Half-year results for the six months ended 30 J...
6 August 2008
Matrix Income & Growth VCT plc ("the Company")
Half-yearly results for the six months ended 30 June 2008
Investment Objective
Matrix Income & Growth VCT plc ("MIG VCT" or the "Company") is a Venture
Capital Trust ("VCT") listed on the London Stock Exchange. Its investment
portfolio, which invests primarily in established and profitable unquoted
companies, is managed by Matrix Private Equity Partners LLP ("MPEP" or "the
Investment Manager").
The Company's objective is to provide investors with an income stream by way of
tax free dividends and to generate capital growth which, following portfolio
realisations, can be distributed by way of additional tax free dividends.
Financial Highlights
Half-yearly results for the six months ended 30 June 2008
30 June 2008 30 June 2007 31 December 2007
Total return per share* 112.01p 110.49p 121.10p
Net cumulative dividends 12.00p 3.20p 4.20p
paid**
Net asset value (NAV) per 100.01p 107.29p 116.89p
share
Share price (mid-market 89.50p 91.50p 100.50p
price)
* Net asset value per share plus cumulative dividends per share. This compares
with an original investment cost of 100 pence per share, which after allowing
for income tax relief of 40 pence per share, equates to 60 pence per share.
** For a breakdown of recent dividends paid, please see Note 8 of the Notes to
the Unaudited Financial Statements below.
Net assets as at 30 June 2008 were £21,281,357 (30 June 2007: £23,715,873).
An interim income dividend of 1 penny per share and an interim capital dividend
of 2.3 pence per share have been declared and are payable on 11 September 2008
to Shareholders on the Register on 15 August 2008, thereby increasing net
cumulative dividends paid to 15.3 pence per share.
Chairman's Statement
I am pleased to present this Half-yearly Report covering the six month period
ended 30 June 2008.
Results and dividend
In light of the economic uncertainty and turmoil in financial markets during
the last six months this has been a challenging period for investment
companies. Against this background, your Company has performed reasonably well;
however, the value of its qualifying investment portfolio has not been immune
to earnings' disappointments, or, more importantly, to the impact of the
significant downward pressure on the valuations of comparable quoted companies,
which are benchmarked for valuation purposes. Total shareholder (NAV) return
declined by 7.5% in the period from 121.10 pence per share to 112.01 pence per
share.
The revenue account generated a net return (after tax) for the period of £
331,785 (2007: £306,813). The Board has declared an interim income dividend of
1 penny per share (2007: 1 penny per share), and an interim capital dividend of
2.3 pence per share, both of which will be paid on 11 September 2008 to
Shareholders on the Register on 15 August 2008. The capital dividend is
particularly pleasing, arising principally from the sale of BBI Holdings plc,
which I reported to you in the Annual Report for the year to 31 December 2007.
Net asset value
The net asset value at 30 June 2008 was 100.01 pence per share (30 June 2007:
107.29 pence per share) compared with a NAV of 109.09 pence per share at the
beginning of the period, after deducting the dividends of 7.80 pence per share
paid to Shareholders in the period. This fall of 8.3% compares with a decline
of 14.9% in the FTSE SmallCap Index over the same period.
Investment portfolio
In January, the disposal of the investment in BBI Holdings realised proceeds of
£0.8 million, an overall gain over cost of £0.5 million.
MPEP believes that the price expectations on the part of most vendors of
smaller companies still to be generally too high and has therefore pursued a
very selective approach to investing in new businesses. Only one small
investment of £0.4 million was completed during the period in the Management
Buy-Out ("MBO") of Plastic Surgeon Fine Finishers. Since the end of the period,
an investment of £1.0 million has been completed in Derringfield, a company
seeking to acquire businesses in the IT sector.
For further information on the investment portfolio please see the Investment
Manager's Review below.
Income
Income was derived from two main sources. Firstly, the investments made by your
Investment Manager usually include a substantial component of interest-bearing
loan stocks. The interest earned upon these loan stocks continues to make a
significant contribution and at 30 June 2008 these fixed interest securities
were generating an annualised yield of 8.3%. Secondly, income from money market
funds generated an average annualised yield of approximately 5.6% over the
period. As at the end of the period, the annualised running yield on the
qualifying investment portfolio as a whole was 4.8%, compared to 5.0% on all
the investments taken as a whole.
