The Merchants Trust Plc Annual Report 2007

Plain-text annual report

The Merchants Trust PLC Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 January 2007 The Merchants Trust PLC Contents Key Facts ....................................................................................................................... 3 Directors’ Report.........................................................................................................15 Investment Objective..................................................................................... 3 Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities .............................................................21 Benchmark........................................................................................................ 3 Corporate Governance.............................................................................................22 Financial Highlights........................................................................................ 3 Directors’ Remuneration Report ...........................................................................26 Performance Attribution Analysis ......................................................................... 3 Independent Auditors’ Report ...............................................................................27 Chairman’s Statement .............................................................................................. 4 Income Statement......................................................................................................28 Historical Record ........................................................................................................ 5 Reconciliation of Movements in Shareholders’ Funds ..................................29 Investment Managers’ Review............................................................................... 6 Balance Sheet ..............................................................................................................30 Listed Holdings............................................................................................................ 8 Cash Flow Statement ................................................................................................31 Distribution of Total Assets .....................................................................................10 Statement of Accounting Policies..........................................................................32 Performance Graphs .................................................................................................12 Notes to the Accounts...............................................................................................34 Financial Risk Management....................................................................................13 Notice of Meeting.......................................................................................................45 Directors ........................................................................................................................14 Investor Information & Contact Details ..............................................................47 1 The Merchants Trust PLC Key Facts Investment Objective To provide an above average level of income and income growth together with long term growth of capital through a policy of investing mainly in higher yielding UK FTSE 100 companies. Benchmark The Company’s investment performance is assessed by comparison with other investment trusts within the UK Growth and Income sector. In addition, it is benchmarked against the FTSE 100 Index, reﬂecting the emphasis within the portfolio, as well as the FTSE 350 Higher Yield Index, reﬂecting the Company’s higher yield objective. Financial Highlights for the years ended 31 January Revenue Revenue Available for Ordinary Dividend Earnings per Ordinary Share Dividends per Ordinary Share Assets Total Net Assets Net Asset Value per Ordinary Share Ordinary Share Price Discount of Net Asset Value to Ordinary Share Price Discount (Debt at market value) 2007 2006 % change £27,750,450 £22,854,005 £24,714,263 £19,853,959 22.17p 20.00p 19.44p 18.90p +12.3 +15.1 +14.0 +5.8 2007 2006 % change £588,834,675 567.5p 513.0p 9.6% 5.9% £514,713,196 504.1p 451.0p 10.5% 4.0% +14.4 +12.6 +13.7 n/a n/a Performance Attribution Analysis for the year ended 31 January 2007 Capital return of FTSE 100 Index Relative return from Portfolio Capital return of Portfolio Impact of gearing on Portfolio Retained Revenue Expenses charged to Capital Change in Net Asset Value per Ordinary Share % 7.7 2.9 10.6 2.9 0.6 (1.5) 12.6 3 The Merchants Trust PLC Chairman’s Statement Results I am pleased to report that during the ﬁnancial year the net asset value per share rose by 12.6% to 567.5p and the total return per share, including dividends paid, was 16.4%. This compares with the total returns of 11.3% and 11.2% recorded by the FTSE 100 Index and the FTSE 350 Higher Yield Index, respectively. Gearing had a positive effect on the asset value, adding approximately 2.9% to the returns to shareholders. The full performance breakdown is shown on page 3. from shareholders to hold shares in Treasury but we will continue to monitor how the use of this facility by the investment trust sector develops. On 29 June 2006 1,655,941 shares were issued at a small premium to net asset value to former members of Allianz Dresdner Income Growth Investment Trust plc, a split capital investment trust which reached the end of its planned life. Prospects Notwithstanding recent market volatility, the corporate sector is In the twelve months to 31 January 2007, the Trust’s share price continuing to perform well and the outlook for proﬁts and dividends rose by 13.7% from 451.0p to 513.0p. At 3 April 2007, the Trust’s growth, at least in the short term, is promising. However, the UK ordinary shares yielded 3.7% compared with the yield on the economy is likely to be sensitive to any further interest rate rises. FTSE100 Index of 3.0%. Market Background The UK equity market made steady gains for most of the year, Market valuations in aggregate are reasonable although dividend yields are less supportive than a year ago, especially for medium sized companies. As long as bond yields and credit spreads remain relatively low, corporate activity and share buy backs should provide although it fell back signiﬁcantly during May and June. This was further support to the equity market. Sir John Banham After over 14 years as a Director of the Trust, Sir John Banham will be retiring from the Board after the AGM in May this year. During his career Sir John has been the Chairman of a number of FTSE 100 companies, Controller of the Audit Commission and Director General of the Confederation of British Industry. He has been able to bring a unique insight to our deliberations over the years and we will miss his contribution and experience enormously. Annual General Meeting The Annual General Meeting of the Company will be held on Monday 14 May 2007 at 12.00 noon and we look forward to seeing as many shareholders then as are able to attend. Hugh Stevenson Chairman 4 April 2007 part of a wider setback that affected many ﬁnancial assets. However from mid June onwards the market resumed its upward path, encouraged by a resumption of takeover activity. Relatively low borrowing costs also helped support the economy and the stock market. Dividend growth within the market has been healthy as companies’ cash ﬂows have generally been strong. Earnings per share In 2006/7 earnings per share rose by 14.0% to 22.17p. The increase in revenue of just over £3m reﬂected good growth in dividend payments received by the Trust. This year’s earnings do, however, include a number of special dividends received by the Trust totalling £1.3m (2006 – nil). Dividends The Board is recommending a ﬁnal dividend of 5.1p per share giving a total of 20.0p for the year. Starting from a level of 4.15p in 1981/2, the dividend has been increased in each of the last 25 years. This is a notable performance which has been achieved during a wide variety of economic and market conditions. Repurchase of Shares As the Trust has traded close to its underlying asset value during this period, no shares have been repurchased. As in previous years, the Board is proposing to renew the authority to repurchase shares at the forthcoming AGM on 14 May 2007. Since December 2003 it has been possible for companies, including investment trusts, to hold shares repurchased in the market in Treasury, rather than cancel them. At this stage, your Board has decided not to seek approval 4 The Merchants Trust PLC Historical Record Years ended 31 January Revenue and Capital Revenue (£’000s) Earnings per Ordinary Share Dividends per Share Tax Credit per Share Gross Ordinary Dividend Total Net Assets attributable to 1998 20,399I 14.88p 14.25p 3.56p 17.81p 1999 20,119I 15.21p 15.59p† 3.90p§ 19.49p 2000 22,590 17.93p 16.00p 1.78p 17.78p 2001 21,546 16.35p 16.40p 1.82p 18.22p 2002 21,596 16.70p 16.80p 1.87p 18.67p 2003 22,101 17.26p 17.20p 1.91p 19.11p 2004 22,247 17.34p 17.60p 1.96p 19.56p 2005 22,675 17.58p 18.00p 2.00p 20.00p 2006 24,714 19.44p 18.90p 2.10p 21.00p 2007 27,750 22.17p 20.00p 2.22p 22.22p Ordinary Capital (£’000s) 420,326 424,859 390,317 473,729 420,983 273,407 357,442 424,511s 514,713 588,835 Net Asset Value per Ordinary Share NAV Total Return (%)* Retail Price Index Increases (%)** Notes 410.8p +30.2 415.2p +4.9 381.4p -4.3 463.5p +25.8 412.3p -7.4 267.8p -30.9 350.1p +37.3 415.8ps +20.8s 504.1p +25.6 567.5p +16.4 +2.5 +2.6 +2.1 +1.8 +2.6 +2.7 +2.4 +2.1 +2.3 +4.2 I † § * Restated in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 16 ‘Current Taxation’. The total distribution for 1999 was 15.59p. This was made up of interim ordinary dividends of 8.86p, an interim FID of 2.98p and a ﬁnal ordinary dividend of 3.75p. The interim FID was enhanced by 0.59p to ensure no shareholder would be adversely affected by receiving this form of dividend. Excluding this enhancement the ‘normal’ distribution for 1999 was therefore 15.00p. Inclusive of 0.74p tax credit on the FID which is notional and not repayable. NAV total return reﬂects both the change in net asset value per ordinary share and the net ordinary dividends paid. ** RPIX – excludes the effect of mortgage rates. s Restated in accordance with Financial Reporting Standards 25 ‘Financial Instruments: Disclosure and Presentation’ and 26 ‘Financial Instruments: Measurement’. Years prior to 2005 have not been restated. 5 The Merchants Trust PLC Investment Managers’ Review Economic Background The UK economic background was relatively benign during 2006. GDP Growth was solid, with latest estimates around 2.7%, despite concerns over the impact on consumer spending of rising utility bills, council taxes and mortgage costs. From a low base, the inﬂation rate rose steadily, prompting the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee to raise interest rates twice in August and November from 4.5% to 5% and then again in January 2007 to 5.25%. Although the Consumer Price Index (CPI) reached an estimated 3.0% in 2006, the adjusted “core” CPI remained just below the Bank’s 2% target rate. With gas prices falling sharply towards the end of the period and oil prices below their high point, inﬂationary pressures seemed to be subsiding. House price appreciation recovered during the year from mid to high single digits, providing some support to consumer conﬁdence which had been impacted by rising bills and high levels of indebtedness. Overall consumer spending remained resilient, despite an increasing minority of people getting into ﬁnancial difﬁculties, as witnessed by rising bankruptcies and Individual Voluntary Arrangements. Jobs data was mixed with modestly rising unemployment counteracted by rising total employment, boosted by immigration. Overall therefore the UK economic background was supportive without being exceptionally strong. Overseas, continental European economies saw some pick up in growth from modest levels whilst the US was robust apart from well publicised problems in the housing and auto industries. Asian economies continued to grow strongly adding to the global demand picture. Company proﬁts growth was generally healthy, supported by the economic conditions. There were good dividend increases across the market with several special payments as companies passed on high levels of cashﬂow to their shareholders. These payments also reﬂected a move to make companies balance sheets “more efﬁcient” by taking on more debt. Market Trends The stock market produced a double digit total return over the twelve months to 31 January 2007, with the FTSE 100 Index up 11.3% and the FTSE Higher Yield Index up 11.2%. Strong gains early in the year were completely lost in May and June as the market responded to a worldwide “ﬂight to quality”. Higher risk assets such as commodities, emerging market debt and equities in general fell furthest. However by late June the market had regained its poise and thereafter made steady gains until the period end. The market beneﬁted from a large number of takeovers, fuelled by increased corporate conﬁdence, strong company balance sheets, the high availability of cheap debt and private equity funds keen to invest money after record fund raisings. 6 This trend particularly helped medium sized companies and the FTSE 100 Index returns lagged the return on the mid cap FTSE 250 Index by over 10%. The mid cap index has now outperformed the FTSE 100 Index in 7 of the last 8 ﬁnancial years, delivering an average outperformance of around 10% per annum over that period. At the sector level, performances were widely dispersed, led by industrial metals, which saw a bid for the steel company Corus, telecoms, real estate, food retail and utilities. Common threads running through several of these sectors were asset backing and stable cashﬂows. Shares beneﬁted from new legislation allowing tax efﬁcient property vehicles (REITs) and speculation of takeover activity. The worst performing sectors included oil and gas producers, with widely publicised issues at BP and Royal Dutch Shell, technology, pharmaceuticals and certain industrial sectors. The other two large sectors, banks and mining, performed close to the index overall. Investment Performance Investment Performance was well ahead of the FTSE 100 Index. The portfolio beneﬁted from a number of takeover approaches, including AWG, AB Ports and Scottish Power along with speculation driving other shares. Other big contributors included BT which rose over 50% as investors reacted enthusiastically to an improving operating performance in a tough industry. Slough Estates performed well in a buoyant property sector. Smiths Group, a diversiﬁed engineering and medical company, beneﬁted from the announcement of two deals with General Electric to sell its aerospace business and to put its rapidly growing detection division into a joint venture. Several of the medium sized company holdings also performed well, notably Premier Foods and RHM which agreed a merger near the year end, Provident Financial, National Express and Britvic. Portfolio Changes Several themes have driven many of the investment decisions during the year. As noted in the interim report, many of the largest companies traded at depressed levels during the year, offering high and growing dividend yields combined with strong ﬁnances, healthy cashﬂows and low valuations. We took advantage of depressed share prices to make signiﬁcant additions to Royal Dutch Shell, BP, GlaxoSmithKline and Vodafone amongst others. We also took advantage of the modest valuations being ascribed to many higher growth industries, with purchases including Reed Elsevier, Emap and Reuters in the media sector, Xansa, a small company in the IT services sector, and Smiths Group. We made a number of opportunistic medium sized company investments, purchasing high yielding shares such as transport company National Express, Britvic, the soft drinks