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BARONSMEAD SECOND VENTURE TRUST PLC

Annual Report Dec 31, 2011

4806_10-k_2011-12-31_b7c08f6b-8882-43f9-9b5d-79730b9ce846.pdf

Annual Report

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Baronsmead VCT 3 plc

Annual report & accounts for the year ended 2011

31 December 2011

Investment Objective

Baronsmead VCT 3 is a tax efficient listed company which aims to achieve long-term investment returns for private investors.

Investment Policy

  • To invest primarily in a diverse portfolio of UK growth businesses, whether unquoted or traded on AIM.
  • Investments are made selectively across a range of sectors in companies that have the potential to grow and enhance their value.

Full details o f the Company's published investment policy and risk management are contained in the Report of the Directors on pages 18 to 2 0.

Dividend policy

The Board of Baronsmead VCT 3 has the objective to maintain a minimum annual dividend level of around 4.5p per ordinary share if possible, but this depends primarily on the level of realisations achieved and cannot be guaranteed. There will be variations in the amount of dividends paid year on year. Since launch, the average annual tax-free dividend paid to shareholders has been 5.75p per ordinary share (equivalent to a pre-tax return of 7.65p per ordinary share for a higher rate taxpayer). For shareholders who received up front tax reliefs, their returns would have been higher.

Contents

Financial Headlines 1
Summary Since Launch 2
Chairman's Statement 4
Manager's Review 6
Table of Investments and Realisations 8
Investment Portfolio 9
Ten Largest Investments 12
Creating Shareholder Value 14
Board of Directors 17
Report of the Directors 18
Corporate Governance 25
Directors' Remuneration Report 28
Statement of Directors' Responsibilities 30
Independent Auditor's Report 31
Accounts 32
Notice of Annual General Meeting 45
Shareholder Information and Contact Details 50
Corporate Information 52

Secondary market in the shares of Baronsmead VCT 3

The existing shares of the Company are listed on the London Stock Exchange and can be bought and sold using a stockbroker in the same way as shares of any other listed company.

Qualifying investors* who invest in the existing shares of the Company can benefi t from:

  • Tax free dividends
  • Realised gains not subject to capital gains tax (although any realised losses are not allowable)
  • No minimum holding period
  • No need to include VCT dividends in annual tax returns

The UK tax treatment of VCTs is on a fi rst in fi rst out basis and therefore tax advice should be obtained before shareholders dispose of their shares and also if they deferred a capital gain in respect of new shares acquired prior to 6 April 2004.

* UK income tax payers, aged 18 or over, who acquire no more than £200,000 worth of VCT shares in a tax year.

www.baronsmeadvct3.co.uk

If you have sold or otherwise transferred all of your shares in Baronsmead VCT 3 plc, please forward this document and the accompanying form of proxy as soon as possible to the purchaser or transferee, or to the stockbroker, bank or other agent through whom the sale or transfer was, or is being, effected, for delivery to the purchaser or transferee.

Financial Headlines

5.5% Net Asset Value ("NAV") per share increased 5.5 per cent. during
the year to 107.66p before deduction of dividends.
7.5p Dividends for the year totalled 7.5p per share.
189.7p NAV total return to shareholders for every 100.0p invested
since launch.
8.2% Dividend yield. Based on the 7.5p dividends paid in the year
and the mid share price of 91.25p at the year end, qualifying
shareholders have received a tax free cash return of 8.2 per cent.,
ignoring up front tax relief.
63.3p Cumulative tax free dividends total 63.3p per share for founder
shareholders since 2001, equivalent to an annual average
dividend of 5.75p per share.

Dividend history since launch

Summary Since Launch

Baronsmead VCT 3 plc

Net asset value total return and share price total return since launch against the FTSE All-Share Index total return

NAV Total Return (gross dividends re-invested) rebased to 100p at launch – ordinary shares Adjusted NAV Total Return (gross dividends re-invested) rebased to 100p at launch – ordinary shares. For illustrative purposes only these returns have been adjusted to show the impact of the initial 20 per cent. tax relief available to VCT qualifying founder shareholders and of reinvesting dividends assuming a higher rate of income tax.

Share Price Total Return rebased to 100p at launch – ordinary shares

FTSE All-Share Index Total Return rebased to 100p at launch

Source: ISIS EP LLP and AIC

AIC methodology: The NAV total return to the investor, including the original amount invested (rebased to 100p) from launch, assuming that dividends paid were re-invested at the NAV of the Company at the time the shares were quoted ex-dividend. Transaction costs are not taken into account.

Performance Summary to 31 December 2011

Total return* 1 year
%
3 years
%
5 years
%
10 years
%
Since launch
%
Net asset value† +5.3 +26.9 +12.1 +87.5 +89.7
Share price† +4.7 +28.9 +14.0 +87.4 +66.5
FTSE All-Share -3.5 +43.9 +6.2 +59.5 +36.1

* Source: ISIS EP LLP and AIC.

† These returns for BVCT 3 ignore up front tax reliefs and the impact of receiving dividends tax free.

Performance Record

Ordinary share
FTSE
Total Share Net asset All-Share Total
net Net asset price value total expense
Year ended assets value (mid) total return* return ratio†
31 December £m p p p p %
2001 31.1 93.85 88.00 101.21 85.14 2.9
2002 32.1 94.85 85.50 105.35 65.83 3.3
2003 33.0 97.15 90.00 112.65 79.56 3.1
2004 35.1 106.38 92.50 125.64 89.77 3.5
2005 56.2 117.31 100.50 144.77 109.56 3.5
2006 66.5 130.77 116.50 169.27 127.91 3.4
2007 65.2 120.44 111.50 170.56 134.71 3.4
2008 55.1 102.72 90.50 149.56 94.61 3.0
2009 52.9 97.50 86.25 159.89 123.11 3.1
2010 64.6 106.60 94.25 180.19 140.97 3.0
2011 60.1 100.16 91.25 189.74 136.10 3.0

* Source: ISIS EP LLP.

† As a percentage of average total shareholders' funds (excluding performance fee).

Summary Since Launch

Dividends Paid Since Launch

Ordinary share
Year ended
31 December
Revenue
dividend
p
Capital
dividend
p
Total
annual
dividend
p
Cumulative
dividends
p
Average
total annual
dividend
p
2001 2.30 2.30 2.30 2.30
2002 2.80 2.80 5.10 2.55
2003 2.20 2.00 4.20 9.30 3.10
2004 1.20 3.30 4.50 13.80 3.45
2005 2.00 3.50 5.50 19.30 3.86
2006 1.75 4.75 6.50 25.80 4.30
2007 2.30 5.20 7.50 33.30 4.76
2008 2.40 5.10 7.50 40.80 5.10
2009 1.20 6.30 7.50 48.30 5.37
2010 2.00 5.50 7.50 55.80 5.58
2011 1.65 5.85 7.50 63.30 5.75

Cash Returned to Shareholders

The table below shows the cash returned to shareholders dependent on their subscription cost, including their income tax reclaimed on subscription.

Year subscribed Subscription
price
p
Income tax
reclaim
p
Net
cash
invested
p
Cumulative
dividends
paid
p
Net annual
yield*
%
Gross
yield†
%
2001 100.0 20.0 80.0 63.3 7.2 9.7
2005 – C shares 100.0 40.0 60.0 32.7 8.0 10.6
2010 103.1 30.9 72.2 15.0 11.7 15.6

The total return could be higher for those shareholders who were able to defer a capital gain on subscription and the net sum invested may be less. * Net annual yield represents the cumulative dividends paid expressed as a percentage of the net cash invested.

† The gross equivalent yield if the dividends had been subject to higher rate tax (currently 32.5 per cent. on dividend income ). The additional rate of tax on dividend income of 42.5 per cent. which came into force from the 2010/2011 tax year for those shareholders who earn more than £150,000 has not been included. For those shareholders who would otherwise pay this additional rate of tax on dividends, the future gross equivalent yield will be higher than the fi gures shown.

Dividends paid to C shareholders post conversion have been adjusted by the conversion ratio (0.85642528).

Chairman's Statement

This Chairman's Statement forms part of the Report of the Directors.

Anthony Townsend Chairman

I am pleased to report an increase in Net Asset Value ("NAV") of 5.56p per share (5.5 per cent.) to 107.66p per share over the year to 31 December 2011, before dividends. Dividends for the year were maintained at 7.5p per share for the fi fth successive year. After taking account of the dividends the NAV at the year end was 100.16p per share.

INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE

In the year to 31 December 2011, the NAV per share increased 5.5 per cent. from 102.10p to 107.66p before payment of dividends totalling 7.5p. The changes over the year can be summarised as follows:

Pence per
share
NAV as at 1 January 2011
(after 2010 fi nal Dividend of 4.5p deducted) 102.10
Valuation uplift (5.45 per cent.) 5.56
107.66
First interim dividend paid on 29 September 2011 (3.00)
Second interim dividend paid on 9 December 2011 (4.50)
NAV as at 31 December 2011 100.16

During the year three of our unquoted companies were sold at an average of 2.9 times original cost and realised net profi ts of £6.3 million since acquisition . The sale of Reed & Mackay, which was announced with the interim results, was at a multiple of 4.8 times cost. This was an excellent investment return from a company that grew consistently throughout the recent recession as a result of its dedicated focus on service and value for customers. During September, the Company's investment in Quantix was sold realising a profi t of £1.7 million and delivering a return of 3.1 times cost after achieving fast growth since investment in 2007.

All of the VCT qualifying tests had also been met throughout the year.

The Company holds a proportion of its assets in cash/ near cash investments for new and follow-on investments and to pay dividends and expenses etc. During the year the proportion of the Company's assets held in interest bearing securities and cash fell from 27. 2per cent. (£17. 6million) to 17. 7 per cent. (£10. 7 million). The recent fundraising will enhance the Company's ability to continue to pay dividends and costs without reducing the overall amounts available for investment.

LONGER TERM PERFORMANCE AND BENEFIT OF THE VCT TAX RELIEFS

The Company's investment objective and the investment and dividend policies are aimed at producing consistent returns over the long-term. As a result, the investment process employed by the Manager is one which strives to achieve consistent returns for investors through the investment in established and profi table investee companies. While not strictly comparable with the Company's investment performance, the FTSE All-Share Index (Total Return) provides an indication of the returns on quoted equities. The graph on page 2 illustrates that since inception the Company's investment returns, as measured by NAV Total Return, calculated on the basis of reinvested dividends has been ahead of the FTSE All–Share Index (Total Return) .

The NAV Total Return at 31 December 2011, calculated on the basis of reinvested dividends, is 189.7p for each 100p invested by founder shareholders before taking account of any VCT tax reliefs. The comparable return would be 232.1p if the initial income tax relief available at inception was included.

The tax free nature of a VCT is of particular benefi t for qualifying shareholders as they do not have to pay income tax on the dividends they receive, or declare them in a tax return. This means that qualifying shareholders in Baronsmead VCT 3, who are higher and additional rate tax payers do not have to pay income tax equivalent to 25 per cent. and 36.1 per cent. respectively on the cash dividend they receive from the Company. To generate the same aftertax dividends, it would be necessary for the dividend received from a non-VCT investment to be 33.3 per cent. or 56.5 per cent. higher, respectively.

