Final Results - Replacement
Murray International Trust PLC
13 February 2004
The following replaces the Preliminary Results announcement released on
5 February 2004 at 07:00 hrs under RNS: 0335V.
In the preliminary announcement of the results, the year ended 31 December 2003
there was an error regarding the dividend payment date. In the text under the
heading Dividend the payment date for the Ordinary Shares is 21 May 2004 whereas
in Note 6 it is 24 May 2004.
The correct date for payment of the dividend on the Ordinary Shares is 21 May
2004 to shareholders on the register on 23 April 2004.
In addition, the record date for the dividend payable on 16 February 2005 is 21
January 2005 and not 21 January 2004.
The full amended version appears below.
MURRAY INTERNATIONAL TRUST PLC
Results for the Year to 31 December 2003
Highlights
•Net Asset Value Total return of 25.5% compared with benchmark return of
19.9%
•Share Price Total return of 36.5%
•2003 total dividend and 2004 interim dividends maintained
•Proposed changes to Management fee and Articles
•Cautious optimism for the coming year
The Directors announce the results of Murray International Trust PLC, subject to
audit finalisation, for the year ended 31 December 2003.
Background
The year 2003 was particularly eventful. It is not often, thankfully, that war,
mounting terrorist risks and the threat of a serious global epidemic such as
SARS happen simultaneously, accompanied by extreme volatility in equity markets
and major movements in currency markets, especially the dollar. To highlight the
impact of the latter a US investor in the German DAX index would have seen a 65%
gain on his investment, whilst a German investor in the S&P 500 would only have
seen a 6% return! Most Asian currencies showed some strength against the dollar
but were weak against the euro. It seems likely that the dollar would have been
weaker had it not been for intervention in favour of the dollar by Asian
governments, as well as the willingness of these countries to recycle their
balance of payments surpluses into US Treasuries. Whether Asian countries will
be prepared to continue to support the dollar on the scale needed in the future,
remains an open question.
Global equity markets were extremely weak in the early part of the year but
rallied strongly after the eventual outbreak of hostilities in Iraq and it
became clear that the US fiscal and monetary authorities were committed to
engineering economic recovery with policy easing on an almost unprecedented
scale. Geo-political factors will undoubtedly retain a powerful influence on
financial markets. However, it is possible to draw some encouragement from
recent developments in Iran and in Libya.
Performance
The Net Asset Value showed a total return of 25.5%, considerably ahead of the
return on the benchmark index of 19.9%, whilst the share price total return of
36.5% also reflected a substantial, and welcome, reduction over the year in the
level of discount at which the shares trade in the stock market. The key
positive influences however were an underweighting of dollar assets and an
overweighting of euro denominated assets, combined with a significant
overweighting in the Asian and emerging markets.
Circular
Enclosed with the Annual Report will be a Circular providing more details on the
following matters:
Firstly, from 1 December 2003 Investment Trusts can, if their Articles allow,
buy sell and hold shares in Treasury. Although the Board is not committed to use
the new power, if granted, it considers that the Articles of Association should
be updated to permit such dealing through Treasury, as long as this is to the
benefit of Shareholders.
Secondly, the Board has reviewed the present management fee arrangements and has
provisionally agreed new fee arrangements with the Manager, subject to
Shareholder approval at the Annual General Meeting. In summary, the proposals
combine a reduction in the basic management fee from 0.6% to 0.5% per annum
accompanied by the introduction of a performance related fee.
Dividends
The Board believes that, after two years when the level of the Company's income
was felt to be somewhat at risk from dividend reductions, the outlook for
dividends in the year ahead is much improved. The extent to which our dividend
payment is currently uncovered should therefore substantially reduce which is a
necessary pre-condition for the resumption of growth in our dividend pay-out.
The Directors are therefore proposing, as previously forecast, a maintained
final dividend of 5.95p per share for the year ended 31 December 2003, payable
on 21 May 2004 to Shareholders on the register at close of business on 23 April
2004, making a total distribution for the year of 16.3p.
