Final Results

AIM Distribution Trust PLC (The) 29 June 2005 THE AIM DISTRIBUTION TRUST PLC PRELIMINARY ANNOUNCEMENT OF RESULTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2005 The statement to shareholders by the Chairman, Sir Aubrey Brocklebank, includes the following comments: Introduction The year to 31 March 2005 was more buoyant for the AIM market than for some time, particularly over the second half of the period. Although a significant proportion of the companies quoted on AIM are not VCT qualifying companies, the market has generally been more liquid, allowing the disposal of some existing investments, as well as a stronger flow of IPOs and secondary issues providing new investment opportunities. Net Asset Value At 31 March 2005, the Net Asset Value per share ('NAV') stood at 68.0p. After adding back the interim dividend of 2p per share paid in January 2005, this represents an increase of 2.9p or 4.3% since the previous year-end. Results and Dividend The profit on ordinary activities after taxation was £73,000 (2004: £669,000). Since its launch the Company has made a significant level of realised gains, some of which were distributed to Shareholders by way of capital dividends. The Company paid an interim dividend of 2p per share in January 2005 from these undistributed gains. The Directors are not proposing to pay a further distribution for the year under review, however the Board intends to maintain an annual dividend. VCT Qualifying investments When Rathbones were appointed as Investment Manager to the Company in October 2003, it was agreed that the investment portfolio was over-exposed to early stage technology investments. The year under review has seen the Investment Manager continuing to take suitable exit opportunities from investments in this area and also making new investments in potentially less risky sectors. During the year the Company disposed of 13 investments and made further significant partial disposals of a further 8 investments. These gave rise to total net gains of £156,000. The Company also made eight new VCT qualifying investments at a total cost of £1.2 million and seven follow on qualifying investments totalling £337,000. VCT qualifying status Qualifying investments now represent 77% of total investments (including cash) thereby continuing to comfortably exceed the Venture Capital Trust qualifying criteria of a minimum of 70%. The Board, with the assistance of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, continues to monitor the Company's compliance with the VCT legislation. Share issue In order to give investors the opportunity to take advantage of the 40% income tax relief on new investments into VCTs, the Company launched a small top-up share offer during the year. Under the offer, on 5 April 2005, the Company allotted 793,532 ordinary at a price of 73.5p per share. A further 48,052 ordinary shares were allotted on 15 April 2005 also at 73.5p per share. This provides the Company with additional liquid resources, which can be invested in suitable new opportunities. Share repurchases The Board is conscious that the Company's share price is affected by the illiquidity of its shares in the market. In line with accepted practice with VCTs, the Company has a policy of purchasing its own shares. During the year the Directors used this power to acquire 312,140 shares at an average price of 56.5p per share. Since the year end the Company acquired a further 150,000 shares at a price of 59.5p per share. A Special Resolution to continue with this policy is proposed for the forthcoming AGM. Annual General Meeting The Annual General Meeting of the Company will be held at 159 New Bond Street, London W1S 2UD at 11:15am on 1 September 2005. Three items of Special Business are proposed: (i) to authorise the Directors to allot shares other than pro-rata to existing shareholders; (ii) to authorise the Directors to disapply pre-emption rights; and (iii)to renew the Company's authority to purchase up to 2,539,927 ordinary shares in the market, representing approximately 14.99% of the current issued shares. Outlook As a result of the investment disposals during the year and the proceeds of the fundraising, the Company now has a significant level of funds available for new investment. The relatively high level of corporate activity that has been seen recently is providing the Investment Manager with a large number of potential investment opportunities. As is often the case when investor confidence is high, the quality of such opportunities is variable and careful investment selection is the key to success. Assuming opportunities are available which meet the Investment Manager's key criteria, the Board expects the current period to be an active one, as