Interim Results

Edinburgh New Income Trust plc 20 January 2006 News Release 20 January 2006 EDINBURGH NEW INCOME TRUST PLC INTERIM RESULTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS TO 30 NOVEMBER 2005 Edinburgh New Income Trust's investment objective is to provide ordinary shareholders with an attractive level of income, together with the potential for capital and income growth and its zero dividend preference shareholders with a pre-determined capital entitlement on 31 May 2011. • Second interim dividend of 1.0p per ordinary share payable on 17 February 2006 • The board expects to declare dividends totalling 6.0p for the year to 31 May 2006 • Net asset value rose 7.7% to 106.2p For further information, please contact: Ian Massie, Edinburgh Fund Managers plc 0131 313 1000 Please note that past performance is not necessarily a guide to the future and that 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. EDINBURGH NEW INCOME TRUST CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT This is my first opportunity to report to shareholders following the Trust's launch on 31 May 2005 as a successor vehicle to Edinburgh High Income Trust plc and Edinburgh Income and Value Trust plc. At launch, gross assets totalled £35.4m and the net asset value per share, after allowing for initial expenses, was 98.6p. We have benefited from a strong stockmarket in this first six month period, with the result that gross assets less current liabilities have risen to £37.4m and net asset value per share to 106.2p. Dividends A first interim dividend of 1.0p was declared in October and paid in November. As already announced, a second interim dividend of 1.0p has been declared in January and will be paid in February. A third interim dividend will be declared in April followed by a larger final in July. As set out in the prospectus and in the absence of an unexpected deterioration in dividend receipts, the board aims to pay dividends totalling 6.0p for the full financial year. Performance The portfolio was drawn largely from the portfolios of the two predecessor trusts, Edinburgh High Income Trust and Edinburgh Income and Value Trust with additional investments being made in early June till the fund was almost fully invested. The net asset value for ordinary shareholders rose to 106.22p at the end of November, a rise of 7.7% over the 6 month period. This compares with a rise of 10.4% in the FTSE All-Share Index. The shortfall is a consequence of the fund's income requirement, which meant that we were under represented in some of the strongest performing areas of the market. Our very light positions in the strongly performing oil and mining stocks held us back while our heavier representation in higher yielding sectors such as banks and utilities were a disadvantage over this particular period. The ordinary share price has traded very little and at the end of the period was still at 98.5p, a discount of 7.3% to net asset value. The zero dividend preference shares rose to 105.25p, a premium of 2.2% over their underlying net asset value of 102.95p. The market was driven by heavy cash flow into equities, increased takeover activity, and continuing share buy-backs by companies. Corporate sector cash flow has remained strong resulting not only in these share buy-backs, but also in strong dividend growth that is helping build our revenue reserves and help enable us to maintain a healthy dividend payout in future. Equity investments totalled £35.4m at the end of November, which resulted in effective gearing, being the ratio of total equity investments to equity shareholders funds, of 162%. There is no bank debt and the gearing is entirely due to the effect of the zero dividend preference shares. Manager The Company's lead portfolio manager, David Binnie, will be retiring from the Manager shortly and I take this opportunity to thank him for his hard work both for this Company and its predecessor vehicles. On his retirement the Company will be managed by the same team. He will be replaced by Stewart Methven, currently the Company's co-manager, who will be assisted by Charles Luke. There will be no change in the investment process. Outlook It is clear that UK economic growth has slowed markedly, and this is likely to have an impact on the rate of growth in profits and dividends as we go through 2006. Both enjoyed very rapid rates of increase last year, but these are expected to slow in the year ahead. However, the weaker economic growth makes it less likely that higher interest rates will undermine the market. Given the strong recovery that we have already had in the stockmarket, these more cautionary signs may make it more vulnerable to a correction. However, better economic data seems to be emerging in other countries and the Managers think it likely that as we go though 2006 economic growth will slowly recover. Moreover, when compared with bonds, where yields are close to all-time lows, equities still do not look at all expensive. The portfolio remains almost fully invested. David Ritchie Chairman STATEMENT OF TOTAL