manufacturer, and Marshalls, a UK building products company. The Merchants Trust PLC Investment Managers‘ Review Portfolio positioning in commodity related sectors and companies was an important consideration as commodity prices were volatile and in many cases traded well above historic levels. We took some proﬁts in mining companies as share price appreciation pushed dividend yields down to unattractive levels for a high income portfolio. We also purchased Centrica, the owner of British Gas, where proﬁtability had been squeezed by the inability to pass on high gas prices to consumers. We anticipated a beneﬁt as gas prices reverted to more normal levels. In a similar vein we purchased Rexam, a beverage can manufacturer, which was suffering from high aluminium prices which should ultimately either subside or be passed through to customers. We took some proﬁts on Scottish Power, a beneﬁciary of high electricity prices, when it was bid for by the Spanish utility Iberdrola. The revaluation of asset backed and infrastructure companies provided opportunities for proﬁt taking among real estate companies and utilities. Sales included Land Securities, United Utilities and BAA. In the Summer we disposed of several investments that had exposure to the US housing market on concerns over a potential downturn. Housebuilders Wimpey and Taylor Woodrow were sold along with engineering company Tomkins. Takeovers also took certain stocks out of the portfolio as mentioned above. Future Policy Recent interest rate increases will feed through to mortgage costs putting pressure on consumer expenditure. How far the Bank of England raises interest rates depends upon the path of inﬂation in the months ahead. If rates only rise modestly from here, we expect consumers and the overall economy to continue to be resilient. However further signiﬁcant rate rises could lead to more of a slowdown. The corporate sector is well positioned for further growth in proﬁts and dividends although the economic environment and foreign exchange rates, notably the US dollar, will have a strong inﬂuence. We are particularly focused on the US economy which has a major bearing on global trade and ﬁnancial markets. Whilst market valuations are still reasonable in aggregate, there is a large gap between the valuations of the largest companies which look attractive and mid and small sized companies which are more fully valued. Average dividend yields are no longer as supportive as they were with a historic yield of 3.0% on the FTSE at the year end compared with ten year government bond yields and base rates at 5.0% and 5.25% respectively. We continue to favour the larger companies offering better yields, robust balance sheets and strong cashﬂows. Elsewhere we see selected opportunities, notably in certain higher growth sectors that are modestly valued. FTSE 100 PRICE INDEX From 31 January 2002 to 2 April 2007 6500 6000 5500 5000 4500 4000 3500 3000 31 Jan 2002 31 Jan 2003 31 Jan 2004 31 Jan 2005 31 Jan 2006 31 Jan 2007 Souce: RCM/Datastream 7 The Merchants Trust PLC Listed Holdings at 31 January 2007 Royal Dutch Shell ‘B’ Shares 54,133,750 Oil & Gas Producers GlaxoSmithKline 49,822,500 Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology Value (£) Principal Activities BP HSBC Vodafone Royal Bank of Scotland Barclays Lloyds TSB HBOS Anglo American 49,174,000 Oil & Gas Producers 44,745,800 Banking 40,331,850 Mobile Telecommunications 31,273,200 Banking 27,010,000 Banking 23,521,675 Banking 21,978,000 Banking 17,493,600 Mining Scottish & Southern Energy 16,082,000 Electricity Reed Elsevier 14,205,450 Media Centrica Aviva Lonmin BT Smiths 12,428,500 Gas, Water & Multiutilities 11,986,600 Life Insurance 11,975,850 Mining 11,735,100 Fixed Line Telecommunications 11,560,675 Aerospace & Defence Bradford & Bingley 10,642,275 Banking Tesco Rexam Gallaher Scottish Power Legal & General Rio Tinto British American Tobacco Kingﬁsher Reuters Britvic FKI Resolution National Grid Friends Provident British Insurance National Express GKN Marshalls Slough Estates 8 10,638,100 Food & Drug Retailers 10,637,820 General Industrials 10,346,700 Tobacco 10,118,884 Electricity 9,842,100 Life Insurance 9,634,700 Mining 9,489,450 Tobacco 9,258,975 General Retailers 9,077,812 Media 8,880,000 Beverages 8,749,574 Industrial Engineering 8,577,418 Life Insurance 8,179,200 Gas, Water & Multiutilities 8,050,700 Life Insurance 8,020,395 Non-life Insurance 7,739,550 Travel & Leisure 7,699,950 Automobiles and Parts 7,554,750 Construction and Materials 7,494,816 Real Estate The Merchants Trust PLC Listed Holdings at 31 January 2007 Emap Diageo Persimmon Premier Foods Drax Group Alliance & Leicester Provident Financial Pearson Xansa RHM Rentokil Initial Severn Trent Value (£) Principal Activities 7,097,750 Media 7,025,450 Beverages 6,786,500 Construction & Materials 6,635,950 Food Producers 6,242,428 Electricity 6,062,450 Banking 5,471,250 General Financial 5,052,600 Media 4,600,275 Software & Computer Services 4,435,250 Food Producers 3,316,600 Support Services Gas, Water & Multiutilities 2,924,324 11111 695,742,546 11111 9 The Merchants Trust PLC Distribution of Total Assets at 31 January 2007 Total Assets (less creditors falling due within one year) £702,382,755 (2006 – £628,066,597) Percentage of Total Assets 2007 2006 14.7 111 14.7 111 – 5.6 111 5.6 111 1.6 2.1 1.5 1.2 – 0.5 111 6.9 111 1.1 2.3 1.6 2.8 111 7.8 111 7.1 111 7.1 111 1.5 1.3 5.0 1.1 111 8.9 111 Oil & Gas 16.3 111 16.3 111 2007 2006 14.7% 16.3% Basic Materials 1.0 6.7 111 7.7 111 2007 5.6% 2006 7.7% Industrials 2007 6.9% 2006 7.1% Consumer Goods 2007 7.8% 2006 8.4% Healthcare 7.1% 5.4% Consumer Services 8.9% 6.3% 2007 2006 2007 2006 – 3.7 0.5 0.5 2.4 – 111 7.1 111 0.6 2.4 2.9 2.5 111 8.4 111 5.4 111 5.4 111 – 3.6 1.6 1.1 111 6.3 111 Equities Oil & Gas Oil & Gas Producers Basic Materials Chemicals Mining Industrials Aerospace & Defence Construction & Materials General Industrials Industrial Engineering Industrial Transportation Support Services Consumer Goods Automobiles & Parts Beverages Food Producers Tobacco Healthcare Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology Consumer Services Food & Drug Retailers General Retailers Media Travel & Leisure 10 The Merchants Trust PLC Distribution of Total Assets at 31 January 2007 Percentage of Total Assets 2007 2006 Telecommunications Fixed Line Telecommunications Mobile Telecommunications Utilities Electricity Gas, Water & Multiutilities Financials Banks General Financial Life Insurance Non-Life Insurance Real Estate Information Technology Software & Computer Services Total Equities Net Current Assets Total Assets 1.7 5.7 111 7.4 111 4.6 3.4 111 8.0 111 23.5 0.8 5.5 1.1 1.1 111 32.0 111 0.7 111 0.7 111 99.1 0.9 111 100.0 111 Telecommunications 2.7 2.0 111 4.7 111 2007 2006 7.4% 4.7% Utilities 2007 8.0% 2006 8.3% Financials 2007 2006 32.0% 34.8% Information Technology 2007 0.7% 2006 0.0% 4.0 4.3 111 8.3 111 24.0 1.1 4.4 0.8 4.5 111 34.8 111 – 111 – 111 99.0 1.0 111 100.0 111 11 The Merchants Trust PLC Performance Graphs 10 year record as at 31 January The Merchants Trust Total Return compared to key UK equity indices 300 280 260 240 220 200 180 160 140 120 100 80 The Merchants Trust share price total return The Merchants Trust NAV total return FTSE 100 total return FTSE 350 Higher Yield total return 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Source: Russell/Mellon The Merchants Trust Net Dividend Growth compared to inflation 170 Net Dividend UK Retail Price Index 160 150 140 130 120 110 100 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Source: Russell/Mellon The Merchants Trust PLC 10 5 0 -5 -10 -15 Discount to Net Asset Value 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Source: Russell/Mellon 12 The Merchants Trust PLC Financial Risk Management The Company is exposed to ﬁnancial risk through its ﬁnancial assets The Company ﬁnances its operations through a mixture of share and ﬁnancial liabilities. The most important components of its capital, retained earnings and long term borrowings. ﬁnancial risk are market price risk, interest rate risk, foreign currency risk, credit risk and liquidity risk. The risk proﬁle and the policies adopted to manage risk did not change materially during either the current or previous year. The narrative below explains the different types of risks the Company may face. Numerical disclosures are listed in Note 18 to the Accounts. This information is given so that investors in the Company can decide for themselves whether their investment is high or low risk. It allows them to assess what kind of impact the use of ﬁnancial instruments (investments, cash/overdraft and borrowings) will have on the performance of the entity. Short term debtors and creditors are not considered to be ﬁnancial instruments. They have been included at the bottom of the numerical disclosure in Note 18(a) merely to enable users of the Accounts to reconcile the summary provided to total net assets per the balance sheet. As an investment trust, the Company invests in securities for the long term. Accordingly it is, and has been throughout the year under review, the Company’s policy that no short term trading in investments or other ﬁnancial instruments shall be undertaken. Market price risk Market price risk arises mainly from the uncertainty about future prices of ﬁnancial instruments held. It represents the potential loss the Company might suffer through holding market positions in the face of price movements. The Board meets regularly to consider the asset allocation of the portfolio in order to evaluate the risk associated with particular industry sectors. A dedicated fund manager has the responsibility for monitoring the existing portfolio selection in accordance with the Company’s investment objectives and seeks to ensure that individual stocks meet an acceptable risk reward proﬁle. Interest rate risk Interest rate risk is the risk of movements in the value of ﬁnancial instruments as a result of ﬂuctuations in interest rates. The Company invests predominantly in equities, the values of which are not directly affected by changes in prevailing market interest rates. Therefore there is minimal exposure to interest rate risk. Foreign currency risk Foreign currency risk is the risk of movement in the values of overseas ﬁnancial instruments as a result of ﬂuctuations in exchange rates. The Company invests predominantly in UK listed securities. The value of these securities may be affected by the impact of movements in exchange rates on the underlying businesses either on a transactional or translational basis. Credit risk Credit risk is the risk of default by a counterparty. In February 2000 the Company commenced stock lending in order to generate additional income. The risk of default is managed by holding collateral, in the form of letters of credit and FTSE 100 equities, amounting to 105% of the mid market value of the stock on loan. The level of collateral required is recalculated on a daily basis. Liquidity risk Liquidity risk relates to the capacity to meet liabilities. The Company’s assets mainly comprise realisable securities, which can be sold to meet funding requirements if necessary. Short term ﬂexibility can be achieved through the use of overdraft facilities, where necessary. 13 The Merchants Trust PLC Directors Mr H. A. Stevenson (Chairman) Sir Bob Reid (Born September 1942) joined the Board in September 1999. (Born May 1934) joined the Board in January 1995. He was Formerly Chairman of Mercury Asset Management Group plc, he is formerly Deputy Governor of the Bank of Scotland, Chairman of Chairman of Equitas Limited, Chairman of Standard Life Shell (UK), British Rail, London Electricity plc and Sears PLC. He is Investments, a Director of Standard Life plc, a Non-Executive Senior Non-Executive Director of HBOS plc. Director of the Financial Services Authority and a member of the Investment Committee of the Wellcome Trust. Mr J. M. Sassoon (Chairman of the Audit Committee from September 2006) Sir John Banham (Born September 1955) joined the Board in July 2006. He is (Born August 1940) joined the Board in August 1992. Formerly The Chancellor’s Representative for Promotion of the City at Controller of the Audit Commission and Director General of the HM Treasury. From 2002 to 2006 he was Managing Director of Confederation of British Industry, Chairman of Tarmac plc, HM Treasury’s Finance and Industry Directorate and a Member of Kingﬁsher plc and until August 2005 he was Chairman of the Treasury Board. Prior to that he had worked at UBS Warburg Whitbread PLC. He is Chairman of Johnson Matthey PLC and since 1987 where he held a number of positions, latterly Vice Spacelabs Healthcare Inc. He is also the Senior Non-Executive Chairman, Investment Banking. He is a Chartered Accountant. Director of Amvescap Plc and of Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals Inc. Sir John will be retiring from the Board at the conclusion of the forthcoming Annual General Meeting. Mr R. A. Barﬁeld Mr P. J. Scott Plummer (Senior Independent Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee until September 2006) (Born August 1943) is a Chartered Accountant and joined the Board in May 1997. He is a Director of Buccleuch Estates Limited. (Born April 1947) joined the Board in May 1999. Formerly Chief He was until November 2005 Chairman of Martin Currie Limited. Investment Manager of Standard Life Assurance Company, he is a He was formally a Director of Martin Currie Portfolio Investment Director of The Baillie Gifford Japan Trust PLC, JPMorgan Fleming Trust PLC and Candover Investments PLC. Overseas Investment Trust PLC, The Edinburgh Investment Trust PLC, Standard Life Investments Property Income Trust Limited, Umbro PLC and other companies. He is a member of The Public Oversight Board. All the above Directors are non-executive and independent of the Manager. 