Interim Results
Elderstreet Downing VCT PLC
30 August 2002
ELDERSTREET DOWNING VCT PLC
INTERIM RESULTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2002
CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT
General economic conditions have continued to be challenging throughout the six
month period ended 30 June 2002, with most major world stock market indices
recently falling to new five year lows. The climate for small and unquoted
companies, which is the focus of this Company's investment strategy, has changed
dramatically since launch. In many cases, companies within the portfolio have
had to adapt their strategies to be able to make progress during these testing
times.
Net Asset Value
At 30 June 2002, the Net Asset Value ('NAV') per share stood at 71.9p, a fall of
2.3p compared to the NAV per share at the previous year end before taking into
account the interim dividend described below.
The greatest contribution to the fall in NAV has been the investment in Topnotch
Health Clubs plc. This AIM quoted company has seen a steady fall in its share
price over the period, equivalent to a fall in the NAV of £324,000, or 2.1p per
share. Another AIM investment, Software for Sport Plc, has seen a fall in
value of £41,000. Unfortunately there has been little opportunity to alleviate
these losses due to the lack of liquidity on AIM.
The Directors have reviewed the unquoted portfolio and made some adjustments to
valuations. The most significant adjustment has been in respect of the
investment in European Telecommunications and Technology plc, which has been
valued on the basis of investments made by third parties during a recent
fundraising. This has given rise to an increase in valuation of £198,000 over
the previous carrying value.
As the Company revoked Investment Company status in 2000, it must present its
results as a Profit and Loss Account rather than a Statement of Total Return.
The loss on ordinary activities after taxation for the period was £291,000.
Total recognised losses for the period (which includes revaluations of a
non-permanent nature) were £360,000.
Venture capital investments
During the period the Company made one full and three partial disposals of
investments producing a net profit of £131,000 against original cost or £50,000
against the previous carrying value. The most significant disposal was the
partial realisation of the investment in Inter Link Foods plc, which gave rise
to a gain of £59,000 against the valuation at 31 December 2001 or £268,000
against original cost.
The Company has also made one new investment of £87,500 in Glisten plc, a
speciality food business listed on AIM. Four follow-on investments were also
made totalling £586,000.
Dividend
An interim dividend of 1.5p per share (2001 - 1.5p) will be paid on 27 September
2002 to shareholders on the register at 13 September 2002.
Repurchase of shares
The Directors are conscious that the Company's share price is affected by the
illiquidity of its shares in the market resulting from the requirement that
shareholders must retain their shares at least five years in order to retain
their tax benefits.
The Directors are continuing to monitor the market in the Company's shares and
will make share purchases when appropriate.
Publication of share price
The Company's share price is quoted in the Financial Times on a daily basis and
can be found within the 'Investment Companies' sector.
Outlook
Although in the recent periods the NAV has fallen, this is in line with the
trend exhibited by the main stock market indices and many other venture capital
trusts. After taking into account the forthcoming interim dividend, the Company
will have paid a total of 22.5p per share in tax-free dividends to shareholders,
which when added to the NAV gives a total return of 94.4p per share. This
compares to an original investment net of income tax relief of 80p per share.
Unsurprisingly, most companies within the portfolio have felt the impact of the
difficult conditions over the past two years and some are currently struggling
to make satisfactory progress. There are however early signs from a number of
investees that performance and prospects may be beginning to improve. The
Investment Manager continues to closely monitor the portfolio and, in
particular, is seeking to ensure that good management is in place, which will be
able to fully develop the businesses and ultimately deliver good returns.
Although some funds are being used to support existing investments, the Company
still has in excess of £3 million in cash and fixed interest securities. It is
therefore in the position of being able to invest in suitable new opportunities
and take advantage of the generally depressed prices that are now available.
