Preliminary Results
Edinburgh Dragon Trust plc
17 October 2005
17 October 2005
EDINBURGH DRAGON TRUST PLC
PRELIMINARY RESULTS FOR THE YEAR TO 31 AUGUST 2005
Edinburgh Dragon Trust's objective is long-term capital growth through
investment in the Far East (excluding Japan and Australasia). The Company's
benchmark is the MSCI All Country Asia (ex Japan) Index.
• A 45.0% rise in the share price, accompanying a sharp narrowing in the
discount from 16.8% to 6.9%.
• A 29.6% increase in the Company's net asset value was ahead of the
company's benchmark, which rose 28.7%
• The Company's net asset value of 109.07p is its highest year end NAV
value for 12 years
For further information please contact:-
Jeremy Whitley, Investment Manager 0065 6395 2700
Ian Massie, Director - Investment Trusts 0131 313 1000
Edinburgh Dragon Trust Plc
Chairman's Statement 31 August 2005
Background
I am happy to report that, in a difficult period for markets characterised by
persistently high oil prices and rising interest rates, during the year to 31
August 2005 your Company's net asset value on a total return basis rose to
109.07p, a very satisfactory 29.6%, ahead of the Company's benchmark, the MSCI
All Country Asia (ex Japan) Index, which ended the year 28.7% higher in sterling
terms on a total return basis. The share price rose 45.0%, reflecting a
substantial narrowing of the discount from 16.8% to 6.9%. The outperformance
of the net asset value was the result both of asset allocation, stock selection
and gearing, partly mitigated by the exercise of warrants. Being overweight in
India and underweight in Taiwan were the two key asset allocation decisions,
whilst stock selection was good in China, including Hong Kong.
Overview
Asian markets performed extremely well during the review period. The main
drivers were better than expected economic growth and continued improvement in
the quality of company earnings. Strong inflows from foreign institutional
investors also supported markets, in keeping with the region's improved growth
prospects and rising standards of corporate governance.
The best performing market was India, with the lead BSE Sensex Index achieving
an all-time high of more than 8,000 points at the time of writing, a rise of
54.1% over the year. Much of the market optimism can be traced to stronger
economic growth, but liquidity driven inflows have also played an important role
in steering prices higher.
South Korean markets also performed well, up 43.5%, where domestic demand showed
signs of stabilising - aided, we believe, by the government's lowering of
interest rates. In South East Asia, Indonesia was the market of choice for
investors for most of the period, underpinned by hopes that the new leader and
ex security minister, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, would remain committed to
economic reform. Some of the gloss, however, has been removed in recent weeks by
concerns that the rising oil price will further strain the country's finances,
which have been exacerbated by governmental subsidies on energy.
There have been some laggards. Thailand, for one, has underperformed its peers
due to a range of domestic problems, such as rising violence in the Muslim south
and weak consumer confidence, although the biggest dampener has been the
continued firm oil price and its knock-on impact on inflation.
The runaway oil price also prompted central banks in the region to begin raising
interest rates - although the tightening cycle had already commenced in 2003,
led by the US Federal Reserve and European Central Bank. Countries that have
raised interest rates in the past 12 months included Thailand, Indonesia, Hong
Kong and Taiwan. However, this trend was not universal, with South Korea cutting
interest rates in the face of sluggish domestic demand.
Movements in the currency markets also came under close scrutiny in the period.
China moved to end its currency link with the US dollar and onto a managed float
which measures its currency against a basket of international currencies
including the US dollar, the Yen and the Euro as well as a range of Asian
currencies. Effectively, this has revalued the renminbi by around 3% and is a
welcome move by the authorities. Malaysia quickly followed in a move which was
also unsurprising. The peg which had fixed the ringgit to the US dollar at the
rate of Rgt 3.80 per US dollar since 1998 was abandoned and Bank Negara has
stated that it will allow market fundamentals to determine the rate.
On the economic front, China's boom showed little sign of slowing down, despite
widespread predictions to the contrary. Full-year GDP growth for 2004 stood at
9.5%, driven by higher-than-expected growth in exports and fixed asset
investment. However, in our view, indiscriminate fixed asset investment may
threaten the pace of expansion given that, over time, excessive capacity may
restrict pricing power and with it corporate profitability. Other regional
economies have also enjoyed a rebound in growth, albeit the outlook has
moderated over the past few months.
Gearing
Net gearing at the end of the period was 9.8% compared to 4.5% in the previous
year. The graph on page 8 details the level of gearing throughout the year.
The Board regularly reviews the borrowing facilities of the Company, and its
strategy, whereby the manager has discretion to operate the portfolio with
effective gearing up to 20% of shareholder funds, has been maintained.
Revenue account
The revenue return per share continued to improve and showed a positive return
of 1.50p per share, compared to a return of 0.04p in the previous year. There
was a significant increase in investment income from £6.2m to £9.5m, reflecting
the greater dividend paying capabilities of Asian companies, given the higher
level of cash generation.
Capital appreciation remains the principal objective of the Company. Despite
the increased revenue returns in recent years, there remains a deficit on the
revenue reserves and accordingly no dividend is payable for the year to 31
August 2005.
Warrants
The final exercise date for the warrants was 31 January 2005. As a result of
the final warrant conversion exercise, 10.5 million new ordinary shares were
issued and listed, and rank pari passu with the existing ordinary shares.
Outlook
Looking ahead, Asia is unlikely to repeat its economic success of the past year.
A sustained rise in oil prices, higher interest rates and inflationary pressures
at the macro-economic level could all blunt growth. On the corporate front,
domestic demand is likely to be the dynamo for earnings expansion, with personal
spending on an improving trend. Although valuations are no longer as cheap as
they were, given the rise in share prices, corporate balance sheets within Asia
are much stronger and corporate governance has improved. However, we are wary of
increased costs, not just of raw materials but also of labour and associated
cost rises, which may add margin pressure and contain profitability over the
next twelve months. Nonetheless, looking further out, we believe that Asian
markets will continue to offer good value in comparison with their more
developed counterparts and that the longer term prospects for the region remain
encouraging.
Annual General Meeting
The Company's annual general meeting will take place at Donaldson House,
Edinburgh on 14 December 2005. On behalf of the Board, I encourage shareholders
to attend.
Tony Cassidy
Chairman
STATEMENT OF TOTAL RETURN
for the year ended 31 August 2005 (audited) Revenue Capital Total
£000 £000 £000
Realised gains on investments - 20,995 20,995
Unrealised gains on investments - 37,987 37,987
Currency gain on repayment of currency loan - - -
Repayment penalty on currency loan - - -
Currency gains/(losses) - (897) (897)
Investment income 9,482 - 9,482
Interest receivable 414 - 414
Other income 163 - 163
Investment management fee (2,298) - (2,298)
Administrative expenses (733) - (733)
________ ________ ________
Net return before finance costs and taxation 7,028 58,085 65,113
Interest payable and similar charges (3,130) - (3,130)
________ ________ ________
Return on ordinary activities before taxation 3,898 58,085 61,983
Taxation on ordinary activities (407) - (407)
________ ________ ________
Return attributable to equity shareholders after taxation 3,491 58,085 61,576
________ ________ ________
Return per ordinary share 1.50p 24.97p 26.47p
________ ________ ________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
for the year ended 31 August 2004 (audited) Revenue Capital Total
£000 £000 £000
Realised losses on investments - 14,402 14,402
Unrealised losses on investments - (17,267) (17,267)
Currency gain on repayment of currency loan - 1,237 1,237
Repayment penalty on currency loan - (1,105) (1,105)
Currency gains/(losses) - 33 33
Investment income 6,198 - 6,198
Interest receivable 266 - 266
Other income 166 - 166
Investment management fee (1,970) - (1,970)
Administrative expenses (674) - (674)
________ ________ ________
Net return before finance costs and taxation 3,986 (2,700) 1,286
