Preliminary Annual Results

Aberdeen New Dawn Invest Trust PLC 12 July 2001 ABERDEEN NEW DAWN INVESTMENT TRUST PLC PRELIMINARY ANNOUNCEMENT OF ANNUAL UNAUDITED RESULTS for the year ended 30 April 2001 Chairman's Statement Following the strong performance last year, the past twelve months have been a difficult time for the Company and although Hugh Young and his team in Singapore correctly forecast the overvaluation of technology, media and telecommunications stocks, the net asset value has fallen by 13.1% in the year to 30 April 2001 to 205.8p. This compared very favourably with a decline of 20.2% for the MSCI AC Asia Pacific ex-Japan Index. For the 3 and 5 years ended 30 April 2001, the net asset value outperformed that index by 29.5% and 9.6% respectively. The share price over the year to 30 April 2001 has encouragingly increased by 5% to 173.5p as the discount has narrowed in the past year due to the demand from both natural buyers and the judicious use of share buy backs. It is proposed that the dividend will be increased by 61% to 2.65p per ordinary share. This is a result of the continued earnings and dividend recovery and of the adjustments made to the basis of accounting for the management fee. The New Dawn area has seen the usual diversity of performance with strong performance from the CLSA China World index (+7.81%) and Australia (+6.2%). Hong Kong on a currency adjusted basis fell 6.2%. Currency weakness was a major factor this year, which has exacerbated the performance of Indonesia and Thailand, down 49% and 38.6% respectively. Taiwan (-38.6%) and Korea (-20%) reflected NASDAQ influences. The savage fall in the US NASDAQ index of nearly 70% from its peak was a reversal of the bubble in technology, media and telecommunications stocks. The contagion in Asia was principally due to the region being a high outsourcer, which our Manager correctly identified as low margin, having no pricing power and highly cyclical. The bubble in telecommunications is best illustrated by the rise and fall of Pacific Century (PCCW) share price in Hong Kong from HK$2 to over HK$30 and now back to HK$2.35. To put too much emphasis on tech, however, would be to obscure the opportunities elsewhere. While some international investors were abandoning the smaller markets in Southeast Asia we continued to see good prospects there. Well-run companies exist, particularly among banks, consumer goods and service businesses. Many have produced good profit growth. Selective value has become increasingly obvious. We especially like Singaporean banks, Hong Kong consumer stocks and, at the time of writing, defensive 'old economy' stocks in India. It is the speed - as much as the fact - of the US slowdown that drained confidence from global equity markets. To the extent that Asia is a leveraged play on US activity, it has been affected, and this is clear from today's poor sentiment and declining liquidity. We think the main risks to earnings are now fully discounted, indeed stocks are oversold. Significantly, while Asian stocks fell less than global indices earlier this year, they have struggled to follow the recent bounce. That has left some of our preferred stocks on price/earnings multiples below 10, with net cash on the balance sheet, and dividend yields approaching double figures. Valuations are veering toward Asia-crisis levels, yet the corporate landscape is much more robust than three years' ago. However we must record the GDP growth expectations have been revised back to 3% with the exception of China and India. A more optimistic case could be made that external pressure will force the pace on stalled domestic restructuring. In some instances, a transition in leadership may be required first. Politicians across the region have too often used the threat of social instability (including unemployment) as a reason to resist economic changes. However, the growth of the middle class and the increasing emphasis on the expansion of property rights is the best bet for liberalism in SE Asia. Looking ahead, we are adding to holdings and are positioned for an upturn, which realistically will come only from a more settled global picture. We are hopeful the unprecedented reduction in interest rates in the US will result in a new economic cycle beginning later this year. The work ethic of the region is still strong, valuations are low and the international investors are currently disinterested thus leading us to take a relatively optimistic view of the New Dawn region for the coming year. Richard Clough Chairman 12 July 2001 The unaudited results were: Statement of total return (incorporating the revenue account of the Company*) Year ended 30 April 2001 (unaudited) Revenue Capital Total £'000 £'000 £'000 Losses on investments - (5,378) (5,378) Income 2,075 - 2,075 Investment management fee (191) (191) (382) Other expenses (374) - (374) Exchange losses (28) (53) (81) ________ ________ ________ Net return/(loss) before finance costs and taxation 1,482 (5,622) (4,140) Interest payable and similar charges (217) (217) (434) ________ ________ ________ Return/(loss) on ordinary activities before tax 1,265 (5,839) (4,574) Tax on ordinary activities (402) 123 (279) ________ ________ ________ Return/(loss) on ordinary activities after tax 863 (5,716) (4,853) Repurchase of Warrants - (2,429) (2,429) ________ ________ ________ Return/(loss) attributable to equity shareholders 863 (8,145) (7,282) Dividends in respect of equity shares (617) - (617) ________ ________ ________ Transfer to/(from)reserves 246 (8,145) (7,899) ======== ======== ======== Return/(loss) per Ordinary share (pence): Basic 3.54 (33.41) (29.87) ======== ======== ======== Fully-diluted n/a n/a n/a ======== ======== ======== The audited results were: Year ended 30 April 2000 (audited) (restated**) Revenue Capital Total £'000 £'000 £'000 Gains on investments - 16,296 16,296 Income 1,539 - 1,539 Investment management fee (282) (282) (564) Other expenses (319) - (319) Exchange (losses)/gains (6) 255 249 ________ ________ ________ Net return before finance costs and taxation 932 16,269 17,201 Interest payable and similar charges (273) (274) (547) ________ ________ ________ Return on ordinary activities before tax 659 15,995 16,654 Tax on ordinary activities (215) 67 (148) ________ ________ ________ Return on ordinary activities after tax 444 16,062 16,506 Repurchase of Warrants - (756) (756) ________ ________ ________ Return attributable to equity shareholders 444 15,306 15,750 Dividends in respect of equity shares (403) - (403) ________ ________ ________ Transfer to reserves 41 15,306 15,347 ======== ======== ======== Return per Ordinary share (pence): Basic 1.73 59.69 61.42 ======== ======== ======== Fully-diluted 1.68 57.97 59.65 ======== ======== ======== * The revenue column of this statement is the revenue account of the Company. ** Restated for the change in accounting policy (see note 4) The Statements of Total Return presented above are in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice for Financial Statements of Investment Trust Companies. Balance Sheet 30 April 30 April 2001 2000 (unaudited) (audited) (restated**) £'000 £'000 Fixed assets Investments 52,055 66,200 ________ ________ Current assets Debtors 751 2,277 Cash at bank and in hand 895 165 ________ ________ 1,646 2,442 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (5,751) (10,439) ________ ________ Net current liabilities (4,105) (7,997) ________ ________ Total assets less current liabilities 47,950 58,203 Provision for liabilities and charges (5) - ________ ________ Net assets 47,945 58,203 ======== ======== Share capital and reserves Called-up share capital 5,823 6,145 Share premium account 9,317 9,179 Special reserve 14,181 16,712 Other reserves: Redemption reserve 10,201 9,845 Capital reserve - realised 7,768 8,297 Capital reserve - unrealised (1,334) 6,282 Revenue reserve 1,989 1,743 ________ ________ Total equity shareholders' funds 47,945 58,203 ======== ======== Net asset value per Ordinary share (pence): Basic 205.84 236.78 ======== ======== Fully-diluted n/a 225.71 ======== ======== ** Restated for the change in accounting policy (see note 4) Cash Flow Statement Year ended Year ended 30 April 2001 30 April 2000 (unaudited) (audited) (restated**) £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Net cash inflow from operating activities 836 625 Servicing of finance Bank interest paid (449) (522) ________ _______ Net cash outflow from servicing of finance (449) (522) Taxation Net UK tax recovered 237 7 Overseas tax paid - (166) ________ _______ Net tax recovered/(paid) 237 (159) Financial investment Purchase of investments (19,331) (25,788) Sale of investments 27,680 22,375 ________ _______ Net cash inflow/(outflow) from 8,349 (3,413) financial investment Equity dividend paid (403) (423) ________ _______ Net cash inflow/(outflow) before financing 8,570 (3,892) Financing Repurchase of Ordinary shares (2,531) - Proceeds from exercise of Warrants 173 10 Expenses paid in respect of share issue/buyback - (278) Repurchase of Warrants (2,429) (756) Repayment of loan (3,000) - ________ _______ Net cash outflow from financing (7,787) (1,024) ________ _______ Increase/(decrease) in cash 783 (4,916) ======== ======= Reconciliation of net cash flow to movements in net debt Increase/(decrease) in cash as above 783 (4,916) Cash outflow from part repayment of loan 3,000 - Exchange movements (53) 35 ________ _______ Movement in net debt in the year 3,730 (4,881) Opening net debt (7,835) (2,954) ________ _______ Closing net debt (4,105) (7,835) ======== ======= ** Restated for the change in accounting policy (see note 4) 1 The basic revenue return per Ordinary share is based on net revenue on ordinary activities after taxation of £863,000 (2000 - £444,000 as restated) and on 24,379,401 (2000 - 25,641,449) Ordinary shares, being the weighted average number of Ordinary shares in issue during the year. The basic capital return per Ordinary share is based on net capital losses for the year of £8,145,000 (2000 - gains of £15,306,000 as restated) and on 24,379,401 (2000 - 25,641,449) Ordinary shares, being the weighted average number of Ordinary shares in issue during the year. The fully-diluted return per Ordinary share for the comparative year has been calculated in accordance with FRS14 and by reference to a weighted average number of 26,404,832 Ordinary shares and has been restated for the change in accounting policy described in note 4. There is no dilution calculation for the current year as there were no Warrants outstanding at the year end. 2 The breakdown of income for the year to 30 April 2001 and 30 April 2000 was as follows: 2001 2000 £'000 £'000 Income from investments Franked investment income 59 41 Overseas dividends 1,958 1,465 _______ _______ 2,017 1,506 _______ _______ Other income Deposit interest 58 33 _______ _______ Total income 2,075 1,539 ======= ======= 3 The basic net asset value per Ordinary share is based on net assets and on 23,292,133 (2000 - 24,581,436) Ordinary shares, being the number of Ordinary shares in issue at the year end. The fully-diluted net asset value per Ordinary share for 2000 was 225.71p. This was calculated on the assumption that the A and B Warrants in issue at 30 April 2000, being 528,583 and 2,241,888 respectively, were converted on the first day of the financial period at 95.88p and 135p per share respectively, giving a total of 27,351,907 Ordinary shares. The fully diluted net asset value calculation excluded the Series C Warrants on the assumption that the Series C Warrants would not be exercised as the exercise price exceeded the basic net asset value. There is no fully-diluted calculation for 2001 as there were no Warrants outstanding at the year end. 4 Change in accounting policy:- In line with the Board's expected long term returns, with effect from 1 May 2000 50% of management fees and finance costs have been charged to capital. The comparative figures for 2000 have been restated accordingly. There is no impact on overall total return recognised in either year. 5 During the year the Company purchased for cancellation a total of 1,425,000 of its own issued Ordinary shares of 25p, representing 5.6% of its called-up share capital, for an aggregate consideration of £2,531,000. During the year 26,872 series A Warrants, 108,805 series B Warrants and 20 series C Warrants were exercised resulting in 135,697 new Ordinary shares issued for 95.88p, 135p and 270p respectively. 6 The financial information set out above does not constitute the Company's statutory accounts for the year ended 30 April 2001 or the year ended 30 April 2000. The financial information for 2000 is derived from the statutory accounts for 2000, as restated for the change in accounting policy described in note 4, which have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The auditors have reported on the 2000 accounts; their report was unqualified and did not contain a statement under section 237(2) or (3) of the Companies Act 1985. The statutory accounts for 2001 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 in due course. 7 The Annual Report will be posted to shareholders in due course and further copies may be obtained from the registered office, One Bow Churchyard, Cheapside, London EC4M 9HH. Aberdeen Asset Management PLC - Secretaries 12 July 2001
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