Investment in qualifying holdings
The Company is required to meet the target set by HM Revenue & Customs of
investing 70% of the funds raised in qualifying unquoted and AIM quoted
companies, which it has achieved throughout the period. The Company was 74.5%
invested in qualifying companies (based on VCT cost as defined in tax
legislation) at the period-end, with the balance of the portfolio invested in a
selection of readily realisable, money market funds with AAA credit ratings.
Share buy-backs
730,581 Ordinary Shares came onto the market during the six months to 30 June
2008. The Company bought back 134,037 of these shares at a price of 102.29
pence per share, which represented a discount of 12.5% to the then published
NAV, and 596,544 of these shares at a price of 89.05 pence, which represented a
discount of 15% to the then published NAV, adjusted for dividends payable.
These shares, representing 3.3% of the issued share capital at the beginning of
the period, were subsequently cancelled by the Company. The Board regularly
reviews its share buy-back policy.
VAT on management fees
With effect from 1 October this year, the Company will no longer have to pay
VAT on the management fees charged from that date. The Board is also aware of
the recent announcement that VAT already paid to HMRC for at least the last
three years may also become reclaimable. The precise amounts involved are as
yet uncertain, but both these developments should provide a boost to
Shareholders' income and capital returns.
Communicating with shareholders
The Company maintains a programme of regular communication with Shareholders
through newsletters and a dedicated website: www.migvct.co.uk, supplementing
the half-yearly and annual reports. The Board welcomes the opportunity to meet
Shareholders at the Company's General Meetings during which representatives of
the Investment Manager are present to discuss the progress of the portfolio.
The next AGM of the Company will be held in May 2009.
Outlook
The economic environment is continuing to deteriorate and these conditions may
challenge our existing portfolio companies' earnings and valuations further.
However your Company has substantial liquid resources which will provide the
Investment Manager with scope to add to the qualifying investment portfolio at
attractive valuations as opportunities present themselves. Your Board,
therefore, remains relatively optimistic about the medium to long term
prospects for the Company.
Keith Niven
Chairman
Directors' Responsibility Statement
The Directors confirm that to the best of their knowledge:
a. the condensed set of financial statements, which has been prepared in
accordance with applicable accounting standards in the United Kingdom,
gives a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position
and loss of the Company, as required by D.T.R. 4.2.4; and
b. the Chairman's Statement includes a fair review of the information required
by D.T.R. 4.2.7. and in accordance with D.T.R. 4.2.10.
Related Party Transactions
Details of related party transactions in accordance with D.T.R. 4.2.8. can be
found in Note 13 to the Unaudited Financial Statements below.
Principal Risks and Uncertainties
In accordance with DTR 4.2.7, the Board confirms that the principal risks and
uncertainties facing the Company have not materially changed since the
publication of the Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December
2007. The Board acknowledges that there is regulatory risk and continues to
manage the Company's affairs in such a manner as to comply with section 274
Income Tax Act 2007. Other risks relate to credit risk, market price risk,
interest rate risk and currency risk. A more detailed explanation of these can
be found in Note 19 on pages 43 - 47 of the 2007 Annual Report and Accounts -
copies of which are available on the VCT's website, www.migvct.co.uk.
Cautionary Statement
This Statement may contain forward looking statements with regards to the
financial condition and results of the Company which are made in the light of
current economic and business circumstances. Nothing in this announcement
should be construed as a profit forecast.
On behalf of the Board
Keith Niven, Chairman
Investment Manager's Review
The climate for new investment has continued to be difficult over the past six
months. We have maintained our selective approach to analysing potential new
investments in the face of continued deterioration in the UK economic
background and we remain of the view that the market has not yet re-established
the equilibrium necessary for high quality businesses to be sold at prices
acceptable to private equity-backed management teams.
We now expect new investment activity to remain at its current low level for
the next few months but that market conditions may then enter a cycle providing
excellent investment opportunities at more realistic prices which will provide
the potential for significant returns for MIG VCT from the beginning of 2009.
Private equity returns tend to be substantially greater when investments are
made at low points in the economic cycle.