Interest payable and similar charges (3,493) - (3,493)
________ ________ ________
Return on ordinary activities before taxation 493 (2,700) (2,207)
Taxation on ordinary activities (415) (40) (455)
________ ________ ________
Return attributable to equity shareholders after taxation 78 (2,740) (2,662)
________ ________ ________
Return per ordinary share 0.04p (1.21p) (1.17p)
________ ________ ________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
BALANCE SHEET (audited)
At 31 August 2005 At 31 August 2004
£000 £000 £000 £000
Fixed assets
Investments 284,256 199,463
Current assets
Debtors 812 610
US Treasury Bills - 31,028
Cash - foreign currency 19,770 5,850
________ ________
20,582 37,488
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 1,556 1,591
________ ________
Net current assets 19,026 35,897
________ ________
Total assets less current liabilities 303,282 235,360
Creditors: amounts falling due after more than
one year 44,388 44,347
________ ________
258,894 191,013
________ ________
Capital and reserves
Share capital 47,455 45,354
Share premium 4,285 81
Capital redemption reserve 8,752 8,752
Special reserve 85,520 85,520
Warrant reserve 1,047 1,047
Capital reserve - unrealised 71,285 33,933
Capital reserve - realised 43,598 22,865
Revenue reserve (3,048) (6,539)
________ ________
Total equity shareholders' funds 258,894 191,013
________ ________
Adjusted net asset value per share 109.07p 84.18p
________ ________
Adjusted diluted net asset value per share n/a 83.11p
________ ________
CASHFLOW STATEMENT (audited)
For the year ended For the year ended
31 August 2005 31 August 2004
£000 £000 £000 £000
Net cash inflow from operating activities 6,979 4,386
Servicing of finance (3,099) (3,761)
Interest paid
_______ _______
Net cash outflow from servicing of finance (3,099) (3,761)
Taxation
Overseas tax paid (467) (475)
_______ _______
Net tax paid (467) (475)
Financial Investment
Purchase of investments (145,430) (59,713)
Sale of investments 119,491 76,255
_______ _______
Net cash (outflow)/inflow from financial investment (25,939) 16,542
_______ _______
Net cash (outflow)/inflow before financing (22,526) 16,692
Net cash inflow/(outflow) from financing 6,305 (9,016)
Management of liquid resources 30,425 (2,368)
_______ _______
Increase in cash and cash equivalents 14,204 5,308
_______ _______
Reconciliation of net cashflow to movement in net debt
Increase in cash 14,204 5,308
Net change in liquid resources (30,425) 2,368
_______ _______
Change in net debt resulting from cashflows (16,221) 7,676
Amortised Loan Note expenses (31) (31)
Loan Repayment - 7,995
Foreign exchange differences on loan repayments - 1,237
Other foreign exchange differences (897) 33
_______ _______
Movement in net debt in year (17,149) 16,910
Opening net debt (7,469) (24,379)
_______ _______
Closing net debt (24,618) (7,469)
_______ _______
NOTES:
1. The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of
Recommended Practice 'Financial Statements of Investment Trust Companies'.
The accounts are prepared under the same accounting policies used for the
year to 31 August 2004.
2. The directors propose that no final dividend be paid in respect of the
year ended 31 August 2005.
3. The statement of total return, balance sheet and cashflow statement set
out above do not represent full statutory accounts in accordance with
Section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. The financial information for the
year ended 31 August 2004 has been extracted from the Annual Report and
Accounts of the company which have been filed with the Registrar of
Companies. The auditors' report on those accounts was unqualified. The
statutory accounts for 2005 contain an unqualified auditors' report and
will be delivered to the Registrar of Companies following the company's
Annual General Meeting which will be held at Donaldson House, 97 Haymarket
Terrace, Edinburgh on 14 December 2005 at 11.00am.
4. The Annual Report will be posted to shareholders in early November 2005
and copies will be available from the registered office.
Please note that past performance is not necessarily a guide to the future and
that the value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise
and may be affected by exchange rate movements. Investors may not get back the
amount they originally invested. Where investment is made in emerging markets,
their potential volatility may increase the risk to the value of the investment.
For Edinburgh Dragon Trust plc
Edinburgh Fund Managers plc, Secretary
END
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