David Brock
Chairman
UNAUDITED SUMMARISED BALANCE SHEET
as at 30 June 2002
30 June 30 June 30 Dec
2002 2001 2001
£'000 £'000 £'000
Fixed assets
Venture capital investments 7,742 12,721 7,994
Listed fixed income investments 821 1,438 1,439
8,563 14,159 9,433
Net current assets 2,288 949 2,003
Net assets 10,851 15,108 11,436
Capital and reserves
Called up share capital 754 755 754
Capital redemption reserve 3 3 3
Revaluation reserve 504 2,964 661
Special reserve 9,590 11,386 10,018
Total equity shareholders' funds 10,851 15,108 11,436
Net asset value per share 71.9p 100.1p 75.7p
UNAUDITED PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT
for the six months ended 30 June 2002
Six Six Year
months months
ended ended ended
30 June 30 June 31 Dec
2002 2001 2001
£'000 £'000 £'000
Investment income 197 228 437
Investment management fees (106) (131) (244)
Other expenses (102) (117) (230)
Operating loss (11) (20) (37)
Net movement on permanent diminution provision (322) (59) (1,739)
Profit on realisation of investments 44 180 550
(Loss)/profit on ordinary activities before (289) 101 (1,226)
taxation
Tax on ordinary activities (2) (1) (1)
(Loss)/profit on ordinary activities after (291) 100 (1,227)
taxation
Dividends (226) (227) (528)
Retained loss for period (517) (127) (1,755)
(Loss)/earnings per share (1.9p) 0.7p (8.1p)
All revenue and capital items in the above statement derive from continuing
operations.
The Company has only one class of business and derives its income from
investments made in shares, securities and bank deposits.
The comparative figures were in respect of the six months ended 30 June 2001 and
the year ended 31 December 2001 respectively.
STATEMENT OF TOTAL RECOGNISED GAINS AND LOSSES
for the six months ended 30 June 2002
£'000 £'000 £'000
(Loss)/profit on ordinary activities after taxation (291) 100 (1,227)
Net movement on permanent diminution provision 322 59 1,739
Total unrealised (losses) on revaluation of (391) (117) (3,876)
investments
Total recognised losses for the period (360) 42 (3,364)
Recognised gains brought forward 181 3,545 3,545
Recognised (losses)/gains carried forward (179) 3,587 181
UNAUDITED CASHFLOW STATEMENT
for the six months ended 30 June 2002
Six Six
months months Year
ended ended ended
30 June 30 June 31 Dec
2002 2001 2001
£'000 £'000 £'000
Cash outflow from operating activities and returns
on investments (See note 1 below) 88 88 223
Capital expenditure
Purchase of venture capital investments (586) (516) (724)
Proceeds on disposal of listed fixed income 600 - -
securities
Proceeds on disposal of venture capital investments 508 751 2,347
Net cash inflow from capital expenditure 522 235 1,623
Equity dividends paid (302) (302) (531)
Net cash inflow/ (outflow) before financing 308 21 1,315
Financing
Purchase of own shares - (17) (17)
Net cash inflow from financing - (17) (17)
Increase in cash (See note 2 below) 308 4 1,298
Notes to the cashflow statement:
1 Cash outflow from operating activities and
returns on investments
Operating (loss)/profit (11) (20) (37)
Decrease / (increase) in other debtors 112 134 288
(Increase)/decrease in other creditors (13) (26) (28)
Net cash (outflow) from operating activities 88 88 223
2 Analysis of net funds
Beginning of period 2,112 814 814
Net cash inflow 308 4 1,298
End of period 2,420 818 2,112
SUMMARY OF INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO
as at 30 June 2002
Cost Valuation % of
portfolio
£'000 £'000 by value
Top ten venture capital investments
European Telecommunications & 450 1,121 13.1%
Technology plc
Software for Sport plc * 1,219 853 10.0%
Wessex Advanced Switching Products 375 610 7.1%
Limited
Conquest Network Management Limited 796 590 6.9%
Berkeley Scott Group plc 900 507 5.9%
Henry J Bean's Group plc 500 500 5.8%
Ford Packaging Systems Limited 200 467 5.5%
Qube Strategic Marketing Limited 292 455 5.3%
U M (Holdings) plc 370 370 4.3%
Topnotch Health Clubs plc * 950 355 4.1%
6,052 5,828 68.0%
Other venture capital investments 3,885 1,914 22.4%
Listed fixed income securities
Tesco 83/4% 2003 864 821 9.6%
Total investments 10,801 8,563 100.0%
All venture capital investments are unquoted unless otherwise stated.
* - Quoted on the Alternative Investment Market ('AIM')
NOTES
1. The above financial information has been prepared on the basis of the
accounting policies set out in the Annual Report.
2. The calculation of the earnings per share for the period is based upon the
net loss after tax of £291,000 divided by the weighted average number of shares
in issue during the period of 15,097,500.
3. The unaudited financial statements set out herein do not constitute
statutory accounts within the meaning of Section 240 of the Companies Act 1985
and have not been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The figures for the
year ended 31 December 2001 have been extracted from the financial statements
for that year, which have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies; the
auditors' report on those financial statements was unqualified.
4. Copies of the unaudited interim results will be sent to shareholders
shortly. Further copies can be obtained from the Company's Registered Office.
This information is provided by RNS
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