WITAN PACIFIC INVESTMENT TRUST PLC
(the "Company")
Half-Yearly Report and Financial Statements for the six months ended 31 July 2014
Witan Pacific Investment Trust plc announces that its 2014 Half-yearly Report has been published. The full report will be made available on the National Storage Mechanism website: http://www.hemscott.com/nsm.do and can be accessed via the Company's website at www.witanpacific.com. It will be circulated to shareholders shortly.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
Key data
|
31 July 2014 |
31 January 2014 |
% change |
|
|
|
|
Net Asset Value per share |
262.33p |
241.86p |
é 8.5% |
Share Price |
231.00p |
213.50p |
é 8.2% |
Discount |
11.9% |
11.7% |
|
Gearing# |
N/A |
3.2% |
|
Cumulative Performance (Total Return)
|
6 months |
1 year |
3 years |
5 years |
|
|
|
|
|
Net Asset Value per share* |
9.7% |
(2.1)% |
11.5% |
54.9% |
Share Price* |
9.4% |
(4.1)% |
13.3% |
63.9% |
Benchmark* |
9.2% |
3.8% |
15.3% |
49.7% |
Income
|
31 July 2014 |
31 July 2013 |
% change |
|
|
|
|
Revenue return per share |
2.23p |
2.69p |
ê 17.1% |
Interim dividend per share |
2.10p |
2.05p |
é 2.4% |
Ongoing charges (6 months)
|
31 July 2014 |
31 July 2013 |
|
|
|
Excluding performance fees |
0.54% |
0.53% |
Including performance fees |
0.60% |
0.50%§ |
#Calculated as the difference between the market value of investments and net assets as a percentage of net assets (equivalent to AIC definition of net gearing). With effect from 28 March 2014 the Company's policy is not to employ gearing.
* Source: Datastream. Dividends reinvested.
§ There was a reduction in the accrual for performance fees during the period.
Total returns since inception of multi-manager structure
|
Cumulative return since the inception of the multi-manager structure 31/05/2005 |
Annualised return since the inception of the multi-manager structure 31/05/2005 |
|
|
|
Net Asset Value per share* |
122.2% |
9.1% |
Share price* |
122.9% |
9.1% |
Benchmark* |
107.5% |
8.3% |
* Source: Datastream. Dividends reinvested.
CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT
Introduction
I am pleased to be writing to you as your new Chairman, having taken over from Gill Nott at her retirement in June this year. On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Gill for her considerable contribution to Witan Pacific. She will be a hard act to follow, but I will do my best. I have been involved as a Non-Executive Director of the trust in its development over the last several years, and look forward to continuing to deliver a robust investment vehicle providing access to a wide range of opportunities across the Asia Pacific region.
I am pleased to hear from shareholders. I have met many at Annual General Meetings over the years, and have written to our largest shareholders to introduce myself to them. If shareholders do have questions or comments for me, do get in touch via our Company Secretary, whose contact details are at the end of this statement.
Performance and investment approach
The first six months of our financial year have seen a significant recovery in the markets in which we invest, and our benchmark index has provided a return (in sterling and taking income into account) of 9.2%. This strength came from a variety of sources. The Indian market provided the largest gain of 24.8% as investors reacted positively to the general election result. The Indonesian, Philippine and Thai markets also bounced by over 15% each (in sterling terms). Some sectors were particularly strong - such as the Australian banks. On the other hand, the Japanese market lagged, providing a sterling return of 2.7% over the six months, following the exuberance of 2013. In 2014, investors worried about the impact of a rise in consumption tax and the overall impact of the recent reforms known as Abenomics.
The overall portfolio, which is formed of the combination of your three managers' sub-portfolios has also outperformed a little, providing a net asset value return (including income) of 9.7%. One factor behind this outperformance was Aberdeen's stock choices in Japan, which rose by nearly 10%, a return which was greater than that of our benchmark index despite a duller Japanese market performance. This meant that the particular Japanese companies held in Aberdeen's sub-portfolio added value to the whole and demonstrates the benefit of the wide investment opportunity available to your Company. In addition, in general, better quality companies returned to favour, which also contributed to relative performance.