14 The Merchants Trust PLC Directors’ Report The Business Review is addressed only to shareholders as a body, capital through a policy of investing mainly in higher yielding UK and no liability can be admitted by the Directors to any other parties FTSE 100 companies. The Company’s investment performance is in connection therewith. The purpose of the Business Review is assessed by comparison with other investment trusts within the UK limited to its statutory purpose, namely to assist shareholders in Growth and Income sector. In addition, it is benchmarked against assessing the Company’s strategies and the potential for these the FTSE 100 Index, reﬂecting the emphasis within the portfolio, as strategies to succeed. Any forward-looking statements contained in well as the FTSE 350 Higher Yield Index, reﬂecting the Company’s the Business Review reﬂect the knowledge and information higher yield objective. available to the Directors at the date the Business Review was prepared. The Business Review will not be updated during the next The Company pays quarterly dividends and the Board has a policy ﬁnancial year, but any forward-looking statements contained in the of making these progressive from year to year, in keeping with the Business Review will be considered in the preparation of the next Company’s stated objective to provide an above average level of year’s Annual Report. Business Review Business and Status of the Company The Company is an investment company as deﬁned in Section 266 of the Companies Act 1985. The Company carries on business as an investment trust and was approved by HM Revenue & Customs as an investment trust in accordance with Section 842 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 for the year ended 31 January 2006. In the opinion of the Directors, the Company has subsequently conducted its affairs so that it should continue to qualify. The Company will continue to seek approval under Section 842 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 each year. The Company is not a close company for taxation purposes. Regulatory Environment The Company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is subject to UK company law, ﬁnancial reporting standards, listing rules , tax law and its own Articles of Association. In addition to annual and interim accounts published under these rules, the Company announces net asset values per share on a daily basis for the information of investors. It provides more detailed information on a monthly basis to the Association of Investment Companies, of which the Company is a member, in order for brokers and investors to compare its performance with its peer group. The Board of Directors is charged with ensuring that the Company complies with its own objectives as well as these rules. The Board has appointed RCM (UK) Limited to carry out investment management, accounting, secretarial and administration services on behalf of the Company. The Company has no employees or premises of its own. Investment Objective and Policies The Company’s objective is to provide an above average level of income and income growth together with long term growth of income and income growth. The dividend has increased every year for the past twenty ﬁve years and details of historic dividend payments are set out on page 5. Performance In the year to 31 January 2007 the Company produced an NAV capital return to shareholders of 12.6%. This compares with the return on the Company’s benchmark index of 7.7%. In the previous year the returns were 21.2% and 18.7% respectively. At 31 January 2007 the value of the Company’s investment portfolio was £695.8m. The Investment Manager’s review on pages 6 to 7 includes a review of developments during the year as well as information on investment activity within the Company’s portfolio. Key Performance Indicators (“KPIs”) The Board uses certain ﬁnancial KPIs to monitor and assess the performance of the Company. The principal KPIs are: Performance against the benchmark index The Company’s performance is benchmarked against the FTSE 100 Index. This is the most important KPI by which performance is judged. Performance against the Company’s peers The Board also monitors the Company’s performance with reference to its investment trust peer group. Performance Attribution The performance attribution is considered at each Board Meeting and enables the Directors to judge how the Company achieved its performance relative to the benchmark index and to see the impact on the Company’s relative performance of factors including stock and sector allocation. A Performance Attribution Analysis for the year ended 31 January 2007 is given on page 3. 15 The Merchants Trust PLC Directors’ Report Discount to net asset value (“NAV”) The Board has a share buy back programme which has a role to Trusts from corporation tax on their chargeable gains. Invested funds at 31 January 2007 had a value of £695,769,971 play in minimising the volatility of movements in the discount and (2006 – £621,948,270) before deducting net liabilities of in enhancing the NAV for existing shareholders as shares are bought £106,935,296 (2006 – £107,235,074). back at a discount. In the year to 31 January 2007 the shares traded between a premium of 0.5% and a discount of 2.47% with debt at fair value. Total expense ratio (“TER”) The most signiﬁcant expense for the Company is the cost of the Principal Risks and Uncertainties With the assistance of the Managers the Board has drawn up a risk matrix which identiﬁes the key risks to the Company. These key risks fall broadly under the following categories: management fee and the costs of interest on the Company’s borrowings. Other expenses include the costs of investment Investment Activity and Strategy An inappropriate investment strategy, e.g., asset allocation or the transactions, directors’ fees and insurance, professional advice and level of gearing, may lead to under-performance against the regulatory fees and the costs of production of the reports to Company’s benchmark index and peer group companies, and also in shareholders. The TER is calculated by dividing operating expenses the Company’s shares trading on a wider discount. The Board by total assets less current liabilities, that is, the Company’s manages these risks by diversiﬁcation of investments through its management fee and all other operating expenses (including tax investment restrictions and guidelines which are monitored and on relief, where allowable, but excluding interest payments) as a which the Board receives reports. RCM (UK) Limited (“RCM (UK)”) percentage of average assets over the year. The TER for the year provides the Directors with management information including ended 31 January 2007 was 0.46% (2006 0.47%). performance data and reports and shareholder analyses. The Board Revenue The return attributable to Ordinary Shareholders for the year amounted to £22,854,005 (2006 – £19,853,959). monitors the implementation and results of the investment process with the investment managers, who attend all board meetings, and reviews data which show risk factors and how they affect the portfolio. The Board reviews investment strategy at each board meeting. Earnings per ordinary dividend amounted to 22.17p. The ﬁrst and second interim dividends of 4.9p and 4.9p respectively have been paid during the year. Since the year end the third interim dividend Portfolio and Market Market risk arises from uncertainty about the future prices of the of 5.1p has been paid. The ﬁnal proposed dividend of 5.1p is Company’s investments. This is commented on in ‘Financial Risk payable on 16 May 2007. In accordance with FRS 21 ‘Events after Management’ on page 13. The Board monitors the implementation the Balance Sheet Date’, the third and ﬁnal dividends are not and results of the investment process with the investment managers. recognised as liabilities within the accounts. Historical Record The distribution of total assets is shown on page 10, and the historical record of the Company’s revenue, capital and invested Accounting, Legal and Regulatory In order to qualify as an investment trust the Company must comply with Section 842 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 (“Section 842”), and details are given above under the funds over the past ten years is shown on page 5. Graphs appear on heading ‘Business of the Company’. A breach of Section 842 could page 12 showing the performance on a total return basis over the result in the Company losing investment trust status and, as a past ten years of the Net Asset Value of the Company’s Ordinary consequence, gains in the Company’s portfolio would be subject to Shares against the Company’s benchmark indices, the growth in net Capital Gains Tax. The Section 842 criteria are monitored by RCM ordinary distributions made by the Company against the Retail Price (UK) and results are reported to the Board at each Board Meeting. Index, and the Company’s discount to Net Asset Value over the The Company must comply with the provisions of the Companies same period. Invested Funds Sales of investments during the year resulted in net gains based on Act 1985, and the Companies Act 2006 as it becomes enacted (“Companies Acts”), and, as the Company’s shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange, the Company must comply with the UK Listing Authority’s Listing Rules and Disclosure Rules (“UKLA historical costs of £53,443,663 (2006 – £36,622,105). Provisions Rules”). A breach of the Companies Acts could result in the contained in the Finance Act 1980 exempt approved Investment Company and/ or the Directors being ﬁned or the subject of 16 The Merchants Trust PLC Directors’ Report criminal proceedings. Breach of the UKLA Rules could result in the suspension of the Company’s shares which would in turn lead to a breach of Section 842. The Board relies on its company secretary and its professional advisers to ensure compliance with the Companies Acts and UKLA Rules. Corporate Governance and Shareholder Relations Details of the Company’s compliance with Corporate Governance best practice, including information on relations with shareholders, are set out in the Corporate Governance Report on page 22 to 25. Operational Disruption to, or failure of, RCM (UK)’s accounting, dealing or payment systems or the custodian’s records may prevent accurate reporting and monitoring of the Company’s ﬁnancial position. RCM (UK) Limited has transferred operational functions, principally relating to trade processing and investment administration, to The Bank of New York – London Branch. Details of how the Board monitors the services provided by RCM (UK) and other suppliers and the key elements designed to provide effective internal control are included within the Internal Control section of the Corporate Governance report on page 23. Financial The ﬁnancial risks to the Company are disclosed in Note 18. on page 43 to 44. Future Development The future development of the Company is dependent on the success of the Company’s investment strategy against the economic environment and market developments. The investment manager discusses his view of the outlook for the Company’s portfolio in his report beginning on page 6. Net Asset Value The Net Asset Value of the Ordinary Shares of 25p at the year end was 567.5p as compared with a value of 504.1p at 31 January 2006. The Company has been given authority by its shareholders to buy back shares for cancellation which, in the right circumstances, could be used by the Board to enhance shareholder value and help to reduce the discount to net asset value at which the Company’s shares currently trade. No shares have been bought back since 2001, however, to enable the Company to respond to changes of circumstances, a resolution to renew the authority to purchase shares for cancellation is to be put to shareholders at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting and the full text is set out in the Notice of Meeting on page 45 . Share Capital Details of the Company’s share capital are set out in Note 11 on page 40. Payment Policy It is the Company’s payment policy for the forthcoming ﬁnancial year to obtain the best terms for all business and therefore there is no consistent policy as to the terms used. In general, the Company agrees with its suppliers the terms on which business will take place and it is our policy to abide by these terms. The Company had no trade creditors at the year end (2006 – £nil). Donations and Subscriptions There were no charitable donations and subscriptions in respect of the year (2006 – £nil). No political donations were made during the year. Corporate Governance The Corporate Governance statement is set out on pages 22 to 25. Directors’ Fees A report on the Directors’ remuneration is set out on page 26. Final Dividend Subject to the ﬁnal dividend being approved by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting, payment will be made on 16 May 2007 to shareholders on the Register of Members at the close of business on 13 April 2007 at the rate of 5.1p per Ordinary Share. Further details are provided in Note 6 on page 36. 17 The Merchants Trust PLC Directors’ Report Substantial Shareholdings In accordance with Section 198 of the Companies Act 1985 and the Disclosure of Interests in Shares (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 1993, as at the date of this report, the Company has been advised of the following substantial share interests in its preference stock and ordinary share capital: 3.65% Cumulative Preference Stock: P. S. & . J M. Allen – 185,582 (15.75%) Prudential plc – 176,000 (14.9%); Ecclesiastical Insurance Ofﬁce plc – 134,690 (11.4%); F&C Asset Management plc – 60,000 (5.1%) D. J. Edwards – 50,000 (4.2%) J. Y. Miller – 36,000 (3.0%) Ordinary Shares: Rensburg Sheppards Investment Management Group Limited – 4,524,860 (4.36%) Legal & General Group PLC – 3,427,541 (3.3%) Directors and Management All Directors listed below served throughout the ﬁnancial year under review. The Directors retiring by rotation at the Annual General Meeting are Sir John Banham, Sir Bob Reid and Joe Scott Plummer. Sir John Banham will be retiring after the AGM in May. Sir Bob Reid and Joe Scott Plummer each offers himself for re-election and both have the full support of the Board in doing so. The Board considers Sir Bob Reid and Joe Scott Plummer to be independent, notwithstanding their length of service, and continues to be of the view that their extensive experience and active knowledge of industry and ﬁnancial services are of great beneﬁt to the Board. The Board conﬁrms that, since the year end, the performances of Sir Bob Reid and Joe Scott Plummer have been subject to a formal evaluation, and that each continues to be effective in, and to demonstrate commitment to, his role. James Sassoon, having been appointed to the Board during the year, retires in accordance with the Articles of Association and offers himself for election. Biographical details of the Directors are on page 14. 18 The current Directors and their beneﬁcial interests in the share capital of the Company as at 31 January 2007 and 2006 or at the date of appointment to the Board are listed below: Sir John Banham R. A. Barﬁeld Sir Bob Reid J. M. Sassoon P. J. Scott Plummer H. A. Stevenson Ordinary Shares of 25p 2007 2,000 2,343 5,000 35,600 1,000 25,000 2006 2,000 2,259 5,000 35,600 1,000 25,000 Since the year end, Mr R. A. Barﬁeld has acquired a further 19 Ordinary Shares due to reinvestment of income in a share plan. No contracts of signiﬁcance in which Directors are deemed to have been interested have subsisted during the year under review. Contracts of service are not entered into with the Directors, who hold ofﬁce in accordance with the Articles of Association. Management Contract and Management Fee The management contract with RCM (UK) Limited (‘RCM’) provides for a fee of 0.35% per annum (2006 – 0.35%) of the value of the assets, calculated quarterly, after deduction of current liabilities, short term loans under one year and any funds within the portfolio managed by RCM. The management contract is terminable at one year’s notice (2006 – one year). The Manager’s performance under the contract and the contract terms are reviewed at least annually by the Management Engagement Committee. This committee consists of the Directors not employed by the management company in the past ﬁve years and therefore includes the entire Board. During the year, the committee met the Manager to review the current investment framework, including the Trust’s performance, marketing activity and total expense ratio. The committee also reviewed the terms of the management contract and considered the level of the management fee, which it found to be appropriate. The committee was satisﬁed with its review and believes that the continuing appointment of the Managers is in the best interests of shareholders as a whole. The Merchants Trust PLC Directors’ Report The Manager has discretion to exercise voting rights at the meeting of companies in which the Company is invested, and will usually do so. However, in cases of takeover, merger or other offer involving a corporate client of the Managers or any of its associated companies Annual General Meeting Purchase of Own Shares The Board is proposing that the Company should be given renewed the voting rights may only be exercised with the approval of at least authority to purchase Ordinary Shares in the market for one independent Director of the Company. Similar approval must be cancellation. The Board believes that such purchases in the market sought in the case of any investment transactions in such companies at appropriate times and prices would be a suitable method of or underwriting participations involving the securities of corporate enhancing shareholder value. The Company would make either a clients of the Managers or any of its associated companies. The single purchase or a series of purchases, when market conditions Managers do not have any discretion over any securities of are suitable, with the aim of maximising the beneﬁts to shareholders Dresdner Bank AG or its subsidiaries that may be held by the and within guidelines