During the period, one new investment was completed; in April £390,000 was
invested to support the MBO of Plastic Surgeon Fine Finishers, an Exeter-based
business which provides snagging and cosmetic repair services to the
residential housing market and commercial properties. Since the period-end a
further £1 million has been invested in Derringfield, a company formed
specifically to seek acquisitions in the IT sector.
As previously reported, the investment in BBI Holdings was realised by the sale
of that company to Inverness Medical Innovations Inc. in January 2008. The
proceeds of £842,000 produced a £460,000 profit on the Company's investment
cost of £382,000.
At 30 June 2008, the portfolio comprised investments in eighteen companies at a
total current cost of £13.9 million, valued in accordance with International
Private Equity and Venture Capital Valuation (IPEVCV) Guidelines at £15
million, representing an uplift of 8% above cost. This is a reduction from the
28% uplift prevailing at 31 December 2007, and reflects both the tightening
trading conditions being experienced by portfolio companies and, more
significantly, material reductions in FTSE Sector PE ratios, by reference to
which your Company's portfolio investments are valued.
Blaze Signs has successfully integrated its major acquisition and ended its
financial year very strongly. Youngman, after another excellent year in 2007,
has suffered from the well-publicised problems of the construction sector and a
downward adjustment in valuation has been made. PXP, which is directly exposed
to the housing market, has continued to trade below its investment plan.
More positively, PastaKing, Vectair and VSI have all continued to grow profits,
with Vectair benefiting from strong export markets both in Europe and the US.
VSI's strong cash generation enabled it to prepay £228,000 of its loan stock at
a 10% premium. British International has enjoyed solid trading, buoyed by its
high levels of contracted revenue.
Trading at Campden Media and Racoon has continued to disappoint, with both
experiencing levels of profitability much lower than anticipated at the time of
investment and their reduced valuations reflect this. Performance of the newer
MBOs is generally satisfactory, with DiGiCo, originally affected by a slow
start caused by product launch delays, now trading well; Focus has met
expectations to date and although Monsal's trading has disappointed so far, it
is well placed to generate significant revenue from a number of forthcoming
major contracts in both its existing and new markets in water and waste
management. Whilst SectorGuard has made acquisitions, its commercial progress
has not yet been reflected in its share price.
Aust Construction Investors, Barnfield Management Investments and Calisamo
Management, have all been actively seeking attractive investment opportunities
in their chosen sectors of construction and related services, food
manufacturing and healthcare respectively, but have not found investment
transactions at the right price.
The depth and longevity of the current economic slowdown and stock market
turmoil will inevitably be reflected in the value of the VCT's investments.
However, we continue to believe that the long-term prospects for the portfolio
are excellent and that attractive buying opportunities will emerge to enhance
longer term performance.
Matrix Private Equity Partners LLP
Investment Portfolio Summary
as at 30 June 2008
Date of Total book Valuation % value of
initial cost net assets
investment
£'000 £'000
Qualifying investments
AIM quoted investments
SectorGuard plc Aug-05 150 86 0.40%
Provider of manned guarding,
mobile patrolling, and alarm
response services
-------------- -------------- -------------
150 86 0.40%
Unquoted investments
Blaze Signs Holdings Limited Apr-06 1,574 2,156 10.13%
Signwriter
Youngman Group Limited Oct-05 1,000 1,751 8.23%
Manufacturer of ladders and
access towers
PastaKing Holdings Limited Jun-06 464 1,381 6.49%
Supplier to the educational and
food service market
VSI Limited Apr-06 390 1,094 5.14%
Developer and marketer of 3D
software
Aust Construction Investors Oct-07 1,000 1,000 4.70%
Limited
Company seeking to acquire
businesses in the construction
sector
Barnfield Management Oct-07 1,000 1,000 4.70%
Investments Limited
Company seeking to acquire
businesses in the food sector
Calisamo Management Limited Oct-07 1,000 1,000 4.70%
Company seeking to acquire
businesses in the healthcare