Highlights
· NAV total return of 9.7%, compared with the benchmark's 9.2%
· 5 year NAV total return of 54.9%, compared with the benchmark's 49.7%
· Share price total return of 9.4%
· Interim dividend increased by 2.4% to 2.10p
· Appointment of two experienced non-executive directors
Although six months is a short time in markets, it is encouraging to see such a market recovery as well as outperformance. The total return from holding Witan Pacific shares was also ahead of our benchmark.
Aberdeen and Matthews, who manage approximately 45% of your overall portfolio each, pay more attention to the individual qualities of the stocks in which they invest than to "top down" market trends. Thus the rapid rise in the Japanese markets last year did not cause them to alter strategy significantly. Both take a long term approach to individual companies, with relatively low levels of portfolio turnover, and both make investments without undue regard to the weightings of those investments in benchmarks. Gavekal, who manage a much smaller part of the overall portfolio within a pooled fund, seek to balance their growth stock approach with a willingness to hold a proportion of the assets they manage in cash or bonds, to limit declines in value when equity markets fall. They also take much greater account of "top down" influences.
The benefits of Aberdeen and Matthews' long term approaches have been better reflected in the first six months of the current year, and they have been evident since appointment. The elements of quality (as measured by return on equity, for example) and lower levels of corporate gearing, which tend to be represented in their sub-portfolios, found favour with other investors. In addition, dividend yield provided support, whereas in the last six months of last year, it had not. The Aberdeen and Matthews sub-portfolios taken together have a higher yield than the market as a whole.
We have not seen major changes in the Aberdeen and Matthews sub-portfolios since the beginning of this financial year. There was little change in the combined top ten holdings with a little more activity in the next ten with Swire Pacific, LG Chemical, KT&G and Suntory Beverage & Food entering the list of top twenty stocks. The most significant sales were a reduction in the holding of the Aberdeen Indian equity fund after the rally in the market, and complete sales of Dong Feng Motor and China Shenhua Energy. The most significant purchases included new investments in Total Access Communications in Thailand, L'Occitane International in Hong Kong and an addition to the Yum Brands holding. The sector and country weightings were also relatively stable. Gavekal, whose sub-portfolio represents about 10% of the total Witan Pacific portfolio, has been more active and has been buying utilities and technology companies.
We seek to deliver a good range of investment opportunities across the region. For example, the overall portfolio has access to smaller companies (via Matthews who find good dividend paying stocks in this area), and to the growth in China despite shorter term concerns. The portfolio is significantly different from the benchmark index, both in terms of its asset allocation and in terms of individual stocks as the Board and your managers do not regard the benchmark as a risk-free place.
However, we would prefer only to take those risks we think worth taking and to reduce those which are not. Although we cannot completely eliminate unwanted uncertainty, we do seek to manage the risks of the region through our multi-manager structure, the executive management provided by Witan Investment Services, a focus on investment management approaches which concentrate on the longer term and through oversight by the Board.
Board
In accordance with our Board evaluation and succession planning processes, and using an external firm of consultants, we conducted a thorough search in the spring, and I am pleased to welcome Susan Platts-Martin and Andrew Robson to your Board. Susan brings many years of investment management and investment company experience, and is a Chartered Accountant. Andrew is also a Chartered Accountant, with substantial corporate finance and investment company experience. He will succeed Alan Barber as Chairman of the Audit Committee following our AGM in 2015, when Alan will retire.
Dermot McMeekin has succeeded me as Chairman of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee and as Senior Independent Director.
Dividend
We indicated in 2012 that we expected over the long term to be able to increase our dividend in real terms, as a consequence of the strength of the companies in which we invest in the Asia Pacific region and of the growing willingness of companies to distribute profits to shareholders. Since then sterling has strengthened and dividend growth slowed, particularly in 2013. However, our managers are expecting dividend growth to be robust in 2014 and 2015, and we are continuing to increase our dividend. We will therefore pay an interim dividend of 2.10p per share for this half year period, a rise of 2.4% compared with that paid for the same period last year.
