Interim Results
Intl. Biotechnology Trust PLC
12 April 2007
For immediate release 12 April 2007
International Biotechnology Trust Plc
The Board of International Biotechnology Trust Plc ('IBT') today announces its
unaudited Interim Results for the six months ended 28 February 2007.
Summary
• Net asset value (NAV) per Ordinary share increased 9.4% from 145.25p to
155.56p
• Share price of the IBT Ordinary shares rose 19.8% from 130.0p to 155.75p
while the Nasdaq Biotech Index (NBI) rose by 1.2%% in sterling terms
• Discount to net assets at which the Ordinary shares of IBT trade
narrowed from 8.75%, to just above par
• Net assets rose by £6.2m, with positive contributions from M&A activity
in both the quoted and unquoted portfolios
• At the end of the Interim period, 7.5% of net assets were invested in
unquoted companies and a further 6.8% of NAV (£5.0m) was committed to further
investments in unquoted companies
• Discount control mechanism implemented.
• At the end of the Interim period, IBT Ordinary shares had investments in
48 companies - 37 quoted (representing 87% of NAV) and 11 unquoted companies
(representing 7.5% of NAV)
• The remaining 5.7% comprised cash, money market instruments and other
net assets (£4.1m)
• Geographical split of the Ordinary share portfolio at 28 February 2007 was:
U.S. (63%), Australia (4%) and Europe (33%).
C Share Issue
• C Share issue completed in February and £36.1m raised net of fees
• Market capitalisation now over £100m
• At 28 February 2007 59.5% of the proceeds of the C-share issue had been
invested
• C Share proceeds managed as separate pool until either 85% invested, or
six months after admission to the London Stock Exchange.
For further information, please contact:
International Biotechnology Trust plc
Andrew Barker, Chairman 020 7658 6501
SV Life Sciences Managers LLP
Kate Bingham / Andy Smith 020 7421 7070
Lansons Communications
Henrietta Guthrie / Amy Fisher / Charlotte Edgar 020 7490 8828
Cenkos Securities
Will Rogers 020 7397 8900
Website: www.internationalbiotrust.com
CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT
PERFORMANCE
It is pleasing to report positive returns for International Biotechnology
Trust's Ordinary Shareholders in the six months to 28 February 2007. The net
asset value per Ordinary share (NAV) increased by 9.4%, rising from 142.25p to
155.56p over the six months. Over the same period the Ordinary share price rose
by 19.8% while the Nasdaq Biotech Index rose by 1.2%, both in Sterling terms.
Shareholders will be aware that the Company undertook a secondary issue of
shares ('C' shares) in early February 2007; further information on this is given
below. The shares were issued at a price of 150.00p, raising circa £36 million,
over half of which had been invested by the end of the month. At the end of the
period, the net asset value of the 'C' shares had decreased by 5.0% to 142. 50p
while the share price had risen by 0.3%; the decrease was largely accounted for
by the 4.00p per 'C' share cost of the issue.
Over the six months under review, the discount to the NAV at which the Ordinary
shares trade fell from 8.75%, ending the period at a small premium. Net assets
attributable to the Ordinary shareholders rose by £6.2 million with positive
contributions from merger and acquisition ('M&A') activity in both the quoted
and unquoted portfolios. There was one valuation change in the unquoted
portfolio resulting from the acquisition of PowderMed by Pfizer. The effect of
currency changes reduced the net assets by £0.8 million.
The quoted portfolio, calculated on an unweighted basis ignoring the timing of
transactions showed.an increase of 14.8%.
In the six months to 28 February 2007 there has been only one initial public
offering (IPO) from the unquoted portfolio: Achillon Pharmaceuticals Inc.,
reflecting the lacklustre appetite of investors generally for new biotechnology
issues. In recent years the pace of M&A activity has resulted in more
biotechnology companies being acquired than going public through an IPO. This
has been exemplified by the acquisitions of PowderMed, Domatis and Arrow (the
latter two were not IBT investments) by Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline and AstraZeneca
respectively.
At 28 February 2007 the level of cash and the investment in money market
instruments and other assets was £4.1 million or 5.7% of net assets, while £5.0
million, or 6.8% of net assets, was committed to future investment in unquoted
securities. At our half year end two quoted companies in which we have holdings,
Tanox and New River Pharmaceuticals, were subject to acquisition, which in the
first case had been agreed by shareholders but waiting regulatory clearance and
in the second case awaiting approval by the acquiring company's shareholders.
These close-to-cash assets represented £4.5 million or 6.2% of net assets.
