REG - Worldsec Ld - Half Yearly Report <Origin Href="QuoteRef">WSL.L</Origin>

WorldsecAnnouncement

29/10/2014 16:00

RNS Number : 2538Q
Worldsec Ld
28 August 2014

WORLDSEC LIMITED
Interim Report for the six months ended 30 June 2014

Worldsec Limited
Interim Report for the six months ended 30 June 2014
The board (the "Board") of directors of Worldsec Limited (the "Company") hereby submits the interim report on the Company and its subsidiaries (collectively known as the "Group") for the six months ended 30 June 2014.
For the six months ended 30 June 2014, the unaudited results of the Group showed a net loss of US$176,000 , equivalent to a loss per share of 0.3 US cent. This compares with a net loss of US$108,000 and a loss per share of 0.8 US cent for the corresponding period in the previous year. The decline in the loss per share basically reflects the increase in the number of shares as a result of the share issue associated with the fund raising exercise in August 2014. As at 30 June 2014, the Group's total equity stood at US$4.07 million, as compared to US$4.24 million as at the 31 December 2013, and the unaudited net asset value per share amounted to 7.2 US cents.
During the first six months of the current financial year, the Group had been actively looking for and exploring potential investment opportunities. In this connection, a number of investment proposals had been identified and put forward to the Board for review and discussion. However, due to the valuation expectations of the investee companies in question, the Board noted that the amounts of investment required for these proposals were generally significant relative to the size or the gross assets of the Group and after due and careful evaluation and deliberation concluded that the risk return profiles of these proposals, with the exception of one, were not particularly favourable to suit the investment criteria of the Company. The one that remains under further consideration is a new start-up company aiming to provide education services to kindergartens in China (the "Kindergarten Project"). The Group is in the process of carrying out more in-depth analysis of this potential investment proposal; and based on the information currently available, it appears that this investment is a viable and attractive proposition. Subject to satisfactory due diligence and the approval of the proposed expansion in the scope of the Company's Investment Policy as discussed below, the Board intends to make an investment in the Kindergarten Project.
Reference is made to the Investment Policy of the Company, which currently excludes investments in new start-up companies. In the course of attempting to source and identify target investment opportunities, however, it has become apparent that the prevailing investment environment for investing particularly in larger established companies with proven turnover track records as required under the current Investment Policy of the Company has become increasingly competitive against the backdrop of the highly accommodative policies adopted by the central banks in advanced economies. The competition for quality targets has as a consequence been driving up the valuations of these companies, thereby adversely affecting the risk reward balance for investing in them. This in turn has an adverse and restraining effect on the Group to make investments consistent with the current Investment Policy of the Company. Meantime, during the sourcing process, the Group has come across a number of potentially attractive investment opportunities involving new start-up companies. While investing in such companies generally entails a higher degree of risks, the potential for capital appreciation associated with them is commensurately stronger. In the absence of proven track records, the valuations of such companies are also less demanding, thus further enhancing the risk reward balance for investing in them. Accordingly, in order to allow greater flexibility for the Group to capture market opportunities under the prevailing investment environment and to cater for the potential investment in the Kindergarten Project as described above, the Board intends to seek shareholders' approval to expand the scope of the Company's Investment Policy in the forthcoming Annual General Meeting to include investments in new start-up companies.
The Group's recently formed wholly-owned subsidiary, Worldsec Investment (Hong Kong) Limited, has reached agreement to rent a new office. Upon completion of the renovation of the new office, the Group will be in a position to accommodate additional staff to cope with the expected increase in its business activities. The Board is also confident that, should the proposed expansion in the scope of the Company's Investment Policy be approved by shareholders, the Group will be in a better position to achieve the investment objective of the Company with greater flexibility and hence more efficiently. 
By order of the Board
Alastair GUNN-FORBES
Non-Executive Chairman
28th August 2014


CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2014  


Unaudited

Audited


Six months ended

Year ended

Notes
30.6.2014

30.6.2013

31.12.2013


US$'000

US$'000

US$'000







Other income and gain
5
-

-

-
Staff costs

(43)

(7)

(45)
Other expenses

(133)

