Interim Results

Close Brothers Aim Vct PLC 09 November 2005 CLOSE BROTHERS AIM VCT PLC INTERIM RESULTS Close Brothers AIM VCT PLC ('the Company'), which invests in companies listed on the Alternative Investment Market, across a variety of sectors, today announces interim results for the six months ended 31 August 2005. Chairman's statement Your Company has continued to develop in the six months to 31 August 2005. The 'D' share offer raised the full £15m by its final closing on 1 April, adding to the £3.34m raised in the previous tax year. Consequently the total fund value at the end of August was in excess of £44m. In a very buoyant new issue market your manager has concentrated on investing the new monies raised over the last two tax years and on continuing to replace the tail of existing investments in the Ordinary portfolio where opportunities have presented themselves. Thus, at the end of the period the Ordinary portfolio was 74% invested, and the 'D' Shares were 24% invested. Dividends In my statement accompanying the 2005 Report and Accounts I stated that we were having discussions with the HM Revenue & Customs to establish whether or not the Company could pay dividends out of realised capital profits when it has net realised capital losses, without losing VCT tax status. Shareholders will be pleased to know that subject to specific confirmation for each dividend from HM Revenue & Customs, we have established that your Company may do so. Accordingly it is your Board's intention that dividends out of realised capital profits, which are tax free, be paid on a regular basis. Ordinary Shares Your Board has declared a revenue dividend of 0.20p (2004:0.50p) as well as a dividend of 1.50p per Ordinary share out of realised capital profits making a total distribution of 1.70p per Ordinary share. This is in addition to the final revenue dividend of 0.45p for the year ended 28 February 2005, which was paid in June 2005. 'D' Shares Your Board has declared a revenue dividend of 0.50p per 'D' share as well as a maiden dividend out of realised capital profits of 1.50p making a total distribution of 2.00p per 'D' share. This is in addition to the final revenue dividend of 0.25p for the year ended 28 February 2005, which was paid in June 2005 to holders of 'D' share which were issued in 2004. Subject to specific HM Revenue & Customs approval, the above dividends will be paid on 16 December 2005 to Ordinary and 'D' shareholders on the register on 18 November 2005. In future, your Board intends to declare two interim dividends, the second being in lieu of a final dividend, following the adoption of new accounting standards as explained below. It is the intention that these dividends are paid in June and December. New Accounting Standards Many shareholders may have read about the introduction of new UK financial reporting standards, with which your Company is complying, starting with these interim accounts. The most dramatic change is that now your Company's portfolio is valued at the bid price of each holding, that is the price at which shares can be sold. Until now your Company has followed convention and used the mid price, being half way between the bid and offer price (that is the price at which shares can be purchased). Since the end of July, your manager has been announcing the weekly Net Asset Value per share (NAV) on a bid price valuation basis. The impact of this change has been to reduce your Company's stated NAV by approximately 2%. Therefore your Board has instructed the manager, so as to maintain fair treatment to all shareholders and a stable share price, to buy in shares for cancellation, when they are offered at an 8% discount, compared to the previous level of approximately 10%. Your Company is also complying with FRS 21 whereby dividends are accounted for in the accounting period in which they are approved. The comparative historic figures in this report have been restated to reflect these accounting changes. Performance and Market Background As reported in the last report and accounts to the end of February 2005, the mining and resource sector represented a third of AIM by value and was driving sentiment on AIM earlier in the year. By the end of March, there was a dramatic reversal in sentiment