Final Results

Finsbury Worldwide Pharm Tst PLC 16 June 2004 16 June 2004 Finsbury Worldwide Pharmaceutical Trust PLC today announces preliminary results for the year ended 31 March 2004. Financial Highlights Year ended Year ended 31 March 2004 31 March 2003 % (unaudited) (audited) change Shareholders' Funds £188.6m £143.5m +31.4 Net asset value per share 480.0p 365.3p +31.4 Share price 466.0p 330.5p +41.0 Premium/(discount) (2.9%) (9.5%) - Datastream Pharmaceutical Index (total return, sterling adjusted) 6,154.4 5,855.7 +5.1 FTSE All-Share (total return) 2,340.2 1,786.6 +31.0 Chairman, Ian Ivory, commented: The Company's performance in the year under review was strong with the net asset value per share increasing by 31.4% compared to a rise in the benchmark index of only 5.1%. The Company's share price performed even more strongly, increasing by 41.0%. As the continuation vote approaches your board continues to believe that the outlook for the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors is bright. The Board is proposing a final dividend of 1.3p per share (2003: 1.0p) per Ordinary share, payable on 12 August 2004 to equity shareholders on the register of members at the close of business on 2 July 2004. - 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 Ian Ivory Chairman (care of the Company Secretary) 020 7426 6219 Chairman's Statement On 1 April 2004 I became Chairman of the Board of this first class investment trust and I am looking to the future with great optimism. I succeed Sir Stuart Burgess who has chaired the board since the launch of the Company in 1995. His record is an impressive one indeed and during his tenure the share price achieved an annual growth rate of 20%. I have inherited a company in an excellent state of health, which is in no small measure a reflection of Sir Stuart's tireless pursuit of excellence. On behalf of my fellow directors I wish him well in his retirement which takes effect from the Annual General Meeting. I am pleased to advise that on 25 February 2004 Josephine ('Jo') Dixon and James Noble joined the Board as non-executive directors. Jo is a chartered accountant and has held various high profile financial positions including Finance Director of Newcastle United plc. Jo has also agreed and has been appointed as Chairman of the Audit Committee. James is currently CEO of Avidex Limited and has also held various non-executive directorships of other biotech and healthcare companies. The Board believe both Jo and James bring a wealth of experience to the Company and welcome the opportunity of working with them in the future. Performance During the year under review your Company recovered strongly from the difficult period experienced in 2002/2003. The Company's net asset value per share increased by 31.4% compared with the decline of 34.5% last year. In contrast the Company's benchmark index, the Datastream World Pharmaceutical Index rose by a mere 5.1% having declined by 27.2% in the previous year. The Company's share price performed even more strongly, increasing by 41.0% and during the year the discount of the share price to the net asset value per share reduced from 9.5% to 2.9%, a level which has largely been maintained since the year end. Gearing The Company's borrowings increased during the year from £29.8 million to £37.2 million which was a contributor to the out performance of the Company when compared to the benchmark index. Gearing on 31 March 2004 was 19.7%, close to the previous year's level of 20.8%. Revenue and Dividends The revenue return for the year was £0.8 million (2003: £0.5 million) and the Board is proposing a final dividend of 1.3p per share (2003: 1.0p) in order to maintain the Company's investment trust status. The dividend will be payable on 12 August 2004 to equity shareholders on the register of members at the close of business on 2 July 2004. Corporate Governance During the year under review the Financial Reporting Council issued a revised combined code on Corporate Governance which is effective for financial years beginning on or after 1 November 2003. Your board has thoroughly reviewed the provisions of the revised code and believes that full compliance was achieved by 31 March 2004. Outlook Your board firmly believes that the outlook for the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors is bright. In particular many biotechnology companies are experiencing strong product driven earnings growth and continued improvement in sector fundamentals is expected. Despite recent share price increases, valuations remain attractive and well below