set from time to time by the Board. Company. The Company has entered into an annual agreement with Allianz value of the Ordinary Shares, this will enhance net asset value for the Global Investors to operate the Investment Trust Share Plan. The remaining shareholders. It is therefore intended that purchases would cost to the Company for the year ending 31 January 2007 is only be made at prices below net asset value, with the purchases to be £65,453 excluding VAT (2006 – £197,462 excluding VAT). The fee funded from the realised capital proﬁts of the Company (which are relates to generic costs and is partially calculated on a usage and currently in excess of £400 million). The rules of the UK Listing Where purchases are made at prices below the prevailing net asset market capitalisation basis. Individual Savings Accounts/PEPs The affairs of the Company are conducted in such a way as to meet Authority (‘Listing Rules’) limit the price which may be paid by the Company to 105% of the average middle-market quotation for an Ordinary Share on the ﬁve business days immediately preceding the date of the relevant purchase. The minimum price to be paid will be the requirement of a qualifying investment trust to Personal Equity 25p per Ordinary Share (being the nominal value). Overall, this Plans and the requirements for an Individual Savings Account and it proposed share buy-back authority, if used, should help to reduce the is the intention to continue to do so. discount to net asset value at which the Company’s shares currently Directors’ and Ofﬁcers’ Liability Insurance The Company maintained Directors’ and ofﬁcers’ liability insurance during the year. trade. The Board considers that it will be most advantageous to shareholders for the Company to be able to make such purchases as and when it considers the timing to be most favourable and therefore does not propose to set a timetable for making any such purchases. Analysis of Share Register Shareholder Accounts Number % Ordinary Shares held 000’s % Private holders* Nominees Limited Companies Investment Trusts and Funds Bank and Bank Nominees Insurance Companies Pension Funds Other holders 2007 7,980 3,820 173 104 11 12 5 163 111 12,268 222 2006 8,439 3,909 191 132 13 12 5 167 111 12,868 222 2007 65.0 31.1 1.4 1.0 0.1 0.1 0.0 1.3 111 100.0 222 2006 65.6 30.4 1.5 1.0 0.1 0.1 0.0 1.3 111 100.0 222 2007 20,756 77,613 2,537 752 1,274 67 23 737 111 103,759 222 2006 22,018 74,417 2,261 870 1,772 73 22 670 111 102,103 222 2007 20.0 74.8 2.5 0.7 1.2 0.1 0.0 0.7 111 100.0 222 *Including PEP, ISA and Share Plan Nominees. Based on an analysis of the Ordinary Share register at 2 April 2007 (2006 – 1 April). 2006 21.6 72.9 2.2 0.9 1.7 0.1 0.0 0.6 111 100.0 222 19 The Merchants Trust PLC Directors’ Report The Company’s Articles of Association permit the Company to Whilst it is anticipated that allotments under this authority will redeem or purchase its own shares out of capital proﬁts. Under the normally be to the Allianz Global Investors Investment Trust Share Listing Rules, the maximum number of shares which a listed Plan, the resolution allows for allotments of new shares at the company may purchase through the market pursuant to a general discretion of the Directors and is not limited only to this Plan. The authority such as this is equivalent to 14.99% of its issued share Directors conﬁrm that no allotment of new shares will be made capital. For this reason, the Company is limiting its renewed unless the lowest market offer price of the Ordinary Shares is at authority to make such purchases to 15,553,605 Ordinary Shares, least at a premium to net asset value, valuing debt at market value. Auditors The Directors will place a resolution before the Annual General Meeting to re-appoint PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as Auditors for the ensuing year. A resolution to authorise the Directors to determine the Auditors’ remuneration will also be proposed at the Annual General Meeting. By Order of the Board K. J. Salt Secretary 4 April 2007 representing 14.99% of the issued share capital, provided that there is no change in the issued share capital between the date of this report and the Annual General Meeting to be held on 14 May 2007. The authority will last until the Annual General Meeting of the Company to be held in 2008 or the expiry of 18 months from the date of the passing of this resolution, whichever is the earlier. The authority will be subject to renewal by shareholders at subsequent annual general meetings. Allotment of New Shares and Disapplication of Pre-emption Rights Approval is sought for the renewal of the Directors’ authority to allot relevant securities, in accordance with Section 80 of the Companies Act 1985, up to a maximum aggregate nominal amount of £8,646,656, representing approximately 33% of the existing Ordinary Share capital. This authority would expire ﬁve years from the date of renewal, if not previously revoked or varied. A resolution was passed at the Annual General Meeting held on 9 May 2006 to authorise the Directors to allot the unissued Ordinary Share capital for cash. The authority is renewable annually and expires at the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting in 2007. A Special Resolution is therefore proposed under special business at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting to renew this authority for a further year. The power to allot new Ordinary Shares for cash, other than pro rata to existing shareholders, is limited to the aggregate nominal amount of £1,296,998 Ordinary Share capital, being approximately ﬁve per cent of the issued Ordinary Share capital of the Company as at the date of this report, provided that there is no change in the issued share capital between the date of this report and the Annual General Meeting to be held on 14 May 2007. 20 The Merchants Trust PLC Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities The Directors are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and The Directors are responsible for keeping proper accounting records the accounts in accordance with applicable law and United that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the ﬁnancial Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice. Company law position of the Company and enable them to ensure that the requires the Directors to prepare accounts for each ﬁnancial year accounts comply with the Companies Act 1985. They are also which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Company and hence and of the proﬁt or loss of the Company for that period. In for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud preparing these accounts, the Directors are required to: and other irregularities. • select suitable accounting policies and then apply them The accounts are published on www.allianzglobalinvestors.co.uk, consistently; • make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; • state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the accounts; • prepare the accounts on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Company will continue in business. which is a website maintained by the Company’s Investment Managers, RCM (UK) Limited. The Directors are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and ﬁnancial information included on the Company’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of the accounts may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions. 21 The Merchants Trust PLC Corporate Governance formally adopted a schedule of matters reserved for its approval to ensure that it maintains full and effective control over appropriate issues. These matters include approval of the Company’s investment policy, capital structure, share price and discount, committee membership and terms of reference, ﬁnancial reporting, risk management, board appointments and removals, corporate governance, internal controls and contracts. A procedure has been adopted for Directors, in the furtherance of their duties, to take independent professional advice at the expense of the Company. The Directors have access to the advice and services of the Company Secretary, who is responsible to the Board for ensuring that Board procedures are followed and that the Company complies with applicable rules and regulations. When a new Director is appointed there is an induction process carried out by the investment manager. Directors are provided, on a regular basis, with key information on the Company’s regulatory and statutory requirements and internal ﬁnancial controls. Changes affecting Directors’ responsibilities are advised to the Board as they arise. During the current year, the effectiveness of the Board was assessed through interviews conducted by the Chairman with each Director. In addition, the performance of the Directors was evaluated by each Director, followed by a discussion with the Chairman. The Chairman’s own performance was evaluated by the other Directors, who met under the chairmanship of Joe Scott Plummer. The results of the effectiveness assessment and performance evaluation have been presented to the Nomination Committee. The effectiveness assessment determined that the balance of the Board was satisfactory. The Board has contractually delegated to the investment manager the management of the investment portfolio, and the day to day accounting and company secretarial requirements. This contract was entered into after full and proper consideration by the Board of the quality and cost of services offered, including the ﬁnancial control systems in operation, in so far as they relate to the affairs of the Company. The Board receives and considers reports regularly from the investment manager and ad hoc reports and information are supplied to the Board as required. The Board’s statement on its review of the management contract appears on page 18. The Board has put in place a framework for corporate governance which it believes is appropriate for an investment trust company and which enables the Company to comply with the applicable provisions of the Combined Code on Corporate Governance (‘the Combined Code’). The Board has also taken account of the AIC Code of Corporate Governance which was issued by the Association of Investment Trust Companies in July 2003 and endorsed by the Financial Reporting Council in 2006. The Board has reviewed and applied the requirements of both codes except where stated otherwise. The Board considers that the Company has complied with the applicable provisions of the Combined Code throughout the accounting period to 31 January 2007. Much of this statement describes how the relevant principles of governance are applied to the Company. The Board The Board currently consists of six Directors, all of whom are non- executive and independent of the Company’s investment manager. Their biographies, on page 14, demonstrate a breadth of investment, industrial, commercial and professional experience. The Chairman of the Company is a non-executive Director and Joe Scott Plummer was appointed as the Senior Independent Director in March 2005. The Board follows the AIC Code and considers Sir John Banham and Sir Bob Reid and Joe Scott Plummer, to be independent, notwithstanding that each has served on the Board for more than nine years. The Board does not consider that length of service has diminished the independence of these directors and continues to be of the view that their extensive experience and active knowledge of industry is of great beneﬁt to the Board. The Board’s tenure policy is that new Directors stand for election at the ﬁrst Annual General Meeting following their appointment and then at least one third of Directors retire by rotation at each Annual General Meeting. Every Director is required to seek re-election at least every three years and annually after nine years’ service. The names of the Directors retiring by rotation at this year’s Annual General Meeting are given on page 18. The composition of the Board is reviewed regularly. In the Directors’ view the stability of the Board has been a source of strength but they are nevertheless aware of the need to refresh the composition from time to time and the Board intends to recruit further non-executive directors. The Board meets at least six times a year and convenes ad hoc meetings as and when required. Between meetings, regular contact with the investment managers is maintained. The Board has 22 The Merchants Trust PLC Corporate Governance Corporate Governance Attendance by Directors at formal Board and committee meetings during the year was as follows: Management Audit Nomination Engagement Director Board Committee Committee Committee No. of meetings H. A. Stevenson Sir John Banham R. A. Barﬁeld Sir Bob Reid J. M. Sassoon** P. J. Scott Plummer 6 6 5 6 6 3 6 2 2* 1 2 2 1 2 1 1 – 1 1 – 1 1 1 – 1 1 – 1 *Invited to attend meetings, although not a committee member. ** Joined the Board in July 2006. Board Committees Audit Committee The Audit Committee consists of all of the independent non- executive Directors, with the exception of the Chairman of the Board, and has deﬁned terms of reference and duties. The role of the Audit Committee is to assist the Board in relation to the reporting of ﬁnancial information. The Audit Committee is chaired by James Sassoon. The committee considers that, collectively, its members have sufﬁcient recent and relevant ﬁnancial experience to discharge their responsibilities fully. The committee meets at least twice each year and reviews the annual accounts and interim report and considers the Auditors’ report on the annual accounts, the planning and the process of the audit and the Auditors’ independence and objectivity. It has also considered the non-audit services provided by the Auditors and determined that they have had no impact on the Auditors’ independence and objectivity. The Audit Committee reviews the Company’s accounting policies and considers their appropriateness. The Committee also reviews the terms of appointment of the Auditors together with their remuneration. It meets representatives of the Managers twice-yearly and receives reports on the internal controls maintained on behalf of the Company and reviews the effectiveness of these controls. The Audit Committee continues to believe that the Company does not require an internal audit function of its own as it delegates its day to day operations to third parties from whom it receives internal controls reports. Nomination Committee The Nomination Committee meets at least once each year and makes recommendations on the appointment of new Directors and the re-election of existing Directors by shareholders. The committee also determines the process for the annual evaluation of the Board. The committee is chaired by Hugh Stevenson, the Chairman of the Board. All Directors serve on the committee and consider nominations made in accordance with an agreed procedure. Management Engagement Committee The Management Engagement Committee meets at least once each year to review the Management Agreement and the Managers’ performance. It has deﬁned terms of reference and consists of the non-executive Directors and excludes any Directors previously employed by the Managers. It is chaired by Hugh Stevenson, the Chairman of the Board. The Board has not constituted a Remuneration Committee; all Directors are non-executive and remuneration matters are dealt with by the whole Board. The Terms of Reference for each of the committees may be viewed by shareholders on request. Financial Reporting The Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities in respect of the accounts is on page 21. The Independent Auditors’ Report can be found on page 27. Auditors’ Information Each of the persons who is a Director at the date of approval of this report conﬁrms that: (a) in so far as the Director is aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the Company’s auditors are unaware; and (b) the Director has taken all the steps he ought to have taken as a Director in order to make himself aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the Company’s auditors are aware of that information. This conﬁrmation is given and should be interpreted in accordance with the provisions of Section 234ZA of the Companies Act 1985. Going Concern After making enquiries, the Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the ﬁnancial statements. Internal Control The Directors have overall responsibility for the Company’s system of internal control. Whilst acknowledging their responsibility for the system of internal control, the Directors are aware that such a system is designed to manage rather than eliminate the risk of a failure to achieve business objectives and can provide only reasonable but not absolute assurance against material misstatement or loss. 23 The Merchants Trust PLC Corporate Governance The Board has established an ongoing process for identifying, evaluating and managing the signiﬁcant risks faced by the Company. This process is subject to review by the Board and accords with the Internal Control Guidance for Directors in the Combined Code published in September 1999 and revised in October 2005 (“the Turnbull guidance”). The process has been fully in place throughout the year under review and up to the date of signing of these Report and Accounts. • • The key elements of the procedures that the Directors have established and which are designed to provide effective internal control are as follows: The Board, assisted by the Manager, undertook a full review of the Company’s business risks and these are analysed and recorded in a risk matrix. Every six months the Board receives from the Manager a formal report which details any known internal controls failures, including those that are not directly the responsibility of the Manager. The Board continues to check that good systems of internal control and risk management are embedded in the operations and culture of the Company and its key suppliers. The appointment of RCM (UK) Limited (‘RCM’) as the Manager provides investment management, accounting and company secretarial services to the Company. The Manager therefore maintains the internal controls associated with the day to day operation of the Company. These responsibilities are included in the Management Agreement between the Company and the Manager. The Manager’s system of internal control includes organisation arrangements with clearly deﬁned lines of responsibility and delegated authority as well as control procedures and systems which are regularly evaluated by management and monitored by its internal audit department. RCM is regulated by the Financial Services Authority (‘FSA’) and its compliance department regularly monitors compliance with FSA rules. The Company receives reports at least annually from the manager on its internal controls. The Company, in common with other investment trusts, has no internal audit department, but the effectiveness of the Manager’s internal controls is monitored by Allianz Global Investors’ internal audit function. There is a regular review by the Board of asset allocation and any risk implications. There is also regular and comprehensive review by the Board of management accounting information including revenue and expenditure projections, actual revenue against projections and performance comparisons. Authorisation and exposure limits are set and maintained by the Board. • • • • 24 The Audit Committee assesses the Manager’s and Custodian’s systems of controls and approves the appointment of any sub- custodians. The Audit Committee also receives reports from the Manager’s and Custodian’s internal auditors, compliance department and independent Auditors. The Board reviews the Internal Control reports of the Managers and third party service providers, including those of the Company’s Registrars, Capita Registrars, and Custodian, HSBC Bank plc. The Board has undertaken a full review of the aspects covered by the Turnbull guidance and believes that there is an effective framework substantially in place to meet the requirements of the Combined Code. The Directors conﬁrm that the Audit Committee has reviewed the effectiveness of the system of internal control. Relations with Shareholders The Board strongly believes that the annual general meeting should be an event which private shareholders are encouraged to attend. The annual general meeting is attended by the Chairman of the Board and the Chairman of the Audit Committee, and the Investment Manager makes a presentation at the meeting. The number of proxy votes cast in respect of each resolution will be made available at the annual general meeting. The Manager meets with institutional shareholders on a regular basis and report to the Board on matters raised at these meetings. All correspondence with shareholders is reviewed by the Board. Shareholders who wish to communicate directly with the Chairman, the Senior Independent Director or other Directors may write care of the Company Secretary at 155 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 3AD. The Notice of Meeting sets out the business of the meeting and special resolutions are explained more fully in the Directors’ Report. Separate resolutions are proposed for each substantive issue. Socially Responsible Investment and Environmental Policy The Investment Managers have been directed by the Board to take account of companies’ corporate social responsibility and environmental performance when taking investment decisions. The Merchants Trust PLC Corporate Governance Exercise of Voting Powers The Company’s investments are held in a nominee name. The Board has delegated discretion to discharge its responsibilities in respect of investments, including the exercise of voting powers on its behalf, to the Managers. The Managers use a proxy voting service which casts votes in accordance with the guidelines of the National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF) research material, unless its clients request a very speciﬁc policy to be voted by its fund managers. An extract from the Trust’s voting record in the previous calendar year will be available for inspection at the annual general meeting each year. Where Directors hold directorships on the boards of companies in which the Company is invested, they do not participate in decisions made concerning those investments. 25 The Merchants Trust PLC Directors’ Remuneration Report Directors’ Emoluments The following disclosures on Directors’ remuneration have been audited as required by Part 3 of Schedule 7A of the Companies Act 1985. The Directors’ Emoluments during the year and in the previous year are as follows: H. A. Stevenson Sir John Banham R. A. Barﬁeld Sir Bob Reid J. M. Sassoon P. J. Scott Plummer Totals Directors’ fees 2007 £ 23,334 14,000 14,000 14,000 9,062 15,554 111 89,950 111 2006 £ 19,852 11,971 11,971 11,971 – 13,623 111 69,388 111 Performance Graph The graph below measures the Company’s share price and net asset value performance against its benchmark index of the FTSE 100 Index. The Company’s performance is measured against the FTSE 100 Index as this is the most appropriate comparator in respect of its asset allocation. An explanation of the Company’s performance is given in the Chairman’s Statement and the Investment Managers’ Review. ) % ( n r u t e R e v i t a l u m u C 180 170 160 150 140 130 120 110 100 90 80 70 60 50 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 The Merchants Trust Share Price The Merchants Trust NAV FTSE 100 Source: Russell/Mellon By Order of the Board K. J. Salt Secretary 4 April 2007 This report is submitted in accordance with the Directors’ Remuneration Report Regulations 2002 for the year ended 31 January 2007. The Board The Board of Directors is composed solely of non-executive Directors and the determination of the Directors’ fees is a matter dealt with by the whole Board. The Board has not been provided with advice or services by any person to assist it to make its remuneration decisions, although the Directors carry out reviews from time to time of the fees paid to the directors of other investment trusts. Policy on Directors’ Remuneration No Director has a service contract with the Company. The Company’s policy is for the Directors to be remunerated in the form of fees, payable quarterly in arrears. There are no long term incentive schemes, bonuses, pension beneﬁts, share options or other beneﬁts and fees are not related to the individual Director’s performance, nor to the performance of the Board as a whole. The Company’s Articles of Association limit the aggregate fees payable to the Board of Directors to a total of £150,000 per annum. Subject to this overall limit, it is the Board’s policy to determine the level of Directors’ fees having regard to the level of fees payable to non-executive Directors in the investment trust industry generally, the role that individual Directors fulﬁl, and the time committed to the Company’s affairs. The Board believes that levels of remuneration should be sufﬁcient to attract and retain non- executive directors to oversee the Company. Directors’ and ofﬁcers’ liability insurance cover is held by the Company. Following the approval of the proposal at last year’s Annual General Meeting to change the Company’s Articles of Association to enable the Company to grant indemnities to the Directors individually, deeds of indemnity have been entered into with the Directors. Remuneration The policy is to review Directors’ fees from time to time, but reviews will not necessarily result in a change to the rates. As disclosed in last year’s report, in the year under review until 31 May 2006 the Directors were paid at a rate of £12,000 per annum, with an additional £3,000 payable to the Audit Committee Chairman. The Chairman of the Board was paid at a rate of £20,000 per annum. These rates were increased with effect from 1 June 2006 to £15,000 per annum for the Directors, with the Audit Committee Chairman receiving an additional £2,000, and £25,000 per annum for the Chairman of the Board. The Directors carried out a review in January 2007 and decided not to increase the fees in the current year. 26 The Merchants Trust PLC Independent Auditors’ Report Independent Auditors’ Report to the Members of The Merchants Trust PLC We have audited the accounts of The Merchants Trust PLC for the year ended 31 January 2007 which comprise the Income Statement, the Balance Sheet, the Cash Flow Statement, the Reconciliation of Movements in Shareholders’ Funds and the related notes. These accounts have been prepared under the accounting policies set out therein. We have also audited the information in the Directors’ Remuneration Report that is described as having been audited. Respective responsibilities of directors and auditors The directors’ responsibilities for preparing the Annual Report and the accounts in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice) are set out in the Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities. The Directors are also responsible for preparing the Directors’ Remuneration Report. Our responsibility is to audit the accounts and the part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report to be audited in accordance with relevant legal and regulatory requirements and International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland). This report, including the opinion, has been prepared for and only for the company’s members as a body in accordance with Section 235 of the Companies Act 1985 and for no other purpose. We do not, in giving this opinion, accept or assume responsibility for any other purpose or to any other person to whom this report is shown or into whose hands it may come save where expressly agreed by our prior consent in writing. We report to you our opinion as to whether the accounts give a true and fair view and whether the accounts and the part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report to be audited have been properly prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 1985. We also report to you whether in our opinion the information given in the Directors’ Report is consistent with the accounts. In addition we report to you if, in our opinion, the company has not kept proper accounting records, if we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit, or if information speciﬁed by law regarding directors’ remuneration and other transactions is not disclosed. We review whether the Corporate Governance Statement reﬂects the company’s compliance with the nine provisions of the Combined Code 2003 speciﬁed for our review by the Listing Rules of the Financial Services Authority, and we report if it does not. We are not required to consider whether the Board’s statements on internal control cover all risks and controls, or form an opinion on the effectiveness of the company’s corporate governance procedures or its risk and control procedures. We read other information contained in the Annual Report and consider whether it is consistent with the audited accounts. The other information comprises only the Key Facts, Performance Attribution Analysis, Chairman’s Statement, Historical Record, Investment Managers’ Review, United Kingdom Listed Holdings, Distribution of Total Assets, Performance Graphs, Financial Risk Management, the Directors’ Report, the Corporate Governance Statement and the unaudited part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report. We consider the implications for our report if we become aware of any apparent misstatements or material inconsistencies with the accounts. Our responsibilities do not extend to any other information. Basis of audit opinion We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland) issued by the Auditing Practices Board. An audit includes examination, on a test basis, of evidence relevant to the amounts and disclosures in the accounts and the part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report to be audited. It also includes an assessment of the signiﬁcant estimates and judgments made by the directors in the preparation of the accounts, and of whether the accounting policies are appropriate to the company’s circumstances, consistently applied and adequately disclosed. We planned and performed our audit so as to obtain all the information and explanations which we considered necessary in order to provide us with sufﬁcient evidence to give reasonable assurance that the accounts and the part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report to be audited are free from material misstatement, whether caused by fraud or other irregularity or error. In forming our opinion we also evaluated the overall adequacy of the presentation of information in the accounts and the part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report to be audited. Opinion In our opinion: • • • the accounts give a true and fair view, in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice, of the state of the company’s affairs as at 31 January 2007 and of its net return and cash ﬂows for the year then ended; the accounts and the part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report to be audited have been properly prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 1985; and the information given in the Directors’ Report is consistent with the accounts. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Chartered Accountants and Registered Auditors London 4 April 2007 27 The Merchants Trust PLC Income Statement for the year ended 31 January 2007 Net gains on investments at fair value Income Investment management fee Administration Expenses Note 8 1 2 3 Net return before ﬁnance costs and taxation Finance costs: interest payable and similar charges Net return on ordinary activities before taxation Taxation 4 5 Net return attributable to Ordinary Shareholders 2007 £ Revenue 2007 £ Capital 2007 £ Total Return 2006 £ Revenue 2006 £ Capital 2006 £ Total Return – 27,750,450 (961,650) (488,138) 1111 71,440,601 – (1,785,921) (3,021) 1111 71,440,601 27,750,450 (2,747,571) (491,159) 1111 – 24,714,263 (823,956) (621,878) 1111 96,792,013 – (1,530,205) (5,424) 96,792,013 24,714,263 (2,354,161) (627,302) 1111 1111 26,300,662 69,651,659 95,952,321 23,268,429 95,256,384 118,524,813 (3,446,657) 1111 (6,321,084) 1111 (9,767,741) 1111 (3,414,470) 1111 (6,219,001) (9,633,471) 1111 1111 22,854,005 – 1111 22,854,005 1111 63,330,575 – 1111 63,330,575 1111 86,184,580 – 1111 86,184,580 1111 19,853,959 – 1111 19,853,959 1111 89,037,383 – 108,891,342 – 1111 1111 89,037,383 108,891,342 1111 1111 Return per Ordinary Share (basic and diluted) 7 22.17p 1111 61.44p 1111 83.61p 1111 19.44p 1111 106.64p 1111 1111 87.20p Dividends in respect of the ﬁnancial year ended 31 January 2007 total 20.00p (2006 – 18.90p), costing £20,745,854 (2006 – £19,273,678). Details are set out in Note 6. The total column of this statement is the proﬁt and loss account of the Company. All revenue and capital items in the above statement derive from continuing operations. No operations were acquired or discontinued in the year. A Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses is not required as all gains and losses of the Company have been reﬂected in the above statement. The Notes on pages 32 to 44 form an integral part of these Accounts. 28 The Merchants Trust PLC Reconciliation of Movements in Shareholders’ Funds for the year ended 31 January 2007 Called up Share Capital £ Share Premium Account £ Capital Redemption Reserve £ Capital Reserve Realised £ Capital Reserve Unrealised £ Revenue Reserve £ Total £ Note 6 6 Net Assets at 31 January 2006 Revenue Return Dividends on Ordinary Shares Capital Return Shares issued during the year Net Assets at 31 January 2007 Net Assets at 31 January 2005 Adjustment to record investments at bid value Revenue Return Dividends on Ordinary Shares Capital Return Net Assets at 31 January 2006 25,525,984 – – – 413,985 514,713,196 22,854,005 (19,964,324) 63,330,575 7,901,223 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 19,878,801 22,854,005 (19,964,324) – – 118,104,550 – – 13,142,725 – 351,107,802 – – 50,187,850 – 39,809 – – – 7,487,238 56,250 – – – – 25,939,969 588,834,675 401,295,652 2222 2222 2222 2222 2222 2222 2222 131,247,275 22,768,482 7,527,047 56,250 25,525,984 39,809 56,250 322,240,327 57,962,642 18,685,896 424,510,908 (28,000) – 19,853,959 – (18,661,054) – 89,037,383 28,867,475 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 – 19,853,959 (18,661,054) – (28,000) – – 60,169,908 – – – – – – – – – – – – 25,525,984 514,713,196 351,107,802 2222 2222 2222 2222 2222 2222 2222 118,104,550 19,878,801 39,809 56,250 The Notes on pages 32 to 44 form an integral part of these Accounts. 29 The Merchants Trust PLC Balance Sheet as at 31 January 2007 Fixed Assets Investments held at fair value through proﬁt or loss Current Assets Debtors Cash at bank Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year Net Current Assets Total Assets Less Current Liabilities Creditors: Amounts falling due after more than one year Total Net Assets Capital and Reserves Called up Share Capital Share Premium Account Capital Redemption Reserve Capital Reserves: Realised Unrealised Revenue Reserve Equity Shareholders’ Funds Net Asset Value per Ordinary Share 2007 £ 2007 £ 2006 £ 2,836,903 7,003,101 1111 9,840,004 (3,227,220) 1111 401,295,652 131,247,275 1111 695,769,971 621,948,270 3,586,680 5,374,796 1111 8,961,476 (2,843,149) 6,118,327 1111 6,612,784 1111 702,382,755 (113,548,080) 1111 628,066,597 (113,353,401) 1111 588,834,675 1111 514,713,196 1111 25,939,969 7,527,047 56,250 532,542,927 22,768,482 1111 588,834,675 2222 25,525,984 39,809 56,250 351,107,802 118,104,550 469,212,352 19,878,801 1111 514,713,196 2222 567.5p 504.1p Note 8 10 10 10 10 11 12 12 13 14 14 The accounts on pages 28 to 44 were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 4 April 2007 and signed on its behalf by Hugh Stevenson The Notes on pages 32 to 44 form an integral part of these Accounts. 30 The Merchants Trust PLC Cash Flow Statement for the year ended 31 January 2007 Net cash inﬂow from operating activities Servicing of ﬁnance Interest paid Dividends on Preference Stock Net cash outﬂow from servicing of ﬁnance Financial investment Purchases of ﬁxed asset investments Sales of ﬁxed asset investments Net cash inﬂow from investing activities Equity dividends paid Net cash inﬂow before ﬁnancing Financing Cash transferred from Allianz Dresdner Income Growth Investment Trust plc in connection with the issue of Ordinary Shares Increase in cash Further details of non-cash consideration are provided in Note 11 on page 40. 2007 £ 2007 £ 2006 £ 28,262,666 22,805,795 Note 16 (9,530,065) (42,997) 1111 (9,556,529) (64,496) (9,573,062) (9,621,025) (236,518,625) 238,513,660 1111 (139,140,607) 146,798,780 1,995,035 7,658,173 (19,964,324) 1111 (18,661,054) 1111 720,315 2,181,889 907,990 1111 1,628,305 2222 – 1111 2,181,889 2222 6 11 17 The Notes on pages 32 to 44 form an integral part of these Accounts. 31 The Merchants Trust PLC Statement of Accounting Policies for the year ended 31 January 2007 1. The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention, modiﬁed to include the revaluation of ﬁxed asset investments, and in accordance with the United Kingdom law, United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (UK GAAP) and the revised Statement of Recommended Practice – ‘Financial Statements of Investment Trust Companies’ (SORP) issued in December 2005 by the Association of Investment Companies (formerly the Association of Investment Trust Companies). 2. Revenue – Dividends on equity shares are accounted for on an ex-dividend basis. UK dividends are shown net of tax credits. Income from convertible securities having an element of equity is recognised on an accruals basis. Interest receivable on non-equity shares is recognised on an accruals basis. Special dividends are recognised on an ex-dividend basis and treated as a capital or revenue item depending on the facts and circumstances of each dividend. Where the Company has elected to receive its dividends in the form of additional shares rather than in cash, the equivalent of the cash dividend is recognised as income. Any excess in the value of the shares received over the amount of the cash dividend is recognised in capital reserves. Deposit interest receivable and stocklending fees are accounted for on an accruals basis. Underwriting commission is recognised when the issue underwritten closes. 3. Investment management fees and administrative expenses – The investment management fee is calculated on the basis set out in Note 2 to the accounts and is charged to capital and revenue in the ratio 65:35 to reﬂect the Board’s investment policy and prospective split of capital and revenue returns. Other administrative expenses are charged in full to revenue, except handling charges which are charged to capital. 4. Valuation – Investments are designated as held at fair value through proﬁt or loss in accordance with FRS 26 ‘Financial Instruments: Measurement’. Listed investments are valued at bid market prices. Unlisted investments are valued by the Directors based upon the latest dealing prices, stockbrokers’ valuations, net asset values, earnings and other known accounting information in accordance with the principles set out by the International Private Equity and Venture Capital Valuation Guidelines issued in March 2005. An unrealised Capital Reserve has been established to reﬂect differences between value and book cost. Net gains or losses arising on realisation of investments are taken directly to the realised Capital Reserve. 5. Finance costs – In accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard 25 ‘Financial Instruments: Disclosure and Presentation’ and FRS 26 ‘Financial Instruments: Measurement’, long term borrowings are stated at the amount of net proceeds on issue plus accrued ﬁnance costs to date. Finance costs are calculated over the term of the debt on the effective interest rate basis. Where debt is issued at a premium, the premium is amortised over the term of the debt on the effective interest rate basis. Finance costs net of amortised premiums are charged to capital and revenue in the ratio 65:35 to reﬂect the Board’s investment policy and prospective split of capital and revenue returns. Dividends payable on the 3.65% Cumulative Preference Stock are classiﬁed as an interest expense and are charged in full to revenue. 6. Taxation – Where expenses are allocated between capital and revenue, any tax relief obtained in respect of those expenses is allocated between capital and revenue on the marginal basis using the Company’s effective rate of Corporation tax for the accounting period. Deferred taxation is recognised in respect of all timing differences that have originated but not reversed at the balance sheet date, where transactions or events that result in an obligation to pay more tax or a right to pay less tax in the future have occurred. Timing differences are differences between the Company’s taxable proﬁts and its results as stated in the accounts. 32 The Merchants Trust PLC Statement of Accounting Policies for the year ended 31 January 2007 A deferred tax asset is recognised when it is more likely than not that the asset will be recoverable. Deferred tax is measured on a non-discounted basis at the rate of Corporation tax that is expected to apply when the timing differences are expected to reverse. 7. Foreign currency – In accordance with FRS 23 ‘The Effect of changes in Foreign Currency Exchange Rates’, the Company is required to nominate a functional currency, being the currency in which the Company predominately operates. The functional and reporting currency is pound sterling, reﬂecting the primary economic environment in which the Company operates. Transactions in foreign currencies are translated into sterling at the rates of exchange ruling on the date of the transaction. Foreign currency assets and liabilities are translated into sterling at the rates of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date. Proﬁts and losses thereon are recognised in Capital Reserves.. 8. Dividends – In accordance with FRS 21 ‘Events after the Balance Sheet Date’, the ﬁnal dividend payable on Ordinary Shares is recognised as a liability when approved by shareholders. Interim dividends are recognised only when paid. 9. Preference Stock – In accordance with FRS 25 ‘Financial Instruments: Disclosure and Presentation’, the 3.65% Cumulative Preference Stock is classiﬁed as a liability as the rights of the stockholders to receive dividend payments are not calculated by reference to the Company’s proﬁts. 33 The Merchants Trust PLC Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 January 2007 1. Income Total income comprises: Income from investments:* Equity income from UK investments† Equity income from overseas investments Income from ﬁxed interest securities Other income: Deposit interest Underwriting commission Stocklending fees Total income *All equity income is derived from listed investments. †Includes special dividends of £1,302,224 (2006 – £nil). 2. Investment Management Fee Investment management fee 2007 £ 2007 £ 2006 £ 27,334,101 – 7,325 24,206,347 151,663 – 1111 1111 27,341,426 24,358,010 339,652 10,363 6,238 356,253 1111 1111 409,024 27,750,450 24,714,263 1111 1111 274,898 124,962 9,164 1111 2006 £ Total 2,354,161 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 2007 £ Capital 1,785,921 2006 £ Capital 1,530,205 2007 £ Total 2,747,571 2007 £ Revenue 961,650 2006 £ Revenue 823,956 The management contract with RCM (UK) Limited (‘RCM’), terminable at one year’s notice, provides for a management fee based on 0.35% (2006 – 0.35%) per annum of the value of the Company’s assets calculated monthly after deduction of current liabilities, short term loans under one year and any funds within the portfolio managed by RCM. The amounts stated include irrecoverable VAT of £409,213 (2006 – £350,620). Under the contract, RCM provides the Company with investment management, accounting, secretarial and administration services. 3. Administration Expenses Auditors’ remuneration: for audit services for non-audit services Directors’ fees Marketing costs of Share Plan Other administrative expenses 2007 £ 2006 £ 19,388 7,050 1111 1111 21,626 3,525 26,438 69,388 232,018 294,034 1111 1111 25,151 89,950 76,907 296,130 621,878 1111 1111 488,138 (i) The above expenses include value added tax where applicable. (ii) Until 31 May 2006 the Directors were paid at a rate of £12,000 per annum, with an additional payment to the Chairman of the Audit Committee of £3,000 per annum, and the Chairman was paid at a rate of £20,000 per annum. These rates were increased with effect from 1 June 2006 to £15,000 per annum for the Directors, with the Audit Committee Chairman receiving an additional £2,000, and £25,000 for the Chairman of the Board. (iii) Audit fees for non-audit services in 2007 include fees of £3,000 for review of compliance with loan covenants. (iv) Auditors’ remuneration includes VAT of £3,763 (2006 – £3,938). 34 The Merchants Trust PLC Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 January 2007 4. Finance Costs: Interest Payable and Similar Charges On Stepped Rate Interest Loan repayable after more than ﬁve years On Fixed Rate Interest Loan repayable after more than ﬁve years On 4% Perpetual Debenture Stock repayable after more than ﬁve years On 5.875% Secured Bonds repayable after 2007 £ Revenue 2007 £ Capital 2007 £ Total 2006 £ Revenue 2006 £ Capital 2006 £ Total 1,445,140 2,683,832 4,128,972 1,384,740 2,571,660 3,956,400 1,315,731 2,443,501 3,759,232 1,321,650 2,454,493 3,776,143 19,250 35,750 55,000 19,250 35,750 55,000 more than ﬁve years 623,539 1,158,001 1,781,540 623,053 1,157,098 1,780,151 On 3.65% Cumulative Preference Stock repayable after more than ﬁve years On Sterling overdraft 5. Taxation a) Analysis of tax charge for the year Corporation tax Tax charge on ordinary activities b) Factors affecting the current tax charge for the year: Return on ordinary activities before taxation Tax on the return on ordinary activities at the standard rate of Corporation tax in the UK of 30% (2006 – 30%) Effects of: Non taxable income Non taxable capital gains Disallowable expenses Excess of allowable expenses over taxable income 42,997 – 42,997 22,780 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 9,633,471 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 42,997 – 42,997 22,780 3,446,657 6,321,084 9,767,741 3,414,470 6,219,001 – – – – 2007 £ Revenue 2007 £ Capital 2007 £ Total 2006 £ Revenue 2006 £ Capital 2006 £ Total – 1111 – 1111 – 1111 – 1111 – 1111 – 1111 – 1111 – 1111 – 1111 – 1111 – 1111 – 1111 22,854,005 1111 63,330,575 1111 86,184,580 1111 19,853,959 1111 89,037,383 1111 108,891,342 1111 6,856,201 18,999,173 25,855,374 5,956,188 26,711,215 32,667,403 (8,200,230) – 69,595 1,274,434 1111 – (21,432,180) 63,350 2,369,657 1111 (8,200,230) (21,432,180) 132,945 3,644,091 1111 (7,261,904) – 98,509 1,207,207 1111 – (29,037,604) 31,349 2,295,040 1111 (7,261,904) (29,037,604) 129,858 3,502,247 1111 Current tax charge – 1111 – 1111 – 1111 – 1111 – 1111 – 1111 The Company’s taxable income is exceeded by its tax allowable expenses, which include both the capital and revenue elements of the management fee and ﬁnance costs of borrowings. The Company has surplus expenses carried forward of £102.2m (2006 – £90.1m). Given the Company’s current investment strategy, it is unlikely to generate sufﬁcient UK taxable proﬁts to relieve these expenses. As at 31 January 2007 there is an unrecognised deferred tax asset, measured at the standard rate of 30%, of £30.7m (2006 – £27.0m). This deferred tax asset relates to the current and prior year unutilised expenses. It is considered unlikely that there will be a liability in the future against which the deferred tax asset can be offset. Therefore, the tax asset has not been recognised. Due to the Company’s status as an approved investment trust and the intention to continue meeting the conditions required to obtain approval in the foreseeable future, the Company has not provided deferred tax on any capital gains and losses arising on the disposal of investments. 