Final Results

Africa Opportunity Fund Limited (AOF.L) Announcement of Annual Results for the year to 31 December 2008 The Board of AOF is pleased to announce its audited results for the year ended 31 December 2008. The Company Africa Opportunity Fund Limited ("AOF" or the "Company") is a Cayman Islands incorporated closed-end investment company traded on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange and is also listed and traded on the Channel Islands Stock Exchange ("CISX"). Its net asset value on December 31, 2008 was US$ 59.1 million and its market capitalization was US$32.3 million. Chairman's Statement 2008 Review 2008 was a difficult year for both world markets and the Africa Opportunity Fund Ltd ("the Fund" or "AOF"). AOF 's audited net asset value fell from $0.96 per share at the beginning of the year to $0.51 per share on 31 December 2008. Including dividends, the total NAV return was a loss of 43%. To provide some basis for comparison, in Africa Nigeria fell 54%, South Africa fell 45%, Kenya fell 47%, and Egypt fell 54%. In non-African emerging markets, China fell 63%, Brazil fell 55%, Russia fell 73%, and India fell 49%. In developed markets, Japan fell 29%, the US fell 39%, and the UK fell 49%.1 A key disappointment in 2008 was the lack of protection provided by AOF's fixed income investments. Although the portfolio was weighted equally between equity and debt, the overall NAV return was more in line with an all-equity portfolio. Despite our recognition of the widening impact of the global credit contraction soon after the Fund's launch in 2007, and specific comment on it in the 2008 Chairman's statement, we did not anticipate either the severity of the contraction or its outsized impact on African and other developing markets. Benjamin Graham and David Dodd wrote in 1934 that one of the most disturbing features of the 1927-1933 period "is not.wild gyrations of the common-stock averages but the precipitate decline in the bond averages.which constitutes the really novel and arresting feature of recent financial history-at least from the standpoint of investment logic and practice". 2 Similarly for AOF, 2008 provided an important lesson that was last taught some 80 years ago: in a liquidity driven panic, the correlation of various securities moves towards 1.0 and the diversification benefits of holding different asset classes is severely diminished. Looking forward over a longer time horizon, it is our opinion that holding different asset classes will provide significant risk-adjusted benefits to shareholders of AOF. Our conviction is based on the fact that while AOF's fixed income portfolio is now priced to provide equity returns it also enjoys the seniority of a fixed income security. As of 31 December, AOF's debt investments were priced collectively at 50% of par with a 21% current yield. At that valuation, half of the debt portfolio could default with a recovery of zero and half could mature normally, and AOF would still earn a double digit return based solely on coupon payments. Meanwhile, in the equity portfolio, AOF holds several companies that are market leaders with little or no debt and significant free cash generating capacity. Yet, the equity portfolio was valued at year end on a single digit PE multiple and a double digit dividend yield. With many holdings earning a return on equity in excess of 25%, it is reasonable to anticipate that our equities portfolio could double in market value over the next three years. In December AOF concluded a prime brokerage relationship with Newedge, a joint venture between the French banks Societe General and Calyon. Our relationship with Newedge allows AOF to engage in short sales or trade derivatives such as options and futures. In retrospect, we would have benefited from having those hedging tools at our disposal in 2008. Amidst the turmoil that consumed the prime brokerage community at the end of the year, AOF is pleased to have the support of Newedge and we look forward to working with them in the future. Permit me to end my 2008 review with one additional comment. Certainly Francis Daniels and I, as principals of the Manager, made our share of mistakes and we have been humbled by the market collapse and AOF losses. Furthermore, we are painfully aware that the most apt historical analogy to 2008 is found in the troubled 1930s. The reasons for caution today are numerous, to say the least, and worrisome imbalances persist in the world's debt position and trade patterns. Still, Africa shines as a growing continent. Africa's growth prospects combined with the continuing dislocations in several markets are throwing up some of the most attractive investment opportunities we have encountered in our careers. We make no forecast about the general direction of markets, but