Interim Results
BioScience VCT plc
26 September 2003
26 SEPTEMBER 2003
BIOSCIENCE VCT PLC
UNAUDITED INTERIM RESULTS
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2003
Financial highlights
• Net assets £6,829,000
• Net asset value per share 94.3p
• Revenue return after tax £36,000
• Revenue return per share* 0.5p
• Total return per share* 0.6p
*Based on weighted average of 7,209,926 shares in issue during the period
For further information, please contact:
Chris Hulatt
Octopus Asset Management 020 7255 7962
David Best
Medical Marketing International Group plc 01223 477677
Chairman's Statement
I am pleased to report that we have made good progress over the six months to 30
June 2003. We made a further investment and identified a number of other
attractive companies in which we may invest later this year.
The turmoil in global financial markets in the early period of 2003 impacted the
bioscience sector. However, quoted biotechnology companies have since benefited
from the market's recent recovery, and this has had a positive impact on
sentiment towards unquoted bioscience companies. In recent months, we have had
discussions with a number of companies that are raising money at valuations that
we believe are attractive.
Investments
During the period, we invested £80,000 in Cobra Biomanufacturing plc, an
AIM-listed biotechnology company that specialises in manufacturing compounds for
other companies. Our investment was made at a share price of 80p and I am
pleased to be able to report that the share price was 99.5p at the end of the
period.
Following a sharp rise in the value of our investment in GTC Biotherapeutics Inc
(GTC), the US-based company that specialises in the manufacture of antibodies
and other proteins using transgenic animals, we took the decision to sell half
our holding. The shares in GTC were sold at a price in excess of $3 per share,
representing a profit of approximately 240% compared with the average purchase
price for the shares. We retain a holding of 25,000 shares in GTC.
Since the end of the period, we have invested £100,000 in Insense Ltd, an
unquoted company that is developing a new wound healing technology.
Net asset value
As at 30 June 2003, the net asset value (NAV) per share was 94.3p, a rise of
0.6p from 31 December 2002.
Revenue and dividend
The directors intend to assess the potential for paying a dividend to
shareholders on the basis of the full year results, bearing in mind that
interest rates have been at a low level during recent months. The directors do
not propose to pay an interim dividend.
Prospects
We believe that the recent signs of greater stability in global stock markets
have helped to create an environment for bioscience companies that is more
attractive than has been seen for some time. We continue to meet with a large
number of potential investee companies and expect that we will finalise several
investments over the next few months. I look forward to updating you on these
investments as we progress towards the requirement to invest at least 70% of the
VCT's assets into qualifying holdings by the end of 2004.
Dr P A Nicholson
Chairman, BioScience VCT Plc
Investment portfolio as at 30 June 2003
Cost Valuation Valuation as %
of shareholders' funds
Quoted Investments
GTC Biotherapeutics Inc £14,690 £50,455 0.7%
Investments quoted on AIM
Cobra Biomanufacturing plc £80,000 £99,500 1.5%
Total investments £94,690 £149,955
The unaudited interim financial statements for the period from 1 January 2003 to
30 June 2003 are set out below.
STATEMENT OF TOTAL RETURN (INCORPORATING THE REVENUE ACCOUNT)
6 Months to 30 June 2003 6 months to 30 June 2002
Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total
£000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000
Realised gains on - 35 35 - - -
investments
Unrealised gains on - 48 48 - - -
investments
Income 113 - 113 70 - 70
Investment management fee (25) (74) (99) (9) (28) (37)
Other expenses (52) - (52) (35) - (35)
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
Return on ordinary 36 9 45 26 (28) (2)
activities
before tax
Tax on ordinary - - - - - -
activities ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
Return on ordinary 36 9 45 26 (28) (2)
activities
after tax
Dividends - - - - - -
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
Transfer to reserves 36 9 45 26 (28) (2)
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
Return per share 0.5p 0.1p 0.6p 0.6p (0.6)p 0.0p
Year ended 31 December 2002
Revenue Capital Total
£000 £000 £000
Realised gains on investments - - -
Unrealised gains on investments - 7 7
Income 196 - 196
Investment management fee (34) (102) (136)
Other expenses (105) - (105)
------ ------ ------
Return on ordinary activities 57 (95) (38)
before tax
Tax on ordinary activities - - -
------ ------ ------
Return on ordinary activities 57 (95) (38)
after tax
Dividends (54) - (54)
------ ------ ------
Transfer to reserves 3 (95) (92)
------ ------ ------
Return per share 1.0p (1.6)p (0.6p)
The revenue columns above are the profit and loss accounts of the company. All
revenue and capital items on the above statements derive from continuing
operations.
BALANCE SHEET
30 June 2003 30 June 2002 31 December 2002
£000 £000 £000
Fixed asset investments 150 - 37
Net current assets 6,679 6,664 6,690
------- ------- -------
Net assets 6,829 6,664 6,727
------- ------- -------
Called-up equity share capital 3,619 3,508 3,589
Share premium 3,257 3,158 3,230
Capital reserve - realised (141) (28) (102)
- unrealised 55 - 7
Revenue reserve 39 26 3
------- ------- -------
Total equity shareholders' funds 6,829 6,664 6,727
------- ------- -------
Net asset value per share 94.3p 95.0p 93.7p
CASH FLOW STATEMENT
6 months to 6 months to Year ended
30 June 2003 30 June 2002 31 December 2002
£000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000
Net cash (outflow)/ (131) 28 (53)
inflow from operating
activities
Financial investment: (80) - (29)
Purchase of investments 50 - -
Sale of investments
Management of liquid 287 (6,235) (6,534)
resources ----- ------ ------
Net cash inflow/(outflow) 257 (6,235) (6,563)
from financial
investment
Equity dividends paid (54) - -
------ ------ ------
Net cash inflow before 72 (6,207) (6,616)
financing
Financing: 61 6,940 7,100
Issue of ordinary shares (3) (274) (282)
Share issue expenses ----- ------ ------
Net cash inflow from 58 6,666 6,818
financing ------ ------ ------
Increase in cash 130 459 202
------ ------ ------
NOTES
1. The unaudited financial statements for the period ended 30 June 2003 do
not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of Section 240 of the
Companies Act 1985 and have not been delivered to the Registrar of Companies.
The results have been drawn up in accordance with applicable accounting
standards and adopting the accounting policies set out in the statutory accounts
for the year ended 31 December 2002. The comparative figures for the financial
year ended 31 December 2002 are not the Company's statutory accounts for that
financial year. Those accounts have been reported on by the Company's auditors
and delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The report of the auditor was
unqualified and did not contain a statement under section 257(2) or (3) of the
Companies Act 1985.
2. The calculation of the revenue and capital return per share is based on
the return on ordinary activities after tax for the period and on 7,209,926
ordinary shares, being the weighted average number of shares in issue during the
period from 1 January 2003 to 30 June 2003. The number of shares in issue at 30
June 2003 was 7,238,175.
3. Copies of the interim report are being sent to all shareholders.
Further copies are available free of charge from the Company's registered office
at Kett House, 1 Station Road, Cambridge, CB1 2JY.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange