Final Results
Deutsche Latin American Cos Tst PLC
29 April 2004
DEUTSCHE LATIN AMERICAN COMPANIES TRUST PLC
PRELIMINARY ANNOUNCEMENT OF RESULTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 29 FEBRUARY 2004
Extract from the Chairman's Statement
I am delighted to report a significant recovery in the Latin
American markets over the year reflected in a 66.1% increase in our
share price.
Our net asset value per share rose by 56.8% underperforming the MSCI
Latin American Free Index in sterling capital terms, which rose by
59.1%. The discount of share price to net asset value narrowed from
20.8% to 16.1% at the year end.
We again took an active approach to gearing during the year
increasing the loan from £3.2 million to its maximum level of £7
million. Immediately following the year end, this was reduced to
£3.9 million for short term tactical reasons. The Board is pleased
to note that gearing added value over the year.
Our earnings per share rose significantly to 0.97p from 0.61p as a
result of better dividend flow from Latin American investments and
lower interest rates on our US dollar loan. We are therefore
recommending a final dividend of 0.70p per share, 133.3% higher than
last year. This will be paid on 2 July 2004 to shareholders on the
register at the close of business on 4 June 2004. As always the
level of dividend will fluctuate from year to year as capital growth
remains your Company's priority.
Richard Watkins
Chairman
The final dividend of 0.70p per share will be paid on 2 July 2004 to
shareholders on the register at the close of business on 4 June
2004.
The financial information set out overleaf does not constitute the
Company's statutory accounts for the years ended 29 February 2004 or
28 February 2003. The financial information for 2004 is derived from
the statutory accounts for 2003 which have been delivered to the
Registrar of Companies. The Auditors have reported on the 2003
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 2004, which have not yet been reported on by
the Auditors, 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
following the Company's Annual General Meeting.
The annual report will be sent to shareholders and will also be made
available to the public at the Company's registered office.
By order of the Board Registered Office:
M Pope One Appold Street
Secretary London EC2A 2UU
29 April 2004
For further information please contact:
John Murray at Deutsche Investment Trust Managers Limited
Tel: 020 7545 6000
Statement of
Total Return
(incorporating
the revenue
account*)
For the year
ended
February
Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total
2004 2004 2004 2003 2003 2003
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
Gains/(losses) - 14,533 14,533 - (16,204) (16,204)
on
investments
Income 1,306 - 1,306 1,128 - 1,128
Investment (317) - (317) (284) - (284)
management
fee
Other (284) - (284) (238) - (238)
expenses
Net return 705 14,533 15,238 606 (16,204) (15,598)
before
finance costs
and taxation
Interest (89) - (89) (223) - (223)
payable
Return on 616 14,533 15,149 383 (16,204) (15,821)
ordinary
activities
before tax
Tax on (153) - (153) (89) - (89)
ordinary
activities
Return on
ordinary
activities
after tax for
the
financial 463 14,533 14,996 294 (16,204) (15,910)
year
attributable
to equity
shareholders
Dividends in (335) - (335) (143) - (143)
respect of
equity shares
Transfer to
reserves
after
proposed
dividend of
0.70p per 128 14,533 14,661 151 (16,204) (16,053)
share(2003 -
0.30p)
Return per
ordinary
share:
Undiluted and 0.97 p 30.39 p 31.36 p 0.61 p (33.89) p (33.28) p
diluted
*The revenue column of this 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 year end February
2004 2003
£'000 £'000
Fixed assets
Investments 46,244 28,285
Current assets
Debtors 1,069 211
Cash at bank and in hand 739 801
1,808 1,012
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (7,566) (3,479)
Net current liabilities (5,758) (2,467)
Total assets less current liabilities 40,486 25,818
Provisions for liabilities and charges (15) (8)
Net assets 40,471 25,810
Capital and reserves
Called-up share capital 11,953 11,953
Share premium account 11,752 11,752
Other reserves
Special reserve 17,981 17,981
Warrant reserve 4,026 4,026
Warrant exercise reserve 3 3
Capital redemption reserve 4,089 4,089
Capital reserve - realised (17,910) (20,000)
Capital reserve - unrealised 7,179 (5,264)
Revenue reserve 1,398 1,270
Total equity shareholders' funds 40,471 25,810
Net asset value per ordinary share
Diluted 84.65p 53.98p
Fully diluted 87.90p 63.72p
CASH FLOW STATEMENT
As at Year Ended February
2004 2003
£'000 £'000
Reconciliation of operating profit to net cash
inflow from operating activities
Cash received from investments 1,182 1,081
Interest received 16 104
Cash received from stocklending - 1
Investment management fees paid (298) (311)
Cash paid to and on behalf of directors (55) (49)
Other cash payments (202) (214)
Net cash inflow from operating activities 643 612
Servicing of finance
Interest paid (119) (479)
Net cash outflow from servicing of finance (119) (479)
Taxation paid (158) (62)
Financial investment
Purchase of investments (22,465) (17,139)
Sale of investments 18,334 14,952
Net cash outflow from financial investment (4,131) (2,187)
Equity dividends paid (143) (96)
Financing
Drawdown/(part repayment) of bank loan 3,974 (6,369)
Netcash inflow/(outflow) from financing 3,974 (6,369)
Increase/(decrease) in cash 66 (8,581)
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