are encouraged by the deep value that has been revealed. Tender Offer Warren Buffet has written more than once that companies often "get the shareholders they deserve".3 In this regard, 2008 was another learning experience. When Francis and I set out to launch AOF in 2007, we had certain investors pushing us to increase the size of the Fund. Soon after launch, many of those investors urged AOF to invest quickly. Indeed, we were criticized at an investor conference held in early 2008 by some shareholders for being too cautious in our selection of investments. When the market declines intensified in September and October 2008, some of our largest shareholders requested a return of their money. Rather than viewing the market fall as a great investing opportunity, these shareholders found themselves in desperate need for liquidity. Thus, as the Fund's NAV declined, a substantial discount to net asset value materialized. At the end of the year the shares closed at $0.28, an astonishing 47% below the NAV of $0.52. The Manager and AOF's Board found this rather perplexing. It may be historic to see world markets down by over 40% in a synchronous fashion, but seeing Africa down this much should not have surprised anyone. In fact, if asked to estimate the probability that African markets could decline 30% in a year, we would answer 20%. In other words, it is reasonable to expect it to happen one year out of five. AOF's large discount confirmed that AOF's shares did not benefit from trading on two markets. As a result, AOF delisted from the Channel Islands Stock Exchange early in 2009 to reduce related expenses. During the last months of the year, Francis and I substantially increased our investment in the Fund. At the launch I purchased 2 million shares and Francis purchased 1 million shares. As of the end of 2008 I own 8.2 million shares and Francis owns 2.1 million shares. It is an article of faith for Francis and I that AOF exists for the benefit of its shareholders. When we realized that over 50% of its shareholders needed an exit, we conducted a tender offer in February 2009 that allowed each and every shareholder to redeem 100% of their holding. In my career I have never seen a company voluntarily conduct such a tender. There existed a very real possibility that the members of the Board of AOF would have ended up as the only shareholders. As it turned out, fully 37% of shareholders chose to remain invested with AOF. There are now 42.6 million shares outstanding, and collectively Francis and I own over 23%. Returning to Warren Buffet's observation, AOF now finds itself with a smaller but recommitted shareholder base: one which recognizes a discount to NAV as an opportunity, and recognizes that investing in Africa involves risk. It is a shareholder base, in other words, that we will work hard to deserve. Thank you for your steadfast support. Robert C. Knapp Chairman June 2009 1 Reference Indexes are calculated in US dollars using : Nigeria NSE Index, South Africa Allshare, Nairobi NSE Index, Egypt Hermes Index, Russia MICEX Index, Brazil IBOV Index, the Shanghai composite index, the India SENSEX Index, the S&P 500, the FTSE 100, and the Nikkei 225. 2 Benjamin Graham and David Dodd, Security Analysis, (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1934), p. 3. 3 See for example the 1979 Annual Report of Berkshire Hathaway, Chairman's Letter, which states: "In large part, companies obtain the shareholder constituency that they seek and deserve. If they focus their thinking and communications on short-term results or short-term stock market consequences they will, in large part, attract shareholders who focus on the same factors..." Manager's Report The Fund became fully invested in 2008. Its end-of-year holdings were in Angola, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Tanzania, Senegal, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. It had $25.4 million invested in debt securities, $31.7 million in equity securities, and $2.7 million in cash. The fears expressed in last year's report by Africa Opportunity Partners ("we") about the spreading dramatic contraction in credit and the high valuations on African stock markets were confirmed by the steep declines in most African asset prices in 2008. In light of those fears, we sought to maintain the capital value of the Fund's portfolio by investing in debt securities denominated mainly in African currencies such as the Tanzanian Shilling, the Ghanaian Cedi, the Zambian Kwacha and the CFA Franc, coupled with equity investments in industries expected to expand rapidly in Africa over the next decade. Unfortunately, our fears were more than realized and our expectations confounded. 2008 ended with the US Dollar strengthening against most currencies and credit markets in virtual ice. The prices of many of the Company's debt investments fell significantly, as did the Company's investments in companies dependent on future access to the capital markets. Most of the Fund's losses were concentrated in the categories of African sovereign debt, high yield corporate debt, and equity securities issued by development stage resource companies. By the end of the year, the Company's debt portfolio was valued at a 50% discount to its par value, had a current yield of 21%, and a yield to maturity of 50%. Its equity portfolio traded on a dividend yield of 6.3% and the overall portfolio's free cash yield was 13.5%. The 50% discount to par valuation for AOF's debt portfolio implies that AOF's portfolio comprises distressed securities. Admittedly, since year end, one debt instrument experienced a delay in the payment of interest which has been cured. Nevertheless, to date, AOF has not suffered any impairment in its debt portfolio. Yet, the market behaves as if it believes that there is a 100% probability of default in the case of some of our investments, with the probability that AOF would recover only 33% of its investment. We use one bond in the Fund's portfolio to illustrate the deep skepticism confronting some of our debt instruments. AOF invested $3.8 million in Marine Subsea bonds maturing in February 2012. Those bonds were valued at $1.25 million at the end of the year, or 32% of par. AOF's bonds are part of a $110.5 million bond issue which is secured by a 1st priority mortgage on a construction support barge and a second priority mortgage on a well intervention vessel to be used in the offshore oil industry of Angola. Both vessels are scheduled for delivery to Marine Subsea in the second half of 2009 after settlement of final installment fees due to the shipyard. The barge has a construction cost of $30 million and the intervention vessel a cost of approximately $140 million. The intervention vessel has a 10 year contract with Sonangol guaranteeing approximately $30 million per year in ebitda, and Marine Subsea already has two similar barges working in Angolan waters. Marine Subsea announced in 2009 that it has a funding shortfall to complete the purchase and fitting out of its vessels of about $50 million. We expect the final figure to be higher. But at 32% of par, the bond is valued at $35 million, which is 1.2X a single year's ebitda from the Sonangal contract, and the money required for completion could assume the position of 1st lien against $140 million of construction cost. In short, although asset values have fallen and vessel utilizations in the oil services sector have fallen, in our view these bond prices bear little relation to the business prospects and long term contracts that Marine Subsea has in place. While the situation is difficult, we believe the market is being too pessimistic. Turbulent market conditions either confirm or confute an investor's argument in support of a specific investment. We did make some investing errors last year. For example, it is clear to us that, in the case of African sovereign issuers, we underestimated their willingness to maintain sober budgetary disciplines in the face of elections in a year of rising food and oil prices. Thus, the Ghana government ran a budget deficit exceeding 10 per cent of its Gross Domestic Product with harmful effects on the external value of the Cedi against the US Dollar. Our Ghanaian government bond holdings endured not just material depreciation against the US Dollar, but also a loss of value because the yield to maturity of local currency denominated Ghanaian government debt obligations soared over 20%. The development stage investments of AOF had an exceedingly poor year. As credit contracted globally, the first to feel it were companies dependent upon the capital markets to fund their work programs. The mix of weak commodity prices proved lethal, and AOF had two investments which became insolvent. Our response was to refocus on companies with strong balance sheets and the ability to fund themselves through an extended downturn. At the end of 2008, with the exception of Moto Gold and Zimplats, all the equity holdings of AOF were, and remain, strong free cash flow generators which utilize modest amounts of debt. In addition, 27% of AOF's fixed income portfolio was AAA rated. So, 2008 ended with AOF's portfolio possessing a robust ability to generate free cash. The remainder of this report comprises commentary on some of AOF's larger equity investments and a restatement of the Manager's investment philosophy. Sonatel. This Senegalese integrated telephone operator listed on the Bourse Regionale de Valeurs Mobiliers continues to be AOF's largest investment. Its subscribers grew by 43% in 2008 to 7.3 million. Sonatel has operations in