Interim Results

INTERIM REPORT OF THE ALLIANCE TRUST PLC FOR THE HALF YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2003 (UNAUDITED) Issued Stock No. of Units Ordinary stock units of 25p 50,400,000 4% 'A' Cum. Pref. stock of £1 100,000 4% Cum. Pref. stock of £1 650,000 4.25% Cum. Pref. stock of £1 700,000 5% Cum. Pref. stock of £1 750,000 4.5% Debenture stock 1956 or After £1,648,600 This interim report will be made available on the website of Alliance Trust Savings Limited (www.alliancetrusts.com) upon publication of this announcement. Copies will be posted to stockholders on Monday, 25 August 2003 and will also be made available to the public at the Company's registered office, Meadow House, 64 Reform Street, Dundee DD1 1TJ and at the offices of the Company's paying agents, Computershare Investor Services PLC, Owen House, 8 Bankhead Crossway North, Edinburgh EH11 4BR. This interim report was approved by the Board on 18 August 2003. It brings stockholders up to date about the performance of the Alliance Trust over the six months to 31 July 2003, the environment in which we have been operating over this period, and how we see the outlook over the next six months, before we report to them again with the final results for the year to 31 January 2004. The figures we report are unaudited. The last audited figures are in the 2003 annual report which was sent to stockholders in March 2003 and is available for reference at www.alliancetrusts.com. FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS Income 31 July 2003 2002 interim dividend (1) 35p 29p gross dividend yield (2) 3% 3.1% Capital six months to 31 July 2003 Change net asset value 2789p 16.9% stock price 2645p 24.3% FTSE All-Share Index 2046 18.8% Savings business six months to 31 July 2003 Change net inflows (3) £69m -22.5% total investor numbers 35,791 1.3% total valuation (4) £1,098m 28.1% Alliance Trust holding (5) 15.9% 8.8% (1) Amount payable 3 October 2003 per ordinary stock unit. Ex dividend 17 September 2003 (2) Annual dividend (including tax credit) expressed as a % of stock price at 31 July 2003. (3) Receipts of cash, securities and dividends less withdrawals. Change compares 6 months to 31 July 2002. (4) Aggregate value of assets invested in ATS products. (5) % of ordinary capital of the Alliance Trust held for ATS investors. RESULTS FOR THE HALF YEAR Income and Dividend Dividend growth from the companies held in our portfolio has been better than expected and investment of cash into higher yielding equities has helped to boost our earnings. This should enable us to increase the total dividend for this year by at least 1p per ordinary stock unit. Over the last few years we have been gradually reducing the disparity between the interim and final dividends. We have now decided to take this further and raise the interim to a level closer to 50% of the total dividend. Accordingly, we shall pay an interim dividend of 35p per ordinary stock unit on 3 October and we expect to recommend a final of not less than 35.5p payable in May 2004. Last year the interim dividend was 29p and the final dividend 40.5p. Substantially reducing the difference between the interim and final dividends will, this year, allow charities and those holding their stock in ISAs and PEPs to receive more in the form of tax credits before the ability to reclaim these is abolished after 5 April 2004. Capital We are pleased to report a 16.9% increase in our net asset value after the relentless erosion of equity values experienced over the last three years. This increase reflects the rise in all major markets and the fall in sterling on our overseas holdings and cash. Although we have now invested much of our liquidity, our relatively cautious approach has slightly restrained the asset value increase. However, we believe the lower risk profile adopted over recent years, with policy unconstrained by debt, compensates for this in these uncertain times. The increase in the stock price exceeded the rise in asset value as demand remained strong. Savings Business The growth of Alliance Trust Savings' (ATS) business slowed during the first half year having previously been resistant to the gloom pervading the UK market. The run up to April is an important season for savings investment, but activity this year was subdued, as many lump sum investors, faced with a seemingly large number of uncertainties, found that doing nothing was the most comfortable investment stance to take. The volatility of markets, although a disincentive to lump sum investors, has benefited regular savers. The proportion of the Company's stock now held through ATS increased from 14.7% to 15.9%. INVESTMENT REPORT Economic and Market Background During the first half of our financial year, the long-awaited global economic recovery was further delayed by the impact of war in Iraq and the outbreak of Sars. The heightened geopolitical tension in the run up to war dented confidence at both the business and consumer level, and hit business spending as investment plans were postponed. More recently, confidence levels have improved, helped by tax cuts in the US and Europe and by the reflationary policies of the world's key central banks. In many countries, interest rates now stand close to 50 year lows as the authorities attempt to stimulate sufficient economic activity to minimise any lingering threat of deflation. Equity markets fell sharply at the start of our year as institutional and private investors continued to display a strong preference for bonds, and doubts remained over the prospects for profitable economic recovery. Since March, less geopolitical uncertainty, better economic signals and more corporate activity have all helped to maintain a steady upward momentum in equity markets, allowing the UK market to rally 28% from its 7 year low. Geographical distribution of assets UK 52% USA 22% Europe 9% Japan 4% Rest of World 9% Fixed Interest 3% Net Current Assets 1% Investment Activity We used the turbulence of the last 6 months to reduce our cash levels significantly. Net equity purchases amounted to £34m, concentrated in the resources, media and financial sectors where valuations had either reached unduly depressed levels or did not reflect better prospects. On a geographic basis the focus was on the UK, where there are some attractive income opportunities, and Asia, where economic activity should remain a positive force over the long term, particularly in China. Outlook Although the global