Quarterly Report • Jul 31, 2012
Quarterly Report
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For the six months ended 31 July 2012
Finely crafted investments Finely crafted investments
| Overview | 1 |
|---|---|
| Chairman's Statement | 3 |
| Fund Manager's Review | 5 |
| Investment Portfolio | 9 |
| Ten Largest Holdings | 13 |
| Sector Allocation | 13 |
| Principal Risks and Uncertainties | 14 |
| Statement of Directors' Responsibilities | 15 |
| Income Statement | 16 |
| Reconciliation of Movements in Shareholders' Funds | 18 |
| Condensed Balance Sheet | 19 |
| Cash Flow Statement | 20 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 22 |
| Shareholder Information | 27 |
| Corporate Information | 28 |
The objective of Amati VCT 2 plc (the "Company") is to provide shareholders with an attractive and competitive investment return from a portfolio of companies whose shares are primarily traded on the Alternative Investment Market ("AIM"). The Manager's continuing objective is to manage the current portfolio so as to maximise returns for investors for the qualifying period and beyond.
for the six months to 31 July 2012
| 31/07/12 (unaudited) |
31/07/11 (unaudited)# |
31/01/12 (audited) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Net Asset Value ("NAV") | £28.4m | £18.5m | £28.7m |
| Shares in issue | 27,736,452 | 39,642,549 | 27,643,668 |
| NAV per share | 102.4p | 46.7p | 103.8p |
| Share price | 103.0p | 39.0p | 102.0p |
| Market capitalisation | £28.6m | £15.5m | £28.2m |
| Share price premium/(discount) to NAV | 0.6% | -16.5% | -1.7% |
| NAV Total return (assuming re-invested dividends) |
2.7% | 2.6% | -1.8% |
| FTSE AIM All-Share total return index | -11.8% | -7.7% | -18.5% |
| Total expense ratio* | 2.7% | 3.3% | 2.8% |
| Ongoing charges** | 2.7% | 3.2% | 2.8% |
| Dividends declared during the period adjusted for the share consolidation# |
2.5p | 2.4p | 5.5p |
* Total expense ratio for the six months ended 31 July 2012 and year ended 31 January 2012 are based on average monthly net assets (31 July 2011: based on net assets at period end only).
** Ongoing charges calculated in accordance with the Association of Investment Companies' ("AIC's") guidance.
# A share consolidation took place on 8 November 2011 when the net asset value per share was rebased to approximately 100p.
to 31 July 2012
| Date | NAV total return with dividends re-invested |
FTSE AIM All-Share total return index |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Re-launch as Amati VCT 2 | |||
| following merger | 8 November 2011* | 5.80% | -7.99% |
| ViCTory VCT change of | |||
| Manager to Amati | 25 March 2010 | 11.00% | -4.29% |
* date of the share consolidation when the NAV was re-based to approximately 100p per share.
| Launch date | NAV total return with dividends re-invested |
NAV total return with dividends not re-invested |
FTSE AIM All-Share total return index |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singer & Friedlander AIM 3 VCT ('C' shares) |
4 April 2005 | -38.59% | -35.36% | -33.54% |
| Invesco Perpetual AiM VCT | 30 July 2004 | -45.66% | -39.27% | -16.39% |
| Singer & Friedlander AIM 3 VCT | 29 January 2001 | -44.00% | -39.71% | -48.44% |
| Singer & Friedlander AIM VCT | 28 September 1998 | -70.70% | -42.02% | -11.56% |
| Singer & Friedlander AIM 2 VCT | 29 February 2000 | -57.09% | -52.49% | -72.70% |
This is the first full set of half-year results since the merger last November, and I am pleased to report that the Company has continued to show positive progress, in spite of nervous market conditions. The AIM market has been particularly volatile during the period. This volatility reflects the steep fall in commodity prices seen from April onwards, as well as the ongoing fluctuations of sentiment which stem from the uncertainties surrounding the future of the Euro. It has been re-assuring to note that the volatility of the Company's portfolio has been relatively low.
The Fund Manager's principal work on the portfolio has been focused on the qualifying holdings. Despite the difficult market conditions and relative dearth of companies floating on AIM, the Company has invested £2.7m in new qualifying holdings, and this has enabled a considerable repositioning of the qualifying portfolio. At the same time the Company has remained well above the required 70% level for qualifying investments. As a result of this activity, the number of holdings in the portfolio as a whole, which increased at the time of the merger, has been falling, and now stands at 69 compared to 86 at the beginning of the period.
During the six month period to 31 July 2012 the net asset value total return of the Company was 2.7%. This compares to a fall in the FTSE AIM All-Share Total Return Index of 11.8%. It has been encouraging to see good performances from some of the largest holdings, Lo-Q and IDOX in particular, which both rose by over 40% during the period, reflecting strong progress in these businesses.
The dividend policy of the Company is to pay interim and final dividends totalling between five and six percent of year-end net asset value, subject to the availability of sufficient distributable reserves. In line with this policy the Board is declaring an interim dividend of 2.5p per share, to be paid on 26 October 2012 to shareholders on the register on 5 October 2012.
