Interim Results

Edinburgh Dragon Trust PLC 12 April 2002 12 April 2002 EDINBURGH DRAGON TRUST PLC INTERIM RESULTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 28 FEBRUARY 2002 Edinburgh Dragon Trust's objective is long-term capital growth through investment in the Far East (excluding Japan and Australasia). The Company's benchmark is the MSCI All Country Asia Free (ex Japan) • The trust believes that the outlook for Asia is more promising than it has been for many years. • Exposure to South Korea, Malaysia and Thailand has risen at the expense of Hong Kong. • The trust remains undercommitted to technology companies. • Gearing has risen to 10% reflecting targeted buying opportunities. For further information please contact:- Alistair Thompson, Investment Manager Edinburgh Fund Managers plc 0131 313 1000 Chairman's Statement Performance Over the six months to 28 February 2002, the trust's net asset value rose 11.8% compared with a rise of 16.4% in its benchmark index, the MSCI Combined Asia Free ex Japan Index. Global aggressive coordinated interest rate cuts helped equity markets rebound after the terrorist attacks in the US, with technology companies rebounding the furthest. In Asian markets the biggest gainers were Korea and Taiwan, which rose 49% and 27% respectively in sterling terms. The trust's under-performance of 4.6% against the benchmark was due to an insufficient weighting to the Korean and Taiwanese markets and the cautious view on technology stocks in particular, which performed strongly from the middle of September. Partially offsetting this was the performance of companies that have benefited from the increase in domestic demand. Kookmin Bank, National Finance and China Insurance all generated returns in excess of 50%. Some of the poorest performers were the large Hong Kong companies such as Sun Hung Kai Properties and HSBC. Recently the premium afforded to many large Hong Kong companies has not looked justified, in view of competition from the Mainland, persistent deflation and a weak domestic economy. As a consequence, exposure to Hong Kong has been reduced over the last six months in favour of South Korea, Malaysia and Thailand. Revenue For the six months to 28 February 2002 the revenue deficit represented 0.32p per share compared with a deficit of 0.38p for the six months to 28 February 2001. Outlook The outlook for Asian equity markets is more promising than it has been for many years. The region is still regarded as a warrant on global growth, yet domestic demand in a number of economies, particularly China, Korea, Malaysia and Thailand, is beginning to outweigh the region's reliance on external demand and is providing the impetus for growth over the next couple of years. Any improvement in the global economy will only enhance the region's attractiveness. Reflecting this optimism the trust's gearing has, since the interim period end, risen from 3.6% to 10%, Asian companies have been aggressively repaying debt, such that their balance sheets are in general stronger than their western counterparts. Having been through the credit crisis in 1997, companies are largely immune from concerns over the credit risk of US and European businesses. Indeed, dividend payouts are increasing in a number of markets. High valuations of technology companies and uncertainty surrounding final demand for technology products are our biggest concern. We remain undercommitted to technology companies, preferring to increase exposure to medium-sized companies with a domestic consumption focus, which are typically under-valued. Tony Cassidy, Chairman 12 April 2002 STATEMENT OF TOTAL RETURN for the six months to 28 February 2002 (unaudited) Revenue Capital Total £000 £000 £000 Net gains on investments - 20,031 20,031 Net currency gains - 79 79 Investment income 2,041 - 2,041 Interest receivable 755 - 755 Other income 2 - 2 Investment management fee (872) - (872) Administrative expenses (241) - (241) Net return before finance costs and taxation 1,685 20,110 21,795 Interest payable and similar charges (2,400) - (2,400) Return on ordinary activities before taxation (715) 20,110 19,935 Taxation (4) - (4) Return attributable to equity shareholders (719) 20,110 19,391 Return per ordinary share (0.32p) 8.87p 8.55p Diluted return per ordinary share (0.32p) 8.90p 8.58p _________________________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF TOTAL RETURN for the six months to 29 February 2001 (unaudited) Revenue Capital Total £000 £000 £000 Net losses on investments - (29,307) (29,307) Net currency gains - (1,278) (1,278) Investment