Chairman's Statement

SHAREHOLDER MATTERS

On 12 January 2012 the Company launched an offer for subscription to raise just less than €5 million ("the Offer") which is the equivalent of £4.135 million. I am very pleased to report that the offer became fully subscribed on 7 February 2012. I would like to welcome new shareholders and thank them as well as those existing shareholders who invested in this latest fundraising and contributed to its success.

I am also pleased to inform shareholders that on 12 May 2011 Baronsmead VCT 3 won the Best Report & Accounts at the AIC Awards and on 23 November 2011 was voted VCT of the year jointly with Baronsmead VCT 2 at the Investment Trust Awards 2011. With respect to the fi rst the judges praised the ease with which key information could be gleaned from the report and also commended the interesting case studies. The judging process for the second award was based on a mixture of a quantitative assessment of investment performance and a qualitative assessment of the fund manager.

VCT LEGISLATION AND WIDER REGULATION

There have been some positive actions by the Government to improve VCT legislation. The Pre-Budget Report in November 2011 announced that the limit of £1 million per year per investee will be removed from 6 April 2012 and the VCT scheme refocused on risk investments. In addition, subject to EU state aid approval, from 6 April 2012 investee companies will be able to employ up to 250 employees (rather than the present limit of up to 50 employees) and have gross assets of £15 million (£7 million at present). Additionally the annual investment limit for qualifying companies is to be raised to £10 million from £2 million.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

I look forward to meeting as many shareholders as possible at our 11th Annual General Meeting to be held on Wednesday 11 April 2012 at the London Stock Exchange, 10 Paternoster Square . Proceedings for the day commence with the AGM at 10.30 a.m. followed by presentations from the Manager and an investee company. After a light lunch, there will be a shareholders workshop with a fi nish time of about 2 p.m.

OUTLOOK

In the Half-yearly report I anticipated continued uncertainty and slower growth for the UK economy. During the second six months of the year the EU sovereign debt crisis, volatile public markets and increasingly scarce credit have all impacted the economy adversely.

Against this backdrop Baronsmead VCT 3 has realised good profi ts from the sale of a number of private companies and its portfolio is lowly geared. The Board believes that the Manager, ISIS, as an award winning house, has the experience to guide portfolio companies through diffi cult trading environments and in this rapidly changing economic climate there will be specifi c sector opportunities to which the Manager remains alert and in which it intends to invest.

The Government needs to create a more business friendly environment and drive private sector growth, particularly by encouraging investment by individuals and the corporate sector. The liberalisation arising from the increase in a number of the VCT size limitations has moved in the right direction however the restriction in relation to funds raised after 6 April 201 2 fails to recognise the economic benefi t that can be gained from a change of ownership and the injection of new or renewed ambitions for the future prospects of these businesses.

Anthony Townsend

Chairman 17 February 2012

Manager's Review

Sheenagh Egan Andrew Garside Michael Probin

Until summer 2011, trading performance across the unquoted and AIM portfolio companies had improved compared to the previous year, including a series of profi table exits. The deterioration in the economy and now the threat of further recession is having some impact on the portfolio but in general the companies are well placed to trade through another downturn.

PORTFOLIO REVIEW

The portfolio comprised sixty-nine investee companies at the year end after making fi ve realisations and adding twelve new investments. Capital proceeds from realisations totalled £10. 9 million and net capital profi ts realised in the period were £6.5 million. Investment in unquoted and AIM traded companies were £6. 4 million and £2. 9 million respectively, including further round fi nancings.

The new unquoted investments were in Valldata Group, a UK leading provider of outsourced donation processing and fulfi lment services for the UK not-for profi t sector; and I ndependent Community Care Management a live out community care provider supporting people with complex long term conditions at home throughout the UK, plus three companies set up and led by experienced chairmen seeking to acquir e businesses within their three different areas of expertise.

Each of the chairmen had previously been backed by ISIS through investment by the Baronsmead VCTs. These prior investee companies were ScriptSwitch a healthcare IT company, Reed & Mackay a business travel management company and Hawksmere a business training company. All three investments delivered successful realisations for shareholders and the three chairmen are now seeking new opportunities in their chosen sectors.

The volume of qualifying AIM opportunities again increased from the depressed levels of 2009 and 2010. A total of £2. 4 million was invested into seven AIM-traded companies and another £0.5 million of additional capital was provided to existing investments. The three largest AIM investments were in Music Festivals , TLA Worldwide and Escher Group Holdings . Music Festivals focuses on the ownership, development, and production of music festivals including Festival Internacional de Benic àssim in Spain and the Hop Farm Music Festival in Kent. TLA Worldwide provides management and marketing for baseball . Escher Group Holdings provides software for the global post offi ce automation market.

Wood Street Microcap Investment Fund ("Wood Street") was established by ISIS in May 2009 to provide fl exibility for the Baronsmead VCTs to invest in generally larger and more liquid non VCT qualifying AIM and Small Cap opportunities. At 31 December 2011 Baronsmead VCT 3 had invested £2.5 million through Wood Street into a portfolio of thirty-two companies. In total Wood Street has generated a positive return of 5.4 per cent. over the year. The Manager receives no additional fee for managing this fund.

Manager's Review

EXITS IN THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW

The three unquoted , one AIM and one NYSE full exits have together delivered signifi cant realised profi ts. The former were sold at an aggregate of 2.9 times cost yielding profi ts of £6.3 million since acquisition .

The three unquoted companies were Reed & Mackay, Quantix and Getting Personal. The companies had sustained growth through and since the 2008/09 recession.

  • Reed & Mackay provides business travel management to mostly fi nancial services and professional services fi rms and prides itself on its exceptional customer service. Over the fi ve and half years that the Baronsmead VCTs were shareholders, ISIS worked with the business to strengthen the senior management team and further develop the technological support for their travel consultants. The work-force more than doubled from the 140 employees at the outset.
  • Quantix is an IT managed services provider of database support and cloud services to enterprises throughout the UK. Since the Baronsmead VCTs invested in the company in 2007 it has tripled its client base and become a recognised leader in its fi eld particularly for its innovative approach. Simon Goodenough, MD of Quantix said "We have really enjoyed having ISIS as a partner for the past four and a half years. The business has defi nitely benefi tted from having such a supportive investor. They gave us the confi dence to invest in the sales force and internal operations processes ahead of our original plan."
  • Getting Personal is a leading internet retailer of personalised gifts which had grown rapidly since its launch 5 years ago and generated sales of £11.5 million in the year to April 2011. The business was profi tably sold to Card Factory in July 2011 .

CASE STUDIES

The four case studies highlighted in this Annual Report have shown sustained growth over the last three years.

  • CableCom Networking Holdings supplies IT and communication services to the UK student accommodation and key worker sectors. The latter includes high quality accommodation around the BBC's new northern base at Salford.
  • Nexus Vehicle Holdings, a leading provider of vehicle rental services to the UK corporate market, is growing both organically and by acquisition.

  • Crew Clothing Holdings, an active and casual wear clothing brand, continues to grow its portfolio of sites, creating jobs as well as experiencing growth from its direct mail/website retailing

  • IDOX is a leading developer and supplier of software solutions and information services to UK local government. The investment was made in 2003 and took some years to establish its current business model and profi tability. It is now a market leader in its fi eld with turnover increasing from £3 million at the date of investment to £39 million in the year to 31 October 2011.

OUTLOOK

The economic optimism of 2010 has diminished during 2011 with widespread concern about growth prospects. Many of the portfolio companies are now more experienced at handling the economic uncertainties. This environment, however, does not help to encourage the entrepreneurial spirit so vital for the development of the SME sector that will be key to the regeneration of the economy. It is simply much more diffi cult to evaluate the future and the associated risks.

As an active investment manager ISIS continues to work with our investee companies to help to steer them on an appropriate course in these diffi cult conditions. Few of the portfolio companies are reliant on bank fi nance and so the focus will be on sustaining sales growth whilst continuing to enhance customer service so as to build resilient businesses with continued momentum.

ISIS EP LLP Investment Managers 17 February 2012

Table of Investments and Realisations

Investments in the year to 31 December 2011

Book cost
Company Location Sector Activity £'000
Unquoted investments
New
Valldata Group Limited Melksham Business Services Payment processing for not-for-profi t sector 1,616
Independent Community Care Management Limited Kettering Healthcare & Education High acuity care for home based care users 1,346
Arcas Investments Limited London Business Services Company seeking to acquire businesses in the
business services sector
1,000
HealthTech Innovation Partners Limited London Healthcare & Education Company seeking to acquire businesses in the
business healthcare IT sector
1,000
Quest Venture Partners Limited London Business Services Company seeking to acquire businesses in the
business travel sector
1,000
Music Festivals plc Loan note London Consumer Markets Owner and operator of live music festivals and events 400
Follow on
Independent Living Services Limited Alloa Healthcare & Education Care at home services 438
Total unquoted Investments 6,800
AIM-traded & listed investments
New
TLA Worldwide plc London Business Services Baseball sports management and marketing business 620
Escher Group Holdings plc Dublin TMT* Postal automation software and services 614
Inspired Energy plc Kirkham Business Services Energy Consultancy focused on corporate customers 200
Paragon Entertainment Limited London Consumer Markets Visitor attraction business 200
GB Group plc Chester TMT* ID verifi cation and data solutions 150
Ubisense Group plc Cambridge TMT* Technology & services offering real time location
system solutions
130
Music Festivals plc London Consumer Markets Owner and operator of live music festivals and events 100
Follow on
Active Risk Group plc Maidenhead TMT* Risk management software 124
Green Compliance plc Cirencester Business Services Small business compliance 101
Netcall plc St Ives TMT* Communications software 80
Driver Group plc Rossendale Business Services Dispute resolution 65
FFastFill plc London TMT* Trading platform software provider 63
STM Group plc Gibraltar Financial Services Offshore trust and company administration services 22
Total AIM-traded & listed Investments 2,469
Collective investment vehicle
Follow on
Wood Street Microcap Investment Fund 700
Total collective investment vehicle 700

Total investments in the year 9,969

* Technology, Media and Telecommunications ("TMT")

Realisations in the year to 31 December 2011

31 December Realised
First
investment
2010
valuation
profi t/(loss)
this period
Overall
multiple
Company date £'000 £'000 return*
Unquoted realisations
Quantix Limited Full trade sale Mar 07 2,025 879 3.1
Getting Personal Limited Full trade sale Jun 10 1,013 797 NDˆ
Reed & Mackay Limited Full trade sale Nov 05 4,779 229 4.8
Carnell Contractors Limited Loan repayment Mar 08 558 0 0.6
MLS Limited Loan repayment Jul 06 271 0 1.0
Total unquoted realisations 8,646 1,905
AIM-traded, listed & NYSE realisations
Craneware plc Full market sale Sep 07 335 (37) 2.7
Alere Inc Full market sale Aug 09 179 (70) 0.8
Total AIM-traded, listed & NYSE realisations 514 (107)
Total realisations in the year 9,160 1,798†

* Includes interest/dividends received, loan note redemptions and partial realisations accounted for in prior periods.

† Proceeds of £19,000 were also received in respect of Country Artists Limited and a further £7,000 in respect of MKM Group plc, both of which had been written off in a prior period.

ˆ Not disclosed.

