This compares favourably with an increase of 22.3% from the company's benchmark, the S&P/Citigroup Japan Extended Market Index (total return net).

The diluted total return on net assets, which assumes that all of the subscription shares were exercised at the rate of 135p per share and that all treasury shares were re-issued in accordance with the board's policy on the re-issuance of treasury shares, increased by 30.8%.

Over the same period, the company's ordinary share price return rose by 40.6% and the subscription share price return was 218.5%.

The company's 'unit' share price return, which comprises the total return from five ordinary shares and one subscription share (as issued to shareholders on 5 March) was 44.9%.

Story provided by Business Financial Newswire