following the poor performance of specific stocks in the resource and mining sector. Moreover, when the market turned, there was a sharp sell off of smaller company stocks by investors who had been attracted by the higher returns on AIM at the beginning of the year. This resulted in the AIM market underperforming larger capitalisation indices. Though AIM fell dramatically from its high in March, it began to recover steadily at the beginning of the summer and continued to do so until the end of September. Nevertheless, in the six month period to 31 August 2005, it fell by 4.1%. There has been a steady flow of flotations and other fundraisings on AIM despite the intervention of the summer. AIM remains a vibrant market for small growing companies. In the six months to 31 August 2005, 295 companies listed on AIM, although of course not all qualified for VCT investment, which does not make the AIM index a truly comparable benchmark against which to measure the performance of your Company, however, there is at present no other benchmark. Ordinary Portfolio Against this background and with the AIM Index performance no longer dominated by the inexorable rise of resource stocks, the Ordinary NAV fell by 1.9% against the restated 28 February 2005 NAV. During the period, a number of smaller holdings were disposed of and replaced with new holdings where the manager could see better prospects. In total, 11 qualifying investments were made at a total cost of £2.742m. Among the bigger holdings in the portfolio, Pilat Media have finally announced a long awaited contract with an American TV network which will flow through to profits next year. Interlink Foods, Imprint and Mears all continue to make good progress in their markets. 'D' share portfolio In the period under review the NAV rose by 5.7% against a restated 28 February 2005 NAV. Your manager continued to invest the new funds raised, making 11 qualifying investments at a cost of £2.579m. Share Price Discount and Buy-Back Facility Your Board believes that it is in the interests of all shareholders for it to manage the discount to NAV at which the shares trade with a view to minimising it as far as possible. As part of this process 699,031 Ordinary Shares were bought in for cancellation. In addition, I would like to reiterate that shareholders wishing to sell should first contact the Company, in the interests of achieving a reasonable price. The Board has adopted a share buy-back policy whereby the Company, when not in a close period, will buy-back shares at no more than a 8% discount to the prevailing NAV. This should help prevent the shares from trading at a wide discount to NAV. Outlook Although the UK economy is slowing, it is important to recall that GDP growth this year will be in line with more normal historic trends. The slowing of GDP growth is mainly as a result of a less confident consumer in the wake of previous interest rate and tax rises. The current high oil price is likely to reinforce that trend. Although the recent interest rate cut can now be seen as encouraging, markets are more focused on the inflationary consequences of commodity prices. The lag between policy change and real economy effect can be several months so the possibility of another interest rate cut this year is still hard to judge. The stock market has recently begun to show signs of fatigue, particularly in the area of new issues, however the signs are that the pipeline of VCT qualifying opportunities is still very healthy. From the point of view of the 'D' share new money, a more difficult market background should give rise to opportunities at attractive prices. Small companies can often grow independently of the macro-economic trends prevailing nationally and it is typically those companies which VCTs generally invest in. Despite the domestic and international economic difficulties besetting the UK, the economy is still expected to grow this year and next. As the rate of growth recovers and assuming unemployment and inflation remain low, the growth over the next few years of both the Ordinary share portfolio and the 'D' share portfolio should be encouraging. Michael Reeve Chairman 8 November 2005 Investment Portfolio Summary as at 31 August 2005 The ten largest holdings by value