Interim Results
North Atlantic Smlr Co Inv Tst PLC
25 September 2000
Interim Report (for the six months to 31 July 2000)
Manager's Review
During the six month period the Trust's fully-diluted net asset value per
Ordinary Share increased by 22.9% to 735p. This compares with a rise in the
Sterling-adjusted Standard and Poor's Composite Index of 10.6% and a rise in
the Sterling-adjusted Russell 2000 of 8.7%.
Interim Results
The results for the six months to 31 July 2000 show a net loss of £264,000
(1999 net revenue profit of £372,000). The Directors do not recommend the
payment of a dividend (1999: nil).
Quoted Investments
The quoted portfolio performed well during the period with Redbus Interhouse
(formerly Horace Small) in particular doing notably well. Allied Textiles was
taken over at an 80% profit and the holding in Wembley sold at a good profit.
Denison rose sharply following the first quarter results although this was to
some extent offset by weaknesses in Lonrho Africa and Stratagem. Finally
Arinco, a recent purchase, also performed well, rising nearly 400% since
purchase.
Unquoted Investments
The only new investments during the period under review were Claims Direct and
Executive Air Support.
Claims Direct was bought and subsequently sold for a profit of just over 200%
yielding a net profit to the Trust of approximately £5 million. This was to
some extent off-set by write-offs in Whitworth, Gateway and Southern Dental
although it is expected that there will be modest recoveries in all these
investments. The current environment for unquoteds is extremely competitive
and although we are working on four transactions, there can be no assurances
that any of these will close. A number of the current investments are
expected to go public, complete further rounds of financing or be sold and I
have a high degree of confidence that the portfolio will continue to perform
well over the balance of the year.
Executive Air Support was set up to take advantage of the opportunity to build
a significant business in the FBO industry (Fixed Base Operator). These
companies provide service to the business jet market in the United States
which is experiencing growth in the region of 6-7% per annum. The company has
completed three small acquisitions and is currently in negotiations to make a
major acquisition in the near future.
Finally, Wildfire Communications and Dewhurst Butchers were both sold for a
good profit although the impact on the Trust was limited as they were
relatively small investments.
The Future
Inflation and interest rates are rising and, in my view, stock markets
continue to look fairly valued based on historical valuation methodologies.
The Trust has invested in a number of new investments which I believe will
benefit the net asset value over the coming period and I look forward to the
balance of the year with some optimism.
C H B Mills
Chief Executive
Consolidated Statement of Total Return (incorporating the revenue account*)
for the six months to 31 July
Six months to Six months to
31 July 2000 31 July 1999
Restated**
(Unaudited) (Unaudited)
Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
Net gains on
investments - 29,512 29,512 - 16,873 16,873
Premium on repurchase of
Loan Stock - - - - (9,870) (9,870)
Income 2,071 - 2,071 1,878 - 1,878
Investment management
fee (675) - (675) (376) - (376)
Performance fee^ (724) - (724) - - -
Other expenses (454) - (454) (538) - (538)
-------- ------- -------- -------- ------- ------
Net return before finance
costs & taxation 218 29,512 29,730 964 7,003 7,967
Interest payable and
similar charges (446) - (446) (505) - (505)
-------- ------- -------- -------- ------- ------
Return on ordinary activities
before taxation (228) 29,512 29,284 459 7,003 7,462
Taxation on ordinary
activities (36) - (36) (87) - (87)
-------- ------- -------- -------- ------- ------
Return on ordinary activities after
taxation for the period
(264) 29,512 29,248 372 7,003 7,375
-------- ------- ------- -------- ------- ------
Return per Ordinary Share:
Basic (2.45)p 273.79p 271.34p 3.45p 65.08p 68.53p
Diluted (1.03)p 141.28p 140.25p 1.91p 33.73p 35.64p
Year to
31 January 2000
Restated**
(Audited)
Revenue Capital Total
£'000 £'000 £'000
Net gains on
investments - 18,782 18,782
Premium on repurchase of
Loan Stock - (9,870) (9,870)
Income 3,131 - 3,131
Investment management
fee (767) - (767)
Performance fee^ - - -
Other expenses (1,222) - (1,222)
--------- ------- ---------
Net return before finance costs
and taxation 1,142 8,912 10,054
Interest payable and
similar charges (1,014) - (1,014)
--------- ------- ---------
Return on ordinary activities
before taxation 128 8,912 9,040
Taxation on ordinary
activities (76) - (76)
--------- ------- --------
Return on ordinary activities
after taxation for the period
52 8,912 8,964
--------- ------- --------
Return per Ordinary Share:
Basic 0.48p 82.74p 83.22p
Diluted 0.48p 41.66p 42.14p
* The revenue column of this statement is the consolidated revenue account of
the Group.
