Final Results

Finsbury Worldwide Pharm Tst PLC 01 June 2007 NEWS RELEASE To: City Editors For immediate release 1 June 2007 Finsbury Worldwide Pharmaceutical Trust PLC today announces preliminary results for the year ended 31 March 2007. Financial Highlights (Unaudited) (Audited) % Year ended Year ended change 31 March 2007 31 March 2006 Shareholders' Funds £273.6m £334.8m (18.3) Net Asset Value per share (basic)* 520.9p 583.0p (10.7) Net Asset Value per share (diluted) (diluted for warrants) 511.2p 564.1p (9.4) Share price 477.8p 575.0p (16.9) (Discount)/premium of share price to diluted Net Asset Value per share (6.5%) 1.9% N/A Discount of share price to basic Net Asset (8.3%) (1.4%) N/A Value per share Benchmark Index** 7,507.7 7,787.8 (3.6) #Total Expense Ratio (incl. performance fees) 1.3% 1.5% N/A #Total Expense Ratio (excl. performance fees) 1.3% 1.4% N/A *Total return, including portfolio income **Datastream World Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Index (total return, sterling adjusted) # Excludes the deferred fee paid to M and I Investors, Inc. on 24 January 2006 - ENDS - The following are attached: • Chairman's Statement • Income Statement • Reconciliation of Movements in Shareholders' Funds • Balance Sheet • Cash Flow Statement • Notes to the Financial Statements For further information please contact: Alastair Smith Frostrow Capital LLP 020 3 008 4911 Jennie Denholm/Fiona Harris Quill Communications 020 7758 2230 Ian Ivory Chairman (care of the Company Secretary) 020 3 008 4913 Chairman's Statement Review of the Year and Performance The year under review has been a difficult one for the Company with the undiluted net asset value ('NAV') per share falling by 10.7% compared to a fall in the benchmark index of 3.6%. This underperformance of the benchmark is due, in part, to a decision taken to adopt an overweight stance in the biotechnology sector relative to the larger pharmaceutical companies; a strategy that had helped returns in the previous year. While merger and acquisition activity was strong, contributing some of the investment portfolio's largest gains, the weakness of the US dollar has continued to adversely affect performance. Indeed, during the Company's financial year it depreciated more than 13.0% against sterling, moving from 1.73 at the end of March 2006 to 1.96 at the end of March 2007. In order to hedge some of your exposure to the US dollar, the majority of borrowings are now made in US dollars. During the year the total amount of debt decreased from £49.5 million to £15.7 million or a decrease from 14.8% to 5.0% as a ratio. Capital The Company's share price fell by 16.9% during the year as the discount of share price to the undiluted NAV per share widened from 1.4% at the end of March 2006 to 8.3% at the end of March 2007. The Board has adopted a discount management policy whereby shares will be repurchased at prices representing a discount greater than 6.0% to the fully diluted net asset value per share, if there is demand in the market for it to do so. During the year a total of 5,078,100 shares were repurchased to be held as treasury shares at a total cost of £24,879,000 (including expenses); subsequent to the year-end, on 3 April 2007, a further 114,000 shares were purchased to be held as treasury shares at a total cost of £548,000. This last purchase took us to the maximum amount of shares that can be held in treasury which meant that any further shares repurchased would have to be cancelled. Subsequent to the year end a total of 664,000 shares have been repurchased and cancelled at a cost of £3,313,000 (including expenses). The total number of shares repurchased were done so at an average discount of 6.9%. The Board intends that shares held in treasury should be reissued by the Company at prices which represent a discount to the prevailing diluted net asset value per share, provided that the discount is (i) lower than that at which the shares were repurchased by the Company; and (ii) not more than 5.0% in absolute terms. The Board believes that demand for the Company's shares will be stimulated through good investment performance during the remainder of 2007. The Board has agreed that any treasury shares remaining on 31 January 2008 will be cancelled. Shareholder approval to renew the authority to buy back shares will be sought at the Annual General Meeting. 150,000 new shares were issued on 19 April 2006 at a 2.4% premium and at the regular warrant exercise date of 31 July a total of 32,731 warrants were exercised raising a further £151,872. The share price at 31 March 2007 of 477.8p remains in excess of the exercise price of 464.0p. The final opportunity to exercise the warrants is on 31 July 2009. Derivatives At the Annual General Meeting held last year a resolution was passed to amend the Company's investment objectives to allow exposure to derivative investments up to 5.0% of overall assets. I am pleased to report that this strategy contributed £4.3m to returns during the year and has contributed over £5m since its inception in January 2006. Revenue and Dividends The revenue return for the year was £1.9 million (2006: £1.4 million) and the Company is paying an interim dividend of 3.0p per share (2006: final dividend of 1.7p). The total expense ratio (excluding performance and deferred fees) was 1.3% (31 March 2006: 1.4%). The dividend will be payable on 18 July 2007 to equity shareholders on the register of members on 15 June 2007. The shares will go ex-dividend on 13 June 2007. Manager and Company Secretary In November 2006, following a programme of reorganisation within the asset management division of Close Brothers Group, Close Investments Limited ('CIL') became the Company's Manager and Company Secretary, on the same terms as Close Finsbury Asset Management Limited, from whom the contract was novated. Following a review of these arrangements by the Board, however, the Company entered into a new arrangement with Frostrow Capital LLP ('Frostrow') on 10 April 2007. Frostrow is a new firm established by former employees of CIL to provide specialist management, administration, company secretarial and marketing services to investment companies and is authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Services Authority. The Board is satisfied that, given the continuity of the individuals providing these services to the Company, a continued high level of service will be provided. Under the terms of this new agreement the Board estimates that the Company will save in excess of £500,000 per annum. Further details of the new arrangements can be found in the Company's Annual Report & Accounts. OrbiMed Capital LLC's partners have a minority financial interest of 20% in Frostrow. The Company has also entered into a new investment management agreement with OrbiMed Capital LLC under which they will continue to provide discretionary investment management services to the Company under the same terms as before. Composition of the Board During the year the Board decided to begin a process of refreshment. Several members have been on the Board since its formation in 1995 and whilst there is no obligation to retire members on length of service done, it seemed appropriate to consider the best way forward. The result of this process and reflective of all aspects of the requirements of the Board, it was mutually decided that I should step down from the Board at the Annual General Meeting in 2008 to make way for a new Chairman for the period to the continuation vote in 2009. In addition, James Noble has decided not to put himself forward for re-election at this year's Annual General Meeting. We have all benefited from his stimulating contribution at Board meetings and his presence will be missed. Investment Management Fees and Finance Costs The Board has given consideration to the allocation between capital and revenue of the Company's investment management fees and finance costs. Prior to 1 April 2006, 100% of these costs were allocated to capital. With effect from the beginning of the financial year ended 31 March 2007, it has been agreed that 5% should be charged to revenue and 95% to capital. This treatment is in line with the Board's expectation of returns from the Company's investments over the long term in the form of revenue and capital. Outlook The longer term outlook for the pharmaceutical industry remains excellent, however the shorter term has been clouded by the uncertainties surrounding various newer drugs and the ongoing weakness of the dollar. We have shifted most of our debt into dollars but we remain predominantly a dollar industry and the results will reflect the level of the currency. The belief we have is that the major companies are short of products for their pipelines and will continue to bid enthusiastically for smaller companies with relevant drugs. This has been evidenced by the recent bid for MedImmune by AstraZeneca and the Company has benefited considerably through this. We expect more activity of this nature in 2007/08 and the investment portfolio is positioned to benefit from this. Annual General Meeting The Annual General Meeting of the Company will be held at the Armourers' Hall, 81 Coleman Street, London EC2R 5BJ on Monday, 9 July from 12 noon. I hope as many shareholders as possible will attend. This will provide an opportunity to hear from Mr Samuel D Isaly of OrbiMed, the Company's Investment Manager, on the period under review, recent developments in the pharmaceutical sector and the prospects for the future. Ian Ivory Chairman 1 June 2007 Income Statement for the year ended 31 March 2007 (Unaudited) (Audited) Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total 2007 2007 2007 2006 2006 2006 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 (Losses)/gains on investments held at fair value through profit or loss - (37,708) (37,708) - 98,824 98,824 Exchange gains/(losses) on currency balances - 3,903 3,903 - (1,621) (1,621) Income from investments held at fair value through profit or loss (note 2) 3,891 - 3,891 2,961 - 2,961 Investment management and performance fees (note 3) (147) (2,787) (2,934) - (3,192) (3,192) Other expenses (973) - (973) (961) (745) (1,706) --------------------- --- -------- -- ------- -- -------- --- ------ --- ------- --- ------ Net return/(loss) before finance charges and taxation 2,771 (36,592) (33,821) 2,000 93,266 95,266 Finance charges (100) (1,893) (1,993) - (1,300) (1,300) --------------------- --- -------- -- ------- -- -------- --- ------ --- ------- --- ------ Net return/(loss) on ordinary activities before taxation 2,671 (38,485) (35,814) 2,000 91,966 93,966 Taxation on net (loss)/return on ordinary activities (819) 389 (430) (605) 266 (339) --------------------- --- -------- -- ------- -- -------- --- ------ --- ------- --- ------ Net return/(loss) on ordinary activities after taxation 1,852 (38,096) (36,244) 1,395 92,232 93,627 --------------------- --- -------- -- ------- -- -------- --- ------ --- ------- --- ------ Return/(loss) per Ordinary share - basic (note 4) 3.3p (66.9)p (63.6)p 2.5p 166.1p 168.6p --------------------- --- -------- -- ------- -- -------- --- ------ --- ------- --- ------ Return/(loss) per Ordinary share - diluted (note 4) 3.2p (66.9)p (63.7)p 2.5p 162.3p 164.8p --------------------- --- -------- -- ------- -- -------- --- ------ --- ------- --- ------ The total column of this statement is the profit and loss account of the Company. The revenue and capital columns are supplementary to this and are prepared under guidance published by the Association of Investment Companies (formerly known as the Association of Investment Trust Companies). All revenue and capital items in the above statement derive from continuing operations. The Company has no recognised gains and losses other than those shown above and therefore no separate statement of total recognised gains and losses has been presented. No operations were acquired or discontinued in the year. Reconciliation of Movements in Shareholders' Funds For the year ended 31 March 2007 Unaudited Called-up Share Warrant Capital Capital Revenue Total share premium reserve reserve redemption reserve capital reserve £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 At 31 March 2006 14,356 116,613 7,458 193,699 375 2,257 334,758 Net (loss)/return on ordinary activities after taxation - - - (38,096) - 1,852 (36,244) Dividends paid in respect of year ended 31 March 2006 - - - - - (979) (979) Proceeds from exercise of Warrants 8 143 - - - - 151 Transfer from warrant reserve following exercise of warrants - 22 (22) - - - - Ordinary shares purchased net of expenses (and held in treasury) - - - (24,879) - - (24,879) Issue of own shares 37 787 - - - - 824 Year ended 31 March 2007 14,401 117,565 7,436 130,724 375 3,130 273,631 Audited Called-up Share Warrant Capital Capital Revenue Total share premium reserve reserve redemption reserve capital reserve £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 At 31 March 2005 13,648 101,790 7,528 101,467 375 1,572 226,380 Net return from ordinary activities after taxation - - - 92,232 - 1,395 93,627 Dividend paid in respect of year ended 31 March 2005 - - - - - (710) (710) Proceeds from exercise of Warrants 25 444 - - - - 469 Transfer from warrant reserve following exercise of warrants - 70 (70) - - - - Issue of own shares 683 14,309 - - - - 14,992 Year ended 31 March 2006 14,356 116,613 7,458 193,699 375 2,257 334,758 Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2007 (Unaudited) (Audited) 2007 2006 £'000 £'000 -------------------------------- -------- -------- Fixed Assets Investments held at fair value through profit or loss 289,919 377,796 -------------------------------- -------- -------- Current assets Debtors 1,319 500 Cash at bank 376 6,490 Derivative - financial instruments - 248 -------------------------------- -------- -------- 1,695 7,238 -------------------------------- -------- -------- Current liabilities Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (17,131) (50,276) Derivative - financial instruments (852) - -------------------------------- -------- -------- (17,983) (50,276) Net current liabilities (16,288) (43,038) -------------------------------- -------- -------- Total net assets 273,631 334,758 -------------------------------- -------- -------- Capital and reserves Called up share capital 14,401 14,356 Share premium account 117,565 116,613 Warrant reserve 7,436 7,458 Capital reserves 130,724 193,699 Capital redemption reserve 375 375 Revenue reserve 3,130 2,257 -------------------------------- -------- -------- Total equity shareholders' funds 273,631 334,758 -------------------------------- -------- -------- Net asset value per Ordinary share - basic (note 6) 520.9p 583.0p Net asset value per Ordinary share - diluted (note 6) 511.2p 564.1p -------------------------------- -------- -------- Cash Flow Statement for the year ended 31 March 2007 (Unaudited) (Audited) 2007 2006 £'000 £'000 ------------------------------ ---------- ---------- Net cash outflow from operating activities (645) (4,594) Servicing of finance Interest paid (2,007) (1,322) ------------------------------ ---------- ---------- Taxation Taxation recovered 140 59 ------------------------------ ---------- ---------- Financial investments Purchases of investments and options (102,329) (120,620) Sales of investments and options 152,855 94,747 ------------------------------ ---------- ---------- Net cashflow from financial investment 50,526 (25,873) Equity dividends paid (979) (710) ------------------------------ ---------- ---------- Net cash inflow/(outflow) before financing 47,035 (32,440) Financing Issue of Ordinary shares 975 15,461 Purchase of Ordinary shares (24,179) - (Decrease)/increase in short term loans (29,907) 25,140 ------------------------------ ---------- ---------- Net cash (outflow)/ inflow from financing (53,111) 40,601 ------------------------------ ---------- ---------- (Decrease)/increase in cash for the year (6,076) 8,161 ------------------------------ ---------- ---------- Notes: 1 Accounting Policies