Final Results

Close Brothers Aim Vct PLC 16 May 2002 16 May 2002 CLOSE BROTHERS AIM VCT PLC ('the Company') Preliminary results for the year ended 28 February 2002 Financial Highlights: Ordinary Shares C Shares Year to Year to 28 February 2002 28 February 2002 Net dividends per share 4.00 pence 2.00 pence Net asset value per share 86.97 pence 86.49 pence Net assets £8.73 million £17.30 million Shareholder value per share since launch (per £1 paid per share excluding tax benefits): Gross dividends for the period to 28 February 1999* 3.75 pence - Net dividends for the year to 29 February 2000 12.25 pence - Net dividends for the year/period to 28 February 2001 32.25 pence 1.25 pence Net revenue dividends for the year to 28 February 2002 0.50 pence 2.00 pence Net capital dividend for the year to 28 February 2002 3.50 pence - Net asset value at 28 February 2002 86.97 pence 86.49 pence Total 139.22 pence 89.74 pence *Dividends paid before 5 April 1999 were paid to qualifying shareholders inclusive of the associated tax credit. Michael Reeve, Chairman, commented: 'Over the period from launch of the VCT to the end of the year under review, the ordinary share portfolio has substantially outperformed the AIM index. Taking into account realisations (which have largely been distributed as capital dividends) and income dividends, that portfolio has increased by 39% compared with a decrease in the AIM index of 17%. The 'C' share portfolio has fared less well but it too has outperformed the AIM index, with a decrease in value of 10%, (if income dividends are added back), compared with a decrease in the AIM index of 48% in the comparable period.' 'Despite the difficult trading conditions of the last two years and the very poor level of investor sentiment many companies in the portfolio have continued to make good progress. That will be recognised in time in their share price ratings. In the next year or so they and other investments should realise the potential which vindicates our original investment decision.' The Manager of the Company, Andrew Buchanan of Close Investment Limited, said: ' In the current environment of low inflation and interest rates, small companies should have at least the same and arguably a better chance to grow than their larger bretheren. With valuations in the market at a more realistic level, we feel comfortable with the timetable for achieving the 80% investment target for the 'C' shares over the next 18 months.' For further information, please contact: Andrew Buchanan Justin Griffiths/John West Close Investment Limited Tavistock Communications Tel: 020 7426 4000 Tel: 020 7600 2288 Notes to Editors: 1) Close Investment Limited is a subsidiary of Close Brothers Group plc and is regulated by the FSA. 2) The financial information included in this announcement as regards the company does not constitute statutory accounts for the year ended 28 February 2002 within the meaning of Section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. Statutory accounts of the company for the financial year ended 28 February 2002, upon which the auditors of the company have given an unqualified report, will be delivered to the Registrar of Companies. 3) Audited Financial Statements for the year will be sent to shareholders shortly. CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT A number of unforeseen events occurred in the year to 28 February 2002, which depressed financial markets and contributed to our second year of negative total return. In particular the fall in values of telecommunications, media and technology stocks and the attack on the World Trade Centre created uncertainty and increased fear amongst all investors. Domestic demand came under renewed pressure following the outbreak of foot and mouth disease, which impacted on leisure industries. These events coupled with a continued fall in business confidence particularly affected sentiment towards smaller companies. Liquidity shrank as investors sought refuge in cash, bonds and larger, more liquid, equities. The value of UK equities fell for the second year running, the first time since 1973 and 1974. However, over the period from launch of the Company to the end of the year under review the ordinary share portfolio has substantially outperformed the AIM index. Taking into account realisations (which have largely been distributed as capital dividends) and income dividends, that portfolio has increased by 39% compared with a decrease in the AIM index of 17%. The 'C' share portfolio has fared less well but it too has outperformed the AIM index, with a decrease in value of 10% (if income dividends are added back), compared with a decrease in the AIM index of 48% in the comparable period. In the year to 28 February 2002 the AIM index fell by 36%, while (if dividends are added back), with NAV's at the year end of 87 pence and 86.5 pence respectively, the value of the ordinary and 'C' ordinary share portfolio fell by 24% and 8% respectively. At the end of the year the ordinary share portfolio was 82.4% invested in qualifying investments and the first tranche of the 'C' share portfolio was 65% invested. The 'C' share portfolio as a whole was 41% invested in qualifying investments, comfortably in line with our target of 80% in three years, and giving us approximately a further eighteen months to invest the balance of the two tranches. Dividends Your board is not proposing a final revenue dividend for the ordinary shares to add to the 0.5p paid at the interim stage as the level of income has fallen as the portfolio has become more fully invested. In accordance with your Board's policy of as far as possible distributing by way of capital dividends the net profit on realisations as they occur, the Board has proposed a final capital dividend of 3.5p per ordinary share. The Board is proposing a final revenue dividend of 1p per 'C' ordinary share to add to the 1p paid at the interim stage. It is proposed that all dividends be paid on 27 June 2002 to shareholders on the register on 24 May 2002. Cancellation of shares In my statement last year I commented on the substantial swings in the market price of the ordinary shares in the company which bore no relation to the movement in the underlying net asset value. In the year under review the share price of both the ordinary and 'C' ordinary shares fluctuated much less. Your board exercised its power to acquire 35,000 ordinary shares at an average price of 79p per share and 10,000 'C' Shares at 80p per share which represented a discount of approximately 10% respectively on the net asset value per share. At the forthcoming Annual General Meeting shareholders' consent will again be sought to renew the board's power to make such purchases should it deem it appropriate to do so. Outlook After two years of negative returns, it might strike shareholders as odd to remark that the outlook for smaller UK companies seems positive, but for a number of reasons I believe that your Company can perform well in the next two years. That is not to say that volatility will not continue to be part of investment life, but the potential for smaller companies to perform substantially better than large ones does exist. Clearly many large companies have significant problems, partly associated with their cost structures, perhaps associated with excessive debt and weak balance sheets but all associated with the problems of growing profits in a less benign economic environment than existed a few years ago. If that is true for larger companies, might the smallest not also find profits growth difficult? The difference lies at the heart of the case for investing in smaller companies, despite the tax advantages of a VCT. Both the ordinary and C share portfolios comprise many niche companies that have been able to grow their profits in industrial sectors dominated by large companies. The reasons are varied, ranging from price to service levels, response time, product innovation and quality. The UK economy has not gone into recession as many, at the end of last year, feared. Indeed the World at large has avoided recession not least as a result of low interest rates. The UK consumer has continued to spend, although there are indications that consumer spending may have slowed even before interest rates rise. For the next year or so inflation seems set to stay at an acceptably low level despite the recent rises in commodity prices. Although the next movement in UK interest rates may be upwards it is not expected to be a sharp rise. The general background is one of economic stability and modest GDP growth. It is precisely in those conditions that small companies, with the virtues to which I have referred earlier, prosper. Smaller companies have the chance to grow at a rate faster than the average, from which it becomes difficult for larger companies to deviate. We do, however, expect conditions to remain challenging and under these conditions both large and small companies can fail, as particularly witnessed in the past year. Despite the difficult trading conditions of the last two years and the very poor level of investor sentiment many companies in the portfolio have continued to make good progress. That will be recognised in time in their share price ratings. In the next year or so they and other investments should realise the potential which vindicates our original investment decision. Michael Reeve Chairman 16 May 2002 MANAGER'S REVIEW Portfolio Against the background of a generally poor stockmarket and a difficult environment for new issues, the year was surprisingly busy, with the majority of successful fund raisings governed by the need for tax driven funds to keep investing. There was a lull during the summer months, but things picked up in the Autumn and the flow of VCTable issues continued until Christmas. This was despite the events of September 11, although many of the fund raisings were from existing companies where the shock of September on top of several poor months trading precipitated the decision to seek funds. These secondary issues were of mixed quality, but tended to be priced more cheaply than new flotations, many of which were still commanding higher valuations than comparatives in the market warranted. The pressure of VCT funds to invest that we highlighted a year ago has helped the smaller end of the market. Its tendency to push prices higher has now eased as the market for raising new VCT funds has been more difficult during the year. In terms of performance, the fund has tended to polarise into the 'old economy' profitable companies whose shares have done well this year and the 'new economy' companies whose share prices have struggled, especially those needing funds. Hence, in the ordinary share portfolio the good performers have been Mears and Maclellan, both of which, having been re-rated as outsourcing and support services, have gathered supporters and Metnor and Inventive Leisure which have produced good individual performances. Interlink Foods, which is in both portfolios, has performed well on the back of some well priced acquisitions. TCTi, an investment first made at the beginning of 2000 illustrates the difficulty of a technology company without significant sales that needs cash. The company failed despite a pick up in orders and a proven technology. In the light of difficult market conditions the decision to keep some sort of balance in the portfolio has paid off in relative terms even if it is disappointing to report a negative absolute return for the year. The 'C' share portfolio tended to have newer investments and so missed some of the performance from more mature investments although it also held Interlink Foods. Overall, the portfolio performed better than the ordinaries because of the high levels of cash. On a more positive note, we have continued to take profits in our successes in the ordinary portfolio and are confident that the companies we have reinvested the money in should perform in the fullness of time. It is still early days for most of the investments in the 'C' share portfolio. Portfolio Activity Ordinary Shares The portfolio consists of 36 holdings at a cost of £8.3 million. At the end of the period it was 82% invested in qualifying holdings. During the year the fund made 12 new qualifying investments, 7 in the first half and 5 in the second half. Of the four in the second half, three are new flotations on AIM. They include Stagecoach Theatre Arts, a franchise theatre school which trained the star of Billy Elliott, Deltex, a medical devices company with a non invasive technique for monitoring cardiac output and Pilat Media, a company selling television broadcasting software to the likes of B Sky B. Stagecoach is well established and profitable, Pilat should be able to turn profitable this year, and Deltex has the opportunity to address a large market although profitability is further into the future. The encouraging thing from a VCT investor's perspective is that the valuation of the last two was considerably below what it would have been 12 months previously and hence the risk reward ratio looks attractive. We also invested in two existing holdings, Zipcom and Warthog. The former was raising money for a slimmed down business plan to attack the telephony market in the local loop. After much hype, many potential competitors have fallen by the wayside making the market look more attractive. Warthog was raising funds for small acquisitions to continue its growth in computer games development. This market is only a small way into a cyclical upturn. A number of disposals were made during the year realising a net profit of £547,000. This will be paid out in the proposed capital dividend of 3.50p per share. Most of the sales were profit taking in Mears, Metnor and Interlink Foods, all of which remain substantial holdings in the portfolio. We also exited from two mistakes, RMR and Lady in Leisure. As already highlighted, TCTi failed to raise sufficient new capital and went into receivership. We sold the entire holding of Aortech at a profit. 'C' share portfolio The 'C' share portfolio made 17 investments in the year, 8 of which were in the second half. In addition to the five discussed above in the section on the ordinary share portfolio, the 'C' share portfolio invested in three others. The first of these, Hartest is a profitable dividend paying industrial company providing equipment to laboratories. Clarity Commerce Solutions is a provider of management software to pub and restaurant groups which bought a similar business supplying local authority health clubs. It has managed to win some significant contracts off groups such as Laurel, the former Whitbread pubs and Punch Taverns. The other investment was Monotub which turned out to be a mistake, and gave rise to the portfolio's only sale in the period. We invested on the basis that the company had a revolutionary new washing machine that had overcome its former production difficulties and was starting to sell through Comet. Some poor trade press and the decision to stop manufacture which led to Comet withdrawing from selling the machine removed all our original reasons for investing so the holding was sold. At the end of the period the 'C' shares were 41% invested overall and we are continuing to see a reasonable flow of prospects. Outlook The retreat of all but VCT capital from the smaller end of the market from the middle of 2001 made it hard for shares already in the market place to perform, even if the underlying company was doing well. These conditions still apply, but in the case of individual stocks the tide is turning and money is once again trickling in. The good performance of the more established companies in the ordinary portfolio shows that value starts to be recognised when companies grow to a certain size. Systems Union, Inventive Leisure, Mears, Maclellan and Interlink Foods are all beginning to attract the attention of some of the mainstream smaller company investors and the share prices have started to rise as a consequence. In the current environment of low inflation and interest rates small companies should have at least the same and arguably a better chance to grow than their larger brethren. For those that succeed, this will eventually be recognised in the rating and provide a capital uplift for early investors. We are continuing to invest in companies in all sectors, taking each on its individual merits but always trying to keep the risk reward ratio in line with an individual company's prospects. With valuations in the market at a more realistic level, we feel comfortable with the timetable for achieving the 80% investment target for the ' C' shares over the next 18 months. DETAILS OF PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS The following are the details of qualifying investments on 28 February 2002. Company and Description Market Value Book Cost Holding % of at 28 February 2002 £'000 (shares) capital owned £'000 Ordinary 'C' Ordinary 'C' Ordinary 'C' Shares Shares Shares Shares Shares Shares