The Board also now proposes that three interim dividends of 3.45p per share be
paid for the year to 31 December 2004, payable on 16 August 2004, 17 November
2004 and 16 February 2005.
B Ordinary Shareholders will receive a capitalisation in B Ordinary shares on 21
May 2004 amounting to 3.8449 B Ordinary shares for every hundred held at the
close of business on 23 April 2004, which is equivalent in Net Asset Value to
the recommended final dividend and three interim dividends for the current year.
The Board
As a consequence of the sad death, last year, of the Rt Hon Viscount Younger of
Leckie, the Board has carried out a search for a new Director. The Board was
very pleased to welcome Lady Balfour of Burleigh to the Board on 30 September
2003. Janet has a wide range of knowledge and experience. She is a writer and
consultant and is also on the Board of a number of Companies, including two
investment trusts.
Outlook
After a substantial recovery in global stockmarkets in 2003, there is a clear
need to meet market expectations of growth and profits. At the time of writing,
the signs seem reasonably good, as data is strong and various leading
indicators, such as surveys of investment intentions, hiring plans and
confidence generally, continue to improve. There are however, valid concerns
over the sustainability of the growth dynamic, particularly in the United
States. The issues here centre on the highly unusual starting point for this
economic cycle where the scale of current imbalances suggest a need for higher
domestic savings, a tightening of fiscal policy and a weaker dollar. The clear
implication of the balance of payments and budget deficits is that the current
means of delivering economic growth is unsustainable and a weaker dollar is only
part of the solution.
Nonetheless monetary and fiscal policies around the world will remain biased
towards economic growth and these are not currently constrained by too many
signs of inflationary pressure. It seems reasonable therefore to expect positive
returns from equity markets, albeit at a more subdued level than this past year,
with a preference for areas where there are fewer imbalances and therefore fewer
potential impediments to growth.
Murray International Trust PLC
Statement of Total Return (unaudited)
(incorporating the Revenue Account of the Company*)
For the year ended 31 December 2003
Year ended Year ended
31 December 2003 31 December 2002
Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
Gains/(losses) on - 68,823 68,823 - (92,403)(92,403)
investments
Income from 16,278 - 16,278 17,310 - 17,310
investments
Other income 515 - 515 208 - 208
Investment management (852) (1,994) (2,846) (1,033) (2,410) (3,443)
fees
Currency losses - (1,321) (1,321) - (4,847) (4,847)
Other expenses (995) - (995) (1,226) - (1,226)
-------- --------- ------- ------- -------- -------
Net return before
finance costs
and taxation 14,946 65,508 80,454 15,259 (99,660) (84,401)
Finance costs of (946) (2,208) (3,154) (1,067) (2,490) (3,557)
borrowing
-------- --------- ------- ------- -------- -------
Return on ordinary
activities
before tax 14,000 63,300 77,300 14,192 (102,150) (87,958)
Tax on ordinary (2,493) 1,918 (575) (2,141) 1,444 (697)
activities
-------- --------- ------- ------- -------- -------
Return attributable to
equity
Shareholders 11,507 65,218 76,725 12,051 (100,706) (88,655)
Ordinary dividends on(14,081) - (14,081) (14,052) - (14,052)
equity shares
-------- --------- ------- ------- -------- -------
Transfer (from)/to (2,574) 65,218 62,644 (2,001) (100,706)(102,707)
reserves
-------- --------- ------- ------- -------- -------
Return per ordinary 13.3 75.5 88.8 13.8 (115.5) (101.7)
share (pence)
-------- --------- ------- ------- -------- -------
Return per ordinary
share
Assuming full
conversion of the
B ordinary shares 13.1 74.5 87.6 13.6 (114.0) (100.4)
(pence)
-------- --------- ------- ------- -------- -------
* The revenue column of this statement is the profit and loss account of the
company.
