Final Results

British SmallerTechCompaniesVCT2PLC 25 March 2002 BRITISH SMALLER TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES VCT 2 PLC Preliminary results for the period ended 31 December 2001 Financial highlights: • £375,000 invested in three companies • Income £288,000 • Net revenue return before tax £35,000 • Total return per share (0.48p) • Net Assets £6,441,000 • Net asset value per share 93.7p British Smaller Technology Companies VCT 2 plc is the successor to British Smaller Technology Companies VCT plc, the venture capital trust specialising in growing smaller technology companies. It is following a similar investment strategy to its forerunner, which is now fully invested, and is advised by Yorkshire Fund Managers Limited. The Chairman, Sir Andrew Hugh Smith, said that three investments, totalling £375,000, had been made during the period to 31 December 2001. They were in Tamesis Limited, a company that designs, develops and sells financial software, Amino Holdings Limited , a developer and licensor of technologies for the secure and rapid development of networked multimedia solutions, and Syngenix Limited, a company which has patented technology that targets drug delivery using nerve cell transportation. "The investment portfolio is still at a very early stage in its development," he said. Phil Cammerman, Managing Director of Yorkshire Fund Managers Limited, said, " Market sentiment toward the valuation of technology-based companies looks set to remain weak for some time yet and should provide the opportunity for an enhanced benefit to shareholders over that time through increased capital growth." For further information please contact: Phil Cammerman Yorkshire Fund Managers Ltd Tel: 0113 294 5050 David Hardy Binns & Co Tel: 0207 786 9600 Simon Mountford Simon Mountford Communications Tel: 01347 844844 CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT I am pleased to present the first Annual Report and Accounts to the Shareholders of British Smaller Technology Companies VCT 2 plc for the period from 4 October 2000 to 31 December 2001. The first allotment of shares under the initial subscription was made on 29 December 2000 with admittance to a full listing on the London Stock Exchange taking place on 12 April 2001. The reporting period suffered from an exceptionally unfavourable environment. Led by the United States, activity in the world economy was in a period of decline. The full effects of the decline in valuations of the IT and Telecom sectors were felt and business confidence and investment spending fell very sharply. This was accentuated by the events of 11 September. The difficult economic environment was inevitably reflected in financial markets, most sharply in the case of small and emerging companies. In the UK, the FTSE AIM index fell 38% and the FTSE Techmark100 index 43% during 2001. This situation reflected the market's return to more realistic valuations of emerging and, particularly, technology-based companies even more so than the concerns at the effects of an economic slow down. The longer-term prospects of the technology sector remain intact although the decline in confidence and activity has presented many companies with short-term difficulties. A beneficial effect has been that we are now able to negotiate with potential investee companies at much more attractive valuations. Investments In my interim report I outlined the two investments that had been made at that date, £125,000 in Amino Holdings Limited and £150,000 in Tamesis Limited. Both investments were made as part of a larger funding package and alongside monies from other funds under the management of your Board's Investment Adviser, Yorkshire Fund Managers Limited. Since that date one further investment has been completed bringing total investments made to £375,000. On 7 September, £100,000 was invested in Syngenix Limited by way of £90,000 convertible unsecured loan stock and £10,000 in Ordinary shares representing 1.66% of the issued Ordinary share capital. This investment was made alongside a further £100,000 from British Smaller Technology Companies VCT plc and was part of a £5.5m start-up funding package. Syngenix's business is the delivery of drugs and probes to the nervous system. The investment portfolio is still at a very early stage in its development. However, the events of 11 September had a material effect on the business of Tamesis Limited, a company that designs, develops and sells financial software to the risk management divisions of global investment banks. As a result your Board has decided to make a 50% provision against the cost of this investment. Financial Results and Dividend The net revenue return after tax for the period was £28,000 on total revenue of £288,000. All income was derived from surplus liquid funds awaiting investment. The total return was a loss of £27,000 following the write down of the investment in Tamesis. No dividend is proposed in line with the stated aim of the Company. The Company's investment policy is geared toward medium and longer term capital gains rather than short term revenue returns. Thus, as the Company moves toward full investment, it is expected that revenue returns will fall as the level of liquid funds reduces. It is anticipated that dividend returns to shareholders will only be made once capital