Investment Portfolio

As at 31 December 2011

Investment Classifi cation at 31 December 2011

31 December
2010
31 December
2011
% of Equity
held by
% of Equity
Book cost Valuation Valuation % of net Baronsmead held by
Company Sector £'000 £'000† £'000 assets VCT 3 plc all funds*
Unquoted
Nexus Vehicle Holdings Limited Business Services 2,368 4,182 5,658 9.4 12.6 57.4
CableCom Networking Holdings Limited TMT 1,381 2,490 3,707 6.2 10.6 48.0
Crew Clothing Holdings Limited Consumer Markets 984 2,569 2,676 4.4 5.4 22.8
Kafévend Holdings Limited Consumer Markets 1,252 2,032 1,991 3.3 15.8 66.5
CSC (World) Limited TMT 1,606 1,687 1,940 3.2 8.8 40.0
Fisher Outdoor Leisure Holdings Limited Consumer Markets 1,423 1,777 1,777 3.0 10.5 44.0
Valldata Group Limited Business Services 1,616 1,694 2.8 8.9 40.6
Inspired Thinking Group Limited Business Services 796 976 1,368 2.3 5.0 22.5
Independent Community Care Management Limited Healthcare & Education 1,346 1,346 2.2 10.9 55.0
TVC Group Limited TMT 1,233 774 1,298 2.2 13.0 59.3
Independent Living Services Limited Healthcare & Education 1,599 1,849 1,293 2.1 16.2 65.7
MLS Limited TMT 510 1,161 1,043 1.7 5.3 22.5
Arcas Investments Limited Business Services 1,000 1,000 1.7 9.6 48.6
HealthTech Innovation Partners Limited Healthcare & Education 1,000 1,000 1.7 9.6 48.6
Quest Venture Partners Limited Business Services 1,000 1,000 1.7 9.6 48.6
Surgi C Limited Healthcare & Education 1,102 919 650 1.1 9.8 44.7
Playforce Holdings Limited Business Services 1,033 1,023 512 0.8 9.7 44.0
Music Festivals plc Loan note Consumer Markets 400 400 0.7 N/A N/A
Empire World Trade Limited Business Services 1,297 869 321 0.5
Kidsunlimited Group Limited Business Services 113 113 113 0.2 N/A N/A
Carnell Contractors Limited Business Services 941 337 0 0.0 # #
Xention Discovery Limited Healthcare & Education 893 104 0 0.0 2.2 3.0
Total unquoted 24,893 22,862 30,787 51.2

† The total investment valuation at 31 December 2010 per the table above does not agree to the audited accounts due to purchases and sales since that date.

* All funds managed by the same investment manager, ISIS EP LLP, including Baronsmead VCT 3.

‡ Following a restructuring, the effective ownership percentage is dependent on fi nal exit proceeds.

Following a restructuring and partial redemption the funds no longer hold equity in Carnell Contractors Limited.

Investment Portfolio

As at 31 December 2011

Book cost
Valuation
Valuation
% of net
Baronsmead
held by
Company
Sector
£'000
£'000†
£'000
assets
VCT 3 plc
all funds*
AIM
IDOX plc
TMT
1,038
1,525
2,661
4.4
3.2
9.6
Jelf Group plc
Financial Services
761
670
877
1.5
1.4
6.3
Netcall plc
TMT
869
508
842
1.4
4.1
20.4
Murgitroyd Group plc
Business Services
319
751
791
1.3
3.1
6.2
TLA Worldwide plc
Business Services
620

620
1.0
4.9
24.3
Escher Group Holdings plc
TMT
614

564
1.0
2.1
10.6
Tasty plc
Consumer Markets
469
316
547
0.9
2.5
17.1
Accumuli plc
TMT
333
409
473
0.8
3.6
20.7
Green Compliance plc
Business Services
882
938
450
0.7
4.0
19.8
FFastFill plc
TMT
314
316
448
0.7
0.9
6.2
Paragon Entertainment Limited
Consumer Markets
200

425
0.7
3.2
17.7
Sinclair IS Pharma plc^
Healthcare & Education
524

399
0.7
0.4
2.4
Brulines Group plc
Business Services
646
544
388
0.6
1.8
9.6
PROACTIS Holdings plc
TMT
619
614
341
0.6
5.4
26.2
Plastics Capital plc
Business Services
473
307
321
0.5
1.7
9.8
Anpario plc
Healthcare & Education
275
339
315
0.5
2.0
14.8
Electric Word plc
TMT
616
702
312
0.5
5.2
28.8
InterQuest Group plc
Business Services
310
360
298
0.5
1.8
7.0
Quadnetics Group plc
Business Services
296
192
261
0.4
0.6
2.1
Driver Group plc
Business Services
503
138
259
0.4
3.5
16.2
EG Solutions plc
TMT
375
357
256
0.4
3.1
14.2
Brady plc
TMT
176
199
217
0.4
0.5
3.1
Inspired Energy plc
Business Services
200

217
0.4
1.9
9.4
Sanderson Group plc
TMT
387
209
201
0.3
1.8
6.9
GB Group plc
TMT
150

176
0.3
0.4
1.8
Tangent Communications plc
Business Services
268
158
175
0.3
2.0
10.2
Real Good Food Company (The) plc
Consumer Markets
540
92
160
0.3
0.6
2.3
Begbies Traynor Group plc
Financial Services
231
347
156
0.3
0.6
2.5
Stagecoach Theatre Arts plc
Consumer Markets
419
180
153
0.3
4.5
9.0
Tristel plc
Healthcare & Education
217
232
145
0.3
1.0
5.4
Ubisense Group plc
TMT
130

137
0.2
0.3
1.7
Active Risk Group plc
TMT
159
44
125
0.2
1.1
5.6
Cohort plc
Business Services
179
84
119
0.2
0.3
1.4
Dods Group plc
TMT
541
142
105
0.2
1.4
4.4
Prologic plc
TMT
310
186
103
0.2
4.1
15.0
Music Festivals plc
Consumer Markets
100

87
0.2
1.0
5.2
Autoclenz Holdings plc
Business Services
400
115
77
0.1
3.1
12.3
Bglobal plc
Business Services
176
172
67
0.1
0.4
2.5
STM Group plc
Financial Services
162
47
52
0.1
0.8
4.9
Hangar8 plc
Business Services
44
44
31
0.1
0.5
2.6
Clarity Commerce Solutions plc
TMT
50
43
29
0.0
0.3
6.0
Adventis Group plc
TMT
361
89
10
0.0
3.1
20.7
Zoo Digital Group plc
TMT
584
36
8
0.0
0.2
0.6
Colliers International UK plc
Financial Services
470
76
4
0.0
0.3
0.8
Total AIM
17,310
11,481
14,402
24.0
Listed
Vectura Group plc
Healthcare & Education
771
1,120
900
1.5
0.5
1.3
Chime Communications plc
TMT
369
386
293
0.5
0.2
1.3
Marwyn Management Partners plc^^
Financial Services
525

81
0.1
0.3
1.8
Marwyn Value Investors Limited
Financial Services
64
55
44
0.1
1.3
6.0
31 December 31 December % of Equity
2010 2011 held by % of Equity
Total listed 1,729 1,561 1,318 2.2

^ Sinclair IS Pharma plc shares received in exchange for IS Pharma plc shares following a merger of the two companies.

† The total investment valuation at 31 December 2010 per the table above does not agree to the audited accounts due to purchases and sales since that date.

* All funds managed by the same investment manager, ISIS EP LLP, including Baronsmead VCT 3.

^^ Marwyn Management Partners plc shares received in exchange for Praesepe plc shares following a takeover.

Investment Portfolio

As at 31 December 2011

Company Sector Book cost
£'000
31 December
2010
Valuation
£'000†
31 December
2011
Valuation
£'000
% of net
assets
% of Equity
held by
Baronsmead
VCT 3 plc
% of Equity
held by
all funds*
Listed interest bearing securities
UK T-Bill 03/01/12 6,799 6,799 11.4
BlackRock ICS plc – Institutional Sterling
Liquidity Fund
1,590 5,700 1,590 2.6
JP Morgan Liquidity Funds – Sterling Liquidity Fund 1,590 1,200 1,590 2.6
Total listed interest bearing securities 9,979 6,900 9,979 16.6
Collective investment vehicle
Wood Street Microcap Investment Fund 2,525 2,123 2,826 4.7
Total collective investment vehicle 2,525 2,123 2,826 4.7
Total investments 56,436 44,927 59,312 98.7
Net current assets 783 1.3
Net assets 60,095 100.0

† The total investment valuation at 31 December 2010 per the table above does not agree to the audited accounts due to purchases and sales since that date. * All funds managed by the same investment manager, ISIS EP LLP, including Baronsmead VCT 3.

AIM & Listed Portfolio Concentration Analysis at 31 December 2011
Investment ranking by valuation Book cost
£'000
Valuation
£'000
% of
Quoted
portfolio
Top Ten 6,676 8,725 55.5
11–20 4,346 3,540 22.5
21–30 3,126 2,078 13.2
30+ 4,891 1,377 8.8
Total 19,039 15,720 100.0

Ten Largest Investments

The top ten investments by current value at 31 December 2011 illustrate the diversity and size of investee companies within the portfolio. This fi nancial information is taken from publicly available information published at Companies House, which has been audited by the auditors of the investee companies.

Kafévend provides a comprehensive hot drinks vending service across the UK. It supplies corporate customers with a range of vending machines typically on rental or lease terms, and then supplies consumables and machine servicing.

Note: EBITA represents earnings before interest, tax and amortisation.

% of equity held: 15.79%

Profi t before tax represents earnings before tax, after interest, amortisation and depreciation.

