Interim Results

Henderson Strata Investments PLC 15 June 2001 EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE AT 7.00 AM ON FRIDAY 15 JUNE 2001 HENDERSON GLOBAL INVESTORS HENDERSON STRATA INVESTMENTS PLC 15 June 2001 HENDERSON STRATA INVESTMENTS plc Unaudited Interim Results for the Half Year ended 30 April 2001 Highlights * Disappointing six months * Continued focus on growth companies * Outlook improving The Chairman's Statement: Net Assets The net asset value per share fell 29.2% in the six months to the end of April while the FTSE SmallCap Index (excluding investment companies) was down 6.6%, excluding income. Review The slowing US economy has hit some share prices hard in the past six months. The speed and severity of the slowdown has surprised many companies and in particular technology-related businesses which had been expanding fast. The net asset value has suffered because many of the underlying investments are involved in the technology and media sectors. Portfolio Our focus on growth companies has produced a disappointing result in the last six months after the strong performance in the year ended October 2000. It has been increasingly difficult to predict the short term outlook for many companies and this has led to volatility and lower share prices. Individual companies have been sold from the portfolio where their medium term earnings prospects had become less certain. Additionally, valuations had moved ahead to levels which in hindsight proved to be excessive. This has led us to reduce the borrowings to just under £10 million. The position is now more settled and we are not making major changes to the portfolio. Since the launch of Strata in 1985 we have favoured companies with above average growth prospects and we believe such investments will continue to produce above average returns for investors over the long term. The current bias to technology companies, and computer systems companies in particular, is based on the undoubted importance of information technology to the major companies operating in the world today. - MORE - - 2 - HENDERSON STRATA INVESTMENTS plc Unaudited Interim Results for the Half Year ended 30 April 2001 Outlook Interest rates have been reduced in most of the major economies in 2001. The US authorities have been the most decisive in attempting to rejuvenate their weakening economy. It has not so far stemmed the steady stream of profit warnings from US companies nor an increasing number from UK and European companies. We remain convinced of the soundness of our strategy but we may not see a decisive move up until we hear more optimistic news on US economic prospects. Frans ten Bos Chairman 14 June 2001 - MORE - - 3 - HENDERSON STRATA INVESTMENTS plc Unaudited interim results for the half year ended 30 April 2001 Statement of Total Return (incorporating the revenue account) for the half year ended 30 April 2001 (unaudited) (unaudited) Half Year ended Half Year ended 30 April 2001 30 April 2000 Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Total capital (losses)/gains from investments - (51,657) (51,657) - 57,401 57,401 Income from 383 - 383 435 - 435 fixed asset investments Other interest receivable and similar 76 - 76 28 - 28 income --------- -------- -------- --------- --------- --------- Gross revenue and capital gains/(losses) 459 (51,657) (51,198) 463 57,401 57,864 Management (784) - (784) (930) - (930) fee Other (98) - (98) (137) - (137) administrative expenses --------- -------- -------- --------- --------- --------- Net loss/(return) on ordinary activities before interest payable and taxation (423) (51,657) (52,080) (604) 57,401 (56,797) Interest (431) - (431) (498) - (498) payable --------- -------- -------- --------- -------- -------- Net (loss)/return on ordinary activities (854) (51,657) (52,511) (1,102) 57,401 56,299 before taxation Taxation on net (loss)/return on ordinary (19) - (19) (18) - (18) activities --------- -------- -------- --------- --------- --------- Net (loss)/return on ordinary activities (873) (51,657) (52,530) (1,120) 57,401 56,281 after taxation Dividend - - - - - - --------- -------- -------- --------- --------- --------- Transfer (873) (51,657) (52,530) (1,120) 57,401 56,281 (from)/to reserves ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= (Loss)/return (4.95)p (293.17)p (298.12)p (6.37)p 326.65p 320.28p per ordinary share (audited) Year ended 31 October 2000 Revenue Capital Total £'000 £'000 £'000 Total capital (losses)/gains from investments - 55,857 55,857 Income from fixed asset 943 - 943 investments Other interest receivable and similar income 125 - 125 ---------- ---------- --------- Gross revenue and capital gains/(losses) 1,068 55,857 56,925 Management fee (1,873) - (1,873) Other administrative expenses (208) - (208) ---------- ---------- --------- Net loss/(return) on ordinary activities before interest payable and taxation (1,013) 55,857 54,844 Interest payable (1,003) - (1,003) ---------- ---------- --------- Net (loss)/return on ordinary activities before taxation (2,016) 55,857 53,841 Taxation on net (loss)/return on ordinary activities (38) - (38) ---------- ---------- --------- Net (loss)/return on ordinary activities after taxation (2,054) 55,857 53,803 Dividend - - - ---------- ---------- --------- Transfer (from)/to reserves (2,054) 55,857 53,803 ======= ======= ====== (Loss)/return per ordinary share (11.69)p 317.87p 306.18p The revenue columns of this statement represent the revenue accounts of the Company. -MORE- - 4 - HENDERSON STRATA INVESTMENTS plc Unaudited interim results for the half year ended 30 April 2001 Balance Sheet at 30 April 2001 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) 30 April 30 April 31 October 2000 2001 2000 £000 £000 £000 Fixed asset investments Investments at market value 136,632 199,795 197,533 ---------- ---------- ---------- Current assets Debtors 966 4,554 947 Cash at bank and in hand 650 - 965 ---------- ---------- ---------- 1,616 4,554 1,912 Creditors: amounts falling due within (10,725) (22,372) (19,946) one year ---------- ---------- ---------- Net current liabilities (9,109) (17,818) (18,034) ---------- ---------- ---------- Total net assets 127,523 181,977 179,499 ====== ====== ====== Capital and reserves Issued share capital 4,406 4,393 4,393 Share premium account 16,479 15,937 15,937 Realised profits 82,478 76,355 85,052 Unrealised profits 27,178 86,501 76,261 Revenue reserve (3,018) (1,209) (2,144) ---------- ---------- ---------- Equity shareholders' funds 127,523 181,977 179,499 ====== ====== ====== Net asset value per ordinary share 723.64p 1035.59p 1021.49p - 5 - HENDERSON STRATA INVESTMENTS plc Unaudited interim results for the half year ended 30 April 2001 Cash Flow Statement for the half year ended 30 April 2001 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) Half year Half year Year ended ended ended 31 October 30 April 30 April 2000 2001 2000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Net cash outflow from operating activities (684) (366) (1,251) Net cash outflow from servicing of finance (427) (478) (993) Net tax recovered - 9 17 Net cash inflow/(outflow) from financial investment 9,390 (18,351) (13,499) ---------- ---------- ---------- Net cash inflow/(outflow) before financing 8,279 (19,186) (15,726) Net cash (outflow)/inflow from financing (8,556) 18,104 15,611 ---------- ---------- ---------- Decrease in cash (277) (1,082) (115) ====== ====== ====== Reconciliation of operating revenue to net cash inflow from operating activities Net loss before interest payable and (423) (604) (1,013) taxation (Increase)/decrease in accrued income (47) 12 17 Decrease/(increase) in other debtors 15 - (3) (Decrease)/increase in other creditors (208) 247 (189) Tax on unfranked investment income (21) (21) (55) deducted at source Scrip dividends included in investment - - (8) income ---------- ---------- ---------- Net cash inflow from operating activities (684) (366) (1,251) ====== ====== ====== Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net funds Decrease in cash as above (277) (1,082) (115) Cash outflow/(inflow) from decrease/ 9,111 (18,104) (15,611) (increase) in loans Exchange difference (38) (390) (392) ---------- ---------- ---------- Movement in net debt 8,796 (19,576) (16,118) Net debt at start of period (18,146) (2,028) (2,028) ---------- ---------- ---------- Net debt at end of period (9,350) (21,604) (18,146) ====== ====== ====== Represented by: Cash 650 - 965 Debt falling due within one year (10,000) (21,604) (19,111) ---------- ---------- ---------- (9,350) (21,604) (18,146) ====== ====== ====== -6- HENDERSON STRATA INVESTMENTS plc Unaudited interim results for the half year ended 30 April 2001 NOTES 1. Issue of new ordinary shares During the half year ended 30 April 2001, the Company issued 50,000 new ordinary shares of 25p each for consideration of £555,000. There were 17,622,350 ordinary shares in issue at 30 April 2001. 2. Return per ordinary share Revenue return per ordinary share is based on the net revenue loss on ordinary activities after taxation on £873,000 (half year ended 30 April 2000: £1,120,000 loss; year ended 31 October 2000: £2,054,000 loss) and on the weighted average number of 17,619,864 ordinary shares in issue during the period (half year ended 30 April 2000: 17,572,350; year ended 31 October 2000: 17,572,350). Capital return per ordinary share is based on the net capital loss of £ 51,657,000 (half year ended 30 April 2000: £57,401,000 gains; year ended 31 October 2000: £55,857,000 gains) and on the weighted average number of 17,619,864 ordinary shares in issue during the period (half year ended 30 April 2000: 17,572,350; year ended 31 October 2000: 17,572,350). 3. Comparative information The figures and financial information for the year ended 31 October 2000 are extracted from the latest published accounts of the Company and do not constitute the statutory accounts for that year. Those accounts have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies and included the report of the auditors which was unqualified and did not contain a statement under either section 237(2) or section 237(3) of the Companies Act 1985. 4. Interim Report The interim report will be sent to shareholders early in July 2001 and copies will be available from the Company's registered office, 4 Broadgate, London EC2M 2DA. - ENDS - For further information, please contact: Richard Smith or Vicki Staveacre Henderson Strata Investments plc The Press Office Telephone: 020 7410 4368 Henderson Global Investors Limited Telephone: 020 7410 4222
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