'C' SHARE ISSUE
The Board issued a circular to shareholders on 12 January 2007 convening an
Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) to be held in February 2007 and announced
that it was considering increasing the Company's size through an issue of 'C'
shares in view of recent performance and the favourable long-term outlook for
the biotechnology sector. The Board determined that the issue would allow
investors to acquire ordinary shares in the Company arising on conversion free
of restraints of market liquidity and enable it to spread its fixed operating
expenses over a larger number of issued shares, whilst the timing was opportune
for investing the proceeds of the issue in accordance with the investment
objective of the Company, thereby providing the prospect of long-term capital
growth.
As announced after the EGM held on 7 February 2007, the resolutions relating to
the issue of 'C' shares by way of a placing and open offer for subscription, to
amendments to the Articles of Association and to authorising the Company to
buy-back its own shares, were duly passed by shareholders.
I am pleased to report that a total of 24,777,433 C shares were allotted on 12
February 2007. Having raised £36.1 million (net of costs), the Manager adopted a
measured approach to investing the proceeds, being wary of the decline in quoted
US biotechnology stocks that took place in early March 2007. At the period end
59.5% of the proceeds had been invested while at the time of writing this had
risen to over 75%. Three new unquoted investments have been made since the end
of February and are detailed in the Manager's Review. The proceeds from the 'C'
share issue will continue to be managed as a separate pool of investments until
either 85% of the proceeds have been invested or until 12 August 2007, being six
months after admission to the Official List of the London Stock Exchange.
VALUATIONS
In the period to 28 February 2007, the net effect of the changes in the
Directors' valuation of unquoted securities was a rise in net assets of £2.5
million. By the end of the period, 7.5% of net assets were invested in the
securities of unquoted companies - against a current guideline on making
unquoted investments of 40% of net assets. The unquoted exposure at any one time
will be dependent on the level of stock markets generally and of biotechnology
stocks specifically and on investment activity in the portfolio.
SHARE BUY-BACKS
In the period since 31 August 2006, the Company did not buy-back any shares
either for cancellation or for retention in Treasury. As announced on 16
November 2006, following completion of the issue, the Company has sought to
maintain the discount to the net asset value per share at which the C shares and
the Ordinary shares are quoted on the London Stock Exchange at no greater than
8%. Given the nature of the Company's portfolio, and the need for the Manager to
have access to any available cash for investment opportunities and any changes
in general market conditions and/or peer group company ratings, it will be
necessary for the Board to review this target discount level from time to time
and to maintain the same at either a narrower or wider level as appropriate.
PROSPECTS
In recent times, following a period during which our Manager, SV Life Sciences,
readjusted the portfolio and dealt with certain legacy investments, a rather
more consistent pattern of returns has been earned. Based on the promising
outlook for the biotechnology sector and on our Manager's experience and
resources in the sector, your Board has confidence that it can continue to
produce attractive returns for shareholders over the longer term.
Andrew Barker
Chairman
12 April 2007
INVESTMENT MANAGER'S REVIEW
MARKET REVIEW
At the start of IBT's year in September 2006, stock market sentiment appeared
fairly bullish and the broad U.K. and U.S. market indices rose by about 10%.
Then, during the last week in February the markets suffered a correction of
approximately 5%. This weakness was driven by a fall in the Chinese stock
market concerns over the stability of sub-prime lenders in the U.S. and the
threat of future weakness in the U.S. economy. The Nasdaq Composite
(Technology) Index and the NBI followed the broad market rise until
mid-February, but the correction in the broad markets was amplified in the NBI.
In dollar terms, the NBI finished the six months to 28 February 2007 up just
under 5%.
This lacklustre backdrop for U.S. biotechnology investments has extended now for
nearly two years as generalist investors have shied away from this relatively
risky sector. Driving this risk aversion has been the continuing number of
biotechnology drugs that either fail to work in late stage clinical trials or
fail to be approved for sale by the regulators. While clinical and regulatory
failures are far from unusual in pharmaceuticals or biotechnology, most
generalist investors have yet to appreciate the opposing positive driver of M&A
that seems to be permeating through the biotechnology sector.
It is important to note that investors in IBT have not had the torrid two years
of many other biotechnology investors because of the geographic diversification,
the concentration of M&A activity in the portfolio and the unquoted exposure.
M&A activity in the quoted market seems to have focussed largely on the U.S. for
assets. While in the unquoted market, the U.K. seems to have been the source of
acquisitions, for example, PowderMed (acquired by Pfizer), Domantis (acquired by
GlaxoSmithKline) and Arrow (acquired by AstraZeneca) in the six months to 28
February 2007.
In the quoted market in mid-October 2006, Lilly announced that it would acquire
its partner in its erectile dysfunction joint venture, Icos Corp. Then in late
October, Merck announced that it would acquire Sirna Therapeutics to access its
small interfering RNA technology platform and intellectual property. In late
December 2006, GlaxoSmithKline announced that it would acquire Praecis
Pharmaceuticals to gain access to early cancer therapies. In continental
Europe the M&A activity seems to have had more of a consolidation theme among
mid-sized acquirers and targets such as Schwarz Pharma (acquired by UCB) and
Serono (acquired by Merck KGaA).
Outside of the IBT portfolio there appeared to be a lower number of regulatory
and clinical events than the previous six months, although bad news still
predominated.
In late October 2006, Avanir disappointed investors when it received an
approvable letter from the FDA for its lead drug Zenvia. In the U.K., Protherics
received at least a 12 month delay to its sepsis product, Cytofab, as partner
AstraZeneca and the FDA determined that an additional phase II study was
required before proceeding to phase III. Soon after this clinical
disappointment, Protherics was then forced to withdraw their Biologics Licence
Application (BLA) for cancer product Voraxaze, after the FDA requested more data
on the drug's manufacturing process.
Also in the UK, AIM-listed Evolutec reported negative phase II studies in both
allergic Rhinitis and post-cataract surgery in early December 2006 and is now
exploring 'strategic options'. In the U.S., the most anticipated clinical event
of last year occurred on Boxing Day, when Telik reported the failure of its lead
drug in three phase III clinical studies; in second- and third-line ovarian
cancer, and in lung cancer. Also in oncology, in late January, Canadian company
YM Biosciences terminated the phase III study of its lead product Tesmilifene,
after it failed to show a survival benefit. In early October, Biocompatibles in
the U.K. was hit hard when it revealed that its partner Abbott would not be
commercialising the ZoMaxx stent on which Biocompatibles would have received
royalties.
In late September the FDA approved Amgen's anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody
Vectibix, for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. The approval of
this latest biotechnology drug came with a cap on the price, when used by
patients for over one year. This move was an attempt to head off sensitivities
on the price of cancer therapies. A similar initiative had been instigated by
Genentech and Roche for their anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody, Avastin. Other
notable clinical and regulatory events of the last six months include the
failure of Cerovive from Renovis in a phase III trial for stroke, and the
non-approvable letter issued by the FDA for Replidyne's antibiotic faropenem,
for bacterial infections.
OUTLOOK
Since the latter part of 2006, healthcare investors have had an additional
concern with healthcare reforms instigated by the Democratic Party majorities in
the U.S. Congress. While legislation on Medicare drug price negotiation,
generic biologicals and post-approval drug safety are pending in the U.S., the
biggest issue likely to hang over the largest capitalisation biotechnology
companies is the prospect of either generic, or follow-on biological drugs.
In the U.S., the first biotechnology molecules to be prescribed were approved
under the legislation used for traditional, small molecule drugs. These first
biological drugs such as insulin, human growth hormone (hGH) and erythropoietin
are either now approaching the end of their patent life, or their patents have
expired. Since the political changes in the U.S., we have started to see an
acceleration of these threats to the biotechnology companies with the oldest
drugs. Joining these political and legislative challenges are the additional
pressures from the generic companies and managed care payers. It is becoming
clear that the first biotechnology drugs will one day be available in the U.S.
at a lower cost than they are today. In Europe, while there has already been
one generic biologic approved hGH and the approval has been as a bio-similar
compound which is similar although not equivalent to the original biologic drug
and required clinical trials to be conducted. In the short term, this will
likely set a precedent and the U.S. market may follow suit.
The prospect of generic and follow-on biologics will be a concern for all
biotechnology investors, as companies such as Amgen, Genzyme and Genentech all
have blockbuster biologics products. In almost all cases, IBT invests in
companies that are at a much earlier stage to those that have mature biologic
products and will strive to avoid these pressures and threats.
The previous year to 31 August 2006 was characterised by an increased pace of M&
A activity, much of which was captured in the IBT portfolio, and this was
contrasted by the performance of the NBI which was held back by the large number
of late-stage clinical trial failures and regulatory disappointments. As
detailed below, the M&A activity has continued since 31 August 2006 with both
quoted and unquoted IBT portfolio companies.
SUMMARY PORTFOLIO COMPANY NEWS
QUOTED COMPANIES
In early October 2006, portfolio company Gilead Sciences announced that it would
acquire Myogen. Myogen had finished the year to 31 August 2006 as a medium
weight IBT holding. However two weeks prior to the announcement of their
acquisition by Gilead, we increased our holding in Myogen, making it our third
largest in the fund after the acquisition was announced. In early November,
Genentech announced that they would acquire their partner, in the anti-asthma
drug Xolair, Tanox. Tanox had also been a mid-range IBT holding which rose to
IBT's sixth largest holding after the acquisition was announced.
In mid-November, former private investment Solexa announced that it was to be
acquired by Illumina in an all stock transaction. We divested our Solexa holding
post the acquisition announcement and before the end of calendar 2006.
