Regulatory Filings • Jul 4, 2011
Regulatory Filings
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If you are in any doubt as to what action you should take, you should consult your own independent adviser authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.
If you have sold or transferred all of your Ordinary Shares in the Company, please send this document at once to the purchaser/transferee, the stockbroker, bank or other agent through whom the sale or transfer was effected, for transmission to the purchaser or transferee.
The Directors of the Company accept responsibility for the information contained in this document. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the Directors and the Company (who or which have taken all reasonable care to ensure that such is the case) the information contained in this document is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such information.
(incorporated in England and Wales under the Companies Act 1985 with registered number 3134749)
4 July 2011
This document, which constitutes a financial promotion for the purposes of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, has been approved, for the purposes of that section only, by YFM which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority in the United Kingdom pursuant to the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 ("the Act").
In approving this document YFM is acting solely for the Company and no-one else and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded by the 2006 Act or for providing financial advice in relation to the subject of this document.
There is no quarantee that the Company's investment objective will be attained. If you are in any doubt as to what action to take, you should contact an independent financial adviser. The levels and bases of reliefs from taxation described in this document are those currently available. These may change and their value depends on an investor's individual circumstances.
No person has been authorised to issue any advertisements or give any information, or make any representations in connection with the Dividend Reinvestment Scheme, other than those contained in this document and, if issued, given or made such advertisements, information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorised by the Company.
The Directors draw the attention of Shareholders who may be considering an investment in the Company under the Scheme to the following risk factors, which may affect the performance of the Company and/or the availability of tax reliefs:
Ms Helen Sinclair Philip Cammerman Edward Buchan
Registered Office: Saint Martins House 210-212 Chapeltown Road Leeds LS7 4HZ
At the Annual General Meeting of the Company held on 6 August 2008 the Directors were authorised by special resolution to establish a dividend reinvestment scheme for the Company's Shareholders and at the general meeting of the Company held on 11 January 2011 the Directors were further authorised to continue to provide the Scheme to Shareholders in respect of dividends declared prior to 11 January 2016.
Dividend reinvestment enables Shareholders to increase their total holding in the Company without incurring dealing costs, issue costs or stamp duty. Subject to individual circumstances, these Shares should qualify for income tax relief (currently at 30 per cent) that is applicable to subscriptions for new shares in Venture Capital Trusts. The terms and conditions of the Scheme, which apply only to holders of Ordinary Shares in respect of their Ordinary Shares, are set out at Part III of this document.
Shares subscribed for via the Scheme will form part of each Shareholder's annual limit for investing in Venture Capital Trusts and qualifying for tax reliefs.
The New Ordinary Shares issued under the Scheme will rank pari passu in all respects with the Ordinary Shares then in issue. Subject to individual circumstances these Shares should qualify for the VCT tax reliefs that are available to subscriptions for new shares in Venture Capital Trusts (a summary of which can be found at Part IV of this document).
The terms of the Scheme only permit a Shareholder to join if all dividends on the Ordinary Shares registered in their name at the Record Date for the dividend are mandated to the Scheme. If you elect to receive New Ordinary Shares in respect of your total holding of Ordinary Shares, any residual cash balance arising representing a fractional entitlement will be carried forward to the next dividend.
The terms and conditions of the Scheme as set out in Part III of this document are as approved by the Directors pursuant to the authority granted by the Shareholders on 6 August 2008 (subject to amendments in accordance with paragraph 18 of the terms and conditions of the Scheme, by the Directors with the approval of the Scheme Administrators, in December 2010 and June 2011).
If you elect to join the Scheme, the mandate given in the Mandate Form will remain in force for all dividends to which the Scheme is applied up to 11 January 2016 unless and until you give notice to terminate your participation in the Scheme in accordance with the terms of the Scheme. The Directors and the Scheme Administrator may from time to time and at any time grant Participating Shareholders the opportunity to dis-apply their mandate in relation to a particular special dividend (as may from time to time be declared by the Company) and instead receive the special dividend in cash. Those Shareholders not electing to join the Scheme at this time will be able to do so in respect of dividends declared for later periods.
