Interim Results

BioScience VCT plc 26 September 2003 26 SEPTEMBER 2003 BIOSCIENCE VCT PLC UNAUDITED INTERIM RESULTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2003 Financial highlights • Net assets £6,829,000 • Net asset value per share 94.3p • Revenue return after tax £36,000 • Revenue return per share* 0.5p • Total return per share* 0.6p *Based on weighted average of 7,209,926 shares in issue during the period For further information, please contact: Chris Hulatt Octopus Asset Management 020 7255 7962 David Best Medical Marketing International Group plc 01223 477677 Chairman's Statement I am pleased to report that we have made good progress over the six months to 30 June 2003. We made a further investment and identified a number of other attractive companies in which we may invest later this year. The turmoil in global financial markets in the early period of 2003 impacted the bioscience sector. However, quoted biotechnology companies have since benefited from the market's recent recovery, and this has had a positive impact on sentiment towards unquoted bioscience companies. In recent months, we have had discussions with a number of companies that are raising money at valuations that we believe are attractive. Investments During the period, we invested £80,000 in Cobra Biomanufacturing plc, an AIM-listed biotechnology company that specialises in manufacturing compounds for other companies. Our investment was made at a share price of 80p and I am pleased to be able to report that the share price was 99.5p at the end of the period. Following a sharp rise in the value of our investment in GTC Biotherapeutics Inc (GTC), the US-based company that specialises in the manufacture of antibodies and other proteins using transgenic animals, we took the decision to sell half our holding. The shares in GTC were sold at a price in excess of $3 per share, representing a profit of approximately 240% compared with the average purchase price for the shares. We retain a holding of 25,000 shares in GTC. Since the end of the period, we have invested £100,000 in Insense Ltd, an unquoted company that is developing a new wound healing technology. Net asset value As at 30 June 2003, the net asset value (NAV) per share was 94.3p, a rise of 0.6p from 31 December 2002. Revenue and dividend The directors intend to assess the potential for paying a dividend to shareholders on the basis of the full year results, bearing in mind that interest rates have been at a low level during recent months. The directors do not propose to pay an interim dividend. Prospects We believe that the recent signs of greater stability in global stock markets have helped to create an environment for bioscience companies that is more attractive than has been seen for some time. We continue to meet with a large number of potential investee companies and expect that we will finalise several investments over the next few months. I look forward to updating you on these investments as we progress towards the requirement to invest at least 70% of the VCT's assets into qualifying holdings by the end of 2004. Dr P A Nicholson Chairman, BioScience VCT Plc Investment portfolio as at 30 June 2003 Cost Valuation Valuation as % of shareholders' funds Quoted Investments GTC Biotherapeutics Inc £14,690 £50,455 0.7% Investments quoted on AIM Cobra Biomanufacturing plc £80,000 £99,500 1.5% Total investments £94,690 £149,955 The unaudited interim financial statements for the period from 1 January 2003 to 30 June 2003 are set out below. STATEMENT OF TOTAL RETURN (INCORPORATING THE REVENUE ACCOUNT) 6 Months to 30 June 2003 6 months to 30 June 2002 Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 Realised gains on - 35 35 - - - investments Unrealised gains on - 48 48 - - - investments Income 113 - 113 70 - 70 Investment management fee (25) (74) (99) (9) (28) (37) Other expenses (52) - (52) (35) - (35) ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Return on ordinary 36 9 45 26 (28) (2) activities before tax Tax on ordinary - - - - - - activities ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Return on ordinary 36 9 45 26 (28) (2) activities after tax Dividends - - - - - - ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Transfer to reserves 36 9 45 26 (28) (2) ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Return per share 0.5p 0.1p 0.6p 0.6p (0.6)p 0.0p Year ended 31 December 2002 Revenue Capital Total £000 £000 £000 Realised gains on investments - - - Unrealised gains on investments - 7 7 Income 196 - 196 Investment management fee (34) (102) (136) Other expenses (105) - (105) ------ ------ ------ Return on ordinary activities 57 (95) (38) before tax Tax on ordinary activities - - - ------ ------ ------ Return on ordinary activities 57 (95) (38) after tax Dividends (54) - (54) ------ ------ ------ Transfer to reserves 3 (95) (92) ------ ------ ------ Return per share 1.0p (1.6)p (0.6p) The revenue columns above are the profit and loss accounts of the company. All revenue and capital items on the above statements derive from continuing operations. BALANCE SHEET 30 June 2003 30 June 2002 31 December 2002 £000 £000 £000 Fixed asset investments 150 - 37 Net current assets 6,679 6,664 6,690 ------- ------- ------- Net assets 6,829 6,664 6,727 ------- ------- ------- Called-up equity share capital 3,619 3,508 3,589 Share premium 3,257 3,158 3,230 Capital reserve - realised (141) (28) (102) - unrealised 55 - 7 Revenue reserve 39 26 3 ------- ------- ------- Total equity shareholders' funds 6,829 6,664 6,727 ------- ------- ------- Net asset value per share 94.3p 95.0p 93.7p CASH FLOW STATEMENT 6 months to 6 months to Year ended 30 June 2003 30 June 2002 31 December 2002 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 Net cash (outflow)/ (131) 28 (53) inflow from operating activities Financial investment: (80) - (29) Purchase of investments 50 - - Sale of investments Management of liquid 287 (6,235) (6,534) resources ----- ------ ------ Net cash inflow/(outflow) 257 (6,235) (6,563) from financial investment Equity dividends paid (54) - - ------ ------ ------ Net cash inflow before 72 (6,207) (6,616) financing Financing: 61 6,940 7,100 Issue of ordinary shares (3) (274) (282) Share issue expenses ----- ------ ------ Net cash inflow from 58 6,666 6,818 financing ------ ------ ------ Increase in cash 130 459 202 ------ ------ ------ NOTES 1. The unaudited financial statements for the period ended 30 June 2003 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 results have been drawn up in accordance with applicable accounting standards and adopting the accounting policies set out in the statutory accounts for the year ended 31 December 2002. The comparative figures for the financial year ended 31 December 2002 are not the Company's statutory accounts for that financial year. Those accounts have been reported on by the Company's auditors and delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The report of the auditor was unqualified and did not contain a statement under section 257(2) or (3) of the Companies Act 1985. 2. The calculation of the revenue and capital return per share is based on the return on ordinary activities after tax for the period and on 7,209,926 ordinary shares, being the weighted average number of shares in issue during the period from 1 January 2003 to 30 June 2003. The number of shares in issue at 30 June 2003 was 7,238,175. 3. Copies of the interim report are being sent to all shareholders. Further copies are available free of charge from the Company's registered office at Kett House, 1 Station Road, Cambridge, CB1 2JY. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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