Half-Yearly Results

Close AllBlue Fund Limited 24 September 2007 CLOSE ALLBLUE FUND LIMITED PRELIMINARY ANNOUNCEMENT OF HALF-YEARLY RESULTS The directors announce the statement of results for the period from 1 January to 30 June 2007 as follows:- ABOUT THE COMPANY Close AllBlue Fund Limited is a closed-ended investment company incorporated in Guernsey on 21 April 2006 with an unlimited life. The Company has three classes of shares in issue, being Sterling Shares, Euro Shares and US Dollar Shares. On 25 May 2006 all three classes were admitted to trading on AIM. Only the Sterling Shares were admitted to listing and trading on the Channel Islands Stock Exchange. Pursuant to the Company's admission document dated 2 May 2006 the Company offered its Shares for issue by means of a placing and on 26 May 2006 raised approximately GBP144.3 million by the issue of 135,283,599 Sterling Shares at a price of GBP 1 each, 5,676,877 Euro Shares at a price of EUR 1 each and 9,632,602 US Dollar Shares at a price of US Dollar 1 each. INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICY The investment objective of the Company is to seek to provide consistent long-term capital growth through an investment policy of investing substantially all of its assets in AllBlue Limited ('AllBlue') or any successor vehicle of AllBlue. The proceeds raised from the issue of Sterling Shares are substantially invested in the Sterling share class of AllBlue. The proceeds raised from the issue of Euro Shares are substantially invested in the Euro share class of AllBlue. The proceeds raised from the issue of US Dollar Shares are substantially invested in the US Dollar share class of AllBlue. AllBlue is a fund of hedge funds incorporated in the Cayman Islands which seeks to provide consistent long-term appreciation of its assets through investment in a diversified portfolio of underlying funds, the majority of which are managed by BlueCrest Capital Management L.P. ('BlueCrest') and the remainder of which are managed by investment managers sharing close links with BlueCrest. Investors in the Company are therefore offered an opportunity to participate indirectly in the same investment portfolio as that of AllBlue. BLUECREST BlueCrest is an English limited partnership and acts through its general partner, BlueCrest Capital Management Limited, which was incorporated in England on 28 April 2000. BlueCrest Capital Management Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority of the United Kingdom and is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States. INVESTMENTS The Company's investments in AllBlue as at 30 June 2007 were: Total Net *Valuation in Valuation Assets INVESTMENT Nominal Local Currency GBP % AllBlue Limited 1,381,738 146,733,471 146,733,471 94.26% Sterling Shares AllBlue Limited Euro 52,133 6,046,424 4,076,058 2.62% Shares AllBlue Limited US 87,185 10,470,954 5,212,542 3.35% Dollar Shares 156,022,071 100.23% * Source AllBlue Limited NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE As at 30 June 2007, the net asset values of the shares were: Sterling Shares GBP1.0829 Euro Shares EUR1.0633 US Dollar Shares USD1.0852 CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT Dear Shareholder The period from 1 January to 30 June 2007 (the 'Period') saw the net asset value of a Sterling Share in the Company rise to 108.01 pence, an increase of approximately 6.5% during the Period. The price at which the Sterling Shares were trading rose to 104.13 pence at the end of the Period. This performance is in line with the Company's stated target annualised return on its investment in AllBlue Limited ('AllBlue') of 12 to 14 per cent. and the Board is comfortable with this performance. Since the end of the Period financial markets have seen considerable turmoil and some markets have fallen substantially. Against this background we believe that the performance of AllBlue has been satisfactory. During September 2007 (after the end of the period under review) BlueCrest Capital Management Limited ('BlueCrest') decided to close the BlueCrest Equity Fund Ltd, in which AllBlue, and thereby the Company, was invested. The Company has been advised by BlueCrest that this decision was motivated by three factors. Firstly, performance of the fund had been lacklustre during the second half of 2006 and the first half of 2007, during which period the return was approximately flat. Secondly, during August of 2007 the de-levering stops