Shareholders who elect to reinvest dividends under the Scheme should be eligible to claim income tax relief on the amounts subscribed provided the New Ordinary Shares are issued in the name of the Shareholder and not in the name of the nominee. Further details regarding the availability of tax reliefs can be found in Part III and Part IV of this document. If you are in doubt regarding your personal tax position, or whether you should participate in the Scheme, you should contact your professional adviser immediately.
Mandate Forms to participate in the Scheme have been included with this document, and must be returned at least 20 Business Days prior to the payment of a dividend which is to be reinvested.
Helen Sinclair Chairman
In the event that Admission does not become effective, Mandate Forms will be disregarded in respect of the dividend and the full cash dividend will be paid as soon as possible in the usual way.
No person receiving a copy of this circular and/or Mandate Form in any territory other than the United Kingdom may treat it as constituting an invitation to him or her unless in the relevant territory such an invitation could lawfully be made to him or her without complying with any registration or other legal requirements. It is the responsibility of the Shareholder outside the United Kingdom wishing to elect to receive New Ordinary Shares to satisfy himself or herself as to the full observance of the laws of the relevant territory in connection with the offer, including obtaining any governmental or other consents which may be necessary and observing any other formalities requiring to be observed in such territory.
Shareholders in any doubt about their tax position should consult their independent adviser.
The following information is based on the law and practice currently in force in the United Kingdom. It assumes that an investor (including an existing Shareholder participating in the Scheme) is resident or ordinarily resident in the UK and not in any other jurisdiction. If potential investors are in any doubt as to their tax position, they should consult their professional advisers.
Investors must be individuals subscribing in their own name and aged 18 or over to be eligible for the respective tax reliefs. Tax reliefs will only be given in relation to an individual's total investments in VCTs in any tax year not exceeding £200,000.
An investor subscribing for new ordinary shares (including by way of reinvestment of dividends) in VCTs during any tax year will be entitled to claim income tax relief on amounts subscribed up to the permitted maximum of £200,000. The relief is given for the tax year in which the shares are issued and is currently at the rate of 30 per cent. The relief is restricted to the amount which reduces the investor's income tax liability to nil.
If the shares are sold or otherwise disposed of (other than to the investor's spouse) within five years of their issue then some or all of the income tax relief obtained will have to be repaid. Shares may be transferred into the name of a nominee, provided the nominee holds them for the investor's benefit.
An investor who either subscribes for or purchases ordinary shares in a VCT, up to a maximum of £200,000 in any given tax year will not be liable to UK income tax on dividends paid by the VCT.
Any gain or loss accruing to investors on a disposal of ordinary shares in a company which was a VCT at the time he or she acquired the shares, and which has remained a VCT throughout his or her period of ownership, will neither be a chargeable gain, nor an allowable loss, for the purposes of capital gains tax.
The company will give each investor a certificate which he or she can use to claim the income tax relief, either (where applicable) immediately by obtaining an adjustment to his or her tax coding from the HM Revenue & Customs or by waiting until the end of the tax year and claiming the relief on his or her tax return.
If the company loses approval as a VCT, it will lose its exemption from corporation tax on chargeable gains. Loss of approval takes effect either on the date when notice is given to the company by the HM Revenue & Customs or, if earlier and at the HM Revenue & Customs' discretion, from the beginning of the company's accounting period in which the notice is given.
Withdrawal or clawback of investors' tax reliefs can occur as a result of the company losing full approval as a VCT or as a result of actions taken by the investors themselves.
If the company loses approval as a VCT within five years from the time when an investor acquired the ordinary shares by subscription, the income tax relief will be clawed back by an assessment to income tax for the year of assessment in respect of which the relief was given.
If the company loses approval as a VCT then shares acquired by an investor after loss of approval are not capable of generating tax free dividends and any dividend paid in respect of profits or gains arising to the company in any accounting period ending at a time when the company was not a VCT will likewise not be exempt from income tax.
If the company loses approval as a VCT, then investors will be deemed to have disposed of and reacquired the ordinary shares at market value immediately before withdrawal of approval of the company as a VCT and so any accrued gain or loss to that date will not be taxable or allowable. Investors subsequently disposing of the ordinary shares will be treated as making a chargeable gain or an allowable loss (as the case may be).
Any investor acquiring ordinary shares in the company after it has lost VCT approval will likewise make a chargeable gain or an allowable loss on subsequent disposal.
No stamp duty or (unless shares are issued to a nominee for a clearing system or a provider of depository receipts) stamp duty reserve tax should be payable on the issue of shares.
This is only a brief summary of the law concerning the tax position of individual investors in VCTs. Any potential investor in doubt as to the taxation consequences of investment in a VCT should consult an appropriately qualified professional adviser.
| "2006 Act" | the Companies Act 2006 | |
|---|---|---|
| "Admission" | the admission of the New Ordinary Shares to the official list maintained by the UK Listing Authority and to trading on the London Stock Exchange plc market for listed securities |
|
| "Board" or "Directors" | the board of directors of the Company | |
| "Business Day" | a day [excluding Saturday and Sunday and public holidays in England and Wales] when the banks are generally open for business in London |
|
| "Company" | British Smaller Companies VCT plc | |
| "Deali ng s" | buying, selling subscribing for or underwriting of securities in the Company or offering or agreeing to do so, either as principal or agent |
|
| "Mandate Form" | the form enclosed with this document which enables Shareholders to participate in the Scheme |
|
| "New Ordinary Shares" | the new Ordinary Shares to be issued from time to time under the Scheme | |
| "Ordinary Shares" | ordinary shares of 10 pence each in the capital of the Company | |
| "Participating Shareholder(s)" | those Shareholders who elect to participate in the Scheme | |
| "Record Date" | the date set out in the dividend procedure timetable published by the London Stock Exchange plc by which a Shareholder must hold Ordinary Shares to be entitled to a dividend declared by the Company |
|
| "RIS" | a regulatory information service that is on the list of Regulatory Information Services maintained by the Financial Services Authority |
|
| "Scheme" or "Dividend Reinvestment Scheme" |
the dividend reinvestment scheme, the terms and conditions of which are described in this document |
|
| "Scheme Administrator" | Capita Registrars Limited, The Registry, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent, BR3 4TU |
|
| "Shares" | Ordinary Shares | |
| 'Shareholders" | the holders of Ordinary Shares | |
| "Venture Capital Trust" or "VCT" | a company which is, for the time being, approved as a venture capital trust under Chapter 3 of Part 6 of the Income Tax Act 2007 |
|
| "UK Listing Authority" | the Financial Services Authority acting in its capacity as the competent authority for the purposes of Part VI of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 |
|
| 'YFM" or "the Manager" | YFM Private Equity Limited, Company number 2174994. whose registered office is at Saint Martins House, 210-212 Chapeltown Road, Leeds, LS7 4HZ |
|
Saint Martins House 210-212 Chapeltown Road Leeds LS7 4HZ
T: 0113 294 5000 F: 0113 294 5002 E: [email protected]
[Registered in England No. 3134749]
THIS MANDATE FORM IS NOT TRANSFERABLE
If you wish to participate in the dividend reinvestment scheme (the "Scheme") in respect of your holding of Ordinary Shares, please sign and return this form to the Scheme Administrator Capita Registrars Limited, PXS, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent, BR3 4TU no later than 20 Business Days before the payment of a dividend by the Company. All enquiries concerning this form should be made to Capita Registrars Limited, New Issues, The Registry, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, BR3 4TU (telephone: 0871 6640321 Calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras. Lines are open 8.30am - 5.30pm Mon-Fri).
If your British Smaller Companies VCT plc Ordinary Shares are held in more than one account you must complete a separate form for each account. You may obtain further copies of this form from Capita Registrars Limited.
