Interim Results

Majedie Investments PLC 24 May 2001 MAJEDIE INVESTMENTS PLC 24 May 2001 INTERIM RESULTS for the six months ended 31 March 2001 Financial Highlights - net assets per share decreased by 16.5% to 372.8p - earnings per share decreased by 9.0% to 3.43p - interim dividend unchanged at 3.1p Performance - net asset value total return of -15.8% - share price total return of -12.4% - benchmark total return of -11.2% Chairman, Henry Barlow comments: Since the middle of last year the US economy has experienced a rapid deceleration and stock markets around the world have retreated. Company valuations have been highly volatile and many have fallen significantly. Although markets have recovered somewhat since the end of March, it is disappointing to report a reduction in net asset value during the six months ended 31 March 2001 of 16.5% to 372.8p per share. Interim Dividend The interim distribution will remain unchanged compared with last year at 3.1p per share. It will be paid on 6 July 2001 to shareholders on the register at the close of business on 22 June 2001. Performance During the six months ended 31 March 2001 the portfolio's net asset value total return of -15.8% compared with the benchmark's total return of -11.2%. About half of this underperformance is due to the effect of our long term borrowings. In rising stock markets our investment performance is enhanced by this gearing whereas in the recent downturn the fall in the value of the portfolio has been magnified. Within the portfolio no one specific sector was responsible. Half of the fund's underperformance arose from the UK which represents about 70% of assets. In certain cases performance has been impaired by sharp reductions in the values of companies which have been core holdings within the portfolio for many years. Pearson is one such holding, which was very much a positive contributor before the current downturn and will, we believe, be so again in the future. The US portfolio's performance was neutral compared with the benchmark, with losses in technology-related areas being balanced by gains elsewhere. Both the US portfolio and the whole fund remained underweight in technology throughout the entire period. The European portfolio accounted for about a quarter of the fund's underperformance due to holdings in a range of sectors including pharmaceuticals, German industrials and technology. In Japan the portfolio was hurt by the value of the funds held falling more than the market. Portfolio During the period holdings in interest rate sensitive sectors including construction and banking were increased. Elsewhere engineering stocks with a strong global franchise were added including Rolls Royce and an increased weighting in Smiths Group. Changes were made to our holdings in pharmaceuticals and insurance sectors in Europe - introducing Aventis and Axa which both have a strong earnings outlook in their respective sectors. In the 2000 annual report we said we would take advantage of market volatility and increase our holdings in technology-related stocks. However due to the nature of the downturn experienced over the last six months we have not done so - and indeed weightings have been reduced in telecoms and technology-related areas. Given the poor continuing outlook for the Japanese economy and stock market we further reduced our already underweight holdings in Japan. Outlook US interest rates have been lowered rapidly and substantially by the Federal Reserve Board since November in response to the sharp economic downturn. The Bank of England and the European Central Bank have also responded by reducing interest rates. Japan has reverted to a zero interest rate policy but still needs to restructure fundamentally its banking debts and deal with deflation in the domestic economy. In contrast western companies are tackling their cost structures in the face of lower growth. Therefore despite the economic downturn emanating from the US, we expect that the continued easing of monetary policy globally and the proposed easing of fiscal policy in the US will help the major economies to adjust to a lower growth environment more easily than previously envisaged. Henry S Barlow Chairman 23 May 2001 For further information please contact Robert Clarke on 020 7626 1243; E-mail: rec@majedie.co.uk UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF TOTAL RETURN for the half year ended 31 March 2001 Half year ended Half year ended Year ended 31 March 2001 31 March 2000 30 September 2000 Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 Total capital (37,327)(37,327) 37,720 37,720 36,222 36,222 (loss)/gain on investments Dividends and 2,696 2,696 2,657 2,657 5,328 5,328 interest Other income 26 26 42 42 64 64 Gross revenue 2,722 (37,327)(34,605) 2,699 37,720 40,419 5,392 36,222 41,614 and capital (loss)/gain Administrative (385) (549) (934) (400) (623)(1,023) (870)(1,207)(2,077) expenses Return on 2,337 (37,876)(35,539) 2,299 37,097 39,396 4,522 35,015 39,537 ordinary activities before finance costs and taxation Debenture (406) (1,217) (1,623) (179) (536) (715) (515)(1,546)(2,061) stock interest payable Return on 1,931 (39,093)(37,162) 2,120 36,561 38,681 4,007 33,469 37,476 ordinary activities before taxation Taxation on (122) 81 (41) (135) 106 (29) (312) 238 (74) ordinary activities Return on 1,809 (39,012)(37,203) 1,985 36,667 38,652 3,695 33,707 37,402 ordinary activities after taxation attributable to equity shareholders Dividends Interim (1,629) (1,629)(1,634) (1,634) (1,634) (1,634) ordinary 3.1p (2000: 3.1p)* Final ordinary (2,399) (2,399) of 4.55p Transfer to/ 180 (39,012)(38,832) 351 36,667 37,018 (338)33,707 33,369 (from) reserves Basic return 3.43p(73.99p)(70.56p) 3.77p 69.65p 73.42p 7.01p 63.99p 71.00p per ordinary share** Diluted return ** ** ** 3.77p 69.64p 73.41p 7.01p 63.99p 71.00p per ordinary share The revenue column of this statement is the consolidated profit and loss account of the Group. The results for the first six months should not be taken as a guide to the results for the full year. All revenue and capital items in the above statement derive from continuing operations. These accounts have been prepared using accounting standards and policies adopted at the year end. * see note 1. ** see note 2. UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET 31 March 31 March 30 September 2001 2000 2000 £000 £000 £000 Tangible fixed assets 105 178 141 Fixed asset investments * 233,605 250,479 275,487 Cash at bank and on deposit 4,309 3,615 2,836 Dividends (1,629) (1,634) (2,399) Other assets and liabilities (600) 1,052 (1,445) Debenture stock (39,353) (14,813) (39,351) Total net assets 196,437 238,877 235,629 Called up share capital 5,272 5,270 5,272 Share premium account 785 746 785 Capital reserve - realised 106,158 96,066 95,915 Capital reserve - unrealised 58,280 110,344 107,535 Capital redemption reserve 37 37 37 Revenue reserve 25,905 26,414 25,725 Shareholders funds 196,437 238,877 235,269 Net asset value per share ** 372.8p 453.3p 446.3p Market price 310.0p 346.0p 358.5p * see note 3. ** see note 4. SUMMARISED UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT 31 March 31 March 30 September 2001 2000 2000 £000 £000 £000 Net cash inflow from operating 814 1,282 3,568 activities Servicing of finance Interest paid (2,582) (570) (570) Debenture issue costs (2) (238) Net cash outflow from servicing of (2,584) (570) (808) finance Taxation Tax paid (39) (135) (271) Capital expenditure and financial investment Purchases of investments (31,395) (16,499) (57,386) Sales of investments 37,074 11,568 26,541 Purchases of tangible assets (20) (37) (37) Sales of tangible assets 22 20 22 Net cash inflow/(outflow) from capital 5,681 (4,948) (30,860) expenditure and financial investment Equity dividends paid (2,399) (2,263) (3,854) Cash inflow/(outflow) before financing 1,473 (6,634) (32,225) Financing Issue of £25m 7.25% debenture stock 24,771 Issue of ordinary share capital 151 192 Net cash inflow from financing 151 24,963 Increase/(decrease) in cash in the 1,473 (6,483) (7,262) period NOTES 1 Dividends Following the granting of share options to RE Clarke and GM Leates on 14 February 2001 under the new discretionary share option scheme, the Company's employee incentive trust acquired 169,151 shares on 30 March 2001. The shares will be held by the trust until the relevant options are exercised and are included on the balance sheet as an asset of the Company. The trust has waived its rights to receive dividends from the Company and therefore the total interim dividend included in the Statement of Total Return has been reduced accordingly. 2 Calculation of Returns per Ordinary Share Basic and diluted returns per ordinary share in each period are based on the return on ordinary activities after taxation attributable to equity shareholders. Basic return per ordinary share is based on 52,718,141 shares, being the weighted average number of shares in issue having adjusted for the shares held by the employee incentive trust referred to above (half year ended 31 March 2000: 52,646,885 shares; year ended 30 September 2000: 52,674,372). No diluted return per ordinary share is shown for the half year to 31 March 2001 since the share options referred to above would, if exercised, be satisfied by the shares already held by the employee incentive trust. Furthermore there are no longer any other share options or LTIP awards outstanding under other incentive schemes. Diluted return per ordinary share for the half year to 31 March 2000 is based on 52,655,341 shares, being the weighted average number of shares in issue (year ended 30 September 2000: 52,674,372 shares). 3 Fixed Asset Investments Fixed asset investments are stated at market value and include £524,000 in respect of shares held in the employee incentive trust as referred to above. 4 Net Asset Value per Ordinary Share The net asset value per share has been calculated in accordance with the principles of FRS 14 i.e after deducting the carrying value of the shares held by the employee incentive trust from net assets and the number of shares in question from the shares held at the period end. 5 Financial Information for the year ended 30 September 2000 The figures and the financial information for the year ended 30 September 2000 have been compiled from an extract of the latest published accounts and do not constitute the statutory accounts for the 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. INTERIM REPORT The Interim Report will be sent to shareholders on 4 June 2001 from which time copies will be available to the public at the Company's registered office: 1 Minster Court, Mincing Lane, London EC3R 7ZZ. DIVIDEND The dividend of 3.1p per share will be paid on 6 July 2001 to shareholders on the register at the close of business on 22 June 2001. NOTES FOR EDITORS Majedie Investments PLC is an investment trust with total assets under management of over £230 million. The Company's objective is to maximise total shareholder return over the long term whilst increasing dividends by more than the rate of inflation. The Company's benchmark is 70% FTSE All-Share Index and 30% FTSE World ex UK Index (sterling) on a total return basis. The Majedie Share Plan is a straightforward and low cost way of investing in Majedie shares with a minimum lump sum of £250, or on a regular monthly basis with £25 or more. The Majedie Corporate ISA provides a tax efficient way of investing or saving in Majedie shares at extremely low cost. There is no initial or annual management fee. Both maxi and mini ISAs are available with a minimum lump sum investment of £500 or £50 per month for direct debit subscribers.
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