Final Results

Starvest PLC 24 August 2005 RNS announcement for release Wednesday 24 August 2005 Results for the year ended 31 July 2005 Chairman's Statement to Shareholders I am pleased to present my fourth annual statement to Shareholders for the year ended 31 July 2005. Highlights Your Directors continue to pursue the chosen investment policy which shows every sign of generating exciting results in the future as it has in the past twelve months to 31 July 2005 which record: • a gross profit of £594,219, • a profit before tax of £389,181, and • a profit after tax of £304,181. As at 31 July 2005, the Group had: • £193,693 cash in the bank; • net current assets and net assets of £1,698,905, an increase of 22% during the year; • trading investments with a mid market valuation of £6,500,000, a fall of 5.65%; • unrealised investment profits of £4,891,000. The underlying net asset value per share based on the mid market quotations as at 31 July 2005 was 16.9 pence, a reduction since 31 July 2004 when it was 19 pence. However, by the close of business on 19 August 2005, this had recovered to 18.69 pence. These values are stated on a fully diluted basis but before tax on unrealised profits. No dividend is proposed for the year. Review of business and current activities Your Company has 90% by value of its current investments in the natural resource sector where declining sentiment has been a feature of the market and therefore of share prices during the past few months. Therefore, it is not surprising to find that the net asset value has fallen since the high point at the end of January 2005. This situation presents both challenges and opportunities. Notwithstanding the market conditions, your Board remains of the opinion that the natural resources sector holds considerable promise for exciting growth in the medium term. Much is written about the insatiable demand of China for access to natural resources; we believe that the population explosion in India, leading to increased economic growth, will significantly increase its demands too. The fact that your Company was able to take profits at a high point and so hold £744,000 of cash at 31 January 2005 has enabled us to acquire three new investments at attractive prices as well as add to two others during the past six months. Your company now holds a spread of eighteen investments of which eleven are quoted on AIM, six are quoted on OFEX and one which joined OFEX during August. In addition, we are committed to a further opportunity which is expected to be quoted on OFEX during September 2005. Your Company now has board representation on four investee companies: Tony Scutt is a non executive director of Agricola Resources plc and of Beowulf Mining plc; John Watkins is a non executive director of Red Rock Resources plc and of Regency Mines plc. The Company continues to seek opportunities to invest in small company new issues and support pre-IPO opportunities so as to enhance shareholder value and to make disposals as market conditions permit. Funding requirement In my 2004 Annual Report, I indicated that a further fundraising was possible by the end of 2004. In the event, we were able to raise cash to finance new investment opportunities by taking a very acceptable profit on investments, thus avoiding the necessity of raising new money at a substantial discount to the net asset value. Future funding requirements will be met from investment sales and other opportunities which may arise. Outlook Given the increased spread of investments, the Directors look forward with optimism to reporting increased asset values in the year ahead given the exciting opportunities which continue to be open to us. We have made an encouraging start with a 10% increase in net asset value by the close of business on 19 August 2005. We look forward to reporting further progress in mid November when we plan to issue the next Chairman's update. We will recommend a first dividend as soon as circumstances permit. We plan to hold our annual general meeting on Tuesday 11 October when we look forward to meeting those able to attend. R Bruce Rowan Chairman & Chief Executive 24 August 2005 Telephone: 020 7486 3997 Review of portfolio Starvest's trade investment portfolio at 31 July 2005 comprised: African Platinum plc ('Afplats') - (AIM: APP), formerly, Southern African Resources plc Website: www.afplats.com The progress of Afplats towards establishing itself as a major platinum group metal (PGM) resource company in Southern Africa has continued, with a significant broadening of its international institutional investor base. A successful £15.5m North American placement at 30p in late 2004 will finance the bankable feasibility study on its PGM +Gold (4E) mine project on the flagship Leeuwkop prospect on the Bushveld complex in South Africa. A three-dimensional survey on the Leeuwkop prospect was completed in April with final data interpretation due for completion by end 2005; initial results having confirmed the company's geological model. Updated resource numbers show 50m ounces of 4E, with 8m ounces indicated and 42m inferred. Further prospecting rights granted could result in a resource base of over 100m ounces of 4E in its greater Leeuwkop development plan. A secondary listing is expected this year on the American Stock Exchange. Agricola Resources plc - (OFEX: AGC) Website: www.agricolaresources.com Agricola has broadened its base by acquiring