Senegal, Mali, Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau. It has 100% of Senegal's fixed line market, 90% of Senegal's internet market, 71% of Senegal's mobile telephony market, 84% of Mali's telephony market, 23% of Guinea's mobile telephony market, and 16% of the mobile telephony market in Guinea-Bissau. Lest one concludes from Sonatel's market share that its earnings potential is near saturation, it is worth remembering that Senegal's penetration rate for mobile telephony is about 43%. That ratio compares with an 80% penetration rate in South Africa. At 29.6% for the 2008 financial year, Sonatel's net margin was the second highest in Africa. It had the second highest operating cash flow per telephone subscriber in Africa of $69, the lowest debt to equity ratio in its industry of 14.5%, a debt to total assets ratio of 8.9%; and a return on equity of 31.8%. Yet, as of May 29, 2009, with an enterprise value around $2.4 billion and a market capitalization of $2.3 billion, it had the second lowest African telephone operator valuation with a Price/Earnings ratio of 7.7 and an enterprise value per subscriber of $332. AOF has lost money so far on its investment in Sonatel. But, we are happy to own it because it is a rapidly growing safe and cheap company. Gold Fields. At a price of 110 Rands per share on May 29, 2009 and an enterprise value around $9.36 billion, Gold Fields, the 4th largest gold producer in the world, was valued at less than 50% of the present value of the cash flow that will be generated from its existing reserves (assuming a gold price of $950). In essence, even if the gold price stays flat, AOF should earn an attractive return, and if the gold price rises, we would not have paid anything for the option to earn a higher return. We will also benefit from any reduction in US Dollar denominated production costs, which would result if the Rand loses value against the US Dollar. Gold Fields has 61.9 million gold ounces of proved and probable reserves and 156.8 million gold ounces in resources. It mines gold in South Africa, Ghana, Peru, and Australia. Gold Fields had a bearable debt/equity ratio of 24% at the end of 2008. It has the challenge of refinancing more than half of that debt by 2011. It is expanding annual production to a target of 4 million ounces in the same year that it reduces both its maintenance capital expenditure and production costs per ounce. We anticipate that it should generate at least $150 per ounce in free cash flow at a gold price around $900 per ounce and a Rand/Dollar exchange rate of 10. Gold Fields is the cheapest of the large gold producers. African Bank Investment Limited. African Bank Investments Limited ("African Bank") is the largest consumer finance company in South Africa and Africa. It grants unsecured loans to individuals, loans secured by furniture to individuals, and sells furniture. Its customers are members of the emerging middle class to whom it provides loans of an average size of 7,000 Rands (or $700). By acquiring a company called Ellerines Holdings, it has entered the furniture retail market in South Africa. The market has been uncomfortable with the pace of integration of Ellerines' stores into African Bank, especially as the consumer sector of South Africa is in recession. However, African Bank's 1639 branches constitutes the largest financial branch network in South Africa. Unlike the four major commercial South African banks, it has no exposure to the mortgage market. Its funding strategy is rare. It funds itself long term to make loans of shorter duration. As of the end of September 2008, its ratio of tangible shareholders equity to assets was 27.5%. African Bank's tier 1 capital adequacy ratio was 21%. That high capital ratio permits African Bank to incur high non-performing loans and bad debts in its market. It has a return on average assets of 7.6% and a return on average equity of 21.0%. African Bank had a market capitalization on May 29 of 20.6 billion Rands. It traded on a Price/Earnings ratio of 12.8 and a Price/Book ratio of 1.75 and a Price/Tangible Book of 3.79. Addax Petroleum. Addax Petroleum ("Addax") is the largest independent oil producer in Nigeria. Addax also produces oil from Gabon and has development assets in Nigeria, Gabon, and Kurdistan. AOF owns some convertible bonds and common stock issued by Addax. Addax is listed on the Toronto and London stock exchanges and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. The enterprise value of Addax at the end of 2008 was $4.1 billion, of which $1.5 billion constituted debt. It has 536.7 million barrels of proved and probable oil reserves, annual 2008 daily production of 136,500 barrels of oil, and net profits of $774.9 million. 