used to protect investors from deep draw downs were triggered, reducing the risk taking capacity of the fund. Thirdly, the opportunities opened up within the markets in the summer of 2007 are seen as largely in fixed income and foreign exchange and the capital needed to be allocated to those new opportunities. The Company has also been advised by BlueCrest that BlueCrest is constantly looking for new investment opportunities and hopes in due course to find appropriate ways of taking additional risk in the equity markets. The diversifying characteristics of the assets and the depth of liquidity they provide remain attractive. The expectation of BlueCrest over the medium term has always been to introduce new funds to the AllBlue investment mix as diversifying assets of sufficient quality and liquidity become available and this remains the case. After the end of the Period, the Board conducted a review of the fees payable by the Company to Close Investments Limited for the provision of shareholder liaison services. It was agreed with the Shareholder Liaison Agent to reduce these fees from the previous rate of 0.80% of the Company's net asset value (the 'NAV') per annum to 0.45% of the NAV per annum, subject to a cap in any calendar year of £700,000, provided that, if the NAV increases to £300 million or more, the Shareholder Liaison Agent's fee will be reduced to 0.4% per annum. This action was taken to reduce the Company's total expense ratio, which is now among the lowest of the diversified hedge fund investments traded in London. Close AllBlue Fund Limited is a company structured to allow shareholders access to the investment management skills of BlueCrest without need of a high minimum monetary investment, as is required for direct investment in AllBlue. Coupled with the ability to trade shares daily on AIM and the Channel Islands Stock Exchange, the Board believes that these features make the Company an attractive and rewarding investment for shareholders. As the Company is a minority investor in AllBlue, your Board cannot direct the investment policy of AllBlue. However, AllBlue provides the Company with regular information. The Company publishes weekly and monthly net asset values and monthly fact sheets based on information provided to the Company by BlueCrest and AllBlue. The Board is pleased to note that for the benefit of existing and future shareholders the Shareholder Liaison Agent has recently commenced a regular series of seminars and conference calls involving BlueCrest, which is enhancing the level of information available concerning AllBlue. Announcements concerning these conference calls are now being released to a regulatory information service. In addition BlueCrest provides the Company with a commentary on AllBlue for inclusion in the Company's own interim and annual reports to shareholders. Their report is found below, which I recommend to you. The Board has secured a facility from the Company's bankers to assist with the buyback of shares should the Company's shares trade at a discount to net asset value and if the Board believes that a buyback is warranted and is in the best interests of shareholders. The Board has the authority to buy back up to 14.99% of each class of shares in issue as at 14 May 2007, renewal of which authority will be sought at the next annual general meeting of the Company. The Board pays close attention to the volume of trades in the Company's shares and the discount or premium at which such transactions occur. As at the date of this statement the Company has made two purchases of its shares, totalling 198,000 Sterling Shares. The Board is also looking closely at the issue of convertability between share classes. I look forward to reporting to you again in the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 December 2007 and thank you for your continued support. Richard Crowder Chairman 21 September 2007 REPORT BY THE INVESTMENT MANAGER OF ALLBLUE LIMITED On the invitation of the Directors of the Company, this commentary is provided by BlueCrest Capital Management Limited ('BlueCrest'), General Partner of the Investment Manager of AllBlue Limited and is provided without any warranty as to its accuracy and without any liability incurred on the part of BlueCrest, BlueCrest Capital Management L.P. or AllBlue Limited. The commentary is provided as a source of useful information for shareholders of the Company but is not attributable to the Company. REPORT