Outlook
We have seen a marked rebound in markets, as investors regained confidence after the considerable turmoil of the summer of 2013. Valuations in many parts of the Asia Pacific region are no longer depressed (except perhaps in China) and some (for example in India) are quite exuberant. However, our pan Asia Pacific remit and willingness to depart from our benchmark does give our managers the opportunity to seek out long term investment opportunities even if markets consolidate for a period, perhaps as tapering in the US comes to an end. There is substantial positive social and economic change taking place in the region: the long term development of China and the shorter term changes in Japanese economic policy are just examples of the trends which provide opportunities for companies. The task of our managers is to choose those companies which can take advantage of those opportunities for the benefit of their shareholders, without taking on undue risk and to buy those companies at prices which can provide good returns for your Company.
Sarah Bates
Chairman
29 September 2014
Company Secretary contact details
Capita Company Secretarial Services Limited Ibex House,
2nd Floor, 42-47 Minories, London EC3N 1DX,
0207 954 9526
INCOME STATEMENT
For the half year ended 31 July 2014
|
|
(Unaudited) |
(Unaudited) |
(Audited) |
|||||||||
|
|
Revenue |
Capital |
|
Revenue |
Capital |
|
Revenue |
Capital |
Total |
|||
Gains/(losses) on investments held at fair value through profit or loss |
|
- |
13,780 |
13,780 |
- |
6,502 |
6,502 |
- |
(14,001) |
(14,001) |
|||
Exchange losses |
|
- |
(66) |
(66) |
- |
(93) |
(93) |
- |
(162) |
(162) |
|||
Income |
2 |
2,418 |
- |
2,418 |
2,924 |
- |
2,924 |
4,978 |
- |
4,978 |
|||
Management fees |
3 |
(399) |
- |
(399) |
(432) |
- |
(432) |
(811) |
- |
(811) |
|||
Performance fees |
3 |
- |
(100) |
(100) |
- |
55 |
55 |
- |
276 |
276 |
|||
Other expenses |
|
(387) |
(34) |
(421) |
(439) |
(22) |
(461) |
(817) |
(38) |
(855) |
|||
Net return/(loss) before finance charges and taxation |
|
1,632 |
13,580 |
15,212 |
2,053 |
6,442 |
8,495 |
3,350 |
(13,925) |
(10,575) |
|||
Finance charges |
|
(17) |
- |
(17) |
(97) |
- |
(97) |
(161) |
- |
(161) |
|||
Net return/(loss) on ordinary activities before taxation |
|
1,615 |
13,580 |
15,195 |
1,956 |
6,442 |
8,398 |
3,189 |
(13,925) |
(10,736) |
|||
Taxation on ordinary activities |
|
(144) |
- |
(144) |
|
- |
(179) |
(279) |
- |
(279) |
|||
Net return/(loss) on ordinary activities after taxation |
|
1,471 |
13,580 |
15,051 |
1,777 |
6,442 |
8,219 |
2,910 |
(13,925) |
(11,015) |
|||
Return/(loss) per Ordinary share - pence |
5 |
2.23 |
20.58 |
22.81 |
2.69 |
9.75 |
12.44 |
4.41 |
(21.09) |
(16.68) |
|||
All revenue and capital items in the above statement derive from continuing operations.
The total columns of this statement represent the Profit and Loss Account of the Company. The revenue return and capital return columns are supplementary to this and are prepared under guidance published by the Association of Investment Companies.
The Company had no recognised gains or losses other than those disclosed in the Income Statement.