80% of its production comes from the Nigerian Delta and the balance from Gabon. Addax trades on a historical Price/Earnings ratio of 3.5 and an enterprise value per barrel of reserves of $9 at the end of the year. Even after taking into account the current low prices of crude oil, those valuations are substantially lower than those of other top African oil producers. Once again, we end with a restatement of our investing philosophy. The key elements of the investment strategy for AOF are: Material discounts to intrinsic value: AOF invests primarily where and when an investment can be made at a material discount to the Manager's estimate of that investment's intrinsic value. Company preference: AOF prefers companies which demonstrate both high real returns on assets and an earnings yield higher than the yield to maturity of local currency denominated government debt. Industry focus rather than country focus: AOF seeks to invest in industries it finds attractive with little regard to national borders. National resource discounts: AOF seeks natural resource companies whose market valuations reflect a discount to the spot and future world market prices for those natural resources. "Turnaround" countries: The African continent is home to a large number of reforming or "turnaround" countries. "Turnaround" countries combine secular political reform with the opening of industries to private sector participation. Balkanized investment landscape: AOF seeks to invest in companies with low valuations in relation to peers across the continent and uses an arbitrage approach to provide attractive investment returns. Point of entry: AOF seeks the most favorable risk adjusted point of entry into a capital structure, whether through financing the establishment of a new company or acquiring the debt or listed equity of an established company. Africa offers several attractive investment opportunities. The continuing turmoil in credit markets has revealed a number of debt instruments trading at prices which offer equity-like returns. So, despite the difficult experience of 2008, we consider African debt instruments to constitute a fruitful investment arena. We remain interested in industries which have products in short supply in Africa that rely more on the domestic African economy than the global economy. In addition, we think there are attractive investment opportunities in countries recovering from severe civil discord or civil war. We shall continue to build a portfolio that delivers both capital growth and income to the shareholders of AOF. Francis Daniels Africa Opportunity Partners June 2009 AFRICA OPPORTUNITY FUND LIMITED CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2008 Note 2008 2007 USD USD Revenue Interest income 6,150,183 2,481,336 Dividend income 1,606,923 - Other income 139,595 - 7,896,701 2,481,336 Expenses Management fee 2,010,654 1,057,414 Custodian, secretarial and administration fees 549,410 616,912 Brokerage fees and commissions 485,588 45,028 Audit fees 52,500 34,500 Directors' fees 120,000 54,658 Other operating expenses 129,362 186,027 Losses on financial assets at fair value through profit or loss 53,856,788 656,347 Realised exchange loss 679,503 - 57,883,805 2,650,886 Loss for the period (49,987,104) (169,550) Attributable to: Equity holders of the Company (49,658,231) (166,028) Minority interest (328,873) (3,522) (49,987,104) (169,550) Basic loss per share for loss attributable to the equity holders of the Company during the period (0.4056) (0.0013) AFRICA OPPORTUNITY FUND LIMITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2008 Notes 2008 2007 USD USD ASSETS Held-to-maturity financial assets - 4,535,754 Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss 57,140,459 52,632,051 Trade and other receivables 1,294,247 2,553,189 Cash and cash equivalents 2,671,415 61,827,336 Total assets 61,106,121 121,548,330 EQUITY AND LIABILITIES Equity attributable to equity holders of the parent Share capital 3 1,155,100 1,250,000 Share premium 107,741,068 119,489,981 Retained losses (49,824,259) (166,028) Shareholders' interests 59,071,909 120,573,953 Minority interest 417,605 746,478 Total equity 59,489,514 121,320,431 LIABILITIES Trade and other payables 1,616,607 227,899 Total equity and liabilities 61,106,121 121,548,330 AFRICA OPPORTUNITY FUND LIMITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2008 ATTRIBUTABLE TO EQUITY HOLDERS OF THE PARENT Issued Share Retained Minority Total capital premium losses Total interest Equity USD USD USD USD USD USD Issue of shares 1,250,000 123,750,000 - 125,000,000 - 125,000,000 Issue costs - (4,260,019) - (4,260,019) - (4,260,019) Capital contribution - - - - 750,000 750,000 Loss for the period - - (166,028) (166,028) (3,522) (169,550) At 31 December 2007 1,250,000 119,489,981 (166,028) 120,573,953 746,478 121,320,431 Shares buy back (94,900) (6,262,650) - (6,357,550) - (6,357,550) Loss for the year - - (49,658,231) (49,658,231) (328,873) (49,987,104) Dividend - (5,486,263) - (5,486,263) - (5,486,263) At 31 December 2008 1,155,100 107,741,068 (49,824,259) 59,071,909 417,605 59,489,514 AFRICA OPPORTUNITY FUND LIMITED CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2008 2008 2007 USD USD Cash flows from operating activities Loss for the year/ period (49,987,104) (169,550) Adjustment for: Interest income (6,150,183) (2,481,335) Losses on financial assets at fair value through profit or loss 53,856,788 656,347 Dividend income (1,606,923) - Gain on disposal of held-to-maturity investment (139,595) - Operating loss before working capital changes (4,027,017) (1,994,538) Decrease/(increase) in other receivables and prepayments 1,258,942 (2,215,921) Increase in other payables and accrued expenses 83,445 227,899 (2,684,630) (3,982,560) Interest received 6,185,937 2,108,313 Purchase of financial assets at fair value through profit or loss (76,022,332) (57,788,398) Disposal of held-to-maturity financial assets 4,639,595 - Disposal of financial assets at fair value through profit or loss 17,657,136 - Dividend received 1,606,923 - Net cash used in operating activities (48,617,371) (59,662,645) Cash flows from financing activities Proceeds from issue of shares - 120,739,981 Dividend paid (4,181,000) - Shares buy back (6,357,550) - Capital contribution - 750,000 Net cash flow (used in) / generated from financing activities (10,538,550) 121,489,981 Net (decrease) / increase in cash and cash equivalents (59,155,921) 61,827,336 Cash and cash equivalent at the start of the year / period 61,827,336 - Cash and cash equivalent at the end of the year / period 2,671,415 61,827,336 AFRICA OPPORTUNITY FUND LIMITED NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2008 1. GENERAL INFORMATION Africa Opportunity Fund Limited (the "Company") was launched with an Alternative Market Listing "AIM" in July 2007. A secondary listing was obtained on the Channel Islands Stock Exchange ("CISX") in November 2007. Africa Opportunity Fund Limited is a closed-ended fund incorporated with limited liability and registered in Cayman Islands under the Companies Law on 21 June 2007 and with registered number MC-188243. The Company is domiciled at PO Box 309 GT, Ugland House, South Church Street, George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. The Company aims to achieve capital growth and income through investment in value, arbitrage, and special situations investments in the continent of Africa. The Company therefore may invest in securities issued by companies domiciled outside Africa which conduct significant business activities within Africa. The Company will have the ability to invest in a wide range of asset classes including real estate interests, equity, quasi-equity or debt instruments and debt issued by African sovereign states and government entities. The Company's investment activities are managed by Africa Opportunity Partners Limited, a limited liability company incorporated in the Cayman Islands and acting as the investment manager pursuant to an Investment Management Agreement dated 18 July 2007. To ensure that investments to be made by the Company, and the returns generated on the realisation of investments, are both effected in the most tax efficient manner, the Company has established Africa Opportunity Fund L.P. as an exempted limited partnership in the Cayman Islands. All investments made by the Company will be made through the limited partnership. The limited partners of the limited partnership are the Company, AOF CarryCo Limited and Millenium Special Opportunities Holdings Ltd. The general partner of the limited partnership is Africa Opportunity Fund (GP) Limited. Copies of the annual report are being posted to shareholders on 24 June 2009 and copies will be available from the Company's registered office and also from the Company's website http://www.africaopportunityfund.com. 2. FINANCIAL ASSETS AT FAIR VALUE THROUGH PROFIT OR LOSS 2008 2007 USD USD Designated at fair value through profit or loss: At start of year 52,632,051 - Additions 76,022,332 53,288,398 Disposals (17,657,136) - Net loss on financial assets at fair value through profit or loss (53,856,788) (656,347) At 31 December 57,140,459 52,632,051 Net loss on financial assets through profit or loss: Realised (7,104,816) - Unrealised (46,757,142) (656,347) (53,861,958) (656,347) Analysis of portfolio: - Listed equity securities 31,698,660 16,342,573 - Listed debt securities 22,167,517 36,289,478 - Unlisted debt securities 3,274,282 - 57,140,459 52,632,051 3. SHARE CAPITAL 2008 2008 2007 2007 Number USD Number USD Authorised share capital Ordinary shares with a par value of USD 0.01 1,000,000,000 10,000,000 1,000,000,000 10,000,000 2008 2008 2007 2007 Number USD Number USD Share capital Opening balance 125,000,000 1,250,000 - - Issue of share - - 125,000,000 1,250,000 Shares buy back (9,490,000) (94,900) - - 115,510,000 1,155,100 125,000,000 1,250,000 The directors have the general authority to repurchase the ordinary shares in issue subject to the Company having funds lawfully available for the purpose. However, if the market price of the ordinary shares falls to a discount to the Net Asset Value, the directors will consult with the Investment Manager as to whether it is appropriate to instigate a repurchase of ordinary shares. 