Amati Global Investors, the Company's Fund Manager, has written a detailed report on the halfyear period and the market outlook, which I commend to your attention.
The Company's share offer put in place at the time of the merger has been well received, raising £6.16m in total, of which £1.08m has been raised under the offer and £5.08m has been invested under the enhanced share buy back and reinvestment facility. The Board has been pleased that the Company received good support from existing shareholders who chose to make a further investment in the Company via the enhanced share buy back and reinvestment facility. This has served to underpin the longer term future of the Company, and its ability to make significant new investments.
The last two years have seen a change of investment manager, a merger and a share offer. Your Board believes that the Company has been significantly strengthened as a result of these moves and is now well positioned to perform relatively well in what are expected to be continuing difficult markets. I am grateful to shareholders for their continuing support.
Julian Avery Chairman 27 September 2012
If you have any questions relating to your investment please contact the Company Secretary on 0131 243 7215, or send queries to a dedicated email enquiry service at [email protected]. Amati maintains a website for the Company – www.amatiglobal.com – on which monthly investment updates, performance information, and past company reports can be found.
The Eurozone sovereign debt crisis dominated the news during the six month period from February to July 2012. Equity markets started the period strongly on expectations of further ECB liquidity injections and an orderly resolution to the Greek crisis. Momentum continued into March, aided by improved sentiment in the US and China, however, by April the market was pausing for breath. An inconclusive Greek election and the re-surfacing of a banking crisis in Spain sent equity markets sharply lower in May, with particular pain felt by investors in natural resources stocks. By June a way out seemed plausible as Eurozone leaders agreed to recapitalise struggling banks directly. This action created a recognition that the sell-off in May had created buying opportunities, which sent equities higher in June and July, albeit on small volumes. However, the Eurozone crisis is still very much ongoing, and remains a continuing source of uncertainty. Asset allocation decisions in this environment are extremely difficult.
The portfolio ended the period up 2.7%, outperforming the FTSE AIM All-Share Total Return Index, which fell 11.8%. This outperformance of the portfolio can be attributed in part to the underweight position in basic resources and oil and gas stocks, which are largely excluded as qualifying investments under the VCT legislation.
The biggest positive contributor to performance in the period was Lo-Q. Lo-Q, which develops technologies used by theme park visitors to avoid standing in queues, continues to produce positive revenue and earnings growth, driven by contract wins and implementations. Lo-Q's sustained success demonstrates that its proposition to enhance the customer's experience continues to be in demand despite the low-growth consumer environment. An extension of the company's core contract with Six Flags provides a base for further expansion internationally and into new products, such as a waterproof wrist band device that has opened up the water park market. The share price appreciation has put the company on the radar of a larger investment audience, which created a virtuous cycle of liquidity and share price momentum. The other standout performer was IDOX. The company reported a steady stream of contract wins as well as two bolt-on acquisitions. IDOX's acquisition of McLaren Software in 2010 has proved particularly judicious as it has diversified the business away from its previous reliance on the public sector, and opened up the lucrative North American market for engineering enterprise management software. Other significant contributors to performance were GB Group, a qualifying holding added towards the end of 2011 through a placing to acquire a customer registration and address management software business; Fulcrum Utility Services, the gas connection services business; and Sabien Technology Group, the designer and manufacturer of M2G, a boiler energy efficiency technology.
The most significant detractor from performance over the period was Futura Medical, which gave back most of the gains made since it was added to the portfolio in a placing in March 2011. The market was frustrated by an apparent lack of urgency by Reckitt Benckiser, Futura's major licensee, in taking CSD500, one of its lead products, to market. Since the period end Futura has announced that the licensing arrangement with Reckitt Benckiser has been terminated, and they are in discussion with other partners. Software Radio Technology (SRT) also performed poorly following full year results that were significantly below expectations. Whilst the company appears to have the leading maritime identification and tracking technology, and its markets are gradually making such systems mandatory, the sales visibility is poor, which makes forecasting difficult and revenues lumpy. Despite this setback, we remain convinced that SRT is well placed to capitalise as its markets continue to regulate. Hargreaves Services, the coal mining and services business, was surprised by a geological issue encountered at one of its mines. The issue had never been encountered in the 100 year history of the mine but will have a material impact on current year earnings. Despite this major set-back at Maltby, we think that the other businesses in Hargreaves remain in good shape, and continue to view this as a high quality, undervalued holding. Other notable detractors over the period were Green Compliance, which missed forecasts and saw its balance sheet come under pressure; and Anglo Pacific Group, which suffered from the negative sentiment in the second quarter towards resources.
Shortly after the period end, we decided to write-down the value of the VCT's convertible loan to Music Festivals plc. Unfortunately the management team were too bullish on prospects for attendances this year, and in August, the company reported that ticket sales at its two main festivals were materially below expectations. Unfortunately the company was unable to absorb the large and unexpected losses which have resulted. The company was recently put into administration, and we believe we should be able to obtain some value for our loan notes through this process. In the meantime the loan has been written-down by 75%.
The merger with the former Invesco Perpetual AiM VCT ("AVCT2"), which concluded in November 2011, created a lengthy list of holdings, despite some commonality between the portfolios in the two original VCTs. By the end of the period under review the number of investee companies had been reduced from 86 to 69. As always, selling qualifying holdings can be a lengthy process due to liquidity constraints and the requirement to replace such stocks to maintain the required level of qualifying investments. We also exited holdings in the nonqualifying portfolios as we sought to raise cash, both to position the overall portfolio more defensively, and to fund new qualifying deals we were working on.
The most significant addition to the qualifying portfolio over the period was EcoData Group, a pre-IPO opportunity. It is unusual for us to add a private company to the portfolio unless we can see credible evidence that the company is suitable for an AIM flotation in a reasonable time frame, and the opportunity offers the possibility of substantial upside potential within this time period. We believe that EcoData meets both of these criteria. EcoData is an Italian-based company which has an exclusive agreement to remove all expired prescription drugs from pharmacies, hospitals and wholesalers in Italy. It is a highly regulated industry with significant barriers to entry and EcoData is the only company in Europe to comply fully with EU directives on the secure disposal of pharmaceutical products. We made an initial equity investment in April and followed this with a larger convertible loan in July. The company is planning for an AIM flotation to enable it to expand its business into other European countries, including the UK. We also added to our investment in Deltex Medical Group, makers of oesophageal Doppler monitors (ODM), as it raised further working capital. We are increasingly optimistic that the mechanisms are in place now for a wider-scale adoption of this technology within the NHS, including financial penalties for non-adoption. We invested in Belvoir Lettings, a residential lettings franchisor, which was one of very few successful new AIM flotations during the period. The lettings market is very strong due to a difficult housing market for first time buyers, and Belvoir offers an attractive model to franchisees. We participated in two smaller placings: Judges Scientific, which designs and sells scientific instrumentation; and Universe Group, which provides software and services to petrol forecourts.
The new qualifying additions provided scope to make further sales of existing holdings that do not meet our investment criteria. We sold the portfolio's position in Green Compliance due to concerns over the sustainability of its debt levels. We exited EKF Diagnostics Holdings and Omega Diagnostics Group, both specialists in the field of in-vitro diagnostics; and PROACTIS Holdings, a spend control software provider. We also sold several sub-scale holdings such as GETECH Group and Hasgrove. We took some profits in Lo-Q for portfolio management reasons rather than any concerns over the business which, as indicated above, continues to impress.
Buying in the non-qualifying portfolio was restricted to some small additions to existing holdings, principally Asian Citrus Holdings, which continued to come under pressure as negative sentiment towards China continued. Against this background, Asian Citrus delivered solid earnings and we view the company as materially undervalued, hence our decision to add to this holding.
We raised cash and reduced risk by selling Waterlogic, the drinking water dispenser business; RPC Group, the European packaging specialist; and Skywest Airlines, the Australian Airline operator. We also reduced Anglo Pacific Group, the mining royalties company; and XP Power, the designer and manufacturer of power solutions. Our non-qualifying portfolio realisations were driven more by macro uncertainty than concerns over company fundamentals.
It seems too optimistic to suppose that Draghi's announcement of interest rate caps for government bonds in the Eurozone will be the end of the battle to save the Euro, but it may well be the beginning of the end, and in this sense there is an increased level of optimism in the air. There is an excess of liquidity held by savers who have been deferring investment decisions, and this is equally true of the corporate sector. Meanwhile low risk asset classes have become exceptionally low yielding. If the investment climate does relax then there is the prospect of a much better period ahead for equities as investors seek out higher returns. However, as always in distressed economic conditions, it is difficult to know when to feel confident about this happening, and there are still many pitfalls ahead.
