Preliminary Results

Schroder AsiaPacific Fund PLC 22 November 2005 22 November 2005 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 2005. Unaudited Statement of Total Return for the year ended 30 September 2005 For the year ended For the year ended 30 September 2005 30 September 2004 Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Gains on investments - 44,004 44,004 - 11,811 11,811 Exchange (losses)/gains - (489) (489) - 1,490 1,490 Income 6,525 - 6,525 4,650 - 4,650 Administrative expenses (378) - (378) (391) - (391) Investment management fee (1,568) - (1,568) (1,268) - (1,268) Return before finance costs 4,579 43,515 48,094 2,991 13,301 16,292 and taxation Interest payable and similar (684) - (684) (352) - (352) charges Return on ordinary activities 3,895 43,515 47,410 2,639 13,301 15,940 before taxation Taxation on ordinary (1,147) (645) (1,792) (760) - (760) activities Return attributable to equity 2,748 42,870 45,618 1,879 13,301 15,180 shareholders Final dividend (2,645) - (2,645) (1,531) - (1,531) Transfer to reserves 103 42,870 42,973 348 13,301 13,649 Return per ordinary share 1.97p 30.80p 32.77p 1.35p 9.56p 10.91p Dividend per ordinary share 1.90p - 1.90p 1.10p - 1.10p At At Summary Balance Sheet 30 September 2005 30 September 2004 Net assets £'000 £'000 Listed investments at market value 178,392 134,690 Net current liabilities (9,670) (9,402) Creditors: amounts due after more than one year (491) (53) Net Assets 168,231 125,235 Net asset value per ordinary share (undiluted) 120.84p 89.97p Net asset value per ordinary share (diluted) 117.35p 89.97p Abridged Cash Flow Statement Year ended Year ended 30 September 2005 30 September 2004 £'000 £'000 Net cash inflow from operating activities 4,232 2,781 Net cash outflow from returns on investments and servicing of (663) (347) finance Tax paid (1,261) (586) Net cash inflow from financial investment 3,550 2,746 Equity dividends paid (1,531) (1,044) Net cash inflow from financing 2,681 6,003 Net cash inflow 7,008 9,553 Reconciliation of net cash inflow to movement in net debt Year ended Year ended 30 September 2005 30 September 2004 £'000 £'000 Net cash inflow during the year 7,008 9,553 Increase in bank loan to finance investments (2,658) (6,003) Exchange (losses)/gains on revaluation of (489) 1,490 currency Change in net funds 3,861 5,040 Net debt brought forward (8,346) (13,386) Net debt carried forward (4,485) (8,346) Reconciliation of movements in shareholders' funds Year ended Year ended 30 September 2005 30 September 2004 £'000 £'000 Revenue return on ordinary activities after 2,748 1,879 taxation Dividends (2,645) (1,531) Capital return for the year 42,870 13,301 Conversion of warrants to ordinary shares 23 - Net movement in shareholders' funds 42,996 13,649 Shareholders' funds brought forward 125,235 111,586 Shareholders' funds carried forward 168,231 125,235 The financial information set out in the announcement does not constitute the Company's statutory accounts for the year ended 30 September 2005. The financial information for the year ended 30 September 2004 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 2005 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 statement was approved by the Board of Directors on 22 November 2005. Statement by the Chairman, The Hon Rupert Carington: Investment Performance I am pleased to report that during the year ended 30 September 2005 the Company's diluted net asset value per share produced a total return of 32.5%, outperforming the Company's benchmark Index, the Morgan Stanley All Countries Far East (Free) excluding Japan Index total return of 31.3% over the same period. This is now the fourth successive year in which the net assets of the Company have increased. Performance during the year has been significantly affected by the dilution caused by the warrants. During the year, the share price increased to over 100p, the subscription price of the warrants, and above this level, the warrants have a dilutive effect. To put this into perspective, the total return performance of the net asset value for the year on an undiluted basis was 36.5%. Dividend The Directors recommend the payment of a final dividend of 1.90 pence per share for the year ended 30 September 2005, compared to 1.10 pence per share for the previous year. If the resolution proposed at the Annual General Meeting to pay a final dividend is passed, the dividend will be mailed to shareholders on 30 January 2006. Gearing During the year, the Company increased drawings from its facility from US$35 million to $40 million. Net gearing at the beginning of the year was 6.7% and by the end of the year had decreased to 2.7%. The Board continues to review its gearing position on a regular basis. The Board Following Mr Anthony Rodgers' retirement from the Board at the Annual General Meeting in January 2005, Mr Anthony Fenn joined the Board as a non-executive Director of the Company with effect