Final Results - Year Ended 30 September 1999

Schroder AsiaPacific Fund PLC 6 December 1999 SCHRODER ASIAPACIFIC FUND PLC Preliminary Results The Directors of Schroder AsiaPacific Fund plc announce the unaudited preliminary results for the year ended 30 September 1999. For the year ended For the year ended 30 September 1999 30 September 1998 Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Realised losses on - (990) (990) - (34,287) (34,287) sales Unrealised - 52,310 52,310 - (35,463) (35,463) gains/(losses) on investments Currency - 406 406 - (22) (22) gains/(losses) Realised loss on - - - - (469) (469) forward foreign exchange transaction Unrealised loss on - (405) (405) - - - forward foreign exchange transaction Dividend income from 1,973 - 1,973 2,060 - 2,060 listed overseas investments Bank deposit income 223 - 223 356 - 356 Other income 24 - 24 5 - 5 Administrative (259) - (259) (306) - (306) expenses Investment management (957) - (957) (702) - (702) fee Return/(deficit) 1,004 51,321 52,325 1,413 (70,241) (68,828) before finance costs and taxation Interest payable (136) - (136) (2) - (2) Return/(deficit) on 868 51,321 52,189 1,411 (70,241) (68,830) ordinary activities before taxation Tax on ordinary (382) (32) (414) (467) - (467) activities Return/(deficit) 486 51,289 51,775 944 (70,241) (69,297) attributable to equity shareholders Dividend (700) - (700) (700) - (700) Transfer to/(from) (214)51,289 51,075 244 (70,241) (69,997) reserves Return/(deficit) per 0.35p 36.63p 36.98p 0.67p (50.17p) (49.50p) ordinary share Dividend per share 0.50p - 0.50p 0.50p - 0.50p As at 30 As at 30 September 1999 September 1999 Assets £'000 £'000 Listed investments at market value 110,415 51,862 Net current (liabilities)/assets (1,397) 6,040 Creditors: Amounts falling due after one year (76) - Net Assets 108,942 57,902 Net asset value per ordinary share (undiluted) 77.82p 41.36p Cash Flow Statement Year ended Year ended 30 September 1999 30 September 1998 £'000 £'000 Net cash inflow from operating activities 808 1,542 Outflow from returns on investments and servicing of finance (86) (2) Tax paid (214) (333) Net cash (outflow)/inflow from financial investment (7,391) 1,030 Equity dividends paid (700) (700) Net cash inflow from financing 6,037 1 Net cash (outflow)/inflow (1,546) 1,538 Reconciliation of return before finance costs and taxation to net cash inflow from operating activities Year ended Year ended 30 September 1999 30 September 1998 £'000 £'000 Return before finance costs and taxation 1,004 1,413 Movements in accrued income (143) 93 Movements in debtors (13) 58 Movements in creditors (40) (22) Net cash inflow from operating activities 808 1,542 Reconciliation of net cash inflow to movement in net funds Year ended Year ended 30 September 1999 30 September 1998 £'000 £'000 Net cash (outflow)/inflow during the year (1,546) 1,538 Movement in loan facility to finance investments (6,072) - Exchange gains/(losses) on currency 406 (22) Change in net funds (7,212) 1,516 Net funds at the beginning of the year 6,766 5,250 Net funds at 30 September (446) 6,766 The financial information set out in the announcement does not constitute the Company's statutory accounts for the year ended 30 September 1999. The financial information for the year ended 30 September 1998 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 1999 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 2 December 1999. STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN, THE HON RUPERT CARINGTON: Performance The year under review has seen extreme volatility in Asian Markets, but overall the region has experienced a strong recovery. Over, the year as a whole, the Company's net asset value produced a total return of 88.8%*. This compares with a total return produced by the benchmark index, the MSCI All Countries Far East (Free) excluding Japan index, of 90.6%*. *Source: Association of Investment Trust Companies During the year, the share price rose in absolute terms by 117.7%, and at the year end the share price stood at a discount to the net asset value per share of 9.4%, compared to a discount of 21.4% at the beginning of the year. Dividend The Company's investment objective is one of capital growth. However, the Directors recommend the payment of a final dividend of 0.50p per share for the year ended 30 September 1999, in order to meet the requirements to ensure that the Company continues to qualify as an investment trust. Corporate Developments Gearing During the year, the Company utilised its borrowing facility with J. Henry Schroder & Co., Limited and at 30 September 1999 had drawn-down US$10 million from its US$20 million Facility. Since the end of the financial year, the Company has drawn-down an additional US$10 million, and the facility is now fully utilised. The Company indicated in its prospectus that the Directors did not anticipate borrowing levels in excess of 20% of