Dr Paul Jourdan and Douglas Lawson
Amati Global Investors 27 September 2012
| Original AVCT2 book cost at 8 |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTSE Sector | Number of shares |
Book cost+ £ |
Valuation £ |
Fund % |
% of shares in issue |
November 2011‡ £ |
| Egdon Resources plc†@ | 1,650,060 | 206,410 | 123,755 | 0.4 | 1.3 | - |
| MyCelx Technologies Corporation*@ |
234,190 | 511,837 | 538,637 | 1.9 | 1.8 | 210,399 |
| Oil & Gas | 718,247 | 662,392 | 2.3 | 210,399 | ||
| Altona Energy plc@ | 646,820 | 35,575 | 19,405 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 58,214 |
| Anglo Pacific Group plc@ | 162,915 | 464,461 | 368,595 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 212,937 |
| Oxford Catalysts Group plc* | 143,678 | 71,839 | 99,138 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 250,000 |
| Basic materials | 571,875 | 487,138 | 1.7 | 521,151 | ||
| Bglobal plc*@ | 1,134,117 | 290,664 | 87,894 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 174,800 |
| Cohort plc* | 290,667 | 247,067 | 334,267 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 383,298 |
| Corac Group plc†@ | 1,801,398 | 244,990 | 121,594 | 0.4 | 0.6 | - |
| EcoData Group plc*#@ | 1,032,711 | 309,813 | 309,813 | 1.1 | 1.2 | - |
| EcoData Group plc 8% Convertible Unsecured |
||||||
| Loan Note*#@ | 953,272 | 953,272 | 953,272 | 3.4 | 23.8** | - |
| Hargreaves Services plc@ | 53,973 | 430,394 | 386,987 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 175,103 |
| Judges Scientific plc*@ | 44,069 | 264,414 | 328,314 | 1.3 | 0.9 | - |
| Manroy plc*@ | 331,636 | 302,319 | 225,513 | 0.8 | 1.8 | 134,423 |
| Microsaic Systems plc†@ | 863,828 | 288,486 | 345,531 | 1.2 | 2.0 | - |
| RTC Group plc* | 537,500 | 220,375 | 32,250 | 0.1 | 4.0 | - |
| Sabien Technology Group plc†@ | 1,670,832 | 397,965 | 551,375 | 1.9 | 5.3 | 415,895 |
| SKIL Ports & Logistics Limited@ | 106,000 | 252,914 | 112,360 | 0.4 | 0.2 | - |
| Sportsweb.com*# | 58,688 | 352,128 | 316,915 | 1.1 | 11.4 | - |
| Staffline Group plc* | 150,500 | 326,585 | 337,120 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 120,000 |
| Synectics plc* | 136,588 | 341,381 | 382,446 | 1.3 | 0.8 | - |
| Vianet Group plc*@ | 256,098 | 230,488 | 266,342 | 0.9 | 0.9 | - |
| Zytronic plc† | 215,226 | 611,272 | 634,917 | 2.2 | 1.4 | - |
| Industrials | 6,064,527 | 5,726,910 | 20.2 | 1,403,519 |
| Original AVCT2 book cost at 8 |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTSE Sector | Number of shares |
Book cost+ £ |
Valuation £ |
Fund % |
% of shares in issue |
November 2011‡ £ |
| Asian Citrus Holdings Limited@ | 2,730,000 | 1,201,053 | 805,350 | 2.8 | 0.2 | 489,773 |
| China Food Company plc 10% Convertible Loan Note#@ |
624 | 624,000 | 625,963 | 2.2 | 18.4** | - |
| Devro plc@ | 95,342 | 297,830 | 277,445 | 1.0 | 0.1 | - |
| New Britain Palm Oil Limited@ | 47,600 | 327,383 | 398,650 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 188,135 |
| Sorbic International plc@ | 215,485 | 23,703 | 18,855 | 0.1 | 0.5 | - |
| Sorbic International plc 10% Convertible Loan Stock#@ |
276 | 276,000 | 273,638 | 0.9 | 6.8** | - |
| Consumer goods | 2,749,969 | 2,399,901 | 8.4 | 677,908 | ||
| Allergy Therapeutics plc* | 265,455 | 28,536 | 19,909 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 194,097 |
| Anpario plc*@ | 590,065 | 519,257 | 560,562 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 550,005 |
| Deltex Medical Group plc*@ | 2,300,000 | 615,500 | 575,000 | 2.0 | 1.5 | - |
| Futura Medical plc*@ | 775,222 | 505,775 | 527,151 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 150,000 |
| Inditherm plc* | 2,500,000 | 68,750 | 100,000 | 0.3 | 4.9 | 250,000 |
| Sinclair IS Pharma plc†@ | 1,429,471 | 425,678 | 389,531 | 1.4 | 0.4 | - |
| Synergy Health plc*@ | 94,000 | 142,567 | 847,880 | 3.0 | 0.2 | - |
| Tristel plc*@ | 1,197,726 | 598,783 | 407,227 | 1.4 | 3.0 | 197,992 |
| Health care | 2,904,846 | 3,427,260 | 12.1 | 1,342,094 | ||
| BrainJuicer Group plc* | 175,000 | 516,250 | 563,500 | 2.0 | 1.4 | 189,000 |
| Cello Group plc* | 225,000 | 257,625 | 76,500 | 0.3 | 0.3 | - |
| Conexion Media Group plc* | 1,080,883 | 183,750 | 1,081 | - | 1.4 | - |