sector
DiGiCo Europe Limited Jul-07 1,000 1,000 4.70%
Designer and manufacturer of
audio mixing desks
British International Holdings Jun-06 1,000 944 4.44%
Limited
Supplier of helicopter services
Vectair Holdings Limited Jan-06 560 943 4.43%
Designer and distributor of
washroom products
Focus Pharma Holdings Limited Oct-07 657 657 3.09%
Licensor and distributor of
generic pharmaceuticals
Monsal Holdings Limited Dec-07 616 616 2.89%
Supplier of engineering
services to water and waste
sectors
PXP Holdings Limited (Pinewood Dec-06 1,000 575 2.70%
Structures)
Designer, manufacturer,
supplier and installer of
timber-frames for buildings
Campden Media Limited Jan-06 975 414 1.95%
Magazine publisher and
conference organiser
Plastic Surgeon Holdings Apr-08 390 390 1.83%
Limited (The)
Snagging and finishing of
domestic and commercial
properties
Racoon International Holdings Dec-06 874 36 0.17%
Limited
Supplier of hair extensions,
hair care products and training
FH Ingredients Limited Feb-05 213 - 0.00%
Processor and distributor of
frozen herbs to the food
processing industry
-------------- -------------- -----------
13,713 14,957 70.29%*
-------------- -------------- -----------
Total qualifying investments 13,863 15,043 70.69%
-------------- -------------- -----------
Non-qualifying investments
Global Treasury Funds plc 1,509 1,509 7.09%
(Royal Bank of Scotland)**
Fidelity Institutional Cash 1,212 1,212 5.70%
Fund plc**
GS Funds plc (Goldman Sachs)** 1,086 1,086 5.10%
SWIP Global Liquidity Fund plc 1,045 1,045 4.91%
(Scottish Widows)**
Barclays Global Investors Cash 630 630 2.96%
Selection Funds plc**
Institutional Cash Series plc 496 496 2.33%
(BlackRock)**
Insight Liquidity Funds plc 398 398 1.87%
(HBOS)**
-------------- -------------- -----------
Total non-qualifying 6,376 6,376 29.96%
investments
-------------- -------------- -----------
Total investments 20,239 21,419 100.65%
-------------- -------------- -----------
Other assets 224 224 1.05 %
Current liabilities (362) (362) (1.70)%
-------------- -------------- -----------
Net assets 20,101 21,281 100.00%
-------------- -------------- -----------
* As at 30 June 2008, the Company held 74.5% of its total investments in
qualifying holdings, and therefore complied with the VCT investment test. For
the purposes of the VCT investment tests, the Company is permitted to disregard
disposals of investments for six months from the date of disposal.
** Disclosed as Investments at fair value within Current assets in the Balance
Sheet.
Unaudited Profit and Loss Account
for the six months ended 30 June 2008
Six months ended 30 June 2008 Six months ended 30 June 2007
(restated)
Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total
Notes £ £ £ £ £ £
Unrealised (losses)/ - (2,338,608) (2,338,608) - 1,607,124 1,607,124
gains on investments
held at fair value
Realised gains/ - 86,966 86,966 - (148) (148)
(losses) on
investments held at
fair value
Income 5 649,235 - 649,235 625,023 - 625,023
Investment management 3 (69,547) (208,643) (278,190) (65,423) (196,271) (261,694)
fees
Other expenses (164,161) - (164,161) (160,711) - (160,711)
----------- -------------- ----------- ----------- ------------ -----------
Return on ordinary 415,527 (2,460,285) (2,044,758) 398,889 1,410,705 1,809,594
activities before
taxation
Tax on ordinary (83,742) 60,160 (23,582) (92,076) 62,904 (29,172)
activities
----------- -------------- ----------- ----------- ------------ -----------
Return attributable 331,785 (2,400,125) (2,068,340) 306,813 1,473,609 1,780,422
to equity
shareholders
----------- -------------- ----------- ----------- ------------ -----------
Return per share 7 1.53p (11.06)p (9.53)p 1.39p 6.66p 8.05p
Year ended 31 December 2007
(audited)
Revenue Capital Total
Notes £ £ £
Unrealised (losses) - 2,386,239 2,386,239
/gains on
investments held at
fair value
Realised gains/ - 1,433,612 1,433,612
(losses) on
investments held at
fair value
Income 5 1,231,117 - 1,231,117
Investment 3 (137,119) (411,357) (548,476)
management fees
Other expenses (337,887) - (337,887)
----------- -------------- -----------
Return on ordinary 756,111 3,408,494 4,164,605
activities before
taxation
Tax on ordinary (188,788) 132,958 (55,830)
activities
----------- -------------- -----------
Return attributable 567,323 3,541,452 4,108,775
to equity
shareholders
----------- -------------- -----------
Return per share 7 2.58p 16.07p 18.65p
The total column is the profit and loss account of the Company.
All revenue and capital items in the above statement derive from continuing
operations.
No operations were acquired or discontinued in the period.
There were no other gains or losses in the period.
Unaudited Note of Historical Cost Profits and Losses
for the six months ended 30 June 2008
Six months ended Six months ended Year ended
30 June 2008 30 June 2007 31 December 2007
(restated) (audited)
Total Total Total
£ £ £
(Loss)/ profit on (2,044,758) 1,809,594 4,164,605
ordinary activities
before taxation
Less: Unrealised (2,338,608) 1,607,124 2,386,239
(losses)/gains on
investments
Realisation of 396,538 - (9,385)
revaluation gains/
(losses) of
previous years
------------------ ------------------ -----------------
Historical cost 690,388 202,470 1,768,981
profit/(loss) on
ordinary activities
before taxation
------------------ ------------------ -----------------
Historical cost (1,039,484) (136,153) 1,182,664
(loss)/profit on
ordinary activities
after taxation and
dividends
Unaudited Balance Sheet
as at 30 June 2008
As at 30 June 2008 As at 30 June 2007 As at 31 December 2007
(restated) (audited)
Notes £ £ £
Non-current assets 1c,
10
Investments at fair value 15,043,401 1,936,670 17,998,075
------------------------- ----------------------- ---------------------------
Current assets
Debtors and prepayments 174,610 124,753 147,575
Investments at fair value 11 6,375,857 11,797,408 7,747,608
Cash at bank 49,740 121,289 51,562
------------------------- ----------------------- ---------------------------
6,600,207 12,043,450 7,946,745
Creditors: amounts ( 362,251) ( 264,247) ( 216,905)
falling due within one
year
------------------------- ----------------------- ---------------------------
Net current assets 6,237,956 11,779,203 7,729,840
------------------------- ----------------------- ---------------------------
Net assets 21,281,357 23,715,873 25,727,915
------------------------- ----------------------- ---------------------------
Capital and reserves 12
Called up share capital 212,791 221,038 220,097
Capital redemption 8,647 400 1,341
reserve
Revaluation reserve 1,392,384 3,339,030 4,127,530
Special distributable 18,741,244 20,676,105 19,561,655
reserve
Profit and loss account 926,291 ( 520,700) 1,817,292
------------------------- ----------------------- ---------------------------
Equity shareholders' 21,281,357 23,715,873 25,727,915
funds (equity interests)
------------------------- ----------------------- ---------------------------
Net asset value per 9 100.01p 107.29p 116.89p
Ordinary Share
Unaudited Reconciliation of Movements in Shareholders' Funds
for the six months ended 30 June 2008
Six months ended Six months ended Year ended
30 June 2008 30 June 2007 31 December 2007
(audited)
£ £ £
Opening Shareholders' 25,727,915 22,244,902 22,244,902
funds
Ordinary Shares bought (671,928) - (95,275)
back
Expenses of issues - - -
(Loss)/gain for the (2,068,340) 1,780,422 4,108,775
period before dividends
Dividends paid in (1,706,290) (309,451) (530,487)
period
------------------------ ----------------------- ------------------------
Closing Shareholders' 21,281,357 23,715,873 25,727,915
funds
------------------------ ----------------------- ------------------------
Unaudited Summarised Cash Flow Statement
for the six months ended 30 June 2008
Six months ended Six months ended Year ended
30 June 2008 30 June 2007 31 December 2007
(audited)
£ £ £
Operating activities
Investment income 639,694 644,916 1,227,519
received
Investment management ( 296,267) ( 261,694) ( 548,476)
fees paid
Other cash payments ( 139,331) ( 119,627) ( 399,250)
------------------------ ----------------------- ------------------------
Net cash inflow from 204,096 263,595 279,793
operating activities
Investing activities
Acquisitions of ( 390,289) ( 18) ( 6,272,923)
investments
Disposals of 1,093,351 - 2,499,491
investments
------------------------ ----------------------- ------------------------
Net cash inflow/(o 703,062 ( 18) ( 3,773,432)
utflow) from investing
activities
Dividends
Equity dividends paid ( 1,706,290) ( 309,451) ( 530,487)
Taxation
Taxation repaid/(paid) 587 - ( 46,000)
------------------------ ----------------------- ------------------------
Cash outflow before ( 798,545) ( 45,874) ( 4,070,126)
financing and liquid
resource management
Management of liquid
resources
Decrease in current 1,371,751 108,913 4,158,713
investments
Financing
Share capital bought ( 575,028) - ( 95,275)
back