income 1,534 - 1,534 Interest receivable 1,553 - 1,553 Other income 28 - 28 Investment management fee (1,035) - (1,035) Administrative expenses (391) - (391) Net return before finance costs and taxation 1,689 (30,585) (28,896) Interest payable and similar charges (2,550) - (2,550) Return on ordinary activities before taxation (861) (30,585) (31,446) Taxation (9) - (9) Return attributable to equity shareholders (870) (30,585) (31,455) Return per ordinary share (0.38p) (13.49p) (13.87p) Diluted return per ordinary share (0.38p) (13.34p) (13.72p) ___________________________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF TOTAL RETURN for the year to 31 August 2001 (audited) Revenue Capital Total £000 £000 £000 Net losses on investments - (76,405) (76,405) Net currency gains - (1,570) (1,570) Investment income 4,326 - 4,326 Interest receivable 2,499 - 2,499 Other income 93 - 93 Investment management fee (1,925) - (1,925) Administrative expenses (600) (50) (650) Net return before finance costs and taxation 4,393 (78,025) (76,632) Interest payable and similar charges (4,844) - (4,844) Return on ordinary activities before taxation (451) (78,025) (75,476) Taxation (89) - (89) Return attributable to equity shareholders (540) (78,205) (78,565) Return per ordinary share (0.24p) (34.42p) (34.66p) Diluted return per ordinary share (0.24p) (34.13p) (34.37p) ___________________________________________________________________________________ BALANCE SHEET (unaudited) At 28 February 2002 At 31 August At 28 February 2001 2001 £000 £000 £000 Fixed assets Investments 192,735 175,694 215,190 Current assets Debtors 334 737 2,286 US Treasury Bills 45,792 30,840 41,197 Cash and short term deposits 24,209 24,712 21,092 70,335 56,289 64,575 Creditors: amounts falling due after more 11,516 1,508 1,840 than one year Net current assets 58,819 54,781 62,735 Total assets less current liabilities 251,554 230,475 277,925 Creditors: amounts falling due after more 66,966 65,279 65,620 than one year 184,588 165,196 212,305 Capital and reserves Called up share capital - equity 45,325 45,325 45,326 Other reserves 139,263 119,871 166,979 Total equity shareholders' funds 184,588 165,196 212,305 Adjusted net asset value per share 81.36p 72.80p 93.57p Adjusted diluted net asset value per share 80.40p 72.22p 92.06p CASHFLOW STATEMENT (unaudited) For the six months For the six months to For the year to to 28 February 2002 29 February 2001 31 August 2001 £000 £000 £000 Revenue before finance costs and taxation 1,685 1,689 4,393 Decrease in accrued income 216 197 217 Decrease in other debtors 33 45 57 Increase in creditors 2 9 (117) Expenses charged to capital - - (50) Net cash inflow from operating activities 1,936 1,940 4,500 Net cash outflow from servicing of finance (2,401) (2,377) 94847) Total tax paid 149 93 (2) Net cash inflow from financial investment 13,012 27,080 21,012 Net cash inflow before financing 12,696 26,736 20,663 Net cash inflow from financing 1 (347) (347) Management of liquid resources (13,184) (23,996) (13,586) DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS (487) 2,393 6,730 NOTES : 1. The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice 'Financial Statements of Investment Trust Companies'. The same accounting policies used for the year to 31 August 2001 have been applied 2. There will be no interim dividend for the year to 31 August 2002; shareholders are reminded that the objective of the company is long term capital appreciation. 3. As at 28 February 2002, there were 226,628,835 ordinary shares and 10,648,040 warrants in use.. 4. The financial information for the year ended 31 August 2001, has been extracted from the Annual report and accounts of the company which have been filed with the Registrar of Companies. The auditor's report on those accounts was unqualified. 5. The statement of total return and balance sheet set out do not represent full accounts in accordance with Section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. . Please note that past performance is not necessarily a guide to the future and that the value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise and may be affected by exchange rate movements. Investors may not get back the amount they originally invested. Where investment is made in emerging markets, their potential volatility may increase the risk to the value of the investment. For Edinburgh Dragon Trust plc Edinburgh Fund Managers plc, Secretary Company Secretary END This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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