(86)

(228)







Loss before tax

(176)

(108)

(273)
Income tax expense
6
-

-

-







Loss for the period/year

(176)

(108)

(273)













Other comprehensive income, net of 






income tax






Exchange differences on translating foreign






operations

(1)

(1)

2







Other comprehensive income for the period/year,






net of income tax

(1)

(1)

2







Total comprehensive income for the period/year

(177)

(109)

(271)







Loss attributable to:






Owners of the Company

(176)

(108)

(273)







Total comprehensive income attributable to:






Owners of the Company

(177)

(109)

(271)














Loss per share - basic and diluted
7
(0.3) cent

(0.8)cent

(1)cent














CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OFFINANCIAL POSITION
AT 30 JUNE 2014 


Unaudited

Audited


Six months ended

Year ended

Notes
30.6.2014

30.6.2013

31.12.2013


US$'000

US$'000

US$'000
Current assets






Cash and bank balances

4,339

774

4,702







Current liabilities






Other payables and accruals

(272)

(249)

(458)







Net current assets

4,067

525

4,244







Net assets

4,067

525

4,244














Capital and reserves






Share capital
Share premium
8
9
57
3,837

13
-

57
3,837
Contributed surplus
9
9,646

9,646

9,646
Foreign currency translation reserve 
9
(3)

(5)

(2)
Special reserve
9
625

625

625
Accumulated losses
9
(10,095)

(9,754)

(9,919)







Total equity

4,067

525

4,244









CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTOFCASH FLOW
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2014  

Unaudited

Audited

Six months ended

Year ended

30.6.2014

30.6.2013

31.12.2013

US$'000

US$'000

US$'000
Cash flow from operating activities





Loss for the period/year
(176)

(108)

(273)






Interest income
-

-

-







(176)

(108)

(273)
Movement in working capital





Increase/(decrease) in other payables and accruals
(186)

(26)

183






Net cash used in operating activities
(362)

(134)

(90)






Cash flow from financing activities
Proceeds from issue of new shares
-

-

4,337
Payment for Share issue costs
-

-

(456)






Net cash from financing activities
-

-

3,881












Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
(362)

(134)

3,791






Cash and cash equivalents at





beginningoftheperiod/year
4,702

909

909






Effects of exchange rate changes
(1)

(1)

2






Cash and cash equivalentsat





endoftheperiod/year





Cash and bank balances
4,339

774

4,702


NOTES TO THE INTERIM REPORT
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2014 
1. GENERAL INFORMATION
The Company is an exempted company incorporated in Bermuda and its shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange. The addresses of the registered office and principal place of business of the Company are disclosed in the corporate information in the interim report.
2. ADOPTION OF NEW AND REVISED INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL REPORTING STANDARDS ( "IFRSs")
In the current period, the Group had adopted all of the new and revised IFRSs issued by the International Accounting Standards Board ("IASB") and the International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee ("IFRIC") of the IASB that were relevant to its operations and effective for accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2014. The adoption of these new and revised IFRSs had no significant impact on the financial statements of the Group.
The Group has not applied the following new and revised IFRSs that have been issued but are not yet effective:
IAS 16
IAS 19
IAS 24
IAS 38
IAS 40
IFRS 2 
IFRS 3 (as revised in 2008)
IFRS 8
IFRS 9
Property, Plant and Equipment1
Employee Benefits1
Related Party Disclosures1
Intangible Assets1
Investment Property1
Share-based Payment1
Business Combinations1
Operating Segments1
Financial Instruments2
IFRS 9 and IFRS 7
IFRS 14
Mandatory Effective Date of IFRS 9 and Transition Disclosures2
Regulatory Deferral Accounts3