** See note 1.
^ See note 2.
Summarised Consolidated Balance Sheet
31 July 31 January 31 July
2000 2000 1999
(Unaudited) (Audited) (Unaudited)
£'000 £'000 £'000
Fixed asset investments* 152,996 135,595 134,947
Net current assets/
(liabilities) 10,643 (499) (2,482)
--------- ---------- ---------
Total assets less current
liabilities 163,639 135,096 132,465
Creditors: amounts falling due after
more than one year
Bank loans 9,338 10,043 9,005
Debenture loan - Convertible Unsecured
Loan Stock 2013 486 486 486
--------- ----------- ---------
153,815 124,567 122,974
--------- ----------- ---------
Capital and reserves:
Share capital 539 539 538
Share premium account 629 629 629
Capital reserve 152,507 122,995 121,086
Revenue reserve 130 394 714
--------- ----------- --------
Equity shareholders' funds 153,805 124,557 122,967
Minority interests 10 10 7
--------- ----------- --------
153,815 124,567 122,974
--------- ----------- --------
* See note 3.
Summarised Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
Six months to Year to
31 July 2000 31 January 2000
(unaudited) (audited)
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
Net cash inflow from operating activities 34 1,350
Net cash outflow from servicing of finance (377) (1,023)
Taxation recovered/(paid)in the period 1 (18)
Investing activities
Purchases of investments (68,648) (70,172)
Sales of investments (including option 77,451 80,020
premiums ------- ------
Net cash inflow from investing activities 8,803 9,848
----- -----
Net cash inflow before financing 8,461 10,157
----- -----
Financing
Repurchase of Loan Stock for cancellation - (120)
Premiums paid on repurchase of Loan Stock - (9,870)
Net increase in fixed term borrowings 1,199 1,482
Net cash inflow/(outflow) from financing 1,199 (8,508)
----- -----
Increase in cash 9,660 1,649
----- -----
NOTES
1. Basis of preparation
The figures for the half year to 31 July 2000 have been prepared on a basis
consistent with the accounting policies set out within the audited accounts
for the year ended 31 January 2000, with the exception of taxation. The
taxation charge has been calculated in accordance with the recently issued
Financial Reporting Standard No.16: 'Current Tax', and consequently the
comparative figures for income and taxation have been restated to reflect this
change. The return after taxation for the period remains unchanged.
2. Performance fees
As set out in the Annual Report, a performance fee, payable to Growth
Financial Services Limited in respect of C H B Mills, is calculated annually
to 31 March. This fee is only payable if the investment portfolio outperforms
the sterling-adjusted S & P Composite Index, and is limited to a maximum
payment of 0.5% of Shareholders' funds. A fee became payable in respect of
the year to 31 March 2000 and has been charged to the revenue account.
3. Distribution of fixed asset investments
31 July 2000 31 January 2000 31 July 1999
£'000 £'000 £'000
Listed at market value:
Overseas 30,030 29,784 38,178
United Kingdom 50,564 42,468 37,503
Listed at Directors' valuation 9,721 8,393 9,445
-------- -------- -------
Total listed investments 90,315 80,645 85,126
Unlisted at market value 12,045 11,645 13,058
Unlisted at Directors' valuation 50,636 43,305 36,763
-------- -------- -------
Total fixed asset investments 152,996 135,595 134,947
-------- -------- -------
4. Net asset value per Ordinary Share
The consolidated basis of calculation of the fully diluted net asset value
includes current period revenue and takes into account both the full
conversion of all of the 2013 Loan Stock outstanding at the period end and
also assumes the conversion of all 900,000 management options at the
prevailing exercise prices, giving 14,194,861 potential Ordinary Shares in
issue at the period end (1999: 13,813,791).
5. Financial information
The financial information shown above does not constitute full statutory
accounts as defined in Section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. The financial
information for the six months ended 31 July 1999 and 31 July 2000 has not
been audited.
The information for the year ended 31 January 2000 has been extracted from the
latest published audited financial statements, which have been filed with the
Registrar of Companies and restated to reflect the requirements of Financial
Reporting Standard No.16: 'Current Tax'. The report of the auditors on those
accounts contained no qualification or statement under sections 237(2) or (3)
of the Companies Act 1985.
A copy of the Interim Report will be sent to Shareholders shortly and will be
available on request from the Company Secretary, J O Hambro Capital Management
Limited at Ground Floor, Ryder Court, 14 Ryder Street, London SW1Y 6QB.