Final Results

City Natural Res High Yield Tst PLC 27 October 2006 To: RNS From: City Natural Resources High Yield Trust plc Date: 27 October 2006 Unaudited results for the year ended 30 June 2006 • Net asset value total return of 48.6 per cent since 1 July 2005 compared to a total return of 43.5 per cent from the benchmark index • Ordinary Share price total return since 1 July 2005 of 45.5 per cent • Warrant price up by 200.0 per cent since 1 July 2005 • Discount of 6.3 per cent Introduction My first year as Chairman has been one of great excitement and, I am pleased to say, success for shareholders, with net asset value and share price total returns of more than 45 per cent. Investment Performance The Company's net asset value per share rose by 48.1 per cent to 119.8 pence during the year ended 30 June 2006. To this must be added three quarterly dividends of 0.5 pence per share and a fourth interim dividend of 0.65 pence per share, the total of 2.15 pence representing a 7.5 per cent increase on last year's 2.0 pence. The net asset value total return for the year was 48.6 per cent, taking the net asset value total return to 146.3 per cent since 1 August 2003 when the reconstruction of the investment portfolio was completed following the change to the Company's investment objective. The share price rose from 77.75 pence to 110.75 pence during the year, an increase of 42.4 per cent, the discount at which the shares trade widening a little to 6.3 per cent. The warrant price tripled from 13.0 pence to 39.0 pence over the same period. Investment Strategy As the bull market in the natural resource sector has continued, so has the Manager's strategy of taking full advantage of the capital growth opportunities available. Against this background, it was particularly pleasing to be able to increase the dividends declared well ahead of the rate of inflation. This was achieved in large part by taking advantage of a trend within the natural resource sector to issue convertibles rather than use bank debt. We will not lose sight of the importance of income to shareholders. I picked out the strength of the bullion sector in my Interim Statement. That strength has continued, but other sectors worth highlighting include silver amongst the precious metals; zinc and copper amongst the base ones; oil and gas; uranium; and, soft commodities. The Company is well represented in all of these. March saw another highlight for the Company as, for the first time since inception; all of the Top Twenty holdings were natural resource related. This reflected the issuance of natural resource convertibles to which I have already made reference. Board Adam Cooke was appointed to the Board of the Company's investment manager, New City Investment Managers Ltd ('NCIM'), on 21 March 2006. Under the Listing Rules of the London Stock Exchange Adam and Adrian Collins, who is a Director of New City High Yield Trust plc, which is also managed by NCIM, are deemed to be unable to demonstrate their independence of NCIM. The Board is considering the best means to ensure that the constitution of the Board meets the requirements of the Listing Rules and principles of corporate governance generally, while at the same time hoping to retain the valued contributions of both Adam and Adrian, and would expect to make a further announcement in this regard in due course. Investment Management Fee Having reviewed the level of management fees charged by other investment managers in the sector in which the Company operates and given the strategic nature of the debt, the Board has concluded that NCIM should be remunerated by charging fees on gross rather than net assets. Given the nature of this change it has decided that it is proper to give shareholders the opportunity to vote on it. Outlook The sharp downturn in the markets in May served as a reminder that conditions do remain volatile, and that speculative activity in the natural resource sector may have driven the market ahead of itself. That said, the setback was short lived and the ground lost has been recovered. More importantly, we believe that the natural resource sector continues to offer exciting opportunities, and the Board faces the future with confidence. Enquiries: Richard Lockwood, New City Investment Managers: 0207 557 4370 Martin Cassels, F&C Asset Management plc 0131 465 1000 Unaudited Income Statement for the year ended 30 June 2006 Notes 2006 2006 2006 Revenue Capital Total £'000 £'000 £'000 Gains on investments - 25,147 25,147 Exchange losses - (128) (128) Income 2,877 - 2,877 Investment management fee (217) (654) (871) Other expenses (270) - (270) Net return before finance costs and taxation 2,390 24,365 26,755 Interest payable (236) (603) (839) Return on ordinary activities before tax 2,154 23,762 25,916 Tax on ordinary activities (599) 390 (209) Return attributable to equity shareholders 1,555 24,152 25,707 Return per Ordinary Share 1 2.48 38.42 40.90 Dividends recognised in the year Year ended 30 June 2006 £'000 Fourth interim dividend for the year ended 30 June 2005 of 0.5p per share 314 First interim dividend for the year ended 30 June 2006 of 0.5p per share 314 Second interim dividend for the year ended 30 June 2006 of 0.5p per share 314 Third interim dividend for the year ended 30 June 2006 of 0.5p per share 314 1,256 Unaudited Income Statement for the year ended 30 June 2005 (restated) Notes 2005 2005 2005 Revenue Capital Total £'000 £'000 £'000 Gains on investments - 11,649 11,649 Exchange losses - (88) (88) Income 