RECONCILIATION OF MOVEMENTS IN SHAREHOLDER FUNDS
For the half year ended 31 July 2014
Called up |
Share |
Capital |
|
|
|
share |
premium |
redemption |
Capital |
Revenue |
|
capital |
account |
reserve |
reserves |
reserve |
Total |
£'000 |
£'000 |
£'000 |
£'000 |
£'000 |
£'000 |
Half year ended 31 July 2014 (unaudited)
At 31 January 2014 |
16,512 |
5 |
41,059 |
90,761 |
11,409 |
159,746 |
Net return on ordinary activities after |
|
|
|
|
|
|
taxation |
- |
- |
- |
13,580 |
1,471 |
15,051 |
Dividends paid in respect of year |
|
|
|
|
|
|
ended 31 January 2014 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
(1,584) |
(1,584) |
Purchase of own shares |
(26) |
- |
26 |
(224) |
- |
(224) |
At 31 July 2014 |
16,486 |
5 |
41,085 |
104,117 |
11,296 |
172,989 |
Half year ended 31 July 2013 (unaudited)
At 31 January 2013 |
16,512 |
5 |
41,059 |
104,686 |
11,372 |
173,634 |
|
Net return on ordinary activities after |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
taxation |
- |
- |
- |
6,442 |
1,777 |
8,219 |
|
Dividends paid in respect of year |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ended 31 January 2013 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
(1,519) |
(1,519) |
|
At 31 July 2013 |
16,512 |
5 |
41,059 |
111,128 |
11,630 |
180,334 |
|
Year ended 31 January 2014 (audited) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At 31 January 2013 |
16,512 |
5 |
41,059 |
104,686 |
11,372 |
173,634 |
|
Net (loss)/return on ordinary activities after taxation |
- |
- |
- |
(13,925) |
2,910 |
(11,015) |
|
Dividends paid in respect of year ended 31 January 2013 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
(1,519) |
(1,519) |
|
Dividends paid in respect of year ended 31 January 2014 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
(1,354) |
(1,354) |
|
At 31 January 2014 |
16,512 |
5 |
41,059 |
90,761 |
11,409 |
159,746 |
|
BALANCE SHEET
At 31 July 2014
|
|
(Unaudited) |
(Unaudited) |
(Audited) |
Fixed assets |
|
|
|
|
Investments held at fair value through profit or loss |
|
167,594 |
186,251 |
164,807 |
Current assets |
|
|
|
|
Debtors |
|
756 |
970 |
516 |
Cash at bank and short-term deposits |
|
5,261 |
2,939 |
4,041 |
|
|
6,017 |
3,909 |
4,557 |
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year |
|
|
|
|
Loans |
|
- |
(8,500) |
(8,500) |
Other |
|
(622) |
(1,326) |
(1,118) |
|
|
(622) |
(9,826) |
(9,618) |
Net current assets/(liabilities) |
|
5,395 |
(5,917) |
(5,061) |
Total assets less current liabilities |
|
172,989 |
180,334 |
159,746 |
Provision for liabilities and charges |
6 |
- |
- |
- |
Net assets |
|
172,989 |
180,334 |
159,746 |
Capital and reserves |
|
|
|
|
Called up share capital |
7 |
16,486 |
16,512 |
16,512 |
Share premium account |
|
5 |
5 |
5 |
Capital redemption reserve |
|
41,085 |
41,059 |
41,059 |
Capital reserves |
|
104,117 |
111,128 |
90,761 |
Revenue reserve |
|
11,296 |
11,630 |
11,409 |
Equity shareholders' funds |
|
172,989 |
180,334 |
159,746 |
Net asset value per Ordinary share - pence |
8 |
262.33 |
273.03 |
241.86 |
CASH FLOW STATEMENT
For the half year ended 31 July 2014
|
|
(Unaudited) |
(Unaudited) |
(Audited) |
|
|
|
Half year |
Half year |
Year |
|
|
|
ended |
ended |
ended |
|
|
|
31 July |
31 July |
31 January |
|
|
|
2014 |
2013 |
2014 |
|
|
Notes |
£'000 |
£'000 |
£'000 |
|
Net cash inflow from operating activities |
9 |
384 |
1,713 |
2,953 |
|
Servicing of finance |
|
|
|
|
|
Bank and loan interest paid |
|
(20) |
(98) |
(160) |
|
Net cash outflow from servicing of finance |
|
(20) |
(98) |
(160) |
|
Capital expenditure and financial investment |
|
|
|
|
|
Purchases of investments |
|
(12,590) |
(18,138) |
(31,767) |
|
Sales of investments |
|
23,846 |
18,752 |
33,747 |
|
Capital expenses paid |
|
(26) |
(17) |
(36) |
|
Net cash inflow from financial investment |
|
11,230 |
597 |
1,944 |
|
Equity dividends paid |
|
(1,584) |
(1,519) |
(2,873) |
|
Net cash inflow before financing |
|
10,010 |
693 |
1,864 |
|
Financing |
|
|
|
|
|
Repurchase of own shares |
|
(224) |
- |
- |
|
Repayment of bank loan |
|
(8,500) |
- |
- |
|
Net cash outflow from financing |
|
(8,724) |
- |
- |
|
Increase in cash |
|
1,286 |
693 |
1,864 |
|
Reconciliation of net cash flow to movements |
|
|
|
|
|
in net cash/(debt) |
|
|
|
|
|
Increase in cash as above |
|
1,286 |
693 |
1,864 |
|
Exchange movements |
|
(66) |
(93) |
(162) |
|
Net cash outflow from repayment of loan |
|
8,500 |
- |
- |
|
Movement in net cash/(debt) in the period |
|
9,720 |
600 |
1,702 |
|
Net debt at start of period |
|
(4,459) |
(6,161) |
(6,161) |
|
Net cash/(debt) at end of period |
|
5,261 |
(5,561) |
(4,459) |
|
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
For the half year ended 31 July 2014
1 Accounting policies
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, modified to include the revaluation of investments and in accordance with applicable Accounting Standards, pronouncements on interim reporting issued by the Accounting Standards Board and with the Statement of Recommended Practice 'Financial Statements of Investment Trust Companies' ("SORP") revised December 2005 and January 2009. All of the Company's operations are of a continuing nature.
The accounting policies used for the year ended 31 January 2014 have been applied.
2 Income
|
(Unaudited) |
(Unaudited) |
(Audited) |
|
Half year |
Half year |
Year |
|
ended |
ended |
ended |
|
31 July |
31 July |
31 January |
|
2014 |
2013 |
2014 |
|
£'000 |
£'000 |
£'000 |
Income from investments held at fair value through profit or loss: |
|
|
|
Overseas dividends |
2,012 |
2,556 |
4,293 |
UK dividends |
154 |
336 |
545 |
Overseas scrip dividends |
251 |
32 |
139 |
Other income: |
|
|
|
Bank interest |
1 |
- |
1 |
|
2,418 |
2,924 |
4,978 |
3 Management fee and performance-related management fee
On 27 May 2005, the Company appointed Witan Investment Services Limited as Executive Manager and Aberdeen Asset Managers Limited and Nomura Asset Management U.K. Limited as Investment Managers. In April 2012, the Company appointed Matthews International Capital Management LLC and GaveKal Capital Limited to replace Nomura. Each Investment Management Agreement can be terminated at one month's notice in writing.
Each Investment Manager is entitled to a base management fee, at rates between 0.20% and 0.75% per annum, calculated according to the value of the assets under their management, Aberdeen is also entitled to a performance fee based on relative outperformance against the MSCI AC Asia Pacific Free Index (sterling adjusted total return). The performance fee is calculated according to investment performance over a three year rolling period and is payable at a rate of 15% of the calculated outperformance relative to the benchmark (subject to a cap).
The provisions included in the Income Statement at 31 July 2014, are calculated on the actual performance of Aberdeen relative to the benchmark index. The provision for the rest of the year assumes that both the benchmark index remains unchanged and that Aberdeen's assets under management perform in line with the benchmark index to 31 May 2015, being the date the performance period ends. In addition, provisions are made for the performance periods ending 31 May 2016 and 31 May 2017, on the assumption that Aberdeen performs in line with the benchmark to each period end. The total effect is a provision at 31 July 2014 of £100,000, all of which relates to 31 May 2015.
4 Dividends per Ordinary share
An interim dividend of 2.10p per Ordinary share (2013: 2.05p) will be paid on 20 October 2014 to shareholders on the register on 10 October 2014.
