p (0.65p) 2.01p 1.36p
Share
Balance Sheet As at As at
(unaudited) 30 September 30 September
2007 2006
£'000 £'000
Investments at fair value through 4,383 2,645
profit or loss
Net current (liabilities) / assets (89) 130
--------- ---------
Equity shareholders' funds 4,294 2,775
--------- ---------
Net asset value per ordinary share 71.51p 50.82p
Summarised Cash Flow Statement 6 months to 6 months to
(unaudited) 30 September 30 September
2007 2006
£'000 £'000
Net cash flow from operating activities (86) (42)
Capital expenditure and financial (22) 131
investment
Servicing of finance (21) (18)
-------- --------
Movement in cash (129) 71
-------- --------
Summarised Reconciliation of Movement in Shareholders
Funds (unaudited)
For the period to 30 September 2007
Share Share Special Capital Capital Capital Revenue
capital premium reserve redemption reserve reserve reserve
reserve realised unrealised
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
As at 1 April 2007 300 314 5,144 27 (896) (770) (302)
Realised gain on - - - - 321 - -
sale of
investments
Transaction costs - - - - (4) - -
Movement in - - - - - 207 -
unrealised
appreciation on
investments
Return on ordinary - - - - - - (47)
activities after
taxation
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
As at 30 September 300 314 5,144 27 (579) (563) (349)
2007
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
For the period to 30 September 2006
Share Share Special Capital Capital Capital Revenue
capital premium reserve redemption reserve reserve reserve
reserve realised unrealised
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
As at 1 April 2006 273 - 5,144 27 (1,345) (1,179) (220)
Realised gain on - - - - 183 - -
sale of investments
Transaction costs - - - - (4) - -
Movement in - - - - - (69) -
unrealised
appreciation on
investments
Return on ordinary - - - - - - (35)
activities after
taxation
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
As at 30 September 273 - 5,144 27 (1,166) (1,248) (255)
2006
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Notes
1. The results have been prepared in accordance with applicable accounting
standards and the 2005 Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) issued by the
Association of Investment Companies. These accounts have been prepared in
accordance with prior year accounting policies.
2. Return per share is based on a weighted average of 6,005,000 (2006 -
5,460,000) ordinary shares in issue during the year.
Total return per share is based on the total return for the year of £477,000
(2006 - £75,000). Capital return per share is based on net gains during the
year of £524,000 (2006 - £110,000). Revenue return per share is based on the
revenue loss after taxation for the year of £47,000 (2006 - £35,000).
The number of shares in issue at 30 September 2007 was 6,005,000 (2006 -
5,460,000).
3. Due to the size of the Company, the Investment Managers have waived their
fees for the year to 30 September 2006 and 2007.
4. The above figures do not constitute full accounts in terms of Section 240 of
the Companies Act 1985. The accounts for the year to 31 March 2007, on which
the auditors issued an unqualified report under Section 235 of the Companies
Act 2005, have been lodged with the Registrar of Companies and did not contain
a statement required under Section 237(2) or (3) of the Companies Act 1985. The
interim report will be mailed to shareholders towards the end of November 2007.
Copies will be available for inspection at 7 Castle Street, Edinburgh EH2 3AH,
the registered office of the Company and will be available on the Managers'
website: svmonline.co.uk.