| Cupid plc†@ | 292,167 | 590,177 | 576,299 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 176,106 |
| Dods Group plc* | 2,000,000 | 595,868 | 105,000 | 0.4 | 0.9 | - |
| Ebiquity plc* | 345,500 | 729,005 | 307,495 | 1.1 | 0.6 | - |
| Entertainment One Limited@ | 37,714 | 25,319 | 59,211 | 0.3 | 0.0 | - |
| Expansys plc*@ | 775,000 | 449,500 | 8,913 | - | 0.1 | - |
| Fuse8 plc* | 20,999 | 209,990 | - | - | 0.2 | - |
| Original AVCT2 book cost at 8 |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTSE Sector | Number of shares |
Book cost+ £ |
Valuation £ |
Fund % |
% of shares in issue |
November 2011‡ £ |
| Lilestone Holdings Limited*# | 1,616,786 | 1,238,655 | - | - | 4.2 | - |
| Music Festivals plc*@ | 59,527 | 38,693 | 6,548 | - | 0.4 | - |
| Music Festivals plc 8% Convertible Loan Note 2016*#@ |
340,000 | 340,000 | 85,000 | 0.3 | 11.3** | - |
| Ovidia Investments# | 134,307 | 518,312 | - | - | 0.4 | - |
| Prezzo plc† | 1,342,500 | 151,327 | 912,900 | 3.2 | 0.6 | - |
| Tasty plc* | 779,688 | 540,376 | 491,203 | 1.7 | 1.6 | - |
| TLA Worldwide plc†@ | 2,877,000 | 575,482 | 661,710 | 2.3 | 4.5 | - |
| UBC Media Group plc* | 2,296,384 | 614,268 | 41,335 | 0.1 | 1.2 | - |
| Consumer services | 7,574,597 | 3,896,695 | 13.7 | 365,106 | ||
| Antenova Limited*# | 2,181,435 | - | - | - | 3.0 | 525,000 |
| Antenova Limited A Preference*# | 1,275,166 | 100,117 | 100,117 | 0.5 | 3.1 | 100,117 |
| Telecommunications | 100,117 | 100,117 | 0.5 | 625,117 | ||
| OPG Power Ventures plc@ | 199,749 | 185,767 | 80,898 | 0.3 | 0.1 | - |
| Utilities | 185,767 | 80,898 | 0.3 | - | ||
| Belvoir Lettings plc*@ | 576,000 | 432,000 | 460,800 | 1.6 | 2.8 | - |
| Brooks Macdonald Group plc†@ | 90,100 | 1,153,280 | 1,112,735 | 3.9 | 0.8 | 127,382 |
| Brookwell Limited Redeemable Preference |
331,591 | 254,154 | 139,268 | 0.5 | 3.8 | 258,122 |
| Fulcrum Utility Services Limited†@ |
5,167,557 | 620,193 | 981,836 | 3.5 | 3.3 | - |
| London Capital Group Holdings plc@ |
654,836 | 565,445 | 392,902 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 200,849 |
| Paragon Entertainment Limited†@ |
6,851,000 | 274,091 | 530,952 | 1.8 | 4.2 | - |
| Financials | 3,299,163 | 3,618,492 | 12.7 | 586,353 |
| FTSE Sector | Number of shares |
Book cost+ £ |
Valuation £ |
Fund % |
% of shares in issue |
Original AVCT2 book cost at 8 November 2011‡ £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camaxys# | 1,592,656 | 254,825 | - | - | 8.8 | - |
| Celoxica Holdings plc*# | 771,250 | - | - | - | 0.3 | 198,125 |
| FFastFill plc*@ | 2,600,000 | 260,000 | 351,000 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 182,000 |
| GB Group plc*@ | 538,323 | 221,925 | 452,191 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 87,945 |
| IDOX plc†@ | 3,610,951 | 271,560 | 1,408,271 | 5.0 | 1.0 | - |
| Lo-Q plc* | 499,400 | 499,400 | 1,623,050 | 5.7 | 2.9 | - |
| Netcall plc* | 961,562 | 173,081 | 240,391 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 267,857 |
| Software Radio Technology plc*@ | 1,900,000 | 579,500 | 389,500 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 712,568 |
| Tikit Group plc* | 218,000 | 250,700 | 697,600 | 2.5 | 1.5 | - |
| Ubisense Group plc*@ | 325,577 | 563,203 | 660,921 | 2.3 | 1.5 | 150,385 |
| Universe Group plc*@ | 12,495,970 | 287,407 | 287,407 | 1.0 | 6.7 | - |
| Technology | 3,361,601 | 6,110,331 | 21.5 | 1,598,880 | ||
| Total investments | 27,530,709 | 26,510,135 | 93.4 | 7,330,527 | ||
| Net current assets | 1,880,355 | 6.6 | ||||
| Net assets | 27,530,709 | 28,390,490 | 100.0 |
* Qualifying holdings.
† Part qualifying holdings.
@ These investments are also held by other funds managed by Amati.
** These figures represent percentage of loan stock held.
+ This column shows the book cost to the Company, either as a result of market trades and events, or asset acquisition.
‡ This column shows the book cost of the AVCT2 investments which formed part of the asset acquisition. These investments were transferred into the Company at fair value on the date of the asset acquisition. The total book cost at 8 November 2011 per the table above does not agree to the total book cost of AVCT2 investments at 8 November 2011 due to sales since this date. All holdings are in ordinary shares unless otherwise stated.
