Final Results

Atlantis Japan Growth Fund Ld 16 August 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE RELEASED BY HSBC SECURITIES SERVICES (GUERNSEY) LIMITED ATLANTIS JAPAN GROWTH FUND LIMITED PRELIMINARY ANNOUNCEMENT - APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON 9TH AUGUST, 2005 THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF ATLANTIS JAPAN GROWTH FUND LIMITED ANNOUNCE AUDITED RESULTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30TH APRIL, 2005: BALANCE SHEET As at 30th April 2005 (Expressed in United States Dollars) 2005 2004 $'000 $'000 FIXED ASSETS Investments at market value 469,362 436,729 (cost $336,265,435 (2004 - $278,810,715)) CURRENT ASSETS Due from brokers 2,385 1,897 Dividends and interest receivable 2,630 1,958 Other debtors and prepayments 36 10 Bank balances 2,431 8,238 7,482 12,103 CURRENT LIABILITIES Due to brokers 3,683 5,985 Creditors and accrued expenses 704 744 Loans payable 14,315 - 18,702 6,729 NET CURRENT (LIABILITIES)/ASSETS (11,220) 5,374 CREDITORS AMOUNTS FALLING DUE AFTER ONE YEAR Loans Payable 28,630 40,796 TOTAL NET ASSETS $429,512 $401,307 CAPITAL & RESERVES Called-up share capital 204 204 Share premium 192,650 192,650 Other reserves 236,658 208,453 TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' FUNDS $429,512 $401,307 NET ASSET VALUE PER ORDINARY $21.02 $19.64 SHARE (Based on 20,435,627 (2004 - 20,435,627) ordinary shares and a Net Asset Value of $429,512,456 (2004 - $401,306,971)) STATEMENT OF TOTAL RETURN (incorporating the Revenue Account) For the year ended 30th April 2005 (Expressed in United States Dollars) Revenue Capital Total $'000 $'000 $'000 Net gains on investments during the year - 32,028 32,028 Exchange gain/(loss) 95 (1,647) (1,552) Investment income 5,254 - 5,254 Deposit interest 15 - 15 5,364 30,381 35,745 Investment management fee 5,830 - 5,830 Custodian fees 304 - 304 Administration fees 248 - 248 Registrar and transfer agent fees 35 - 35 Directors' fees and expenses 119 - 119 Interest expense and bank charges 436 - 436 Insurance fees 68 - 68 Audit fee 26 - 26 Printing and advertising fees 46 - 46 Legal and professional fees 12 - 12 Listing fees 41 - 41 Miscellaneous expenses 7 - 7 7,172 - 7,172 (DEFICIT)/RETURN ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES BEFORE TAX (1,808) 30,381 28,573 Tax on ordinary activities (368) - (368) (DEFICIT)/RETURN ATTRIBUTABLE TO EQUITY SHAREHOLDERS (2,176) 30,381 28,205 (DEFICIT)/RETURN PER ORDINARY SHARE : $(0.106) $1.486 $1.380 (Based on the weighted average of 20,435,627 Ordinary Shares and the deficit attributable to Equity Shareholders noted above) STATEMENT OF TOTAL RETURN (incorporating the Revenue Account) For the year ended 30th April 2004 (Expressed in United States Dollars) Revenue Capital Total $'000 $'000 $'000 Net gains on investments during the year - 231,751 231,751 Exchange loss - (1,985) (1,985) Investment income 4,154 - 4,154 Deposit interest 16 - 16 4,170 229,766 233,936 Investment management fee 3,909 - 3,909 Custodian fees 236 - 236 Administration fees 196 - 196 Registrar and transfer agent fees 14 - 14 Directors' fees and expenses 126 - 126 Interest expense and bank charges 346 - 346 Insurance fees 30 - 30 Audit fee 27 - 27 Printing and advertising fees 28 - 28 Legal and professional fees 43 - 43 Listing fees 34 - 34 Miscellaneous expenses 5 - 5 4,994 - 4,994 (DEFICIT)/RETURN ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES BEFORE TAX (824) 229,766 228,942 Tax on ordinary activities (430) - (430) (DEFICIT)/RETURN ATTRIBUTABLE TO EQUITY SHAREHOLDERS (1,254) 229,766 228,512 (DEFICIT)/RETURN PER ORDINARY SHARE : $(0.061) $11.243 $11.182 (Based on the weighted average of 20,435,627 Ordinary Shares and the deficit attributable to Equity Shareholders noted above) STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS For the year ended 30th April 2005 (Expressed in United States Dollars) 2005 2004 $'000 $'000 $'000 $'000 OPERATING ACTIVITIES Net cash outflow from operating (2,575) (1,323) activities SERVICING OF FINANCE Interest paid (434) (336) FINANCIAL INVESTMENT Purchase of investments (224,933) (215,812) Sale of investments 221,538 211,028 Net cash outflow from investing (3,395) (4,784) activities Decrease in cash (6,404) (6,443) RECONCILIATION OF NET CASH FLOW TO MOVEMENT IN NET DEBT Decrease in cash as above (6,404) (6,443) Exchange movements (1,552) (1,985) Movement in net debt for the (7,956) (8,428) year Net debt at 1st May (32,558) (24,130) Net debt at 30th April (40,514) (32,558) ATLANTIS JAPAN GROWTH FUND LIMITED CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30TH APRIL 2005 OVERVIEW Following the strong performance of the Japanese stock market and the Company in the year to April 2004, the current year to April 2005 has been one of consolidation of the gains and a continual assessment of the strength of the recovery in the domestic economy. In a year marked by a relatively benign political and economic landscape, this has resulted in modest gains for equity markets worldwide. So too with Japan which has seen largely sideways movements in the indices. Against this background, your Company has made a satisfactory return of 12.7 per cent in US Dollar terms for shareholders, 7 per cent from a gain in the Net Asset Value (the 'NAV') and the remainder resulting from the move of the share price from a discount to a premium. This compares with a flat Tokyo First Section Index ('TOPIX') over the period and a return of 17.7% in the Tokyo 2nd Section (in US Dollars). * Source: Bloomberg The heavy weighting in small and medium sized companies has, again, been a major contributor to the out performance of the Fund against the Tokyo Stock Exchange index. Whilst the main market has been flat, smaller companies have performed well again this year, endorsing our Adviser, Ed Merner's view that the best investment opportunities are to be found in this area of the market. ATLANTIS JAPAN GROWTH FUND LIMITED CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30TH APRIL 2005 SHARE PRICE DISCOUNT The discount or premium on the Fund represents the share price relative to its net asset value. Along with the stability of the underlying market, the discount on the shares has remained within a narrow range over the year and had traded at a small premium at various times. The discount on the Fund averaged 0.73% during the period with a range of a discount of 6.8% in April 2004 to a premium of 4.9% in February 2005*. Recently, the shares have traded at a modest premium reflecting investors' perception of the prospects for the Japanese stock market and the strong long-term performance of the Fund. You have empowered your Board to monitor this discount and repurchase shares if the discount moves out of line with Funds of a similar nature. Currently, the discount is not out of line with the peer group consequently, to date, no repurchases have been made. The Board will continue to monitor this situation and will take action if necessary. OUTLOOK The biggest threat to the Japanese markets are external such as the possible knock on effects of weakness in the US Economy or on Wall Street or of a hard landing in China. However, in Japan, the economic situation is very different to that in the US and the outlook is the strongest it's been for 15 years whilst the prospects of a hard landing in China are receding. In particular in the Japanese economy the deflationary forces which have plagued the Japanese economy in recent years are finally abating, and in the stock market corporate cross shareholdings are down from 50 per cent in 1999 to 20 per cent now and the yield on Japanese equities at 1.3 percent has moved above the benchmark bond yield of 1.2 per cent, usually a bullish sign for equities. In addition, many Japanese companies have the scope to increase dividends further as the average dividend payout ratio at around 20 per cent is low by international standards. Despite the gains in the stock market seen since the low of April 2003, the Tokyo Stock Exchange index is still about 60 per cent below its peak in December 1989. Your Board believes the improvements we are witnessing in the Japanese economy and for Japanese companies has not yet been fully reflected in share prices and we are confident that your Company is well positioned to take advantage of investment opportunities over the coming year. Finally, I am proud to be able to tell you that for the fourth year running, Money Observer has, yet again, presented your Company with the Best Japan Trust Award for 2005. Tim Guinness Chairman June 2005 ATLANTIS JAPAN GROWTH FUND LIMITED INVESTMENT MANAGER'S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30TH APRIL 2005 PERFORMANCE During the year ending April 2005, many false starts were seen in the economy and the stock market. Both advanced, but by less than most anticipated. However, the stock market did see a good recovery from the lows of last December, as did the Company, which finished the financial year under review at $21.02 per share, being a gain of approximately 7.0% in the NAV. This compares with gains of 0.2% for the Topix index, 17.7% for the Tokyo Second Market Index, and 0.9% for the Tokyo OTC indices (all figures adjusted to US Dollar basis). Since inception in May 1996 through to the end of April 2005, the NAV of the Company has risen by 112.1%. This compares to a loss of 33.4% for the Topix index, gains of 55.3% for the Tokyo Second Market Index and 14.1% for the Tokyo OTC indices over the same time frame (all figures adjusted to US Dollar basis). At the end of the financial year under review, the Company had borrowings of Y4.5 billion ($42.9 million), unchanged from one year earlier, and cash of Y253 million ($2.4 million). Based on the above, the Company is about 10% leveraged, also basically unchanged from year-ago levels. The Company had no foreign currency hedges at this time and none are planned. Since nearly all Company assets are denominated in Yen, a strong Yen has a positive impact on net asset value in US dollar terms and vice versa. At the end of the year under review, the Yen stood at Y104.785/US dollar versus Y110.185 one year earlier, representing a gain in Yen terms of about 5.2%. MARKET COMMENT During the year under review the three locomotives of Japanese economic growth were exports, capital investments, and consumer spending. Exports were especially strong early on while consumer spending has come more to the fore in recent months. The favourable operating environment combined with continued corporate restructuring to push corporate earnings higher, and Japanese companies finished the fiscal year ended March 2005 with recurring profits up about 25%, according to preliminary estimates. Real GDP growth for the fiscal year ended March 2005 was about 1.9% (final figures are not yet available). The unemployment rate continued to decline during the year and, with inflation not a problem, interest rates remained at extremely low levels. Despite the favourable fundamentals including stronger-than-expected earnings growth, the Japanese stock market finished the year under review only slightly higher as gains were moderated by ongoing selling by local banks, selling by pension funds earlier in the year, and net selling by individual investors, who have come to account for an increasingly large portion of daily trading. Overseas investors were net buyers. Local investment trusts were frequent net sellers early on but have been net buyers in most recent months; the same can be said for corporations, which continued to unwind cross-shareholdings while at the same time buying back their own shares. ATLANTIS JAPAN GROWTH FUND LIMITED INVESTMENT MANAGER'S REPORT (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30TH APRIL 2005 We think the outlook for the coming year is favourable, though as always there are no guarantees. Looking ahead, we expect continued economic growth, rising corporate earnings, and low interest rates. With no general elections on the horizon, the political scene should also be relatively calm. Local pension accounts, big net sellers in recent years, will hopefully be a neutral force in the market or perhaps even modest net buyers, while overseas investors and domestic investment trusts should continue as net buyers. Individuals, now a major market force, will hopefully be net buyers or, at worst, only small net sellers. We look for corporations to be net buyers and for banks to be small net sellers. At this time, we expect market conditions to remain favourable. Possible risks include problems in China, a weaker-than-expected US economy or US stock market, sharply higher oil prices, or unexpected events such as an avian flu epidemic or terrorist event. THE COMPANY Our basic investment strategy, as indicated in previous annual reports, remains unchanged. The Fund Manager continues to stress a bottom-up approach that emphasizes individual stock picking rather than sector allocation or semi-indexing. As always, we focus on prospects for long-term earnings growth at individual companies. The Tokyo team believes strongly in an active company-visiting