5 Return/(loss) per Ordinary share
The return per Ordinary share is based on the net return attributable to the Ordinary shares of £15,051,000 (half year ended 31 July 2013: net return £8,219,000; year ended 31 January 2014: net loss £11,015,000) and on 65,990,883 Ordinary shares (half year ended 31 July 2013: 66,048,000; year ended 31 January 2014: 66,048,000) being the weighted average number of Ordinary shares in issue during the period.
|
(Unaudited) |
(Unaudited) |
(Audited) |
|
|
|
Half year |
Half year |
Year |
|
|
|
ended |
ended |
ended |
|
|
|
31 July |
31 July |
31 January |
|
|
|
2014 |
2013 |
2014 |
|
|
Revenue return (£'000) |
1,471 |
1,777 |
2,910 |
|
|
Capital return/(loss) (£'000) |
13,580 |
6,442 |
(13,925) |
|
|
|
|
||||
Total return/(loss) (£'000) |
15,051 |
8,219 |
(11,015) |
|
|
Weighted average number of Ordinary shares |
65,990,883 |
|
|
|
|
in issue during the period |
66,048,000 |
66,048,000 |
|
||
Revenue return per Ordinary share - pence |
2.23 |
2.69 |
4.41 |
|
|
Capital return/(loss) per Ordinary share - pence |
20.58 |
9.75 |
(21.09) |
|
|
Total return/(loss) per Ordinary share - pence |
22.81 |
12.44 |
(16.68) |
|
|
6 Provision for liabilities and charges
This represents the estimated performance fees payable for the 3 year performance fee periods ending 31 May 2016 and 31 May 2017, if any. This accrual is based on actual performance to 31 July 2014 and the assumption that Aberdeen performs in line with the benchmark from 31 July 2014 to the end of each fee period. Changes in the level of accrual for future performance periods could arise for one of three principal reasons: a change in the degree of relative performance, the elapse of time (since this would increase the proportion of the rolling 3 year performance period to which the performance calculation would be applied) or the termination of Aberdeen's contract.
7 Share capital
During the half year ended 31 July 2014; 104,000 Ordinary shares were repurchased for cancellation, at a total cost of £224,000, (half year ended 31 July 2013 and year ended 31 January 2014: no shares were issued or repurchased). As at 31 July 2014 there were 65,944,000 Ordinary shares of 25p in issue.
8 Net asset value per Ordinary share
Net asset value per Ordinary share is based on 65,944,000 Ordinary shares of 25p each in issue as at 31 July 2014 (31 July 2013: 66,048,000 and 31 January 2014: 66,048,000).
9 Reconciliation of net revenue return before finance costs and taxation to net cash inflow from operating activities
|
(Unaudited) |
(Unaudited) |
(Audited) |
|
Half year |
Half year |
Year |
|
ended |
ended |
ended |
|
31 July |
31 July |
31 January |
|
2014 |
2013 |
2014 |
|
£'000 |
£'000 |
£'000 |
Total return/(loss) before finance charges and taxation |
15,212 |
8,495 |
(10,575) |
(Less)/add: capital (return)/loss before finance charges |
|
|
|
and taxation |
(13,580) |
(6,442) |
13,925 |
Net revenue return before finance costs and taxation |
1,632 |
2,053 |
3,350 |
(Increase)/decrease in accrued income and other debtors |
(68) |
(113) |
23 |
Decrease in creditors |
(685) |
(71) |
(278) |
Expenses (charged)/credited to capital |
(100) |
55 |
276 |
Scrip dividends |
(251) |
(32) |
(139) |
Overseas withholding tax suffered |
(144) |
(179) |
(279) |
Net cash inflow from operating activities |
384 |
1,713 |
2,953 |
10 Results
The results for the half years ended 31 July 2014 and 31 July 2013, which are unaudited and were not reviewed by the Auditors, constitute non-statutory accounts within the meaning of Section 435 of the Companies Act 2006. The latest published accounts which have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies are for the year ended 31 January 2014, the report of the Auditor thereon was unqualified and did not contain a statement under Section 498(2) or (3) of the Companies Act 2006. The comparative figures for the year ended 31 January 2014 have been extracted from those accounts.