gains begin to materialise. The net asset value at 31 December 2001 was 93.7p per Ordinary share. Fund Raising As stated in my interim report, the conditions for raising funds in the current market were, and remain, difficult. The fund raising closed on 31 May 2001 with a total of £6.7m committed by Shareholders. Following further issues of shares under the directors' authority to allot, total funds raised from Shareholders was £6.8m from this initial offer. A new prospectus to raise additional Shareholder funds was issued on 23 November 2001 and this is ongoing. To date just over £0.5m has been raised under this new issue. Outlook Yorkshire Fund Managers Limited continues to report a strong flow of enquiries from companies that meet the criteria for funding laid out in the prospectus. The continued weak market sentiment toward technology-based companies is providing your Company with opportunities toinvest in businesses with real innovative advantage at attractive valuations, thus increasing the potential for future capital gains. Sir Andrew Hugh Smith Chairman 25 March 2002 Statement Of Total Return (Incorporating the Revenue Account) For The Period Ended 31 December 2001 Period ended 31 December 2001 Notes Revenue Capital Total £000 £000 £000 Net losses on investments - (13) (13) Income 288 - 288 Investment advisory fee (114) (49) (163) Other expenses (139) - (139) ------ ------ ------ Net return on ordinary activities before taxation 35 (62) (27) Tax on ordinary activities 2 (7) 7 - ------ ------ ------ Net return on ordinary activities after taxation 28 (55) (27) Dividends in respect of equity shares 3 - - - ------ ------ ------ Transfer to (from) reserves 28 (55) (27) ==== ==== ==== Return per Ordinary share Basic and fully diluted 4 0.49p (0.97)p (0.48)p Notes The revenue column of this statement is the profit and loss account of the Company. All activity has arisen from continuing operations. There is no difference between the net revenue return on ordinary activities before taxation and the transfer to revenue reserves for the financial period and their historic cost equivalents. Balance Sheet At 31 December 2001 Notes 2001 £000 Fixed Assets Investment Portfolio 300 ------ Current Assets Investments 5,631 Debtors 109 Cash 437 ------ 6,177 Creditors: amounts payable within one year (36) ------ Net Current Assets 6,141 ------ Total Net Assets 6,441 ==== Capital and Reserves Called up share capital 688 Share premium account 5,780 Capital reserve Realised 30 Unrealised (85) Revenue reserve (55) 28 ------ Equity shareholders' funds 6,441 ==== New asset value per Ordinary share 93.7p ==== Cash Flow Statement For the period ended 31 December 2001 Notes Period ended 31 December 2001 £000 Net cash outflow from operating activities (87) ------ Investing activities Purchase of investments (375) ------ Net cash outflow before management of liquid resources and (462) financing ------ Management of liquid resources Purchase of fixed interest government stocks (17,524) Proceeds from the sale of fixed interest government stocks 11,955 ------ Net cash outflow from management of liquid resources (5,569) ------ Financing Issue of Ordinary shares 6,876 Issue of expenses (408) ------ Net cash inflow from financing 6,468 ------ Increase in cash 437 ==== Notes To The Financial Statements 1. Basis of Reporting This preliminary announcement does not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of Section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. The announcement has been agreed with the Company's auditors for release. The financial information has been prepared on a basis consistent with the previous year. Comparative figures for the year ended 31 December 2000 have been extracted from the statutory accounts on which the auditors gave an unqualified report and which did not contain a statement under Sections 237(2) or 237(3) of the Companies Act 1985. Those accounts have been filed with the Registrar of Companies. The statutory accounts for the year ended 31 December2001 will be delivered to the Registrar of Companies following the Company's Annual General Meeting. 2. Taxation Charge 2001 Revenue Capital Total £000 £000 £000 Corporation tax payable at 20% 7 (7) - ==== ==== ==== 3 Dividends There is no proposed dividend. 4. Return per Ordinary share The basic return per Ordinary share is based on the net revenue return from ordinary activities after tax of £28,000 and on 5,682,000 shares, being the weighted average number of shares in issue during the period. There is no difference between the basic return per Ordinary share and the fully diluted return per Ordinary share. 5. Net asset value per Ordinary share The net asset value per Ordinary share is calculated on attributable assets of £6,441,000 and 6,876,133 shares in issue at the period end. 6. Annual General Meeting Copies of the full financial statements for the period ended 31 December 2001 are expected to be posted to shareholders on 27 March 2002 and will be available to the public at the registered office of the Company at Saint Martins House, 210-212 Chapeltown Road, Leeds, LS7 4HZ thereafter. The Company's AGM is due to be held at 12.30 p.m. on 10 May 2002 at 42 Brook Street, London, W1K 5BB. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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