economy remains vulnerable to unforeseeable shocks, we are hopeful that the reflationary policies which have been put into place will prove successful. In the US, we are now seeing some encouraging signs of the long awaited recovery in economic activity, and this is already feeding through to confidence levels in both Europe and Japan. However, with the US dollar vulnerable to large government budget and trade imbalances and business investment dependent on profitable expansion prospects, the risk that the recovery is not sustainable remains. Equity valuations have risen in anticipation of a recovery in the global economy. Further strength may be elusive until there is firmer evidence that increased activity is feeding through to profits and a better employment outlook in the US. Meanwhile, corporate activity is expected to increase, as often happens at this point in the cycle. We will continue to invest our cash cautiously, seeking a diversified range of companies with growth prospects, but also with sound management and the cash flow to deliver reasonable dividend growth. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) returns £000 6 months to 6 months to year to 31 July 2003 31 July 2002 31 January 2003 revenue return dividends and interest 26,888 25,947 46,185 other income 1,307 1,521 2,141 ---------- ---------- ---------- total income 28,195 27,468 48,326 expenses (3,734) (3,597) (6,381) additional pension contribution - - (641) ---------- ---------- ---------- net revenue before interest payable and taxation 24,461 23,871 41,304 interest payable (587) (528) (1,120) ---------- ---------- ---------- revenue before taxation 23,874 23,343 40,184 taxation (2,550) (2,536) (4,104) ---------- ---------- ---------- revenue after taxation 21,324 20,807 36,080 minority interest - equity (80) (187) (289) ---------- ---------- ---------- 21,244 20,620 35,791 dividend on preference stock - non-equity (49) (49) (97) ---------- ---------- ---------- revenue return attributable to ordinary stockholders 21,195 20,571 35,694 revenue return per ordinary stock unit 42.05p 40.82p 70.82p capital return realised (losses)gains on investments (7,170) 3,551 (22,006) unrealised appreciation(depreciation) 208,027 (292,769) (446,912) foreign exchange gains(losses) 2,592 (414) 235 ---------- ---------- ---------- 203,449 (289,632) (468,683) minority interest - equity 18 - (41) ---------- ---------- ---------- capital return attributable to ordinary stockholders 203,467 (289,632) (468,724) capital return per ordinary stock unit 403.70p (574.66p) (930.01p) total return total return attributable to ordinary stockholders 224,662 (269,061) (433,030) total return per ordinary stock unit 445.75p (533.84p) (859.19p) summarised balance sheet £000 31 July 2003 31 July 2002 31 January 2003 investments at valuation 1,390,177 1,347,680 1,155,412 net current assets 28,622 46,298 60,071 ---------- ---------- ---------- total assets less current liabilities 1,418,799 1,393,978 1,215,483 long term liabilities and prior charges (13,273) (13,491) (13,422) ---------- ---------- ---------- ordinary stockholders' funds 1,405,526 1,380,487 1,202,061 net asset value per ordinary stock unit £27.89 £27.39 £23.85 cashflow statement £000 6 months to 6 months to year to 31 July 2003 31 July 2002 31 January 2003 net cash inflow from operating activities 32,826 32,879 51,577 servicing of finance (848) (789) (1,642) taxation paid (1,893) (1,992) (4,312) investment purchases settled (85,080) (103,279) (163,274) investment sales settled 55,547 79,118 151,034 equity dividends paid (20,412) (20,412) (35,028) ---------- ---------- ---------- decrease in cash (19,860) (14,475) (1,645) Notes to Financial Statements 1 These results should not be taken as a guide to the full year and do not constitute the statutory accounts. 2 The revenue return statement is the profit and loss account of the Group. 3 Expenses include £1,668,000 (£1,673,000) incurred by subsidiary companies. 4 The accounting policies are consistent with those applied in the preparation of the annual statutory accounts. In the interim statements, net current assets are stated after the provision of £17,640,000 (£14,616,000) for payment of the interim dividend and £3,555,000 (£5,955,000) being the balance of revenue attributable to ordinary stockholders. 5 The figures for 31 January 2003 are extracted from the full accounts which have been filed with the registrar of companies and which contain an unqualified report from the auditor. Dividend Interim dividend of 35p per ordinary stock unit. The interim dividend on the Company's ordinary stock and half year dividends on its preference stocks are payable on Friday, 3 October 2003 to holders on the register on 19 September 2003 and the ex dividend date is 17 September 2003. The press release summarising these interim results follows and questions should be addressed to Mr. Gavin Suggett or Mr. Alan Young (Tel. 01382 201700). Press Release The Alliance Trust PLC Interim Report and Results for the half year to 31 July 2003 (unaudited) ¤ Interim dividend increase to 35p from 29p ¤ Net Assets increase 16.9% ¤ Continued growth of Alliance Trust Savings The Alliance Trust PLC, the 115 year old investment company, announced its results today for the half year to 31 July 2003. Commenting on the results Gavin Suggett, Chief Executive, said: "The last six months have seen a huge seesaw in asset valuations which are up 28% from their 7 year low in March. This background has not been an ideal investment climate but we have continued to invest our cash reserves successfully on both capital and income fronts. The large increase in the interim dividend accelerates the process of reducing the differential between interim and final dividends which we started several years ago. This will particularly help charities, and the many individuals who hold their Alliance stock through PEPs and ISAs." Alan Young, Investment Director added: " We invested £34m over the 6 months when valuations had either reached unduly depressed levels or did not reflect better prospects. Much of this investment was in the UK, which provided income enhancing opportunities, and in Asia, particularly China. We plan to continue to invest, concentrating on companies with sound management, strong cash flows and those able to offer reasonable dividend growth - a feature which we still view as a crucial support for growing valuations." ENDS
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