4. LOSS PER SHARE Basic loss per share is calculated by dividing the loss attributable to equity holders by the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the period excluding ordinary shares purchased by the Company and held as treasury shares. The Company's diluted loss per share is the same as basic loss per share, since the Company has not issued any instrument with dilutive potential. 2008 2007 Loss attributable to equity holders of the Company USD (49,658,231) (166,028) Weighted average number of ordinary share in issue 122,431,041 125,000,000 Basic loss per share US cents (0.4056) (0.0013) 5. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES The financial statements include the financial statements of Africa Opportunity Fund Limited ("the Company") and the subsidiaries in the following table: Country of % equity interest Name incorporation 2008 Africa Opportunity Fund (GP) Limited Cayman Islands 100 Africa Opportunity Fund L.P. Cayman Islands 98.37 During the year ended 31 December 2008, the Company transacted with related entities. The nature, volume and type of transactions with the entities are as follows: Balance at Type of Nature of Volume 31 Dec 2008 Name of related parties relationship transaction USD USD Africa Opportunity Partners Limited Investment Management fee 2,010,654 - Manager expense Key Management Personnel (Directors' fee) Except for Francis Daniels and Robert Knapp who have waived their fees, each director has been paid a fee of USD 30,000 per annum plus reimbursement for out-of pocket expenses. Francis Daniels and Robert Knapp who are directors of the Company are also shareholders of the Investment Manager. Francis Daniels and Robert Knapp who are directors of the Company also form part of the executive team of the Investment Manager. They have a beneficiary interest in AOF CarryCo Limited. The latter is entitled to carried interest computed in accordance with the rules set out in the Admission Document. The total carried interest is 20% shared as follows: 19% to AOF CarryCo Limited and 1% to Millenium Special Opportunities Holdings Ltd as set out in the side letter agreement to the Partnership Agreement entered into by Africa Opportunity Fund (GP) Limited, AOF CarryCo Limited, Africa Opportunity Partners Limited and Millenium Special Opportunities Holdings Ltd. 6. Summary Information Investing objective The investing objective of the Company and its subsidiaries (together the "Group") is to achieve consistent capital growth and income through investments in value, arbitrage, and special situations opportunities derived from the continent of Africa. Therefore, the Group may invest in securities issued by, or economic interests created by, companies domiciled outside Africa which conduct significant business activities within Africa or, if listed, listed either on an African stock exchange or a non-African stock exchange. The Group may invest in equity, quasi-equity or debt instruments, debt issued by African sovereign states and government entities, and real estate interests. The Directors and the Manager believe that the diversity and volatility of African economies present opportunities to earn attractive returns when investments are made selectively, across asset classes, and without pre-determined benchmarks or allocations. By balancing the size and type of investment, the Directors and the Manager believe that attractive returns may be made across asset classes. Whilst the African capital markets can be volatile, by ensuring diversity of investment across industries and countries, the Investment Manager attempts to mitigate such risks. The Group targets industries rather than countries to exploit valuation discrepancies which can arise among African countries. The Directors and the Manager believe also that Africa's status as a continent containing a large number of reforming countries provides investment opportunities in those countries. Summary of Investment Strategy The Group's investment strategy is opportunistic. The Group invests primarily where and when the Manager believes that investments can be made at a material discount to the Manager's estimate of an