Final Results
QUESTER VCT PLC
PRELIMINARY ANNOUNCEMENT OF UNAUDITED RESULTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 28 FEBRUARY
2007
Summary of results for the year ended 28 February 2007
Per ordinary share (pence) 2007 2006 2005
Capital values
Net asset value 41.6 44.5 44.1
Share price 35.3 37.0 44.0
Return and dividends
Dividend paid 3.9 1.25 -
Cumulative dividend 46.7 42.8 41.5
Total return* 88.3 87.3 85.6
*Net asset value plus cumulative dividend
The Directors have declared a second interim dividend of 2.8 pence per share
amounting to £3,299,000 in respect of the year ended 28 February 2007 that was
paid on 21 March 2007. This dividend, which is not reflected in the table
above, will increase cumulative dividends paid to 49.5 pence per share.
CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT
Acquisition of Quester management company by NewMedia SPARK
Querist, the company that manages Quester VCT, was acquired by NewMedia SPARK
plc on 11 May 2007. SPARK is an AIM traded technology investment company
focused on early stage investment in the ICT and media sectors and is one of
the few specialist and successful companies with expertise similar to Quester.
SPARK's current market capitalisation is £61 million, and it has a portfolio of
23 investments. The value of the portfolio at 30 September 2006 was £36.6
million. It specialises in digital media, software applications, technology and
communications which complements Quester's own activities in these areas. SPARK
does not have a healthcare capability, but has decided to add this sector to
its skill base, using Quester's dedicated healthcare business as a platform.
SPARK's team, specialising in early stage investment, has been broadly the same
for eight years. It changed its strategy in 2003 after the dramatic growth of
SPARK in the previous four years during the dotcom boom, to focus solely on
early stage investing. It has achieved somewhat better returns than Quester
since that date. SPARK has a strong balance sheet and can provide substantial
amounts of new capital out of its cash resources. SPARK has not managed third
party funds before, and the acquisition of Querist provides it with that
capability for the first time, covering both the institutional and specialist
VCT market. The merged team will be fully capable of maintaining VCT status.
The SPARK and Quester teams have worked together on investments before, in
particular Footfall which was sold successfully in 2006. SPARK will provide
greater access to some of the UK's best early stage entrepreneurs. In addition
to compatible skill sets, the two teams appear to share common values.
The acquisition concluded a process carried out by Andrew Holmes and John
Spooner, the controlling shareholders of Querist, to identify the best
long-term future for the business. Your Board met with three possible acquirers
of Querist and held further meetings with SPARK to discuss its plans for the
future management of your company, which will be carried forward on the
existing basis. The trend of reducing exposure to high risk/reward capital
intensive investments seems likely to continue.
Results for the year ended 28 February 2007
Performance over the year was broadly flat, with high levels of liquidity,
leading to the ability to pay good dividends.
£'000 Pence per
share
Net asset value at 28 February 2006 53,335 44.5
Income 909 0.8
Operating expenses (1,638) (1.5)
Net realised gain on investments 1,155 1.0
Recoveries made in respect of investment previously 10 -
written off
Net unrealised gain on investments 547 0.5
Net assets before dividends and share buy-backs 54,318 45.3
Dividend paid net of amounts reinvested (4,519) (3.9)
Share buy-backs (1,471) 0.2
Net asset value at 28 February 2007 48,328 41.6
The net asset value at 28 February 2007 is stated before paying the second
interim dividend of 2.8p per share, costing £3.3 million, paid on 21 March
2007.
The results for the second half-year showed a slight decline in total return,
due to a careful review at the year-end of carrying values on three
investments.
Performance
Realisations of £5.4 million reduced, compared to last year, but were still
broadly in line with the amounts expected to be realised since the merger.
There were no spectacular gains.
Venture capital reinvestment was at a high rate of £8.8 million, split broadly
50/50 between new and follow on investments. There were four significant
disappointments in the performance of the portfolio over the year, offset by
two significant uplifts in value, as the hard work put into longer standing
investments such as Nomad, were reflected in write backs.
