Final Results

F&C U.S. Smaller Companies PLC 06 September 2005 Date: 6 September 2005 Contact: Robert Siddles Lisa Stanley F&C Management Limited Lansons Communications 020 7628 8000 020 7294 3692 F&C US SMALLER COMPANIES PLC Unaudited Preliminary Statement of Results for the year ended 30 June 2005 HIGHLIGHTS • The net asset value (NAV) per share of the Company rose 21.2% to 296.37p, compared to an increase of 9.4% in our benchmark, the sterling-adjusted Russell 2000 Index. • Your Company's NAV performance has exceeded its benchmark for the last five years and in eleven out of the twelve years since formation. • The Board believes that the Company's investment policy will continue to benefit shareholders over the longer term. SUMMARY OF RESULTS 30 June 2005 30 June 2004 % change Net assets £71.43m £64.76m +10.3 Net assets per share 296.37p 244.53p +21.2 Share price 263.50p 216.50p +21.7 Extracts from the Chairman's Statement Dear Shareholder I am pleased to report an excellent year for your Company. The net asset value (NAV) per share of the Company rose 21.2% to 296.37p, compared to an increase of 9.4% in our benchmark, the sterling-adjusted Russell 2000 Index. Your Company's NAV performance has exceeded its benchmark for the last five years and in eleven of the twelve years since formation in March 1993. Since then, the NAV per share has risen by 207.1%, whereas the sterling-adjusted Russell 2000 Index gained 126.3%. Market Review During the year under review the Russell 2000 rose by 8.1%, in dollar terms, significantly better than the other major indices such as the Standard & Poors Composite Index, which gained 4.4% and the more technology-orientated NASDAQ Composite Index, which advanced by 0.5%. Once again the US smaller company sector provided superior equity returns. Early on in the Company's financial year, the smaller company sector rallied but from November a period of retrenchment set in. This reflected growing concerns about the impact on economic growth of rising interest rates and oil prices. The sector resumed its advance in May, making new record highs shortly after the end of the financial year. Sterling investors benefited from a small rise in the US dollar over the year. The dollar was helped by rising US interest rates and hopes that politicians would address the burgeoning US fiscal deficit. The turnaround was more significant since 31 December 2004 at which date the dollar had fallen to very low levels against the pound. It subsequently recovered sharply. This is a relief following several years of exchange rate losses for UK investors. The energy sector was by far the best performing sector in the Russell 2000, driven by fears of supply shortages. Utilities also performed well, helped by a better bond market and a more defensive tone to the market. The worst performers were the higher risk sectors reflecting concerns about the economy: technology, healthcare, and autos and transportation. Discount and Buybacks The price of the shares rose by 21.7% to 263.5p over the year. The discount to NAV per share narrowed slightly during the year from 11.5% to 11.1% and at 5 September 2005 was 8.9%. The Company bought back 2,381,500 shares during the year at an average discount of 12.4%. The Board will continue to apply its policy of buying back shares at appropriate times with a view to limiting the discount in the longer term to around 10%. Foreign Currency Hedging Policy and Gearing Policy It is worth reiterating the Board's policy in relation to hedging and gearing. Although the Board has the authority to hedge out the £/$ risk for a sterling based investor, it does not routinely do so and the portfolio is not currently hedged. The Company is not currently geared. The Board has the authority to gear the Company. The Board takes the view that the asset class in which it invests is sufficiently risky that it does not wish to add additional risk by borrowing. The Board believes that most of the Company's shareholders are conservative long term investors and that this policy suits their needs. Continuation Vote Under the Articles of Association, a continuation vote is to be proposed at the Annual General Meeting in 2005 and every three years afterwards. Accordingly, a vote that the Company continue as an investment trust will be taken at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting. The Board is of the opinion that the continuation of the Company is in the best interests of shareholders as a whole and recommends that you vote for the resolution as the directors intend to do in respect of their own beneficial shareholdings. AGM The Annual General Meeting will be held at 12.30 pm, Tuesday 15 November 2005 and I hope that you will attend. The meeting will be held in the offices of F&C Management Limited at Exchange House, Primrose Street, London EC2A 2NY. Gordon Grender September 2005 Balance Sheet at 30 June 2005 2004 £'000s £'000s Fixed assets Listed investments 70,348 63,843 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Current assets Debtors 76 171 Cash at bank and short-term deposits 1,591 1,381 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 1,667 1,552 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (581) (632) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Net current assets 1,086 920 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Net assets 71,434 64,763 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Capital and Reserves Called up equity share capital 6,026 6,621 Share premium account 2,468 2,468 Non-distributable reserve 841 841 Capital redemption reserve 7,326 6,731 Special reserve 5,346 10,713 Capital reserves 50,804 38,988 Revenue reserve (1,377) (1,599) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Total shareholders' funds - equity 71,434 64,763 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Net asset value per ordinary share - pence 296.37 244.53 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The geographical distribution of investments at 30 June 2005 was: United States 100%. Statement of Total Return (incorporating the Revenue Account*) for the year ended 30 June 2005 2004 Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total £'000s £'000s £'000s £'000s £'000s £'000s _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Gains on investments - 11,955 11,955 - 12,005 12,005 Exchange losses on currency balances - (39) (39) - (148) (148) Income 1,032 - 1,032 714 - 714 Management fee (533) - (533) (496) - (496) Other expenses (198) (6) (204) (175) (2) (177) _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Net return before finance costs and taxation 301 11,910 12,211 43 11,855 11,898 Interest payable and similar charges - - - - - - _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Return on ordinary activities before taxation 301 11,910 12,211 43 11,855 11,898 Taxation on ordinary activities (79) (94) (173) (104) - (104) _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Return attributable to equity shareholders 222 11,816 12,038 (61) 11,855 11,794 Dividends on ordinary shares (equity) - - - - - - _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Amount transferred to/(from) reserves 222 11,816 12,038 (61) 11,855 11,794 _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Return per ordinary share - pence 0.88 46.74 47.62 (0.23) 44.53 44.30 _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ * 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. Cash Flow Statement For the year ended 30 June 2005 2004 £'000s £'000s _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Net cash inflow from operating activities 487 8 Taxation paid (174) (104) Net cash inflow from financial investment 5,392 329 _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Net cash inflow before use of liquid resources and financing 5,705 233 Net cash outflow from financing (5,570) - _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Increase in cash 135 233 _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Notes The Board recommends that no final dividend payment be made. The above financial information comprises non-statutory accounts within the meaning of section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. The financial information for the year ended 30 June 2004 has been extracted from published accounts for the year ended 30 June 2004 that have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies and on which the report of the auditors has been unqualified. During the year 2,381,500 shares were purchased at a total cost of £5,367,000. Since the year end no shares have been purchased. The Report and Accounts will be posted to shareholders in late September 2005. Copies may be obtained, during normal business hours from the registered office of the Company, Exchange House, Primrose Street, London EC2A 2NY. The Annual General Meeting will be held at the registered office of the Company, Exchange House, Primrose Street, London EC2A 2NY on 15 November 2005 at 12.30 pm. By order of the Board F&C Management Limited, Secretary 6 September 2005 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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