------------------------ ----------------------- ------------------------
(Decrease)/increase in ( 1,822) 63,039 ( 6,688)
cash for the period
------------------------ ----------------------- ------------------------
Reconciliation of Loss on Ordinary Activities before Taxation
to Net Cash Inflow from Operating Activities
for the six months ended 30 June 2008
Six months ended Six months ended Year ended
30 June 2008 30 June 2007 31 December 2007
£ £
(Loss)/profit on (2,044,758) 1,809,594 4,164,605
ordinary activities
before taxation
Net unrealised losses/ 2,338,608 (1,607,124) (2,386,239)
(gains) on investments
Net (gains)/losses on (86,966) 148 (1,433,612)
realisations of
investments
Transaction costs (30) (148) ( 75,264)
(Increase)/decrease in (27,035) 17,762 (5,060)
debtors
Increase in creditors 24,277 43,363 15,363
------------------------ ----------------------- ------------------------
Net cash inflow from 204,096 263,595 279,793
operating activities
------------------------ ----------------------- ------------------------
The Notes below form part of these half-yearly financial statements.
Notes to the Unaudited Financial Statements
1. Principal accounting policies
The following accounting policies have been applied consistently throughout the
period. Full details of principal accounting policies will be disclosed in the
Annual Report.
a) Basis of accounting
The unaudited results cover the six months to 30 June 2008 and have been
prepared under UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (UK GAAP), consistent
with the accounting policies set out in the statutory accounts for the year
ended 31 December 2007 and Statement of Recommended Practice, `Financial
Statements of Investment Trust Companies' issued by the Association of
Investment Trust Companies in January 2003 ("SORP") and reviewed in 2005.
The Half-Yearly Report has not been audited, nor has it been reviewed by the
auditors pursuant to the Auditing Practices Board (APB)'s guidance on Review of
Interim Financial Information.
b) Presentation of the Profit and Loss Account
In order to better reflect the activities of a VCT and in accordance with the
SORP, supplementary information which analyses the Profit and Loss Account
between items of a revenue and capital nature has been presented alongside the
Profit and Loss Account. The revenue column of profit attributable to equity
shareholders is the measure the Directors believe appropriate in assessing the
Company's compliance with certain requirements set out in Section 274 Income
Tax Act 2007.
c) Investments
Investments are recognised on a trade date basis. All investments held by the
Company are classified as "fair value through profit and loss", in accordance
with the International Private Equity and Venture Capital Valuation (IPEVCV)
guidelines published in 2005. For investments actively traded in organised
financial markets, fair value is generally determined by reference to Stock
Exchange market quoted bid prices at the close of business on the balance sheet
date.
Unquoted investments are stated at fair value by the Directors in accordance
with the following rules, which are consistent with the IPEVCV guidelines:
(i) Investments which have been made in the last twelve months are at fair
value which, unless another methodology gives a better indication of fair
value, will be at cost;
(ii) Investments in companies at an early stage of their development are valued
at fair value which, unless another methodology gives a better indication of
fair value, will be at cost;
iii. Where investments have been held for more than twelve months or have gone
beyond the stage in their development in (i) or (ii) above, the shares may
be valued by applying a suitable price-earnings ratio to that company's
historic, current or forecast earnings (the ratio used being based on a
comparable listed company or sector but the resulting value being
discounted to reflect points of difference by the Investment Manager
compared to the sector as well as lack of marketability). Where overriding
factors apply, alternative methods of valuation will be used. These will
include the application of a material arms-length transaction by an
independent third party, cost less provision for impairment, discounted
cash flow, or a net asset basis;
iv) Where a value is indicated by a material arms-length transaction by a third
party in the shares of a company, this value will be used.
