Interim Results
Murray Income Trust PLC
11 February 2002
Murray Income Trust PLC
Results for the six months ended 31 December 2001
The Directors of Murray Income Trust PLC report the unaudited results of the
Company for the six months ended 31 December 2001.
Performance
In a six month period characterised by volatile stockmarkets across the world,
particularly after the terrorist attacks on the USA, UK equities produced a dull
performance. The net asset value total return for Murray Income (including net
dividends) was -5.5%, which was slightly better than the benchmark FTSE350
Higher Yield Index with net income reinvested, of -5.7%. For the calendar year
2001, the net asset value total return was -4.8% which is behind the return of
-2.2% from the FTSE 350 Higher Yield Index. Within its peer group of the UK
Growth and Income sector Murray Income ranked 6th out of 18 funds.
Background
The relative strength of the UK economy during the second half of 2001 was
almost entirely due to the consumer sector. Helped by low interest rates, rising
incomes and a tight labour market retail sales showed good growth. The housing
market was also strong. Other sectors of the economy, particularly
manufacturing, produced a much weaker performance. Even before the shock of the
terrorist attacks, the US economy had already slowed markedly. Short term
interest rates, which had already fallen both in this country and the USA, have
subsequently been further reduced. Despite the negative returns achieved over
the six month period, the relatively defensive nature of the FTSE 350 Higher
Yield Index produced a better performance than broader market indices.
Share Buy Back
The Company continued to buy back its shares in the market in order to enhance
net asset value per share. During the six months ended 31 December 2001, the
Company bought back for cancellation 797,000 ordinary shares (1.13%) and 21,740
B ordinary shares (4.20%) at an average price of 463.68p and 585p respectively.
These repurchases contributed 0.8p per Share to the Net Asset Value.
B Ordinary Shares
Following the conversion of 8,934 B ordinary shares on 31 December 2001, the
nominal value of the B ordinary shares was reduced to below £125,000.
Consequently, all B ordinary shareholders were sent a notice of compulsory
conversion on 25 January 2002 and 499,589 B ordinary shares will be converted
into ordinary shares on 28 February 2002. The conversion will reduce costs for
the Company, as it will eliminate the need to maintain a separate register for
the B ordinary shares and the additional costs of the scrip dividend process.
Activity
Reflecting the weaker economic backdrop and the manager's cautious short term
outlook, liquidity was raised from a range of stocks across the portfolio. This
was used to reduce overall debt by a total of £38m which meant that gearing came
down from 11% to 2.5% of net assets. One of the holdings reduced, after a period
of strong performance, was Royal Bank of Scotland after a period of strong
performance. The holding in REXAM was completely sold after an excellent
performance from this stock during the year.
The weakness in the market following the events in the USA gave the opportunity
to increase holdings in a number of stocks. Abbey National was one of those
stocks and this holding is now overweight reflecting the combination of growth
and yield available from the company. The holdings in the resources sector are
dominated by Oil & Gas where the portfolio weighting is close to the index,
being overweight in Shell.
Dividend
The first of three interim dividends of 3.15p per share has already been paid
and the other two will be paid on 16 April 2002 and 16 July 2002 respectively.
In addition, the Directors expect to at least maintain the final dividend of
6.75p for the year ended 30 June 2002 which will result in a payment of at least
16.2p for the year. Despite a number of UK companies being forced to cut their
dividend payments, the flow of income into this Company's portfolio remains
secure. The minimum forecast dividend of 16.2p for the full year will be fully
covered by earnings and revenue reserves remain substantial.
Manager
The Directors are pleased to report that Aberdeen Asset Management has appointed
Ross Watson to manage the portfolio, with Diane Wilde as his deputy. Mr Watson
and Ms Wilde have been a successful investment management team for more than ten
years.
Outlook
After a difficult period for the world economy with slowing growth in most
regions, the outlook is now more positive. A series of interest rate reductions
in the UK, USA and Europe by the monetary authorities has been a strong response
to the situation. This increase in liquidity is supportive of both economic
activity and equity markets. At this stage of the economic cycle corporate
profits have in many cases been reduced. Once the recovery in economic activity
becomes more apparent, probably by the second half of 2002, the outlook for
corporate profits should improve.
With interest rates in this country set for a period of stability at the current
low levels, prospects for UK equities are better than for some time. During 2002
share prices should be capable of reasonable growth.
