Final Results
Finsbury Worldwide Pharm Tst PLC
20 June 2002
To: City Editors For immediate release
Thursday 20 June 2002
Finsbury Worldwide Pharmaceutical Trust PLC
Finsbury Worldwide Pharmaceutical Trust PLC today announces preliminary results
for the year ended 31 March 2002 which showed a 6.5% increase in net asset value
per share.
Financial Highlights Year ended Year ended
31 March 2002 31 March 2001 %
(unaudited) (audited) change
Total Assets(i) £269.0m £238.1m 13.0
Shareholders' Funds £219.1m £202.3m 8.3
Net asset value per share 557.6p 523.6p 6.5
Share price 571.5p 495.5p 15.3
Premium/(discount) 2.4% (5.4)% -
Datastream Pharmaceuctical 8,049.1 7,753.3 3.8
Index (total return, sterling adjusted)
(i) including bank loans/overdrafts
Net asset value per share As at 17 June 2002
(unaudited)
438.2p
Chairman, Sir Stuart Burgess, commented:
'This has been another good year for the Trust with net assets per share
outperforming the benchmark index and maintaining the unbroken sequence of
annual increases since the Company's formation in 1995.
'The Board believes the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors will remain an
attractive area for long-term investment despite the present difficult market
conditions.'
The Directors are proposing a final dividend of 1.6p (2001: 2.0p) per Ordinary
share, payable on 16 August 2002 to equity shareholders on the register of
members at the close of business on 28 June 2002.
- ENDS -
The following are attached:
• Chairman's Statement
• Statement of Total Return
• Balance Sheet for the Company
• Cash Flow Statement
• Notes
For further information please contact:-
Alastair Smith Close Finsbury Asset Management Limited 020 7426 6240
Fiona Harris Quill Communications 020 7763 6970
Sir Stuart Burgess Chairman 01494 431579
FINSBURY WORLDWIDE PHARMACEUTICAL TRUST PLC
2002 Chairman's Statement
Performance
The Company has had another good year despite the generally difficult market
conditions and unusual turbulence during the period. Net assets per share grew
by 6.5% from 523.6p to 557.6p representing an out-performance of 2.7% against
the Company's benchmark index, the Datastream Worldwide Pharmaceutical Index
(total return). This is the sixth consecutive annual rise in net assets per
share bringing the aggregate increase since the Company's formation in 1995 to
481% compared with 262% for the benchmark index.
The Company's relatively strong performance contributed to a 15.3% increase in
the share price during the year and throughout the year shares generally traded
at a premium.
I am delighted that the Company's excellent track record has been recognised by
Standard & Poor's 2002 award for the best Trust in the Specialist BioTech and
Life Sciences sector.
The Trust's performance since the end of March 2002 has been disappointing. The
combination of a sharp downturn in the general equity market with specific
factors affecting selected pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies has
produced a significant drop in net assets. On 17 June the value of net assets
per share was 438.2p. The underlying fundamentals of the worldwide
pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, however, remain intact and the Board
believes that these will continue to offer an attractive long-term investment.
Gearing
As at 31 March 2002, the Trust's loan facility of £50 million was fully drawn
down and invested in the stock market, making borrowings 19% of total assets.
Share Issues
With the shares trading at a premium to net asset value for much of the year,
the Company has been able to issue a total of 650,000 shares at a small premium
to net asset value, raising approximately £3.8 million. The Board intends to
issue further shares as and when appropriate opportunities arise.
Marketing
During the year we have continued the targeted shareholder relations programme
started in 2000 to promote the Company to intermediaries and to discretionary
private client managers. The success of the programme has resulted in a 20%
increase in the shares held within Close Finsbury's retail plans and increasing
interest in the shares by private investors generally.
The Board continues to support promotions of the Company's shares by way of
specific marketing initiatives to broaden the shareholder base.
