Interim Results

F&C Pacific Inv Tst 08 October 2004 Date: 8 October 2004 Contact: Christian Dangerfield Lisa Stanley F&C Management Limited Lansons Communications 020 7628 8000 020 7294 3692 F&C PACIFIC INVESTMENT TRUST PLC Unaudited Interim Statement of Results for the half-year to 31 July 2004 SUMMARY OF RESULTS 31 July 2004 31 January 2004 % change Net assets £189.5m £209.9m -9.7 Net asset value per share 117.08p 122.74p -4.6 Share price 104.50p 110.75p -5.6 Commenting on these results Christopher Purvis, the Chairman said: MARKET ENVIRONMENT The first three months of the period under review saw gains in most Asian markets, with Japan leading strongly on hopes that the prolonged downturn in that economy was coming to an end. The second three months saw sharp setbacks across the region, as concerns about the global economy and, particularly, the rising oil price overshadowed the more positive underlying outlook for Asia's economies. Markets were particularly volatile as a result of the withdrawal of many foreign investors from the region, following aggressive buying last year. PORTFOLIO PERFORMANCE Performance during the period was poor. The Company's benchmark, the MSCI AC Asia Pacific Free Index, fell by 0.8%, the Company's net asset value per share fell by 4.6%. Sharp falls occurred in a number of your Company's larger holdings exposed to Japan's domestic economy in the second half of the period, resulting in net underperformance by the Company's portfolio of the Japanese market for the six month period. However, significant underperformance against our benchmark during the period was caused by holdings in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan, where markets were hit by concerns about the impact of a slowdown in China's economy. While the Manager had reduced exposure to China ahead of market weakness in April and May, the Company remained overweight in a number of other Asian markets and was therefore exposed to the broad-based panic-selling which occurred at that time. This was particularly acute in a number of the Company's holdings in smaller companies in South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore. Gearing during the period exacerbated underperformance. DERIVATIVES During the period under review your Board gave approval to the Manager to use derivatives primarily for hedging purposes. At the end of the six months under review your Manager protected part of the Japanese portfolio through the purchase of put options. The effect of this was that approximately 20% of the Japanese portfolio was protected against a fall in the Nikkei Index below 10,500. SHARE BUY-BACKS We have maintained our policy of repurchasing shares for cancellation. We bought back 9,135,816 shares in the six months, with a market value of £10.04m at an average discount of 11.4%. This is equivalent to 5.3% of the shares in issue at the end of the last financial year. MERGER OF F&C AND ISIS On 2 July 2004 our Manager, F&C Management, announced that it would merge with ISIS Asset Management. The combined group, to be named F&C Asset Management, will become the fourth largest asset manager in the UK with assets under management of £120bn. F&C Management has advised the Board that as a result of the merger greater resources will be added to the management of your Company's portfolio. Your Board confirms that the investment philosophy and objectives of your Company remain unchanged. OUTLOOK The Manager believes that the long-term relative attractiveness of the region continues to build. Following weakness over the summer, valuations once again look appealing and, in the case of Japan, have returned to 30-year lows. While China remains a wildcard, growth within the region generally remains on track. However, the rising price of oil and renewed doubts about the sustainability of the global economy have once again clouded the region's more positive outlook. In light of this your Manager has geared the portfolio to the level of approximately 16%, as at 6 October, but has put in place derivative transactions to provide some protection against a major fall in the Japanese, Korean and Hong Kong stockmarkets. The Company's portfolio is currently overweight relative to the benchmark in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. Christopher Purvis October 2004 Unaudited Balance Sheet 31 July 31 July 31 January 2004 2004 2003 £'000s £'000s £'000s Fixed assets Investments 190,964 201,190 234,408 Current assets Debtors 4,428 737 4,879 Taxation recoverable - 293 - 4,428 1,030 4,879 Cash at bank and short-term deposits 23,222 9,264 3,666 27,650 10,294 8,545 Current liabilities Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Loans (25,862) (5,161) (24,887) Other (3,235) (2,858) (8,185) (29,097) (8,019) (33,072) Net current (liabilities)/assets (1,447) 2,275 (24,527) Net assets 189,517 203,465 209,881 Capital and Reserves Called up share capital 40,466 46,561 42,750 Capital redemption reserve 17,105 11,010 14,821 Share premium 5 5 5 Capital reserves 124,034 137,827 145,061 Revenue reserve 7,907 8,062 7,244 Total equity shareholders' funds 189,517 203,465 209,881 Net asset value per ordinary share - pence 117.08 109.25 122.74 The geographical distribution of investments at 31 July 2004 was: Japan - 57.9%; Australasia - 13.9%; Singapore - 6.3%; Hong Kong - 4.8%; South Korea - 4.6%; Taiwan - 3.1%; Other - 9.4%. Unaudited Statement of Total Return (incorporating the Revenue Account*) for the 6 months to 31 July 2004 2003 Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total £'000s £'000s £'000s £'000s £'000s £'000s (Losses)/gains on investments - (11,569) (11,569) - 30,091 30,091 Exchange gains/(losses) - 395 395 - (120) (120) Income 2,057 - 2,057 2,450 - 2,450 Management fee (607) - (607) (521) - (521) Performance-related management fee - 321 321 - 202 202 Other expenses (323) (33) (356) (334) (27) (361) Net return before finance costs and taxation 1,127 (10,886) (9,759) 1,595 30,146 31,741 Interest payable and similar charges (183) - (183) (10) - (10) Return on ordinary activities before taxation 944 (10,886) (9,942) 1,585 30,146 31,731 Taxation on ordinary activities (281) (96) (377) (539) - (539) Return attributable to equity shareholders 663 (10,982) (10,319) 1,046 30,146 31,192 Dividend on ordinary shares - - - - - - Amount transferred to/(from) reserves 663 (10,982) (10,319) 1,046 30,146 31,192 Return per ordinary share - pence 0.40 (6.64) (6.24) 0.56 16.05 16.61 * The revenue column of this statement is the profit and loss account of the Company. All revenue and capital items in the above statement derive from continuing operations. Unaudited Summarised Cash Flow Statement for the 6 months to 31 July 2004 2003 £'000s £'000s Net cash inflow from operating activities 924 2,178 Interest paid (200) (11) Total tax (paid)/received (366) 604 Net cash inflow from financial investment 32,106 11,592 Equity dividends paid (1,785) (1,967) Net cash inflow before use of liquid resources and financing 30,679 12,396 Increase in short-term deposits - (3,719) Net cash outflow from financing (8,704) (2,518) Increase in cash during the period 21,975 6,159 The Interim financial statements have been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies set out in the Company's financial statements at 31 January 2004. As the Company liquidated its three trading subsidiaries during the year ended 31 January 2004 consolidated accounts have not been prepared. The comparatives for both the half-year to 31 July 2003 and at 31 January 2004 are also on a company only basis. The Board recommends that no interim dividend payment be made. The Report and Accounts for the half-year to 31 July 2004 will be posted to shareholders in mid October 2004. Copies may be obtained during normal business hours from the Company's Registered Office, Exchange House, Primrose Street, London EC2A 2NY. By order of the Board F&C Management Limited, Secretary 8 October 2004 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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