shareholders' funds. At the end of the financial year, the gearing was equal to 5.6 % of shareholders' funds. The Board continues to monitor the Company's borrowing requirements on a regular basis and the gearing ratio currently stands at approximately 9%. Share Buy-backs At the Company's last Annual General Meeting in February 1999, the Company was given the authority to purchase up to 14.99% of its issued share capital for cancellation. To date, the Directors have not utilised the authority given to them and no purchases have been made. Your Board believes that the share buy-back is just one of a number of tools which may be used to address the discount of the Company's shares, and that other factors, in particular sustained good performance compared to peer group companies, can have as much effect. However, your Board continue to view the authority as a useful tool to help address issues surrounding supply and demand for the Company's shares, and therefore proposes that the authority be renewed at the Annual General Meeting. AITC Marketing Campaign The Association of Investment Trust Companies recently unveiled plans to introduce a generic marketing campaign for investment trusts, to increase awareness of the investment trust as an investment vehicle for private investors. Your Board agreed to participate in this campaign, as it believes that participation will be in the interests of the Company's shareholders. You will note the new branding of the Company as an 'Its'. Directors Mr Hill has indicated to the Board that he will retire from his position with Schroder Investment Management Limited at the end of 1999. Mr Hill has, with effect from 2 December 1999 also resigned as a Director of this Company. Mr Hill has been a member of the Board since the launch of the Company, and on behalf of the Board I would like to take this opportunity to thank him for the considerable contribution he has made to the Company. The Board are currently in the process of appointing an independent director to replace Mr Hill. In recent years, Directors have been required to devote an increased amount of time to the Company due to the expansion of governance requirements and changes to the markets in which the Company operates. In view of this, and because the fees of the Directors have not been increased since the launch of the Company in 1995, the Board have agreed that the fees paid to the Chairman will be increased from £12,000 to £15,000 per annum and those paid to directors from £8,000 to £11,000 per annum, with effect from 1 October 1999. Such increases bring the rates in line with guidelines recently published in an independent survey of directors' remuneration conducted on behalf of the Association of Investment Trust Companies. Investment Policy and Outlook The year under review has seen a period of growth in regional markets, but this growth has not been uniform across all markets, and markets have remained volatile throughout the year. However, economic fundamentals appear significantly more positive than one year ago, and the indications are that valuations of regional markets appear attractive when compared to developed equity markets. Your Board is optimistic that the Company is well-positioned to take advantage of these conditions, and as such has approved the additional gearing utilised after the end of the financial year. Your attention is drawn to the investment manager's review which provides a detailed analysis of market background and the Company's investment policy. Annual General Meeting The Annual General Meeting will be held on 17 February 2000 and shareholders are encouraged to attend. The meeting will include a presentation by the investment manager on the prospects for regional markets and on investment strategy. The Hon. Rupert Carington Chairman FINAL DIVIDEND The Directors of the Company have recommended the payment of a final dividend of 0.50p per share for the year ended 30 September 1999. Subject to the requisite approval being obtained from the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting to be held on Thursday 17 February 2000, the dividend will be payable on Monday 21 February 2000 to shareholders on the register on 28 January 2000. Ex-Dividend Date : 24 January 2000 Transfers must be lodged by : 2.30 p.m. on 28 January 2000 Dividend Warrants : Despatched on 18 February 2000 Payment Date : 21 February 2000 Dividend per share : 0.50p net The Company's Annual General Meeting will be held on Thursday 17, February 2000 at 11.30 a.m. at 31 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7QA. The Annual General Meeting will include a presentation by the investment manager. The Annual Report and Accounts will be mailed to shareholders at their registered addresses in December 1999 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 (0171 658 3206) 6 December 1999
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