Interim Results

Schroder AsiaPacific Fund PLC 17 May 2000 Schroder AsiaPacific Fund plc Interim Results The Directors of Schroder AsiaPacific Fund plc announce the unaudited interim results for the six months ended 31 March 2000: Six months ended Six months ended 31 March 2000 31 March 1999 Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Realised gains/(losses) - 4,385 4,385 - (7,857) (7,857) on sales of investments Unrealised gains - 40,111 40,111 - 34,400 34,400 on investments Exchange (losses)/gains - (259) (259) - 92 92 on currency balances Loss on forward foreign - - - - (444) (444) exchange transaction Overseas dividend 419 - 419 730 - 730 income Bank deposit interest 105 - 105 145 - 145 interest Other income 2 - 2 21 - 21 Investment management fee (720) - (720) (387) - (387) Administrative expenses (191) - (191) (114) - (114) (Deficit)/return before (385) 44,237 44,852 395 26,191 26,586 finance costs and taxation Interest payable (368) - (368) - - - (Deficit)/return on (753) 44,237 43,484 395 26,191 26,586 ordinary activities before taxation Tax on ordinary activities 80 - 80 (173) - (173) activities (Deficit)/return (673) 44,237 43,564 222 26,191 26,413 attributable to equity shareholders Transfer (from)/to reserves (673) 44,237 43,564 222 26,191 26,413 reserves (Deficit)/return per share (0.48) 31.60 31.12 0.16 18.71 18.87 pence pence pence pence pence Pence At 31 March At 31 March 2000 1999 Assets £'000 £'000 Investments 164,546 81,836 Net current (liabilities)/assets (12,039) 2,445 Net Assets 152,507 84,281 Net asset value per share (undiluted) 108.93 60.20 (undiluted) Six months ended Six months ended 31 March 2000 31 March 1999 Abridged Cash Flow Statement £'000 £'000 Net cash (outflow)/inflow from (150) 199 operating activities Interest Paid (300) - Total tax (paid)/received (152) 122 Net cash outflow from financial (9,819) (3,609) investment Equity Dividends paid (700) (700) Net cash inflow/(outflow) from 6,466 (34) financing Net cash outflow (4,655) (4,022) Investment Manager's Review Regional markets performed well in the first half of the fiscal year, and the Company's benchmark index recorded a 23.0% increase in sterling terms. The undiluted net asset value per share of the Company rose 40.0% and the share price by 33.6% over the period. The bulk of the returns were seen in the first three months. Subsequently, markets reflected global concerns over rising interest rates and the return to recessionary conditions in Japan, and specific political issues in Taiwan, the Philippines, and Indonesia. It has also been a fairly volatile period, and one in which there has been a wide variation in performance between markets. Percentage Index changes In Sterling Terms Over the six months to 31st March 2000 Market % Change MSCI Malaysia Free +57.0 MSCI Taiwan +38.9 MSCI Hong Kong +34.2 MSCI ACFEF ex Japan +23.0 MSCI Korea +20.5 MSCI Thailand Free +16.8 MSCI Indonesia Free +14.8 MSCI Singapore Free +1.5 MSCI Philippines Free -16.6 MSCI China Free -31.2 Source: MSCI, total returns gross of tax. In part, the divergences can be ascribed to country-specific factors. Continued deflation and a lack of convincing evidence of a turnaround in domestic consumption has hampered Chinese equities, while in contrast Malaysian equities rose strongly amid easy monetary conditions and a return of confidence on the part of both domestic and foreign investors. However, a large measure of the differential performance can be ascribed to sectoral factors. Reflecting trends evident globally, the region has experienced strong outperformance by perceived growth sectors of technology, media and telecommunications (TMT). An illustration of this is that the regional MSCI index of growth stocks has risen 38.1% over the first half of the year, compared to a rise of only 9.2% for value stocks. The strength of TMT stocks has been particularly evident in the strong performances in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Korea, though the latter was held back by the weaker performance of cyclical stocks and the banks. The bid by Pacific Century Cyberworks, an internet start-up company in Hong Kong, for HK Telecom marked something of a watershed for technology sector performance and, in line with global markets generally, there has been a significant correction in such stocks from the highs seen in March. Investment Policy and Performance The table shows the asset distribution of the Company's portfolio at the beginning and end of the half year, along with the distribution of the benchmark index for comparison purposes. Portfolio Asset Allocation Market SAPF NAV Weightings (%) Benchmark Index (%) 30.9.99 31.3.00 31.3.00 Hong Kong/China 33.8 31.3 35.7 Korea 19.8 26.1 22.0 Taiwan 16.1 24.6 21.7 Singapore 16.2 13.0 12.6 Thailand 2.3 1.9 4.1 Indonesia 3.9 2.3 2.3 Philippines 1.6 1.0 1.7 Malaysia 7.6 7.6 0.0 Net Liabilities (1.3) (7.7) The level of gearing rose modestly through the period, with the main net buying taking place in Korea and Taiwan. This buying focused primarily on the IT hardware manufacturing sectors, and semiconductors in particular, exemplified by additions to our positions in Samsung Electronics, Taiwan Semiconductor, and United Microelectronics. Our purchases reflect expectations for a sharp recovery in profits based on strong revenue growth (spurred by both corporate and consumer demand for IT products), increased outsourcing to Asian based manufacturers, and the shortage of capacity in some key product areas. In contrast, we have been more cautious about the internet and telecommunication related stocks, limiting our main positions either to dominant providers (e.g. SK Telecom in Korea) or those such as China Telecom displaying superior growth. The outperformance relative to the index has primarily reflected stock selection in Hong Kong and Korea. Investment Outlook The period has continued to see very robust economic performance in the region, with fourth quarter year-on-year growth rates ranging from a low of 5.75% in Indonesia up to 13% in Korea. In all probability, the region is entering a phase of more stable growth. Our forecasts are for economic activity to expand by over 6% in 2000 which, while high in absolute terms, marks something of a flattening out of the rate of change. The inherent capacity of the region to grow appears good given what are still strongly positive current accounts, and, with the exception of Hong Kong, the region enjoys greater independence of US monetary policy than it did prior to the 1997/98 crisis. There are, however, significant sources of strain in the region. For some economies, such as Indonesia and Thailand, the costs of rehabilitation of the financial sectors will put considerable pressure on public finances. Elsewhere, most notably Korea, evidence of capacity constraints including rising wage demands suggests that modestly tighter monetary conditions are on the way. Overriding all these concerns, though, is the importance of continued strong trade growth for the region, and particularly in technology-related areas. For Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines and Taiwan, technology represents over 50% of total exports. Although there are powerful secular trends supporting the demand for IT products, spending is subject to cyclical influences such as consumer confidence and corporate profitability generally. These must be closely monitored, but on the basis of our expectation of a soft landing in the United States and some modest recovery in Japan, we believe the outlook justifies confidence in those companies demonstrating global competitiveness. Consequently, the portfolio remains modestly geared with overweight positions in Korea and Taiwan. This is balanced by a generally cautious stance on the emerging ASEAN markets, the exception being Malaysia which is due to be re-instated into the benchmark index at the end of May. The Interim Report will be sent by mail to shareholders at their registered addresses in June 2000 and from that date copies of the Interim Report will be made available to the public at the Company's registered office: 31 Gresham Street, London, EC2V 7QA. Enquiries: Schroder Investment Management Limited John Spedding (020 7658 3206)
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