As at the period end, the percentage of the Company's portfolio held in qualifying holdings for the purposes of Section 274 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 2007 is 88.1%.
| Company | Sector | Valuation £ |
Fund % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lo-Q plc | Technology | 1,623,050 | 5.7 |
| IDOX plc | Technology | 1,408,271 | 5.0 |
| EcoData Group plc | Industrials | 1,263,085 | 4.5 |
| Brooks Macdonald Group plc | Financials | 1,112,735 | 3.9 |
| Fulcrum Utility Services Limited | Financials | 981,836 | 3.5 |
| Prezzo plc | Consumer Services | 912,900 | 3.2 |
| Synergy Health plc | Health care | 847,880 | 3.0 |
| Asian Citrus Holdings Limited | Consumer Goods | 805,350 | 2.8 |
| Tikit Group plc | Technology | 697,600 | 2.5 |
| TLA Worldwide plc | Consumer Services | 661,710 | 2.3 |
Representing approximately 36.4% of shareholders' funds.
as at 31 July 2012
| FTSE Sector | Fund % |
|---|---|
| n Technology |
21.5 |
| n Industrials |
20.2 |
| n Consumer services |
13.7 |
| n Financials |
12.7 |
| n Health care |
12.1 |
| n Consumer goods |
8.4 |
| n Oil & Gas |
2.3 |
| n Basic materials |
1.7 |
| n Telecommunications | 0.5 |
| n Utilities |
0.3 |
| n Net current assets |
6.6 |
| 100.0 |
The Company's assets consist of equity and fixed interest investments and cash. Its principal risks include market risk, interest rate risk, credit risk and liquidity risk. Other risks faced by the Company include economic, investment and strategic, regulatory, reputational, operational and financial risks as well as the potential for loss of approval as a VCT. These risks, and the way in which they are managed, are described in more detail in Notes 24 to 27 to the Financial Statements in the Company's Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 January 2012. The Company's principal risks and uncertainties have not changed materially since the date of that report.
We confirm that to the best of our knowledge:
For and on behalf of the Board
Julian Avery Chairman 27 September 2012
| Six months ended | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 July 2012 | |||||
| Revenue | Capital | (unaudited) Total |
|||
| Note | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | ||
| Return/(loss) on investments | - | 513 | 513 | ||
| Income | 6 | 222 | - | 222 | |
| Investment management fee | (65) | (195) | (260) | ||
| Other expenses | (141) | - | (141) | ||
| Merger costs | - | - | - | ||
| Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities | |||||
| before taxation | 16 | 318 | 334 | ||
| Taxation on ordinary activities | 8 | (1) | - | (1) | |
| Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities | |||||
| after taxation | 15 | 318 | 333 | ||
| Basic and diluted return/(loss) | |||||
| per Ordinary share | 4 | 0.05p | 1.15p | 1.20p |
The total column is the profit and loss account of the Company, with the revenue and capital columns representing supplementary information under the Statement of Recommended Practice, "Financial Statements of Investment Trust Companies and Venture Capital Trusts" ("SORP") revised in January 2009.
All the items above derive from continuing operations of the Company. This includes the return on the assets acquired from AVCT2 (formerly Invesco Perpetual AiM VCT plc). There were no other recognised gains or losses in the period.
The only difference between the reported return on ordinary activities before tax and the historical profit is due to the fair value movement on investments. As a result a note on historical cost profit and losses has not been prepared.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the statement.
| Revenue £'000 |
Capital £'000 |
Six months ended 31 July 2011 (unaudited) Total £'000 |
Revenue £'000 |
Capital £'000 |
Year ended 31 January 2012 (audited) Total £'000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | 156 | 156 | - | (34) | (34) |
| 124 | - | 124 | 305 | - | 305 |
| (42) | (125) | (167) | (90) | (271) | (361) |
| (138) | - | (138) | (225) | - | (225) |
| - | - | - | (88) | - | (88) |
| (56) | 31 | (25) | (98) | (305) | (403) |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| (56) | 31 | (25) | (98) | (305) | (403) |
| (0.13)p | 0.07p | (0.06)p | (0.26)p | (0.80)p | (1.06)p |
| Six months | Six months | Year | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ended 31 July |
ended 31 July |
ended 31 January |
||
| 2012 | 2011 | 2012 | ||
| Note | (unaudited) £'000 |
(unaudited) £'000 |
(audited) £'000 |
|
| Opening shareholders' funds | 28,680 | 20,692 | 20,692 | |
| Profit/(loss) for the period | 333 | (25) | (403) | |
| Increase in share capital in issue | 2,256 | - | 3,869 | |
| Shares issued in connection with merger | - | - | 11,423 | |
| Share buy backs | (1,933) | (1,359) | (5,434) | |
| Other costs charged to capital | (76) | - | (278) | |
| Dividends paid | 7 | (870) | (795) | (1,189) |
| Closing shareholders' funds | 28,390 | 18,513 | 28,680 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the statement.
| Note | 31 July 2012 (unaudited) £'000 |
31 July 2011 (unaudited) £'000 |
31 January 2012 (audited) £'000 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed assets | ||||
| Investments held at fair value | 26,510 | 17,818 | 27,601 | |
| Current assets | ||||
| Debtors | 143 | 310 | 111 | |
| Cash at bank | 2,293 | 719 | 1,332 | |
| Total current assets | 2,436 | 1,029 | 1,443 | |
| Current liabilities | ||||
| Creditors: amounts falling due within one year | (556) | (334) | (364) | |
| Net current assets | 1,880 | 695 | 1,079 | |
| Total assets less current liabilities | 28,390 | 18,513 | 28,680 | |
| Capital and reserves | ||||
| Called up share capital | 9 | 1,386 | 1,982 | 1,382 |
| Share premium account | 9 | 2,533 | 2,955 | 452 |
| Reserves | 9 | 24,471 | 13,576 | 26,846 |
| Equity shareholders' funds | 28,390 | 18,513 | 28,680 | |
| Net asset value per share | 5 | 102.36p | 46.70p | 103.75p |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the balance sheet.
| Note | Six months ended 31 July 2012 (unaudited) £'000 |
Six months ended 31 July 2011 (unaudited) £'000 |
Year ended 31 January 2012 (audited) £'000 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating activities | ||||
| Investment income received | 189 | 116 | 267 | |
| Interest received | 5 | - | - | |
| Investment management fees | (257) | (172) | (325) | |
| Other operating costs | (120) | (153) | (294) | |
| Merger costs of the Company | (5) | - | (83) | |
| Net cash outflow from operating activities | 10 | (188) | (209) | (435) |
| Tax paid | ||||
| Tax paid on overseas dividends | (1) | - | - | |
| Financial investment | ||||
| Purchase of investments | (3,067) | (2,140) | (3,953) | |
| Disposal of investments | 4,965 | 3,857 | 7,114 | |
| Net cash inflow from financial investment | 1,898 | 1,717 | 3,161 | |
| Dividends | ||||
| Payment of dividends | (870) | (795) | (1,189) | |
| Net cash inflow before financing | 839 | 713 | 1,537 |
| Funds received as part of asset acquisition | - | - | 245 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merger costs relating to asset acquisition | (6) | - | (113) |
| Issue of shares | 2,192 | - | 3,755 |
| Expenses of the issue of shares | (10) | - | (121) |
| Share buy backs | (2,054) | (243) | (4,210) |
| Other capital costs | - | - | (10) |
| Net cash inflow/(outflow) from financing | 122 | (243) | (454) |
| Increase in cash | 961 | 470 | 1,083 |
| Net cash at start of period | 1,332 | 249 | 249 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Net cash at end of period | 2,293 | 719 | 1,332 |
| Increase in cash during the period | 961 | 470 | 1,083 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the statement.
| Six months ended 31 July 2012 (unaudited) £'000 |
Six months ended 31 July 2011 (unaudited) £'000 |
Year ended 31 January 2012 (audited) £'000 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Income: | |||
| Dividends from UK companies | 147 | 82 | 172 |
| Dividends from overseas companies | 21 | 2 | 35 |
| UK loan stock interest | 54 | 40 | 93 |
| Other interest | - | - | 5 |
| 222 | 124 | 305 |
| Six months ended 31 July 2012 (unaudited) £'000 |
Six months ended 31 July 2011 (unaudited) £'000 |
Year ended 31 January 2012 (audited) £'000 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Final dividend for the year ended 31 January 2012 of 3.13p per ordinary share paid on 17 July 2012 |
870 | - | - |
| Interim dividend for the year ended 31 January 2012 of 1.0p per ordinary share paid on 18 October 2011 |
- | - | 394 |
| Final dividend for the year ended 31 January 2011 of 2.0p per ordinary share paid on 26 July 2011 |
- | 795 | 795 |
| 870 | 795 | 1,189 |
8. The effective rate of tax for the six months ended 31 July 2012 is 0% (31 July 2011: 0%, 31 January 2012: 0%).
| Share capital* £'000 |
Share premium* £'000 |
Merger reserve* £'000 |
reserve £'000 |
Capital Special redemption reserve* £'000 |
Capital reserve £'000 |
Revenue reserve £'000 |
Total capital & reserves £'000 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opening balance as at 1 February |
||||||||
| 2012 | 1,382 | 452 | 2,439 | 30,558 | 31 | (6,084) | (98) | 28,680 |
| Shares issued | 99 | 2,157 | - | - | - | - | - | 2,256 |
| Share issue expenses |
- | (76) | - | - | - | - | - | (76) |
| Transfer of merger investment disposals |
- | - | (63) | - | - | 63 | - | - |
| Profit for the period |
- | - | - | - | - | 318 | 15 | 333 |
| Share buybacks during the period |
(95) | - | - | (1,933) | 95 | - | - | (1,933) |
| Dividends paid | - | - | - | (870) | - | - | - | (870) |
| Closing balance as at 31 July 2012 |
1,386 | 2,533 | 2,376 | 27,755 | 126 | (5,703) | (83) | 28,390 |
* These reserves are not distributable.
The realised and unrealised capital reserve have been amalgamated under the revised SORP, as there is no requirement to show realised and unrealised separately.
At 31 July 2012, the capital reserve constitutes realised losses of £4,682,000 (31 July 2011: £4,738,000, 31 January 2012: £7,325,000) and investment holding losses of £1,021,000 (31 July 2011: £1,589,000, 31 January 2012: gains of £1,241,000).
