Annual Financial Report

Hargreave Hale AIM VCT 1 plc announced its results for the year ended 30 September 2010 on 20 December 2010. The full Financial Statements can be accessed on the Company's website http://www.hargreave- hale.co.uk/aimvct/reports.htm or alternatively by following the link at the bottom of this report. FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS Ordinary Shares: 2010 2009 Net asset value per share 62.67p 63.98p Cumulative distributions paid since launch 19.0p 17.0p Total return 81.67p 80.98p Discount to Net Asset Value (based on bid market 15.0% 23.0% price at balance sheet date) Annual Returns per share: Revenue return 0.07p (0.31)p Capital return 0.21p (1.27)p Return per share 0.28p (1.58)p Dividends: Interim paid 2.0p 2.0p Final proposed 2.0p - Total dividend for year 4.0p 2.0p Performance Benchmark: Total Return 86.0% 85.2% FTSE AIM All-share Index 81.2% 67.0% (results rebased to 100 at 29 October 2004) CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT Introduction I am pleased to report that the financial results for the year to 30 September 2010 show an improvement over the previous year.  At 30 September 2010 the NAV was 62.67 pence which after adjusting for the dividends paid gives a total return of 81.67 pence. The gain per ordinary share for the year was 0.28 pence per share (comprising revenue gains of 0.07 pence and capital gains of 0.21 pence). I am pleased to report that the NAV on 10 December had risen to 68.77p per share. Investments The Investment Manager, Hargreave Hale Limited, invested a further £0.98 million in 5 qualifying companies during the year and 3 companies went into administration realising a net loss of £1.4 million. The Fair Value of qualifying investments at 30 September 2010 was £9.9 million invested in 41 AIM companies and 1 unquoted company Mexican Grill Limited, the balance was held in non-qualifying AIM stocks. Dividend An interim dividend of 2 pence was paid on 2 July 2010 (2009 - 2 pence). A final dividend of 2 pence is proposed (2009 - Nil) which, subject to shareholder approval at the AGM will be paid on 14 February 2011, to ordinary shareholders on the register on 14 January 2011. Buybacks We were pleased that we were able to maintain our policy of offering our shareholders an efficient exit route through the buyback scheme.  In total, 1,621,991 Shares were purchased during the year at an average price of 56.3 pence per share. Arrangements with Keydata Investment Services (KIS)/Change in Hargreave Hale's Investment Management Agreement On 8 June 2009 KIS went into administration.  On the 29 September 2010 the Company signed a variation agreement with KIS and PricewaterhouseCoopers (the administrators of KIS) to terminate certain obligations between the Company and KIS under offer agreements which related to previous offers of shares by the Company and an administration agreement that was formerly in place.  Of the obligations terminated, these included the payment of annual fees of 0.9 per cent. per annum and performance incentive fees by the Company to KIS, and the payment by KIS of commissions to financial intermediaries in connection with those offers (with the Company assuming the obligation for the payment of these directly). Since the year end, the Company and Hargreave Hale Limited entered into a deed of variation on 15 December 2010 to vary the terms of the Investment Management Agreement to increase the annual management fee payable to the Manager from 0.9 per cent. to 1.5 per cent. of the Net Asset Value of the Company. In exchange Hargreave Hale Limited has agreed to provide an indemnity to cap the annual running costs of the Company at 3.5 per cent. of the Net Asset Value (such costs excluding VAT, any Performance Incentive Fee and any trail commissions the payment of which is the responsibility of the Company) and cover any excess. The effect of the change in annual management fee from 0.9 to 1.5 per cent. would lead to an increase of £108,181 (based on the latest NAV as at 10 December 2010). Joint Offer for Subscription of Ordinary Shares On the 20 March 2010 a joint offer for subscription of Ordinary Shares of 1p each in Hargreave Hale AIM VCT 1 plc and Hargreave Hale AIM VCT 2 plc to raise up to, in aggregate, £10 million was offered to the public. In the tax year 2009/2010, the Offer resulted in funds being received of £0.66 million and 0.99 million shares have been issued in respect of Hargreave Hale AIM VCT 1 plc. In the tax year 2010/2011, the Offer has resulted so far in funds being received of £0.25 million and 0.39 million shares have been issued in respect of Hargreave Hale AIM VCT 1 plc. The Offer opened on 20 March 2010 has been extended and will now close on 18 March 2011 (unless fully subscribed earlier). The allocation of successful applicants will be on a first come first served basis, unless the maximum subscription under the offer has been exceeded, in this case the directors reserve the right to exercise their discretion in allocating shares. In respect of the ongoing Offer, to have full subscription new funds will be limited to £6.09m in respect of Hargreave Hale AIM VCT 1 plc. VCT Status To maintain its VCT qualifying status we must invest at least 70% of the net funds raised in any one accounting period in qualifying investments within three years. At the year end we had achieved 80.12% and have satisfied all the relevant tests. UK Listing Rule Changes As a public listed company, Hargreave Hale AIM VCT 1 plc is required to comply with the regulations of the UK listings Authority. Certain changes to the existing Board were required prior to the new UKLA regulations on Board independence which came into effect on 28 September 2010. As a result of these changes, on the 28 September 2010, David Hurst-Brown resigned as a non executive director of the company. I should like to thank David for all his help and sagacity since we started. David Brock whose biography is on page 7 was appointed in his place. Outlook Whilst the economy seems to have avoided the worst recession that was feared the cost has been an unprecedented level of Government borrowings and an enormous ongoing budget deficit. The new government has recognised that this is not sustainable for long and has started to make cuts. It faces a hard balancing act between fiscal rectitude and killing off the green shoots of recovery. I am hopeful that we will see continued recovery but there is little doubt that we live in uncertain economic times. If the market suffers a reversal we may see share prices go lower. Because a VCT has to maintain 70 per cent. of its assets in qualifying companies the manager would have little scope to sell assets in such circumstances. However, whilst we may see a short term drop in Net Asset Value, I believe that your portfolio is largely comprised of robust companies with competent management and good growth plans and will be well placed to weather any such storm. Sir Aubrey Brocklebank Bt Chairman Date: 20 December 2010 For further information, please contact:- Stuart Brookes Company Secretary Hargreave Hale AIM VCT 1 Plc 01253 754740 HHV Annual Financial Report 30 September 2010: http://hugin.info/142351/R/1478912/414674.pdf This announcement is distributed by Thomson Reuters on behalf of Thomson Reuters clients. The owner of this announcement warrants that: (i) the releases contained herein are protected by copyright and other applicable laws; and (ii) they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein. Source: Hargreave Hale AIM VCT 1 plc via Thomson Reuters ONE [HUG#1478912]
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