Quarterly update

Starvest PLC
10 May 2005

                                  Starvest plc


  The following quarterly update, based on the Company's  position at 29 April
                  2005, has today been posted to shareholders.




Chairman's update for shareholders - May 2005

I am pleased to report continued positive progress and optimism for the future.

Encouragingly, both Regency Mines and Belmore, two the Company's newer
investments, have made have made excellent starts to trading on AIM and OFEX
respectively.  Increased investor interest in Myhome, Beowulf Mining and
Agricola have resulted in increased market values; our investments show a
substantial profit.

We are now in discussion with the promoters of six further investment
opportunities and expect to conclude deals during 2005.

Many of our investments are in the natural resources sector, so it is inevitable
that prices and therefore our net asset value will fluctuate from time to time.
However, this is minimised by our increasing investment spread.

  • The net asset value based on mid-market closing prices on Friday 29 April
    2005 was £7.097 million of which £600,000 was uninvested cash.  This equates
    to 18.16 pence per share calculated on a fully diluted pre tax basis.
  • This represents a fall on the value of £8.696m at 31 January 2005, the
    date of our last interim report.
  • With the Starvest share price closing at 10.75 pence, the discount to net
    asset value at 29 April 2005 was 41%.
  • During the past three months, Starvest has made a small investment in
    Carpathian Resources Limited, an Australian based company recently admitted
    to AIM.
  • The Company now holds trade investments in the following companies:
       • Agricola Resources plc                       Platinum and uranium exploration
                                                      www.agricolaresources.com

       • Belmore Resources (Holdings) plc             Zinc exploration in Eire and Northern Ireland

       • Beowulf Mining plc                           Gold and coppervexploration in Sweden
                                                      www.beowulf-gold.com

       • Black Rock Oil & Gas plc                     Oil and gas in Southern England and Australia
                                                      www.blackrockpertroleum.com.au

       • Brazilian Diamonds Limited                   Diamond exploration in Brazil
                                                      www.braziliandiamonds.com
     
       • Carpathian Resources Limited                 Oil and gas in the Czech and Slovak  Republics

       • Franconia Minerals Corporation               North American minerals
                                                      www.franconiaminerals.com

       • Gippsland Limited                            Tantulum exploration in Egypt
                                                      www.gippslandltd.com.au

       • Hidefield Gold plc                           Gold exploration in Brazil
                                                      www.hidefield.com

       • Matisse Holdings plc                         Cash shell

       • Myhome International plc                     Domestic cleaning services
                                                      www.myhomeplc.com

       • Oranje River Diamonds plc                    Diamonds in South Africa

       • Regency Mines plc                            Copper & nickel exploration in Australia

       • Sheba Exploration (UK) plc                   Gold exploration in Ethiopia
                                                      www.shebagold.com

       • Southern African Resources plc               High value minerals in South Africa and Botswana
                                                      www.sar-plc.com

       • St Helens Capital plc                        Corporate finance advisor
                                                      www.sthelenscapital.co.uk



Whilst Starvest has no exclusive commitment to the natural resource sector, we
remain of the view that this sector has considerable growth potential for the
foreseeable future.  With our increased spread, the Board believes Starvest to
be an attractive long term investment for private investors.

Looking forward the Company continues to seek special situations where its
available cash resources may be put to good use; we will continue to take
profits as opportunities arise.

Those Shareholders who wish to receive electronic copies of announcements are
invited to register their email address on the home page of the Company website:
www.starvest.co.uk.

Your Board plans to announce the full year results to 31 July 2005 during late
August and hold the Company's Annual General Meeting during October 2005.

R Bruce Rowan
Chairman & Chief Executive

10 May 2005


Enquiries to Bruce Rowan, telephone [phone] or to [e-mail]


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange