Final Results

Schroder AsiaPacific Fund PLC 29 November 2001 29 November 2001 SCHRODER ASIAPACIFIC FUND PLC Unaudited Preliminary Results The Directors of Schroder AsiaPacific Fund plc announce the unaudited preliminary results for the year ended 30 September 2001. Unaudited Statement of Total return for the year ended 30 September 2001 For the year ended For the year ended 30 September 2001 30 September 2000 Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Realised (losses)/gains on - (2,760) (2,760) - 14,799 14,799 sales Unrealised (losses)/gains - (43,752) (43,752) - 2,369 2,369 on investments Exchange losses - (510) (510) - (1,258) (1,258) Income 2,305 - 2,305 2,055 - 2,055 Administrative expenses (412) - (412) (359) - (359) Investment management fee (931) - (931) (1,372) - (1,372) Return/(deficit) before 962 (47,022) (46,060) 324 15,910 16,234 finance costs and taxation Interest payable (536) - (536) (850) - (850) Return /(deficit) on 426 (47,022) (46,596) (526) 15,910 15,384 ordinary activities before taxation Tax on ordinary activities (58) - (58) 68 - 68 Return /(deficit) 368 (47,022) (46,654) (458) 15,910 15,452 attributable to equity shareholders Dividend - - - - - - Transfer to/(from) reserves 368 (47,022) (46,654) (458) 15,910 15,452 Return /(deficit) per 0.26p (33.61)p (33.35)p (0.33)p 11.36p 11.03p ordinary share At At Summary Balance Sheet 30 September 30 September 2001 2000 Assets £'000 £'000 Listed investments at market value 76,985 122,902 Net current assets 327 1,497 Net Assets 77,312 124,399 Net asset value per ordinary share (undiluted) 55.54p 88.85p Abridged Cash Flow Statement Year ended Year ended 30 September 30 September 2001 2000 £'000 £'000 Net cash inflow from operating activities 910 356 Cash outflow from returns on investments and (645) (724) servicing of finance Tax recovered/(paid) 181 (222) Net cash (outflow)/inflow from financial investment (595) 4,276 Equity dividends paid - (700) Net cash (outflow)/inflow from financing (5,795) 6,171 Net cash (outflow)/inflow (5,944) 9,157 Reconciliation of net cash inflow to movement in net funds/(debt) Year ended Year ended 30 September 30 September 2001 2000 £'000 £'000 Net cash (outflow)/inflow during the year (5,944) 9,157 Movement in loan facility to finance 5,362 (6,166) investments Exchange losses on revaluation of currency (510) (1,258) Change in net funds (1,092) 1,733 Net funds/(debt) bought forward 1,287 (446) Net funds carried forward 195 1,287 The financial information set out in the announcement does not constitute the Company's statutory accounts for the year ended 30 September 2001. The financial information for the year ended 30 September 2000 is derived from the statutory accounts for the year which have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The auditors reported on those accounts; their report was unqualified and did not contain a statement under section 237(2) or (3) of the Companies Act 1985. The statutory accounts for the year ended 30 September 2001 will be finalised on the basis of the financial information presented by the Directors in this preliminary announcement and will be delivered to the Registrar of Companies following the Company's Annual General Meeting. This announcement is prepared on the basis of the accounting policies as set out in the most recently published set of annual financial statements. This statement was approved by the Board of Directors on 28 November 2001. Statement by the Chairman, The Hon Rupert Carington: Investment Performance The year ended 30 September 2001 has been disappointing for the Company. During the year the Company's undiluted net asset value per share fell from 88.85p to 55.54p. This fall of 37.5 per cent. compares with a negative total return of 34.0 per cent. in sterling terms in the Company's benchmark Index, the Morgan Stanley All Countries Far East (Free) excluding Japan Index, over the same period. The Company's relative net asset value performance was slightly behind its peer group average during the year. The average net asset value total return produced from peer group companies during the year to 30 September 2001 was -34.51 per cent.* The most significant factors contributing to the Company's under-performance against its benchmark Index were an over-weighting in Korea in the telecommunications and technology sectors, and an under-weight position in Malaysia. Much of the decline in the Company's net asset value was seen in September 2001, in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in the US. However, some of it has been regained since the end of the Company's financial year, as regional markets have shown signs of recovery. Returns to shareholders during the year under review have also been affected by a widening in the discount of the Company's share price to its net asset value. The discount widened from 8.56 per cent. at the beginning of the year to 18.98 per cent. at the end of the year. This should be viewed in the context of the Asia excluding Japan Sector as a whole, in that the Company's peer group average discount also widened during the year, reaching 19 per cent.* at the end of September 2001. *Source: AITC/Fundamental Data. Gearing Policy During the year, the Board kept the Company's borrowing requirements under review. The borrowing was reduced from US$20 million to US$12 million during the year, and, in October 2001 was further reduced to US$6 million in view of the volatile market conditions. Purchase of Shares for Cancellation An authority given to Directors to purchase up to 14.99 per cent of the Company's issued share capital for cancellation was renewed at the Annual General Meeting on 25 January 2001. During the year ended 30 September 2001 the Company used this authority on 3 occasions to purchase a total of 810,000 shares for cancellation, amounting to 0.58 per cent of the share capital in issue on 1 October 2000. The Board continues to monitor market conditions on a regular basis, and works closely with its advisers in respect of the discount to establish whether purchases of shares for cancellation should be undertaken. Various factors are taken into account when purchases are considered, including the effect on the overall liquidity in the shares of the Company. The Directors therefore propose that the authority to purchase up to 14.99 per cent of the Company's issued share capital for cancellation be renewed by shareholders at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting. Corporate Broker In April 2001, the Company was advised by its broker, Merrill Lynch, that they were to withdraw from the investment trust sector. The Board received presentations from a number of broking institutions and selected Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein ('DKW') to provide corporate broking services to the Company with effect from June 2001. The Board has worked closely with DKW to arrange meetings with investment institutions and intermediaries to promote greater interest in the Company and the attractions of the asset class in which it invests. The Board considers marketing issues on a regular basis and will continue to investigate and implement, where appropriate, measures designed to promote the Company, to keep any discount as low as possible and to improve communications with shareholders. Outlook While there are reasons to be pessimistic in the wake of a substantial reduction in consensus growth forecasts in Asia and elsewhere for both this year and next year following the attacks on 11 September, there are also some indicators of support for regional markets. Valuations are now low by historic standards, and relative to major equity markets the valuation case for Asian equities is even more compelling. Furthermore, much of the bad news appears to be factored into current share prices, allowing some scope for potential upside assuming a recovery in the US economy. Annual General Meeting The Annual General Meeting will be held on 14 February 2002 at 31, Gresham Street, London, EC2V 7QA. Before the formal business of the meeting, Mr Matthew Dobbs, on behalf of the Investment Manager, will give a presentation on the prospects for Asia and the Company's investment strategy. The Hon Rupert Carington Chairman The Annual Report and Accounts will be mailed to shareholders at their registered addresses in December 2001 and from that date copies of the Annual Report and Accounts will be available to the public at the Company's registered office: 31 Gresham Street, London, EC2V 7QA. Enquiries: Schroder Investment Management Limited John Spedding (0207 658 3206) 29 November 2001
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