The principal accounting policies, all of which have been applied consistently throughout the year in the preparation of these preliminary results, are on the same basis as the statutory accounts of the Company, and are set out below: (a) Basis of Preparation The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with applicable accounting standards and with the Statement of Recommended Practice 'Financial Statements of Investment Trust Companies' dated December 2005 (the 'Revised SORP'). (b) Valuation of Investments Listed investments have been designated by the Board as held at fair value through profit or loss and accordingly are valued at fair value, deemed to be bid market prices. Unquoted investments are valued by the Directors using primary valuation techniques such as earnings multiples, recent transactions and net assets. Changes in the fair value of investments held at fair value through profit or loss and gains and losses on disposal are recognised in the Income Statement as 'Gains or losses on investments held at fair value through profit or loss'. Also included within this caption are transaction costs in relation to the purchase or sale of investments, including the difference between the purchase price of an investment and its bid price at the date of purchase. All purchases and sales are accounted for on a trade date basis. (c) Investment Income Dividends receivable on equity shares are recognised on the ex-dividend date. Where no ex-dividend date is quoted, dividends are recognised when the Company's right to receive payment is established. Deposit interest is accounted for on an accruals basis. (d) Expenses All expenses are accounted for on an accruals basis. Expenses are charged through the income statement (revenue) except as follows: Notes (continued): (d) Expenses (continued) (i) expenses which are incidental to the acquisition or disposal of an investment are categorised as fixed assets at fair value through profit or loss and are expensed as they are incurred and are charged to capital; and (ii) expenses are charged to the realised capital reserve where a connection with the maintenance or enhancement of the value of the investments can be demonstrated. In this respect the investment management fee, including any performance fee and the indexation on the deferred fee agreement with the previous Investment Adviser, have been charged to the income statement in line with the Board's expected long-term split of returns, in the form of capital gains and income, from the Company's investment portfolio. (iii) management fees are charged to the income statement in line with the Board's expected long-term split of returns, in the form of capital gains and income; as a result 5% of the management fees are charged to the revenue column of the income statement and 95% are charged to the capital column of the income statement. (e) Finance costs/charges Finance costs are accounted for on an accruals basis. Finance costs are charged to the income statement in line with the Board's expected long-term split of returns, in the form of capital gains and income, from the Company's investment portfolio. The Board's expected long-term split of returns is 5% to revenue, 95% to capital and as a result 5% of the finance costs are charged to revenue and 95% are charged to capital. Interest-bearing bank loans are overdrafts are recorded as the proceeds received, net of direct issue costs. Finance charges, if applicable, including interest payable and premiums on settlement or redemption, are accounted for on an accruals basis in the income statement using the effective interest rate method and are added to the carrying amount of the instrument to the extent that they are not settled in the period in which they arise. (f) Taxation The tax effect of different items of expenditure is allocated between capital and revenue using the marginal basis. Deferred taxation is provided for on all timing differences that have originated but not reversed by the balance sheet date other than those differences regarded as permanent. This is subject to deferred tax assets only being recognised if it is considered more likely than not that there will be suitable profits from which the reversal of timing differences can be deducted. Any liability to deferred tax is provided for at the average rate of tax expected to apply. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are not discounted to reflect the time value of money. (g) Foreign Currency The results and financial position of the Company are expressed in pounds sterling, which is the functional and presentational currency of the Company. Sterling is the functional currency because it is the currency of the primary economic environment in which the Company operates. Transactions recorded in overseas currencies during the year are translated into sterling at the appropriate daily exchange rates. Assets and liabilities denominated in overseas currencies at the balance sheet date are translated into sterling at the exchange rates ruling at the date. Any gains or losses on the translation of foreign currency balances, whether realised or unrealised, are taken to the capital or the revenue column of the Income Statement, depending on whether the gain or loss is of a capital or revenue nature. Notes (continued): Accounting Policies (continued) (h) Financial