Half-yearly report
Chairman's Half-Year Statement
During the half-year to 5th October 2007, Capital Gearing Trust
recorded a 0.4% increase in its net asset value per share to
2,019.4p, excluding accrued income of 10.3p. Over the same period,
the FTSE Equity Investment Instruments Index increased by 4.8%, the
FTSE All Share Index by 1.6% and the FTSE Government All Stock Index
fell by 0.2%.
In my annual report to shareholders, I commented upon the market
outlook and the increasing risks to the stability of financial
markets resulting from a combination of factors including the
continuing weakness in the US housing market, the high levels of
consumer debt, the excessive leverage of many financial institutions
and rising energy and commodity prices. Many of these concerns began
to be reflected in very volatile markets during this reporting
period.
From April until early July, leading equity markets continued to move
ahead but then succumbed to double digit percentage falls before
rallying in September. The catalyst for the correction was the much
publicised problems in the US sub prime mortgage market. In short, as
a result of easy monetary conditions, too much money had been loaned
to borrowers with poor credit ratings and with very little chance of
meeting their repayments. Through the process of financial alchemy,
many of these loans had been repackaged in off-balance sheet special
investment vehicles and sold on to a myriad of banks, leveraged hedge
funds and other financial institutions around the world. As
conditions worsened in the housing market, banks began to get
increasingly concerned about the rise in defaults and simply refused
to lend to each other. The US Federal Reserve and the European
Central Bank responded quickly by making extra liquidity available
within the banking system. In contrast, the Bank of England, worried
over the "moral hazard" of bailing out reckless lenders, did not take
action immediately but was eventually forced to intervene and offer
on-going credit facilities to Northern Rock in order to protect its
savers and mortgage customers.
Fearing that the crisis in the credit markets would spill over into
the real economy and increase the risk of a recession, the Federal
Reserve reversed its previous stance of progressive rises in interest
rates with a 1/2% cut in August. The dollar weakened further against
most currencies and to an all time low against the Euro, as a result
of this interest rate move.
Even if a US recession is avoided, there is no doubt that there will
be a marked slowdown in economic growth as past excesses are worked
through the system and consumers rein back on their spending. As a
result, top line sales growth for most US businesses and
international companies with big US interests will come under
pressure and downgrades to 2008 profits forecasts are likely.
A lot has been made of the growth in the emerging market economies
such as China, India, Russia and Brazil counter-balancing a slowdown
in the US. However, much of this decoupling argument seems to be
already reflected in both commodity and share prices which now look
to be over-extended.
As fears over economic growth become more widespread, it is likely
that investors' appetite for risk will also diminish. This should
increase the relative attractions of bonds and index linked issues,
where our Investment Manager, supported by the Board, continues to
maintain a high exposure. During the period under review, other
changes to the portfolio were modest. Exposure to real estate,
largely through TR Property, was reduced, though in retrospect by not
enough; a modest weighting in infrastructure and commodities,
including gold, was introduced. Venture Capital was reduced further
as realisations continue. In fixed interest, Swiss Franc bonds were
increased.
Turning to Board matters, the first tranche of changes to the new
Listing Rules for Closed-Ended Investment Funds came into effect in
September, with the remainder to be introduced in the first quarter
of 2008. Your Board will take the necessary actions to ensure that
these new Rules are complied with. In particular, these Rules make
changes to the requirements for the content and publication of the
investment policy. Your Board will, therefore, review this policy to
ensure that it meets the requirements of the new Rules and will also
consider if it should be revised to allow the Trust to take advantage
of the greater flexibility in its choice of investment strategies.
The Companies Act 2006 is also being implemented gradually throughout
the years 2007 to 2009. Your Board is taking advice in this regard
and will make the required changes to its corporate governance
procedures as necessary.
Following the European Court of Justice's judgement with regard to
VAT on management fees in June 2007, HM Revenue and Customs has now
accepted that investment trusts are entitled to an exemption. Your
Board will consider the practical implications with regard to tax
reclamation once a final ruling on this matter is made. Meanwhile, no
further VAT will be payable on management fees.
Finally, in accordance with the UK Listing Authority's new Disclosure
and Transparency Rules, interim management statements are now
produced. These together with the annual and half-year reports are
published on the company website, www.capitalgearingtrust.com.