 
1 Effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 July 2014
2  Effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2015
3 Effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2016
The directors anticipate that the application of these standards, amendments and interpretations in the future periods will have no material financial impact on the financial statements of the Group.
Save as disclosed above, the accounting policies adopted in preparing this report were consistent with those adopted in preparing the consolidated financial statements of the Group for the year ended 31 December 2013.
NOTES TO THE INTERIM REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2014 
3. BASIS OF PREPARATION
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with IFRSs. It has been prepared on a going concern basis using the historical cost convention except for certain financial instruments, if any, that are measured at fair values at the end of each reporting period. 
The Group's financial statements have consolidated the financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries undertakings included in the Group.
4. BUSINESS AND GEOGRAPHICAL SEGMENTS
No business and geographical segment analyses are presented for the periods ended 30 June 2014 and 30 June 2013 as the Group had only maintained a minimum operation during the periods.
5. OTHER INCOME AND GAIN

Unaudited

Audited

Six months ended

Year ended

30.6.2014

30.6.2013

31.12.2013

US$'000

US$'000

US$'000






Sundry Income
-

-

-
Interest income
-

-

-

-

-

-






6. INCOME TAX EXPENSE
No provision for taxation has been made as the Group did not generate any assessable profits for UK Corporation Tax, Hong Kong Profits Tax and tax in other jurisdictions.
7. LOSS PER SHARE
Calculation of loss per share was based on the following:

Unaudited

Audited

Six months ended

Year ended

30.6.2014

30.6.2013

31.12.2013






Loss for the period/year
US$(176,000)

US$(108,000)

US$(273,000)












Weighted average number of shares in issue
56,734,580

13,367,290

27,387,400












Loss per share - basic and diluted
0.3 cent

0.8 cent

1 cent






NOTES TO THE INTERIM REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2014 
8. SHARE CAPITAL


Unaudited

Audited

Six months ended

Year ended

30.6.2014

30.6.2013

31.12.2013
Authorised:
US$'000

US$'000

US$'000
Ordinary shares of US$0.001each
60,000,000

50,000,000

60,000,000






Called up, issued and fully paid:





Ordinary shares of US$0.001each
56,735

13,367

56,735






9. RESERVES








Foreign














Currency









Share


Contributed

Translation


Special


Accumulated



Premium


Surplus

Reserve


Reserve


Losses



US$'000


US$'000

US$'000


US$'000


US$'000






























Balance as at 1 January 2013


-


9,646 

(4)


625


(9,646)
Loss for the period

-


-

(1)


-


(108)













Balance as at 1 July 2013 
-

9,646

(5)


625


(9,754)
Loss for the period
-


-

3


-


(165)
Issue of new shares by way of open offer and placing
4,293


-

-


-


-
Transaction costs attributable to issue of new shares
(456)


-

-


-


-
Balance as at 1 January 2014


3,837


9,646

(2)


625




(9,919)
Loss for the period


-


-

(1)


-




(176)
Balance as at 30 June 2014


3,837


9,646

(3)


625


(10,095)
10. INTERIM REPORT
 The interim report will be sent to shareholders on or about 2nd September 2014.
CORPORATE INFORMATION
Board of Directors
Non-Executive Chairman
Alastair GUNN-FORBES
Executive Directors
Henry Ying Chew CHEONG (Deputy Chairman)
Ernest Chiu Shun SHE 
Non-Executive Directors
Mark Chung FONG
Martyn Stuart WELLS 
Company Secretary
Jordan Company Secretaries Limited 
21 St Thomas Street, Bristol B51 6JS, United Kingdom 
Registered Office Address
Canon's Court, 22 Victoria Street, Hamilton HM12, Bermuda
Registration Number
21466 Bermuda
Principal Bankers
The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited
1 Queen's Road, Central, Hong Kong
Auditors
Menzies LLP
Ashcombe House, 5 The Crescent, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 8DY, United Kingdom
Principal Share Registrar and Transfer Office
Appleby Management(Bermuda) Ltd.
Canon's Court, 22 Victoria Street, Hamilton HM12, Bermuda
International Branch Registrar
Capita Asset Services
12 Castle Street, St Helier, Jersey, JE2 3RT, Channel Islands
United Kingdom Transfer Agent
Capita Asset Services
The Registry, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent, BR3 4TU, United Kingdom
Investor Relations
For further information about Worldsec Limited, please contact:
Henry Ying Chew CHEONG
Executive Director
Worldsec Group
6th Floor, New Henry House, 10 Ice House Street, Central, Hong Kong

This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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