in the Ordinary portfolio are listed below: Ordinary Share Portfolio -------------- ------------------------ ------- ------- Company Activity Value % of portfolio (£'000) -------------- ------------------------ ------- ------- Inter Link Foods Food producer, specialising in cakes 1,545 6.6 Pilat Media Global Software provider for the global 1,103 4.7 multi-channel broadcasting market Pipex Communications Supplier of telecommunication services 1,081 4.6 Imprint Provider of recruitment services to the 915 3.9 commercial and financial services sectors Colliers CRE Provider of real estate solutions to the 880 3.7 UK and international property sectors Mears Group Building maintenance contractor 832 3.5 Bond International Provider of business software and 706 3.0 support solutions to the recruitment and human resource industry Win Provider of services that enable 687 2.9 business customers to send and receive text messages to and from a large number of users Cello Group Marketing services group 648 2.8 Talarius Operator of UK high street gaming 577 2.5 arcades ------- ------- Total 8,974 38.2 Other equity investments 10,548 44.9 ------- ------- Total equity portfolio 19,522 83.1 Other investments (floating rate notes and loan notes) 3,947 16.9 ------- ------- Total investments 23,469 100.00 ------- ------- Investment Portfolio Summary (continued) as at 31 August 2005 The ten largest holdings by value in the 'D' share portfolio are listed below: 'D' Share Portfolio -------------- ------------------------ ------- ------- Company Activity Value % of portfolio (£'000) -------------- ------------------------ ------- ------- Talarius Operator of UK high street gaming 534 3.1 arcades System C Healthcare Provider of IT implementation solutions 493 2.9 for the healthcare sector in England Imprint Provider of recruitment services to the 410 2.4 commercial and financial services sectors Legend Communications Internet service provider 345 2.0 Strategic Thought Provider of risk management and IT 339 1.9 consulting services Research Now A European-wide online field and market 279 1.6 research company Cello Group Marketing services group 254 1.5 Zetar Confectionery manufacturer 247 1.4 Tanfield Engineering 202 1.2 Win Provider of services that enable 202 1.2 business customers to send and receive text messages to and from a large number of users ------- ------- Total 3,305 19.2 Other equity investments 1,893 11.0 ------- ------- Total equity portfolio 5,198 30.2 Other investments (floating rate notes) 12,005 69.8 ------- ------- Total investments 17,203 100.00 ------- ------- Statement of Total Return (Unaudited) for the six months to 31 August 2005 Ordinary Shares Six months to Restated* Restated* 31 August 2005 Six months to Year to 31 August 2004 28 February 2005 Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Losses on investments - (254) (254) - (3,692) (3,692) - (1,223) (1,223) Investment income 229 - 229 237 - 237 483 - 483 Investment management fees (79) (236) (315) (79) (238) (317) (157) (472) (629) Other (83) - (83) (75) - (75) (171) - (171) expenses ------- ------ ------ ------- ------ ------ ------- ------ ------ Return/(loss) on ordinary activities before tax 67 (490) (423) 83 (3,930) (3,847) 155 (1,695) (1,540) Tax on ordinary activities 2 18 20 3 (3) - - - - ------- ------ ------ ------- ------ ------ ------- ------ ------ Return/(loss) attributable to shareholders 69 (472) (403) 86 (3,933) (3,847) 155 (1,695) (1,540) Amounts recognised as distributions to equity shareholders in the period (147) - (147) (124) - (124) (214) - (214) ------- ------ ------ ------- ------ ------ ------- ------ ------ Transfer from reserves (78) (472) (550) (38) (3,933) (3,971) (59) (1,695) (1,754) ------- ------ ------ ------- ------ ------ ------- ------ ------ Basic and diluted return/(loss) per share (pence) 0.2 (1.5) (1.3) 0.3 (12.4) (12.1) 0.5 (5.2) (4.7) * Comparative figures have been extracted from the unaudited interim accounts for the period ended 31 August 2004 and the statutory accounts for the year ended 28 February 2005 and have been restated in accordance with FRS 21 and FRS 26 in respect of declared dividends and financial instruments as disclosed in the notes at the end of this announcement. Statement of Total