MURRAY INCOME TRUST PLC
STATEMENT OF TOTAL RETURN
(INCORPORATING THE REVENUE ACCOUNT)
for the six months ended 31 December 2001 (unaudited)
Six months to 31 December 2001
Revenue Capital Total
£'000 £'000 £'000
Gains on investments - 9,864 9,864
Unrealised losses - (42,494) (42,494)
(Losses) Gains on investments - (32,630) (32,630)
Income from investments 6,420 - 6,420
Other income 115 - 115
Investment management fees (671) (671) (1,342)
Currency (losses) gains - (4) (4)
Other expenses (406) - (406)
Net return before finance costs and taxation 5,458 (33,305) (27,847)
Finance costs of borrowing (248) (247) (495)
Return on ordinary activities before and after tax 5,210 (33,552) (28,342)
Ordinary dividends on equity shares (6,568) - (6,568)
Transfer (from) to reserves (1,358) (33,552) (34,910)
Return per ordinary share (pence) 7.4 (47.8) (40.4)
Return per ordinary share assuming conversion of the
'B' ordinary shares (pence) 7.4 (47.5) (40.1)
Notes
1. The revenue column of this statement is the profit and loss account of
the company.
2. The results for the year to 30 June 2001 are abridged from the full
accounts for that year, which received an unqualified report from the auditors
and have been filed with the Registrar of Companies.
MURRAY INCOME TRUST PLC
STATEMENT OF TOTAL RETURN
(INCORPORATING THE REVENUE ACCOUNT)
for the six months ended 31 December 2001 (unaudited)
Six months to 31 December 2000
Revenue Capital Total
£'000 £'000 £'000
Gains on investments - 69,265 69,265
Unrealised losses - (34,380) (34,380)
(Losses) Gains on investments - 34,885 34,885
Income from investments 7,276 - 7,276
Other income 47 - 47
Investment management fees (684) (684) (1,368)
Currency (losses) gains - 172 172
Other expenses (446) (4) (450)
Net return before finance costs and taxation 6,193 34,369 40,562
Finance costs of borrowing (756) (755) (1,511)
Return on ordinary activities before and after tax 5,437 33,614 39,051
Ordinary dividends on equity shares (6,905) - (6,905)
Transfer (from) to reserves (1,468) 33,614 32,146
Return per ordinary share (pence) 7.1 43.7 50.8
Return per ordinary share assuming conversion of the
'B' ordinary shares (pence) 7.0 43.4 50.4
MURRAY INCOME TRUST PLC
STATEMENT OF TOTAL RETURN
(INCORPORATING THE REVENUE ACCOUNT)
for the six months ended 31 December 2001 (unaudited)
Year ended 30 June 2001
Revenue Capital Total
£'000 £'000 £'000
Gains on investments - 72,204 72,204
Unrealised losses - (40,167) (40,167)
(Losses) Gains on investments - 32,037 32,037
Income from investments 16,706 - 16,706
Other income 102 - 102
Investment management fees (1,375) (1,375) (2,750)
Currency (losses) gains - 198 198
Other expenses (931) - (931)
Net return before finance costs and taxation 14,502 30,860 45,362
Finance costs of borrowing (1,573) (1,573) (3,146)
Return on ordinary activities before and after tax 12,929 29,287 42,216
Ordinary dividends on equity shares (11,627) - (11,627)
Transfer (from) to reserves 1,302 29,287 30,589
Return per ordinary share (pence) 17.4 39.5 56.9
Return per ordinary share assuming conversion of the
'B' ordinary shares (pence) 17.3 39.2 56.5
MURRAY INCOME TRUST PLC
BALANCE SHEET
as at 31 December 2001 (unaudited)
31 December 31 December 30 June
2001 2000 2001
£'000 £'000 £'000
Fixed assets
Investments 411,800 513,363 481,121
Current assets
Debtors 962 1,522 1,737
Cash and short term deposits 896 373 7,623
1,858 1,895 9,360
Creditors
Amounts falling due within one year 7,270 7,728 7,336
Net current (liabilities) assets (5,412) (5,833) 2,024
Total assets less current liabilities 406,388 507,530 483,145
Creditors
Amounts falling due after more than one year 10,000 38,999 48,000
396,388 468,531 435,145
Capital and reserves
Equity shareholders' interest:
ordinary called up share capital 17,576 19,216 17,778
share premium account 7,955 7,955 7,955
redemption reserve 4,025 3,421 3,820
capital reserve - realised 313,749 337,986 308,657
capital reserve - unrealised 44,577 92,859 87,071