RETURN (unaudited) Period ending 30 November 2005 Revenue Capital Total £000 £000 £000 Gains on held-at-fair-value investments - 1,643 1,643 Income 808 - 808 Investment management fee (71) (71) (142) Administrative expenses (102) - (102) ______ ______ ______ Net return before finance costs and taxation 635 1,572 2,207 Finance costs appropriated to ZDP Shareholders - (447) (447) ______ ______ ______ Net return on ordinary activities before taxation 635 1,125 1,760 Taxation on ordinary activities - - - ______ ______ ______ Return on ordinary shares after taxation 635 1,125 1,760 ______ ______ ______ Return per ordinary share (p) 8.57 ______ BALANCE SHEET (unaudited) At 30 November 2005 £000 Fixed assets Investments designated as held-at-fair-value 35,395 ________ Current assets Debtors and prepayments 92 Cash at bank and in hand 2,044 ________ 2,136 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (122) ________ Net current assets 2,014 ________ Total assets less current liabilities 37,409 Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year Zero Dividend Preference shares (15,614) ________ Net assets 21,795 ________ Capital and reserves Ordinary share capital 205 Revenue reserve 20,035 Capital reserve - realised (412) Capital reserve - unrealised 1,537 Revenue reserve 430 ________ Equity shareholders' funds 21,795 ________ Net asset value per Ordinary share (pence) 106.22 ________ Statement of Changes in Equity (unaudited) Period ending 30 November 2005 Capital Capital Share Share reserve - reserve - capital premium realised unrealised Revenue reserve Total Period ended 30 November 2005 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 Net profit on ordinary activities after taxation (412) 1,537 635 1,760 Issue of ordinary shares 205 20,314 20,519 Expenses of share issue (279) (279) Dividends paid (1st interim) (205) (205) 205 20,035 (412) 1,537 430 21,795 CASHFLOW STATEMENT (unaudited) Period ending 30 November 2005 £000 Net cash inflow from operating activities 590 Net cash outflow from financial investment (5,954) Equity dividend paid (205) ______ Net cash outflow before financing (5,569) Net cash inflow from financing 7,613 ______ Increase in cash 2,044 ______ Reconciliation of operating revenue to net cash inflow from operating activities Net revenue before finance costs and taxation 635 Increase in accrued income (82) Increase in other debtors (10) Increase in other creditors 118 Expenses charged to capital (71) ______ Net cash inflow from operating activities 590 ______ Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net debt Increase in cash as above 2,044 Opening net funds - ______ Net funds at 30 November 2005 2,044 ______ Represented by: Cash at bank and in hand 2,044 ______ Notes: 1. (a) Accounting policies The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention, modified to include the revaluation of investments and in accordance with applicable Accounting Standards and with the Statement of Recommended Practice 'Financial Statements of Investment Trust Companies'. For accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2005, the Company had the option to prepare its financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ('IFRS') adopted by the International Accounting Standards Board ('IASB'). The board have elected to adopt UK Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ('UK GAAP') and therefore with the new Financial Reporting Standards issued as part of the programme to converge UK GAAP with IFRS. (b) Accounting period The Company was incorporated on 22 April 2005 and commenced operations on 31 May 2005. The results are for the period from incorporation to 30 November 2005 not withstanding that there were no accounting entries prior to 31 May 2005. (c) Investments Investments are measured initially at cost, including transaction costs and are recognised at trade date. Subsequent to initial recognition, investments are valued at fair value through the profit and loss account. For listed investments, this is deemed to be bid market prices or closing prices for SETS stocks sourced from the London Stock Exchange. Movements in fair value are recognised in the unrealised reserves. (d) Dividends payable Interim and final dividends are recognised in the period in which they are paid. 2. Dividends A first interim dividend of 1.0p per Ordinary share was paid on 11 November 2005 to Shareholders on the register on 27 October 2005. The ex-dividend date was 19 October 2005. The directors have declared a second interim dividend of 1.0p per Ordinary share which will be paid on 17 February 2006 to Shareholders on the register on 27 January 2006. The ex-dividend date is 25 January 2006. 3. The interim report will be posted to shareholders in February 2006 and copies will be available at the registered office of the Company - Donaldson House, 97 Haymarket Terrace, Edinburgh EH12 5HD. For Edinburgh New Income Trust plc Edinburgh Fund Managers plc, SECRETARY This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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