Mr T R Pattison
Chairman
13 November 2007
Distribution of Investment Funds
at 5 October 2007
Distribution of Investment Funds of £56,462,000 (5 April 2007:
£56,200,000)
5 5
October April
2007 2007
North
UK America Europe Elsewhere Total Total
Investment Trust assets: % % % % % %
Ordinary shares 19.0 5.2 1.3 4.8 30.3 35.1
Endowment funds 6.7 - - - 6.7 6.5
Zero dividend preference shares 18.3 - - - 18.3 17.6
Other assets:
Fixed interest 2.4 - 13.9 2.2 18.5 16.0
Index linked 7.5 4.2 11.4 - 23.1 18.7
Cash 3.1 - - - 3.1 6.1
57.0 9.4 26.6 7.0 100 100
Major Investments of the Company
at 5 October 2007
Market value greater than £500,000
£'000
Investment Trust Ordinary Shares and Endowment Funds:
Life Offices Opportunities Trust 2,205
North Atlantic Smaller Companies 1,534
TR Property Investment Trust 1,086
Oryx International Growth Fund Limited 1,077
Advance Developing Markets Trust 1,023
Active Capital Trust 902
Allianz Dresdner Endowment Policy Trust 2009 901
London & St Lawrence Investment Company 857
Gresham House 849
Advance UK Trust 792
Close Enhanced Commodities 630
Gartmore Smaller Companies 583
Pacific Assets Trust 582
Barclays Global Investors Endowment Fund II Limited 542
Alpha Tiger Property Trust 520
F & C Private Equity 'A' 510
Other: 37 investments 6,271
20,864
Investment Trust Zero Dividend Preference Shares:
Utilico Finance 1,361
New Fulcrum Securities 1,334
Premier Utilities Trust 1,135
European Utilities Trust 1,134
JP Morgan Fleming Income & Capital 1,040
Aberdeen Development Capital 2010 859
Aberdeen Development Capital 2012 855
EPIC Securities 810
M & G Income Investment Company 657
JZ Equity Partners 650
Edinburgh New Income Trust 508
10,343
Major Investments of the Company
at 5 October 2007
Market value greater than £500,000 (continued)
£'000
Index-Linked Securities and Fixed Interest:
Sweden (Kingdom of) 3.5% Index Linked Bonds 2028 3,238
Treasury 2.5% Index Linked 2013 2,351
France (Govt of) 5.5% OAT 2029 2,311
Germany (Federal Republic) 4.75% Bonds 2028 2,111
Canada (Govt of) 4% Index Linked 2031 1,646
Switzerland (Govt of) 2% Index Linked Bonds 2014 1,565
Germany (Federal Republic) 4% Bonds 2009 1,383
Treasury 2.5% Index Linked 2011 1,118
Treasury 4.25% 2011 975
Switzerland (Govt of) 3% Bonds 2018 822
Treasury 2.5% Index Linked 2016 788
Germany (Federal Republic) 4.75% Bonds 2034 777
USA Treasury NTS 3.625% Index Linked Bonds 2028 754
Sweden (Kingdom of) 1% Bonds 2012 751
Oest Kontrollerbank 1.8% 2010 642
Bank Nederlandse 0.8% Bonds 2008 629
Other: 5 investments 1,626
23,487
Total investments 54,694
Cash 1,768
Total investment funds 56,462
Income Statement (unaudited)
for the six months ended 5 October 2007
(unaudited) (unaudited) (audited)
6 months ended 6 months ended Year ended
5 October 2007 5 October 2006 5 April 2007
Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total
£000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000
Gains on - 70 70 - 1,099 1,099 - 3,417 3,417
investments
Exchange - 373 373 - (561) (561) - (717) (717)
gains/(losses)
Income from 444 - 444 439 - 439 926 - 926
investments
Bank interest 98 - 98 17 - 17 64 - 64
Gross Return 542 443 985 456 538 994 990 2,700 3,690
Management (84) (196) (280) (81) (189) (270) (164) (383) (547)
expenses
Administrative
and (131) (29) (160) (112) (34) (146) (250) (76) (326)
transaction
costs
(215) (225) (440) (193) (223) (416) (414) (459) (873)
Return on
ordinary 327 218 545 263 315 578 576 2,241 2,817
activities
before tax
Tax on (38) 38 - (26) 26 - (54) 54 -
ordinary
activities
Return
attributable 289 256 545 237 341 578 522 2,295 2,817
to
equity
shareholders
Return per
Ordinary Share 19.50p 20.68p 100.79p
(Note 2)
All revenue and capital items in the above statement derive from
continuing operations. No operations were acquired or discontinued
in the period.
The total column of this statement is the profit and loss account of
the Company.
There were no recognised gains and losses other than the return
attributable to shareholders.
