Final Results

Rights and Issues Inv Trust PLC 17 February 2004 Chairman's Statement 2003 has proved to be a vintage year for smaller companies. A modest recovery amongst major stocks after the three-year bear market was entirely eclipsed by the rebound experienced by smaller company share prices. So while the FTSE All-Share index rose by 16.6%, the FTSE Small Cap index increased by 36.0% and FTSE Fledgling index stormed ahead by 57.4%. A note of caution though should registered in that the largest recoveries were seen amongst the stocks that previously performed worst over the preceding three years. Your Trust fully participated in the small company bonanza with the net asset value of the capital shares rising from 1640.6p to a record 2194.5p and that of the income shares from 417.1p to 542.9p. These increases of 33.8% and 30.2% comfortably outperformed the FTSE All-Share index by over 17% and 13% respectively. Your Directors have decided to raise the dividend to 34.5p per income share and 1.725p per capital share for 2003. This 5% increase confirms the prediction of last year that future dividend growth would be more modest and reflects the general difficult dividend background. The rise again exceeds the prevailing rate of inflation.The supplementary capital dividend of 49.0976p per capital share was paid on 2nd January 2004 and, barring unforeseen circumstances, the supplementary capital dividend for the current year will be maintained at 49.0976p per capital share payable on 2nd January 2005. The pause in growth it is perhaps not surprising after the recent bear market. John Robertshaw is retiring at the forthcoming annual general meeting after serving as a director for four decades. On behalf of your Board, I would like to record our deep appreciation for the counsel and help that John Robertshaw has provided over the years and to wish him a happy retirement. Before looking forward it is appropriate to consider the progress achieved by the Trust since it changed direction about twenty years ago. Shareholders Funds have increased from £3m to nearly £50m. The net asset value of the capital shares has increased by 1789% and that of the income shares by 1019% while the FTSE All-Share index has risen by only 272%. This capital performance has been matched in income performance with the dividend of the income shares rising by 807%. The formula your Trust has followed of investing in sound companies has not changed over the years though it has adapted to meet changing circumstances. This has proved successful and there is no reason why this should not continue in the current year and beyond. S.H.J.A.Knott Chairman Unaudited Balance Company Group Sheets To 31st December 2003 2002 2003 2002 £ £ £ £ Fixed Assets Intangible assets 0 0 65,191 74,506 Investments 47,941,937 39,335,766 47,510,465 38,904,294 Current assets Debtors 782,490 334,363 283,985 236,114 Investments 0 0 452,872 141,923 Cash at bank and in 1,572,757 0 1,993,130 367,832 hand --------- --------- --------- --------- 2,355,247 334,363 2,729,987 745,869 Creditors: amounts 631,688 2,192,210 761,243 2,358,531 falling due within one --------- --------- --------- --------- year Net current liabilities/ 1,732,559 (1,857,847) 1,968,744 (1,612,662) assets --------- --------- --------- --------- Total assets less 49,665,496 37,477,919 49,544,400 37,366,138 current liabilities ========= ========= ========= ========= Capital and reserves Called up share 1,225,000 1,225,000 1,225,000 1,225,000 capital Share premium account 225,326 225,326 225,326 225,326 Capital reserve 29,501,228 29,518,993 29,501,228 29,518,993 Other reserves Revaluation reserve 17,678,956 5,553,858 17,678,956 5,553,858 Dividend equalisation 1,034,986 954,742 913,890 842,961 reserve --------- --------- --------- --------- Total shareholders 49,665,496 37,477,919 49,554,400 37,366,138 funds ========= ========= ========= ========= Net asset value per share Income shares 542.9p 417.1p Capital shares 2194.5p 1640.6p ========= ========= Unaudited Cons Statement Twelve months ended 31st December 2003 of Total Return Revenue Capital Total £ £ £ Gains/(losses) on investments 135,517 12,107,333 12,242,850 Income 2,112,818 0 2,112,818 Other expenses 446,553 0 446,553 ----------- ----------- ------------ Net return before finance costs and 1,801,782 12,107,333 13,909,115 taxation Interest payable and similar charges 37,662 0 37,662 ----------- ----------- ------------ Return on ordinary activities before 1,764,120 12,107,333 13,871,453 tax Tax on ordinary activities 0 0 0 ----------- ----------- ------------ Return on ordinary activities after 1,764,120 12,107,333 13,871,453 tax for the financial year Dividends and other appropriations in 11,000 0 11,000 respect of non-equity shares ----------- ----------- ------------ Return attributable to equity 1,753,120 12,107,333 13,860,453 shareholders Dividends in respect of equity shares 1,682,191 0 1,682,191 ----------- ----------- ------------ Transfer to reserves after aggregate 70,929 12,107,333 12,178,262 dividends paid and payable of =========== =========== ============ £1,693,191. (2002: £1,619,860) Return per income share (p) 37.3 123.0 160.3 Return per capital share (p) 51.0 553.7 604.7 =========== =========== ============ Unaudited Cons Statement Twelve months ended 31st December 2002 of Total Return Revenue Capital Total £ £ £ Gains/(losses) on investments 57,739 (4,761,400) (4,703,661) Income 1,968,846 0 1,968,846 Other expenses 402,428 0 402,428 ----------- ----------- ------------ Net return before finance costs and 1,624,157 (4,761,400) (3,137,243) taxation Interest payable and similar charges 16,248 0 16,248 ----------- ----------- ------------ Return on ordinary activities before 1,607,909 (4,761,400) (3,153,491) tax Tax on ordinary activities (3,140) 0 (3,140) ----------- ----------- ------------ Return on ordinary activities after 1,611,049 (4,761,400) (3,150,351) tax for the financial year Dividends and other appropriations in 11,000 0 11,000 respect of non-equity shares ----------- ----------- ------------ Return attributable to equity 1,600,049 (4,761,400) (3,161,351) shareholders Dividends in respect of equity shares 1,608,860 0 1,608,860 ----------- ----------- ------------ Transfer to reserves after aggregate (8,811) (4,761,400) (4,770,211) dividends paid and payable of =========== =========== ============ £1,693,191. (2002: £1,619,860) Return per income share (p) 32.7 (48.4) (15.7) Return per capital share (p) 48.6 (217.8) (169.2) =========== =========== ============ The final dividends are payable on 31st March 2004 to shareholders on the register as at 27th February 2004. Income Shares 23.75p (2002: 23.00p) Capital Shares 1.725p (2002:1.650p) The above release and full audited accounts will be available at the Registered office. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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