Half-yearly report

Jupiter European Opportunities Trust PLC Unaudited Results for the half year to 30 November 2009 This announcement of unaudited results for the six months to 30 November 2009 was approved by the Board of Directors on 28 January 2010. CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT The recovery in equity markets, which began last March, continued throughout the period under review. Thanks to your Company's exposure to mid-capitalisation and smaller companies and to the positive impact of gearing, Net Asset Value ('NAV') per share rose from 162.35p to 210.60p or by just under 30 per cent, compared with an increase in our benchmark of just below 22 per cent. Over the twelve months to 30 November last the NAV gain of 67 per cent. was well ahead of the 36.5 per cent. advance of the FTSE World Europe ex UK Total Return Index, our benchmark, and the comparisons are also positive over three and five years too. It was all very different both six and twelve months ago, when we had to declare that we had fallen behind our benchmark, partly as a result of being geared into a falling market. It was a torrid time for both your Board and for our day-to-day Fund Manager, and we do not wish to go through that experience again, and preferably not at all. To this end your manager has been working to reduce our borrowings, such that our gearing ratio (borrowings expressed as a percentage of gross assets) has recently dropped below 20 per cent. Back in November 2008 it was approaching 40 per cent. You can find the details of portfolio changes in Alex Darwall's Review below.  As a result of recent disposals the exposure to U.K. listed equities has fallen to 20 per cent, and our borrowings are now wholly denominated in sterling, so that any future sterling weakness should largely flow through to the benefit of our shareholders. The discount--the difference between the (lower) share price and the (higher) NAV-- has remained fairly constant over the period and currently stands at around 13 per cent. Your Board does not have a specific target for the discount but has in the past taken the opportunity to buy shares for cancellation if the disparity between share price and NAV appears to be unreasonably wide. No use was made of this facility during the period under review. Equity markets have risen 50 per cent or more from their March low points, and of late have paused for breath. There has been much comment on how shares will perform once the authorities have begun to cut back on the volume of quantitative easing and other forms of monetary stimulus, and once interest rates have begun to rise from current exceptionally low levels. Interestingly, when rates were raised in Australia recently the market reacted positively. As regards your Company, we believe that now is a good time to reduce both gearing and portfolio risk and concentrate on those companies whose business models should ensure their relative prosperity in what may turn out to be a more challenging environment over the balance of your Company's financial year. H.M. Priestley Chairman 28 January 2010 MANAGER'S REVIEW The Net Asset Value of the Company's Ordinary shares rose by 29.7 per cent. during the six months to 30 November 2009. This compares with a 21.5 per cent. rise, in sterling, of the Company's benchmark, the FTSE World Europe ex UK Total Return Index. The level of the Company's borrowings decreased to £35.0 million from £48.6 million over the period under review. Just as borrowings damaged performance in the preceding period, in the period under review they improved returns. Nevertheless, the board decided to use this recent strength to reduce the level of gearing which, at the time of writing, amounts to £27 million compared to a peak of £61.6 million in December 2008. The Company's trading subsidiary, JEOT Securities Limited, made a positive return of £418,000. The FTSE World (total return) index rose by 18.4 per cent. in sterling, underperforming the European index. Emerging Markets have had a strong run, the MSCI Latin America index returning 31.2 per cent. in Sterling terms (87.4 per cent. year on year), as against Japan's Nikkei-225 which was only up 7.1 per cent.. This strong performance reflects a key development - what economists refer to as the 'decoupling' of emerging markets from the travails of the developed markets. After the extraordinary turbulence of our previous financial year, a return to more 'normal' trading conditions was welcome. A number of interrelated factors explain the significant rally in equity markets. Vital was the greater confidence in the banking system - it did not implode as some commentators feared. Allied to that was the effect of 'quantitative easing' ('QE'). This is a modern term for an old concept: printing money. Its aim, inter alia, was to boost asset prices. Indeed this is what it did: equity values rose. The other great fear of commentators at the nadir of the banking crisis was protectionism. This threat did not materialise. Moreover, it became evident that some of the key emerging economies (notably China and Brazil) could grow strongly despite the weakness in developed economies - decoupling. Your Company's relatively good performance was due to a combination of stock picking and gearing. Financial stocks (where the portfolio has always had a below market average weighting) were the biggest positive contributors, most notably Euler Hermes, the French credit insurance company and DnB NOR, the Norwegian bank. Other significant positive contributors to performance included Halfords, the UK retailer, and Vopak, the international oil and chemicals storage business. The former surprised positively displaying counter-cyclical characteristics. The latter also delivered good earnings surprises despite the lower oil price. Demand for their storage services was strong even though oil demand worldwide weakened. With the decision to reduce the Company's borrowings inevitably sales outweighed purchases. Outright sales included two UK based retailers: Halfords and Carphone Warehouse. Management teams in both cases are superb. But valuation considerations and the UK-centric focus of their businesses caused us to sell. Other important sales included Saft which we sold on valuation grounds and Euler Hermes, where we believe business developments are unlikely to live up to market expectations. We also reduced our exposure to some of the bigger positions: CGG Veritas, Ingenico, ITS and DnB NOR. In all cases the decision to reduce the Company's borrowings was a factor in lightening positions. Investment Outlook Some of the threats and opportunities are easily identified: growth, the impact of withdrawing stimulus packages, further banking emergencies and the political response, sovereign debt crises, the threat of protectionism and the Green movement. Economic growth is a major imponderable. The IMF forecasts global economic growth of 3.1 per cent. in 2010 after a contraction of 1.1 per cent. in 2009. A key aspect is whether emerging economies continue to expand rapidly. The IMF estimates that emerging and developing economies will grow 5.1 per cent. in 2010. The same forecaster expects 0.3 per cent. growth in the Euro economies in 2010, though this plays a limited part in our investment process. But there are many other macro factors. Our focus, however, is not on macro forecasting. Rather it is on picking companies that are well placed to weather these macro vicissitudes. Thus we remain committed to companies that, typically, have strong balance sheets, a global spread of businesses, flexible cost structures and 'special' products. We continue to believe that such an approach justifies a reasonable degree of confidence. Alex Darwall Jupiter Asset Management Limited 28 January 2010 INTERIM MANAGEMENT REPORT Related Party Transactions Mr. Darwall is a director of Jupiter Asset Management Limited and Jupiter Investment Management Group Limited whose subsidiaries, Jupiter Asset Management Limited and Jupiter Administration Services Limited, receive investment management and administration fees as set out below. Jupiter Asset Management Limited is contracted to provide investment management services to the Company (subject to termination by not less than 1 years' notice by either party) for a quarterly fee of 0.1875 per cent. of the net assets of the Group excluding the value of any Jupiter managed investments payable in arrears on 31 May, 31 August, 30 November and the last calendar day of February. The total fees payable under this agreement are shown in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income. Jupiter Asset Management Limited is also entitled to a performance fee which is based on the out-performance of the lower of the price of an Ordinary share or the Net Asset Value per Ordinary share over the total return on the Benchmark Index, the FTSE World Europe ex UK Total Return Index in an accounting period. Any performance fee payable will equal 15 per cent. of the amount by which the increase in the lower of the price of an Ordinary share (plus any dividends per Ordinary share paid during the period) or the Net Asset Value per Ordinary share (plus any dividends per Ordinary share paid or payable and any accrual for unpaid performance fees for the period) exceeds the higher of (a) the closing price of an Ordinary share or the Net Asset Value per Ordinary share on the last business day of the previous accounting period (whichever is the lower); (b) the lower of the price of an Ordinary share or the Net Asset Value per Ordinary share (as the case may be) on the last day of a period in respect of which a performance fee was last paid: and (c) 100p. In each case the values of (a), (b) and (c) are increased by the percentage by which the total return of the Benchmark Index increases or decreases during the calculation period. The total amount of any performance fee payable in respect of one accounting period is limited to 7.5 per cent. of the Total Assets of the Company. The total fees payable under this agreement are shown in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income. Jupiter Administration Services Limited is contracted to provide secretarial, accounting and administrative services to the Company for an annual fee of £62,977 adjusted each year in line with the Retail Price Index payable quarterly (2008: £60,381). The Company has invested from time to time in funds managed by Jupiter Investment Management Group Limited or its subsidiaries. The only such holding as at 30 November 2009 was East European Food Fund representing 0.2 per cent. of total investments. Risks and Uncertainties The risks to the Company are foreign currency movements, market price movements, interest rates, use of derivatives, liquidity risk, credit risk, the discount to Net Asset Value and loss of investment trust status. A detailed explanation of the Risks and Uncertainties facing the Company can be found in Note 14 on pages 37 to 41 of the Company's published report and accounts for the year to 31 May 2009. Directors' Responsibility Statement We the directors of Jupiter European Opportunities Trust PLC confirm to the best of our knowledge: (a)The condensed set of financial statements contained within the half-yearly financial report has been prepared in accordance with the Accounting Standards Board's statement 'Half-Yearly Financial Reports'; and (b)The Chairman's Statement, Manager's Review and the Half Year Management Report include a fair review of the information required by the Disclosure and Transparency Rules 4.2.7R and 4.2.8R. By Order of the Board H.M. Priestley Chairman 28 January 2010 Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income  for the six months to 30 November 2009 (unaudited)    30 November 2009 30 November 2008   Revenue Capital   Revenue Capital   Return Return Total Return Return Total   £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Gains / (losses) on  investments at fair value through profit or - 39,584 39,584 - (81,866) (81,866) loss (Note 2) Foreign exchange losses on - (869) (869) - (2,579) (2,579) loans Other exchange gain / - 310 310 - (692) (692) (loss) Investment income 2,237 - 2,237 2,563 - 2,563 Dealing losses of - - - (952) - (952) subsidiary Foreign exchange gain by 7 - 7 3 - 3 subsidiary Total income 2,244 39,025 41,269 1,614 (85,137) (83,523) Investment management fee (758) - (758) (722) - (722) Investment management fee VAT - - - 837 - 837 recovery Performance fee VAT - - - - 280 280 recovery Other expenses (189) - (189) (166) - (166) Total expenses (947) - (947) (51) 280 229 Return before finance costs 1,297 39,025 40,322 1,563 (84,857) (83,294) and tax Finance costs (350) - (350) (1,564) - (1,564) Return before taxation 947 39,025 39,972 (1) (84,857) (84,858) Taxation (219) - (219) (190) - (190) Return after taxation 728 39,025 39,753 (191) (84,857) (85,048) Return per Ordinary share 0.90p 48.20p 49.10p (0.23)p (103.93)p (104.16)p (Note 3) The total column of this statement is the income statement of the Group prepared in accordance with IFRS. The supplementary revenue return and capital return columns are both prepared under guidance published by the Association of Investment Companies ('AIC'). All items in the above statement derive from continuing operations. No operations were discontinued or acquired in the period. The financial information does not constitute 'accounts' as defined in section 434 of the Companies Act 2006. Consolidated Statement of Financial Position   30 November 2009 31 May 2009   (unaudited) (audited)   £'000 £'000 Non current assets Investments held at fair value through profit                                                   203,310   174,492 or loss Current assets Receivables 986 1,107 Cash at bank 1,733 6,280   2,719 7,387 Total assets 206,029 181,879 Current liabilities (35,507) (50,422) Total assets less current liabilities 170,522 131,457 Capital and reserves Called up share capital 810 810 Share premium 41,286 41,286 Special reserve 36,676 37,597 Capital redemption reserve 30 30 Retained earnings (Note 6) 91,720 51,734 Total equity 170,522 131,457 Net Asset Value per Ordinary share (Note 7) 210.60p 162.35p Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity         Capital   Share Share Special Redemption Retained For the six months to 30 Capital Premium Reserve Reserve Earnings Total November 2009   £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 31 May 2009 810 41,286 36,676 30 52,655 131,457 Net profit for the period - - - - 39,753 39,753 2009 Special interim - - - - (688) (688) dividend Balance at 30 November 810 41,286 36,676 30 91,720 170,522 2009         Capital   Share Share Special Redemption Retained For the six months to 30 Capital Premium Reserve Reserve Earnings Total November 2008   £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 31 May 2008 818 41,286 37,597 22 108,796 188,519 Ordinary share (7) - (816) 7 - (816) cancellation Net loss for the period - - - - (85,048) (85,048) Balance at 30 November 811 41,286 36,781 29 23,748 102,655 2008 Consolidated Cash Flow Statement for the six months to 30 November 2009 (unaudited)     2009 2008     £'000 £'000 Cash flows from operating activities Purchases of investments   (31,007) (48,182) Sales of investments   40,146 46,739 Realised gains/ (losses) on foreign currency   317 (689) Investment income received   2,075 2,076 Interest received   14 121 Other cash receipts   111 - Investment management fee paid   (709) (890) VAT recovery on investment management fee   - 837 VAT recovery on investment performance fee   - 280 Sales less purchases of dealing subsidiary   - 10,747 Other cash expenses   (206) (182) Dividend paid   (688) - Cash inflow from operating activities before finance   10,053 10,857 costs and taxation Finance costs   (448) (1,577) Taxation   405 (132) Net cash inflow from operating activities   10,010 9,148 Financing activities Ordinary shares cancelled   - (816) Short term loans received   88,197 107,932 Short term loans repaid   (102,754) (114,998) (Decrease) / increase in cash   (4,547) 1,266 (Decrease) / increase in cash and cash equivalents (4,547) 1,266 Cash and cash equivalents at start of period   6,280 2,149 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period   1,733 3,415 Notes to the Financial Statements 1.Accounting policies The consolidated accounts comprise the unaudited financial results of the Company and its subsidiary JEOT Securities Limited for the six months to 30 November 2009. The accounts are presented in pounds sterling, as this is the functional currency of the Group. The consolidated accounts have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), which comprise standards and interpretations approved by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and International Accounting Standards Committee (IASC), as adopted by the European Union. A summary of the principal accounting policies, all of which have been applied consistently throughout the period, is set out below: Revenue recognition Revenue is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable and represents amounts receivable for goods and services provided in the normal course of business. Revenue includes dividends from investments quoted ex-dividend on or before the balance sheet date. Deposit and other interest receivable is accounted for on an accruals basis. Presentation of Statement of Comprehensive Income In order to better reflect the activities of an investment trust company and in accordance with guidance issued by the AIC, supplementary information which analyses the Statement of Comprehensive Income between items of a revenue and capital nature has been presented alongside the Statement of Comprehensive Income. In accordance with the Company's status as a UK investment company under section 833 of the Companies Act 2006, net capital returns may not be distributed by way of dividend. An analysis of retained earnings broken down into revenue items, which may be distributed as dividends and capital items is given in note 6. The Company's Articles prevent the distribution of capital profits. In arriving at this breakdown, expenses have been presented as revenue items except for that part of any Investment performance fee which is deemed by the Directors to relate to the capital outperformance of the Company's investments. Any such amount is charged to capital. Investments All investments are classified as held at fair value through profit or loss. Changes in the fair value of investments held at fair value through profit or loss and gains and losses on disposal are recognised in the statement of comprehensive income as 'Gains on investments at fair value through profit or loss'. The fair value of listed investments is based on their quoted bid market price at the balance sheet date without any deduction for estimated future selling costs. All purchases and sales are accounted for on a trade date basis. 2. Gains / (losses) on investments Six months to Six months to 30 November 2009 30 November 2008 £'000 £'000 Net gains realised on sale of investments 7,866 1,462 Movement in investment holding gains 31,718 (83,328) Gains / (losses) on investments 39,584 (81,866) 3. Return per Ordinary share The return per Ordinary share figure is based on the net gain for the six months of £39,753,000 (six months to 30 November 2008: Loss £85,048,000) and on 80,969,523 (six months to 30 November 2008: 81,644,504) Ordinary shares, being the weighted average number of Ordinary shares in issue during the period. The return per Ordinary share figure detailed above can be further analysed between revenue and capital, as below. Six months to Six months to 30 November 2009 30 November 2008 £'000 £'000 Net revenue profit 728 (191) Net capital profit 39,025 (84,857) Net total profit 39,753 (85,048) Weighted average number of Ordinary shares 80,969,523 81,644,504 in issue during the period Revenue return per Ordinary share 0.90p (0.23)p Capital return per Ordinary share 48.20p (103.93)p Total return per Ordinary share 49.10p (104.16)p 4. Transaction costs During the period expenses were incurred in acquiring or disposing of investments classified as fair value through profit or loss. These have been expensed through capital and are included within gains / (losses) on investments in the Statement of Comprehensive Income. The total costs were as follows: Six months to Six months to 30 November 2009 30 November 2008 £'000 £,000 Purchases 74 141 Sales 55 83   129 224 5.Comparative information The financial information contained in this interim report does not constitute statutory accounts as defined in section 434 of the Companies Act 2006. The financial information for the six months to 30 November 2009 and 30 November 2008 has not been audited. The information for the year ended 31 May 2009 has been extracted from the latest published audited financial statements. The audited financial statements for the year ended 31 May 2009 have been filed with the Register of Companies. The report of the auditors on those accounts contained no qualification or statement under section 498(2) or (3) of the Companies Act 2006. 6.      Retained earnings The table below shows the movement in the retained earnings analysed between revenue and capital items. Revenue Capital Total £'000 £'000 £,000 At 31 May 2009 3,839 48,816 52,655 Net return for the period 728 39,025 39,753 Dividend paid (688) - (688) At 30 November 2009 3,879 87,841 91,720 7. Net Asset Value per Ordinary share The Net Asset Value per Ordinary share is based on the net assets attributable to the equity shareholders of £170,522,000 (31 May 2009: £131,457,000) and on 80,969,523 (31 May 2009: 80,969,523) Ordinary shares, being the number of Ordinary shares in issue at the period end. The interim report will be sent to all shareholders and copies may be obtained from the registered office of the Company at 1 Grosvenor Place, London SW1X 7JJ BY ORDER OF THE BOARD JUPITER ASSET [HUG#1378394]
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