Murray International Trust PLC
Balance Sheet (unaudited)
As at 31 December 2003
As at As at
31 December 2003 31 December 2002
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
Fixed assets
Investments 455,872 406,040
Current assets
Debtors 3,085 4,374
Cash and short term deposits 22,177 4,298
-------- -------
25,262 8,672
Creditors
Amounts falling due within one 34,367 18,239
year
-------- -------
Net current liabilities (9,105) (9,567)
------- -------
Total assets less current 446,767 396,473
liabilities
Creditors
Amounts falling due after more 75,375 87,725
than one year
------- -------
Net Assets 371,392 308,748
------- -------
Capital and reserves
Equity shareholders' interests:
Called up share capital 21,890 21,876
Share premium account 23 23
Capital redemption reserve 8,230 8,230
Capital reserve - realised 286,358 300,788
Capital reserve - unrealised 28,369 (51,265)
Revenue reserve 26,522 29,096
------- -------
Total equity Shareholders' 371,392 308,748
funds
------- -------
Net asset value per ordinary
and B ordinary share (pence) 424.2 352.8
Murray International Trust PLC
Cash Flow Statement (unaudited)
For the year ended 31 December 2003
Year ended Year ended
31 December 2003 31 December 2002
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
Operating activities
Investment income received 15,961 17,594
Deposit interest received 514 193
Underwriting commission 3 17
received
Investment management fees (2,800) (3,698)
paid
Secretarial fees paid (98) (106)
Cash paid to and on behalf of (51) (55)
directors
Other cash movements (1,007) (1,013)
------- --------
Net cash inflow from operating 12,522 12,932
activities
Returns on investments and
servicing of finance
Interest paid (3,138) (3,582)
Financial investment
Purchase of investments (86,370) (101,289)
Sale of investments 106,366 146,178
------- --------
Net cash inflow from financial 19,996 44,889
investment
Equity dividends paid (14,079) (14,244)
------- -------
Net cash inflow before 15,301 39,995
financing
Financing
Loans repaid - (78,000)
Loans drawn down - 60,000
Repurchase of ordinary shares (1) (8,021)
------- --------
Net cash outflow from (1) (26,021)
financing ------- -------
Increase in cash 15,300 13,974
------- -------
Notes:
1. A summary of the investment changes during the year and a list of the twenty
largest investments at 31 December 2003 are attached.
2. The issued share capital at 31 December 2003 was 86,412,599 ordinary shares
of 25p each and 1,147,599 B ordinary shares of 25p each.
3. Returns per share have been based on the following weighted average number of
ordinary shares in issue during each year.
Weighted average number of Ordinary shares 86,391,963
Weighted average number of Ordinary shares
assuming full conversion of the B Ordinary shares 87,539,611
4. The net asset value per ordinary and B ordinary share has been calculated
after deducting prior charges at nominal values.
5. The next date for conversion of the B ordinary shares to ordinary shares is
30 June 2004. The last date for receipt of certificates with the conversion
notice signed on the reverse is 23 June 2004.
6. If approved: (1) the proposed final dividend of 5.95p per share will be paid
on 21 May 2004 to holders of ordinary shares on the register at the close of
business on 23 April 2004; (2) in respect of the year ending 31 December 2004,
three interim dividends of 3.45p per share on the ordinary shares of the company
in issue on 25 June 2004 will be paid on 16 August 2004, 17 November 2004, and
16 February 2005 to the persons who, at the close of business on 23
July 2004, 22 October 2004, and 21 January 2005 respectively, are the holders of
such shares; and (3) definitive certificates in respect of the B ordinary
capitalisation issue will be posted on 21 May 2004 to B ordinary shareholders
on the register at the close of business on 23 April 2004.
