Final Results
ADVANCE FOCUS FUND LIMITED
Preliminary announcement of results for the year ended 30 September
2007
CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT
For the year to 30 September 2007 the Company's total return was -2.0
per cent. This was a disappointing performance over a period which
saw the FTSE All-Share Total Return Index deliver a 12.2 per cent.
return. The Company's share price at the end of September was 126.0
pence, representing a 2.8 per cent. discount to the closing net asset
value per share.
The net revenue return for the year was 1.5 pence per share. The
Board is recommending a final dividend of 1.5 pence per share,
payable on 12 March 2008 to shareholders on the register as at 8
February 2008.
For the most part the period was one of rising markets and unusually
low volatility. This changed as we went into the summer and the
extent of the problem with sub-prime lending was revealed. Thereafter
markets repeatedly surged and fell back as politicians and central
bankers tried to calm things down. Mining stocks, which generally do
not fit with our investment approach, have been the winners over the
year and the lack of exposure to these (with the exception of UK Coal
which is more of a property play) was one factor that held back our
relative performance. The Manager's Report goes into some detail on
each investment held within the portfolio during the year.
In accordance with the Company's Articles of Association a resolution
will be put to the Annual General Meeting to approve the continuation
of the Company. The Board believes there is a place for a UK equity
fund that offers a genuinely different approach to achieving
outperformance against the FTSE All-Share Index, but a longer
economic cycle is probably necessary for this than the Fund has so
far covered. In addition, the Company has suffered from size and
liquidity constraints and a number of shareholders have indicated
that they would not support continuation of the Fund in its present
form.
In the circumstances, therefore, the directors do not think they can
support a vote for continuation and recommend that the Company
proceeds to an orderly realisation of its investments and return of
funds to shareholders as soon as possible.
If the continuation resolution is rejected, then the procedure
afterwards, in accordance with the Company's Articles of Association,
will be that a notice convening an extraordinary meeting will be
issued shortly thereafter, at which proposals for the Company's
future will be considered. Against the background of an expected vote
not to continue, the board have instructed the Manager to begin
realising holdings in an orderly manner and to invest the proceeds in
market related instruments.
Christopher Clark
21 January 2008
INCOME STATEMENT
For the year ended 30 September 2007
2007 2006
Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
Gains on
investments
- realised - 2,194 2,194 - 3,221 3,221
- unrealised - (3,262) (3,262) - 1,667 1,667
Net gains - (1,068) (1,068) - 4,888 4,888
Income 964 - 964 1,107 - 1,107
Investment management fee (343) - (343) (304) (162) (466)
Other expenses (235) - (235) (227) - (227)
Return on ordinary activities 386 (1,068) (682) 576 4,726 5,302
Return per Redeemable Preference Share 1.54p (4.25)p (2.71)p 2.27p 18.64p 20.91p
All revenue and capital items in the above statement derive from
continuing operations.
A Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses is not required as
all the gains and losses of the Company have been reflected in the
above statement.
BALANCE SHEET
At 30 September 2007
2007 2006
£'000 £'000
FIXED ASSETS
Investments 32,116 31,493
CURRENT ASSETS
Sales for future settlements - 700
Other debtors 136 132
Cash at bank and in hand 425 1,465
561 2,297
CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
Accrued liabilities (90) (107)
Performance Fee - (162)
(90) (269)
NET CURRENT ASSETS 471 2,028
TOTAL NET ASSETS 32,587 33,521
CAPITAL AND RESERVES
Share capital 252 252
Share premium account 19,052 19,052
Share purchase reserve 6,217 6,217
Capital redemption reserve 17 17
Realised capital reserve 7,822 5,628
Unrealised capital reserve (1,333) 1,929
Revenue reserve 560 426
SHAREHOLDERS' FUNDS 32,587 33,521
Net assets per Redeemable Preference Share 129.64p 133.35p
RECONCILIATION OF MOVEMENTS IN SHAREHOLDERS' FUNDS
For the year ended 30 September 2007
Share Share Capital Realised Unrealised
Share Premium Purchase Redemption Capital Capital Revenue
Capital Account Reserve Reserve Reserve Reserve Reserve Total
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
Opening 252 19,052 6,217 17 5,628 1,929 426 33,521
shareholders'
funds
Profit/(loss) - - - - 2,194 (3,262) 386 (682)
for the year
Dividend paid - - - - - - (252) (252)
(Feb 2007)
Closing 252 19,052 6,217 17 7,822 (1,333) 560 32,587
shareholders'
funds
For the year ended 30 September 2006
Share Share Capital Realised Unrealised
Share Premium Purchase Redemption Capital Capital Revenue
Capital Account Reserve Reserve Reserve Reserve Reserve Total
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
Opening 269 19,052 8,069 - 2,569 262 (150) 30,071
shareholders'
funds
Adjustment to
opening
balance for - - - - - (187) - (187)
bid price
valuation of
investments
Purchase of (17) - (1,852) 17 - - - (1,852)
own shares
Profit for - - - - 3,059 1,854 576 5,489
the year
Closing 252 19,052 6,217 17 5,628 1,929 426 33,521
shareholders'
funds
CASH FLOW STATEMENT
For the year ended 30 September 2007
2007 2006
£'000 £'000
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Cash inflow from investment income and bank 960 1,110
interest
Cash outflow from management expenses (757) (474)
Cash inflow from disposal of investments 14,105 13,668
Cash outflow from purchase of investments (15,096) (12,517)
(788) 1,787
NET CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
FINANCING
Repurchase of own shares - (1,852)
Equity dividends paid (252) -
DECREASE IN CASH (1,040) (65)
2007 2006
£'000 £'000
Opening balance 1,465 1,530
Cash inflow /(outflow) (1,040) (65)
Balance at 30 September 425 1,465
NOTES
The Company is a closed-ended investment company incorporated and
resident in Guernsey.
This report has been prepared in accordance with applicable United
Kingdom accounting standards and with the Statement of Recommended
Practice 'Financial Statements of Investment Trust Companies ("SORP")
issued by the Association of Investment Companies. The accounts have
been prepared in accordance with the SORP as it is considered best
practice. The Company is not an investment trust and as an overseas
company does not meet all the criteria set out in the SORP.
Returns per share
Return per Redeemable preference share is based on the weighted
average of 25,137,453 (2006: 25,137,453) Redeemable Preference Shares
in issue during the year.
Net assets per share
The figure for net assets per Redeemable Preference Share is based on
25,137,453 (2006: 25,137,453) Redeemable Preference Shares in issue
at the Balance Sheet date.
Dividend
The directors recommend a final dividend of 1.5p per share. If
approved by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting, the dividend
will be paid on 12 March 2008 to shareholders on the register at 8
February 2008.
Status of the financial information
These financial statements are not the Company's statutory accounts.
The annual report will be sent to shareholders and copies will be
made available to the public at the registered office of the Company
and at the address of the UK Administration Agent.
Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting will be held on 5 March 2008 at 9 a.m. at
the registered office of the Company.
The preliminary announcement was approved by the Board on 21 January
2008.
REGISTERED OFFICE
1 Le Marchant Street
St Peter Port
Guernsey
GY1 4HP
UK ADMINISTRATION AGENT
Cavendish Administration Limited
145-157 St John Street
London
EC1V 4RU
21 January 2008
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