Overall, the Manager has constructed a well balanced portfolio with a pipeline
of lower risk investments and potential exits in the near term and higher
reward, capital consuming high risk investments for the longer term. It is
worth noting that 23% of the venture capital portfolio is quoted, partly
because of opportunities for new investment in the AIM market, and partly as a
result of the sale of investments to larger quoted companies, in exchange for
paper. It is still too early to be able to identify any startling performers in
the portfolio, and inevitably there will continue to be occasional
disappointments.
The quoted investments outside the venture capital portfolio have had a
satisfactory performance.
There is no reason to believe that SPARK will make any substantial changes to
the risk/reward profile of the portfolio, and we look forward to developing a
productive relationship with the merged team.
Board
At least, during a transitional period, it is expected that Andrew Holmes will
continue on the Board, as he will continue to provide significant input into
the merged team's work. It is the intention to invite Andrew Carruthers, the
CEO of SPARK, to join the Board in due course.
Dividends
Although the rate of reinvestment has been in excess of realisations and
reserves will continue to build to ensure that follow on investments can be
made, there is substantial liquidity in the portfolio. This enables us to
continue with a healthy dividend policy.
An interim dividend of 1.4p per share, was followed by a second interim of
2.8p, declared and paid before HMRC rules on maintaining 70% of the portfolio
invested came into effect on 6 April 2007. This represented an increase of 12%.
There will be no final dividend.
Total dividends amounting to 7.95 pence per share have been returned to
shareholders since the merger and for the moment, the intention is to continue
to pay healthy dividends.
Jock Birney
Chairman
23 May 2007
INVESTMENT MANAGER'S REPORT
Introduction
During the year, twenty three investments aggregating £8.8 million were made; £
4.1 million in eight new companies and £4.7 million in companies already in the
portfolio. Four realisations were completed delivering sales proceeds of £4.9
million with a further £0.5 million received from the repayment of loan stock.
We expect the pace of realisation to reduce in 2007/08 given the stage of
companies in the portfolio, but to improve thereafter.
Venture capital portfolio: investment
New investments
Eight new investments were made totalling £4.1 million.
Company Industry sector £'000
Keronite Limited Chemicals & materials 947
Landround plc Other services 178
Ovum plc Other services 375
Phoqus Group plc Biotechnology services 355
Secerno Limited Software 266
Uniservity Limited Software 1,000
We7 Limited Software 249
Workshare Limited Software 694
4,064
The investments in Keronite, Ovum and Secerno were reported in the 2006 Interim
Report.
New investments made since the 2006 Interim Report was issued are:
Landround
Landround is an AIM traded company focussed on travel, leisure and lifestyle
promotion. Quester VCT invested as part of a £1.6 million funding round in
December. Landround runs innovative voucher based promotions for customer
campaigns, trade incentives, staff motivation and reward programmes. In the UK,
Landround operates Discover Promotions, the Buy and Fly loyalty reward
programme and Travel Offers. The company has offices across Europe and works in
partnership with 19 of the world's leading airlines and other major travel and
leisure operators.
Phoqus
Phoqus is a drug delivery company providing a range of innovative drug delivery
systems based on electrostatic dry powder deposition technology. The Company
invested as part of a £3 million AIM placing. The technology allows very
precise deposition of coating powder on to the surface of tablets, with
benefits including improved performance and the controlled release of a drug
into the body. The technology can also be used to create novel images on
tablets as a means of brand enhancement and protection against counterfeiting.
We7
The Company's investment was part of a £1.5 million first funding round. We7's
technology inserts targeted adverts on to audio and video content which can
then be legally downloaded for free by the consumer with the content being paid
for by the advertiser. The company is at an early and exciting stage in
developing advertising supported internet content in the fast growing downloads
market.