from 1 June 2005. Mr Fenn, aged 63, has recently retired following a 38 year career as an Investment Executive with Sun Life Financial of Canada. Over the course of his career, he has held various positions, the most recent of which was Head of Investments, Asia, in which he oversaw the setting up of a mutual fund management company in the Philippines. He also has investment experience in Hong Kong, Japan, China, Indonesia and India. He brings a wealth of experience to the Board and the Directors welcome him and look forward to working with him. In accordance with the Articles of Association, Mr Fenn will be proposed for election at the Annual General Meeting. Continuation Vote The Articles of Association contain provisions which require the Board to put to shareholders a resolution at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting that the Company continue as an investment trust for a further five years. In considering its recommendation, the Board has undertaken a strategic review of the Company. This review encompassed the performance of the Company since its launch, the services provided to the Company by its Investment Manager, Schroders, the appropriateness of the investment trust structure as an investment vehicle and the prospects for investment in the Asia-Pacific region. The underlying aim of the investment objective has been to achieve outperformance of the benchmark, the MSCI All Countries Far East (Free) excluding Japan Index. In this regard, the Company has outperformed the benchmark by a considerable margin. Since launch in 1995, the benchmark has decreased by 4.9%, whilst the Company's net asset value has increased by 24.4% and its share price by 17.4%. The Board appointed Old Broad Street Research to undertake an external review of the Investment Manager, which was completed in August 2005. This review considered the Manager's investment philosophy, resources, investment process, portfolio construction, risk controls and performance. Based on the results of this review and its own assessment, the Board believes that the Manager remains well qualified and suitable to manage the portfolio and to assist the Company in meeting its investment objective. The Board considers that the Company is well established as an investment vehicle in its marketplace and that the long-term investment objectives remain appropriate and the structure beneficial to shareholders. The Board believes that the Company can continue to meet its investment objectives given that the Asia-Pacific region will continue to provide opportunities for our Manager. The Board unanimously recommends that the Company continue as an investment trust, and the Directors intend to vote their shares accordingly. Purchase of Shares for Cancellation At the Company's last Annual General Meeting on 26 January 2005, the Company was given the authority to purchase up to 14.99% of the Company's issued share capital for cancellation. The share buy-back facility is one of a number of tools that may be used to enhance shareholder value and to reduce the discount volatility. During the year ended 30 September 2005, the Directors have not utilised the authority given to them and no purchases were made for cancellation. The Board continues to consider whether purchases should be made on a regular basis, and therefore proposes that the authority be renewed at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting. Final Warrant Exercise Date on 31 January 2006 A Circular to warrant holders will be distributed with the Annual Report and Accounts to remind them of the final opportunity to exercise their warrants. The final date on which warrants may be exercised is 31 January 2006. After this date the warrants will lapse and will cease to have any value. Annual General Meeting The Annual General Meeting will be held on Friday 27 January 2006 and shareholders are encouraged to attend. As in previous years, Mr Matthew Dobbs, on behalf of the Investment Manager, will give a presentation on the prospects for Asia and the Company's investment strategy, before the formal business of the meeting. The Hon Rupert Carington Chairman Dividend for the year The Directors of the Company have declared the payment of a final dividend of 1.90p net per share, for the year ended 30 September 2005. The dividend will be payable on 31 January 2006 to shareholders on the register on 30 December 2005. Record Date: 30 December 2005 Ex-Dividend Date: 28 December 2005 Transfers must be lodged by: 30 December 2005 Dividend Warrants: Despatched on 30 January 2006 Payment Date: 31 January 2006 Dividend per share: 1.90 pence The Annual Report and Accounts will be mailed to shareholders at their registered addresses in December 2005 and from the date of release 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) 22 November 2005 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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