two uranium exploration areas over 153 sq km of Finland. The first consists of ten claims in Eastern Finland, including the only previously operated uranium mine in Finland which produced 30 tonnes of uranium in yellowcake (solid uranium oxide) during a test mining operation in 1960-61; the second comprises seven claims in northern Finland. Agricola has been encouraged by advice received from the Geological Survey of Finland and radon survey results; further radon testing is planned before drilling later in 2005. The Finnish Government plans to build a fifth nuclear power plant so demand is expected to grow; until now all its uranium requirements have been imported. Agricola's interests in platinum exploration and development are confined to the island of Unst in the Shetland and to the Klappsjo area of Central Sweden. Belmore Resources (Holdings) plc - (OFEX: BEL) Belmore was successfully admitted to OFEX in March 2005, enjoying a 30% over-subscription. A net 320,000 Euros was raised at 5p per share to finance its programme of exploration drilling in County Clare, as well as desk studies and fieldwork on its other licences in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. A further placing was made in June at 5.75p for working capital purposes. Belmore's principal County Clare project targets zinc where it has a 50% interest in eight prospecting licences covering 330 sq. km. Beowulf Mining plc - (AIM: BEM) Website: www.beowulfmining.com Beowulf graduated from OFEX to AIM in May 2005 and remains focused on exploration for world-class copper, gold and uranium deposits in Northern Sweden encouraged by the county's favourable fiscal climate for incoming mining and exploration companies. Beowulf's interests include Jokkmokk where a world-class drill intersection was obtained on the Majves 1 exploration permit. Most of the initial exploration was undertaken by Phelps Dodge Exploration Sweden; they have recently withdrawn for undisclosed reasons, but Beowulf will continue alone or seek another partner. In addition, Beowulf has: Grundtrask, with mineral rights over 43 sq. km; Ballek with two exploration permits over 78 sq km issued in May 2005 where uranium rich boulders have been discovered and Gold Fields Exploration has a right of first refusal which it is hoped will lead to a joint venture; Ussalahti with three exploration permits seen as prospective for massive sulphide copper and gold deposits. Review of portfolio, continued Black Rock Oil & Gas plc - (AIM: BLR) Website: www.blackrockpetroleum.com.au This oil and gas exploration company has a broad range of exploration interests including four licences in Southern England, one in Jordan and minor interests in Western Australia. In addition, it has a licence in Colombia where it has farm-in terms with Kappa Energy, a privately-owned company with bases in Bogota and Calgary, from which it has taken 50% of the Las Quinchas licence in the Middle Magdalena Basin, a province with a prolific production history. Black Rock has indicated that it is seeking further deals to expand its interests outside the UK and Ireland, with the emphasis on near-term production and low-risk exploration. In May it raised £880,000 at 1.4p per share for such future deals. Black Rock will come to attention if the Sandhills project on the Isle of Wight, in which it holds a 5% interest, meets with drilling success early in 2006. Before then drilling results on its 40% interest gas well in the Southern North Sea are expected. Brazilian Diamonds Limited - (AIM: BDY) Website: www.braziliandiamonds.com Brazilian Diamonds is starting to benefit from the diamond exploration data bases acquired in cash and shares from De Beers, which is now a 3% shareholder. This deal was funded by an earlier £1.8 million placing of shares and by the disposal of a 16% interest it held in Hidefield. As a result, Brazilian Diamonds expects to start mining diamonds in 2006 from its 200,000 hectares in Minas Gerias, a province south of Brasilia. Other projects may also soon be productive: its Canastra licences await clearance from the Federal Environment Agency; drilling on its Tuscano 1 project has successfully intercepted kimberlite; two further projects on the Santo Antonio de Bonito River north of Canastra could yet yield a large-scale alluvial diamond mine, the kimberlite source of which Brazilian Diamonds may have located separately. Brazilian Diamonds seems to have a realistic chance of becoming Brazil's first kimberlite diamond producer. Carpathian Resources Limited - (AIM: CPNR and Sydney ASX) Carpathian Resources, based in Perth, Western Australia, is an oil and gas exploration and production company focusing on Central Europe, currently on the Czech Republic and Slovakia. It has recently carried out a re-mapping and re-evaluation of its Ja11 prospect (Unigeo operator) following re-processing of its related seismic data and announced the results as 'extremely encouraging'. The well, in which Carpathian holds 60%, is now targeting a gas prospect with the potential to hold up to 6.5 BCF of gas. Drilling of Ja11 should be completed by mid-September and with the well only 1.5 km from the 2004 Ja3a gas discovery, the results will be important for the Company. Franconia Minerals Corporation - (OFEX: FRA and Toronto TSV-V) Website: www.franconiaminerals.com Alberta based Franconia Minerals has three areas of exploration acreage in the USA: the