the exercise of re-balancing the portfolio to a lower risk profile is completed. BALANCE SHEET at 31 March 2005 2005 2004 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Fixed Assets Investments 9,142 9,646 Current Assets Debtors 94 76 Cash at bank and in hand 2,237 1,618 2,331 1,694 Creditors: amounts falling due within one (427) (222) year Net current assets 1,904 1,472 Net assets 11,046 11,118 Capital and reserves Called up share capital 4,063 4,141 Capital redemption reserve 138 60 Special reserve 1,607 8,397 Revaluation reserve (901) (2,285) Profit and loss account 6,139 805 Equity shareholders' funds 11,046 11,118 Net asset value per share 68.0p 67.1p Net asset value per ordinary share is based on net assets at the year-end, and on 16,252,561 ordinary shares (2004: 16,564,701), being the number of ordinary shares in issue at the year-end. PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT For the year ended 31 March 2005 Year ended Year ended 31 March 2005 31 March 2004 £'000 £'000 Investment income 209 206 Investment management fees (109) (144) Other expenses (183) (184) Operating loss (83) (122) Profit on realisation of investments 156 791 Profit on ordinary activities before 73 669 taxation Tax on ordinary activities - - Profit on ordinary activities after 73 669 taxation Distributions (328) - Retained (loss)/profit for the year (255) 669 Basic and diluted earnings per share 0.4p 4.0p Basic and diluted earnings per share is based on the profit on ordinary activities after taxation of £73,000 (2004: £669,000), but before deduction of distributions of £328,000 (2004: £Nil), in respect of 16,446,318 ordinary shares (2004: 16,610,398), being the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the year. There is no difference between basic and diluted earnings per share because the Company has no potentially dilutive shares in issue. STATEMENT OF TOTAL RECOGNISED GAINS AND LOSSES for the year ended 31 March 2005 Year ended Year ended 31 March 2005 31 March 2004 Notes £'000 £'000 Profit on ordinary activities after taxation 73 669 Unrealised gains on revaluation of 360 2,879 investments Total recognised profit for the year 433 3,548 NOTE OF HISTORICAL COST PROFITS AND LOSSES for the year ended 31 March 2005 Year ended Year ended 31 March 2005 31 March 2004 £'000 £'000 Profit on ordinary activities after taxation 73 669 Realisation of revaluations from previous (1,024) (3,216) years Historical cost loss on ordinary activities after (951) (2,547) taxation Distributions (328) - Retained historical cost loss for the year (1,279) (2,547) CASHFLOW STATEMENT for year ended 31 March 2005 Year ended Year ended 31 March 2005 31 March 2004 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Net cash outflow from operating (107) (120) activities Capital expenditure Purchase of investments (3,070) (1,058) Sale of investments 3,970 2,682 Net cash inflow from capital expenditure 900 1,624 Equity distributions paid (328) - Net cash inflow before financing 465 1,504 Financing Applications for share issue 340 - Share issue costs (31) - Purchase of own shares (155) (28) Net cash inflow/(outflow) from financing 154 (28) Increase in cash in the year 619 1,476 Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net funds 2005 2004 £'000 £'000 Increase in cash during the year 619 1,476 Net funds at 1 April 2004 1,618 142 Net funds at 31 March 2005 2,237 1,618 Announcement based on draft accounts (unqualified audit report) The financial information set out in the announcement does not constitute the Company's statutory accounts for the year ended 31 March 2005 or 31 March 2004. The statutory accounts for the year ended 31 March 2005 will be finalised on the basis of the financial information presented by the directors in this preliminary announcement and will be delivered to the Registrar of Companies following the Company's Annual General Meeting. The financial information for the year ended 31 March 2004 is derived from the statutory accounts for that year which have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The auditors reported on those accounts; this report was unqualified and did not contain a statement under section 237(2) or (3) of the Companies Act 1985. The financial information has been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies set out in the Company's financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2004. A copy of the full annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2005 will be printed and posted to shareholders. Copies will also be available to the public at the registered office of the Company at 69 Eccleston Square, London SW1V 1PJ. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
UK 100

Latest directors dealings