Final Results

Finsbury Worldwide Pharm Tst PLC 20 June 2002 To: City Editors For immediate release Thursday 20 June 2002 Finsbury Worldwide Pharmaceutical Trust PLC Finsbury Worldwide Pharmaceutical Trust PLC today announces preliminary results for the year ended 31 March 2002 which showed a 6.5% increase in net asset value per share. Financial Highlights Year ended Year ended 31 March 2002 31 March 2001 % (unaudited) (audited) change Total Assets(i) £269.0m £238.1m 13.0 Shareholders' Funds £219.1m £202.3m 8.3 Net asset value per share 557.6p 523.6p 6.5 Share price 571.5p 495.5p 15.3 Premium/(discount) 2.4% (5.4)% - Datastream Pharmaceuctical 8,049.1 7,753.3 3.8 Index (total return, sterling adjusted) (i) including bank loans/overdrafts Net asset value per share As at 17 June 2002 (unaudited) 438.2p Chairman, Sir Stuart Burgess, commented: 'This has been another good year for the Trust with net assets per share outperforming the benchmark index and maintaining the unbroken sequence of annual increases since the Company's formation in 1995. 'The Board believes the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors will remain an attractive area for long-term investment despite the present difficult market conditions.' The Directors are proposing a final dividend of 1.6p (2001: 2.0p) per Ordinary share, payable on 16 August 2002 to equity shareholders on the register of members at the close of business on 28 June 2002. - ENDS - The following are attached: • Chairman's Statement • Statement of Total Return • Balance Sheet for the Company • Cash Flow Statement • Notes For further information please contact:- Alastair Smith Close Finsbury Asset Management Limited 020 7426 6240 Fiona Harris Quill Communications 020 7763 6970 Sir Stuart Burgess Chairman 01494 431579 FINSBURY WORLDWIDE PHARMACEUTICAL TRUST PLC 2002 Chairman's Statement Performance The Company has had another good year despite the generally difficult market conditions and unusual turbulence during the period. Net assets per share grew by 6.5% from 523.6p to 557.6p representing an out-performance of 2.7% against the Company's benchmark index, the Datastream Worldwide Pharmaceutical Index (total return). This is the sixth consecutive annual rise in net assets per share bringing the aggregate increase since the Company's formation in 1995 to 481% compared with 262% for the benchmark index. The Company's relatively strong performance contributed to a 15.3% increase in the share price during the year and throughout the year shares generally traded at a premium. I am delighted that the Company's excellent track record has been recognised by Standard & Poor's 2002 award for the best Trust in the Specialist BioTech and Life Sciences sector. The Trust's performance since the end of March 2002 has been disappointing. The combination of a sharp downturn in the general equity market with specific factors affecting selected pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies has produced a significant drop in net assets. On 17 June the value of net assets per share was 438.2p. The underlying fundamentals of the worldwide pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, however, remain intact and the Board believes that these will continue to offer an attractive long-term investment. Gearing As at 31 March 2002, the Trust's loan facility of £50 million was fully drawn down and invested in the stock market, making borrowings 19% of total assets. Share Issues With the shares trading at a premium to net asset value for much of the year, the Company has been able to issue a total of 650,000 shares at a small premium to net asset value, raising approximately £3.8 million. The Board intends to issue further shares as and when appropriate opportunities arise. Marketing During the year we have continued the targeted shareholder relations programme started in 2000 to promote the Company to intermediaries and to discretionary private client managers. The success of the programme has resulted in a 20% increase in the shares held within Close Finsbury's retail plans and increasing interest in the shares by private investors generally. The Board continues to support promotions of the Company's shares by way of specific marketing initiatives to broaden the shareholder base. Revenue and Dividends Total revenue for the year rose to over £2.0 million (2001: £1.9 million) and the Board is proposing a final dividend of 1.6 per share (2001: 2.0p) which will maintain the Company's investment trust status. The dividend will, subject to shareholders' approval, be payable on 16 August 2002 to shareholders on the register on 28 June 2002. Annual General Meeting The Annual General Meeting of the Company will be held at the offices of Close Finsbury Asset Management Limited on 8 August 2002. I do hope as many shareholders as possible will attend. This will be an opportunity not just to meet with the Board but also to hear from the Company's investment adviser, Mr Samuel Isaly. Sir Stuart Burgess Chairman 20 June 2002 Finsbury Worldwide Pharmaceutical Trust PLC Statement of Total Return Incorporating the revenue account for the year ended 31 March 2002 Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total 2002 2002 2002 2001 2001 2001 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Gains on investments - 21,826 21,826 - 38,765 38,765 Exchange losses on currency balances - (21) (21) - (1,461) (1,461) Income 1,974 - 1,974 1,856 - 1,856 Investment management and performance fees - (6,965) (6,965) - (3,388) (3,388) Other expenses (739) (231) (970) (523) (366) (898) Net return before finance costs and 1,235 14,609 15,844 1,324 33,550 34,874 taxation Interest payable and similar charges - (2,001) (2,001) - (1,414) (1,414) Return on ordinary activities before 1,235 12,608 13,843 1,324 32,136 33,460 taxation Taxation on ordinary activities (394) 142 (252) (368) 153 (215) Return on ordinary activities after 841 12,750 13,591 956 32,289 33,245 taxation Dividends on Ordinary shares (equity) (629) - (629) (773) - (773) Transfer to reserves 212 12,750 12,962 183 32,289 32,472 Return per Ordinary share - pence 2.2p 32.7p 34.9p 2.5p 83.6p 86.1p Finsbury Worldwide Pharmaceutical Trust PLC Balance Sheet As at 31 March 2002 2002 2001 £'000 £'000 Fixed asset investments 264,628 252,836 Current assets Debtors 2,815 275 Cash at bank 5,769 2,731 8,584 3,006 Creditors Amounts falling due within one year (54,141) (53,516) Net current liabilities (45,557) (50,510) Net assets 219,071 202,326 Capital and reserves Share capital 9,823 9,660 Share premium account 46,763 43,143 Capital reserve - realised 88,449 76,793 Capital reserve - unrealised 73,248 72,154 Capital redemption reserve 375 375 Revenue reserve 413 201 Total equity shareholders' funds 219,071 202,326 Net asset value per Ordinary share 557.6p 523.6p Finsbury Worldwide Pharmaceutical Trust PLC Cash Flow Statement For the year ended 31 March 2002 2002 2001 £'000 £'000 Net cash outflow from operating activities (18,952) (3,907) Servicing of finance Interest paid (2,076) (1,540) Taxation Taxation recovered 25 30 Financial investments Purchases of investments (85,722) (83,592) Sales of investments 92,643 66,711 6,921 (16,881) Equity dividends paid (773) (155) Net cash outflow before financing (14,855) (22,453) Financing Increase in short term loans 14,131 13,144 Issue of Ordinary shares 3,783 - Net cash inflow from financing 17,914 13,144 Increase/(decrease) in cash for the year 3,059 (9,309) Notes: 1. These accounts are not statutory accounts as defined by section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. Statutory accounts for the 12 months ended 31 March 2001 have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies and received an audit report which was unqualified and did not contain statements under Section 237 (2) and (3) of the Companies Act 1985. Statutory accounts for the 12 months ended 31 March 2002 will be delivered to the Registrar of Companies. 2. The accounts have been prepared under the same accounting policies as the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2001. Close Finsbury Asset Management Limited - Secretary 20 June 2002 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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