In late September 2006, IBT's largest holding at the end of the interim period,
GPC Biotech, reported very positive phase III data for its lead drug Satraplatin
in second line hormone-refractory prostate cancer. The first oral platinum
chemotherapeutic agent, Satraplatin reduced the risk of disease progression by
40%. The trial met its primary endpoint, which was conducted under a Special
Protocol Assessment, agreed with the FDA. The NDA was subsequently filed and
GPC Biotech looks forward to commercialising Satraplatin in 2007.
The six months ending 28 February 2007, has been punctuated by positive
regulatory and corporate events for mid-portfolio holding New River
Pharmaceuticals. In early-October New River and partner Shire announced an
approvable letter for New River's lead drug Vyvanse, previously NRP-104, without
the requirement for any additional clinical studies. Many market participants
had expected a non-approvable letter yet the share price of New River rose
strongly from October through to late February, when Vyvanse was approved by the
FDA. During this period, New River and Shire received a second approvable
letter for Vyvanse and just prior to approval, Shire announced that it would
acquire New River. This propelled IBT's holding into New River, to ninth
position, up from a mid-tier holding.
It is almost impossible to have biotechnology exposure and avoid all negative
clinical or regulatory events, since the outcome of these events is never
certain. IBT is managed in order to reduce some of these risks by having a
portfolio diversified across a number of biotechnology stocks and ultimately
this reduces the weighting in each investment. However, negative clinical
events were seen in the following portfolio holdings; Achillion, Adolor and
Nuvelo in the six months to 28 February 2007. Achillion, and partner Gilead
Sciences, reported good antiviral activity but some toxicity in their clinical
stage agent, for the treatment of hepatitis C virus infection. The two
companies have since moved to a second-generation compound, which aims to be
free of these toxicities. In early November, Adolor received a second
approvable letter and a requirement for a post-marketing safety program for its
lead drug partnered with GlaxoSmithKline, Entereg. The share price of Adolor
also suffered in early September when the two companies announced that Entereg
failed in two out of three studies in a different indication. In early
December, Nuvelo announced negative results in two late-stage clinical trials
for its clot digesting enzyme partnered with Bayer. This product was responsible
for most of the valuation of the company.
UNQUOTED COMPANIES
The M&A transactions from the portfolio started in early October, with the
announcement of the sale of PowderMed from the unquoted portfolio to Pfizer.
After a hectic eighteen months for the unquoted portfolio with many divestments,
the focus since August 2006 has been to refresh the unquoted portfolio.
Although no new unquoted investments were made to the six months to 28 February
2007, three were made in the month after our interim period end. These
investments were Ricerca, EUSA and Affinium.
Positive progress in the unquoted portfolio continues to be made, for example,
by Archemix which in the six months to 28 February 2007 has announced
collaborations and licensing deals with Merck KGaA and Pfizer, as well as moving
its own product into phase I clinical trials. Archemix is one of the leading
companies in the development of aptamers which can be thought of as nucleic acid
antibodies.
PORTFOLIO SUMMARY AT 28 FEBRUARY 2007
At the end of our interim period, IBT had investments in 48 companies: 37 quoted
(representing 86.8% of NAV) and 11 unquoted companies (representing 7.5% of
NAV). The remaining 5.7% comprised cash, money market instruments and other net
assets (£4.1m), of which 6.8% of NAV (£5.0m) was committed to further
investments in unquoted companies.
Members of SVLS sat on the Board of eleven portfolio companies at the end of the
interim period, which were Affibody, Archemix, Dynogen, ESBATech, Intranasal
Therapeutics, GTx, Lux Biosciences, Micromet, Oxagen, Santarus, and Spinal
Kinetics.
The geographical split of the portfolio at 28 February 2007 was tilted towards
the U.S. where 63.1% of NAV was invested. IBT had one investment, CSL, in
Australia 3.9% while 33.0% of NAV was invested in Europe, which was about
equally split between the U.K. and continental Europe. By sub-sector, 75.6% of
NAV was invested in biopharmaceuticals, 6.0% in drug delivery and 6.8% in
medical devices with cash, money market instruments and other net assets making
up the balance.
Although IBT is focussed on small- to mid-capitalisation and unquoted
biotechnology companies, most of IBT's investments have products in late stage
clinical development, or are in the early stage of commercialisation. At the end
of the interim period twenty companies had at least one product on the market,
four had filed for regulatory approval, six had products in phase III clinical
development and eleven had products in phase II development. None had a product
in the earliest phase of clinical development (phase I), three were in
pre-clinical testing and four were classified as having either platforms or
medical devices in development of sale.
In terms of the cash positions of the portfolio companies, it was estimated that
at 28 February 2007, 31 companies were either profitable or had two or more
years of cash remaining, ten had more than one, but less than two years of cash
remaining, and seven had less than one year of cash remaining. Of those seven,
four were unquoted with impending funding events in which IBT may participate
and one, PowderMed, represented the escrow holding.