35 The Merchants Trust PLC Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 January 2007 6. Dividends on Ordinary Shares Third interim dividend 4.8p paid 17 February 2006 (2005 – 4.5p) Final dividend 4.8p paid 10 May 2006 (2005 – 4.5p) First interim dividend 4.9p paid 17 August 2006 (2005 – 4.6p) Second interim dividend 4.9p paid 14 November 2006 (2005 – 4.7p) Uncollected dividends from prior years 2007 £ 4,900,989 4,900,989 5,084,234 5,084,234 (6,122) 1111 2006 £ 4,594,677 4,594,677 4,696,781 4,798,885 (23,966) 1111 19,964,324 1111 18,661,054 1111 Dividends payable at the year end are not recognised as a liability under FRS 21 ‘Events after the Balance Sheet Date’ (see page 33 – Statement of Accounting Policies). Details of these dividends are set out below. Third interim dividend 5.1p payable 16 February 2007 (2006 – 4.8p) Final proposed dividend 5.1p payable 16 May 2007 (2006 – 4.8p) 2007 £ 5,291,754 5,291,754 1111 10,583,508 1111 2006 £ 4,900,989 4,900,989 1111 9,801,978 1111 The proposed ﬁnal dividend accrued is based on the number of shares in issue at the year end. However, the dividend payable will be based on the number of shares in issue on the record date and will reﬂect any purchases and cancellation of shares by the Company settled subsequent to the year end. Ordinary dividends paid by the Company carry a tax credit at a rate of 10%. The credit discharges the tax liability of shareholders subject to income tax at less than the higher rate. Shareholders liable to pay tax at the higher rate will have further tax to pay. 7. Return per Ordinary Share Return attributable to Ordinary Shareholders 2007 £ Revenue 22,854,005 1111 2007 £ Capital 63,330,575 1111 2007 £ Total Return 86,184,580 1111 2006 £ Revenue 19,853,959 1111 2006 £ Capital 89,037,383 1111 2006 £ Total Return 108,891,342 1111 Return per Ordinary Share 22.17p 61.44p 83.61p 19.44p 87.20p 106.64p The weighted average number of shares in issue during the year was 103,083,890 (2006 – 102,103,936). 36 The Merchants Trust PLC Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 January 2007 8. Fixed Asset Investments Listed on The London Stock Exchange at market valuation Unlisted at fair value Total ﬁxed asset investments Market value of investments brought forward Adjustment from mid market to bid prices Unrealised gains brought forward Cost of investments held brought forward Additions at cost Disposals at cost Costs of investments held at 31 January Unrealised gains at 31 January Market value of investments held at 31 January Net gains on investments Net realised gains on historical costs Adjustment for net unrealised gains recognised in previous years Net realised gains based on carrying value at previous balance sheet date Net unrealised gains arising in the year Gains on investments before special dividends Special dividends credited to capital Net gains on investments 2007 £ 695,742,546 27,425 1111 695,769,971 1111 621,948,270 – (118,104,550) 1111 503,843,720 244,541,594 (183,862,618) 1111 2006 £ 621,905,781 42,489 1111 621,948,270 1111 535,094,994 (28,000) (57,934,642) 1111 477,132,352 139,140,607 (112,429,239) 1111 564,522,696 131,247,275 1111 503,843,720 118,104,550 1111 695,769,971 1111 621,948,270 1111 53,443,663 (37,189,607) 1111 16,254,056 50,332,332 1111 66,586,388 4,854,213 1111 71,440,601 1111 36,622,105 (24,567,546) 1111 12,054,559 84,737,454 1111 96,792,013 – 1111 96,792,013 1111 Transaction costs on purchases amounted to £1,502,518 (2006 – £888,492) and transaction costs on sales amounted to £369,855 (2006 – £302,257). Stocklending Aggregate value of securities on loan at year-end Maximum aggregate value of securities on loan during the year Fee income from stocklending during the year £0m £72.0m £9,164 1111 £28.0m £72.0m £6,238 1111 In respect of securities on loan at the year-end, the Company held £Nil (2006 – £29.4m) as collateral, the value of which exceeded the value of the loan securities by £Nil (2006 – £1.4m) In respect of the maximum aggregate value of securities on loan during the year, the Company held £75.6m (2006 – £75.6m) as collateral, the value of which exceeded the value of securities on loan by £3.6m (2006 – £3.6m). 37 The Merchants Trust PLC Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 January 2007 9. Investments in Other Companies The Company held more than 10% of the share capital of the following companies, both of which are incorporated in Great Britain and registered in England and Wales: Company First Debenture Finance PLC (‘FDF’) Total Net Assets* £ (5,093,056) Class of Shares held ‘A’ Shares ‘B’ Shares ‘C’ Shares ‘D’ Shares % of Class held 39.2 59.2 45.6 53.3 % Equity 49.2 Fintrust Debenture PLC (‘Fintrust’) 22,066 Ordinary 50.0 50.0 In the opinion of the Directors, the Company is not in a position to exert signiﬁcant inﬂuence over the ﬁnancial or operating policies of FDF or Fintrust, either through voting rights or through agreement with those companies’ other shareholders, due to provisions in FDF and Fintrust’s Articles of Association and in certain contracts between the Company and each of FDF and Fintrust. The aggregate share capital, reserves and results are immaterial to the Company’s accounts. FDF and Fintrust are the lenders of the Company’s Stepped Rate Loan and Fixed Rate Interest Loan, as detailed in Notes 10(i) and 10(ii), respectively. Apart from the ﬁnance costs, there were no other transactions between FDF, Fintrust and the Company during the year. * As at the date of the latest published ﬁnancial statements of FDF or Fintrust, as appropriate. 2007 £ 2006 £ 1,045,185 1,693,069 98,649 1111 2,836,903 1111 2,252,564 1,238,443 95,673 1111 3,586,680 1111 7,003,101 1111 5,374,796 1111 10. Current Assets and Creditors Debtors: Sales for future settlement Accrued income Other debtors Cash at bank: Current account 38 The Merchants Trust PLC Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 January 2007 10. Current Assets and Creditors (continued) Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year – Purchases for future settlement Other creditors Interest on borrowings Creditors: Amounts falling due after more than one year – Stepped Rate Interest Loan Fixed Rate Interest Loan 5.875% Secured Bonds 2029 4% Perpetual Debenture Stock 3.65% Cumulative Preference Stock Note 10(vi) 10(i) 10(ii) 10(iii) 10(iv) 10(v) 2007 £ 2006 £ 1,029,736 878,218 1,319,266 1111 3,227,220 1111 35,829,571 46,111,863 29,053,646 1,375,000 1,178,000 1111 – 1,523,883 1,319,266 1111 2,843,149 1111 35,512,189 46,253,156 29,035,056 1,375,000 1,178,000 1111 113,548,080 1111 113,353,401 1111 (i) The effective interest rate on the Stepped Rate Interest Loan over its terms is 11.28% per annum. The Stepped Rate Interest Loan includes adjustable Stepped Rate Interest Loan Notes of £5,133,520 and Stepped Rate Interest Bonds of £20,534,079 issued at 97.4%. These amounts are repayable on 2 January 2018 exclusive of any redemption expenses, together with a premium of £8,366,513. The initial interest rate in 1987 on the Loan Notes and Bonds was 7.16% per annum. This increased annually by 7.5% compound until January 1998 when it reached its current rate of 14.75%. However, the combined effect of this interest charge and the accrual of the premium referred to above results in an effective interest rate of 11.28% per annum. Interest is payable in January and July each year. Interest on the Loan Notes is variable in accordance with the terms of the agreement with the lender, First Debenture Finance PLC (‘FDF’). The Company has guaranteed the repayment of £34,012,852, being its proportionate share (65.15%) of the required amount to enable FDF to meet all of its liabilities to repay principal and interest on its £52.2 million of 11.125% Severally Guaranteed Debenture Stock 2018. There is a ﬂoating charge on all the Company’s present and future assets to secure this obligation. The Company has also agreed to meet its proportionate share of any expenses incurred by FDF, including any tax liability which may accrue to FDF generally or as a result of the redemption or earlier transfer of the Stepped Rate Loan Notes and Bonds held by FDF. The accounting treatment adopted in respect of the stepped rate interest and redemption premiums is set out in the Statement of Accounting Policies. (ii) The Fixed Rate Interest Loan of £42,000,000 is due to Fintrust Debenture PLC (‘Fintrust’). This loan, issued in 1993, is repayable in 2023 and carries interest at the rate of 9.25125% per annum on the principal amount payable in arrears by equal half yearly instalments in May and November in each year. As security for this loan, the Company has granted a ﬂoating charge over all its undertakings, property and assets in favour of the lender. This charge ranks pari passu with the ﬂoating charge noted in 10(i) above. The original loan from Fintrust is stated at net proceeds (being the principal amount of £30,000,000 less issue costs of £141,053) plus accrued ﬁnance costs. Following the liquidation of Kleinwort Overseas Investment Trust plc (‘KOIT’) in March 1998, the Company assumed £12,000,000 of KOIT’s obligations to Fintrust. Both the interest cost and repayment terms of this additional borrowing were identical to the Company’s existing loan of £30,000,000. In order that the ﬁnance costs on this new borrowing be comparable to existing market rates at that time, the Company also received a premium payment from KOIT of £5,286,564. This premium is being amortised over the remaining life of the loan, as set out in the Statement of Accounting Policies. At 31 January 2007, the unamortised premium included within the Fixed Rate Interest Loan balance of greater than one year amounted to £4,229,629 (2006 – £4,373,764). 39 The Merchants Trust PLC Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 January 2007 10. Current Assets and Creditors (continued) (iii) The £30,000,000 5.875% Secured Bonds, repayable on 20 December 2029, carry interest at the rate of 5.875% per annum on the principal amount payable in arrears by equal half yearly instalments in June and December each year. As security for this loan the Company has granted a ﬂoating charge ranking pari passu with the ﬂoating charges referred to in Note 10(i) and 10(ii) above over the whole of the present and future undertakings, property, assets and rights of the Company. The accounting treatment adopted in respect of the Bonds is set out in the Statement of Accounting Policies. (iv) The 4% Perpetual Debenture Stock is secured by a ﬂoating charge on the assets of the Company, which ranks prior to any other ﬂoating charge. Interest is repayable in arrears by equal half yearly instalments in May and November. (v) The 3.65% Cumulative Preference Stock is recognised as a creditor due after more than one year under the provisions of FRS25 ‘Financial Instruments: Disclosure and Presentation’. The right of the Stock to receive payments is not calculated by reference to the Company’s proﬁts and, in the event of a return of capital are limited to a speciﬁc amount, being £1,178,000. Dividends on the Preference Stock are payable half yearly on 1 August and 1 February. (vi) Interest on outstanding borrowings consists of: Stepped Rate Interest Loan Fixed Rate Interest Loan 5.875% Secured Bonds 2029 4% Perpetual Debenture Stock 11. Called up Share Capital Authorised 150,403,747 Ordinary Shares of 25p (2006 – 107,431,245) Allotted and fully paid 103,759,877 Ordinary Shares of 25p (2006 – 102,103,936) 2007 £ 313,728 783,545 208,243 13,750 1111 1,319,266 1111 2006 £ 313,728 783,545 208,243 13,750 1111 1,319,266 1111 2007 £ 2006 £ 37,600,936 1111 26,857,812 1111 25,939,969 1111 25,525,984 1111 On 29 June 2006, investments and cash amounting to £7m and £0.9m respectively were transferred into the Company following the reconstruction of Allianz Dresdner Income Growth Investment Trust plc, as consideration for 1,655,941 new Ordinary Shares issued at 477.1p. 40 The Merchants Trust PLC Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 January 2007 12. Capital Reserves Balance at 1 February 2006 Net gains on realisation of investments Special dividends Transfer on disposal of investments Net unrealised gains arising in year Investment management fee Finance costs: interest payable and similar charges Other capital charges Balance at 31 January 2007 13. Revenue Reserve Balance at 1 February 2006 Revenue for the year Dividends on Ordinary Shares Balance at 31 January 2007 14. Net Asset Value per Share The Net Asset Value per share was as follows: Ordinary Shares of 25p Ordinary Shares of 25p Realised £ 351,107,802 16,254,056 4,854,213 37,189,607 – (1,785,921) (6,321,084) (3,021) 1111 Unrealised £ 118,104,550 – – (37,189,607) 50,332,332 – – – 1111 Total £ 469,212,352 16,254,056 4,854,213 – 50,332,332 (1,785,921) (6,321,084) (3,021) 1111 401,295,652 1111 131,247,275 1111 532,542,927 1111 £ 19,878,801 22,854,005 (19,964,324) 1111 22,768,482 1111 Net Asset Value per Share attributable 2006 504.1p 1111 2007 567.5p 1111 Net Asset Value attributable 2006 2007 £588,834,675 £514,713,196 11111 11111 The Net Asset Value per Ordinary Share is based on 103,759,877 Ordinary Shares in issue at the year end (2006 – 102,103,936) 15. Contingent Liabilities and Commitments At 31 January 2007 there were no outstanding contingent liabilities (2006 – £nil) in respect of underwriting commitments and calls on partly paid investments. Details of the guarantee provided by the Company as part of the terms of the Stepped Rate Loan are provided in Note 10(i) ‘Current Assets and Creditors’ on page 39. 41 The Merchants Trust PLC Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 January 2007 16. Reconciliation of Return on Ordinary Activities before Taxation to Net Cash Flow from Operating Activities Total return before taxation Add: Finance costs: interest payable and similar charges Add: Special dividends credited to capital Less: Net gains on investments at fair value (Increase) decrease in debtors (Decrease) increase in creditors Net cash inﬂow from operating activities 17. Reconciliation of Net Cash Flow to Movement in Net Debt (i) Analysis of net debt 2007 £ 86,184,580 9,767,741 4,854,213 (71,440,601) 1111 29,365,933 (457,602) (645,665) 1111 28,262,666 1111 2006 £ 108,891,342 9,633,471 – (96,792,013) 1111 21,732,800 379,653 693,342 1111 22,805,795 1111 At 1 February 2006 Movement in year At 31 January 2007 Cash £ 5,374,796 1,628,305 1111 7,003,101 1111 Stepped and Fixed Rate loans £ (81,765,345) (176,089) 1111 5.875% Secured Bonds 2029 £ (29,035,056) (18,590) 1111 4% Perpetual Debenture Stock £ (1,375,000) – 1111 3.65% Cumulative Preference Stock £ (1,178,000) – 1111 Net Debt £ (107,978,605) 1,433,626 1111 (81,941,434) 1111 (29,053,646) 1111 (1,375,000) 1111 (1,178,000) 1111 (106,544,979) 1111 (ii) Reconciliation of net cash ﬂow to movement in net debt Net cash inﬂow Increase in long term loans Movement in net funds Net debt brought forward Net debt carried forward 2007 £ 1,628,305 (194,679) 1111 2006 £ 2,181,889 (33,945) 1111 1,433,626 (107,978,605) 1111 2,147,944 (110,126,549) 1111 (106,544,979) 1111 (107,978,605) 1111 42 The Merchants Trust PLC Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 January 2007 18. Financial Risk Management The note below should be read in conjunction with the Financial Risk Management statements of the Company on page 13. (a) Interest Rate Risk Proﬁle The tables below summarise in Sterling terms the assets and liabilities whose values are affected by changes in interest rates, together with the weighted average interest rates and periods for which rates are ﬁxed on the ﬁxed interest bearing assets and liabilities. 