ON ALLBLUE LIMITED ('ALLBLUE' or 'THE FUND') BY ITS MANAGER FOR THE PERIOD JAN 1 - JUNE 30 2007 AllBlue Limited (US Dollar class) made 713bp during the period under review. Allblue's quarterly annualised volatility averaged 5.43% during the period, ranging between 3.43% and 7.11%. The period was characterised by correlations (13 week average) in the mid teens; the period average was 15.58% within a relatively stable range of -1.49% to +34.26%. Volatility in this range, i.e. close to the fund's target with correlations stable and below average, describe an excellent operating environment. The VaR of the fund remained at extremely low levels (78bp), similar to those seen during H2 of 2006. These conditions ended in August where a significant de-levering in global financial markets drove volatility and correlations sharply higher and cost the fund 3.47% (estimated) of performance. Taking each sector in turn: Mixed Arbitrage returned 3.64% on the period, its contribution to AllBlue approximately 84bp. After a steady, albeit slow, start to the period Mixed Arbitrage had its best monthly performance in three years in the month of April, coming in at 2.21%. Positive contributions were also made in May although performance was slightly down in June. The Equity Derivatives desk was one of the main driving factors in performance for the period, and we have increased allocation from the fund accordingly to over 10%. RV also performed well, providing the most performance contribution, followed by Rates. FX, Equity and Trade Finance all had small positive contributions. Equity lost -2.64%, affecting the AllBlue performance by approximately -52bp. After disappointing performance from the Equity desk, the team has been restructured from three main PM's and supporting analysts to a current portfolio representing a merging of the individual portfolios of both the sector specialists and generalists. The allocation to AllBlue has been reduced since June from around 19% to 17%. All sub-portfolios still adhere to investment and risk criteria and are constructed within the objectives of the overall fund, the only difference being that the implementation process has changed. Systematic had a mixed start to the period followed by very strong performance from April to June, finishing up 14.60%, approximately 335bp for AllBlue. The main performance drivers across the period were Equities followed by Short Interest Rates and FX (mainly Yen trades) and a smaller positive contribution from Energies, Bonds and Crops. Losses were made within Metals and, to a smaller extent, Meats. Low Beta Systematic returns were 6.63%, adding approximately 6.6bps to AllBlue. Short Interest Rates and FX were the main contributors to positive performance, followed by Energies. Losses were concentrated in Metals, Equities, Crops; Meats and Bonds were slightly down as well. Emerging Markets returns were strong throughout the entire period (12.4%), contributing approximately 272bp to AllBlue. Regional concentration of capital was in Eastern Europe followed by LATAM and Asia, with positive performance attribution coming mainly from Rates, followed by Issuer (credit risk), Equity and FX. Credit Arbitrage returned 10.81% for the period, approx 86bps for AllBlue. Positive performance drivers across the period were Correlation, Inter-Credit, Intra-Credit, Index Arbitrage and smaller positive contributions from Equity and 'Other'. There were no sectors which made losses over the period as a whole. WestHarbor returned 4.99% for the period, contributing approximately 15bps to AllBlue. The first quarter was very successful with a number of catalytic events, including bids for positions in the portfolio, driving performance. The second quarter was more challenging as adverse corporate events in Italy and the underperformance of the German portfolio, relative to its hedges, weighed on performance. BlueCrest Capital Management Limited 21 September 2007 STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1 JANUARY 2007 TO 30 JUNE 2007 Sterling Euro US Dollar Share Share Share Class Class Class Total GBP EUR USD GBP Net movement in investments 9,824,640 359,909 697,104 10,428,350 Operating expenses (681,877) (30,088) (51,485) (728,836) Gain on ordinary activities before taxation 9,142,763 329,821 645,619 9,699,514 Taxation on ordinary - - - - activities Net gain for the period attributable to shareholders 9,142,763 329,821 645,619 9,699,514 Pence (GBP) Cent (EUR) Cent (USD) Earnings per share for the period - Basic and Diluted 6.76 5.81 6.70 In arriving at the results for the financial period, all amounts above relate to continuing operations. There are no recognised gains or losses for the period other than those disclosed above. STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS FOR THE PERIOD FROM INCORPORATION ON 21 APRIL 2006 TO 30 JUNE 2006 US Dollar Sterling Share Euro Share Share Class Class Class Total GBP EUR USD GBP Net movement in unrealised appreciation on (1,759,811) (81,969) (120,890) (1,881,506) investments Operating expenses (74,416) (3,796) (6,555) (80,569) Gain before financing costs and taxation (1,834,227) (85,765) (127,445) (1,962,075) Gain on ordinary activities before taxation (1,834,227) (85,765) (127,445) (1,962,075) Taxation on ordinary - - - - activities Net gain for the period attributable to shareholders (1,834,227) (85,765) (127,445) (1,962,075) Pence (GBP) Cent (EUR) Cent (USD) Earnings per share for the period - Basic and Diluted (1.36) (1.51) (1.32) In arriving at the results for the financial period, all amounts above relate to continuing operations. There are no recognised gains or losses for the period other than those disclosed above. BALANCE SHEET AS AT 30 JUNE 2007 US Dollar Sterling Share Euro Share Share Class Class Class Total GBP EUR USD GBP FIXED ASSETS Unquoted financial assets designated as fair value through profit or loss 146,733,471 6,046,424 10,470,954 156,022,071 CURRENT ASSETS Debtors 18,520 787 1,406 19,750 Cash at bank 55,149 2,364 4,195 58,831 73,669 3,151 5,601 78,581 CURRENT LIABILITIES Bank overdrafts 102,943 - - 102,943 Creditors - due 307,984 13,081 23,382 328,442 within one year 410,927 13,081 23,382 431,385 NET CURRENT ASSETS/ (337,258) (9,930) (17,781) (352,804) (LIABILITIES) TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 146,396,213 6,036,494 10,453,173 155,669,267 NET ASSETS ATTRIBUTABLE TO SHAREHOLDERS 146,396,213 6,036,494 10,453,173 155,669,267 CAPITAL AND RESERVES Share capital - - - - Share premium - - - - Own shares (103,582) - - (103,582) Retained earnings 146,499,795 6,036,494 10,453,173 155,772,849 146,396,213 6,036,494 10,453,173 155,669,267 SHARES IN ISSUE 135,183,599 5,676,877 9,632,602 NAV PER SHARE GBP1.0829 EUR1.0633 USD1.0852 The NAV per share is calculated in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards. BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2006 US Dollar Sterling Share Euro Share Share Class Class Class Total GBP EUR USD GBP FIXED ASSETS Financial assets designated as fair value through profit or loss 137,752,831 5,723,515 9,836,851 146,630,747 CURRENT ASSETS Debtors 13,718 583 1,016 14,629 Cash at bank 1,100 23 88 1,160 14,818 606 1,104 15,789 CURRENT LIABILITIES Bank overdrafts 118,063 5,017 8,741 125,905 Creditors - due 292,554 12,431 21,660 311,986 within one year 410,617 17,448 30,401 437,891 NET CURRENT ASSETS/ (395,799) (16,842) (29,297) (422,102) (LIABILITIES) TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 137,357,032 5,706,673 9,807,554 146,208,645 NET ASSETS ATTRIBUTABLE TO SHAREHOLDERS 137,357,032 5,706,673 9,807,554 146,208,645 CAPITAL AND RESERVES Share capital - - - - Share premium - - - - Own shares - - - - Retained earnings 137,357,032 5,706,673 9,807,554 146,208,645 137,357,032 5,706,673 9,807,554 146,208,645 SHARES IN ISSUE 135,283,599 5,676,877 9,632,602 NAV PER SHARE GBP1.0153 EUR1.0052 USD1.0181 The NAV per share is calculated in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards. BALANCE SHEET AS AT 30 JUNE 2006 US Dollar Sterling Share Euro Share Share Class Class Class Total GBP EUR USD GBP FIXED ASSETS Unquoted financial assets designated as fair value through profit and loss 130,531,189 5,469,031 9,298,110 139,346,342 CURRENT ASSETS Debtors 34,550 1,429 2,414 36,845 Cash at bank 517,750 21,419 36,171 552,142 552,300 22,848 38,585 588,987 CURRENT LIABILITIES Creditors - due 297,049 12,288 20,753 316,780 within one year 297,049 12,288 20,753 316,780 NET CURRENT ASSETS/ 255,251 10,560 17,832 272,207 (LIABILITIES) TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 130,786,440 5,479,591 9,315,942 139,618,549 NET ASSETS ATTRIBUTABLE TO SHAREHOLDERS 130,786,440 5,479,591 9,315,942 139,618,549 CAPITAL AND RESERVES Share capital - - - - Share premium 132,620,667 5,565,211 9,443,394 141,462,640 Own shares - - - - Retained earnings (1,834,227) (85,765) (127,445) (1,962,075) Exchange gains/ - 