first is the Birch Lake property in the Duluth Complex of Minnesota with an inferred platinum-group metal, copper, nickel resource of an estimated 51 million tones; the second is the San Francisco property, a high-grade zinc exploration target covered by a joint venture agreement with Teck Cominco, and with a successful limited previous drilling history; and the third is the Mahoney property, a high-grade zinc target in New Mexico, with platinum-palladium targets in the Duluth Complex of Minnesota. Franconia recently reported positive pressure leaching results undertaken on the Birch Lake property, which Franconia's President described as strengthening their belief in the potential economic viability of the project. Review of portfolio, continued Gippsland Limited - (AIM: GIP and Sydney ASX) Website: www.gippslandltd.com.au Gippsland is a natural resources developer of world-scale mining projects in Egypt and Tasmania. These consist of the Abu Dabbab and Nuweibi tantalum, tin, feldspar projects and the Wadi Allaqi gold, copper, nickel projects, both in Egypt; and the Zeehan tin project in Tasmania. The Abu Dabbab deposit is covered by exploration leases in which Gippsland has an equal interest with the Egyptian Government. The project has an end capital requirement of some $65 million which is expected to be funded by a combination of debt and equity. The project could be the world's second largest tantalum producer from which the anticipated 650,000 lbs production has been pre-sold for the first 5 years. Gippsland has 50% interests in both the Nuweibi and the Wadi Allaqi projects, and a 40% joint venture interest in the Zeehan project with the insolvent public company Western Metals Ltd presently in administration. With the price of tin having recently improved, Gippsland is considering various commercial and technical options resolving the present impasse. Hidefield Gold plc - (AIM: HIF) Website: www.hidefield.co.uk Hidefield acquires and develops gold projects of merit in North and South America where it has a large portfolio. Hidefield's management seeks to maximize opportunity while reducing the considerable risks associated with mineral exploration by identifying and acquiring projects at the lowest cost possible and having them independently funded and managed by associate companies in which Hidefield has a substantial interest and board representation. Its North American assets are managed in this manner, whereas its projects in Brazil and Argentina are directly owned, its principal operational activities being the Cata Preta gold project in the 'Iron Quadrangle' of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Hidefield has been active in securing new interests in the past year; a recent transaction was its agreement with Minera Sud Argentina SA whereby it obtained the option to acquire a 50% participating interest in sixteen gold exploration licences in the Santa Cruz, Chubut and Rio Negro provinces of Argentina. India Star Energy plc - (AIM: INDY) India Star Energy, an investment company seeking to invest in the oil, gas and metals sectors was introduced to AIM following a placement of shares in February 2005. It has recently acquired a 50% share in a joint venture with East West Resources Corporation to develop uranium properties, the first being a North West Ontario property called Maggotte where surface geophysical studies are to be undertaken. Matisse Holdings plc - (AIM: MAT) Matisse is a cash shell, with the objective of investing in publishing businesses. It is pursuing a number of opportunities which, if completed, are likely to be classified under AIM rules as a reverse take-over. Myhome International plc - (OFEX: MYH) Website: www.myhomeplc.com Myhome, established originally by Unilever which remains a shareholder, is a leading home services franchise business currently enjoying an impressive expansion rate across the UK. By careful selection and training policies, Myhome management has ensured that its franchise partners have developed a sound reputation for providing premium house cleaning services to the residential market. Currently these are limited to cleaning and carpet care, but could be extended to gardening services, lawn and pool care, home security etc. Thirty new franchises a year has been set as an internal target. Myhome's franchise programme has been accredited by the British Franchise Association. Review of portfolio, continued The valuable experience gained in converting its localized direct services into franchise operations UK wide has led Myhome to promote Franchise Investment Strategies plc - (OFEX: FIN), a consultancy venture aimed at applying its franchising model to other lines of business. Myhome and Starvest both hold interests in this new venture which joined OFEX on 18 August 2005. Red Rock Resources plc - (AIM: RRR) Website: www.rrrplc.com Red Rock Resources was admitted to AIM at the end of July 2005 following a placing to raise £476,000 net of expenses. It has been established as a mineral exploration and development company focused on iron ore and manganese projects in Western Australia and in Tasmania where it has acquired a total of nine tenements of which it will be a 100% beneficiary. Mapping, geophysics and drilling will be carried out for further evaluation purposes. Regency Mines plc holds a controlling interest. Regency Mines plc - (AIM: RGM) Website: www.regency-mines.com Regency Mines