Interim Results

SchroderJapan Growth Fund PLC 11 April 2007 11 April 2007 SCHRODER JAPAN GROWTH FUND PLC Unaudited Interim Results The Directors of Schroder Japan Growth Fund plc (the 'Company') announce the Company's unaudited interim results for the six months ended 31 January 2007. For the six months ended For the six months ended 31 January 2007 31 January 2006 Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total Return Return Return Return Return Return £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 (Losses)/gains on investments held at - (5,827) (5,827) - 37,541 37,541 fair value Exchange gains - 2,400 2,400 - 1,152 1,152 Income 920 - 920 844 - 844 Investment management fee (808) - (808) (849) - (849) Administrative expenses (200) - (200) (170) - (170) Net (losses)/return before finance costs (88) (3,427) (3,515) (175) 38,693 38,518 and taxation Interest payable (125) - (125) (56) - (56) Net (losses)/return on ordinary (213) (3,427) (3,640) (231) 38,693 38,462 activities before taxation Taxation on ordinary activities (62) - (62) (58) - (58) Net (losses)/return on ordinary (275) (3,427) (3,702) (289) 38,693 38,404 activities after taxation attributable to equity shareholders Net (losses)/return per ordinary share (0.22)p (2.74)p (2.96)p (0.23)p 30.95p 30.72p All revenue and capital items in the above statement derive from continuing operations. The total column of this statement is the profit or loss account of the Company. Reconciliation of Movements in Shareholders' Funds Share Share Share Warrant Capital Revenue Total capital premium purchase exercise reserves reserve account reserve reserve £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Balance at 31 July 12,501 7 97,205 3 17,108 (7,381) 119,443 2005 Net profit from - - - - 38,693 (289) 38,404 operating activities Balance at 31 January 12,501 7 97,205 3 55,801 (7,670) 157,847 2006 Share Share Share Warrant Capital Revenue Total capital premium purchase exercise reserves reserve account reserve reserve £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Balance at 31 July 12,501 7 97,205 3 17,108 (7,381) 119,443 2005 Net profit from - - - - 23,016 (295) 22,721 operating activities Balance at 31 July 12,501 7 97,205 3 40,124 (7,676) 142,164 2006 Share Share Share Warrant Capital Revenue Total capital premium purchase exercise reserves reserve account reserve reserve £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Balance at 31 July 12,501 7 97,205 3 40,124 (7,676) 142,164 2006 Net profit from - - - - (3,427) (275) (3,702) operating activities Balance at 31 12,501 7 97,205 3 36,697 (7,951) 138,462 January 2007 Balance Sheet At 31 January 2007 At 31 January 2006 At 31 July 2006 £'000 £'000 £'000 Fixed Assets Investments held at fair value through profit or loss 159,838 180,581 167,409 Current Assets Debtors 404 137 2,083 Cash at bank 2,169 4,098 5,696 2,573 4,235 7,779 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (23,949) (26,969) (33,024) Net current liabilities (21,376) (22,734) (25,245) Net assets attributable to shareholders 138,462 157,847 142,164 Capital and Reserves Called up share capital 12,501 12,501 12,501 Share premium account 7 7 7 Share purchase reserve 97,205 97,205 97,205 Warrant exercise reserve 3 3 3 Capital reserves 36,697 55,801 40,124 Revenue reserve (7,951) (7,670) (7,676) Total equity shareholders' funds 138,462 157,847 142,164 Net asset value per ordinary share 110.76p 126.27p 113.72p Abridged Cash Flow Statement For the six For the six For the year months ended months ended ended 31 January 2007 31 January 2006 31 July 2006 £'000 £'000 £'000 Net cash outflow from operating activities (287) (157) (231) Net cash inflow/(outflow) from investing activities 1,342 (4,776) (7,794) Net cash inflow/(outflow) before financing 1,055 (4,933) (8,025) Net cash (outflow)/inflow from financing (3,980) 4,918 9,738 Net cash (outflow)/inflow in the year (2,925) (15) 1,713 Reconciliation of net cash inflow to movement in net debt Movement in cash in the year (2,925) (15) 1,713 Movement in bank loan to finance investments 3,980 (4,918) (9,738) Change in net debt arising from cash flows 1,055 (4,933) (8,025) Exchange gains on revaluation currency loan and cash 2,400 1,152 1,853 balances Net debt brought forward (24,727) (18,555) (18,555) Net debt carried forward (21,272) (22,336) (24,727) Notes 1. Basis of preparation The interim financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, modified to include the revaluation of investments and in accordance with the Companies Act 1985 and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (UK GAAP) and the Statement of Recommended Practice 'Financial Statement of Investment Trust Companies ('SORP') issued in January 2003 and revised in December 2005. The same accounting policies used for the year ended 31 July 2006 have been applied. 