145 (7) 117,984 (losses) 130,786,440 5,479,591 9,315,942 139,618,549 SHARES IN ISSUE 135,283,599 5,676,877 9,632,602 NAV PER SHARE GBP0.9668 EUR0.9652 USD0.9671 The NAV per share is calculated in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards. STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1 JANUARY 2007 TO 30 JUNE 2007 US Dollar Sterling Euro Share Share Share Class Class Class Total GBP EUR EUR GBP Opening balance 137,357,032 5,706,673 9,807,554 146,208,645 Issue of shares - - - - Share issue costs - - - - Net gain for the period attributable to shareholders 9,142,763 329,821 645,619 9,699,514 Currency consolidation - - - (135,310) adjustment Purchase of own (103,582) - - (103,582) shares Closing balance 146,396,213 6,036,494 10,453,173 155,669,267 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY FOR THE PERIOD FROM INCORPORATION ON 21 APRIL 2006 TO 30 JUNE 2006 Sterling Euro Share US Dollar Share Share Class Class Class Total GBP EUR EUR GBP Issue of shares 135,283,599 5,676,877 9,632,602 144,304,624 Share issue costs (2,662,932) (111,666) (189,208) (2,841,984) Net gain for the period attributable to shareholders (1,834,227) (85,765) (127,445) (1,962,075) Exchange gains/(losses) on currency balances - 145 (7) 117,984 Purchase of own shares - - - - Closing balance 130,786,440 5,479,591 9,315,942 139,618,549 STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1 JANUARY 2007 TO 30 JUNE 2007 US Dollar Sterling Share Euro Share Share Class Class Class Total GBP EUR USD GBP Operating activities Net gain for the period attributable to shareholders 9,142,763 329,821 645,619 9,699,514 Less: Unrealised depreciation on investments (9,784,915) (358,610) (693,956) (10,386,119) Add: Increase in 15,430 650 1,722 16,456 accrued expenses Less: (Increase) in prepayments and accrued income (4,802) (204) (390) (5,121) Net cashflow from (631,524) (28,343) (47,005) (675,270) operating activities Investing activities Purchase of financial (103,582) - - (103,582) assets Proceeds from sale of 804,275 35,701 59,853 858,139 financial assets Net cashflow from 700,693 35,701 59,853 754,557 investing activities Financing activities Proceeds of issue of - - - - shares Share issue costs - - - - Net cashflow from - - - - financing activities Cash at beginning of (116,963) (4,994) (8,653) (124,745) period Exchange losses on - - - 1,346 currency balances Increase in cash and 69,169 7,358 12,848 79,287 cash equivalents Cash at end of (47,794) 2,364 4,195 (44,112) period Interest income in the period equivalent to GBP1,841 was received. Interest income has been netted off against operating expenses. STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE PERIOD FROM INCORPORATION ON 21 APRIL 2006 TO 30 JUNE 2006 US Dollar Sterling Share Euro Share Share Class Class Class Total GBP EUR USD GBP Operating activities Loss on ordinary (1,834,227) (85,765) (127,445) (1,962,075) activities after taxation Exchange gains / (losses) on currency balances - 145 (7) 117,984 Add: Unrealised 1,759,811 81,968 120,890 1,881,506 depreciation on investments Exchange gains / (losses) on currency balances - - - 433 Add: Increase in 297,049 12,289 20,753 316,780 accrued expenses Less: (Increase) in prepayments and accrued income (34,550) (1,429) (2,414) (36,845) Net cashflow from 188,083 7,208 11,777 317,783 operating activities Investing activities Purchase of (132,291,000) (5,551,000) (9,419,000) (141,228,281) financial assets Net cash outflow (132,291,000) (5,551,000) (9,419,000) (141,228,281) from investing activities Financing activities Proceeds of issue 135,283,599 5,676,877 9,632,602 144,304,624 of shares Share issue costs (2,662,932) (111,666) (189,208) (2,841,984) Net cash inflow 132,620,667 5,565,211 9,443,394 141,462,640 from financing activities Cash at beginning - - - - of period Increase in cash 517,750 21,419 36,171 552,142 and cash equivalents Cash at end of 517,750 21,419 36,171 552,142 period Interest income in the period equivalent to GBP77,281 was received. Interest income has been netted off against operating expenses. For further information contact: Anson Fund Managers Limited Company Secretary Tel: 44 (0)1481 722260 Collins Stewart Europe Limited Nominated Adviser and Broker Hugh Field Tel: 44 (0)020 7523 8350 www.closeallbluefund.com 24 September 2007 E&OE - in transmission END OF ANNOUNCEMENT This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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