Uniservity
Quester VCT invested £1 million of a £2.4 million first funding round of which
the remaining £1.4 million was provided by other Quester managed funds, Quester
VCT 4 and Quester VCT 5. Uniservity is a leading provider of web-based learning
platforms to the education sector, enhancing communication and collaboration
between schools, teachers, pupils and the community. The company's learning
platforms provide schools with a customised online suite of tools to support
innovative new ways of teaching and learning, extending the classroom to the
internet.
Workshare
Workshare is an established company that develops and markets products that
provide secure production and exchange of business documents, enabling users to
assemble and verify document content and record who has viewed documents. The
company has a strong position in a growing market and continues to focus on
reinforcing and broadening its position as the leading provider of outbound
content security software applications for professionals. Quester VCT
participated in a December 2006, $23 million syndicated funding led by a US
venture capital firm. Quester managed funds, Quester VCT 5 and Quester Venture
Partnership, had already invested in the company and also participated in this
round.
Follow-on investments
Fifteen follow-on investments totalling £4.7 million were made. These
investments, a number of them relatively small, generally were made as part of
previously agreed funding plans linked to the achievement of milestones.
Name Industry sector £'000
Advanced Valve Technologies Industrial products & 22
Limited services
Allergy Therapeutics plc Biotechnology 200
Antenova Limited Communications 130
Anthropics Technology Limited Communications 20
Arithmatica Limited Semiconductors 78
Cluster Seven Limited Software 454
Haemostatix Limited Biotechnology 64
Imagesound plc Industrial products & 1,000
services
Lectus Therapeutics Limited Biotechnology 606
Level Four Software Limited Software 208
MediGene AG Biotechnology 56
Nomad Software Limited Software 858
Sift Group Limited Internet 136
Teraview Limited Diagnostics and devices 198
Vivacta Limited Diagnostics and devices 675
4,705
Quoted venture capital investments: valuation changes
The quoted venture capital portfolio saw an overall 4.1% fall in valuation of £
269,000 to £6.3 million. These movements in valuation are symptomatic of the
volatility of AIM traded stocks that have limited liquidity. Two companies in
the healthcare sector, Genosis and Vernalis, fell by £920,000 and £287,000
respectively. Genosis was punished hard for falling short on early sales
perceptions; however a recent announcement of a channel for entry to the US
market for the sale of its male and female fertility testing kits suggests that
there is the potential for recovery.
On the positive side, Imagesound rose by £728,000, Allergy Therapeutics by £
206,000 and MediGene by £116,000. We supported Imagesound, a leading supplier
of in-store music, radio and TV services to the branded retail and leisure
sectors, with a further £1 million investment and advanced £200,000 to the
specialist pharmaceutical company, Allergy Therapeutics.
Unquoted venture capital investments: valuation changes
The unquoted portfolio fell in value by £132,000 during the year.
Nomad Software was written up to its original cost by £1.9 million to reflect
the progress made by its card payments processing business. The valuation of
Elateral Holdings, which provides an internet based solution to companies whose
distribution channels require customised marketing material, was increased by £
763,000 reflecting stronger trading results.
The £600,000 investment in Global Silicon was written off following its failure
to achieve significant sales traction despite having a proven product. Two
investments have been written down by an aggregate of £1.5 million reflecting
slower than anticipated progress. The investment in Antenova, a leading
developer of high performance antenna solutions for mobile handsets, portable
devices and laptop computers, is valued at the firm pricing of a recent funding
round which has resulted in a downwards revaluation of £115,000. We remain
positive about the company's prospects. The residual holding in Opsys has been
written down to nil following the weak stock price performance of its NASDAQ
listed parent. There is the possibility of it being written back up if the
price improves.
Sector spread
Industry sector Percentage of
venture capital
portfolio at
valuation Valuation Number of
% £'000 Investments
Software 37.4 10,125 11
Biotechnology 15.3 4,154 8
Internet 10.6 2,883 2
Industrial products & 10.4 2,829 3
services
Diagnostics & devices 10.1 2,743 4
Communications 3.9 1,064 2
Chemicals & materials 3.8 1,034 2
Hardware 2.6 708 1
Consumer goods & services 1.8 480 1
Electronics 1.6 435 2
Semiconductors 1.5 416 1
Other services 1.0 204 1
100.0 27,075 38
The sector balance is sensible; although not overly prescriptive because we
believe that most companies are impacted by company specific micro issues, such
as management, markets and product development and not the wider macro issues
of the industry sector. Nonetheless, the weight of investment tends towards a
balance between Healthcare, ICT and Software, which reflects the structure of
the Quester fund management team, deal flow and capacity to make and manage
investments.
Listed equity and bond portfolios
The value of the listed equity portfolio at 28 February 2007 stood at £12.8
million. Emphasis has been on UK mid and small cap companies, which have
performed well over the year, with the portfolio increasing in value by £1.5
million (13.1%).
The Company also holds a bond portfolio valued at £2.8 million, generating an
effective yield of 4.9%.
Outlook
We are continuing to build a portfolio with a balance of later as well as early
stage investments, to realise mature investments and to support companies
within the portfolio. Since the merger with Quester VCT 2 and Quester VCT 3 in
June 2005, in line with the merger objectives, we have continued to increase
the range and diversity of the venture capital portfolio. Exits this year
realised £5.4 million and running costs are lower (comparative figures exclude
pre merger costs of Quester VCT 2 and Quester VCT 3) with a full year's
management fee at the reduced rate of 2.0% and economies achieved from
combining general overheads.
On 11 May 2007, Quester was acquired by NewMedia SPARK plc, the AIM traded,
early stage venture capital specialist. SPARK has a focus on digital media,
software applications, technology and communications and the combined group
will manage funds of over £275 million. The new management group will have
access to a broader range of early stage investors and investment opportunities
and the benefits derived from the synergy between Quester and SPARK will be
passed on to shareholders as the combined management team pool resources to
deliver shareholder value.
Quester
Manager
23 May 2007
FUND SUMMARY AS AT 28 FEBRUARY 2007
Industry sector Original Valuation Equity % of
Cost * £'000 % held fund by
£'000 value
Quoted venture capital investments
Allergy Therapeutics Biotechnology 772 1,009 1.1% 2.1%
plc
Cyclacel Biotechnology 800 329 1.1% 0.7%
Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Genosis plc Diagnostics & 1,140 192 6.5% 0.4%
devices
Imagesound plc Industrial products 2,848 2,269 11.8% 4.7%
& services
Landround plc Other services 178 204 6.3% 0.4%
MediGene AG ** Biotechnology 659 449 0.5% 0.9%
Phoqus Group plc Biotechnology 355 292 1.0% 0.6%
Revenue Assurance Software 611 658 1.4% 1.4%
Services plc (formerly
XKO)
Sopheon plc Software 178 50 0.2% 0.1%
Vernalis plc Biotechnology 886 879 0.5% 1.8%
Total quoted venture capital investments 8,427 6,331 13.1%
Unquoted venture capital investments
Advanced Valve Industrial products 2,773 450 12.8% 0.9%
Technologies Limited & services
Antenova Limited Communications 1,134 1,019 4.7% 2.1%
Anthropics Technology Communications 115 45 7.0% 0.1%
Limited
Arithmatica Limited Semiconductors 416 416 12.5% 0.8%
Artisan Software Tools Software 2,100 673 23.4% 1.4%
Limited
Casella Group Limited Industrial products 902 110 15.8% 0.2%
& services
Celldex Therapeutics Biotechnology 625 225 1.7% 0.5%
Inc (formerly
Lorantis)
Cluster Seven Limited Software 1,196 1,196 11.1% 2.4%
Community Internet Internet 1,015 634 17.4% 1.3%
Europe Limited
Elateral Holdings Software 2,126 1,009 24.4% 2.1%
Limited
Haemostatix Limited Biotechnology 117 117 5.9% 0.2%
HTC Healthcare Group Consumer goods & 2,208 480 36.7% 1.0%
plc services
International Diagnostics & 1,176 690 23.9% 1.4%
Diagnostics Group plc devices
Keronite Limited Chemicals & 947 947 7.1% 2.0%
materials
Lectus Therapeutics Biotechnology 854 854 7.0% 1.8%
Limited
Level Four Software Software 725 725 5.1% 1.5%
Limited
Nanotecture Limited Chemicals & 87 87 0.8% 0.2%
materials
Nomad Software Limited Software 2,675 3,605 18.7% 7.5%
Opsys Management Electronics 1,562 - 13.6% -
Limited
Pelikon Limited Hardware 708 708 5.5% 1.5%
Perpetuum Limited Electronics 435 435 8.0% 0.9%
Secerno Limited Software 266 266 4.2% 0.5%
Sift Group Limited Internet 2,395 2,249 19.8% 4.7%
Teraview Limited Diagnostics & 1,056 947 5.4% 2.0%
devices
Uniservity Limited Software 1,000 1,000 16.5% 2.1%
Vivacta Limited Diagnostics & 914 914 12.9% 1.9%
devices
We7 Limited Software 249 249 9.6% 0.5%
Workshare Limited Software 694 694 1.9% 1.4%
Total unquoted venture capital investments 30,470 20,744 42.9%
Total venture capital 38,897 27,075 56.0%
investments
Listed fixed interest 2,832 2,821 5.8%
investments
Listedequityinvestments 10,015 12,763 26.4%
Total investments 51,744 42,659 88.2%
Cash and other net 5,669 5,669 11.8%
current assets
Net assets 57,413 48,328 100.0%
*The cost of investment shown above represents the post merger cost to Quester
VCT plc, which is the original cost to the Company immediately prior to the
merger with Quester VCT 2 plc and Quester VCT 3 plc together with the merger
value of those investments assumed from Quester VCT 2 and Quester VCT 3.
**Shares in MediGene AG were received on MediGene's purchase of Avidex Limited
on 29 September 2006.
PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 28 FEBRUARY 2007
Note 2007 2006
£'000 £'000
Gain on investments at fair value 1 1,712 3,056
through profit or loss
Income 2 909 1,070
Investment management fee 3 (1,183) (882)
Other expenses 4 (455) (382)
Profit on ordinary activities before 983 2,862
taxation
Tax on profit on ordinary activities 6 - -
Profit on ordinary activities after 983 2,862
taxation
Basic earnings per share 8 0.8p 3.2p
All items in the above statement derive from continuing operations.
The Company has only one class of business and derives its income from
investments made in shares and securities and from bank deposits.
There are no gains and losses for the year other than those passing through the
profit and loss account of the Company
NOTE OF HISTORICAL COST PROFITS AND LOSSES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 28 FEBRUARY 2007
2007 2006
£'000 £'000
Reported profit on ordinary activities 983 2,862
before taxation
Realisation of prior years' net unrealised (228) 429
(losses)/gains on investments
Historical cost profit on ordinary 755 3,291
activities before taxation
Historical cost profit for the period 755 3,291
BALANCE SHEET
AS AT 28 FEBRUARY 2007
2007 2006
Note £'000 £'000
Fixed assets
Investments at fair value through 42,659 37,105
profit or loss
Current assets
Debtors 989 852
Cash at bank 5,014 15,693
6,003 16,545
Creditors: amounts falling due within (334) (315)
one year
Net current assets 5,669 16,230
Net assets 48,328 53,335
Capital and reserves
Called-up equity share capital 5,805 5,992
Share premium account 51 37,359
Capital redemption reserve 465 260
Special reserve 38,820 4,348
Fair value reserve (1,102) (2,477)
Profit and loss account 4,289 7,853
Total equity shareholders' funds 48,328 53,335
Net asset value per share 9 41.6p 44.5p
CASHFLOW STATEMENT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 28 FEBRUARY 2007
2007 2006
£'000 £'000
Cash (outflow)/inflow from operating (828) 96
activities
Financial investment
Purchase of venture capital investments (8,769) (6,001)
Purchase of listed equities and fixed interest (4,083) (1,508)
investments
Sale of venture capital investments 5,409 9,868
Sale/redemption of listed equity and fixed 3,572 8,190
interest investments
Amounts recovered from investments previously 10 166
written off
Total net financial investment (3,861) 10,715
