Interim Management Statement

Octopus IHT AIM VCT plc ("the Company") 17 April 2009 Interim Management Statement For the period from 1 December 2008 to 15 April 2009 In accordance with Rule 4.3 of the UK Listing Authority's Disclosure and Transparency rules, Octopus IHT AIM VCT plc presents an Interim Management Statement for the period 1 December 2008 to 15 April 2009, being the latest weekly valuation prior to the date of this statement. This statement also includes relevant financial information between the end of the period. Financial Summary As at 15 As at 28 As at 30 April 2009 February 2009 November 2008 Total net assets (£'000s) 15,324 14,751 16,049 Net asset value per share ("NAV") 62.2p 59.4p 64.6p Net revenue profit after tax (£'000s) 9 15 353 Share price 53p 54p 54p Cumulative dividend - paid and proposed since launch 6.4p 6.4p 6.4p Investment performance It is disappointing to have to report a further decline in the NAV in the period since the Company's year end. As at 30 November 2008, the NAV per 'A' and 'B' Ordinary share was 64.6p and as at 15 April 2009 the NAV was 62.2p. In recent weeks AIM has displayed some stability, after the volatility during the tail-end of 2008, aided by results which generally have been in line with expectations, however heavily revised those may have been. With the AIM index up by 4.7% in the first three months of 2009, there may be early indications that small company share prices might fully reflect the disinterest, risk aversion and economic challenges to which they have been subjected. Many challenges remain, not least that of adequate funding lines, but there are still smaller companies capable of growing their profits. Investment Activity The following new investments have been completed since 30 November 2008: * 27 January 2009, investment of £200,000 in Lombard Medical plc convertible loan notes * 27 February 2009, investment of £550,000 in Praesepe plc * 27 February 2009, investment of £550,000 in Managed Support Services plc In addition, a further £400,000 has been invested into Brulines Group and the entire holding in Optimisa has been sold. As reported in the Annual Report & Accounts, Fishworks appointed administrators in January. While large companies have been raising new capital in the first quarter of the year, there have been few such issues or flotations in AIM and, somewhat surprisingly in our view, there seem to be few in prospect. This is no longer a problem for the fund, as it is comfortably above HMRC's 70% level for qualifying investments. Ten largest equity holdings as at 15 April 2009 % equity held by Carrying Octopus IHT AIM VCT Investee Company Sector value £'000 PLC Advanced Computer Software & Computer Software plc Services 1,037 2.3% IS Pharma plc (formerly Maelor Pharmaceuticals & plc) Biotechnology 805 4.2% Managed Support Services plc Support Services 756 4.2% CBG Group plc Non-life Insurance 755 5.1% AnimalCare Group plc Food Producers 749 5.5% Research Now Plc Media 621 1.6% Melorio plc Support Services 612 3.3% Praesepe plc Travel and Leisure 550 3.2% Mount Engineering Industrial plc Engineering 539 1.9% Tasty plc Travel and leisure 533 4.4% Dividends The Directors have proposed a final dividend of 1p per 'A' and 'B' Ordinary shares in respect of the year ended 30 November 2008. This dividend has now been approved by HMRC. The proposed final dividend, if approved by shareholders at the AGM, will be paid on 22 May 2009. Distribution in Specie Shareholders will recall that the Company was established with 'A' and 'B' Ordinary shares, The 'B' Ordinary shares were designed to allow shareholders to elect to take an allocation of shares in the underlying portfolio, pro rata to their shareholdings in the Company, in order to establish a portfolio that might qualify for Business Property Relief. A circular will shortly be sent to shareholders setting out the process and the choices facing 'B' Ordinary Shareholders. Material events and transactions The Board is not aware of any significant event or transaction which has occurred between 16 April 2009 and the date of publication of this statement. For further information please contact: Kate Tidbury / Andrew Buchanan - Fund Managers Octopus Investments Limited - 0800 316 2347 ENDS ---END OF MESSAGE--- This announcement was originally distributed by Hugin. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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