revenue reserve 8,506 7,094 9,864
396,388 468,531 435,145
Net asset value per ordinary and
'B' ordinary share (pence) 563.8 609.5 611.9
MURRAY INCOME TRUST PLC
CASH FLOW STATEMENT
for the six months ended 31 December 2001 (unaudited)
Six months to 31 Six months to 31 Year ended
December 2001 December 2000 30 June 2001
£'000 £'000 £'000
Operating activities
Investment income received 7,134 7,823 17,125
Deposit interest received 133 49 83
Investment management fees paid (912) (1,368) (2,750)
Secretarial fees paid (19) (25) (50)
Cash paid to and on behalf of directors (31) (26) (53)
Other cash payments (322) (455) (687)
Net cash inflow from operating activities 5,983 5,998 13,668
Returns on investment and servicing of finance
Interest paid (613) (1,511) (3,028)
Financial investment
Purchase of investments (20,909) (82,480) (102,144)
Sale of investments 57,634 101,791 150,760
Net cash inflow from financial investment 36,725 19,311 48,616
Equity dividends paid (6,961) (7,316) (11,974)
Net cash inflow before use of financing 35,134 16,482 47,282
Financing
Share repurchases (3,857) (6,457) (38,535)
Loans repaid (38,000) (10,550) (2,049)
Net cash outflow from financing (41,857) (17,007) (40,584)
(Decrease) increase in cash (6,723) (525) 6,698
Note 1
The number of 'B' ordinary shares converted into ordinary shares on 31 December
2001 was 8,934. The allotted ordinary share capital as of 31 December 2001 was:
£000
69,805,869 Ordinary shares of 25p 17,451,467
499,589 'B' Ordinary shares of 25p 124,897
Note 2
6 months to Year to
Dividends on ordinary shares 31/12/01 31/12/00 30/6/01
£000 £000 £000
Interims of
2,199 2,410 2,410
- 3.15p payable 16.1.02 (2001 - 3.15p)
- 3.15p payable 16.4.02 (2001 - 3.15p) 2,199 2,258 2,247
- 3.15p payable 16.7.02 (2001 - 3.15p) 2,199 2,257 2,224
Final dividend (2001 - 6.75p) - - 4,765
Under (over) accrual of previous (28) (19) (19)
year's dividends due to share buybacks
6,568 6,906 11,627
Note 3
A summary of investment changes during the period and twenty largest equity
investments at 31 December 2001 are attached.
By order of the Board
ABERDEEN ASSET MANAGEMENT PLC, SECRETARY
11 February 2002
Copies of this announcement will be printed and issued to shareholders and will
be available to the public at the registered office of the Company, 123 St
Vincent Street, Glasgow.
MURRAY INCOME TRUST PLC
SUMMARY OF INVESTMENT CHANGES
DURING THE PERIOD TO 31 DECEMBER 2001
Valuation Appreciation Valuation
30 June 2001 Transactions (depreciation) 31 December 2001
£'000 % £'000 £'000 £'000 %
United Kingdom
Equities 481,121 99.6 (36,690) (32,631) 411,800 101.3
Total Investments 481,121 99.6 (36,690) (32,631) 411,800 101.3
Other net assets (liabilities) 2,024 0.4 (7,440) 4 (5,412) (1.3)
Total Assets* 483,145 0.4 (44,130) (32,627) 406,388 100.0
* represents total assets less current liabilities
Valuation
Summary of Net Assets 31 December 2001
£'000 %
Equities 411,800 103.9
Other net current liabilities (5,412) (1.4)
Borrowings (10,000) (2.5)
Shareholders' Funds 396,388 100.0
MURRAY INCOME TRUST PLC
TWENTY LARGEST INVESTMENTS
as at 31 December 2001
Sector Valuation % of
Investment Description £'000 Total Assets
BP Amoco Oil & Gas 59,161 14.6
HSBC Holdings Banks 38,688 9.5
Shell Transport & Trading Oil & Gas 25,960 6.4
Lloyds TSB Banks 22,380 5.5
Barclays Banks 17,290 4.3
Diageo Beverages 11,775 2.9
Abbey National Banks 11,760 2.9
CGNU Life Assurance 10,140 2.5
Sainsbury(J) Food & Drug Retailers 9,643 2.4
Rio Tinto Mining 8,554 2.1
Anglo American Mining 8,027 2.0
HBOS Banks 7,960 2.0
Prudential Life Assurance 7,960 2.0
Vodafone Group Telecommunication Services 7,639 1.9
Unilever Food Producers & Processors 6,319 1.6
Scottish Power Electricity 6,080 1.5
British American Tobacco Tobacco 5,679 1.4
Standard Chartered Banks 5,248 1.3
Atrium Underwriting Insurance 5,144 1.3
Cadbury Schweppes Food Producers & Processors 5,037 1.2
280,444 69.3
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