Instruments The Company uses derivative financial instruments (namely put and call options). The merit and rationale behind such strategies are to: enhance the capital return of the investment portfolio, facilitate management of the portfolio volatility and improve the risk-return profile of the Company relative to its benchmark. Derivative instruments are valued at fair value in the balance sheet in accordance with FRS 26: 'Financial Instruments: Measurement.' Each investment in options is reviewed on a case-by-case basis and are all deemed to be capital in nature. As such, all gains and losses on the above strategies have been debited or credited to the capital column of the income statement, i) Reserves Capital reserves The following are charged to the capital column of the income statement and transferred to this reserve: • gains and losses on the realisation of investments; • realised exchange differences of a capital nature; • expenses, together with the related taxation effect, in accordance with the above policies: • increases and decreases in the valuation of investments held at the year end; and • unrealised exchange differences of a capital nature. 2 Income from investments held at fair value through profit or loss (Unaudited) (Audited) 2007 2006 £'000 £'000 Income from investments Overseas dividends 3,123 2,683 Fixed interest income 498 209 ------------------------- ---------- ---------- 3,621 2,892 ------------------------- ---------- ---------- Other income Interest receivable 270 69 ------------------------- ---------- ---------- Total income from investments held at fair value through profit or loss 3,891 2,961 ------------------------- ---------- ---------- 3 Investment Management and Performance Fees (Unaudited) (Audited) Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total 2007 2007 2007 2006 2006 2006 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Performance fee accrued - - - - 136 136 Management fee 145 2,756 2,901 - 2,993 2,993 Irrecoverable VAT thereon 2 31 33 - 63 63 -------------------- ------- ------- ------ --- ------- ------- -------- 147 2,787 2,934 - 3,192 3,192 -------------------- ------- ------- ------ --- ------- ------- -------- Notes (continued): 4 (Loss)/earnings per Ordinary share (Unaudited) (Audited) 2007 2006 £'000 £'000 The return per Ordinary share is based on the following figures: Revenue return 1,852 1,395 Capital (loss)/return (38,096) 92,232 ------------------------- ---------- ---------- Total loss (36,244) 93,627 ------------------------- ---------- ---------- Weighted average number of Ordinary shares in issue for the year - basic 56,962,481 55,522,713 ------------------------- ---------- ---------- Revenue return per Ordinary share 3.3p 2.5p Capital (loss)/return per Ordinary share (66.9)p 166.1p ------------------------- ---------- ---------- Total (loss)/earnings per share - basic (63.6)p 168.6p ------------------------- ---------- ---------- ------------------------- ---------- ---------- Weighted average number of Ordinary shares in issue for the year - diluted 57,619,379 56,832,543 ------------------------- ---------- ---------- Revenue return per Ordinary share 3.2p 2.5p Capital (loss)/return per Ordinary share (66.9)p* 162.3p ------------------------- ---------- ---------- Total (loss)/earning per share - diluted (63.7)p 164.8p ------------------------- ---------- ---------- * dilution not applicable 5 Interim Dividend In respect of the year ended 31 March 2007, an interim dividend of 3.0p per share (2006: final dividend of 1.7p per share) has been declared. The aggregate cost of this dividend based on the number of shares in issue at the balance sheet date is estimated to be £1,553,000. In accordance with FRS 21 this dividend will be reflected in the interim accounts as at 30 September 2007. Total dividends payable in respect of the financial year, which is the basis on which the requirements of s842 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 are considered, are set out below: ------------------------------- -------- ----------- 2007 2006 £'000 £'000 ------------------------------- -------- ----------- Revenue available for distribution by way of dividend for the year 1,852 1,395 Dividends declared for the year (1,553) (979) ------------------------------- -------- ----------- 299 416 ------------------------------- -------- ----------- Notes (continued): 6 Net Asset Value per Ordinary share The net asset value per Ordinary share is based on the assets attributable to equity shareholders of £273,631,000 (2006: £334,758,000) and on the number of Ordinary shares in issue at the year end of 52,526,781 (2006: 57,422,150). The diluted net asset value per Ordinary share assumes all outstanding warrants are exercised at 464p resulting in assets attributable to equity shareholders of £323,619,000 (2006:384,898,000) and on the resultant number of shares of 63,300,148 (2006: 68,228,248). (As at 31 March 2007, the Company held 5,078,100 shares in treasury). 7 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 2006 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 2007 will be delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The audit report is yet to be signed. Frostrow Capital LLP Company Secretary 1 June 2007 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
UK 100

Latest directors dealings