Return (Unaudited) for the six months to 31 August 2005 'D' Shares Six months to Restated* Restated* 31 August 2005 Six months to Year to 31 August 2004 28 February 2005 Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Gains/ (losses) - 268 268 - (9) (9) - 687 687 on investments Investment income 262 - 262 37 - 37 77 - 77 Investment management fees (35) (104) (139) (8) (23) (31) (20) (60) (80) Other (37) - (37) (8) - (8) (21) - (21) expenses ------- ------ ------ ------- ------ ------ ------- ------ ------ Return/(loss) on ordinary activities before tax 190 164 354 21 (32) (11) 36 627 663 Tax on ordinary activities (46) 26 (20) (3) 3 - - - - ------- ------ ------ ------- ------ ------ ------- ------ ------ Return/(loss) attributable to shareholders 144 190 334 18 (29) (11) 36 627 663 Amounts recognised as distributions to equity shareholders in the period (8) - (8) - - - (17) - (17) ------- ------ ------ ------- ------ ------ ------- ------ ------ Transfer to/(from) reserves 136 190 326 18 (29) (11) 19 627 646 ------- ------ ------ ------- ------ ------ ------- ------ ------ Basic and diluted return/(loss) per share (pence) 1.0 1.3 2.3 0.6 (1.0) (0.4) 0.5 18.4 18.9 * Comparative figures have been extracted from the unaudited interim accounts for the period ended 31 August 2004 and the statutory accounts for the year ended 28 February 2005 and have been restated in accordance with FRS 21 and FRS 26 in respect of declared dividends and financial instruments as disclosed in the notes at the end of this announcement. Statement of Total Return (Unaudited) for the six months to 31 August 2005 Total Six months to Restated* Restated* 31 August 2005 Six months to Year to 31 August 2004 28 February 2005 Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Gains/ (losses) - 14 14 - (3,701) (3,701) - (536) (536) on investments Investment income 491 - 491 274 - 274 560 - 560 Investment management fees (114) (340) (454) (87) (261) (348) (177) (532) (709) Other (120) - (120) (83) - (83) (192) - (192) expenses ------- ------ ------ ------- ------ ------ ------- ------ ------ Return/(loss) on ordinary activities before tax 257 (326) (69) 104 (3,962) (3,858) 191 (1,068) (877) Tax on ordinary activities (44) 44 - - - - - - - ------- ------ ------ ------- ------ ------ ------- ------ ------ Return/(loss) attributable to equity shareholders 213 (282) (69) 104 (3,962) (3,858) 191 (1,068) (877) Amounts recognised as distributions to equity shareholders in the period (155) - (155) (124) - (124) (231) - (231) ------- ------ ------ ------- ------ ------ ------- ------ ------ Transfer to/(from) reserves 58 (282) (224) (20) (3,962) (3,982) (40) (1,068) (1,108) ------- ------ ------ ------- ------ ------ ------- ------ ------ * Comparative figures have been extracted from the unaudited interim accounts for the period ended 31 August 2004 and the statutory accounts for the year ended 28 February 2005 and have been restated in accordance with FRS 21 and FRS 26 in respect of declared dividends and financial instruments as disclosed in the notes at the end of this announcement. Balance Sheet (Unaudited) as at 31 August 2005 Ordinary Shares 31 August Restated* Restated* 2005 31 August 28 February 2004 2005 £'000 £'000 £'000 Fixed asset investments 23,469 21,837 26,539 Current assets Debtors 158 1,363 193 Cash at bank 2,164 2,003 220 ----------- ----------- ----------- 2,322 3,366 413 Creditors: (45) (138) (136) ___________ ___________ ___________ amounts falling due within one year Net current assets 2,277 3,228 277 ----------- ----------- ----------- Total assets less current liabilities 25,746 25,065 26,816 ----------- ----------- ----------- Represented by Called up share capital 15,981 16,641 16,330 Share premium 1,440 687 1,449 Special reserve 9,180 12,225 9,691 Capital redemption reserve 2,350 381 2,001 Capital reserves - realised (2,218) (1,940) (1,220) Capital reserves - unrealised (1,067) (3,108) (1,593) Revenue reserve 80 179 158 ----------- ----------- ----------- Total equity shareholders' funds 25,746 25,065 26,816 ----------- ----------- ----------- Net asset value per share (pence) 80.55 75.31 82.10 * Comparative figures have been extracted from the unaudited interim accounts for the period ended 31 August 2004 and