the levels achieved in 2000. Your board continues to believe that investment in this Company will provide superior investment returns to the long term investor. Chairman's Statement (cont'd) Annual General Meeting The Annual General Meeting of the Company will be held at the offices of Close Finsbury Asset Management Limited on 5 August 2004. I hope as many shareholders as possible will attend. This will provide an opportunity to meet the new directors and to hear from the Company's investment adviser, Mr Samuel D Isaly of OrbiMed, on recent developments in the pharmaceutical sector and the prospects for the future. Ian Ivory Chairman 16 June 2004 Statement of Total Return Incorporating the revenue account for the year ended 31 March 2004 Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total 2004 2004 2004 2003 2003 2003 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Gains/(losses) on investments - 47,110 47,110 - (74,800) (74,800) Exchange gains on currency balances - 4,337 4,337 - 1,039 1,039 Income 1,854 - 1,854 1,564 - 1,564 Investment management and performance fees - (5,586) (5,586) - (1,834) (1,834) Other expenses (727) (503) (1,230) (774) 743 (31) Net return/(loss) before finance costs and taxation 1,127 45,358 46,485 790 (74,852) (74,062) Interest payable and similar charges - (704) (704) - (868) (868) Return/(loss) on ordinary activities before taxation 1,127 44,654 45,781 790 (75,720) (74,930) Taxation on ordinary activities (344) 131 (213) (254) 32 (222) Return/(loss) on ordinary activities after taxation 783 44,785 45,568 536 (75,688) (75,152) Dividends on Ordinary shares (equity) (511) - (511) (393) - (393) Transfer to/(from) reserves 272 44,785 45,057 143 (75,688) (75,545) Return/(loss) per Ordinary share 2.0p 114.0p 116.0p 1.4p (192.6p) (191.2p) Balance Sheet As at 31 March 2004 2004 2003 £'000 £'000 ------ --- -------- --- -------- Fixed asset investments 234,432 175,857 Current assets Debtors 443 495 Cash at bank 188 1,416 -------- -------- 631 1,911 Creditors Amounts falling due within one year (46,480) (34,242) -------- -------- Net current liabilities (45,849) (32,331) -------- -------- Net assets 188,583 143,526 -------- -------- Capital and reserves Share capital 9,823 9,823 Share premium account 46,763 46,763 Capital reserve - realised 92,826 88,539 Capital reserve - unrealised 37,968 (2,530) Capital redemption reserve 375 375 Revenue reserve 828 556 -------- -------- Total equity shareholders' funds 188,583 143,526 -------- -------- Net asset value per Ordinary share 480.0p 365.3p (note 2) -------- -------- Cash Flow Statement For the year ended 31 March 2004 2004 2003 £'000 £'000 ---------- ---------- Net cash outflow from operating activities (1,246) (561) Servicing of finance Interest paid (721) (861) Taxation Taxation recovered 94 13 Financial investments Purchases of investments (81,920) (47,757) Sales of investments 72,478 63,058 ---------- ---------- Net cashflow from financial investment (9,442) 15,301 Equity dividends paid (393) (629) ---------- ---------- Net cash (outflow)/inflow before financing (11,708) 13,263 Financing Increase/(decrease) in short term loans 9,065 (22,513) ---------- ---------- Net cash inflow/(outflow) from financing 9,065 (22,513) ---------- ---------- Decrease in cash for the year (2,643) (9,250) ---------- ---------- Notes: 1. Return per Ordinary share Revenue return per share is based on the revenue return attributable to equity shareholders of £783,000 (2003: £536,000). Capital return per share is based on the capital return attributable to equity shareholders of £44,785,000 (2003: £75,688,000 loss). Both the revenue return and the capital return are based on the weighted average of 39,290,000 ordinary shares in issue throughout the year (2003: 39,290,000). 2. Net Asset Value per Ordinary share The net asset value per ordinary share is based on the assets attributable to equity shareholders of £188,583,000 (2003: £143,526,000) and on the number of Ordinary shares in issue at the year end of 39,290,000 (2003: 39,290,000). 3. 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 2003 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 2004 will be delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The audit report is yet to be signed. 4. The accounts have been prepared under the same accounting policies as the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2003. Close Finsbury Asset Management Limited Company Secretary 16 June 2004 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange NRNAAR
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