Revenue and Dividends
Total revenue for the year rose to over £2.0 million (2001: £1.9 million) and
the Board is proposing a final dividend of 1.6 per share (2001: 2.0p) which will
maintain the Company's investment trust status. The dividend will, subject to
shareholders' approval, be payable on 16 August 2002 to shareholders on the
register on 28 June 2002.
Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting of the Company will be held at the offices of Close
Finsbury Asset Management Limited on 8 August 2002. I do hope as many
shareholders as possible will attend. This will be an opportunity not just to
meet with the Board but also to hear from the Company's investment adviser, Mr
Samuel Isaly.
Sir Stuart Burgess
Chairman
20 June 2002
Finsbury Worldwide Pharmaceutical Trust PLC
Statement of Total Return
Incorporating the revenue account for the year ended 31 March
2002
Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total
2002 2002 2002 2001 2001 2001
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
Gains on investments - 21,826 21,826 - 38,765 38,765
Exchange losses on currency balances - (21) (21) - (1,461) (1,461)
Income 1,974 - 1,974 1,856 - 1,856
Investment management and performance
fees - (6,965) (6,965) - (3,388) (3,388)
Other expenses (739) (231) (970) (523) (366) (898)
Net return before finance costs and 1,235 14,609 15,844 1,324 33,550 34,874
taxation
Interest payable and similar charges - (2,001) (2,001) - (1,414) (1,414)
Return on ordinary activities before 1,235 12,608 13,843 1,324 32,136 33,460
taxation
Taxation on ordinary activities (394) 142 (252) (368) 153 (215)
Return on ordinary activities after 841 12,750 13,591 956 32,289 33,245
taxation
Dividends on Ordinary shares (equity) (629) - (629) (773) - (773)
Transfer to reserves 212 12,750 12,962 183 32,289 32,472
Return per Ordinary share - pence 2.2p 32.7p 34.9p 2.5p 83.6p 86.1p
Finsbury Worldwide Pharmaceutical Trust PLC
Balance Sheet
As at 31 March 2002
2002 2001
£'000 £'000
Fixed asset investments 264,628 252,836
Current assets
Debtors 2,815 275
Cash at bank 5,769 2,731
8,584 3,006
Creditors
Amounts falling due within one year (54,141) (53,516)
Net current liabilities (45,557) (50,510)
Net assets 219,071 202,326
Capital and reserves
Share capital 9,823 9,660
Share premium account 46,763 43,143
Capital reserve - realised 88,449 76,793
Capital reserve - unrealised 73,248 72,154
Capital redemption reserve 375 375
Revenue reserve 413 201
Total equity shareholders' funds 219,071 202,326
Net asset value per Ordinary share 557.6p 523.6p
Finsbury Worldwide Pharmaceutical Trust PLC
Cash Flow Statement
For the year ended 31 March 2002
2002 2001
£'000 £'000
Net cash outflow from operating activities (18,952) (3,907)
Servicing of finance
Interest paid (2,076) (1,540)
Taxation
Taxation recovered 25 30
Financial investments
Purchases of investments (85,722) (83,592)
Sales of investments 92,643 66,711
6,921 (16,881)
Equity dividends paid (773) (155)
Net cash outflow before financing (14,855) (22,453)
Financing
Increase in short term loans 14,131 13,144
Issue of Ordinary shares 3,783 -
Net cash inflow from financing 17,914 13,144
Increase/(decrease) in cash for the year 3,059 (9,309)
Notes:
1. These accounts are not statutory accounts as defined by
section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. Statutory accounts for the 12 months
ended 31 March 2001 have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies and
received an audit report which was unqualified and did not contain statements
under Section 237 (2) and (3) of the Companies Act 1985. Statutory accounts for
the 12 months ended 31 March 2002 will be delivered to the Registrar of
Companies.
2. The accounts have been prepared under the same accounting
policies as the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2001.
Close Finsbury Asset Management Limited - Secretary
20 June 2002
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