Interim Results

Foreign & Colonial Eurotrust PLC 16 May 2007 Date: 16 May 2007 Contact: Peter Jarvis F&C Management Limited 020 7628 8000 FOREIGN & COLONIAL EUROTRUST PLC Unaudited Statement of Results for the half-year ended 31 March 2007 HIGHLIGHTS • Between the year end at 30 September 2006 and 31 March 2007, your Company's net asset value per share rose by 15.1% from 731.20p to 841.76p compared with a rise of 10.8% in the FTSE All-World Europe ex UK Index. • The Company's share price rose by 15.9% from 664.50p to 770.00p and the discount narrowed from 9.1% to 8.5%. SUMMARY OF UNAUDITED RESULTS FOR THE HALF-YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2007 31 March 2007 30 September 2006 % Change Net assets £451.41m £406.69m +11.0 Net asset value per share 841.76p 731.20p +15.1 Share price 770.00p 664.50p +15.9 Half-year ended Half-year ended 31 March 2007 31 March 2006 Revenue return per share 0.05p 1.05p Managers' Review Capital Performance Between the year end at 30 September 2006 and 31 March 2007, your Company's net asset value per share rose by 15.1% from 731.20p to 841.76p compared with a rise of 10.8% in the FTSE All-World Europe ex UK Index, which is adjusted for the movement in sterling against the European currencies. The Company's share price rose by 15.9% from 664.50p to 770.00p and the discount narrowed from 9.1% to 8.5%. Revenue The revenue surplus for the period is less than at the interim stage last year, mainly because income has fallen from the high level of last year. Management fees have risen in line with the increased value of the portfolio and finance costs have increased as interest rates rise. The figures are not indicative of the full year results because European companies tend to pay their dividends between April and September, whereas expenses are incurred throughout the year. Gearing The effective gearing of the Company was 5.5% at 31 March 2007. It is the policy of the Board that the level of gearing should not exceed 20%. Review of Markets Despite a pull back towards the end of February, investors in European equities enjoyed strong gains during the period under review. The equity market was supported by strong corporate earnings growth, a relatively buoyant global economy and high levels of merger and acquisition (M&A) activity. Europe's domestic economies proved to be in good shape - a fact highlighted by strong confidence levels among the business community and consumers. In March, the European Central Bank (ECB) raised interest rates by 0.25% to 3.75% in a widely expected move reflecting the region's robust growth and a desire to keep inflation in check. The one economic sore spot remained the US where fears of a consumer slowdown were heightened as the housing market continued to weaken and defaults in the sub-prime mortgage market caused concern for investors. Against this supportive backdrop corporate Europe performed well with announced results bettering expectations at a rate of three to one by the period's close. In terms of sector performance industrial stocks were amongst the better performers and technology stocks lagged. M&A activity provided further impetus which was driven by both low interest rates and the strength of corporate balance sheets. Portfolio Strategy Oil prices have remained high over the period and we believe this will continue to benefit the specialist equipment and service stocks. The oil majors have rapidly increased capital expenditure as they look to maintain and increase their output. We added to the Company's holding of Vallourec, the niche seamless oil pipe manufacturer. We have further exposure to the sector through Awilco Offshore, Saipem and Prosafe. We increased the Company's exposure to the German market over the period as we believe the recent momentum in corporate restructuring will gather pace. EU accession countries continue to present some good investment opportunities, particularly in areas of under penetration such as banking and financial services. We bought shares in Bank of Cyprus, which as well as being attractive in its own right looks a potential target