12

Ten Largest Investments

CSC (WORLD) LIMITED Pudsey, Leeds Software for Structural Engineers
(A trading name of Cobco 867 Limited)
All ISIS EP LLP managed funds
Year ended 31 March 2011 2010
Sales £ million
7.3
£ million
6.4
First Investment:
Total Cost:
January 2008
£6,450,000
EBITA 2.3 1.9
Total equity held: 40.03% Loss before tax (0.4) (0.8)
Net Liabilities (1.3) (0.6)
Baronsmead VCT 3 only No. of Employees 58 55 www.cscworld.com
Cost: £1,606,000 (Source: Cobco 867 Limited, Directors' Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2011)
Valuation: £1,940,000 CSC World Limited (CSC) is the UK market leading structural engineering software company based in Leeds. The
Valuation basis:
% of equity held:
Earnings Multiple
8.81%
Company supplies engineering calculation software, building design software and analysis packages including
TEDDS, Fastrak and Orion to corporate businesses worldwide, with a substantial presence in South East Asia.
FISHER OUTDOOR LEISURE HOLDINGS LIMITED St. Albans Supplying the cycling industry
All ISIS EP LLP managed funds Year ended 31 January* 2010 2009
First Investment: June 2006 £ million £ million
Total Cost: £5,700,000 Sales 26.5 22.2
Total equity held: 44.00% EBITA 2.3 1.8
Profi t before tax 0.7 0.1
Baronsmead VCT 3 only Net Assets 1.4 1.0
Cost: £1,423,000 No. of Employees 96 83 www.fi sheroutdoor.co.uk
Valuation: £1,777,000 * Year end has changed to July. The next Financial Statements will be for the 18 month period ended 31 July 2011.
Valuation basis: Earnings Multiple (Source: Fisher Outdoor Leisure Holdings Limited, Directors' Report and Financial Statements 2010)
Fisher is a key supplier of bicycle parts and accessories to chains, on-line retailers and independent shops. It has
% of equity held: 10.45% exclusive rights to promote and distribute some of the key international branded products within the UK and also has
some own branded products.
VALLDATA GROUP LIMITED Melksham Process outsourcer to the charity sector
All ISIS EP LLP managed funds Year ended 31 March 2011 2010*
First Investment: January 2011 £ million £ million
Total Cost: £6,475,000 Sales 6.3 5.4
Total equity held: 40.57% EBITA 0.9 0.8
Profi t before tax 0.8 0.7
Baronsmead VCT 3 only Net Assets 0.6 0.4
Cost: £1,616,000 No. of Employees 292 234 www. valldata.co.uk
Valuation: £1,694,000 * restated
(Source: Valldata Services Limited, Directors' Report and Financial Statements 2011)
Valuation basis: Earnings Multiple Wiltshire based Valldata is the UK's leading provider of outsourced donation processing and fulfi lment services for the
% of equity held: 8.92% UK not-for-profi t market, servicing over fi fty of the largest UK charities. Every year Valldata manages over 8 million
interactions with donors and effi ciently process over £100 million of donated funds.
INSPIRED THINKING GROUP LIMITED Birmingham Retail marketing services
All ISIS EP LLP managed funds Year ended 31 August 2010
First Investment: May 2010 £ million
Total Cost: £3,200,000 Sales 12.9
Total equity held: 22.50% EBITA 0.5
Profi t before tax 0.4
Net Assets 0.9
Baronsmead VCT 3 only www. inspiredthinkinggroup.com
Cost: £796,000 No. of Employees
Valuation: £1,368,000 (Source: Inspired Thinking Group Holdings, Directors' Report and Consolidated Financial Statements for year
ended 31 August 2010)
96
Valuation basis:
% of equity held:
Earnings Multiple
4.95%
Inspired Thinking Group (ITG) provides services that help large marketing departments operate more effi ciently,
including improved procurement of artwork and print management. The new funding was used to acquire Total
Marketing Service, a provider of workfl ow management systems to marketing departments.
INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY CARE MANAGEMENT LIMITED Kettering
All ISIS EP LLP managed funds Period ended 31 December/31 August 2010* 2009
First Investment: October 2011 £ million £ million
Total Cost: £6,010,000 Sales 9.1 6.8
Total equity held: 55.00% EBITA 0.2 0.1
Profi t before tax 0.2 0.1
Baronsmead VCT 3 only Net Assets/(Liabilities) 0.0 (0.1)
Cost: £1,346,000 No. of Employees 316 360 www.iccmcares.co.uk
Valuation: £1,346,000 * Period ended 31 December 2010 numbers Complex homecare provider
Valuation basis:
% of equity held:
Cost
10.89%
(Source: Independent Community Care Management Ltd, Abbreviated Accounts for period ended
31 December 2010)

Creating Shareholder Value

HOW ISIS CREATES AND REALISES VALUE FOR THE SHAREHOLDERS OF BARONSMEAD VCT 3 PLC

Access to an attractive, diverse portfolio

Baronsmead VCT 3 plc gives shareholders access to a diverse portfolio of growth businesses, both unquoted private equity and AIM-traded companies.

Each business has already demonstrated profi table success from its business model before investment to provide a degree of stability and foundation from which to build. Each business is led by entrepreneurial management teams that are aspiring to achieve above average growth from attractive and differentiated market positions.

The Manager's approach to investing

The Manager, ISIS, aspires to select the best opportunities and has a distinctive selection criteria based on;

  • Businesses that demonstrate elements of market leadership in their niche
  • Management teams that can develop and deliver profi table and sustained growth
  • The company being able to be an attractive asset appealing to a range of buyers at the appropriate time to exit

In order to ensure there is a strong pipeline of opportunities, ISIS invests in sector knowledge and networks. It then undertakes signifi cant pro-active marketing to interesting unquoted targets in preferred sectors. This is building a database of businesses that are keen to maintain a relationship with ISIS ahead of possible investment opportunities.

ISIS as an infl uential shareholder

For unquoted private equity investments, ISIS is an involved shareholder and representatives of the Manager join the investee board. The role of ISIS is to ensure that strategy is clear, the business plan is well thought through and the management resources are in place to deliver profi table growth. The intention is to build on the initial platform and grow the business so that it can become an attractive target able to be either sold or fl oated in the medium term. The investment strategy for AIM-traded companies has increasingly focused on taking more infl uential stakes through the collective shareholdings of the Baronsmead family of VCTs.

This year we have focused on four companies , three unquoted and one AIM-traded, which have demonstrated strong performance during the recent period of economic uncertainty and now, with the help of ISIS have emerged with a strong appetite and ability to deliver growth both through acquisition and organically.

Creating Shareholder Value

CABLECOM NETWORKING HOLDINGS LIMITED ''Growth through innovation''

CableCom supplies IT and communication managed services to the UK student accommodation and key worker sectors. CableCom has over time developed its offering to include the proactive management of a range of communications including broadband, telephony and TV to many of the leading providers of student accommodation and universities.

The company was founded in 1988, initially as a cabling and IT infrastructure business. Since 2004 the company has grown steadily and profi tably via winning contracts with a number of large blue chip customers and gaining accreditation for the implementation of the latest data network technologies.

The Baronsmead VCT s invested £5.6 million in the management buy out in May 2007. Growth has continued to be a feature for the business since then despite the economic downturn.

Discussing the impact of the investment in May 2007, Managing Director Mark Burchfi eld commented,

" In that first stage we were too inwardly focused and not spending enough time thinking about the end game. What ISIS gave us, even more valuable to us than the funding, was experience and a sense of perspective".

The accommodation providers, both at universities and private sector landlords, recognise the importance of the student experience. IT is a key requirement for the student demographic and this was particularly demonstrated with the demand for services such as Facebook and YouTube which signifi cantly increased from the summer of 2007.

Looking forward, as well as strengthening its presence in the student accommodation market CableCom has recently moved into the high end residential sector, and won a signifi cant new contract to deliver voice, broadband and TV services at Media City, the accommodation being built around the BBC's new northern base in Salford.

www.cablecomnetworking.co.uk

CREW CLOTHING HOLDINGS LIMITED ''Sector knowledge and experience''

Crew Clothing Holdings has its heritage in its south-coast roots, having been founded by Alastair Parker-Swift as a single retail site in Salcombe in 1993. The brand has since evolved into the fast growing premium active and casual wear sectors but has retained its unique heritage and position as the quintessentially English brand for customers who enjoy an active and outdoor social lifestyle.

The Baronsmead VCTs initially acquired a 25 per cent. stake in the company in a £7.75 million fund raising in November 2006. The Manager has a successful track record of backing consumer businesses which brought about the initial contact with Crew Clothing Holdings .

Since investment Crew Clothing Holdingshas grown signifi cantly. With the support of ISIS, the business has grown from 34 to over 60 stores across the UK and it now has over 400 employees. Particular success has been gained from direct sales through catalogues and web with currently over 3.2 million catalogues mailed to customers every year.

The CEO Octavia Morley commented,

" We are looking forward to continuing our strong growth with our partners at ISIS by developing the Crew brand to reach new customers both by opening stores across the UK and through our catalogue and online channels".

The depth of retail sector experience within the Manager helped both the investment decision and the subsequent development of Crew Clothing Holdings .

Creating Shareholder Value

IDOX PLC '' Supportive shareholder''

IDOX is a leading software and information management solutions provider. At 31 October 2011, 78per cent. of turnover was from the UK public sector and the balance from the private sector.

IDOX provides local authorities with software & managed services. These deliver seamless integration and automation from consumer websites through to document storage. In the private sector, its engineering information management software combines McLaren and CTSpace, who are leaders in enterprise scale and cloud based engineering document management solutions in asset intensive industries. In the current year, IDOX anticipates that some 63 per cent. of turnover will be of a recurring nature.

The Baronsmead VCTs fi rst invested in I DOX in 2002, approximately two years after the company fl oated on AIM. Their shareholding increased as a cornerstone investor in a £21 million reverse takeover of CAPS Solutions in June 2007 and today the aggregate shareholding is now 9.6 per cent.

IDOX has shown strong growth increasing annual sales from £3 million to over £38 million over the last decade. Sales and operating profi ts grew 23 and 27 per cent. respectively in the last fi nancial year to 31 October 2011. The increases have been a combination of both organic growth and acquisition. I DOX is seeking to diversify from its core local authority markets into the private sector to become a leading player in asset intensive industries like Oil and Gas and Pharmaceuticals.

The Chairman since 2005, Martin Brooks, commented,

" ISIS as the Manager of the Baronsmead VCTs has become a lead investor. Few institutional investors can provide the high level of support and key source of information on markets and advisers. ISIS is always available for general advice, which is given clearly and objectively with long-term shareholder value in mind."

www.idoxgroup.com

NEXUS VEHICLE HOLDINGS LIMITED ''Growth by acquisition''

Nexus is an innovative provider of vehicle rental to corporate users and the public sector. At the heart of Nexus is a web based procurement system called IRIS that is fully integrated into both customers and suppliers. IRIS automates traditional back offi ce functions to save time and money whilst also offering wide capability of supply choices.

In February 2008, the Baronsmead VCTs invested in the £11 million management buy out/management buy in led by highly experienced industry veteran Neil McCrossan who had previously been a VP at National Car Rental.

Seven months later, with support from ISIS, Nexus acquired the Vehicle Rental Management division of a larger fl eet management business with a second investment from the Baronsmead VCTs. During the period under review the Baronsmead VCTs have provided a third investment to support the growth of Nexus, the acquisition of Adapted Vehicle Hire Limited, which specialises in renting adapted cars and vans throughout the UK to drivers with disabilities.

On the acquisitions, the chairman of Nexus refl ected,

" In one move Nexus burst through the glass ceiling. It meant more revenue, more big clients but with no more overheads. It proved the scalability of Nexus way beyond our expectations".

Nexus demonstrates the ability of the Manager to back ambitious management teams with a well thought out strategy to grow value by selected acquisitions, supported by further investment from the Baronsmead VCTs.

www.nexusrental.co.uk

Board of Directors

as at 31 December 2011

Anthony Townsend (Chairman)

(Date of appointment 4 August 2009)

(age 64) has over 40 years experience in fi nancial services and in industry. He is chairman of British & American Investment Trust plc, F&C Global Smaller Companies plc, Finsbury Growth & Income Trust plc and Miton Worldwide Growth Investment Trust plc, and a non-executive director of Hansa Capital Limited and the Worldwide Healthcare Trust plc. He was previously a director of Rea Brothers Group plc and was chairman of the Association of Investment Companies.

Andrew Karney

(Senior Independent Director) (Date of appointment 10 January 2001) (age 69) was deputy chairman and a shareholder of Language Line Limited in which Baronsmead VCT 3, was an investor. He is chairman of Tiri – making integrity work, an international integrity reform non governmental organisation. He was previously a director of The Guardian Media Group plc, Guardian News and Media Limited, Integrated Micro Products plc and a number of unquoted companies. He was a founder director of Cable London plc and an executive director of Logica plc. He is also a chartered engineer.