2007 Fixed rate interest £000s 2007 Floating rate interest £000s 2007 Nil interest £000s 2007 Total £000s 2006 Fixed rate interest £000s 2006 Floating rate interest £000s 2006 Nil interest £000s 2006 Total £000s Currency Financial Assets Values not directly affected by changes in interest rates: Equities Equities Cash Sterling US Dollar Sterling – – – – – 7,003 695,770 – – 695,770 – 7,003 – – – – – 5,375 621,933 15 – 621,933 15 5,375 Total Financial Assets 627,323 11111 11111 11111 11111 11111 11111 11111 11111 695,770 702,773 621,948 7,003 5,375 – – Financial Liabilities Values directly affected by changes in interest rates: First Debenture Finance loan Sterling Sterling (35,829) (46,112) Fintrust loan 5.875% Secured Bonds 2029 4% Perpetual Debenture Stock 3.65% Cumulative Preference Stock Total Financial Liabilities Sterling Sterling (29,054) Sterling (1,375) – – – – – – – – (35,829) (46,112) (35,512) (46,253) (29,054) (29,035) (1,375) (1,375) – – – – – – – – (35,512) (46,253) (29,035) (1,375) (1,178) (113,353) 11111 11111 11111 11111 11111 11111 11111 11111 (1,178) (113,548) (1,178) (113,548) (1,178) (113,353) – – – – – – – – Net Financial (Liabilities) Assets Short term debtors and creditors Net Assets per Balance Sheet 513,970 11111 11111 11111 11111 11111 11111 11111 11111 (113,548) (113,353) 589,225 695,770 621,948 7,003 5,375 (390) 1111 588,835 1111 744 1111 514,714 1111 43 The Merchants Trust PLC Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 January 2007 18. Financial Risk Management (continued) The ﬁxed rate interest bearing liabilities bear the following coupon and effective rates as at 31 January 2006 and 31 January 2007: First Debenture Finance loan – bonds First Debenture Finance loan – notes Fintrust – original loan Fintrust – new loan 5.875% Secured Bonds 2029 4% Perpetual Debenture Stock 3.65% Cumulative Preference Stock Maturity date 2/1/2018 2/1/2018 20/11/2023 20/11/2023 20/12/2029 n/a n/a Amount borrowed £ 20,534,079 5,133,520 30,000,000 12,000,000 30,000,000 1,375,000 1,178,000 Coupon rate 14.75% 14.75% 9.25125% 9.25125% 5.875% 4.00% 3.65% Effective rate since inception1 11.28% 11.28% 9.51% 6.00% 6.23% n/a n/a 1The effective rates are calculated in accordance with FRS 26 ‘Financial Instruments: Measurement’ as detailed in the Accounting Policies. The weighted average effective rate of the Company’s ﬁxed interest bearing liabilities (excluding the 4% Perpetual Debenture Stock and the 3.65% Cumulative Preference Stock) is 8.54% (2006 – 8.54%) and the weighted average period to maturity of these liabilities is 17.2 years (2006 – 18.2) years. (b) Currency Risk Proﬁle As at 31 January 2007 £nil (2006 – £14,944) of the assets of the Company were denominated in US Dollars with the effect that the total net assets and total return are not materially affected by currency movements. (c) Fair Value Disclosures The assets and liabilities of the Company are held at a fair value with the exception of the liabilities shown below:2 First Debenture Finance Loan Fintrust Loan 5.875% Secured Bonds 2029 4% Perpetual Debenture Stock 3.65% Cumulative Preference Stock 2007 £ million Book value 35.8 46.1 29.1 1.4 1.2 2007 £ million Fair value 48.4 57.7 31.1 1.1 0.8 2006 £ million Book value 35.5 46.3 29.0 1.4 1.2 2006 £ million Fair value 52.3 62.9 34.1 1.2 0.7 2The fair value is derived from the closing market value as at 31 January 2007 and 31 January 2006. (d) Liquidity Proﬁle The maturity proﬁle of the Company’s ﬁnancial liabilities at 31 January 2007, (being the borrowings from Fintrust, First Debenture Finance, the 5.875% Secured Bonds, the 4% Perpetual Debenture Stock and the 3.65% Preference Stock), is detailed in Note 10 ‘Current Assets and Creditors’ on pages 39 to 40. The undrawn committed borrowings facilities available to the Company at 31 January 2007 were £10,000,000. (e) Hedging Instruments At the year end the Company had no hedging arrangements in place (2006 – nil). 44 The Merchants Trust PLC Notice of Meeting Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of The taken from the London Stock Exchange Ofﬁcial List for Merchants Trust PLC will be held at One Moorgate Place, the ﬁve business days immediately preceding the day on London EC2R 6EA, on 14 May 2007 at 12.00 noon to transact the which the Ordinary Share is purchased or such other following business. Routine Business 1 To receive and adopt the Report of the Directors and the Accounts for the year ended 31 January 2007 together with the Auditors’ Report thereon. amount as may be speciﬁed by the London Stock Exchange from time to time; (iv) the authority hereby conferred shall expire at the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting of the Company in 2008 or, if earlier, on the expiry of 18 months from the passing of this resolution, unless such To declare a ﬁnal dividend of 5.1p per Ordinary Share. authority is renewed prior to such time; and To re-elect Sir Bob Reid as a Director. (v) the Company may make a contract to purchase Ordinary 2 3 4 5 6 7 To re-elect Mr P. J. Scott Plummer as a Director. To elect Mr J. M. Sassoon as a Director. To approve the Directors’ Remuneration Report. To re-appoint PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as Auditors of the Company, to hold ofﬁce until the conclusion of the next general meeting at which accounts are laid before the Company. 8 To authorise the Directors to determine the remuneration of the Auditors. Special Business To consider and if thought ﬁt to pass the following resolutions. Resolution 10 will be proposed as an Ordinary Resolution and Resolutions 9 and 11 as Special Resolutions: 9 That the Company be and is hereby generally and unconditionally authorised in accordance with Section 166 of the Companies Act 1985 (the ‘Act’) to make market purchases (within the meaning of Section 163 of the Act) of Ordinary Shares of 25p each in the capital of the Company (‘Ordinary Shares’), provided that: (i) the maximum number of Ordinary Shares hereby authorised to be purchased shall be 15,553,605; (ii) the minimum price which may be paid for an Ordinary Share is 25p; (iii) the maximum price which may be paid for an Ordinary Share is an amount equal to 105 per cent of the average of the middle-market quotations for an Ordinary Share Shares under the authority hereby conferred prior to the expiry of such authority which will or may be executed wholly or partly after the expiration of such authority and may make a purchase of Ordinary Shares pursuant to any such contract. 10 That for the purposes of Section 80 of the Companies Act 1985 the Directors be generally and unconditionally authorised to exercise all the powers of the Company to allot relevant securities (within the meaning of the said Section) up to an aggregate nominal amount of £8,646,656 provided that: (i) the authority granted shall expire ﬁve years from the date upon which this Resolution is passed but may be revoked or varied by the Company in general meeting and may be renewed by the Company in general meeting for a further period not exceeding ﬁve years; and (ii) the authority shall allow and enable the Directors to make an offer or agreement before the expiry of that authority which would or might require relevant securities to be allotted after such expiry and the Directors may allot relevant securities in pursuance of any such offer or agreement as if that authority had not expired. 45 The Merchants Trust PLC Notice of Meeting 11 That the Directors be empowered in accordance with Section 95 of the Companies Act 1985 to allot equity securities (within the meaning of Section 94 of the Act) for cash pursuant to the authority conferred by Resolution 10 as if sub-section (1) of Section 89 of the Act did not apply to any such allotment provided that: (i) the power granted shall be limited to the allotment of equity securities wholly for cash up to an aggregate nominal amount of £1,296,998; (ii) the power granted shall (unless previously revoked or renewed) expire at the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company after the passing of this resolution; and (iii) the said power shall allow and enable the Directors to make an offer or agreement before the expiry of that power which would or might require equity securities to be allotted after such expiry and the Directors may allot equity securities in pursuance of such offer or agreement as if that power had not expired. 155 Bishopgate, London EC2M 3AD 4 April 2007 By Order of the Board K. J. Salt Secretary Notes: Members entitled to attend and vote at this Meeting may appoint one or more proxies to attend and, on a poll, vote in their stead. The proxy need not be a Member of the Company. Duly completed forms of proxy must reach the ofﬁce of the Registrars at least 48 hours before the Meeting. A form of proxy is provided with the Annual Report. Completion of the enclosed form of proxy does not preclude a Member from attending the Meeting and voting in person. Shares held in uncertiﬁcated form (i.e., in CREST) may be voted through the CREST Proxy Voting Service in accordance with the procedures set out in the CREST manual. To be entitled to attend and vote at the Meeting (and for the purpose of the determination by the Company of the number of votes they may cast), Members must be entered on the Company’s Register of Members at 6 p.m. on 12 May 2006 (‘the speciﬁed time’). If the Meeting is adjourned to a time not more than 48 hours after the speciﬁed time applicable to the original Meeting, that time will also apply for the purpose of determining the entitlement of Members to attend and vote (and for the purpose of determining the number of votes they may cast) at the adjourned Meeting. If, however, the Meeting is adjourned for a longer period then, to be so entitled, Members must be entered on the Company’s Register of Members at the time which is 48 hours before the time ﬁxed for the adjourned Meeting or, if the Company gives notice of the adjourned Meeting, at the time speciﬁed in that notice. Contracts of service are not entered into with the Directors, who hold ofﬁce in accordance with the Articles of Association. 46 Annual General Meeting Venue t Chartered Accountants Hall, One Moorgate Place The Merchants Trust PLC Investor Information & Contact Details The Managers Allianz Global Investors is the marketing name of RCM (UK) Limited, Allianz Group’s regulated UK fund management company, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Dividend Reinvestment Plan for Ordinary Shareholders Dividend reinvestment has always been an option for Share Plan and/or Pep/ISA investors and the Company is pleased that a similar Authority. Allianz Global Investors is one of the largest fund managers in Europe, and as at 31 December 2006, had combined assets of £876 billion under management. Through its predecessors, it has a heritage of investment trust management expertise in the UK stretching back to the nineteenth century and had £1.3 billion assets under management in a range of investment trusts as at 31 December 2006. Results Half-year announced in September Full-year announced in March Report and Accounts posted to shareholders in April Annual General Meeting held in May Ordinary Dividends First quarterly paid in August Second quarterly paid in November Third quarterly paid in February Final usually paid in May Preference Dividends Payable half-yearly on 1 August and 1 February facility is now to be made available to Ordinary Shareholders as well. The Dividend Reinvestment Plan is to be operated by the Company’s Registrars, Capita Registrars. Capita will enclose an introductory card with the ﬁnal dividend payment in May, and further information on the Terms and Conditions, and details of how to apply, can be requested by completing and returning the card to the Registrars. Market and Portfolio Information The Company’s Ordinary Shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange. The market price, price range, gross yield and net asset value are shown daily in The Financial Times and The Daily Telegraph. The net asset value of the Ordinary Shares is calculated weekly and published by the London Stock Exchange Regulatory News Service. The geographical spread of investments and ten largest holdings are also published monthly by the London Stock Exchange Regulatory News Service. They are also available to any enquirer of Allianz Global Investors, either via Investor Services on 0800 317 573 or on the Manager’s website: www.allianzglobalinvestors.co.uk. Share Prices The share prices quoted in the London Stock Exchange Daily Ofﬁcial List for 31 January 2007 were 512.75p – 513.25p. Payment of Dividends Direct to Bank Accounts Cash dividends will be sent by cheque to ﬁrst-named shareholders at their registered address together with a tax voucher. Dividends may be paid directly into shareholders’ bank accounts. Details of how this may be arranged can be obtained from the Registrars, For CGT indexation purposes, at 31 March 1982 the share price, after adjustment for bonus issues, was 48.75p. Share Plan The Allianz Global Investors Investment Trust Share Plan provides a Capita Registrars, The Registry, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, convenient and economical way for shareholders to increase their Kent BR3 4TU. Dividends mandated in this way are paid via BACS existing holdings. Investments can be in the form of a regular (Bankers’ Automated Clearing Service). Tax vouchers will then be monthly contribution, or an individual lump sum or a combination sent directly to shareholders at their registered address unless other of the two. There are arrangements for the reinvestment of instructions have been given. dividends and for selling and switching. Full details of the plan are available from Allianz Global Investors, either via Investor Services on 0800 317 573 or the Manager’s website: www.allianzglobalinvestors.co.uk. 47 The Merchants Trust PLC Investor Information & Contact Details Investment Trust Maxi ISA and PEP Transfer Shareholders can invest in the shares of the Company through the Allianz Global Investors Investment Trust Maxi ISA and PEP Transfer. Full details are available from Allianz Global Investors, either via Investor Services on 0800 317 573 or the Manager’s website: www.allianzglobalinvestors.co.uk. Managers and Advisers Fund Manager RCM (UK) Limited Represented by Simon Gergel Website Further information about the The Merchants Trust PLC is available on the Manager’s website: www.allianzglobalinvestors.co.uk. Association of Investment Companies (AIC) The Company is a member of the AIC, the trade body of the investment trust industry, which provides a range of literature including fact sheets and a monthly statistical service. Copies of these publications can be obtained from the AIC, 9th Floor, 24 Chiswell Street, London EC1Y 4YY, or at www.theaic.co.uk. AIC Category: UK Growth and Income Shareholders’ Enquiries Capita Registrars are the Company’s registrars and maintain the share register. In the event of queries regarding their holdings of shares, lost certiﬁcates, dividend cheques, registered details, etc., shareholders should contact them on 0870 162 3100 or, if telephoning from overseas, +44 20 8639 2157. Changes of name and address must be notiﬁed to the Registrars in writing. Any general enquiries about the Company should be directed to the Company Secretary, The Merchants Trust PLC, 155 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 3AD. Secretary and Registered Ofﬁce Kirsten Salt BA (Hons) ACIS 155 Bishopsgate London EC2M 3AD Telephone: 020 7065 1513 Registered Number 28276 Registrars and Transfer Ofﬁce Capita Registrars The Registry 34 Beckenham Road Beckenham Kent BR3 4TU Telephone (if calling from within the UK): 0870 162 3100 Telephone (if calling from overseas): +44 20 8639 2157 Email: ssd@capitaregistrars.com Independent Auditors PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Southwark Towers 32 London Bridge Street London SE1 9SY Bankers HSBC Bank Barclays Bank Stockbroker JPMorgan Cazenove Legal Advisers Herbert Smith LLP Allianz Global Investors Telephone: 0800 317 573 or www.allianzglobalinvestors.co.uk. greenaways,1 69054 Allianz Global Investors Phone 0800 317 573 Fax 020 7638 3508 www.allianzglobalinvestors.co.uk

Continue reading text version or see original annual report in PDF format above