Mergers and acquisitions
Funds received as part of the merger - 6,141
Merger costs - (220)
Total mergers and acquisitions - 5,921
Equity dividends paid (4,669) (1,529)
Financing
Buy-back of ordinary shares (1,471) (1,077)
Issue of shares under the terms of the 150 49
dividend reinvestment scheme
Total financing (1,321) (1,028)
(Decrease)/increase in cash for the period (10,679) 14,175
Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement
in net funds
(Decrease)/increase in cash for the period (10,679) 14,175
Net funds at the start of the period 15,693 1,518
Net funds at the end of the period 5,014 15,693
In June 2005 the Company merged, by means of a Scheme of Arrangement
("Scheme"), with Quester VCT 2 plc and Quester VCT 3 plc. Under the Scheme, all
the shares of Quester VCT 2 and Quester VCT 3 (excluding one share in each
company) were cancelled and new shares in the Company were issued to
shareholders of Quester VCT 2 and Quester VCT 3. The assets and liabilities of
Quester VCT 2 and Quester VCT 3 were transferred to the Company, following the
merger, for cash on completion.
RECONCILIATION OF MOVEMENTS IN SHAREHOLDERS' FUNDS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 28 FEBRUARY 2007
Share Share Capital Special Fair Profit Total
capital premium redemption reserve value and £'000
£'000 account reserve £'000 reserve loss
£'000 £'000 £'000 account
£'000
At 1 March 2006 5,992 37,359 260 4,348 (2,477) 7,853 53,335
Shares issued under 18 132 - - - - 150
the Dividend
Reinvestment Scheme
Cancellation of - (37,440) - 37,440 - - -
Share Premium
account
Shares purchased (205) - 205 (1,471) - - (1,471)
for cancellation
Realisation of - - - - 228 (228) -
prior years' net
unrealised losses
on investments
Transfer from - - - (1,497) - 1,497 -
Special Reserve to
profit and loss
account
Unrealised gain on - - - - 1,147 (1,147) -
revaluation of
investments
Profit on ordinary - - - - - 983 983
activities after
taxation
Dividends - - - - - (4,669) (4,669)
At 28 February 2007 5,805 51 465 38,820 (1,102) 4,289 48,328
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. Profit on investments at fair value through profit or loss
2007 2006
£'000 £'000
Realised net gain on disposal 1,155 4,193
Write-off of investments (600) (729)
Recoveries made in respect of investments previously 10 166
written off
Net unrealised gain/(loss) on revaluation of 1,147 (574)
investments
1,712 3,056
2. Income
2007 2006
£'000 £'000
Dividend income
Unlisted companies 67 228
Listed companies 368 405
Interest receivable
Listed fixed interest securities 106 162
Loans to venture capital companies 60 124
Bank deposits 90 82
Other income 218 69
909 1,070
3. Investment management fee
Quester Capital Management Limited ("QCML") provides investment management
services to the Company under an amended and restated agreement dated 20 May
2005.
QCML is a wholly owned subsidiary of Querist Limited, a company in which APG
Holmes is a beneficial shareholder. APG Holmes is an executive director of
QCML.
QCML is entitled to receive a management fee, determined quarterly in arrears,
at the annual rate of 2.0% on the value of the Company's net assets at the end
of each quarter. The annual rate in 2006 was 2.5% until the date of the merger
of Quester VCT plc, Quester VCT 2 plc and Quester VCT 3 plc on 29 June 2005 and
2.0% thereafter. The fee is capped to ensure that the Company's running costs
do not exceed 3.25% of closing net asset value. The comparative management fee
of £778,000 excludes £319,000 relating to Quester VCT 2 and Quester VCT 3 prior
to the merger.