Reconciliation of Movements in Shareholders' Funds (unaudited)
for the six months ended 5 October 2007
Called Share Capital Capital Capital Revenue Total
up premium redemption reserve - reserve reserve
share reserve reserve unrealised -
capital realised
£000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000
Balance at 6 699 8,114 16 8,692 37,881 1,174 56,576
April 2007
Exchange - - - 373 - - 373
gains
on
investments
Net gains on - - - - 341 - 341
realisation
of
investments
Net decrease - - - (271) - - (271)
in
unrealised
appreciation
Transfer on - - - (1,346) 1,346 - -
disposal of
investments
Transaction - - - (20) (9) - (29)
costs
Costs - - - - (196) - (196)
charged to
capital
Tax on costs - - - - 38 - 38
charged to
capital
Net revenue - - - - - 289 289
for the
period
Total 699 8,114 16 7,428 39,401 1,463 57,121
Dividends - - - - - (391) (391)
Balance at 5 699 8,114 16 7,428 39,401 1,072 56,730
October 2007
Balance Sheet (unaudited)
at 5 October 2007
Unaudited Unaudited Audited
6 months 6 months Year
ended ended ended
5 October 5 October 5 April
2007 2006 2007
£000 £000 £000
Fixed Assets
Listed investments 54,694 52,863 52,721
Current Assets
Debtors 2,101 1,604 3,857
Cash at bank 127 58 228
2,228 1,662 4,085
Creditors: amounts falling due (192) (188) (230)
within one year
Net current assets 2,036 1,474 3,855
Net assets 56,730 54,337 56,576
Capital and Reserves
Called up share capital 699 699 699
Share premium account 8,114 8,114 8,114
Capital redemption reserve 16 16 16
Capital reserve - unrealised 7,428 9,301 8,692
Capital reserve - realised 39,401 35,318 37,881
Revenue reserve 1,072 889 1,174
Total equity shareholders' funds 56,730 54,337 56,576
Net asset value per ordinary share 2,029.7p 1,944.0p 2,024.2p
The Half-Year Report for the six months ended 5 October 2007 was
approved by the Board of Directors on 13 November 2007 and signed on
its behalf by:
Mr T R Pattison
Chairman
13 November 2007
Cash Flow Statement (unaudited)
for the six months ended 5 October 2007
Unaudited Unaudited Audited
6 months 6 months Year
ended ended ended
5 October 5 October 5 April
2007 2006 2007
£000 £000 £000
Operating cash flows:
Profit before tax 327 263 576
Expenses charged to capital (196) (189) (383)
Change to accrued income and 45 102 121
sundry debtors
Change to sundry creditors (37) (21) 20
Cash inflow from operating 139 155 334
activities
Capital expenditure and
financial investment:
Payment to acquire (7,734) (5,665) (14,037)
investments
Sales of investments 6,174 6,213 16,948
Equity dividends paid (391) (377) (377)
Management of liquid
resources
Decrease/ (Increase) in 1,711 (413) (2,785)
balance due from brokers
Financing
Issue of new shares - - -
Increase/(decrease) in cash (101) (87) 83
Cash and cash equivalents:
Balance at beginning of 228 145 145
period
Net cash movement (101) (87) 83
Balance at end of period 127 58 228
Notes
1. Status of financial statements
The financial information for the six months to 5 October 2007 and 5
October 2006, which is unaudited and does not constitute statutory
accounts, has been prepared using accounting policies consistent with
those set out in the Company's 5 April 2007 statutory accounts.
The abridged financial information for the year ended 5 April 2007
has been extracted from the Company's statutory accounts for that
year, which have been filed with the Registrar of Companies. The
report of the auditors on those accounts was unqualified and did not
contain a statement under either Article 245(2) or Article 245(3) of
the Companies (Northern Ireland) Order 1986.
2. Return per ordinary share
The calculation of return per ordinary share is based on results
after tax divided by the weighted average number of shares in issue
during the period of 2,794,906 (2006: 2,778,009; 2007: 2,794,906).
Under FRS 22: 'Earnings per share' the Company is only permitted to
show one return per share on the Income Statement. The revenue and
capital returns per share for the period to 5 October 2007 and 5
October 2006 and the year ended 5 April 2007 are shown
below:
6 months to 6 months to Year to
5 October 2007 5 October 2006 5 April 2007
Revenue 10.34p 8.48p 18.68p
Capital 9.16p 12.20p 82.11p
3. Dividends
6 months to 6 months to Year to
5 October 2007 5 October 2006 5 April 2007
Pence per share 14.00p 13.50p 13.50p
Total cost £391,000 £377,000 £377,000
4. Taxation
No taxation arises because capital returns and dividend income are
not subject to Corporation Tax within an Investment Trust company and
management expenses exceeded unfranked investment income.
Statement of Directors' Responsibilities
The Directors are responsible for preparing the Half-Year Report, in
accordance with applicable law and regulations. The Directors
confirm that to the best of their knowledge, this condensed set of
financial statements:
* have been prepared in accordance with applicable accounting
standards, with the Statement of Recommended Practice 'Financial
Statements of Investment Trust Companies' revised December 2005 and
the Statement "Half - Yearly Financial Reports" produced by the
Accounting Standards Board;
* give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial
position and return of the Company; and
* includes a fair review of the information required by the Financial
Services Authority's Disclosure and Transparency Rules 4.2.7R and
4.2.8R and includes in the Chairman's Statement a description of
the principal risks and uncertainties for the remaining six months
of the financial year.
Details of the current Directors of Capital Gearing Trust plc can be
found at www.capitalgearingtrust.com.
By order of the Board
Mr T R Pattison
Chairman
13 November 2007
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