2 Deficit per ordinary share The basic revenue deficit per ordinary share is based on the net revenue deficit on ordinary activities after interest payable and taxation of £275,000 (31 January 2006: deficit of £289,000) and on 125,008,200 (31 January 2006: 125,008,200) ordinary shares, being the weighted average number of shares in issue in the year. The basic capital return per ordinary share is based on the net losses on ordinary activities after interest payable and taxation of £3,427,000 (31 January 2006: return of £38,693,000) and on 125,008,200 (31 January 2006: 125,008,200) ordinary shares, being the weighted average number of shares in issue in the year. The basic total return per ordinary share is based on the net deficit on ordinary activities after interest payable and taxation of £3,702,000 (31 January 2006: return of £38,404,000) and on 125,008,200 (31 January 2006: 125,008,200) ordinary shares, being the weighted average number of shares in issue in the year. 3 Net asset value per ordinary share Net asset value per ordinary share is based on 125,008,200 (31 January 2006: 125,008,200 and 31 July 2006: 125,008,200) ordinary shares in issue. 4 Results The above financial information is unaudited and does not constitute statutory accounts under Section 240 of the Companies Act 1985 (as amended). Statutory accounts for the financial year ended 31 July 2006 have been reported on by the Company's auditors and delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The report of the auditors was unqualified and did not contain a statement under Section 237 (2) or (3) of the Companies Act 1985. This statement was approved by the Board of Directors on 11 April 2007. INVESTMENT MANAGER'S REVIEW Performance The Company's net asset value rose by 7.9% in yen terms during the six month period to 31 January 2007, slightly underperforming the benchmark index, which rose by 10.1% over the same period. The Company's net asset value fell 2.6% in sterling terms during the six months to 31 January 2007 whilst the benchmark declined by 0.7% in sterling. The dominant features of the period under review were the strength of the Japanese stock market and the weakness of the yen relative to other major currencies, in particular sterling. The yen/sterling exchange rate on 31 January 2007 stood close to its lowest level seen over the last 15 years. The market was extremely polarised, particularly latterly, with steel, shipping, real estate and utility sectors performing strongly buoyed by a favourable regional backdrop and market preoccupation with strong free cash flow. Banks and Retail were among the worst performing sectors. As has been witnessed on a number of occasions in the recent past, the market was very liquidity and sentiment driven. Whilst a more fundamental, value-driven approach did not work well under such conditions, it has provided us again with numerous opportunities at a stock level, which have been ignored by the market. Outlook The outlook for this year remains mixed. Exports may be weaker if overseas demand weakens or the yen appreciates. In the domestic economy, consumption growth is likely to improve as a tight labour market forces Japanese companies to raise wages. However, negative impacts from a squeeze in consumer credit and the end of special income tax reductions may offset this to some extent. Overall, company profit forecasts are likely to be beaten at year end results in May-June. Companies can still expect to generate 10%+ earnings growth next fiscal year if global demand remains steady and domestic consumption improves. Investment Policy Corporate earnings newsflow continues to support a market which in our view is no longer compellingly undervalued. Though profit forecasts seem conservative for this year, we expect earnings momentum to slow next fiscal year and the market to struggle to re-rate much further. That said, a number of segments of the market look good value and we have added to retail stocks, such as apparel clothing retailer, Shimamura, and to auto-parts makers, such as Calsonic Kansei. Smaller companies look selectively better value, having significantly de-rated over the course of last year. Whilst still cautious on bank shares, prolonged underperformance and the prospect of widening lending spreads make them more interesting from a near-term valuation standpoint. Our stock selection is focused on some regional banks with good growth prospects, like Chiba Bank, and undervalued city banks, like Mizuho Financial. The period saw an increase in corporate activity, with two of the Company's holdings subject to management buyouts and one to a takeover. Whilst it is encouraging to see more such activity taking place, often the premium to the share price is less than we would wish. The interest of private equity funds and a very gradual shift toward greater shareholder awareness are becoming increasingly important market themes and a supporting reason for investment in a number of the smaller, more deeply undervalued stocks, such as Chubu Nippon Broadcasting, T&K Toka and Inabata. Given the still large number of attractive investment opportunities, notwithstanding quite demanding market valuations, the Company has retained a net gearing level of 15.4%. Schroder Investment Management Limited 11 April 2007 INTERIM REPORT The Interim Report will be mailed to registered shareholders at their registered addresses. Copies of the Interim Report will be made available from the date of release at the Company's registered office, 31 Gresham Street, London, EC2V 7QA. Enquiries: Schroder Investment Management Limited John Spedding (020 7658 3206) 11 April 2007 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
UK 100

Latest directors dealings