Most of the divestments since 31 August 2006 have been through M&A activity with
AnorMED, Myogen, Solexa and PowderMed exiting the portfolio after being acquired
and Tanox and New River Pharmaceuticals awaiting completion of their
transactions. Two investments were divested after our review subsequent to
negative clinical or regulatory events (Nuvelo and Adolor), while continuing
review of the investment case and valuation has led to the divestment of
Auxilium and the partial divestment of Actelion.
VALUATION
At 28 February 2007, the IBT unquoted portfolio (value £5.5m) represented 7.5%
of net assets, compared to 22.7% twelve months previously. No new investments
were made in the six months to 28 February 2007, although follow-on investments
were made in PowderMed and Lux Biosciences in the period. Three new unquoted
investments were made in the month after the end of the interim period. These
investments will be detailed further in the annual report at the end of our year
and were Ricerca, a U.S. contract research organisation, EUSA, a specialty
pharmaceutical company, and Affinium, a Canadian antibiotic development company.
During the period under review, the net effect of the change in the Directors'
valuations of unquoted companies was a decrease in NAV of £0.8m representing
1.1% of net assets at the start of the period. The valuation of PowderMed was
written up by £2.5m in early October to reflect the acquisition by Pfizer and a
portion of the proceeds remain in escrow.
SV Life Sciences Managers LLP
12 April 2007
Ten Largest Equity Holdings
Ordinary Share Portfolio at 28 February 2007
----- ----------------- ---------- ----------- -------
Company Value of % of Ordinary Country
Holdings Shares
Shareholders
Funds
£'000
----- ----------------- ---------- ----------- -------
1 GPC Biotech 3,041 4.2 Germany
2 CSL 2,819 3.9 Australia
3 GTx 2,815 3.8 USA
4 Progenics Pharmaceuticals 2,700 3.7 USA
5 Micromet 2,667 3.6 USA
6 Noven Pharmaceuticals 2,574 3.5 USA
7 Shire 2,473 3.4 UK
8 MGI Pharma 2,410 3.3 USA
9 New River Pharmaceuticals 2,324 3.2 USA
10 Tanox 2,301 3.1 USA
Total 26,124 35.7
----- ----------------- ---------- ----------- -------
C Share Portfolio at 28 February 2007
----- ----------------- ---------- ----------- -------
Company Value of % of C Shares Country
Holdings Shareholders
Funds
£'000
----- ----------------- ---------- ----------- -------
1 Tanox 1,293 3.7 USA
2 New River Pharmaceuticals 1,269 3.6 USA
3 Progenics Pharmaceuticals 1,258 3.6 USA
4 Noven Pharmaceuticals 1,226 3.5 USA
5 Shire 1,115 3.2 UK
6 Barr Pharmaceuticals 1,078 3.1 USA
7 MGI Pharmaceuticals 1,076 3.0 USA
8 Alexion Pharmaceuticals 1,039 2.9 USA
9 MorphoSys 1,022 2.9 Germany
10 GPC Biotech 1,015 2.9 Germany
Total 11,391 32.4
----- ----------------- ---------- ----------- -------
Consolidated Balance Sheet
28 February 2007 28 February 2006 31 August 2006
(Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Audited)
--------- --------- ---------
Note Company Company Group Group Group
Ordinary Shares C Shares
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
--------- --------- -------- --------- ---------
Non current assets
Investments
held at fair
value through
profit or loss 69,077 20,678 89,755 61,489 58,022
Current assets
Debtors 415 2,513 2,928 65 2,000
Investments 4,506 17,510 22,016 3,630 6,022
Cash at bank 2,042 - 2,042 4,340 1,074
------------------------ --------- --------- -------- --------- ---------
6,963 20,023 26,986 8,035 9,096
------------------------ --------- --------- -------- --------- ---------
Creditors
Amount falling
due within one
year (2,826) (5,393) (7,708) (947) (167)
------------------------ --------- --------- -------- --------- ---------
Net current
assets 4,137 14,630 19,278 7,088 8,929
------------------------ --------- --------- -------- --------- ---------
Net assets 73,214 35,308 109,033 68,577 66,951
------------------------ --------- --------- -------- --------- ---------
Capital and reserves
Called up
share capital
-Ordinary
Shares 11,766 - 11,766 11,766 11,766
Called up
share capital
-C Shares - 18,583 18,583 - -
Capital
redemption
reserve 11,231 - 11,231 11,231 11,231
Share premium - 17,594 17,594 - -
Share purchase
reserve 65,564 - 65,564 65,565 65,564
Capital
reserves (3,017) (819) (3,325) (8,896) (9,944)
Revenue reserve (12,330) (50) (12,380) (11,089) (11,666)
------------------------ --------- --------- -------- --------- ---------
Equity
shareholders'
funds 73,214 35,308 109,033 68,577 66,951
------------------------ --------- --------- -------- --------- ---------
Net asset
value per
share 4 155.56p 142.50p - 145.70p 142.25p
------------------------ --------- --------- -------- --------- ---------
Consolidated Income Statement
Six months ended 28 February Six months ended 28 February Six months ended 28 February
2007 (Unaudited) 2007 (Unaudited) 2007 (Unaudited)
Ordinary Shares C Shares Group
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Gains/(loss)
on investments
held at fair
value - 7,851 7,851 - (819) (819) - 7,032 7,032
Exchange
gains/(losses)
on currency
balances - (13) (13) - - - - (13) (13)
Income 108 - 108 10 - 10 118 - 118
-------------------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
108 7,838 7,946 10 (819) (809) 118 7,019 7,137
Performance fee - (400) (400) - - - - (400) (400)
Investment