the statutory accounts for the year ended 28 February 2005 and have been restated in accordance with FRS 21 and FRS 26 in respect of declared dividends and financial instruments as disclosed in the notes at the end of this announcement. Balance Sheet (Unaudited) as at 31 August 2005 'D' Shares 31 August Restated* Restated* 2005 31 August 28 February 2004 2005 £'000 £'000 £'000 Fixed asset investments 17,203 1,077 4,880 Current assets Debtors 147 18 110 Cash at bank 1,518 2,131 119 ----------- ----------- ----------- 1,665 2,149 229 Creditors: (381) (60) (55) ----------- ------------ ----------- amounts falling due within one year Net current assets 1,284 2,089 174 ----------- ----------- ----------- Total assets less current liabilities 18,487 3,166 5,054 ----------- ----------- ----------- Represented by Called up share capital 8,044 1,672 2,324 Share premium 37 1,505 2,046 Special reserve 9,396 - - Capital redemption reserve 38 - 38 Capital reserves - realised 230 (20) 130 Capital reserves - unrealised 587 (9) 497 Revenue reserve 155 18 19 ----------- ----------- ----------- Total equity shareholders' funds 18,487 3,166 5,054 ----------- ----------- ----------- Net asset value per share (pence) 114.92 94.69 108.74 * Comparative figures have been extracted from the unaudited interim accounts for the period ended 31 August 2004 and the statutory accounts for the year ended 28 February 2005 and have been restated in accordance with FRS 21 and FRS 26 in respect of declared dividends and financial instruments as disclosed in the notes at the end of this announcement. Balance Sheet (Unaudited) as at 31 August 2005 Total 31 August Restated* Restated* 2005 31 August 2004 28 February 2005 £'000 £'000 £'000 Fixed asset investments 40,672 22,914 31,419 Current assets Debtors 305 1,381 303 Cash at bank 3,682 4,134 339 ----------- ----------- ----------- 3,987 5,515 642 Creditors: (426) (198) (191) ----------- ----------- ----------- amounts falling due within one year Net current assets 3,561 5,317 451 ----------- ----------- ----------- Total assets less current liabilities 44,233 28,231 31,870 ----------- ----------- ----------- Represented by Called up share capital 24,025 18,313 18,654 Share premium 1,477 2,192 3,495 Special reserve 18,576 12,225 9,691 Capital redemption reserve 2,388 381 2,039 Capital reserves - realised (1,988) (1,960) (1,090) Capital reserves - unrealised (480) (3,117) (1,096) Revenue reserve 235 197 177 ----------- ----------- ----------- Total equity shareholders' funds 44,233 28,231 31,870 ----------- ----------- ----------- * Comparative figures have been extracted from the unaudited interim accounts for the period ended 31 August 2004 and the statutory accounts for the year ended 28 February 2005 and have been restated in accordance with FRS 21 and FRS 26 in respect of declared dividends and financial instruments as disclosed in the notes at the end of this announcement. Cash Flow Statement for the six months to 31 August 2005 Ordinary Shares Unaudited Unaudited Audited Six months to Six months to Year to 31 August 31 August 28 February 2005 2004 2005 £'000 £'000 £'000 Operating activities Dividend income received 65 91 160 Investment income received 165 84 171 Deposit interest received 18 33 101 Other income received - 1 2 Investment management fees paid (321) (342) (642) Other cash payments (89) (105) (193) ----------- ----------- ----------- Net cash outflow from operating activities (162) (238) (401) ----------- ----------- ----------- Servicing of finance Interest paid (14) - - ----------- ----------- ----------- Investing activities Purchase of investments (2,742) (2,105) (8,287) Disposal of investments 5,612 2,386 6,342 ----------- ----------- ----------- Net cash inflow/(outflow) from investing activities 2,870 281 (1,945) ----------- ----------- ----------- Equity dividends paid Revenue dividend paid on ordinary shares (145) (125) (214) ----------- ----------- ----------- Net cash inflow/(outflow) before financing 2,549 (82) (2,560) Financing Issue of equity net of expenses (90) 794 1,700 Redemption of shares net of expenses (515) (281) (492) ----------- ----------- ----------- Net cash (outflow)/inflow from financing (605) 513 1,208 ----------- ----------- ----------- Increase/(decrease) in