Gillian Nott OBE

(Audit and Risk Committee Chairman) (Date of appointment 10 January 2001) (age 66 ) has in-depth experience of private investors as chief executive of ProShare (1994–1999). Previously she was responsible for the private equity portfolio at BP and has been on the board of the FSA. She is currently a non-executive director of BlackRock Smaller Companies Trust plc , Martin Currie Global Portfolio Trust plc and JP Morgan Russian Securities plc and is chairman of Witan Pacifi c Investment Trust plc as well as a deputy chairman of the Association of Investment Companies. Gill is a non-executive director of Baronsmead VCT 2 and Baronsmead VCT 5.

Ian Orrock

(Date of appointment 21 October 2010) (age 65) Ian has wide experience having founded, developed and sold a number of businesses particularly focusing on the international media, technology and telecoms sectors, and has also worked at board level in quoted global organisations. He is currently a non-executive director of Henderson Private Equity Investment Trust Plc and is a director of a number of private companies.

As a fully listed Company, Baronsmead VCT 3 plc is required to comply with the Financial Reporting Council's UK Corporate Governance Code. This Code requires the Company to be headed by an effective Board of Directors who provide entrepreneurial leadership of the Company within a framework of prudent and effective controls.

The directors of a VCT and the investment manager are required under the listing rules and continuing obligations of the London Stock Exchange to have suffi cient and satisfactory experience in the management of a portfolio of unquoted investments of the size and type in which the VCT proposes to invest. The Directors are all members of the Audit and Risk Committee, Management Engagement and Remuneration Committee and Nomination Committee.

The Chairman's Statement on pages 4 and 5 and the Corporate Governance Statement on pages 25 to 2 7 form part of the Report of the Directors.

Results and Dividends

The Directors present the eleventh Report and audited fi nancial statements of the Company for the year ended 31 December 2011.

Ordinary shares £'000
Profit on ordinary activities after taxation 3,285
Final dividend for 2010 of 4.5p per ordinary share paid on
8 April 2011
(2,729)
First interim dividend of 3.0p per ordinary share paid on
29 September 2011
(1,796)
Second interim dividend of 4.5p per ordinary share paid on
9 December 2011
(2,689)
Total dividends paid during the year (7,214)

Principal Activity and Status

The Company is registered in England as a Public Limited Company (Registration number 04115341). The Directors have managed and intend to continue to manage the Company's affairs in such a manner so as to comply with Section 274 of the Income Tax Act 2007 which grants approval as a VCT. A review of the Company's business during the year is contained in the Chairman's Statement and Manager's Review.

Business Review

The Business Review has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of Section 417 of the Companies Act 2006 and best practice.

The purpose of this review is to provide shareholders with a summary setting out the business objectives of the Company, the Board's strategy to achieve those objectives, the risks faced, the regulatory environment and the key performance indicators ("KPIs") used to measure performance.

Strategy for achieving objectives

Baronsmead VCT 3 plc is a tax effi cient company listed on the London Stock Exchange's main market for listed securities and aims to achieve long-term investment returns for private investors.

Investment Policy

The Company's investment policy is to invest primarily in a diverse portfolio of UK growth businesses, whether unquoted or traded on AIM.

Investments are made selectively across a range of sectors in companies that have the potential to grow and enhance their value.

Investment securities

The Company invests in a range of securities including, but not limited to, ordinary and preference shares, loan stocks, convertible securities, and fi xed-interest securities as well as cash. Unquoted investments are usually structured as a combination of ordinary shares and loan stocks, while AIM investments are primarily held in ordinary shares. Pending investment in unquoted and AIM-traded securities, cash is primarily held in an interest bearing money market open ended investment company ("OEIC"), UK gilts and Treasury Bills.

UK companies

Investments are primarily made in companies which are substantially based in the UK, although many of these investees will trade overseas. The companies in which investments are made must have no more than £15 million of gross assets at the time of investment (or £7 million if the funds being invested were raised after 5 April 2006) to be classed as a VCT qualifying holding.

VCT regulation

The investment policy is designed to ensure that the Company continues to qualify and is approved as a VCT by HM Revenue and Customs. Amongst other conditions, the Company may not invest more than 15 per cent. of its investments in a single company and must have at least 70 per cent. by value of its investments throughout the period in shares or securities comprised in qualifying holdings, of which 30 per cent. by value must be ordinary shares which carry no preferential rights. In addition, it must have at least 10 per cent. by value of its total investments in any qualifying company in ordinary shares which carry no preferential rights.

Asset mix

The Company aims to be at least 90 per cent. invested in growth businesses subject always to the quality of investment opportunities and the timing of realisations. Any un invested funds are held in cash and interest bearing securities. It is intended that, at any given time, at least 75 per cent. of any funds raised by the Company will be invested in VCT qualifying investments.

Risk diversifi cation and maximum exposures

Risk is spread by investing in a number of different businesses within different industry sectors using a mixture of securities. Generally no more than £2.5 million, at cost, is invested in the same company. The value of an individual investment is expected to increase over time as a result of trading progress and a continuous assessment is made of its suitability for sale.

Investment style

Investments are selected in the expectation that the application of private equity disciplines including an active management style for unquoted companies will enhance value and enable profi ts to be realised from planned exits.

Co-investment

The Company aims to invest in larger more mature unquoted and AIM companies and to achieve this it invests alongside the other Baronsmead VCTs. Currently ISIS EP LLP ('the Manager') and its executive members are mandated to invest in unquoteds alongside the Company on terms which align the interests of shareholders and the Manager.

Borrowing powers

The Company's Articles permit borrowing to give a degree of investment fl exibility. The Company's policy is to use borrowing for short term liquidity purposes only. The Company's borrowings are restricted to 25 per cent. of the value of the gross assets of that company. The Company currently has no borrowings.

Management

The Board has delegated the management of the investment portfolio to the Manager. The Manager also provides or procures the provision of company secretarial, administrative, accounting and custodian services to the Company.

The Manager has adopted a 'top-down, sector-driven' approach to identifying and evaluating potential investment opportunities, by assessing a forward view of fi rstly the business environment, then the sector and fi nally the specifi c potential investment opportunity. Based on its research, the Manager has selected a number of sectors that it believes will offer attractive growth prospects and investment opportunities. Diversifi cation is also achieved by spreading investments across different asset classes and making investments for a variety of different periods.

The Manager's Review on pages 6 and 7 provides a review of the investment portfolio and of market conditions during the year.

Principal risks, risk management and regulatory environment

The Board believes that the principal risks faced by the Company are:

  • Economic risk events such as an economic recession and movement in interest rates could affect smaller companies' valuations.
  • Loss of approval as a Venture Capital Trust the Company must comply with Section 274 of the Income Tax Act 2007 which allows it to be exempted from capital gains tax on investment gains. Any breach of these rules may lead to the Company losing its approval as a VCT, qualifying shareholders who have not held their shares for the designated holding period having to repay the income tax relief they obtained and future dividends paid by the Company becoming subject to tax. The Company would also lose its exemption from corporation tax on capital gains.

  • Investment and strategic an inappropriate strategy, poor asset allocation or consistent weak stock selection might lead to under performance and poor returns to shareholders. Therefore the Company's investment strategy is periodically reviewed by the Board which considers at each meeting the performance of the investment portfolio.

  • Regulatory the Company is required to comply with the Companies Act 2006, the rules of the UK Listing Authority and United Kingdom Accounting Standards. Breach of any of these might lead to suspension of the Company's Stock Exchange listing, fi nancial penalties or a qualifi ed audit report. General changes in legislation, regulations or government policy could signifi cantly infl uence the decisions of investors or impact upon the markets in which the Company invests.
  • Reputational inadequate or failed controls might result in breaches of regulations or loss of shareholder trust.
  • Operational failure of the Manager's and administrator's accounting systems or disruption to its business might lead to an inability to provide accurate reporting and monitoring.
  • Financial the Board has identifi ed the Company's principal fi nancial risks which are set out in the notes to the Financial Statements on pages 42 to 44. Inadequate controls might lead to misappropriation of assets. Inappropriate accounting policies might lead to misreporting or breaches of regulations.
  • Market Risk Investment in AIM-traded and unquoted companies, by its nature, involves a higher degree of risk than investment in companies traded on the main market. In particular, smaller companies often have limited product lines, markets or fi nancial resources and may be dependent for their management on a smaller number of key individuals. In addition, the market for stock in smaller companies is often less liquid than that for stock in larger companies, bringing with it potential diffi culties in acquiring, valuing and disposing of such stock.
  • Liquidity Risk The Company's investments may be diffi cult to realise. The fact that a share is traded on AIM does not guarantee its liquidity. The spread between the buying and selling price of such shares may be wide and thus the price used for valuation may not be achievable.
  • Competitive Risk Retention of key personnel of the Manager is vital to the success of the Company. Appropriate incentives are in place to ensure retention of such personnel.

The Board seeks to mitigate the internal risks by setting policy, regular review of performance, enforcement of contractual obligations and monitoring progress and compliance. In the mitigation and management of these risks, the Board applies rigorously the principles detailed in the FRC's "Internal Controls: Guidance to Directors". Details of the Company's internal controls are contained in the Corporate Governance section on page 2 7.

Performance and key performance indicators ("KPIs")

The Board expects the Manager to deliver a performance which meets the objective of achieving long term investment returns, including tax-free dividends, for private investors.

Performance, measured by dividends paid to shareholders and the change in NAV per share, is also measured against the FTSE All-Share Index Total Return. This index, as the widest measure of UK quoted equities, has been adopted as an informal benchmark. Investment performance, cash returned to shareholders and share price are also measured against the Company's peer group of other generalist venture capital trusts. A review of the Company's performance during the fi nancial period, the position of the Company at the year end and the outlook for the coming year is contained within the Chairman's Statement on pages 4 and 5.

The Board assesses the performance of the Manager in meeting the Company's objective against the primary KPIs highlighted on pages 1 to 3 of the Report.

Issue and Buy-Back of Shares

During the period the Company issued no ordinary shares.

During the period the Company bought back 880,000 ordinary shares with a nominal value of 10p to be held in treasury representing 1.3 per cent. of the issued share capital at a cost of £832,350 and sold 235,000 ordinary shares with a nominal value of 10p from treasury, representing 0.3 per cent. of the issued share capital for £217,370. The remaining shares will not be sold at a discount wider than the discount prevailing at the time the shares were initially bought back by the Company. The Company holds 7,622,317 ordinary shares in treasury representing 11.3 per cent. of the issued share capital as at 16 February 2012 and the maximum amount of ordinary shares held in treasury during the year was 7,857,317.

Directors

Biographies of the Directors who served during the year and at the date of this report are shown on page 17.

As explained in more detail under Corporate Governance on pages 25 to 2 7 and in accordance with the provisions of the AIC Code of Corporate Governance, the Board has agreed that Directors who have held offi ce for more than nine years will retire annually. Accordingly, as Mr A Karney and Mrs G Nott have held offi ce for a period of more than nine years, they will retire by rotation at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting of the Company and, being eligible, offer themselves for reelection. Mrs G Nott who is a director of Baronsmead VCT 2 plc and Baronsmead VCT 5 plc is also required to seek annual re-election under the terms of the UKLA's Listing Rules.