v) Unquoted investments will not normally be re-valued upwards for a period of
at least twelve months from the date of acquisition. Where a company's
underperformance against plan indicates a diminution in the value of the
investment, provision against cost is made, as appropriate. Where the value of
an investment has become permanently impaired below cost, the loss is treated
as a permanent impairment and as a realised loss, even though the investment is
still held. The Board assess the portfolio for such investments, and after
agreement with the Investment Manager, will agree the values that represent the
extent to which an investment has become permanently impaired. This is based
upon an assessment of objective evidence of that investment's future prospects,
to determine whether there is potential for the investment to recover in value.
(vi) Premium on loan stock investments are accrued at fair value when the
Company receives the right to the premium and when considered recoverable.
2. Capital gains and losses on investments, whether realised or unrealised, are
dealt with in the capital reserve and movements in the period are shown in the
Profit and Loss Account.
3. In accordance with the policy statement published under "Management and
Administration" in the Company's prospectus dated 9 July 2004, the Directors
have charged 75% of the investment management expenses to the capital reserve.
4. Earnings for the six months ended 30 June 2008 should not be taken as a
guide to the results for the full year.
5. Income
Six months ended Six months ended Year ended
30 June 2008 30 June 2007 31 December 2007
£ £ £
Income from investments
Dividends 93,304 56,247 63,834
Money-market funds 215,531 311,604 583,935
Loan stock interest 336,052 255,628 579,006
Bank deposits 4,348 1,544 4,342
---------------------- ---------------------- ------------------------
Total Income 649,235 625,023 1,231,117
6. Taxation
The tax charge for the period is caused by capital losses not being tax
deductible, leaving taxable profits chargeable at 20.75%.
7. Earnings and return per share
The basic earnings, revenue return and capital return per share shown below for
each period are respectively based on numerators i)-iii), each divided by the
weighted average number of shares in issue in the period - see iv) below.
Six months ended Six months ended Year ended
30 June 2008 30 June 2007 31 December 2007
£ £ £
i) Total earnings (2,068,340) 1,780,422 4,108,775
after taxation
Basic earnings per (9.53)p 8.05p 18.65p
share (pence)
ii) Net revenue from 331,785 306,813 567,323
ordinary activities
after taxation
Revenue return per 1.53p 1.39p 2.58p
share (pence)
Net unrealised capital (2,338,608) 1,607,124 2,386,239
(losses)/gains
Net realised capital 86,966 (148) 1,433,612
gains/(losses)
Capital expenses (148,483) (133,367) (278,399)
--------------------- --------------------- ---------------------
iii) Capital gain/ ( 2,400,125) 1,473,609 3,541,452
(loss)
Capital gain/(loss) (11.06)p 6.66p 16.07p
per share (pence)
iv) Weighted average 21,705,974 22,103,821 22,031,665
number of shares in
issue in the period
8. Dividends paid
Six months ended Six months ended Year ended
30 June 2008 30 June 2007 31 December 2007
£ £ £
Final income - 309,451 309,451
dividend paid for
year ended 31
December 2006 of
1.4p per share
Interim income - - 221,036
dividend for the
year ended 31
December 2007 of
1.0p per share
Final income 306,257 - -
dividend paid for
year ended 31
December 2007 of
1.4p per share
Final capital 1,400,033 - -
dividend paid for
year ended 31
December 2007 of
6.4p per share
---------------------- ---------------------- ------------------------
1,706,290 309,451 530,487
9. Net asset value per share
As at As at As at
30 June 2008 30 June 2007 31 December 2007
£ £ £
Net assets 21,281,357 23,715,873 25,727,915
Number of shares in issue 21,279,171 22,103,821 22,009,752
Net asset value per share 100.01p 107.29p 116.89p
(pence)
10. Summary of non-current investments at fair value during the period
Traded Ordinary Preference Qualifying Total
on AIM shares shares loans
£ £ £ £ £
Valuation at 1 January 852,366 7,545,246 43,307 9,557,156 17,998,075
2008
Purchases at cost - 39,029 195 351,065 390,289