I/We, the undersigned, confirm that I/we have read and understood the terms and conditions of the Scheme and that [subject to my/our retaining the right to exercise any rights as may be granted by the Directors and the Scheme Administrators to dis-apply my/our mandate in respect of a particular special dividend ["Opt-Out"]] I/we wish to participate in the Scheme for each future dividend paid on the Ordinary Shares and to which the Scheme is applied. I/We agree that subject to the terms and conditions of the Scheme including the exercise of any right of Opt-Out, future dividends paid on Ordinary Shares will be reinvested in Ordinary Shares.
| Signature(s): | Date: |
|---|---|
| Signature(s): | Date: |
| Signature(s): | Date: |
| Signature(s): | Date: |
| Daytime telephone number: |
In the case of joint holders all must sign. In the case of a corporation this form must be executed under its common seal or be signed by a duly authorised official, whose capacity should be stated in accordance with Section 44 of the 2006 Act.
If this form is not completed to the satisfaction of the Scheme Administrator it will not be processed and will be returned to you for completion.
If you decide to participate in the Scheme you will be deemed to have agreed that any mandate which you may have given for the payment of cash dividends directly to your Bank or Building Society account shall be suspended in respect of all dividends declared by the Company to which the Scheme applies, for so long as you remain a participant in the Scheme.
Shareholders in any doubt about their tax position should consult their independent professional adviser.
$\bullet$
(Registered in England No. 3134749)
Please complete and return this Mandate Form in the pre-paid envelope provided.
(Registered in England No. 3134749)
If you wish to dis-apply the dividend reinvestment scheme (the "Scheme") in respect of your holding of Ordinary Shares for the purpose of the special dividend of 18.0 pence per Ordinary Share ("Special Dividend") to be paid by British Smaller Companies VCT plc ("the Company") on 22 August 2011 and instead receive the Special Dividend in cash ("Opt-Out"), please sign and return this form to the Scheme Administrator Capita Registrars Limited, PXS, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent, BR3 4TU by 25 July 2011. All enguiries concerning this form should be made to Capita Registrars Limited, New Issues, The Registry, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, BR3 4TU (telephone: 0871 664 0321. Calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras. Lines are open 8.30am - 5.30pm Mon-Fri).
If your British Smaller Companies VCT plc Ordinary Shares are held in more than one account you must complete a separate form for each account. You may obtain further copies of this form from Capita Registrars Limited.
I/We, the undersigned, confirm that I/we have read and understood the terms and conditions of the Scheme and the Opt-Out and that I/we wish to dis-apply the Scheme in respect of my/our holding of Ordinary Shares for the purpose of the Special Dividend and instead receive the Special Dividend in cash. I/We agree that the Scheme will continue to apply in respect of my/our holding of Ordinary Shares so that all other dividends paid on my/our holding of Ordinary Shares to which the Scheme applies (including but not limited to the final dividend proposed for approval at the Annual General Meeting of the Company on 29 July 2011) will be reinvested in Ordinary Shares.
| Signature(s): | Date: |
|---|---|
| Signature(s): | Date: |
| Signature(s): | Date: |
| Signature(s): | Date: |
| Daytime telephone number: |
In the case of joint holders all must sign. In the case of a corporation this form must be executed under its common seal or be signed by a duly authorised official, whose capacity should be stated in accordance with Section 44 of the 2006 Act.
If this form is not completed to the satisfaction of the Scheme Administrator it will not be processed and will be returned to you for completion.
If you decide to Opt-Out of the Scheme in respect of the Special Dividend you will be deemed to have agreed that the Special Dividend will be paid to you in cash and will not be reinvested in Ordinary Shares. You will however remain a participant in the Scheme so that all other dividends paid on your holding of Ordinary Shares to which the Scheme applies (including but not limited to the final dividend proposed for approval at the Annual General Meeting of the Company on 29 July 2011) will be reinvested in Ordinary Shares.
Shareholders in any doubt about their tax position and/or what action they should take should consult their independent professional adviser.
(Registered in England No. 3134749)
Please complete and return this Opt-Out Form in the pre-paid envelope provided.
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