amid consolidation in the industry. Following strong performance, we have switched our holdings within the capital goods sector as they are now trading at less attractive valuations. We have sold out of our holding in Wartsila and reduced the position in KCI Konecranes. We established a new holding in German railway engineer Vossloh as we believe it looks well placed to benefit from infrastructure spending increases in the emerging markets and US. In the mid-cap arena we initiated positions in Datalex, Axis and Balda. Datalex provides e-business infrastructure and solutions to airlines, Axis is the global leader in digital CCTV and Balda is a key component supplier to the new Apple i-Phone. The Company's performance benefited from M&A activity as the bid for Altadis by Imperial Tobacco drove the share price of the former up considerably. Whilst we believe there is a possibility of a higher bid or counter-offer by a private equity consortium, we halved our position and locked in some profits. In the banking sector our recent purchase of ABN AMRO performed strongly on speculation of an imminent bid. Elsewhere, we further cut our weighting in the investment banking sector as investors continue to be wary of both the fallout from the US sub-prime mortgage market and the effects of recent interest rate moves. Outlook Whilst economic growth is expected to slow as a result of higher interest rates, we remain fundamentally positive on the outlook for European shares. Europe's corporate environment remains encouraging with recent earnings results generally meeting or bettering expectations. Healthy balance sheets, solid M&A activity and higher dividends should continue to generate support. Davina Curling Peter Jarvis May 2007 UNAUDITED INCOME STATEMENT Half-year ended 31 March 2007 Half-year ended 31 March 2006 Revenue Capital Total* Revenue Capital Total* £'000s £'000s £'000s £'000s £'000s £'000s Gains on investments - 64,369 64,369 - 72,766 72,766 Exchange losses (6) (124) (130) (10) (901) (911) Income 2,567 - 2,567 3,082 - 3,082 Management fee (1,366) - (1,366) (1,297) - (1,297) Other expenses (348) (22) (370) (354) (27) (381) Return before finance costs and taxation 847 64,223 65,070 1,421 71,838 73,259 Finance costs (781) - (781) (524) - (524) Return on ordinary activities before taxation 66 64,223 64,289 897 71,838 72,735 Taxation on ordinary activities (39) - (39) (277) - (277) Return attributable to equity shareholders 27 64,223 64,250 620 71,838 72,458 Return per share - pence 0.05 116.89 116.94 1.05 122.13 123.18 *The total column is the profit and loss account of the Company. All revenue and capital items in the above statement derive from continuing operations. A statement of total recognised gains and losses is not required as all gains and losses of the Company have been reflected in the above statement. UNAUDITED RECONCILIATION OF MOVEMENTS IN SHAREHOLDERS' FUNDS Half-year ended 31 March 2007 Called up Share Capital Total equity share premium redemption Capital Revenue shareholders' capital account reserve reserves reserve funds £'000s £'000s £'000s £'000s £'000s £'000s Balance brought forward at 30 September 2006 13,905 123,749 4,906 255,269 8,861 406,690 Movements during the half-year ended 31 March 2007 Dividends paid - - - - (4,977) (4,977) Shares purchased by the Company (498) - 498 (14,552) - (14,552) Return attributable to equity shareholders - - - 64,223 27 64,250 Balance carried forward at 31 March 2007 13,407 123,749 5,404 304,940 3,911 451,411 Half-year ended 31 March 2006 Called up Share Capital Total share premium redemption Capital Revenue shareholders' capital account reserve reserves reserve funds £'000s £'000s £'000s £'000s £'000s £'000s Balance brought forward at 30 September 2005 15,657 123,749 3,154 240,559 8,235 391,354 Movements during the half-year ended 31 March 2006 Dividends paid - - - - (4,417) (4,417) Shares purchased by the Company (1,122) - 1,122 (25,841) - (25,841) Return attributable to equity shareholders - - - 71,838 620 72,458 Balance carried forward at 31 March 2006 14,535 123,749 4,276 286,556 4,438 433,554 Year ended 