investment's intrinsic value. Company preference. The Group prefers companies which demonstrate both high real returns on assets and an earnings yield higher than the yield to maturity of local currency denominated government debt. Industry focus rather than country focus. The Group seeks to invest in industries it finds attractive with little regard to national borders. Natural resource discounts. The Group seeks natural resource companies whose market valuations reflect a discount to the spot and future world market prices for those natural resources. "Turnaround" countries. The African continent is home to a large number of reforming or "turnaround" countries. "Turnaround" countries combine secular political reform with the opening of industries to private sector participation. Balkanized investment landscape. The Group seeks to invest in companies with low valuations in relation to peers across the continent and uses an arbitrage approach to provide attractive investment returns. Point of entry. The Group seeks the most favourable risk adjusted point of entry into a capital structure, whether through financing the establishment of a new company or acquiring the debt or listed equity of an established company. The Company intends to be a passive investor and will generally not control or seek to control or be actively involved in the management of any company or business in which it invest. Investment Policies and Restrictions The Manager adheres to the following policies and restrictions: Geographical focus. The Group makes investments in companies or assets with a material portion of their value derived from or located in Africa. The geographic mix of investments varies over time depending on the relative attractiveness of opportunities among countries and regions. Type of investment. The Group may invest in real estate interests, equity, quasi-equity or debt instruments, which may or may not represent shareholding or management control, and debt issued by African sovereign states and government entities. Investments may be made directly or through special purpose vehicles, joint venture, nominee or trust structures. The Group may utilise derivative instruments to hedge certain market or currency risks and may from time to time engage in the short sale of securities. Investment size. At the time of investment, no single investment may exceed 15 per cent. of the Net Asset Value without the prior approval of the Board. No one initial investment will exceed 20 per cent. of the Net Asset Value at the time of investment. Number of investments. The Group has, and expects to maintain, a concentrated portfolio of approximately 10 to 20 investments, excluding money market investments. Borrowing. The Group may use overdraft and other short-term borrowing facilities to satisfy short-term working capital needs, including to meet any expenses or fees payable by the Group. The Manager anticipates that borrowings may be utilised for investment purposes with the prior approval of the Board. There are no limits on the Group's ability to leverage itself. Cash management. Cash will be placed in bank deposits, investment grade commercial paper, government and corporate bonds and treasury bills, in each case, of US and African issuers. Distribution policy The Directors will determine the Company's dividend policy. Subject to having sufficient cash resources available for the purpose, the Company is currently intending to pay an aggregate annual dividend of an amount equal to the product of Net Asset Value on 1 January in each year multiplied by the one year US Dollar LIBOR rate (as derived from Bloomberg) on the same date, which amount will be payable in four equal quarterly instalments in March, June, September and December of that year. Life of the Company The Company does not have a fixed life, but the directors consider it desirable that its shareholders should have the opportunity to review the future of the Company at appropriate intervals. The Directors will convene a general meeting in 2014 where a resolution will be proposed that the Company will continue in existence. If the resolution is not passed, the Directors will be required to formulate proposals to be put to shareholders to reorganize, reconstruct or wind up the Company. If the resolution is passed, the Company will continue its operations and a similar resolution will be put to shareholders every five years thereafter. For further information please contact: Africa Opportunity Fund Limited Francis Daniels Tel: +2711 684 1528 Grant Thornton UK LLP (Nominated Adviser) Philip Secrett Tel: +44 207 383 5100 ---END OF MESSAGE--- This announcement was originally distributed by Hugin. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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