RNS Number:0236J
Govett Asian SmallerCo'sInv.Tst Ld
24 August 2001


Preliminary Announcement for Govett Asian Smaller Companies Investment Trust
Limited  
Unaudited results for the 6 months ended 30th June 2001 
 
CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT 
 
The first six months of financial year 2001 continued to be challenging for
Asian stock markets. Although Asian stocks had an impressive rebound in the
first two months of the year, they retreated sharply in the subsequent months
on concerns over persistent profit warnings from major US technology
companies and the impact of a weakening US economy on Asia's export-led
growth. Compounding the weak market sentiment was renewed weakness in most
Asian currencies, which fell in tandem with the sliding Yen. Notwithstanding
the weak market sentiment, smaller companies in Asia have been generally
resilient and have performed better than their larger counterparts, driven by
retail-led interest towards smaller issues in China, Hong Kong and South
Korea.
 
Against this difficult market background, your Company's net asset value rose
by 5.7% in sterling terms over the 6 months to 30 June 2001. This compares
with a rise of 16.77% in sterling terms in the SG Asian Smaller Companies
Index and a rise of 2.38% on the MSCI Asia Pacific ex Japan Index for the
same period.
 
While the gloom over Asia's economic prospects has intensified in recent
months, we maintain the view that a mild recovery in the broader US economy
is likely over the next twelve months. This is a pre-requisite to the
recovery of Asia, where most of the economies are highly dependent on
external demand. We are also encouraged by anecdotal evidence that more Asian
companies are responding constructively to changes in the competitive
environment, such as relocating production, moving up the value chain and
downsizing to cut costs. At the governmental level, we also expect more
aggressive policy measures, including industry deregulation, competitive
depreciation, and a further easing of monetary and fiscal policies.
 
In June 2001, an Extraordinary General Meeting was held at which shareholders
defeated an unwelcome resolution put by Regent Europe (now Charlemagne
Capital) to liquidate your Company. As stated in the circular to
shareholders, your Board is seeking to improve the attractiveness of your
Company by establishing a more active share buy back programme, supporting
the Manager's marketing efforts and limiting the total expense ratio of the
Company to no more than 2.2% of the average net assets. Regrettably, the
latter will be more difficult to achieve as a consequence of dealing with
Regent Europe's requisition. Your Board remains committed to proposing a vote
to continue the Company within three years of the posting of the Circular.
 
Shareholders will be aware that the accounts of the Company have historically
been expressed in both US dollars and pounds sterling. On this occasion, we
have only published figures in pounds sterling. Subject to shareholders'
views, we shall continue this policy in future.
 
Until a clearer outlook for the global economy emerges your Company will
continue to adopt a cautious and selective approach towards Asian stocks.
 
Peter Robertson
Chairman
24 August 2001
 
Unaudited Statement of Total Return (incorporating the revenue account *) for
the 6 months ended 30th June 2001 

                                                                              
    Sterling               6 months ended           6 months ended            
                           30th June 2001           30th June 2000         
                        Revenue  Capital  Total    Revenue  Capital  Total  
                      
                            #000s  #000s  #000s       #000s  #000s  #000s     
          
                                                                          
  Realised & Unrealised         -  (238)  (238)         -   (3,608)(3,608)    
  losses on investments 
                                                                        
  Net foreign currency          -    34     34          -      196    196     
  exchange differences
                                                                       
  Income from investments      431    -    431         432       -    432     

  Deposit interest              17    -     17          13       -     13     
 
  Investment management fee    (64)(156)  (220)        (389)     -   (389)    
                                                                      
  Other expenses              (118) (10)  (128)        (194)   (41)  (235)    
                                                 
  Currency adjustment on                                                      
  retranslation of balances   (43) 1,832 1,789          (23) 2,877  2,854   
                                                
  Net return before finance    223 1,462 1,685         (161)  (576)  (737)  
  costs and taxation                                                         
                                                                      
  Interest payable            (20)    -    (20)        (167)     -   (167)   
                                                                
  Return on ordinary          203  1,462 1,665         (328)  (576)  (904)   
  activities before tax                                                     
                                                                      
  Tax on ordinary activities  (21)    -    (21)          (5)     -     (5)    
                                                                          
  Return on ordinary          182  1,462  1,644        (333)  (576)  (909)    
  activities after tax                
                                                                          
  Return per ordinary share  0.69p  5.57p  6.26p      (1.27)p (2.20)p (3.47)p 

 
  Sterling                      Year ended                                    
                               31st December 2000                  
                          Revenue  Capital  Total     
                      
                            #000s   #000s    #000s                      
                                                                          
  Realised & Unrealised       -    (15,623)  (15,623)                         
   losses on investments 
                                                                        
  Net foreign currency        -        (56)      (56)                         
  exchange differences   
                                                                       
  Income from investments    734         -       734
                 
  Deposit interest            58         -        58              
  
Investment management fee   (708)        -      (708)            
                                                                      
  Other expenses            (360)      (72)     (432)              
                                                 
  Currency adjustment on                                                      
  retranslation of balances  (23)     3,476    3,453          
                                                
  Net return before finance (299)    (12,275) (12,574)          
  costs and taxation                                                         
                                                                      
