Interim Results

Impax Environmental Markets PLC 08 September 2003 Impax Environmental Markets plc Interim results for the six months to 30 June 2003 CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT I am pleased to report that, after the very difficult start last year, Impax Environmental Markets plc ('IEM' or 'the Company') has so far shown better progress in 2003. The year began with weakness in equity markets up until early March as war in Iraq became inevitable; however, this was followed by a strong rebound in share prices in the second quarter as geopolitical pressure eased and prospects for a global economic recovery improved. Against this background, environmental markets enjoyed their best performance since the first quarter of 2000. Over the full interim period from 1 January until 30 June 2003, the MSCI World Index (priced in Pounds Sterling) rose 7.3%. The Company's net asset value ('NAV') increased from 54.4p to 56.2p, an overall rise of 3.2%, while the discount widened slightly as the share price fell from 45.8p at the start of the year to 45.3p on 30 June 2003. The fundamental drivers of the environmental markets sector continue to develop, and we have seen a series of important government policy initiatives on both sides of the Atlantic as well as increased competitiveness among cleaner, more efficient products and services in key environmental markets. In May, the Government published its response to the Strategy Unit's report on the effectiveness of UK waste policy, recommending that funding to support the diversion of municipal solid waste from landfill be increased significantly. In July, the Department of Trade & Industry announced concessions for up to 6,000MW of new offshore wind farms and commented that it expected this sector to make a major contribution to meeting the UK's renewable energy generation targets for 2010. More recently, in August, the failure of the electricity grid in the northeast area of the US has increased the pressure on politicians to allocate funding to the power sector and to finalise the Energy Bill. The Company has benefited from these developments as a result of higher share prices in these sectors. At the time of writing, prospects for equity markets appear more favourable and environmental markets seem well-positioned for growth. Across all sectors, the announcements of earnings for the second quarter were broadly in line with expectations, and many leading companies have raised their forecasts. By 31 August, the Company's NAV had risen further to 64.9p and the share price had increased to 52.5p. The Directors believe that the Company is well-positioned for the long-term and that valuations in the sector remain attractive. Richard Bernays 8 September 2003 STATEMENT OF TOTAL RETURN (incorporating the profit and loss account*) 6 months 6 months 6 months 7 January 7 January 7 January to to to to to to 30 June 2003 30 June 2003 30 June 2003 30 June 2002 30 June 2002 30 June 2002 Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Gains / (losses) on investments - 969 969 - (8,398) (8,398) Income 247 - 247 234 - 234 Investment management fees (38) (114) (152) (40) (118) (158) Other expenses (133) - (133) (87) - (87) Return on ordinary activities before tax 76 855 931 107 (8,516) (8,409) Taxation (19) - (19) (13) - (13) Return after taxation 57 855 912 94 (8,516) (8,422) Dividends - - - - - - Transfers to/(from) reserves 57 855 912 94 (8,516) (8,422) Return per Ordinary Share 0.11p 1.71p 1.82p 0.19p (17.03)p (16.84)p * The revenue column of the statement of total return is the profit and loss account of the Company. All capital and revenue items in the above statement derive from continuing operations. No operations were acquired or discontinued during the period. Return per Ordinary Share is based on 50,000,000 Ordinary Shares in issue throughout the period. BALANCE SHEET At 30 June At 30 June At 31 Dec 2003 2002 2002 £'000 £'000 £'000 Fixed assets Investments at market value 26,824 39,905 26,710 Current assets Sales for future settlement - 82 - Other debtors 44 33 38 Cash at bank and in hand 1,328 726 560 1,372 841 598 Current liabilities Accrued liabilities (84) (43) (108) Net current assets 1,288 798 490 Total net assets 28,112 40,703 27,200 Capital and reserves Share capital 5,000 5,000 5,000 Share premium 44,125 44,125 44,125 Capital reserves (21,055) (8,516) (21,910) Revenue reserve 42 94 (15) Equity shareholders' funds 28,112 40,703 27,200 Net asset value per share including current period revenue profit 56.22p 81.41p 54.40p Net asset value per share excluding current period revenue profit 56.11p 81.22p 54.40p Number of Ordinary Shares in issue 50,000,000 50,000,000 50,000,000 CASH FLOW STATEMENT 6 months 7 January to to 30 June 30 June 2002 2003 £'000 £'000 Operating activities Net cash flow from operating activities (87) (14) Financial investment Payments to acquire fixed asset investments (2,480) (52,706) Receipts on disposal of fixed asset investments 3,351 4,482 Exchange gains & losses (16) (161) Net cash flow from investing activities 855 (48,385) Net cash flow before financing 768 (48,399) Financing Expenses of issue of share capital - (875) Share placement - 50,000 Net cash inflow from financing - 49,125 Increase in cash 768 726 NOTES Net assets per share Net assets per share are based on the number of ordinary shares in issue at the end of the period. Dividend The directors do not recommend an interim dividend. Investment company status The Company has given notice of its intention to carry on business as an investment company and it manages its affairs to enable it to qualify as an investment trust for taxation purposes under section 842 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act. The Company therefore presents its accounts in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice for Investment Trust Companies, with the Statement of Total Return as its first primary statement. Status of this report These financial statements are not the Company's statutory accounts for the purposes of section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. They are unaudited. The interim report will be sent to shareholders and copies will be made available to the public at the registered office of the Company. The Company's statutory accounts for the period from incorporation on 7 January 2002 to 31 December 2002 received an unqualified audit report and have been filed with the registrar of companies at Companies House. SECRETARY, ADMINISTRATOR AND REGISTERED OFFICE Cavendish Administration Limited Crusader House 145-157 St. John Street London EC1V 4RU 8 September 2003 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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