Mr Townsend, who was elected at the Company's Annual General Meeting held in 2010, will in accordance with the Company's Articles of Association and the provisions of the AIC Code of Corporate Governance, retire at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting of the Company and, being eligible, offer himself for re-election.

The Board confi rms that, following formal performance evaluations, the performance of each of the Directors continues to be effective and demonstrates commitment to the role. The Board believes that it is therefore in the best interests of shareholders that the retiring Directors be re-elected.

The interests of the Directors in the shares of the Company, at the beginning and at the end of the year, or date of appointment, if later, were as follows:

Ordinary Shares 31 December 2011 31 December 2010
Ordinary
10p shares
Ordinary
10p shares
Anthony Townsend 7,609 7,609
Andrew Karney 82,709 82,709
Gillian Nott 55,900 55,900
Ian Orrock*
Total shares held 146,218 146,218
* Appointed on 21 October 2010

There have been no changes in the holdings of the Directors between 31 December 2011 and 17 February 2012, but several Directors have subscribed for shares under the offer for subscription launched on 12 January 2012.

No Director has a service contract with the Company.

All Directors are members of the Audit and Risk, Management Engagement and Remuneration, Nomination and Valuation Committees. With a relatively small Board, it is deemed both practical and proportionate to involve all the Directors in each committee.

The Directors who held offi ce at the date of approval of this Directors' Report confi rm that, so far as they are each aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the Company's auditors are unaware; and each Director has taken all the steps that they ought to have taken as a Director to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the Company's auditors are aware of that information.

Companies Act 2006 Disclosure

In accordance with Schedule 7 of the Large and Medium Size Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 the Directors disclose the following information:

  • the Company's capital structure and voting rights are summarised in Note 11, and there are no restrictions on voting rights nor any agreement between holders of securities that result in restrictions on the transfer of securities or on voting rights;
  • there exist no securities carrying special rights with regard to the control of the Company;
  • the Company does not have an employees' share scheme;
  • the rules concerning the appointment and replacement of Directors, amendment of the Articles of Association and powers to issue or buy back the Company's shares are contained in the Articles of Association of the Company and the Companies Act 2006;
  • there exist no agreements to which the Company is party that may affect its control following a takeover bid; and
  • there exist no agreements between the Company and its Directors providing for compensation for loss of offi ce that may occur because of a takeover bid.

The Board recognises the requirement under Section 417(5) of the Act to detail information about environmental matters (including the impact of the Company's business on the environment), any Company employees and social and community issues; including information about any policies it has in relation to these matters and effectiveness of these policies. The Company has no employees and has limited direct impact on the environment. The Company aims to conduct itself responsibly, ethically and fairly.

Directors' Professional Development

When a new Director is appointed he or she is offered an induction programme that is arranged with the Manager. Directors are also provided on a regular basis with key information on the Company's policies, regulatory and statutory requirements and internal controls. Changes affecting directors' responsibilities are advised to the Board as they arise. Directors also regularly participate in industry seminars.

Directors' Indemnity

Directors' and offi cers' liability insurance cover is in place in respect of the Directors. The Company's Articles of Association provide, subject to the provisions of UK legislation, an indemnity for Directors in respect of costs which they may incur relating to the defence of any proceedings brought against them arising out of their positions as Directors, in which they are acquitted or judgement is given in their favour by the Court. Save for such indemnity provisions in the Company's Articles of Association and in the Directors' letters of appointment, there are no qualifying third party indemnity provisions.

Confl icts of Interest

The Directors have declared any confl icts or potential confl ict of interest to the Board of Directors which has the authority to approve such situations. The Company Secretary maintains the Register of Directors' Confl icts of Interests which is reviewed quarterly by the Board and when changes are notifi ed. The Directors advise the Company Secretary and Board as soon as they become aware of any confl icts of interest. Directors who have confl icts of interest do not take part in discussions which relate to any of their confl icts.

Whistleblowing

The Board has considered the UK Corporate Governance Code's recommendations in respect of arrangements by which staff of the Manager or Secretary of the Company may, in confi dence, raise concerns within their respective organisations about possible improprieties in matters of fi nancial reporting or other matters.

It has concluded that adequate arrangements are in place for the proportionate and independent investigation of such matters and, where necessary, for appropriate follow-up action to be taken within their respective organisations.

Management

ISIS EP LLP manages the investments for the Company. The liquid assets within the portfolio (being cash, interest bearing securities, gilts and other assets, which are not categorised as venture capital investments for the purpose of the FSA's rules) have been managed by FPPE LLP. This is a limited liability partnership, which is authorised and regulated by the FSA and which has the same controlling members as the Manager. The Manager has continued to act as the Manager of the Company and as the investment Manager of the Company's illiquid assets (being all AIMtraded and other venture capital investments).

The Manager also provides or procures the provision of accounting, secretarial, administrative and custodian services to the Company. The management agreement may be terminated at any date by either party giving twelve months' notice of termination. Under the management agreement, the Manager receives a fee of 2.5 per cent. per annum of the net assets of the Company. If the management agreement is terminated, the Manager is only entitled to the management fees paid to it and any interest due on unpaid fees.

In addition, the Manager receives an annual secretarial and accounting fee that was initially fi xed at £33,816 in 2006 and is revised annually to refl ect the movement in RPI, plus a variable fee of 0.125 per cent. of the net assets of the Company which exceed £5 million. The annual fee was initially capped at £102,212 per annum and is also revised annually to refl ect the movement in RPI.

Annual running costs are capped at 3.5 per cent. of the net assets of the Company (excluding any performance fee payable to the Manager and irrecoverable VAT), any excess being refunded by the Manager by way of an adjustment to its management fee.

During the year the Management Engagement and Remuneration Committee met to discuss and consider the continuing appointment of the Manager. The Committee reviewed and considered the agreements between the Company and the Manager and the Manager's performance and after careful consideration the Committee recommended to the Board that ISIS EP LLP should continue as Manager of the Company. It is the Board's opinion that the continuing appointment of ISIS EP LLP on the terms agreed is in the best interests of shareholders as a whole. The Board believes that the knowledge and experience accumulated by the Manager in the period since the launch of the fi rst Baronsmead VCT in 1995 is refl ected in processes which are designed to fi nd, manage and realise good quality growth businesses.

Co-investment Scheme

The Scheme is intended to help attract, retain and incentivise certain executive members of the Manager and refl ects schemes which are used elsewhere in the private equity industry in the UK. It requires all the members of the Scheme to invest their own capital into a proportion of the ordinary shares of each and every unquoted investment made by the Baronsmead VCTs (except those life sciences transactions where the Manager is not the lead investor).

The shares held by the members of the Co-investment Scheme in any portfolio company can only be sold at the same time as the investment held by the generalist Baronsmead VCTs. In addition, any prior ranking fi nancial instruments, e.g. loan stock, held by the Baronsmead VCTs have to be repaid in full prior to any gain accruing to the ordinary shares.

As at 31 December 2011 forty-fi ve executives of the Manager had invested a total of approximately £149,000 in the ordinary shares of twenty-seven unquoted investments through the Co-investment Scheme with respect to investments attributable to Baronsmead VCT 3 plc. The amount invested by Baronsmead VCT 3 plc in these twentyseven companies totals approximately £30. 4 million. As at 31 December 2011, eight of the investments in the Scheme have been sold realising total proceeds of £18.9 million for Baronsmead VCT 3 plc and £1.0 million for the members of the Co-investment Scheme.

The Board reviews the operation of the Co-investment Scheme at each quarterly valuation meeting. The Co-investment Scheme was also independently reviewed during the period by Singer Capital Markets who confi rmed that the investments were compliant with the Co-investment Scheme rules.

Performance Incentive

A performance fee is payable to the Manager when the total return on net proceeds of the ordinary share offers exceeds 8 per cent. per annum (simple) on net funds raised. The performance fee payable in any one year is capped at 5per cent. of net assets.

To the extent that the total return exceeds the threshold, a performance fee (plus VAT) will be paid to the Manager of 10 per cent. of excess performance. No performance fee was paid in 2010 and there is no performance fee payable for the year to 31 December 2011.

ISIS Equity Partners – Advisory Fees

During the year to 31 December 2011, ISIS EP LLP received net income of £71,250 (2010: £92,750) in connection with advisory fees and incurred abort fees of £15,246 (2010: £13,286) with respect to investments attributable to Baronsmead VCT 3.

VCT Status Adviser

The Company has retained PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP ('PwC') as its VCT Tax Status Advisers to advise it on compliance with VCT requirements. PwC review new investment opportunities, as appropriate, and reviews regularly the investment portfolio of the Company. PwC works closely with the Manager but reports directly to the Board.

Creditor Payment Policy

The Company's payment policy is to settle investment transactions in accordance with market practice and to ensure settlement of supplier invoices in accordance with stated terms. At 31 December 2011, there were no outstanding supplier invoices (2010: none).

Environment

The Company seeks to conduct its affairs responsibly and environmental factors are, where appropriate, taken into consideration with regard to investment decisions.

Substantial Interests

At 17 February 2012 the Company was not aware of any benefi cial interest exceeding 3 per cent. of ordinary share capital in circulation.

Going Concern

After making enquires, and bearing in mind the nature of the Company's business and assets, the Directors consider that the Company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. In arriving at this conclusion the Directors have considered the liquidity of the Company and its ability to meet obligations as they fall due for a period of at least twelve months from the date that these fi nancial statements were approved. As at 31 December 2011 the Company held cash balances & investments in interest bearing securities and Money Market Funds with a combined value of £10,662,000. Cash fl ow projections have been reviewed and show that the Company has suffi cient funds to meet both its contracted expenditure and its discretionary cash outfl ows in the form of the share buy-back programme and dividend policy. The Company has no external loan fi nance in place and therefore is not exposed to any gearing covenants.

Annual General Meeting

A notice for the Annual General Meeting of the Company to be held at 10:30 am on Wednesday, 11 April 2012 at the London Stock Exchange, 10 Paternoster Square, London EC4M 7LS is set out on pages 45 to 4 9. The following notes provide an explanation of Resolutions 6 to 11 which together with Resolutions 1 to 5, will be proposed at the meeting. Resolutions 1 to 8 will be proposed as ordinary resolutions requiring the approval of more than 50 per cent. of the votes cast at the meeting and Resolutions 9 to 11 will be proposed as special resolutions requiring the approval of 75 per cent. of the votes cast at the meeting. The Board considers that the resolutions to be put to the meeting are in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders as a whole. The Directors will be voting in favour of all the resolutions and the Board unanimously recommends that shareholders do so as well.

Auditors

KPMG Audit Plc have expressed their willingness to continue in offi ce as auditors and a resolution proposing their re-appointment will be submitted at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting as will a resolution authorising the Directors to determine the remuneration of the auditors.

Authority to Allot Shares and Disapplication of Pre-Emption Rights

The authority proposed under Resolution 8 will authorise Directors, until the fi fth anniversary of the passing of the resolution, to allot shares in the Company or grant rights to subscribe for or to convert any security into shares in the Company up to an aggregate nominal amount of £1,799,926 representing 30 per cent. of the issued share capital (excluding treasury shares). Any consequent increase in the size of the Company will, in the opinion of the Directors, be in the interests of shareholders generally. Any issue proceeds will be available for investment in line with the Company's investment policy and may be used purchase ordinary shares of the Company.