7. The financial information contained within this Preliminary Announcement does
not constitute the company's statutory financial statements as defined in
Section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. The statutory financial statements for
the year ended 31 December 2002 have been delivered to the Registrar of
Companies and contained an audit report which was unqualified and did not
constitute statements under Sections 237(2) or (3) of the Companies
Act 1985.
This preliminary announcement has been prepared on the same basis as the prior
year's statutory financial statements.
The annual results will be circulated to shareholders in the form of an Annual
Report, copies of which will be available at the Company's registered office,
123 St Vincent Street, Glasgow.
8. The Annual General Meeting will be held on 29 April 2004.
ABERDEEN ASSET MANAGEMENT PLC
SECRETARY
5 February 2004
Copies of this announcement will be available to the public at the registered
office of the Company, 123 St Vincent Street, Glasgow G2 5EA.
MURRAY INTERNATIONAL TRUST PLC
SUMMARY OF INVESTMENT CHANGES
Valuation Appreciation Valuation
31 December Transactions (depreciation) 31 December
2002 2003
£'000 % £'000 £'000 £'000 %
Equities
United Kingdom 126,088 31.8 (2,090) 21,037 145,035 31.6
Americas 64,061 16.2 (186) 10,763 74,638 16.3
Europe & Africa 57,043 14.4 (221) 15,488 72,310 15.8
Japan 31,773 8.0 (296) 2,963 34,440 7.5
Middle East,
Far East & 23,914 6.0 6,716 14,481 45,111 9.8
Australasia ------- ------- --------- ---------- ------- -------
302,879 76.4 3,923 64,732 371,534 81.0
------- ------- --------- ---------- ------- -------
Fixed income
United Kingdom 64,142 16.2 (17,313) (1,173) 45,656 10.0
Europe & Africa 39,019 9.8 (5,601) 5,264 38,682 8.4
------- ------- --------- ---------- ------- -------
103,161 26.0 (22,914) 4,091 84,338 18.4
------- ------- --------- ---------- ------- -------
Other net assets (9,567) (2.4) 14,133 (1,682) 2,884 0.6
------- ------- --------- ---------- ------- -------
Total Assets* 396,473 100.0 (4,858) 67,141 458,756 100.0
------- ------- --------- ---------- ------- -------
* Represents total assets less current liabilities after excluding short-term
loans of Yen 2,300,000,000 £11,989,000) at 31 December 2003
Valuation
Summary of Net Assets 31 December
----------------------- 2003
£000 %
Equities 371,534 100.1
Fixed Income 84,338 22.7
Other Net Assets 2,884 0.7
Borrowings and prior capital (87,364) (23.5)
------- -------
Equity shareholders' interest 371,392 100.0
------- -------
Investment Portfolio
As at 31 December 2003
Total
Valuation Assets
Investment £'000 (%)
--------- -----------
Atrium Underwriting (UK) 18,546 4.0
GlaxoSmithKline (UK) 11,456 2.5
BP (UK) 11,325 2.5
Shell Transport & Trading (UK) 10,624 2.3
March 2004 S & P Future (USA) 10,392 2.3
Vodafone Group (UK) ** 10,366 2.2
Royal Bank of Scotland (UK) 7,242 1.6
AstraZeneca (UK) 6,700 1.5
Petrochina (China) 6,422 1.4
Barclays (UK) ** 6,093 1.3
Abbey National (UK) ** 6,022 1.3
HSBC Holdings (UK) ** 5,970 1.3
Petrobras ADR (Brazil) 5,956 1.3
British American Tobacco (UK)** 5,743 1.2
GUS (UK) ** 4,725 1.0
Volvo (Ab) Ser B ** 4,522 1.0
Aviva 4,108 0.9
Sainsbury (J) 3,941 0.9
Tenaris ADR (Mexico) 3,918 0.9
United Health Group (USA) 3,736 0.8
--------- -----------
Top Twenty Investments 147,807 32.2
--------- -----------
**Holding comprises equity and fixed income securities
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange