Interim Results

British Empire Sec & Gen Tst PLC 11 May 2007 BRITISH EMPIRE SECURITIES AND GENERAL TRUST PLC Announcement of un-audited results for the six months ended 31 March 2007, approved by the Board of Directors on 9 May 2007. Objective The investment objective of the Company is to achieve capital growth through a focused portfolio of investments, particularly in companies whose share prices stand at a discount to estimated underlying net asset value. As at As at 31 March 2007 30 September 2006 % change Capital return Net assets £758.28m £701.29m 8.13 Net asset value per share 473.68p 438.08p 8.13 Share price (mid market) 464.25p 453.50p 2.37 Premium/(discount) (1.99%) 3.52% - Six months to Six months to 31 March 2007 31 March 2006 Revenue earnings and dividends Revenue earnings per share 2.71p 2.08p Interim dividend per share 1.40p 0.80p Six months to Year to 31 March 2007 30 September 2006 Performance comparison British Empire Securities and General Trust plc 9.09% 14.33% (NAV total return) Morgan Stanley Capital International World Index 6.00% 8.67% (£ adjusted total return) Datastream Global Growth Investment Trust Index* 8.89% 12.07% * Index (based on total return) is subject to daily revision and the latest published figure is at 4 April 2007 Chairman's Statement The Net Asset Value of your Company has continued to grow in the first half of the year, up by 9.1% slightly ahead of the rise of 8.9% in our benchmark index on a total return basis. This steady performance however has not been reflected in our share price with our shares now trading at a 2% discount to Net Asset Value rather than the 3.5% premium at the end of the last financial year. We remained cautious in the first half, banking some profits where underlying discounts appeared to us to have narrowed, and building up our holdings in some sectors and in European investment companies many of which still appear to trade at significant discounts to true value. As a result we believe there remains a significant and increasing store of value for our shareholders when the underlying worth of our investments is taken into account. In accordance with our stated intention to pay interim dividends at around 35% of the previous year's total ordinary dividends we are increasing the interim dividend this year from 0.8p per share to 1.4p per share. The interim dividend will be payable on 8 June 2007 to shareholders on the register at 25 May 2007 (ex-dividend 23 May 2007). We shall make our recommendation on our full year's final dividend to shareholders later in the year in the light of the annual accounts and trading conditions at the time. Iain Samuel Robertson CBE Chairman 11 May 2007 Consolidated Income Statement For the six months to 31 For the six months to 31 For the year to 30 March 2007 (unaudited) March 2006 (unaudited) September 2006 (audited) Revenue Capital Revenue Capital Revenue Capital return return Total return return Total return return Total £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Income Investment income 8,657 - 8,657 7,145 - 7,145 16,626 - 16,626 Gains on investments - 61,379 61,379 - 131,749 131,749 - 85,053 85,053 held at fair value Losses on Index Stock - (1,281) (1,281) - (436) (436) - (7) (7) Realised exchange - 159 159 - (1,556) (1,556) - (2,343) (2,343) gains/(losses) 8,657 60,257 68,914 7,145 129,757 136,902 16,626 82,703 99,329 Expenses Investment (1,213) (1,262) (2,475) (1,005) (3,606) (4,611) (2,006) (3,685) (5,691) management fee (including irrecoverable VAT) Other expenses (542) - (542) (570) - (570) (1,221) - (1,221) (including irrecoverable VAT) Profit before finance 6,902 58,995 65,897 5,570 126,151 131,721 13,399 79,018 92,417 costs and tax Finance costs (1,187) (4) (1,191) (1,198) (4) (1,202) (2,391) (8) (2,399) Profit before tax 5,715 58,991 64,706 4,372 126,147 130,519 11,008 79,010 90,018 Taxation (1,373) 379 (994) (1,047) 789 (258) (2,488) 1,105 (1,383) Profit for the 4,342 59,370 63,712 3,325 126,936 130,261 8,520 80,115 88,635 period Earnings per Ordinary Share (see note 2) Basic - Ordinary Shares 2.71p 37.09p 39.80p 2.08p 79.30p 81.38p 5.32p 50.05p 55.37p The total column of this statement represents the Group's Income Statement, prepared in accordance with IFRS. The revenue return and capital return columns are supplementary to this and are prepared under the guidance published by the Association of Investment Companies. All items in the above statement derive from continuing operations. All income is attributable to the equity holders of British Empire Securities and General Trust plc. There are no minority interests. Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity Ordinary Capital Capital Capital share redemption Share reserve reserve Merger Revenue capital reserve premium realised unrealised reserve reserve Total £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 For the six months to 31 March 2006 (unaudited) Balance at 30 16,008 2,927 28,078 351,854 162,416 41,406 16,050 618,739 September 2005 Profit for the - - - 96,633 30,303 - 3,325 130,261 period Ordinary dividend - - - - - - (2,561) (2,561) paid Special dividend - - - - - - (2,241) (2,241) paid Balance at 31 March 16,008 2,927 28,078 448,487 192,719 41,406 14,573 744,198 2006 For the year to 30 September 2006 (audited) Balance at 30 16,008 2,927 28,078 351,854 162,416 41,406 16,050 618,739 September 2005 Profit for the - - - 144,369 (64,254) - 8,520 88,635 period Ordinary dividends - - - - - - (3,842) (3,842) paid Special dividend - - - - - - (2,241) (2,241) paid Balance at 30 16,008 2,927 28,078 496,223 98,162 41,406 18,487 701,291 September 2006 For the six months to 31 March 2007 (unaudited) Balance at 30 16,008 2,927 28,078 496,223 98,162 41,406 18,487 701,291 September 2006 Profit for the - - - 13,630 45,740 - 4,342 63,712 period Ordinary dividend - - - - - - (5,122) (5,122) paid Special dividend - - - - - - (1,601) (1,601) paid Balance at 31 March 16,008 2,927 28,078 509,853 143,902 41,406 16,106 758,280 2007 Consolidated Balance Sheet As at As at As at 31 March 2007 31 March 2006 30 September 2006 (unaudited) (unaudited) £'000 (audited) £'000 £'000 Notes Non current assets Investments held at fair value through profit 1(g) 787,370 755,435 731,173 or loss Current assets Investments 5 5 5 Sales for future settlement 2,293 20,408 1,738 Other receivables 4,434 2,640 3,586 Cash and cash equivalents 2,616 5,435 9,245 9,348 28,488 14,574 Total assets 796,718 783,923 745,747 Current liabilities Purchases for future settlement (3,501) (3,974) (9,423) Other payables (2,373) (4,078) (3,803) (5,874) (8,052) (13,226) Total assets less current liabilities 790,844 775,871 732,521 Non-current liabilities 10 3/8 per cent Debenture Stock 2011 (8,515) (8,515) (8,515) 8 1/8 per cent Debenture Stock 2023 (14,882) (14,875) (14,879) Index Stock (8,603) (8,138) (7,518) Provision for deferred tax (564) (145) (318) Net assets 758,280 744,198 701,291 Equity attributable to equity Shareholders Ordinary share capital 16,008 16,008 16,008 Capital redemption reserve 2,927 2,927 2,927 Share premium 28,078 28,078 28,078 Capital reserve realised 509,853 448,487 496,223 Capital reserve unrealised 143,902 192,719 98,162 Merger reserve 41,406 41,406 41,406 Revenue reserve 16,106 14,573 18,487 Total equity 758,280 744,198 701,291 Net asset value per Ordinary Share:- basic 5 473.68p 464.89p 438.08p Number of shares in issue 160,080,089 160,080,089 160,080,089 Consolidated Cash Flow Statement Six months to Six months to 31 March 2007 31 March 2006 Year to (unaudited) (unaudited) 30 September 2006 £'000 £'000 (audited) £'000 Net cash inflow from operating activities 131 9,383 15,452 (see below) Financing activities Dividends paid (6,723) (4,802) (6,083) Buyback of Index Stock (196) - (191) Cash outflow from financing activities (6,919) (4,802) (6,274) Increase in cash and cash equivalents (6,788) 4,581 9,178 Exchange movements 159 (1,556) (2,343) Change in cash and cash equivalents (6,629) 3,025 6,835 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 9,245 2,410 2,410 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period 2,616 5,435 9,245 Reconciliation of profit before taxation to net cash inflow from operating activities Profit before taxation 64,706 130,519 90,018 Losses on Index Stock held at fair value 1,281 436 7 (Gains)/losses on exchange movements (159) 1,556 2,343 Gains on investments held at fair value through (61,379) (131,749) (85,053) profit or loss Purchases of investments (218,353) (295,536) (553,088) Sales of investments 217,057 303,312 562,549 (Increase)/decrease in other receivables (998) 213 (590) (Decrease)/increase in creditors (1,887) 846 12 Taxation (141) (218) (754) Amortisation of reorganisation costs 4 4 8 Decrease in value on investments - current assets - - 1 Purchase of investments - current assets - - (1) Net cash inflow from operating activities 131 9,383 15,452 Notes to the Financial Statements 1. Significant accounting policies The financial statements of the Group have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ('IFRS'). The accounting policies and methods of computation followed in these interim financial statements are consistent with the most recent annual financial statements. These financial statements are presented in sterling because this is the currency of the primary economic environment in which the Group operates. 2. Earnings per Ordinary Share The basic revenue earnings per Ordinary Share is based on Group revenue after taxation for the six months to 31 March 2007 of £4,342,000 (six months to 31 March 2006: £3,325,000; year ended 30 September 2006: £8,520,000) and on 160,080,089 (six months to 31 March 2006: 160,080,089, year ended 30 September 2006: 160,080,089) Ordinary Shares, being the weighted average number of Ordinary Shares in issue during the period. The basic capital earnings per Ordinary Share is based on Group net gains for the six months to 31 March 2007 of £59,370,000 (six months to 31 March 2006: £126,936,000; year ended 30 September 2006: £80,115,000) and on 160,080,089 (six months to 31 March 2006: 160,080,089, year ended 30 September 2006: 160,080,089) Ordinary Shares, being the weighted average number of Ordinary Shares in issue during the period. The total basic earnings per Ordinary Share is based on Group net gains for the six months to 31 March 2007 of £63,712,000 (six months to 31 March 2006: £130,261,000; year ended 30 September 2006: £88,635,000) and on 160,080,089 (six months to 31 March 2006: 160,080,089, year ended 30 September 2006: 160,080,089) Ordinary Shares, being the weighted average number of Ordinary Shares in issue during the period. 3. Comparative information The financial information contained in this interim report does not constitute statutory accounts as defined in section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. The financial information for the six months ended 31 March 2007 and 31 March 2006 has not been audited. The information for the year ended 30 September 2006 has been extracted from the latest published audited financial statements. The audited financial statements for the year ended 30 September 2006 have been filed with the Registrar of Companies. The report of the auditors on those accounts contained no qualification or reference to any matters to which the auditors drew attention by way of emphasis without qualifying the audit report or statement under section 237 (2) or (3) of the Companies Act 1985. 4. Retained earnings The table below shows the movement in the retained earnings analysed between revenue and capital items. Revenue Capital Total £'000 £'000 £'000 At 30 September 2006 18,487 594,385 612,872 Movement during the period: Net income for the period 4,342 59,370 63,712 Ordinary dividend paid: Ordinary Shares (5,122) - (5,122) Special dividend paid: Ordinary Shares (1,601) - (1,601) At 31 March 2007 16,106 653,755 669,861 5. Net asset value per Ordinary Share The net asset value per Ordinary Share is based on the net assets of £758,280,000 (six months to 31 March 2006: £744,198,000; year ended 30 September 2006: £701,291,000) and on 160,080,089 (six months to 31 March 2006: 160,080,089, year ended 30 September 2006: 160,080,089) Ordinary Shares, being the number of Ordinary Shares in issue at the period end. 6. Equities Index Unsecured Loan Stock 2013 During the period the Company bought back 61,769 units of Equities Index Loan Stock 2013 for cancellation at a cost of £196,000. 7. Dividends During the period the Company paid a final dividend of 3.20p per Ordinary Share and a special dividend of 1.00p per Ordinary Share for the year ended 30 September 2006 on 5 January 2007 to Ordinary Shareholders on the register at 15 December 2006 (ex-dividend 13 December 2006). The interim dividend of 1.40p per Ordinary Share for the year ending 30 September 2007 will be paid on 8 June 2007 to Ordinary Shareholders on the register at 25 May 2007 (ex-dividend 23 May 2007). 8. The results for the first six months should not be taken as a guide to the full year's results. 9. The Interim Report will be sent to shareholders shortly. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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