  Interest payable          (196)        -      (196)           
                                                                
  Return on ordinary        (495)   (12,275) (12,770)           
  activities before tax                                                     
                                                                      
  Tax on ordinary activities (44)       (25)     (69)                
                                                                          
  Return on ordinary        (539)   (12,300) (12,839)                         
  activities after tax                
                                                                          
  Return per ordinary share (2.05)p  (46.86)p (48.91)p     
 
                                                         
*The revenue column of this statement represents the revenue account of the
Company.
Average exchange rates for the 6 months to 30th June 2001 US$1.4305 (30th
June 2000 US$1.56135), full year to 31st December 2000 US$1.5135
 
   
                                                                              
  Balance Sheet                                                 31st December
  As at 30th June 2001      30th June 2001   30th June 2000             2000*
                                     #000s            #000s             #000s
  Assets employed                                                             
  Fixed assets -                                                              
  investments                                                                 
  
  Quoted - overseas                 30,120           37,472            25,761
  Unquoted - overseas                  239              381               221
  Total investments                 30,359           37,853            25,982
  
  Current assets                                                              
  Stock market                          -               267               278
  settlements                                                                 
  Taxation recoverable                  57               82               108
  Other debtors                         95               30               224
                                       152              379               610
  
  Cash at bank                         958            3,680             2,248
   
                                     1,110            4,059             2,858
  Creditors: amounts                                                          
  falling due within one                                                      
  year                                                                        
  Bank loans                         (995)          (1,057)                 -
  Stock market                         (9)             (21)                 -
  settlements                                                                 
  Other creditors                    (103)            (187)              (122)
    
                                   (1,107)          (1,265)              (122)
  
  Net current assets                    3            2,794              2,736
  
  Total assets less                30,362           40,647             28,718
  current liabilities                                                         
  
  Financed by                                                                 
  Capital and Reserves                                                        
  Called-up share capital              165              165                165
  Share premium account             33,060           33,060             33,060
  Other Reserves                                                              
  Capital redemption                    68               68                 68
  reserve                                                                     
  Capital reserve -                  3,194            3,035                924
  realised                                                                    
  Capital reserve -                (5,560)            4,860            (4,752)
  unrealised                                                                  
  Revenue reserve                    (565)            (541)              (747)
  
  Equity shareholders'              30,362           40,647             28,718
  funds                                                                       
  
  Net Asset Value per              115.66p          154.85p            109.40p
  share                                                                       
  Exchange rate at 30th June 2001 US$1.4063 (30th June 2000 US$1.5139)        
  (31st December 2000 US$1.4938)

* The Balance Sheet as at 31st December 2000 and the Statement of Total
Return for the year then ended are an abridged version of the Company's full
statutory accounts which have been filed with the Registrar of Companies; the
auditors' opinion on these accounts was unqualified.

                                                                              
  Cash Flow Statement                                           31st December
  For the 6 months ended       30th June 2001   30th June 2000          2000*
  30th June 2001                                                              
                                        #000s            #000s          #000s
  Operating activities                                                        
  
  Cash received from                      376              440            737
  investments                                                                 
  Interest received                        17               13             58
  Investment management                   (93)            (381)          (843)
  fees paid                                                                   
  Director's fees paid                    (36)             (14)           (51)
  Other net cash                          110             (164)          (544)
  receipts/(payments)                                                         
  
  Net cash inflow/(outflow)               374             (106)          (643)
  from operating activities                                                   
  
  Returns on investments                                                      
  and servicing of finance                                                    
  Interest paid                           (20)            (186)          (222)
   
  Taxation                                                                    
  Taxation received/(paid)                 30               15            (94)
  
  Investment activities                                                       
  Purchase of investments             (16,745)         (20,232)       (29,888)
  Sales of investments                 14,005           24,111         34,326
  Foreign exchange                        192               26             27
  differences arising on                                                      
  settlement of trades *                                                      
  Sundry capital items                  (142)             (41)            (72)
  Net cash (outflow)/inflow           (2,690)           3,864           4,393
  from investing activities                                                   
  
  Equity dividend paid                     -                -               -
  
  Financing                                                                   
  Increase/(decrease) in                 995             (982)         (2,039)
  bank loans                                                                  
 (Decrease)/increase in               (1,311)           2,605           1,395
  cash                                                                        
 
 * The foreign exchange differences include those differences arising on    
settlement of trades and the effect of the translation of the cash flow
statement from US Dollars to Sterling.                                        
             
                                                          
The Company's interim report and accounts will be sent to shareholders in
August 2001. Copies will be available to the public at the registered office
of the Company, AIB House, Grenville Street, St Helier, Jersey and at the
offices of the Manager, Shackleton House, 4 Battle Bridge Lane, London SE1
2HR.
 
This preliminary statement was approved by the Board on 24th August 2001. It
is not the Company's statutory accounts. The statutory accounts for the year
ended 31st December 2000 have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies
and received an audit report which was unqualified.
 
By order of the Board
Shackleton House                  AIB Govett Secretaries Limited
4 Battle Bridge Lane              Assistant Secretary
London SE1 2HR                    Registered in Jersey no: 45906
24 August 2001     
 


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