REGULATORY DISCLOSURES
Related party transactions
No related party transactions took place in the period under review.
Principal risks and uncertainties
The Directors have considered the principal risks and uncertainties affecting the Company's position. The principal risks faced by the Company for the remaining six months of the financial year include financial risks relating to markets, liquidity and credit. Market risk includes market price risk, currency risk and interest rate risk. Other risk categories include those relating to investment strategy, investment management resources, regulatory requirements, operational structure and the external economic and financial environment. These risks and the way in which they are managed, are described in more detail in the Annual Report for the year ended 31 January 2014 in the corporate review and in the notes to the financial statements. The risks faced by the Company have not changed significantly over the first 6 months of 2014 and are not expected to change materially in the remaining 6 months. The report is available on the Company's website at www.witanpacific.com.
Going concern
The financial statements continue to be prepared on a going concern basis. The approach used for the Annual Report is applied, including proper consideration of financial and cash flow forecasts and it is believed that the Company has adequate financial resources to continue to operate for the foreseeable future.
Responsibility statement of the Directors in respect of the Half Year Report for the six months ended 31 July 2014
The Directors confirm, to the best of their knowledge, that this condensed set of financial statements has been prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice and gives a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of the Company and the interim management report includes a fair review of the information required by Rules 4.2.7 R and 4.2.8 R of the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority.
The names and functions of the Directors of Witan Pacific Investment Trust PLC are as listed below.
This Half Year Report was approved by the Board on 29 September 2014 and the above responsibility statement was signed on its behalf by:
Sarah Bates
Chairman
29 September 2014
Directors and advisers
Directors
Sarah Bates Chairman
Dermot McMeekin Senior Independent Director and Chairman of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee
Alan Barber Chairman of the Audit and Management Engagement Committee
Diane Seymour-Williams Susan Platts-Martin Andrew Robson
All the Directors are Members of the Audit and Management Engagement Committee and of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee.
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Independent Auditors PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditors 7 More London Riverside
London SE1 2RT
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Custodian and Bankers
J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. 125 London Wall London EC2Y 5AJ
The Royal Bank of Scotland plc 7th Floor 135 Bishopsgate London EC2M 3UR
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Executive Manager
Witan Investment Services Limited 14 Queen Anne's Gate London SW1H 9AA
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Registrars
Computershare Investor Services PLC The Pavilions Bridgwater Road Bristol BS99 6ZZ
Telephone: 0870 707 1410
Facsimile: 0870 703 6101
Calls cost approximately 8p per minute plus network extras from a BT landline, other telephone provider costs may vary
Email: web.queries@computershare.co.uk Website: www.computershare.com
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Investment Managers
Aberdeen Asset Managers Limited 10 Queen's Terrace Aberdeen AB10 1YG
Matthews International Capital Management, LLC
Four Embarcadero Center, Suite 550, San Francisco, USA
GaveKal Capital Limited Suite 3101, Central Plaza, 18 Harbour Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong
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Company Secretary and Registered Office
Capita Company Secretarial Services Limited Ibex House, 2nd Floor 42-47 Minories London EC3N 1DX
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Witan Wisdom Scheme
Witan Wisdom
PO Box 10550 Chelmsford CM99 2BA
Telephone: 0800 082 8180 Email: wisdom@ifdsgroup.co.uk
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Fund Accountants and Administrator
BNP Paribas Securities Services 55 Moorgate London EC2R 6PA
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Broker
J.P. Morgan Cazenove 25 Bank Street Canary Wharf London E14 5JP |
The Half-Yearly Financial Report has not been audited or reviewed by the Company's auditor. The financial information contained in this half-yearly financial report does not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of section 434 of the Companies Act 2006. The financial information for the half years ended 31 July 2014 and 31 July 2013 has not been audited. The figures and financial information for the year ended 31 January 2014 are extracted and abridged from the latest published accounts and do not constitute the statutory accounts for that year. Those accounts have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies and include the Report of the Independent Auditors, which was unqualified and did not include a statement under section 498 of the Companies Act 2006.