Management fee (454) - (454) (27) - (27) (481) - (481)
Administrative
expenses (318) - (318) (33) (989) (1,022) (351) (989) (1,340)
-------------------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
(Deficit)/retu
rn on ordinary
activities
before
taxation (664) 7,438 6,774 (50) (1,808) (1,858) (714) 5,630 4,916
Tax on return on - - - - - - - - -
ordinary activities -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
--------------------
(Deficit)/retu
rn on ordinary
activities
after tax (664) 7,438 6,774 (50) (1,808) (1,858) (714) 5,630 4,916
-------------------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
(Deficit)/retu
rn per share (1.41p) 15.80p - (0.20p) (7.30p) - - - -
Consolidated Income Statement (continued)
For the six months ended 28 For the year ended 31 August
February 2006 2006
(Unaudited) (Audited)
Group Group
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Gains/(loss)
on investments
held at fair
value - 11,620 11,620 - 10,638 10,638
Exchange
gains/(losses)
on currency
balances - - - - (66) (66)
Income 547 - 547 701 - 701
------------------------------------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
547 11,620 12,167 701 10,572 11,273
Performance fee
Investment
Management fee (395) - (395) (855) - (855)
Administrative
expenses (296) - (296) (567) (567)
------------------------------------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
(Deficit)/retu
rn on ordinary
activities
before
taxation (144) 11,620 11,476 (721) 10,572 9,851
Tax on return on ordinary activities - - - - - -
------------------------------------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
(Deficit)/retu
rn on ordinary
activities
after tax (144) 11,620 11,476 (721) 10,572 9,851
------------------------------------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
(Deficit)/retu
rn per share (0.30p) 24.38p 24.08p (1.52p) 22.32p 20.80p
------------------------------------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
The total column of this statement represents the Group's Income Statement
prepared in accordance with IFRS.
The revenue and capital return columns are supplementary to this and are
prepared under guidance published by Association of Investment Companies.
The Group has no recognised gains or losses other than those disclosed in the
Consolidated Income Statement and the Consolidated Statement of Changes in
Equity.
All items in the above statement derive from continuing operations.
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity
Group
For the six months ended 28 February 2006
(Unaudited)
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Share Capital Capital Share Share Capital Capital reserve Revenue Total
£'000 redemption purchase premium reserve unrealised reserve £'000
reserve reserve £'000 realised £'000 £'000
£'000 £'000 £'000
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Balance at 31
August 2005 11,954 11,043 66,467 - 6,737 (27,253) (10,945) 58,003
Buy back of
ordinary
shares (188) 188 (902) - - - - (902)
Net
(loss)/profit
for the year - - - - (5,792) 17,412 (144) 11,476
-------------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
------- -------
Balance at 28
February 2006 11,766 11,231 65,565 - 945 (9,841) (11,089) 68,577
-------------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Group
Year ended 31 August 2006
(Audited)
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Share Capital Capital Share Share Capital Capital reserve Revenue Total
£'000 redemption purchase premium reserve unrealised reserve £'000
reserve reserve £'000 realised £'000 £'000
£'000 £'000 £'000
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Balance at 31
August 2005 11,954 11,043 66,467 - 6,737 (27,253) (10,945) 58,003
Buy back of
ordinary
shares (188) 188 (903) - - - - (903)
Net
(loss)/profit
for the year - - - - (2,584) 13,156 (721) 9,851
-------------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Balance at 31
August 2006 11,766 11,231 65,564 - 4,153 (14,097) (11,666) 66,951
-------------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Group
Six months ended 28 February 2007
(Unaudited)
------ ------ ------- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
Share Share Capital Share Share Capital Capital Revenue Total
Capital- Capital- redemption purchase premium reserve reserve reserve £'000
Ord C reserve reserve £'000 realised unrealised £'000
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
------ ------ ------- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
Balance at 31
August 2006 11,766 - 11,231 65,564 - 4,153 (14,097) (11,666) 66,951
Movement in
the period 2,080 4,939 7,019
Performance fee (400) (400)
Issue of shares 18,583 18,583 37,166
Issue expenses (989) (989)
Net
(loss)/profit
for the year - - - - (714) (714)
-------------- ------ ------ ------- ------ ------ ------ -------
Balance at 28
February 2007 11,766 18,583 11,231 65,564 17,594 5,833 (9,158) (12,380) 109,033
------ ------ ------- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
Ordinary Shares
Six months ended 28 February 2007
(Unaudited)
------ ------ ------- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
Share Capital Capital Share Share Capital Capital reserve Revenue Total
£'000 redemption purchase premium reserve unrealised reserve £'000
reserve reserve £'000 realised £'000 £'000
£'000 £'000 £'000