Sales - proceeds (842,877) - - (250,474) (1,093,351)
- realised gains 86,996 - - - 86,996
Decrease in unrealised (10,721) (1,384,878) (1,829) (941,180) (2,338,608)
gains
---------------- ---------------- ---------------- ---------------- ----------------
Valuation at 30 June 85,764 6,199,397 41,673 8,716,567 15,043,401
2008
Book cost at 30 June 150,106 4,038,507 45,749 9,629,548 13,863,910
2008
Unrealised (losses)/ (64,342) 2,205,132 (3,078) (745,328) 1,392,384
gains at 30 June 2008
Permanent impairment in - (44,242) (998) (167,653) (212,893)
value of investments
---------------- ---------------- ---------------- ---------------- ----------------
Valuation at 30 June 85,764 6,199,397 41,673 8,716,567 15,043,401
2008
Gains on investments
Unrealised gains/ 320,147 3,590,010 (1,249) 218,622 4,127,530
(losses) at
1 January 2008
Permanent impairment in - (44,242) (998) (167,653) (212,893)
value of investments
Realised gains from the (373,768) - - (22,770) (396,538)
prior period
Net movement in (10,721) (1,384,878) (1,829) (941,180) (2,338,608)
unrealised appreciation
in the period
---------------- ---------------- ---------------- ---------------- ----------------
Unrealised gains/ (64,342) 2,160,890 (4,076) (912,981) 1,179,491
(losses) on investments
at 30 June 2008
11. Current investments at fair value
These comprise investments in seven Dublin based OEIC money market funds
managed by Royal Bank of Scotland, Blackrock Investment Management, Goldman
Sachs, Insight Investment Management, Barclays Global Investors, Scottish
Widows Investment Management and Fidelity Investment Management.
£6,372,366 (30 June 2007: £10,101,315; 31 December 2007: £7,744,215) of this
sum is subject to same day access, whilst £3,491 (30 June 2007: £1,696,093; 31
December 2007: £3,393) is subject to 2 day access.
12. Capital and reserves
Called up Capital Revaluation Special Profit Total
share redemption reserve distributable and loss
capital reserve reserve account
£ £ £ £ £ £
At 1 January 2008 220,097 1,341 4,127,530 19,561,655 1,817,292 25,727,915
Shares bought (7,306) 7,306 - (671,928) - (671,928)
back
Written off to - - - (148,483) 148,483 -
special reserve
Realisation of - - (396,538) - 396,538 -
previously
unrealised
depreciation
Dividend - final - - - - (1,706,290) (1,706,290)
for year ended 31
December 2007
Profit/(loss) for - - (2,338,608) - 270,268 (2,068,340)
the period
---------- ------------- -------------- --------------- ------------ -------------
At 30 June 2008 212,791 8,647 1,392,384 18,741,244 926,291 21,281,357
13. Related party transactions
Bridget Guérin is a director and shareholder (2.0%) of Matrix Group Limited,
which owns 100% of the equity of MPE Partners Limited. MPE Partners Limited has
a 50% interest in Matrix Private Equity Partners LLP ("MPEP"), the Company's
Investment Manager. Bridget Guérin is also a director of Matrix-Securities
Limited who provided Company Secretarial and Accountancy Services to the
Company under agreements dated 9 July 2004 for a fee of £43,157 (30 June 2007:
£41,158; 31 December 2007: £85,031) in the period. The agreements with MPEP and
with Matrix-Securities Limited became effective from 5 October 2004.
14. The information for the year ended 31 December 2007 does not comprise full
financial statements within the meaning of Section 240 of the Companies Act
1985. The financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2007 have been
filed with the Registrar of Companies. The auditors have reported on these
financial statements and that report was unqualified and did not contain a
statement under section 237(2) of the Companies Act 1985.
15. The Half-yearly Report will shortly be made available on our website:
www.migvct.co.uk and will be circulated by post to those Shareholders who have
requested to receive copies of the Report. Further copies are available free of
charge from the Company's registered office, One Vine Street, London W1J 0AH.
Contact details for further enquiries:
Robert Brittain of Matrix-Securities Limited (the Company Secretary) on 020
3206 7000 or by e-mail on MIG@matrixgroup.co.uk.
Matrix Private Equity Partners LLP (the Investment Manager), on 020 3206 7000
or by e-mail on info@matrixpep.co.uk.