Final Results

Templeton Emerging Markets IT PLC 17 July 2000 Preliminary Announcement 17 July 2000 -------------------------------------- TEMPLETON EMERGING MARKETS INVESTMENT TRUST PLC ('the Company') --------------------------------------------------------------- Year to 30 April 2000 The Company today announced its annual results for the year to 30 April 2000: CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT At 30 April 2000, your Company had total assets of £749.9 million, compared with £721.6 million at 30 April 1999. The year under review was an extraordinary one for investors both in the emerging markets and elsewhere. Valuations of a narrow range of stocks in the technology, media and telecommunications sectors reached extreme levels. However, the Manager took the strong view that the downside risk inherent in these valuations were out of proportion to likely rewards. This has been reflected in our relatively poor results. The net asset value per share at year end was 159.3 pence, an increase of 3.9% over the year. Over the same period the MSCI Emerging Markets Free Index, on a total return basis, rose by 25.7% and the IFCI Investible Index increased by 24.0%. In the Investment Review (pages 9 to 13) the Manager compares the composition of the Fund to the Index and discusses the relation of risk to reward. Templeton Emerging Markets Investment Trust PLC ('TEMIT') has always been actively managed with an emphasis on finding stocks which are undervalued. The Manager aims to select stocks which are trading at a discount compared to their prospects over the coming years. Long-term prospects remain the key focus and the Manager uses short-term volatility to help make adjustments to the Trust's portfolio. This approach has proved itself over time and since inception TEMIT's net asset value has risen by 290.8% in sterling terms compared with a comparable rise of 187.2 % in the IFCI Investible Index and 226.2% in the MSCI Emerging Markets Free Index. The Board of Directors has proposed a cash dividend of 1.1 pence per Ordinary share. The dividend will be paid on 22 September 2000 to Shareholders on the register at the close of business on 18 August 2000, subject to the approval of Shareholders at the Annual General Meeting which will be held on 21 September 2000. At the year end 81.5% was invested in equities with the remaining 18.5% being held in fixed income securities and liquid assets. The general policy of the Manager is to be fully invested. This higher cash position at the year end was largely due to disposals in Brazil, Mexico, South Africa and Argentina during the last quarter. As the search for value stocks continued, holdings in Eastern Europe, Turkey, Croatia and Taiwan were added. The Manager anticipates that most emerging markets will continue to recover as indicated by improving economic conditions and positive political developments. In addition, the recent increase in foreign direct investment is a positive factor which reflects renewed investor confidence. The discount to net asset value rose over the period. At 30 April 2000 it was 25.3% compared to 14.3% at the previous year end. The high level of the discount is of concern to your Board. The Board has obtained powers to buy back shares in TEMIT. Although no buy-backs have yet been made, renewal of the buy-back authority will be sought. At the date of this report, the net asset value per share had increased to 164.7 pence per share from 159.3 pence per share at the year end and the share price discount has narrowed to 20.2%. The Honourable Nicholas F Brady 17 July 2000 DISTRIBUTION OF PORTFOLIO GEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS (by country of incorporation) As at 30 April 2000 Country Cost Market Value £'000 £'000 South Africa+ 75,141 74,826 Brazil* 61,597 70,890 Turkey 33,258 60,676 Mexico* 34,037 54,812 Thailand@ 48,182 50,685 Hong Kong@ 30,709 43,098 Korea (South) 34,646 40,516 Indonesia* 36,271 32,082 Singapore 24,413 30,340 Poland 25,017 23,771 Argentina* 22,807 22,322 Venezuela* 12,550 17,325 Hungary 13,634 17,292 Russia* 9,256 13,720 Philippines* 20,327 13,543 Czech Republic 13,949 11,834 Pakistan 8,656 7,412 India+ 6,438 6,123 Chile* 4,603 3,799 Colombia 10,689 3,644 China*$ 1,825 3,407 Egypt 2,633 2,316 Malaysia 2,279 2,306 Israel* 2,630 1,952 Estonia!+ 1,759 1,647 Slovak Republic< 1,015 303 Croatia+ 281 241 Taiwan 130 113 Peru* 83 76 ------- ------- TOTAL EQUITY INVESTMENTS 538,815 611,071 OTHER NET ASSETS 138,835 ------- TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' FUNDS 749,906 ------- +Includes U.K. listed stocks *Includes U.S. listed stocks $Includes Hong Kong listed stocks @Includes Singapore Listed Stocks !Includes Turkish listed stocks
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