cash 1,944 431 (1,352) ----------- ----------- ----------- . Cash Flow Statement for the six months to 31 August 2005 'D' Shares Unaudited Unaudited Audited Six months to Six months to Year to 31 August 31 August 28 February 2005 2004 2005 £'000 £'000 £'000 Operating activities Dividend income received 5 - 1 Investment income received 133 - (16) Deposit interest received 63 19 54 Investment management fees paid (144) (24) (68) Other cash payments (14) (19) (19) ----------- ----------- ----------- Net cash inflow/(outflow) from operating activities 43 (24) (48) ----------- ----------- ----------- Investing activities Purchase of investments (12,588) (1,086) (4,755) Disposal of investments 560 - 493 ----------- ----------- ----------- Net cash outflow from investing activities (12,028) (1,086) (4,262) ----------- ----------- ----------- Equity dividends paid Revenue dividends paid on 'D' (8) - (17) shares ----------- ----------- ----------- Net cash outflow before financing (11,993) (1,110) (4,327) Financing Issue of equity net of expenses 13,392 3,241 4,512 Redemption of shares net of - - (66) expenses ----------- ----------- ----------- Net cash inflow from financing 13,392 3,241 4,446 ----------- ----------- ----------- Increase in cash 1,399 2,131 119 ----------- ----------- ----------- Cash Flow Statement for the six months to 31 August 2005 Total Unaudited Unaudited Audited Six months to Six months to Year to 31 August 31 August 28 February 2005 2004 2005 £'000 £'000 £'000 Operating activities Dividend income received 70 91 161 Investment income received 298 84 155 Deposit interest received 81 52 155 Other income received - 1 2 Investment management fees paid (465) (366) (710) Other cash payments (103) (124) (212) ----------- ----------- ----------- Net cash outflow from operating activities (119) (262) (449) ----------- ----------- ----------- Servicing of finance Interest paid (14) - - ----------- ----------- ----------- Investing activities Purchase of investments (15,330) (3,191) (13,042) Disposal of investments 6,172 2,386 6,835 ----------- ----------- ----------- Net cash outflow from investing activities (9,158) (805) (6,207) ----------- ----------- ----------- Equity dividends paid Revenue dividends paid on ordinary (153) (125) (231) and 'D' shares ----------- ----------- ----------- Net cash outflow before financing (9,444) (1,192) (6,887) Financing Issue of equity net of expenses 13,302 4,035 6,212 Redemption of shares net of (515) (281) (558) expenses ----------- ----------- ----------- Net cash inflow from financing 12,787 3,754 5,654 ----------- ----------- ----------- Increase/(decrease) in cash 3,343 2,562 (1,233) ----------- ----------- ----------- Notes: 1. Change in Accounting Policies This announcement has been prepared using new UK accounting standards issued by the Accounting Standards Board to begin the process of converging UK standards with International Financial Reporting Standards ('IFRS'). With effect from 1 March 2005, the Company has adopted the following Financial Reporting Standards: FRS 21 Events after the Balance Sheet date Dividends paid by the Company are accounted for in the period in which the dividend has been approved. Previously, the Company recognised dividends in the period in which net revenue, to which those dividends related, was accounted for. Comparative figures for the previous periods have been restated. The effect of FRS 21 as at 28 February 2005 and 31 August 2004 is a decrease in the distribution liability as a result of the de-recognition of the proposed dividend thereon and an increase in the revenue reserves. FRS 26 Financial Instruments: Measurement All investments held by the Company are designated as 'fair value through profit and loss'. For investments actively traded in organised financial markets, fair value is generally determined by reference to Stock Exchange quoted market bid prices at the close of business on the balance sheet date. Previously, all listed investments were valued using closing mid market prices at the balance sheet date. Comparative figures for the previous periods have been restated. The effect of FRS 26 as at 28 February 2005 and 31 August 2004 is a decrease in the unrealised capital reserves as a