------ ------ ------- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
Balance at 31
August 2006 11,766 11,231 65,564 - 3,642 (14,097) (11,666) 66,440
Movements in
the period - - - - 2,080 5,758 - 7,838
Performance fee - - - - (400) - - (400)
Net loss for
the period - - - - - - (664) (664)
-------------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Balance at 28
February 2007 11,766 11,231 65,564 - 5,322 (8,339) (12,330) 73,214
------- ------ ------- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
C Shares
Six months ended 28 February 2007
(Unaudited)
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Share Capital Capital Share Share Capital Capital reserve Revenue Total
£'000 redemption purchase premium reserve unrealised reserve £'000
reserve reserve £'000 realised £'000 £'000
£'000 £'000 £'000
-------- -------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Balance at 31 August 2006 - - - - - - - -
Movement in
the period (819) (819)
Issue of shares 18,583 - - 18,583 37,166
Issue expenses (989) (989)
Net loss for
the period - - - - - (50) (50)
------ ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Balance at 28
February 2007 18,583 - - 17,594 - (819) (50) 35,308
------ ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- --------
Consolidated Cash Flow Statements
Ordinary Shares C Shares Group Group Group
For the Six For the Six For the Six For the Six Year ended 31
months ended 28 months ended 28 months ended 28 months ended 28 August 2006
February 2007 February 2007 February 2007 February 2006 (Audited)
(Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited)
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
---------------------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Cash flows from operating activities
Net
profit/(loss)
before tax 6,774 (1,858) 4,916 11,476 9,851
Adjustments for:
(Increase) in
investments (9,539) (38,188) (47,727) (8,489) (7,707)
(Increase)/Dec
rease in
receivables 1,585 (2,513) (928) (133) (1,939)
Increase in
payables 2,148 4,030 6,178 (592) (564)
---------------------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Net cash flows
from operating
activities 968 (38,529) (37,561) 2,262 (359)
Cash flows from financing activities
Purchase of
own shares for
cancellation - - - (258) (903)
Issue of C
Shares - 37,166 37,166 - -
---------------------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Net (Decrease)
in Cash and
Cash
Equivalents 968 (1,363) (395) 2,004 (1,262)
Cash and cash
equivalents at
beginning of
period 1,074 - 1,074 2,336 2,336
---------------------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Cash and Cash
Equivalents at
end of period 2,042 (1,363) 679 4,340 1,074
---------------------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Notes to the Financial Statements
1. Accounting Policies
This interim consolidated financial information has been prepared in accordance
with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as adopted by the EU,
which comprises standards and interpretations approved by the International
Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and International Accounting Standards
Committee (IASC) as adopted by the European Union.
The Income Statement is only presented in consolidated form, as provided by S230
of the Companies Act 1985.
These financial statements are presented in pounds sterling because that is the
currency of the primary economic environment in which the Group operates.
(a) Basis of accounting
The Group accounts consolidate the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned
subsidiary, IBT (2004) Limited. These financial statements have been prepared on
the historical cost basis, except for the revaluation of certain financial
instruments. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below. Where
presentational guidance set out in the Statement of Recommended Practice ('the
SORP') for investment trusts issued by the Association of Investment Companies
('the AIC') in January 2003 and revised in December 2005 is consistent with the
requirements of IFRS, the Directors have sought to prepare the financial
statements on a basis compliant with the recommendations of the SORP.
(b) Presentation of Income Statement
In order to better reflect the activities of an investment trust company, and in
accordance with guidance issued by the AIC, supplementary information which
analyses the Income Statement between items of a revenue and capital nature has
been presented alongside the Income Statement. In accordance with the Company's
status as a UK investment company under Section 266 of the Companies Act 1985,
net capital return may not be distributed by way of dividend. Additionally, the
net revenue is the measure the Directors believe appropriate in assessing the
Group's compliance with certain requirements set out in Section 842 Income and
Corporation Taxes Act 1988.
(c) Basis of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements incorporate the financial statements of
the Company and entities controlled by the Company (its subsidiary) made up to
31 August each year. Control is achieved where the Company has power to govern
the financial and operating policies of an investee entity so as to obtain
benefits from its activities. All intra-group transactions, balances, income and
expenses are eliminated on consolidation.