InterLink Foods. Manufacturer of 635 548 207 430 188,140 162,467 5.0 own label cakes for supermarket groups. Fitzhardinge. Provider of real 265 530 225 450 195,653 391,304 2.1 estate solutions to the UK and International property sectors Zipcom. Provider of 233 527 450 500 4,908,947 11,095,000 5.6 telecommunications services. Pilat Media Global. Software 215 430 200 400 1,000,000 2,000,000 6.9 provider for the global multi-channel broadcasting market. comeleon. Provider of advanced 213 426 213 425 128,949 257,898 3.1 imaging technologies. Stagecoach Theatre Arts. Operator 212 423 193 386 207,529 415,058 6.4 of part-time performing arts schools for youngsters. MacLellan. Facilities management. 605 - 259 - 680,263 - 1.2 Warthog. Developer of computer 202 402 192 382 429,303 855,814 2.8 games software. Metnor Group. Hot dip galvaniser of 563 - 218 - 217,865 - 1.4 steel products. Mears. Building maintenance 559 - 79 - 606,062 - 1.1 contractor to local authorities, the MOD and the private sector. Inventive Leisure. Bar and 518 - 261 - 275,000 - 1.4 nightclub operator. Deltex Medical Group. Developer of 168 335 239 478 956,896 1,913,796 7.8 non-invasive heart monitoring devices. Oasis Healthcare. Operator of - 471 - 419 - 1,047,535 1.8 dental practices thoughout the UK. Tepnel Life Science. Developer of 133 332 164 409 820,635 2,044,472 3.0 automated DNA technologies. Company and Description Market Value Book Cost Holding % of at 28 February 2002 £'000 (shares) capital owned £'000 Ordinary 'C' Ordinary 'C' Ordinary 'C' Shares Shares Shares Shares Shares Shares Clipper Ventures. Organisers of the 294 168 350 250 828,400 471,698 9.7 Clipper round the world sailing race and other sailing based leisure activities. Clarity Commerce Solutions. - 409 - 386 - 514,522 3.7 Supplier of electronic point of sale software. Conder Environmental. Manufacture 127 254 212 423 1,060,000 2,115,000 8.5 and marketing of pollution control devices. Honeycombe. Managed pub operator in 354 - 293 - 532,000 - 1.9 North West England. Capcon. Investigation services for 95 257 108 292 135,000 365,000 6.9 the leisure industry. Hartest. Manufacturer and - 317 - 298 - 3,719,576 2.5 distributor of specialist laboratory equipment. Blooms of Bressingham. Operator of 174 130 340 190 267,582 200,000 2.4 garden centres. Adval. Design and delivery of 139 145 480 438 844,443 877,162 6.7 bespoke training courses for human resources development for major corporations. Ideal Shopping Direct. Sales 122 155 269 200 395,000 500,000 3.1 organisation direct to consumer via catalogue and TV channel. Tandem. Manufacturer and 263 - 250 - 5,000,000 - 2.0 distributor of bicycles. Protec. Development and installation 94 139 149 195 1,886,101 2,783,000 3.8 of electronic security and information systems. Jamies Bars. London based wine bar 197 - 325 - 406,250 - 5.7 operator. Bank Restaurant Group. Restaurant 53 106 250 500 1,250,000 2,500,000 8.8 chain operator. Hearing Enhancement. Developer of 51 103 125 250 250,000 500,000 7.1 the mini-loop system for the hard of hearing. Transport Systems. Supplier of 125 - 160 - 640,000 - 7.1 traffic management systems. Transcomm. The sale and manufacture 121 - 288 - 721,000 - 0.7 of mobile data communications. Company and Description Market Value Book Cost Holding % of at 28 February 2002 £'000 (shares) capital owned £'000 Ordinary 'C' Ordinary 'C' Ordinary 'C' Shares Shares Shares Shares Shares Shares Landround. Organiser of travel 121 - 205 - 100,000 - 1.8 promotions and incentives for corporate clients. Stenoak Associated Services. 117 - 93 - 77,718 - 0.4 Supplier of industrial fencing and safety barriers to the road and rail networks. NMT Group. Developer of medical 105 - 350 - 2,333,333 - 0.2 devices. XKO. Suppliers of business 84 - 251 - 209,000 - 0.7 enterprise and e-commerce software and systems integration services. Maelor. Developer of off-patent 69 - 139 - 102,777 - 0.5 medicines and medical devices. Giardino Group. Owner and operator 69 - 149 - 119,149 - 0.6 of cafes and restaurants. Vianet. Provision of remote 37 - 400 - 308,000 - 1.6 monitoring devices for the vending machine industry. Systems Union. Provision of 29 - 46 - 35,471 - 0.1 accounting software internationally. Topnotch Health Clubs. Health club 26 - 130 - 76,705 - 0.5 operator. Total qualifying investments at 28 February 2002 7,387 6,607 8,262 7,701 Qualifying investments made after the year end: Company and Description Market Value Book Cost Holding at 14 May 2002 (shares) £'000 £'000 Ordinary 'C' Ordinary 'C' Ordinary 'C' Shares Shares Shares Shares Shares Shares 1st Dental Laboratories - 421 - 350 - 1,296,296 Advanced Medical Solutions - 300 - 300 - 3,529,411 PM Group - 653 - 450 - 450,000 Avionic Services - 425 - 350 - 1,666,667 Total as at 14 May 2002 - 1,799 - 1,450 The following are the details of non-qualifying investments held at 28 February 2002. Market Value Cost at 28 February 2002 Holding £'000 £'000 Ordinary 'C' Ordinary 'C' Shares Shares Shares Shares Citicorp FRN (due April 2003) - 1,498 - 1,496 Northern Rock FRN (due January 2004) - 1,498 - 1,499 Nationwide Building Society FRN (due July 2004) - 1,500 - 1,497 Sunamerica FRN (due April 2005) 995 - 998 - Deutsche Bank FRN (due June 2005) - 1,497 - 1,497 Yorkshire Building Society FRN (due October 2005) - 1,500 - 1,499 Woolwich FRN (due April 2006) - 1,499 - 1,497 Clarity Commerce Solutions - - - 8 Total as at 28 February 2002 995 8,992 998 8,993 Close Brothers AIM VCT PLC Statement of Total Return (incorporating the revenue account) for the year ended 28 February 2002 Ordinary Shares C Shares Total 28 February 2002 28 February 2002 28 February 2002 Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Losses on investments - (2,333) (2,333) - (1,358) (1,358) - (3,691) (3,691) Investment income 156 - 156 716 - 716 872 - 872 Investment management fee (64) (178) (242) (112) (319) (431) (176) (497) (673) Other expenses (45) - (45) (81) - (81) (126) - (126) Return/ (loss) on ordinary activities before tax 47 (2,511) (2,464) 523 (1,677) (1,154) 570 (4,188) (3,618) Tax on ordinary activities 52 - 52 (99) 60 (39) (47) 60 13 Return/ (loss) attributable to equity shareholders 99 (2,511) (2,412) 424 (1,617) (1,193) 523 (4,128) (3,605) Equity Dividends (50) (351) (401) (400) (400) (450) (351) (801) - Transfer to/(from) reserves 49 (2,862) (2,813) 24 (1,617) (1,593) 73 (4,479) (4,406) Basic return/(loss) per share (pence) 1.0 (25.0) (24.0) 2.1 (8.1) (6.0) 3.1 (33.1) (30.0) Diluted return/ (loss) per share (pence) 0.9 (22.7) (21.8) 1.9 (7.3) (5.4) 2.8 (30.0) (27.2) The revenue column of this statement represents 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 year. Close Brothers AIM VCT PLC Statement of Total Return (incorporating the revenue account) for the prior year ended 28 February 2001 Ordinary Shares C Shares Total 28 February 2001 28 February 2001 28 February 2001 Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Losses on investments - (1,646) (1,646) - (41) (41) - (1,687) (1,687) Investment income 379 - 379 254 - 254 633 - 633 Investment management fee (84) (254) (338) (17) (88) (105) (101) (342) (443) Other expenses (63) - (63) (18) - (18) (81) - (81) Return/ (loss) on ordinary activities before tax 232 (1,900) (1,668) 219 (129) 90 451 (2,029) (1,578) Tax on ordinary activities (50) 50 - (44) 18 (26) (94) 68 (26) Return/ (loss) attributable to equity shareholders 182 (1,850) (1,668) 175 (111) 64 357 (1,961) (1,604) Equity Dividends (226) (3,022) (3,248) (156) (156) (382) (3,022) (3,404) - Transfer (from)/to reserves (44) (4,872) (4,916) 19 (111) (92) (25) (4,983) (5,008) Basic return/ (loss) per share (pence) 1.8 (18.3) (16.5) 1.4 (0.9) 0.5 3.2 (19.2) (16.0) Diluted return/ (loss) per share (pence) 1.6 (16.7) (15.1) 1.4 (0.9) 0.5 3.0 (17.6) (14.6) The revenue column of this statement represents 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 year. Close Brothers AIM VCT PLC Balance Sheet as at 28 February 2002 Ordinary C Total Shares Shares 28 February 2002 28 February 2002 28 February 2002 £'000 £'000 £'000 Fixed asset investments Qualifying investments 7,387 6,607 13,994 Non-qualifying investments 995 8,992 9,987 Total fixed asset investments 8,382 15,599 23,981 Current assets Debtors 195 82 277 Cash at bank and in hand 565 1,984 2,549 760 2,066 2,826 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (410) (367) (777) Net current assets 350 1,699 2,049 Total assets less current liabilities 8,732 17,298 26,030 Capital and reserves Called up share capital 5,020 10,000 15,020 