Distributable reserves comprise the special reserve, the revenue reserve and the capital reserve excluding investment holding gains. At 31 July 2012, the amount of reserves deemed distributable is £21,969,000 (31 July 2011: £9,804,000, 31 January 2012: £23,135,000), a net movement in the period of £1,166,000. The net movement is comprised of the profit on ordinary activities in the income statement of £333,000 plus the movement in investment holding gains of £1,241,000 and the transfer of investment losses to the merger reserve of £63,000, less the dividend paid of £870,000 and the share buybacks of £1,933,000.
| cash outflow from operating activities Six months |
Six months | Year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10. | Reconciliation of profit/(loss) on ordinary activities before taxation to net |
| ended 31 July 2012 (unaudited) £'000 |
ended 31 July 2011 (unaudited) £'000 |
ended 31 January 2012 (audited) £'000 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities before taxation | 334 | (25) | (403) |
| Net (gain)/loss on investments | (513) | (156) | 34 |
| (Decrease)/increase in creditors | (12) | (13) | 47 |
| Decrease/(increase) in debtors | 3 | (15) | (80) |
| Written off expenses from merger | - | - | (33) |
| Net cash outflow from operating activities | (188) | (209) | (435) |
In accordance with the arrangements agreed on the merger on 22 February 2006 of the Company with Singer & Friedlander AIM VCT and Singer & Friedlander AIM2 VCT, Singer & Friedlander Investment Management Limited were granted an option which provides that if by the date of payment of the final dividend in respect of the ordinary shares for the Company's accounting year ending 31 January 2013 cumulative dividends declared and paid on each ordinary share (by reference to a record date after the merger) exceed a return of 8% (compounded annually) of the net asset value per ordinary share Singer & Friedlander Investment Management Limited will be entitled to subscribe at par for such number of additional ordinary shares as shall in aggregate be equal to 15% of ordinary shares in the Company as enlarged by such subscriptions. If the target dividend rate 2013 will have been achieved by the payment of dividends in 2014 and 2015 Singer & Friedlander Investment Management Limited will be entitled to subscribe for such number of additional ordinary shares as shall in aggregate be equal to 12.5% (2014) and 10% (2015) of ordinary shares in the Company as enlarged by such subscriptions.
This right is a share based payment under FRS20.
The value of dividends paid since the merger is 25.64p, on an adjusted basis to take into account the share consolidation in November 2011. In order to exceed the targeted return which triggers Singer & Friedlander Investment Management Limited's entitlement to subscribe for additional shares, a further 65.38p of dividends would require payment by 31 January 2013. Regardless of performance over this period, the Directors would not sanction this level of dividend within this period and thus do not foresee any circumstances under which the option would crystalise. The option is therefore valued at nil (31 July 2011: nil, 31 January 2012: nil).
The Company holds 90,100 shares in Brooks Macdonald Group plc of which Christopher Macdonald is chief executive. There shares were acquired as part of the asset acquisition of the company formerly known as AVCT2 and have a cost of £1,153,000 and a valuation of £1,113,000. Christopher Macdonald holds 808,103 shares in Brooks Macdonald Group plc in his own name.
The Company's shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange. The mid-price of the Company's shares is given daily in the Financial Times in the Investment Companies section of the London Share Service.
The Company's net asset value per share as at 31 July 2012 was 103.2p. The Company normally announces its net asset value on a weekly basis.
| September 2012 | Half-yearly report for the six months to 31 July 2012 published |
|---|---|
| November 2012 | Interim management statement released |
| 31 January 2013 | Year end |
| May 2013 | Announcement of final results for the year ended 31 January 2013 |
| June 2013 | Annual General Meeting |
Julian Ralph Avery The City Partnership (UK) Limited Mike Sedley Killingley c/o Share Registrars Christopher Anthony James Macdonald Suite E, First Floor Christopher John Leon Moorsom 9 Lion and Lamb Yard
all of: Surrey 27/28 Eastcastle Street GU9 7LL London W1W 8DH Auditor
The City Partnership (UK) Limited 20 Farringdon Road Thistle House London 21 Thistle Street EC1M 3AP Edinburgh EH2 1DF Solicitors Telephone: 01312437215 Howard Kennedy Email: [email protected] 19 Cavendish Square
Amati Global Investors Limited 18 Charlotte Square Bankers EH2 4DF London Branch
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP EC4V 4LA 1 Embankment Place London WC2N 6RH
Farnham
PKF (UK) LLP Secretary Farringdon Place
London
Edinburgh The Bank of New York Mellon SA/NV 160 Queen Victoria Street
For enquiries regarding administration, share and tax certificates, share holdings, subscriptions and dividends, please contact:
The City Partnership (UK) Limited on +44 (0)131 243 7215 or email: [email protected]
For general investment enquiries, please contact :
Amati Global Investors on +44 (0)131 503 9100
Amati Global Investors Limited 18 Charlotte Square Edinburgh EH2 4DF Tel: +44 (0)131 503 9100 Email: [email protected]
Amati Global Investors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority
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