2,513 - 2,513 Investment management fee (160) (479) (639) Other expenses (299) - (299) Net return before finance costs and taxation 2,054 11,082 13,136 Interest Payable (178) (459) (637) Return on ordinary activities before tax 1,876 10,623 12,499 Tax on ordinary activities (457) 297 (160) Return attributable to equity shareholders 1,419 10,920 12,339 Return per Ordinary Share 1 2.26 17.37 19.63 Dividends recognised in the year Year ended 30 June 2005 £'000 Fourth interim dividend for the year ended 30 June 2004 of 0.5p per share 314 First interim dividend for the year ended 30 June 2005 of 0.5p per share 314 Second interim dividend for the year ended 30 June 2005 of 0.5p per share 314 Third interim dividend for the year ended 30 June 2005 of 0.5p per share 314 1,256 Unaudited Balance Sheet as at 30 June 2005 2006 (restated) £'000 £'000 Fixed assets Investments 92,556 61,607 Current assets Debtors 1,076 1,152 Cash at bank and on deposit 508 443 1,584 1,595 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (18,862) (12,375) Net current liabilities (17,278) (10,780) Net Assets 75,278 50,827 Capital and reserves Called-up share capital 15,714 15,714 Special distributable reserve 30,386 30,386 Warrant reserve 2,353 2,353 Other reserves: Capital reserve - realised 6,482 (4,684) Capital reserve - unrealised 19,371 6,385 Revenue reserve 972 673 Equity shareholders' funds 75,278 50,827 Net asset value per share 2 119.76p 80.86p Reconciliation of Movements in Shareholders' Funds Year ended 30 Year ended 30 June 2006 £'000 June 2005 £'000 Equity shareholders' funds at 30 June 2005/2004 (as previously reported) 51,321 39,971 Less revaluation of investments from mid to bid prices (808) (541) Add dividends accrued at 30 June 2005/2004 314 314 Equity shareholders' funds at 30 June 2005/2004 (restated) 50,827 39,744 Gains on investments 25,147 11,649 Return on ordinary activities after taxation 1,555 1,419 Increase in share capital (867) (641) Exchange Losses (128) (88) Dividends paid (1,256) (1,256) Equity shareholders' funds at 30 June 2006/2005 75,278 50,827 Unaudited Cash Flow Statement for the year to 30 June 2006 2005 (restated) £'000 £'000 Operating activities Investment income received 2,708 2,502 Deposit interest received - 14 Other income received 17 15 Investment management fees paid (760) (668) Other cash payments (356) (341) Net cash inflow from operating activities 1,609 1,522 Servicing of finance Interest on loan (681) (601) Bank overdraft interest (35) (21) Net cash outflow from servicing of finance (716) (622) Taxation Tax paid (154) (74) Capital expenditure and financial investment Purchases of investments (49,504) (29,850) Disposals of investments 44,714 28,756 Net cash outflow from capital expenditure and financial investment (4,790) (1,094) Dividends Equity dividends paid (1,256) (1,571) Net cash flow before financing (5,307) (1,839) Financing Bank loan drawn down 5,500 2,000 Net cash inflow from financing 5,500 2,000 Increase/(decrease) in cash 193 161 Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net debt Increase/ (decrease) in cash in the year 193 161 Bank loan drawn down (5,500) (2,000) Exchange losses (128) (86) Movement in net debt in the year (5,435) (1,925) Opening net debt at 1 July (11,557) (9,632) Closing net debt at 30 June (16,992) (11,557) Notes 1. The basic revenue return per Ordinary share is based on the net return after taxation of £1,555,000 (2005: £1,419,000) and on 62,857,143 (2005: 62,857,143) Ordinary shares being the weighted average number of Ordinary shares in issue during the year. The basic capital return per Ordinary share is based on a capital return of £24,152,000 (2005: £10,920,000) and on 62,857,143 (2005: 62,857,143) Ordinary shares, being the weighted average number of Ordinary shares in issue during the year. 2. During the year the Company did not issue any shares nor did the Company purchase any shares for cancellation. The basic net asset value per Ordinary share of 119.8p (2005: 80.9p) is based on 62,857,143 shares (2005: 62,857,143), being the total number of Ordinary shares in issue at the end of the year. The fully diluted net asset value per Ordinary share is 117.7p (2005: 80.9p). 3. The Board declared a fourth interim dividend of 0.65p per share which was paid on 25 August 2006 to shareholders on the register on 28 July 2006, having an ex-dividend date of 26 July 2006. The Board also declared a first interim dividend for the year ended 30 June 2007 which will be paid on 24 November 2006 to shareholders on the register on 27 October 2006, having an ex-dividend date of 25 October 2006. 4. The financial information set out above does not constitute the Company's statutory accounts for the year ended 30 June 2006. The financial information for 2005 is derived from the statutory accounts for 2005 which have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The Auditors have reported on the 2005 accounts, their report was unqualified and did not contain a statement under section 237(2) or (3) of the Companies Act 1985. The statutory accounts for 2006 are unaudited, however it is expected that the Auditors will issue an unqualified opinion. The statutory accounts for 2006 will be finalised on the basis of the financial information presented in this preliminary announcement and will be delivered to the Registrar of Companies following the Company's Annual General Meeting. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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