result of revaluing investments from mid to bid prices. A reconciliation of the reserves incorporating the adjustments and restatements required by the adoption of FRS 21 and FRS 26 is illustrated below: Reconciliation of revenue reserves Ordinary Shares 'D' Shares 28 February 31 August 2004 28 February 31 August 2004 2005 2005 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Revenue reserves previously reported at period end 11 96 11 1 Adjustment as required by adoption of FRS 21 147 83 8 17 - change in accounting for dividends -------- -------- -------- -------- Revenue reserves at 28 February 2005 and 158 179 19 18 31 August 2004 as restated -------- -------- -------- -------- Reconciliation of unrealised capital reserves Ordinary Shares 'D' Shares 28 February 31 August 2004 28 February 31 August 2004 2005 2005 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Unrealised capital reserves previously reported at period end (945) (2,388) 583 22 Adjustment as required by adoption of FRS 26 - change in valuation of quoted investments to bid price (648) (720) (86) (31) -------- -------- -------- -------- Unrealised capital reserves at 28 February 2005 and (1,593) (3,108) 497 (9) 31 August 2004 as restated. -------- -------- -------- -------- 2. Basic and diluted return/(loss) per share Ordinary shares The revenue return per share is based on the return attributable to shareholders of £69,000 (31 August 2004: £86,000) for holders of Ordinary shares in respect of 32,285,865 Ordinary shares (31 August 2004: 31,834,679) being the weighted average number of shares in issue during the six months. The capital return per share is based on the capital loss attributable to shareholders of £472,000 (31 August 2004 restated: £3,933,000 loss) in respect of the same weighted average number of shares in issue over the six months. 'D' shares The revenue return per share is based on the return attributable to shareholders of £144,000 (31 August 2004: £18,000) for holders of 'D' shares in respect of 14,276,246 'D' shares (31 August 2004: 3,102,096) being the weighted average number of 'D' shares in issue during the six months. The capital return per share is based on the capital return attributable to shareholders of £190,000 (31 August 2004 restated: £29,000 loss) in respect of the same weighted average number of shares in issue over the six months. 3. Net asset value per share The net asset value per Ordinary share is based on total net assets at 31 August 2005 of £25,746,000 (31 August 2004 restated: £25,065,000, 28 February 2005 restated: £26,816,000) and on 31,961,329 Ordinary shares (31 August 2004: 33,282,499, 28 February 2005: 32,660,360) being the issued share capital at that date. The net asset value per 'D' share is based total net assets at 31 August 2005 of £18,487,000 (31 August 2004 restated: £3,166,000, 28 February 2005 restated: £5,054,000) and on 16,087,283 'D' shares (31 August 2004: 3,343,628, 28 February 2005: 4,647,993) being the issued share capital at that date. 4. Details about the manager Close Brothers AIM VCT PLC is managed by Close Investment Limited. Close Investment Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority and is a subsidiary of Close Brothers Group plc. 5. Statutory accounts The financial information set out in this announcement does not constitute the Company's statutory accounts for the six months ended 31 August 2005 or 2004. The figures and financial information for the year ended 28 February 2005, derived from the latest published accounts of the Company, have been restated in order to comply with the new financial reporting standards as detailed in note 1 and do not constitute statutory accounts for that year. The accounts for the year ended 28 February 2005, which have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies, included the report of the auditors which was unqualified and did not contain a statement under either section 237(2) or 237(3) of the Companies Act 1985. For further information, please contact: Andrew Buchanan / Patrick Reeve Clemmie Carr / John West Close Investment Limited Tavistock Communications Tel: 020 7426 4000 Tel: 020 7920 3150 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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