Final Results

Schroder UK Growth Fund PLC 23 June 2005 Press Release 23 June 2005 SCHRODER UK GROWTH FUND PLC PRELIMINARY RESULTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2005 PRELIMINARY RESULTS The Directors of Schroder UK Growth Fund plc announce the unaudited preliminary results for the year ended 30 April 2005: Year Ended Year Ended 30 April 2005 30 April 2004 Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Profits on investments - 8,152 8,152 - 32,716 32,716 Income 6,283 - 6,283 5,815 - 5,815 Investment management fees (253) (592) (845) (244) (569) (813) Performance fee - 120 120 - (120) (120) Administrative expenses (363) - (363) (346) - (346) Net return before finance costs 5,667 7,680 13,347 5,225 32,027 37,252 and taxation Interest payable (357) (832) (1,189) (243) (567) (810) Net return on ordinary activities 5,310 6,848 12,158 4,982 31,460 36,442 before taxation Taxation on ordinary activities - - - - - - Return on ordinary activities 5,310 6,848 12,158 4,982 31,460 36,442 after taxation attributable to equity shareholders Dividends (5,191) - (5,191) (5,044) - (5,044) Transfer to/(from) reserves 119 6,848 6,967 (62) 31,460 31,398 Return per ordinary share 3.20p 4.13p 7.33p 2.96p 18.70p 21.66p Dividends for the year per 3.15p - 3.15p 3.00p - 3.00p ordinary share Summary Balance Sheet At 30 April 2005 At 30 April 2004 Assets £'000 £'000 Investments 201,365 191,469 Loan (25,000) (20,000) Other net current assets/(liabilities) 405 1,596 Total assets less current liabilities 176,770 173,065 Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year _ (120) Net assets 176,770 172,945 Net asset value per share - undiluted 107.36p 102.92p Abridged Cash Flow Statement Year Ended Year Ended 30 April 2005 30 April 2004 £'000 £'000 Net cash inflow from operating activities 5,005 4,270 Total interest paid (1,171) (810) Total tax recovered - - Net cash (outflow)/inflow from financial investment (2,430) 3,433 Equity dividends paid (4,995) (5,046) Net cash inflow from financing 1,722 - Net cash (outflow)/inflow (1,869) 1,847 Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement on net debt Year Ended Year Ended 30 April 2005 30 April 2004 £'000 £'000 (Decrease)/increase in cash in the year (1,869) 1,847 Movement in bank loan to finance investments (5,000) - Change in net debt resulting from cash flows (6,869) 1,847 Net debt brought forward (16,651) (18,498) Net debt carried forward (23,520) (16,651) The above financial information is unaudited and does not constitute statutory accounts under Section 240 of the Companies Act 1985 (as amended). Statutory accounts for the financial year ended 30 April 2004 have been reported on by the Company's auditors and delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The report of the auditors was unqualified and did not contain a statement under Section 237 (2) or (3) of the Companies Act 1985. The statutory accounts for the year ended 30 April 2005 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. This announcement is prepared on the basis of the accounting policies as set out in the most recent published set of annual financial statements. This statement was approved by the Board of Directors on 23 June 2005. CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT Performance and Background During the year ended 30 April 2005, the Company's net asset value produced a total return of 7.0%, compared with the FTSE All-Share Index, which recorded an equivalent return of 10.7% over the same period. While the market as a whole had a stronger year, reaching a three-year high towards our year-end, defensive stocks (like utilities, tobacco etc) tended to be stronger performers and our portfolio is under represented in them. For all of the last 12 months we have had and still have a bias towards stocks likely to benefit from a cyclical profits recovery. Indeed we are seeing just such a recovery in their profits and we continue to believe in due course this will be reflected in their share prices. Although it is disappointing that numbers have lagged the index in the past year, the performance of the Company has been ahead of benchmark since Richard Buxton, the current manager, assumed responsibility in October 2002. Earnings and Dividends Earnings per share increased in the current year from 2.96p per share to 3.2p per share. Given the strength of corporate profits and balance sheets, our Investment Managers are optimistic that dividends will continue to rise in the period ahead. As a result, the Board is pleased to declare a second interim dividend of 1.65p per share, making a total of 3.15p per share for the year as a whole - a 5% increase on the previous year. Directors and Fees Ian Trotter retired as a Director of the Company on 31 December 2004. The Board would like to place on record its thanks to him for his significant contribution to the Company during his time as a Director. As a result of Ian Trotter's retirement the Board now consists of five directors. We are satisfied that this is an appropriate number going forward. Following a periodic review the level of Directors' fees was increased during the year; the fees having not been increased since 1 November 2001. From 1 January 2005 the Chairman's fee has increased from £17,500 to £20,000 per annum and fees paid to Directors have risen from £11,500 to £13,500 per annum. Total annual directors' fees are now very close to the total cap of £75,000 per annum which has been in place since the Company was formed in 1994, and in order to provide flexibility for the future, a resolution has been included in the Notice of the Annual General Meeting, proposing to increase the cap to £125,000 per annum. Gearing Policy The Company's £25 million borrowing facility was fully drawn down during the year and this level of borrowing has been maintained since the end of the year. In April 2005, the Company increased its £25 million facility to £30 million and extended the borrowing facility for a further year. The additional funds are available to the Manager to utilise when suitable investment opportunities arise. However, at the time of writing, the additional monies available from the facility have not yet been drawn down. The Company's gearing continues to operate within pre-agreed limits so that actual gearing does not represent more than 20% of shareholders' funds. Purchase of Shares for Cancellation During the year ended 30 April 2005, the Board continued to operate its share buy-back facility and a total of 3,400,000 ordinary shares were purchased for cancellation, equal to 2.02 per cent. of the shares in issue on 1 May 2004. These purchases had the effect of enhancing net asset value at the time of the various purchases by approximately £372,000. The Directors will continue to consider purchasing shares for cancellation, to assist in reducing discount volatility. A resolution to renew the authority to purchase shares for cancellation is included in the Notice of the Annual General Meeting, to provide Directors with flexibility in the future. Outlook We support the view of our Manager that market valuations appear reasonable, with many stocks reflecting more of the potential risks than the opportunities, and expect that confidence will build as investors' worst fears are confounded and it becomes apparent that an economic downturn is not imminent. The portfolio therefore remains exposed to businesses across a broad range of industry sectors which are well-placed to grow profits in this environment. Annual General Meeting The Annual General Meeting will be held at 12.00 noon on Wednesday 3 August 2005, and shareholders are encouraged to attend. The meeting, as in previous years, will include a presentation by the Investment Manager on the prospects for the UK market and the Company's investment strategy. Alan Clifton Chairman SECOND INTERIM DIVIDEND The Directors of the Company have declared the payment of a second interim dividend, in lieu of a final dividend, of 1.65 p net per share, making a total distribution of 3.15p for the year ended 30 April 2005. The second interim dividend will be payable on 29 July 2005 to shareholders on the register on 1 July 2005. Ex-Dividend Date : 29 June 2005 Transfers must be lodged by : 5.00 p.m. on 1 July 2005 Dividend Warrants : Despatched on 28 July 2005 Payment Date : 29 July 2005 Dividend per share : 1.65p net The Annual Report and Accounts will be mailed to shareholders at their registered addresses in July 2005 and copies of the Annual Report and Accounts will be available to the public at the Company's registered office: 31 Gresham Street, London, EC2V 7QA. Enquiries: Schroder Investment Management Limited John Spedding (020 7658 3206) 23 June 2005 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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