30 September 2006 Called up Share Capital Total share premium redemption Capital Revenue shareholders' capital account reserve reserves reserve funds £'000s £'000s £'000s £'000s £'000s £'000s Balance brought forward at 30 September 2005 15,657 123,749 3,154 240,559 8,235 391,354 Movements during the year ended 30 September 2006 Dividends paid - - - - (4,417) (4,417) Shares purchased by the Company (1,752) - 1,752 (42,092) - (42,092) Return attributable to equity shareholders - - - 56,802 5,043 61,845 Balance carried forward at 30 September 2006 13,905 123,749 4,906 255,269 8,861 406,690 UNAUDITED BALANCE SHEET 31 March 31 March 30 September 2006 2007 2006 £'000s £'000s £'000s Fixed assets Listed Investments 482,326 465,335 437,827 Current assets Debtors 2,519 5,264 306 Taxation recoverable 582 81 360 Cash at bank and short-term deposits 5,540 4,585 3,923 8,641 9,930 4,589 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Foreign currency loans (30,541) (40,465) (30,517) Other (9,015) (1,246) (5,209) (39,556) (41,711) (35,726) Net current liabilities (30,915) (31,781) (31,137) Net assets 451,411 433,554 406,690 Capital and Reserves Called-up share capital 13,407 14,535 13,905 Share premium account 123,749 123,749 123,749 Capital redemption reserve 5,404 4,276 4,906 Capital reserves 304,940 286,556 255,269 Revenue reserve 3,911 4,438 8,861 Total equity shareholders' funds 451,411 433,554 406,690 Net asset value per share - pence 841.76 745.71 731.20 The geographical distribution of investments at 31 March 2007 was: Germany - 20.9%, France - 14.4%, Switzerland - 11.6%, Italy - 8.2%, Norway - 8.0%, Spain - 7.1%, Netherlands - 6.8%, Sweden 5.1%, Greece 4.8%, Finland 3.2%, Austria 2.5%, Denmark 2.0%, Belgium 1.9%, Ireland 1.7%, Cyprus 1.0%, Portugal 0.8%. UNAUDITED SUMMARY CASH FLOW STATEMENT Half-year ended Half-year ended 31 March 2007 31 March 2006 £'000s £'000s Net cash inflow from operating activities 844 746 Cash outflow from servicing of finance (763) (511) Net tax paid (756) (400) Net cash inflow from financial investment 21,928 28,309 Equity dividends paid (4,977) (4,417) Net cash inflow before use of liquid resources and financing 16,276 23,727 (Increase)/decrease in short-term deposits (79) 13,897 Net cash outflow from financing (14,668) (34,121) Increase in cash 1,529 3,503 Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net debt Increase in cash 1,529 3,503 Increase/(decrease) in short-term deposits 79 (13,897) Decrease/(increase) in short-term loans 116 (15,609) Movement in net debt resulting from cash flows 1,724 (26,003) Exchange movement (131) (931) Movement in net debt 1,593 (26,934) Net debt brought forward (26,594) (8,946) Net debt carried forward (25,001) (35,880) Represented by: Cash at bank and short-term deposits 5,540 4,585 Short-term loans (30,541) (40,465) (25,001) (35,880) Notes 1 RETURN PER SHARE Half-year ended Half-year ended 31 March 2007 31 March 2006 £'000s £'000s Revenue return 27 620 Capital return 64,223 71,838 Total return 64,250 72,458 Number Number Weighted average ordinary shares in issue 54,937,829 58,823,382 2 DIVIDENDS The Directors have not declared an interim dividend. 3 RESULTS The results for the six months to 31 March 2007 and 31 March 2006, which are unaudited, constitute non-statutory accounts within the meaning of Section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. The latest published accounts which have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies are for the year ended 30 September 2006; the report of the auditors thereon was unqualified and did not contain a statement under Section 237 of the Companies Act 1985. The abridged financial statements shown above for the year ended 30 September 2006 are an extract from those accounts. 4 REPORT AND ACCOUNTS The Report and Accounts for the half-year ended 31 March 2007 will be posted to shareholders in late May 2007. 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 Exchange House, Primrose Street, London EC2A 2NY 16 May 2007 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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