Upon the Company having paid or declared cash dividends (excluding 1.0p of the
special interim dividend paid post the merger) of an aggregate amount equal to
20% or more of the Company's Formula Asset Value (FAV) by 28 February 2009, the
Manager will become entitled to an additional performance incentive fee of 2%
of the FAV. The performance fee will be increased by a further 1% should cash
dividends paid or declared by the same date equal to 40% or more of the FAV. At
28 February 2007, £5 million (9% of the FAV) had been paid to shareholders as
dividend counting against the target.
QCML also provides administrative and secretarial services to the Company for
which it was entitled to a fee of £61,000 for the year (2006: £55,000) adjusted
annually in line with changes in the RPI.
4. Other expenses
2007 2006
£'000 £'000
Administration and secretarial services 61 55
Directors' remuneration (note 5) 57 52
Auditor's remuneration
Fees payable to the Company's auditor for the 14 14
audit of the financial statements
Fees payable to the Company's auditor and its 16 9
associates for other services relating to taxation
Legal and professional expenses 48 47
Insurance 35 32
UKLA, LSE and registrar's fees 26 38
Management fees payable to OLIM Limited 64 44
Transaction costs 7 20
Irrecoverable VAT 52 42
Other 75 29
455 382
5. Directors' remuneration
2007 2006
£'000 £'000
Fees paid to directors - 4
Amounts paid to third parties, excluding VAT, in 57 48
consideration for the services of directors
57 52
6. Tax on ordinary activities
2007 2006
£'000 £'000
Corporation tax - -
Reconciliation of profit on ordinary activities to
taxation
Profit on ordinary activities before tax 983 2,862
Tax on profit on ordinary activities at standard 295 859
UK corporation tax rate of 30% (2006: 30%)
Effects of:
Non taxable items - UK dividends and net gains on (644) (1,107)
investments
Unutilised management expenses 349 248
Corporation tax payable - -
7. Dividends paid
2007 2006
£'000 £'000
Interim dividend: 1.25p per share paid 11 November - 1,529
2005
Final dividend: 2.5p per share paid 3 July 2006 3,006 -
Interim dividend: 1.4p per share paid 22 December 1,663 -
2006
4,669 1,529
The directors declared a second interim dividend of 2.8 pence per share,
equivalent to £3,299,000, in respect of the year ending 28 February 2007 that
was paid on 21 March 2007 and consequently has not been recognised in these
accounts.
8. Earnings per share
The profit per share of 0.8p (2006: 3.3p) is based on the profit on ordinary
activities after tax of £983,000 (2006: £2,862,000) and on the weighted average
number of ordinary shares in issue during the year of 118,098,926 (2006:
85,789,025). There is no dilution effect in respect of the period ended 28
February 2007 (28 February 2006: nil).
9. Net asset value
The net asset value per share as at 28 February 2007 of 41.6p (2006: 44.5p) is
based on net assets of £48,328,000 (2006: £53,335,000) divided by the
116,108,239 ordinary shares in issue at that date (2006: 119,848,625). There is
no dilution effect in respect of the year ended 28 February 2007 (2006: nil).
10. Financial information
This preliminary statement, which has been agreed with the auditors, was
approved by the Board on 23 May 2007. It is not the Company's statutory
accounts. The statutory accounts for the financial year ended 28 February 2006
have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies and received an audit report
which was unqualified, did not include a reference to any matters to which the
auditors drew attention by way of emphasis without qualifying the report, and
did not contain statements under section 237(2) and (3) of the Companies Act
1985. The statutory accounts for the financial year ended 28 February 2007 have
not yet been approved, audited or filed.
A copy of the Company's statutory accounts will be submitted to the UK Listing
Authority, and will shortly be available for inspection at the UK Listing
Authority's Document Viewing Facility, which is situated at:
Financial Services Authority
25 The North Colonnade
Canary Wharf
London
E14 5HS
Copies of the full financial statements for the period ended 28 February 2007
are expected to be posted to shareholders on 24 May 2007 and will be available
to the public at the registered office of the Company at 29 Queen Anne's Gate,
London, SW1H 9BU.