Interim Management Statement

Polar Capital Technology Trust PLC 03 September 2007 Polar Capital Technology Trust PLC Interim Management Statement for the 3 months to 31 July 2007 (unaudited) The investment objective of Polar Capital Technology Trust PLC is to maximise capital growth for our shareholders through investing in a diversified portfolio of technology companies around the world. Review of Material Events in Period •The performance over the period from 30 April 2007 to 31 July 2007 is shown below. •On 30 June 2007 a 4.01bn Japanese Yen loan matured and was rolled forward for 3 years at an all in rate of 1.98%. Total borrowings remain unchanged at JPY 9.01bn. •1,035,907 shares have been purchased and cancelled during the period. •Market performance The FTSE World Index fell 1.4% in Sterling terms over the period with gains made during May more than outweighed by profit-taking sustained in June and late July. Early gains were driven by a supportive macroeconomic backdrop, positive earnings revisions and modest P/E expansion (a result of a continued slew of M&A announcements and aggressive corporate buybacks). Unfortunately, just as most equity markets were approaching or beating all-time highs in early July, credit markets began to reflect a significant change in liquidity / risk appetite. The initial widening of corporate spreads was understandably ignored given the historically low levels from which they were rising and the abundance of corporate balance sheet riches. In other words, there was little reason not to believe that an orderly re- pricing of risk could be contained. Unfortunately, a significant deterioration in the US housing market, coupled with soaring energy prices (oil rising 19% over the period), led to an almost complete loss of confidence in sub-prime debt and a very disorderly re-pricing of risk. In the ensuing 'flight-to-quality' demand for higher risk credits dried up. This made it almost impossible for investment banks, which had hitherto underwritten most of the recent private- equity transactions, to place the debt, further shaking confidence in the financial system. By the middle of July, equity markets began to reflect this significantly different backdrop with housing and financial stocks bearing the brunt of the ensuing sell-off. •Technology Performance The technology sector performed admirably with the Dow Jones World Technology index rising 3.3% in Sterling terms. Simplistically, outperformance was primarily a result of continued improvement in the sector's lustre as a result of its relative lack of exposure to the issues that have driven markets lower (access to and the price of credit). Furthermore, despite some concerns heading into earnings season, second-quarter results from the sector have been better than anticipated with many companies sufficiently confident to offer optimistic Q3 guidance. Lastly, the sector has, thus far, continued to enjoy a relatively healthy M&A backdrop despite the aforementioned lack of LBO announcements as trade buyers continue to pick up attractive assets. •Outlook Although we remain confident that the current credit issues will be contained we are mindful that dislocations such as this often take longer to play out than one initially hopes. Together with the recent rise in the price of oil, it is fair to characterise our view of the world as slightly less sanguine than at the last time of writing. As a result, we felt it prudent to unwind our leverage (via index options) with a view to reducing market exposure. Whilst we do not think the current corrective phase will develop into anything significantly more sinister, our indicators do not suggest that sentiment has sufficiently adjusted to the new (credit market) reality. Looking at our sector, we are buoyed by its continued outperformance. We anticipate that (once the current correction has played out) the sector will cement its leadership status during the rebound that follows. Ben Rogoff, Trust Manager 17th August 2007 31 July 2007 30 April 2007 Change Share Price (p) 226.75 228.00 -0.5% NAV per Share (p) 243.54 239.70 1.6% Discount (%) -7.40 -4.88 -2.52 Total Assets (£m) 376 373 0.1% Gearing (%) 108.10 111.23 -3.13 Gearing is calculated by dividing the company's total assets by its net assets and ignores the effect of any cash or fixed interest holdings. Performance (%) 3 Months 1Year 3 years Share Price -0.55 10.61 50.66 NAV per Share 1.71 12.72 36.63 Dow Jones World Technology Index 3.45 17.38 26.99 Geographical Breakdown (%) 31 July 2007 30 April 2007 North America 59.2 60.6 Europe 22.4 22.8 Japan 15.3 9.8 Asia 9.4 10.7 Cash -6.3 -4.3 Sector Breakdown (%) 31 July 2007 30 April 2007 Semiconductors 20.5 24.6 Software 13.7 14.5 Other Sectors 11.3 14.8 Clean Energy 8.9 - Healthcare 8.6 8.7 Coms. Equipment (ex Wireless) 7.2 7.5 Computing 6.9 - Electronic components 6.3 4.1 Services 5.8 7.5 Wireless 4.7 3.2 Defence 2.6 3.5 Consumer 2.5 2.3 Telecoms/Media 1.0 1.0 Computing - 8.3 Top Ten Holdings (%) 31 July 2007 30 April 2007 Renesola 2.7 3.0 Tokyo Seimitsu 2.6 2.4 Advantest 2.4 2.3 Ibiden 2.2 - Nidec 2.2 1.6 Google 2.2 1.6 Apple Computers 2.1 1.6 Motech 2.0 2.1 Nitto Denko 1.9 1.6 Union Tool 1.7 - Network Appliance - 1.7 Zeon - 1.6 Total 22.1 19.5 Shares in issue As at 30 April 2007 139,990,821 ---------------- Share bought back and cancelled 1,035,907 Shares held in treasury 0 ---------------- As at 31 July 2007 138,954,914 ================ General Information: For further information please visit the company's website: www.polarcapitaltechnologytrustplc.co.uk where a PDF version of this announcement is available. The company's Net Asset Value per share is calculated daily and released to the London Stock Exchange This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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