The Directors intend to use this authority for the purposes described below under Resolution 9.

Resolution 9 renews and extends, subject to the passing of Resolution 8, the Directors' authority to allot equity securities for cash without pre-emption rights applying in certain circumstances. This resolution will authorise the Directors, until the date falling 15 months after the date of the passing of the resolution or, if earlier, the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company, to issue ordinary shares for cash without pre-emption rights applying of (i) up to an aggregate nominal amount representing 10 per cent. of the Company's issued share capital (excluding treasury shares) , (ii) up to an aggregate nominal amount representing 10 per cent. of the issued share capital (excluding treasury shares) from time to time pursuant to a dividend reinvestment scheme (which may be at a discount to NAV) and (iii) up to an aggregate nominal amount representing 10 per cent. of the issued share capital (excluding treasury shares) from time to time (which may be at a discount to NAV) for allotments from time to time. This power will be exercised only if, in the opinion of the Directors, it would be in the best interests of shareholders as a whole and the proceeds of which may be used, in whole or in part, to purchase shares in the Company.

Treasury Shares

The Company currently holds 7,622,317 ordinary shares in treasury representing 11.3 per cent. of the Company's issued ordinary shares. If Resolution 9 is passed, the Board will consider itself permitted by shareholders to reissue ordinary shares out of treasury through a dividend reinvestment scheme or at a discount to the prevailing NAV per ordinary share if the Board considers it in the best interests of the Company to do so. However, ordinary shares will never be re-issued out of treasury at a discount wider than the discount prevailing at the time the shares were initially bought back by the Company. The resolution will also allow the Company to issue shares out of treasury without pre-emption rights applying.

Currently there is a two way secondary market in the Company's shares. It is the Board's intention only to use the mechanism of re-issuing treasury shares when demand for the Company's shares is greater than the supply available in the market place. Although shares re-issued from treasury will not attract the 30 per cent. initial income tax relief, all further dividends will be tax-free and if these shares are subsequently sold no capital gains tax is payable by qualifying shareholders.

Directors' Authority to Purchase Shares

The current authority of the Company to make market purchases of up to approximately 14.99 per cent. of its issued share capital expires at the end of the Annual General Meeting and Resolution 10 seeks renewal of such authority until the next Annual General Meeting (or the expiry of 15 months after the passing of the resolution, if earlier). The price paid for shares will not be less than the nominal value nor more than the maximum amount permitted to be paid in accordance with the rules of the UK Listing Authority. This power will be exercised only if, in the opinion of the Directors, a repurchase would be in the best interests of shareholders as a whole. Any shares repurchased under this authority will either be cancelled or held in treasury for future re-sale in appropriate market conditions.

Notice of General Meeting

The Board believes that it is in the best interests of shareholders of the Company to have the ability to call meetings on 14 days' clear notice should a matter require urgency. The Board is therefore proposing Resolution 11 to approve the reduction in the minimum notice period from 21 clear days to 14 clear days for all general meetings other than annual general meetings. The Directors do not intend to use less than 21 clear days notice unless immediate action is required.

By Order of the Board, ISIS EP LLP Secretary 100 Wood Street London EC2V 7AN

17 February 2012

Corporate Governance

This Corporate Governance Statement forms part of the Report of the Directors.

Corporate Governance Codes

Arrangements in respect of corporate governance, appropriate to a venture capital trust, have been made by the Board. The Board has considered the principles and recommendations of the Association of Investment Companies' Code of Corporate Governance issued in October 2010 ('AIC Code') by reference to the AIC Corporate Governance Guide for Investment Companies ('AIC Guide'). A copy of the AIC Code can be found at www.theaic.co.uk. The AIC Code, as explained by the AIC Guide, addresses all the principles set out in the UK Corporate Governance Code issued by the Financial Reporting Council in June 2010 ('UK Code'), as well as setting out additional principles and recommendations on issues which are of specifi c relevance to the Company. A copy of the UK Code can be found at www.frc.org.uk.

The Board considers that reporting against the principles and recommendations of the AIC Code, and by reference to the AIC Guide (which incorporates the UK Code) will provide better information to shareholders.

Except as disclosed below, the Company complied throughout the period with the recommendations of the AIC Code and the relevant provisions of UK Code. Since all the Directors are non-executive the provisions of the UK Code in respect of the role of the chief executive are not relevant to the Company and, likewise, the provisions of the UK Code relating to directors' remuneration are not relevant except in so far as they relate specifi cally to non-executive directors. For the reasons set out in the AIC Guide, and in the preamble to the UK Code, the Board considers that these provisions are not relevant to the Company, being an externally managed venture capital trust. The Company has therefore not reported further in respect of these provisions.

Directors

In view of the requirement in the Articles of Association that all Directors be subject to retirement by rotation, the Board considers that it is not appropriate for the Directors to be appointed for a specifi ed term as recommended by principle 3 of the AIC Code and provision B.2.3 of the UK Code. However, the Board has agreed that each Director will retire and, if appropriate, seek re-election after each three years' service, and annually after serving on the Board for more than nine years.

The Board, of which Mr Townsend is Chairman, consists solely of non-executive Directors and Mr Karney is Senior Independent Director. All Directors are considered by the Board to be independent of the Company's Manager.

As explained earlier, Mrs Nott is a director of Baronsmead VCT 5 plc and Baronsmead VCT 2 plc, both of which are managed by ISIS EP LLP. The Board believes that appointments to other companies managed by ISIS EP LLP does not impede independence of character and judgement. The Board also does not consider that a Director's tenure reduces their ability to act independently. The Board believes that, as a whole, it comprises an appropriate balance of skills, experience and diversity of background and knowledge. It also believes that each Director is independent in character and judgement and that there are no relationships or circumstances which are likely to affect the judgement of any Director.

The Company has no executive Directors or employees.

Division of Responsibilities

A management agreement between the Company and its Manager, ISIS EP LLP, sets out the matters over which the Manager has authority and the limits above which Board approval must be sought. All other matters, including strategy, investment and dividend policies, approval of valuations, gearing, and corporate governance procedures, are reserved for the approval of the Board of Directors. The Board meets at least quarterly and receives full information about the Company's investment performance, assets, liabilities and other relevant information in advance of Board meetings. The Manager, in the absence of explicit instructions from the Board, is empowered to exercise discretion in the use of the Company's voting rights. All shareholdings are voted, where practicable, in accordance with the Manager's own corporate governance policy, which is to seek to maximise shareholder value by constructive use of votes at company meetings and by endeavouring to use its infl uence as an investor with a principled approach to corporate governance.

Committees

Throughout the period a number of committees have been in operation. The committees are the Audit and Risk Committee, the Management Engagement and Remuneration Committee and the Nomination Committee . The terms of reference of all the committees are available from the Company on request.

The Audit and Risk Committee, chaired by Mrs Nott, comprises the full Board and operates within clearly defi ned terms of reference. The duties of the Audit and Risk Committee include reviewing the annual and interim accounts, the system of internal controls, the terms of appointment of the auditors together with their remuneration, and ensuring that auditor objectivity and independence is safeguarded in the provision of non–audit services by the auditors. It meets at least twice yearly and provides a forum through which the auditors may report to the Board of Directors.

Corporate Governance

The Management Engagement and Remuneration Committee, chaired by Mr Townsend, comprises the full Board and reviews the remuneration and terms of appointment of the Manager and the Boards' fees. The recommendations of the AIC Code under Principle 5 state that the Chairman may be a member of, but not chair, the Management Engagement and Remuneration Committee. The Board, having considered the recommendations, believe that Mr Townsend remains the most suitable Director to chair the committee. When considering the chairmanship of the committee, the Board took account of factors including the size of the Board and the remit of the committee; which extends to the consideration of non-executive remuneration only. Matters relating to the remuneration of the Chairman are considered by the committee in the absence of the Chairman and under the leadership of the Senior Independent Director.

The Nomination Committee, chaired by Mr Townsend, comprises the full Board and is convened for the purpose of considering the appointment of additional Directors as and when considered appropriate. In considering appointments to the Board, the Nomination Committee takes into account the ongoing requirements of the Company and the need to have a balance of skills and experience within the Board.

Principle 7 of the AIC Code and Principle B.6 of the UK Code recommends that the Board should undertake a formal and rigorous annual evaluation of its own performance and that of its committees and individual directors. It is the Board's policy to evaluate the performance of the Board, Committees and individual Directors annually through an assessment process, led by the Chairman, with the performance of the Chairman being evaluated by the other Directors under the leadership of the Senior Independent Director. Mindful of the fact that an evaluation was not undertaken in 2010 due to changes to the composition and chairmanship of the Board, in 2011 the Board undertook a rigorous evaluation of the performance of the Board, committees and individual Directors through an assessment process. During this process the Directors considered each Director's independence and discussed performance during the year, the existing corporate governance arrangements and areas where the Board and individual Directors could develop.

All of the Directors meet quarterly to consider in detail the valuations of the unquoted investments in the Company's portfolio.

Individual Directors may, at the expense of the Company, seek independent professional advice on any matter that concerns them in the furtherance of their duties.

Board of Directors Audit and Risk Committee Management Engagement and Remuneration Committee Nomination Committee Held Attended Held Attended Held Attended Held Attended Anthony Townsend Andrew Karney Gillian Nott Ian Orrock 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 5 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1

The table below sets out the number of Board and Committee meetings held during the year to 31 December 2011 and the number of meetings attended by each Director.

Corporate Governance

Relations with Shareholders

The Company welcomes the views of shareholders and places great importance on communication with its shareholders. The Chairman and other Directors are available to meet shareholders if required. The Annual General Meeting of the Company provides a forum both formal and informal, for shareholders to meet and discuss issues with the Directors and Manager of the Company.

Details of the resolutions to be proposed at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting on 11 April 2012 can be found in the Notice of Meeting on pages 45 to 4 9. Shareholders seeking to communicate with the Board can do so by contacting the Investor Relations Manager in the fi rst instance.

Internal Controls

The Board is responsible for the Company's system of internal controls and for reviewing its effectiveness. The Board has therefore established an ongoing process designed to meet the particular needs of the Company in managing the risks to which it is exposed. The process adopted is one whereby the Board identi fi es all of the risks to which the Company is exposed including, among others, market risk, investment risk, operational and regulatory risks which are recorded on a risk register. The controls employed to mitigate these risks are identi fi ed and the residual risks are rated taking into account the impact of the mitigating factors.

This register is updated at least twice a year and reports are produced to the board highlighting any material changes in the nature of each risk and where necessary corrective action taken. A formal annual review of the risks and related controls is carried out by the Audit and Risk Committee.

These procedures are designed to manage, rather than eliminate, risk and by their nature can provide reasonable, but not absolute, assurance against material misstatement or loss. The Board monitors the investment performance of the Company in comparison to a benchmark index and to comparable venture capital trusts at each Board meeting. The Board also reviews the Company's activities since the previous Board meeting to ensure that the Manager adheres to the agreed investment policy and approved investment guidelines and, if necessary, approve changes to such policy and guidelines.

The Board has reviewed the need for an internal audit function and has concluded that the systems and procedures employed by the Manager, provide suffi cient assurance that a sound system of internal control, which safeguards shareholders' investment and the Company's assets, is maintained. An internal audit function, speci fi c to the Company, is therefore considered unnecessary.