Special reserve 4,480 8,978 13,458 Capital redemption reserve 30 5 35 Realised capital reserve 16 (633) (617) Unrealised capital reserve (878) (1,095) (1,973) Revenue Reserve 64 43 107 Total equity shareholders' funds 8,732 17,298 26,030 Basic net asset value per share (pence) 86.97 86.49 Diluted net asset value per share (pence) 87.38 87.72 Close Brothers AIM VCT PLC Balance Sheet as at 28 February 2001 Ordinary C Total Shares Shares 28 February 2001 28 February 2001 28 February 2001 £'000 £'000 £'000 Fixed asset investments Qualifying investments 9,601 2,271 11,872 Non-qualifying investments 1,995 8,983 10,978 Total fixed asset investments 11,596 11,254 22,850 Current assets Debtors 165 82 247 Cash at bank and in hand 502 687 1,189 667 769 1,436 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (690) (240) (930) Net current (liabilities)/assets (23) 529 506 Total assets less current liabilities 11,573 11,783 23,356 Capital and reserves Called up share capital 5,038 6,250 11,288 Share premium account - 5,625 5,625 Special reserve 4,508 - 4,508 Capital redemption reserve 12 - 12 Realised capital reserve 248 (70) 178 Unrealised capital reserve 1,752 (41) 1,711 Revenue Reserve 15 19 34 Total equity shareholders' funds 11,573 11,783 23,356 Basic net asset value per share (pence) 114.8 94.3 Diluted net asset value per share (pence) 113.0 94.3 Close Brothers AIM VCT PLC Cash Flow Statement for the year to 28 February 2002 Ordinary Shares C Total Year to Shares 28 February Year to Year to 2002 28 February 2002 28 February 2002 £'000 £'000 £'000 Operating activities Dividend income received 66 8 74 Investment income received 68 582 650 Deposit interest received 20 129 149 Other income received 5 7 12 Investment management fees paid (260) (402) (662) Other cash payments (52) (78) (130) ____ ____ ____ Net cash (outflow)/inflow from operating (153) 246 93 activities Taxation UK income tax repaid 151 2 153 Capital expenditure and financial investment Purchase of qualifying investments (1,797) (5,715) (7,512) Purchase of non-qualifying investments - (5,998) (5,998) Disposals of qualifying investments 1,543 16 1,559 Disposals of non-qualifying investments 1,001 5,994 6,995 ______ ______ ______ Net cash inflow/(outflow) from investing 747 (5,703) (4,956) activities Equity dividends paid Revenue dividends paid on ordinary shares (150) (356) (506) Capital dividends paid on ordinary shares (504) - (504) _____ _____ ______ Net cash inflow/(outflow) before financing 91 (5,811) (5,720) Financing Issue of equity net of expenses - 7,134 7,134 Redemption of shares net of expenses (28) (8) (36) Cancellation of share premium - (18) (18) Net cash (outflow)/inflow from financing (28) 7,108 7,080 Increase in cash in the year 63 1,297 1,360 Close Brothers AIM VCT PLC Cash Flow Statement for the year to 28 February 2001 Ordinary Shares C Total Year to Shares 28 February Period to Year to 2001 28 February 2001 28 February 2001 £'000 £'000 £'000 Operating activities Dividend income received 67 - 67 Investment income received 201 83 284 Deposit interest received 66 61 127 Other income received 7 1 8 Investment management fees paid (363) (32) (395) Other cash payments (67) (7) (74) ____ ____ ____ Net cash (outflow)/inflow from operating (89) 106 17 activities Taxation UK corporation tax paid - - - Capital expenditure and financial investment Purchase of qualifying investments (3,873) (2,311) (6,184) Purchase of non-qualifying investments (999) (8,983) (9,982) Disposals of qualifying investments 4,228 - 4,228 Disposals of non-qualifying investments 3,629 - 3,629 ______ ______ ______ Net cash inflow/(outflow) from investing 2,985 (11,294) (8,309) activities Equity dividends paid Revenue dividends paid on ordinary shares (227) - (227) Capital dividends paid on ordinary shares (3,528) - (3,528) _____ _____ ______ Net cash outflow before financing (859) (11,188) (12,047) Financing Issue of equity net of expenses - 11,875 11,875 Redemption of shares net of expenses (31) - (31) Cancellation of share premium (6) - (6) Net cash (outflow)/inflow from financing (37) 11,875 11,838 (Decrease)/increase in cash in the year (896) 687 (209) This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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