program, which helps us uncover new investment ideas and follow trends at companies already in the portfolio. In our company analysis, we focus in particular on the balance sheet, sales growth potential, profit margin trends, Return on Equity (ROE), free cash flow, valuations measures (Price Earnings Ratio (PER), Price to Book Ratio (PBR) and Price Earnings Growth (PEG)), management, attitude toward shareholders, dividend policy, historic track record, and factors likely to affect sales and earnings growth over the longer term. We prefer companies with good long-term earnings growth potential selling on low Price Earnings (PE), but also invest in some cyclical growth and even in some recovery-type situations. We have recently been adding a number of electronics-related companies to the portfolio. However, our largest exposure is still to the service, retail, and trading sectors, where we continue to find many undervalued companies with above-average growth potential. The Manager is underweight and will probably continue to avoid most companies in 'smokestack' industries, seeing these companies as largely ex-growth, with little or no long-term earnings growth potential. The Company invests in all of kinds of businesses and companies, and no listed company is too small or too big to be considered as a potential investment. That said, we have been finding better value and better growth potential among smaller and medium-sized companies, though this could change in the future. ATLANTIS JAPAN GROWTH FUND LIMITED INVESTMENT MANAGER'S REPORT (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30TH APRIL 2005 At the end of the period under review the Company held positions in about 219 different companies, including some very small companies listed on local exchanges. As a risk control measure we tend to limit our exposure to any one stock. Thus, even when we make a mistake the damage is usually limited and we are able to sell our position over time. We will often hold several different stocks in sectors we favour. For instance, we currently hold several drug store chains, which operate mostly in different geographic regions. The better drug store chains are expanding market share, have positive same-store sales growth, and should be able to grow earnings for at least the next several years; some are selling at less than 10x estimated earnings and, on a selective basis, are also attractive on other valuation measures such as Price Earnings Growth (PEG) and free cash flow. As in the past years, during the period under review we took profits on some stocks in the portfolio that we thought had risen too much and had thus become fully priced or overpriced. As always, we looked to reinvest the proceeds from such sales in companies with good long-term growth prospects and that still appeared undervalued. We also sold a number of companies where earnings were not meeting our expectations or where the company's business model did not seem to be working. The Fund Manager plans to remain fully or almost fully invested, normally limiting cash holdings to only a few percent (including borrowed money). If the Fund Manager were to turn cautious on the market outlook, the Company's gearing would be cut to zero and all borrowings repaid. However, since the Fund Manager is now optimistic on the market outlook, the Company has geared itself up to around 10%. Although the yen is likely to fluctuate against the US dollar, the Company's base currency, over the longer term we look for a sideways-to-stronger yen based on Japan's continued large trade and current account surpluses and its huge foreign exchange reserves, which are now the world's largest. In the end, we feel that our real expertise lies in stock picking and not in guessing short-term foreign exchange rate trends. Therefore we have no plans to hedge our foreign exchange risk at this time. The Company has no exposure to warrants. The Company is not currently holding any convertible bonds, though we continue to look for attractive investment opportunities in convertibles. As in the past, going forward we will emphasize value and growth in our stock selection, as the Fund Manager aims for long-term capital appreciation. Atlantis Fund Management (Guernsey) Limited 6th June, 2005 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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