was admitted to AIM in February 2005 following a successful offer that was over-subscribed at a time when the market was enjoying a minor boom in resource stock valuations. Its objective of investing in established projects in the mining and minerals sector, more especially in producing assets, and primarily Australian-based, was soon evidenced with a flurry of acquisitions of iron ore and gold projects in Western Australia and two iron ore projects in Tasmania. Regency has since spun off 28% of its subsidiary Red Rock Resources but retains direct ownership of its Bundarra copper-gold project in Queensland and of various nickel assets. Sheba Exploration (UK) plc - (OFEX: SHE) Website: www.shebagold.com This UK registered company was incorporated in July 2004 to acquire the whole of the capital of the Sheba Exploration Ltd, a gold explorer in Ethiopia with the Amora Hill gold mineralization discovery in the Mereto concession to its credit. During September 2004 it was admitted to OFEX. A detailed trench survey at Amora Hill has been completed with encouraging results. Wider regional grassroots exploration work and the acquisition of further new licences, not just within Ethiopia, are being considered by management as an appropriate near-term work-plan. St Helen's Capital plc - (OFEX: STH) Website: www.sthelenscapital.co.uk St Helen's Capital is a dynamic and innovative integrated corporate finance house that has rapidly established itself as a conduit for the introduction of fledgling companies to the junior London markets. As an FSA regulated financial advisor and arranger of funding and financial services, St Helen's is a valuable contributor to the surge of interest shown in the OFEX market in which it specialises, arranging regular introductions and acting as corporate adviser to a growing list of OFEX companies. St Helen's saw its client Oakdene Homes plc win the OFEX Company of the Year award, and was itself nominated for the Best Corporate Adviser of the Year award. Consolidated profit and loss account for the year ended 31 July 2005 Year ended Year ended 31 July 2005 31 July 2004 £ £ Operating income 628,019 305,232 Direct costs (33,800) (36,250) Gross profit 594,219 268,982 Administrative expenses (205,038) (203,172) Profit on ordinary activities before taxation 389,181 65,810 Tax on profit on ordinary activities 85,000 9,500 Profit on ordinary activities after taxation 304,181 56,310 Retained profit for the year 304,181 56,310 Earnings per share - basic 0.82 pence 0.18 pence Earnings per share - diluted 0.74 pence 0.17 pence There are no recognised gains or losses in either year other than the profit for the year. All of the operations are considered to be continuing. The accompanying accounting policies and notes form an integral part of these financial statements. Consolidated balance sheet As at 31 July 2005 31 July 2005 31 July 2004 £ £ Fixed assets Tangible assets - - Current assets Debtors 50,538 22,727 Trade investments 1,578,456 793,857 Cash at bank 193,693 606,417 1,822,687 1,423,001 Creditors - amounts due within one (123,782) (28,277) year Net current assets 1,698,905 1,394,724 Total assets less current 1,698,905 1,394,724 liabilities Share capital and reserves Called-up share capital 372,173 372,173 Share premium account 2,026,396 2,026,396 Profit and loss account (1,124,074) (1,428,255) Merger reserve 424,410 424,410 Equity shareholders' funds 1,698,905 1,394,724 Company balance sheet As at 31 July 2005 31 July 2005 31 July 2004 £ £ Fixed assets Investments 435,794 435,794 Current assets Debtors 50,538 22,727 Trade investments 1,578,456 793,857 Cash at bank 193,693 606,417 1,822,687 1,423,001 Creditors - amounts due within one (559,576) (464,071) year Net current assets 1,263,111 958,930 Total assets less current 1,698,905 1,394,724 liabilities Share capital and reserves Called-up share capital 372,173 372,173 Share premium account 2,026,396 2,026,396 Profit and loss account (699,664) (1,003,845) Equity shareholders' funds 1,698,905 1,394,724 Consolidated cash flow statement for the year ended 31 July 2005 Year ended Year ended 31 July 2005 31 July 2004 £ £ Net cash outflow from operating activities (404,865) (339,707) Taxation paid (7,859) Cash outflow before management of liquid resources (412,724) (339,707) and financing Management of liquid resources - (559,502) Financing - issue of Ordinary share capital - 769,664 Decrease in cash in the year (412,724) (129,545) The financial information set out above does not constitute statutory accounts as defined in section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. The balance sheets at 31 July 2005, the consolidated profit and loss account, and the consolidated cash flow statement for the year then ended have been extracted from the Group's statutory financial statements upon which the auditors' opinion is unqualified and does not include any statement under Section 237 of the Companies Act 1985. Copies of the report and financial statements will be posted to Shareholders on 12 September and be available for one month from the Company Secretary at the registered office from Tuesday 20 September 2005. 123 Goldsworth Road, Woking, Surrey, GU21 6LR email: email@starvest.co.uk Alternatively, the report may be downloaded from the Company's website, www.starvest.co.uk. END This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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