(d) Dividend and other income
Dividends receivable on equity shares are recognised as revenue for the period
on an ex-dividend basis. Income from current asset investments are included in
the revenue for the period on an accrual basis.
(e) Expenses
Administrative expenses (excluding the performance fee) are charged to the
revenue account on an accruals basis. The performance fee is charged to the
capital account as it is primarily attributable to the capital performance of
the Company's investments.
(f) Non-current asset investment held at fair value
Investments are recognised on a trade date when purchases or sale of an
investment is under a contract whose terms require delivery of the investment
within the timeframe established by the market concerned, and are initially
measured at fair value.
All the Group's and Company's investments are defined by IFRS as investments
held at fair value through profit or loss.
All investments are designated upon initial recognition as held at fair value
through profit or loss, and are measured at subsequent reporting dates at fair
value, which is either the bid price or the last traded price, depending on the
convention of the exchange on which the investment is quoted. Gains or losses
arising thereon are recognised in the Income Statement.
In respect of unquoted investments, or where the market for a financial
instrument is not active, fair value is established by using various valuation
techniques, in accordance with International Private Equity and Venture Capital
('IPEVC') Valuation Guidelines. These may include using recent arm's length
market transactions between knowledgeable, willing parties, if available and
reference to the current fair value of another instrument that is substantially
the same. Where there is a valuation technique commonly used by market
participants to price the instrument and that technique has been demonstrated to
provide reliable estimates of prices obtained in actual market transactions,
that technique is utilised. Gains or losses arising thereon are recognised in
the Income Statement.
Current asset held for trading
Current asset investments are measured at fair value with gains and losses
arising from their changes in fair value being included in the Income Statement
as a revenue item.
Transaction costs incurred on the acquisition or disposal of investments are
expensed and included in the capital column.
2. Administrative Expenses
--------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
For the six For the six For the six Year ended
months to 28 months to 28 months to 28
February 2007 February 2007 February 2006
Revenue Revenue Capital Revenue 31 August 2006
Ordinary C Shares C Shares Group Revenue
Shares
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
--------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Management fees 454 27 - 395 855
Other
administrative
expenses 318 33 989 296 567
--------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
772 60 989 691 1,422
--------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
3. (Deficit)/Revenue per Share
Earnings per share can be further analysed between revenue and capital as set
out below:
--------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Ordinary shares C shares Group Group
For the six For the six For the six Year ended 31
months to 28 months to 28 months to 28 August
February 2007 February 2007 February 2006 2006
--------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Revenue
Deficit on
ordinary
activities
before tax
(£'000) (664) (50) (144) (721)
Weighted
average number
of shares
('000) 47,065 24,777 47,065 47,357
Pence Pence Pence Pence
Revenue
deficit per
share (1.41)p (0.20)p (0.30)p (1.52)p
--------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Capital
Return/(deficit) on ordinary
activities
before tax
(£'000) 7,438 (1,808) 11,620 10,572
Weighted
average number
of shares
('000) 47,065 24,777 47,654 47,357
Pence Pence Pence Pence
Capital
return/(deficit) per share 15.80p (7.30)p 24.38p 22.32p
--------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Total earnings
per share 14.39p (7.50)p 24.08p 20.80p
--------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
4. Net Asset Value per Share
The calculation of the net asset value per share is based on the following:
-------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
For the six For the six For the six Year ended 31
months to 28 months to 28 months to 28 August 2006
February 2007 February 2007 February 2006
Ordinary Shares C Shares Group Group
2007 2007 2006 2006
-------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Net asset
value (£'000) 73,214 35,308 68,577 66,951
Number of
shares in
issue ('000) 47,065 24,777 47,065 47,065
Basic Net
Asset Value
per share 155.56p 142.50p 145.70p 142.25p
-------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
5. Issue of C shares
During the period 24,777,433 C Shares were issued at 150 pence per share. A
total of £36,113,941 was raised net of expenses.
6. Comparative Information
The results for the six months to 28 February 2007 and 28 February 2006, which
are unaudited, constitute non-statutory accounts within the meaning of Section
240 of the Companies Act 1985.
The comparative figures for the financial year ended 31 August 2006 are not the
Group's statutory accounts for that financial year. Those accounts have been
reported on by the Group's auditors and delivered to the registrar of companies.
The report of the auditors was unqualified and did not contain a statement under
section 237(2) or (3) of the Companies Act 1985.
This statement was approved by the Board of Directors on 12 April 2007.
The Interim Report will be mailed to registered shareholders in May 2007 and
from the date of release copies of the Interim Report will be made available to
the public at the Company's Registered Office at 31 Gresham Street, London EC2V
7QA.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange