Interim Results

DUNEDIN INCOME GROWTH INVESTMENT TRUST PLC 26 August 1999 DUNEDIN INCOME GROWTH INVESTMENT TRUST PLC WINNER OF 3 AWARDS Standard & Poor's Micropal: 1st Place One Year UK Investment Trusts 1998 UK Income Growth sector out of 19 funds Money Observer Investment Trust Awards: Best UK Trust Award 1998 Investment Trust Magazine: Best Income Growth Trust 1998 INTERIM RESULTS FOR THE 6 MONTHS TO 31 JULY 1999 The objective of Dunedin Income Growth Investment Trust is to achieve growth of income from a portfolio invested in the United Kingdom. Highlights Dividend increased by 2.5% Net asset value per share increased by 7.3%. This compares with the FTSE All Share Index which rose by 8.5%. Net asset value total return to shareholders for the six months was 8.2% For further information, please contact:- Graham Campbell, Fund Manager Director, Edinburgh Fund Managers plc 0131 313 1000 Chairman's Statement In the six months to 31 July 1999, the net asset value per share rose from 230.23p to 247.01p, representing an increase of 7.3%. This compares with a capital return of 8.5% from the FTSE All Share Index. The board has declared an interim dividend of 2.05p per share which represents an increase of 2.5% over last year's interim dividend. Combining the increase in net assets with the interim dividend produced a total return for the six months of 8.2%. Performance In 1998/99 the company outperformed its benchmark over both the half year and the full year - helped by its exposure to the banking and life assurance industries. In the first six months of the current year, some of the companies held in these sectors underperformed in relative terms and held back capital performance over that period. The main change in the investment portfolio was the sale of the remaining holdings in gilts which was well-timed ahead of the rise in bond yields. The proceeds from these sales were reinvested partially in equities with the balance held in cash. The equity gearing ratio rose from 107.5% to 111.1% over the period. Within the equity portfolio, the main changes were the disposals of Billiton, Prudential, Marks & Spencer, Safeway and Asda, following its acquisition by Walmart. New holdings were taken in GKN, Trafficmaster and Unilever while additional funds were invested in GEC, Shell and Vodafone Airtouch. Allocation of Costs between Capital and Revenue In recent years the company has placed greater emphasis on producing total returns to shareholders. In the light of this the board has reviewed the allocation of investment management fees and finance costs which in the past had been split 50:50 between capital and revenue. The average returns over the last five and ten years and our expectations going forward show that a 70:30 allocation in favour of capital is now more appropriate. This revised allocation has been adopted for the six months to 31 July 1999. The Investment Trust Sector The board has backed the advertising campaign by the Association of Investment Trust Companies to promote the values of investment trusts and will be contributing £202,588 plus VAT to the campaign in its first year. We hope that this campaign will broaden the shareholder base further by adding to the company's existing 17,000 investors. The board is also keeping under review the effect of share buy-backs by the investment trust sector. Outlook Equity markets have been unsettled over the summer months from a general rise in bond yields and higher short term interest rates in the USA. The UK has not been immune to these factors which have pulled share prices lower. The fundamental background for UK equities however is improving with economic recovery now being reflected in upward revisions to estimates for corporate profits. These developments provide good long term support for UK share prices, although, in the near term, the market is likely to remain volatile until the future pattern in US interest rates becomes clearer. Ewan Brown Chairman 26 August 1999 STATEMENT OF TOTAL RETURN 6 months to 31 July 1999 (unaudited) Revenue Capital Total £000 £000 £000 Realised gains on investments - 31,718 31,718 Unrealised gains/(losses) on - (3,989) (3,989) investments Income 7,858 - 7,858 Investment management fee (294) (686) (980) Other administrative expenses (258) (10) (268) NET RETURN BEFORE FINANCE 7,306 27,033 34,339 COSTS AND TAXATION Interest payable and similar (1,063) (2,437) (3,500) charges RETURN ON ORDINARY 6,243 24,596 30,839 ACTIVITIES BEFORE TAXATION Taxation (681) - (681) RETURN ON ORDINARY 5,562 24,596 30,158 ACTIVITIES AFTER TAXATION Dividends in respect of non-equity (19) - (19) RETURN ATTRIBUTABLE TO 5,543 24,596 30,139 EQUITY SHAREHOLDERS Dividends in respect of equity (3,282) - (3,282) shares 2,261 24,596 26,857 RETURN PER ORDINARY SHARE 3.46p 15.37p 18.83p INTERIM DIVIDEND 2.05p STATEMENT OF TOTAL RETURN 6 months to 31 July 1998 (unaudited) Revenue Capital Total £000 £000 £000 Realised gains on investments - 20,741 20,741 Unrealised gains/(losses) on - 16,678 16,678 investments 8,565 - 8,565 Investment management fee (455) (455) (910) Other administrative expenses (216) - (216) NET RETURN BEFORE FINANCE 7,894 36,964 44,858 COSTS AND TAXATION Interest payable and similar (1,748) (1,744) (3,492) charges RETURN ON ORDINARY 6,146 35,220 41,366 ACTIVITIES BEFORE TAXATION Taxation (981) 74 (907) RETURN ON ORDINARY 5,165 35,294 40,459 ACTIVITIES AFTER TAXATION Dividends in respect of non-equity (15) - (15) shares RETURN ATTRIBUTABLE TO 5,150 35,294 40,444 EQUITY SHAREHOLDERS Dividends in respect of equity (3,202) - (3,202) shares 1,948 35,294 37,242 RETURN PER ORDINARY SHARE 3.22p 22.04p 25.26p INTERIM DIVIDEND 2.00p STATEMENT OF TOTAL RETURN Year to 31 January 1999 Revenue Capital Total £000 £000 £000 Realised gains on investments - 27,494 27,494 Unrealised gains/(losses) on - 4,247 4,247 investments Income 15,828 - 15,828 Investment management fee (902) (902) (1,804) Other administrative expenses (412) - (412) NET RETURN BEFORE FINANCE 14,514 30,839 45,353 COSTS AND TAXATION Interest payable and similar (3,494) (3,488) (6,982) charges RETURN ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES 11,020 27,351 38,371 BEFORE TAXATION Taxation (1,814) 233 (1,581) RETURN ON ORDINARY 9,206 27,584 36,790 ACTIVITIES AFTER TAXATION Dividends in respect of non-equity (29) - (29) shares RETURN ATTRIBUTABLE TO 9,177 27,584 36,761 EQUITY SHAREHOLDERS Dividends in respect of equity (9,894) - (9,894) shares (717) 27,584 26,867 RETURN PER ORDINARY SHARE 5.73p 17.23p 22.96p INTERIM DIVIDEND The revenue column of this statement represents the revenue account of the company. All revenue and capital items in the above statement derive from continuing operations. BALANCE SHEET At 31 July At 31 At 31 July 1999 January 1999 1998 (unaudited) (unaudited) £000 £000 £000 FIXED ASSETS Investments 441,289 433,161 423,514 CURRENT ASSETS Debtors 14,917 5,095 2,137 UK Treasury bills 9,952 13,884 14,767 Cash and short term deposits 6,643 2,420 18,523 31,512 21,399 35,427 CREDITORS: Amounts falling due 6,497 15,117 9,130 within one year NET CURRENT ASSETS 25,015 6,282 26,297 TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT 466,304 439,443 449,811 LIABILITIES CREDITORS: Amounts falling due 69,732 69,725 69,718 after one year 396,572 369,718 380,093 CAPITAL AND RESERVES Called up share capital - non 840 840 840 equity 40,025 40,025 40,025 - equity Other reserves 355,707 328,853 339,228 TOTAL EQUITY SHAREHOLDERS' FUNDS 395,732 368,878 379,253 396,572 369,718 380,093 Net asset value per ordinary 25p 247.01p 230.23p 236.71p share Notes: 1.The directors have declared an interim dividend of 2.05p (1998 - 2.00p) per ordinary share for the year ended 31 January 2000. The interim dividend, payable on 30 September 1999, will be paid to shareholders on the register on 9 September 1999. 2.The accounts have been prepared under the same accounting policies used for the year to 31 January 1999. With effect from 1 February 1999, 70% of the investment management fees and finance costs have been allocated to capital. 3.The financial information for the year ended 31 January 1999 has been extracted from the annual report and accounts of the company which has been filed with the Registrar of Companies and on which the auditors' report was unqualified. 4 The statement of total return (incorporating the revenue account) and balance sheet set out above do not represent full accounts in accordance with Section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice Financial Statements of Investment Trust Companies'. 5.The interim report will be posted to shareholders on 10 September 1999 and copies will be available at the head office of the Secretary - Edinburgh Fund Managers plc, Donaldson House, 97 Haymarket Terrace, Edinburgh EH12 5HD. Please note that past performance is not necessarily a guide to the future andthat the value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise.Investors may not get back the amount they originally invested.
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