Directors' Remuneration Report

The Board has prepared this report, in accordance with the requirements of Schedule 8 of the Large and Medium Sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. An ordinary resolution for the approval of this report will be put to the members at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting.

The law requires the Company's auditors, KPMG Audit Plc, to audit certain of the disclosures provided. Where disclosures have been audited, they are indicated as such. The auditors' opinion is included in the 'Independent Auditors' Report'.

Board of Directors and their Fees

The Board which is profi led on page 17 consists solely of independent non-executive Directors and is considered to be entirely independent. The Management Engagement and Remuneration Committee comprises all the Directors of the Company and is chaired by Mr Townsend. The Company has no executive Directors, but the Management Engagement and Remuneration Committee meets, at least annually, to review the remuneration and terms of appointment of the Manager and the level of the Board's fees, in accordance with the AIC Code of Corporate Governance. The Company Secretary provides information on comparative levels of directors fees to the Board in advance of each review.

During the year, the Management Engagement and Remuneration Committee met to consider the level of Directors' fees and concluded that, having regard for the amount and quality of work that Directors were required to undertake and having reviewed the level of remuneration paid to the directors of companies that were directly comparable within the Company's peer group, it was appropriate to increase the Directors fees to £17,500 pa, the Chairman of the Audit and Risk Committee's fees to £20,000 pa and the Chairman's fee to £25,000 pa with effect from 1 October 2011.

Policy on Directors' Fees

The Board's policy is that the remuneration of non-executive Directors should refl ect the experience of the Board as a whole, be fair and comparable to that of other relevant venture capital trusts that are similar in size and have similar investment objectives and structures. Furthermore the level of remuneration should be suffi cient to attract and retain the Directors needed to oversee properly the Company and to refl ect the specifi c circumstances of the Company, the duties and responsibilities of the Directors and the value and amount of time committed to the Company's affairs. It is intended that this policy will continue for the year ending 31 December 2012 and subsequent years.

Directors' Service Contracts

It is the Board's policy that Directors do not have service contracts, but new Directors are provided with a letter of appointment. The terms of Directors' appointments provide that Directors should retire and be subject to election at the fi rst Annual General Meeting after their appointment. Directors are thereafter obliged to retire by rotation and, if willing, to offer themselves for re-election by shareholders at least every three years after that. In accordance with the UK Corporate Governance Code, Directors who have served on the Board for more than 9 years must offer themselves for re-election on an annual basis. There is no notice period and no provision for compensation upon early termination of appointment. Below is a table which sets out each Director's date of appointment and due date for re-election/election.

Director Date of
Original
Appointment
Due date for
Re-election/
Election
Anthony Townsend 4 August 2009 AGM 2012
Andrew Karney 10 January 2001 AGM 2012
Gillian Nott 10 January 2001 AGM 2012
Ian Orrock 21 October 2010 AGM 2013

Directors' Remuneration Report

Company Performance

The Board is responsible for the Company's investment strategy and performance, although the management of the Company's investment portfolio is delegated to the Manager through the management agreement, as referred to in the 'Report of the Directors'. The graph below compares, for the fi ve years ended 31 December 2011, the percentage change over each period in the total return (assuming all dividends are reinvested) to ordinary shareholders compared to the percentage change over each period in total shareholder return on a notional investment made up of shares of the same kind and number as those by reference to which the FTSE All-Share Index is calculated. This index was chosen for comparison purposes, as it represents a widely understood broad equity market index against which investors can measure the relative performance of the Company. An explanation of the performance of the Company is given in the Chairman's Statement and Manager's Review.

Ordinary Share price total return and the FTSE All–Share Index total return performance graph

Directors' Emoluments for the Year (Audited)

The Directors who served in the year received the following emoluments in the form of fees:

Fees
2011
£
Fees
2010
£
Anthony Townsend‡ 23,875 20,145
Andrew Karney 16,000 15,500
Gillian Nott 16,625 15,500
Ian Orrock* 16,000 3,001
Mark Cannon Brookes† 8,978
Robert Owen^ 11,506
Total 72,500 74,630
‡ Appointed Chairman on 18 May 2010
* Appointed on 21 October 2010
† Retired on 18 May 2010
^ Resigned 28 September 2010

Approved by the Board of Directors and signed by:

Anthony Townsend

Chairman of the Management Engagement and Remuneration Committee

17 February 2012

Statement of Directors' Responsibilities

Statement of Directors' Responsibilities in respect of the Annual Report and the Financial Statements

The Directors are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the fi nancial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

Company law requires the Directors to prepare fi nancial statements for each fi nancial year. Under that law they have elected to prepare the fi nancial statements in accordance with UK Accounting Standards.

The fi nancial statements are required by law to give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Company and of the profi t or loss of the Company for that period.

In preparing these fi nancial statements, the Directors are required to:

  • select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
  • make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
  • state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards ("UK GAAP") have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the fi nancial statements; and
  • prepare the fi nancial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Company will continue in business.

The Directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the fi nancial position of the Company and enable them to ensure that its fi nancial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They have general responsibility for taking such steps as are reasonably open to them to safeguard the assets of the Company and to prevent and detect fraud and other irregularities.

Under applicable law and regulations, the Directors are also responsible for preparing a Directors' Report (including Business Review), Directors' Remuneration Report and Corporate Governance Statement that comply with that law and those regulations.

The Directors are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and fi nancial information included on the Company's website, www.baronsmeadvct3.co.uk. Visitors to the website should be aware that legislation in the UK governing the preparation and dissemination of fi nancial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

Responsibility statement of the Directors in respect of the Annual Financial Report

We confi rm that to the best of our knowledge:

  • the fi nancial statements, prepared in accordance with the applicable set of accounting standards, give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, fi nancial position and profi t or loss of the Company; and
  • the Report of the Directors includes a fair review of the development and performance of the business and the position of the Company together with a description of the principal risks and uncertainties that they face.

On behalf of the Board, Anthony Townsend Chairman

17 February 2012

Independent Auditor's Report

Independent Auditor's Report to the members of Baronsmead VCT 3 plc

We have audited the fi nancial statements of Baronsmead VCT 3 plc for the year ended 31 December 2011 which comprise the Income Statement, the Reconciliation of Movements in Shareholders' Funds, the Balance Sheet, the Cash Flow Statement and the related notes. The fi nancial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and UK Accounting Standards (UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

This report is made solely to the Company's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the Company's members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditors' report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Company and the Company's members, as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Respective responsibilities of directors and auditors

As explained more fully in the Statement of Directors' Responsibilities set out on page 30, the Directors are responsible for the preparation of the fi nancial statements and for being satisfi ed that they give a true and fair view. Our responsibility is to audit the fi nancial statements in accordance with applicable law and International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland). Those standards require us to comply with the Auditing Practices Board's (APB's) Ethical Standards for Auditors.

Scope of the audit of the fi nancial statements

A description of the scope of an audit of fi nancial statements is provided on the APB's web-site at www.frc.org.uk/apb/scope/private.cfm.

Opinion on fi nancial statements

In our opinion the fi nancial statements:

  • give a true and fair view of the state of the Company's affairs as at 31 December 2011 and of its profi t for the year then ended;
  • have been properly prepared in accordance with UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
  • have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

Opinion on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion:

  • the part of the Directors' Remuneration Report to be audited has been properly prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 2006; and
  • the information given in the Report of the Directors for the fi nancial year for which the fi nancial statements are prepared is consistent with the fi nancial statements.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

We have nothing to report in respect of the following:

Under the Companies Act 2006 we are required to report to you if, in our opinion:

  • adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
  • the fi nancial statements and the part of the Directors' Remuneration Report to be audited are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
  • certain disclosures of Directors' remuneration specifi ed by law are not made; or
  • we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.

Under the Listing Rules we are required to review:

  • the Directors' statement, set out on page 23, in relation to going concern;
  • the part of the Corporate Governance Statement relating to the Company's compliance with the nine provisions of the UK Corporate Governance Code specifi ed for our review; and
  • certain elements of the report to shareholders by the Board on Directors remuneration.

Simon Pashby (Senior Statutory Auditor)

for and on behalf of KPMG Audit Plc, Statutory Auditor Chartered Accountants Registered Auditor Edinburgh 17 February 2012

Income Statement

For the year ended 31 December 2011

2011 2010
Notes Revenue
£'000
Capital
£'000
Total
£'000
Revenue
£'000
Capital
£'000
Total
£'000
Unrealised gains on investments 8 1,403 1,403 4,951 4,951
Realised gains on investments 8 1,824 1,824 1,757 1,757
Income 2 1,963 1,963 2,407 2,407
Investment management fee 3 (385) (1,155) (1,540) (380) (1,140) (1,520)
Other expenses 4 (365) (365) (360) (360)
Profi t on ordinary activities before taxation 1,213 2,072 3,285 1,667 5,568 7,235
Taxation on ordinary activities 5 (244) 244 (412) 412
Profi t on ordinary activities after taxation 969 2,316 3,285 1,255 5,980 7,235
Return per ordinary share:
Basic 7 1.61p 3.85p 5.46p 2.09p 9.98p 12.07p

The 'Total' column of this statement is the profi t and loss account of the Company.

All revenue and capital items in this statement derive from continuing operations.

No operations were acquired or discontinued in the year.

There are no recognised gains and losses other than those disclosed in the Income Statement therefore a separate statement of total recognised gains and losses has not been prepared.

Reconciliation of Movements in Shareholders' Funds

For the year ended 31 December 2011

2011 2010
Notes £'000 £'000
Opening shareholders' funds 64,643 52,878
Profi t for the year 3,285 7,235
Gross proceeds of share issues 8,165
Purchase and sale of shares for treasury
12
(613) (1,357)
Expenses of share issue and buybacks
12
(6) (441)
Dividends paid
6
(7,214) (1,837)
Closing shareholders' funds 60,095 64,643

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

Balance Sheet

As at 31 December 2011

2011 2010
Notes £'000 £'000
Fixed assets
Investments 8 59,312 63,407
Current assets
Debtors 9 562 461
Cash at bank and on deposit 683 1,268
1,245 1,729
Creditors (amounts falling due within one year) 10 (462) (493)
Net current assets 783 1,236
Net assets 60,095 64,643
Capital and reserves
Called-up share capital 11 6,762 6,762
Share premium account 12 15,012 15,012
Capital redemption reserve 12 10,862 10,862
Capital reserve 12 24,262 24,941
Revaluation reserve 12 2,876 6,182
Revenue reserve 12 321 884
Equity shareholders' funds 13 60,095 64,643
Net asset value per share
– Basic 13 100.16p 106.60p
– Treasury 13 99.16p 105.32p

The fi nancial statements on pages 32 to 34 were approved by the Board of Directors on 17 February 2012 and were signed on its behalf by:

Anthony Townsend (Chairman)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of this balance sheet.

Cash Flow Statement

For the year ended 31 December 2011

Notes 2011
£'000
2010
£'000
Operating activities
Investment income received 1,787 2,099
Deposit interest received 3 5
Other income received 63
Investment management fees (1,570) (1,446)
Other cash payments (357) (426)
Net cash (outfl ow)/infl ow from operating activities
15
(74) 232
Capital expenditure and fi nancial investment
Purchases of investments (91,893) (76,980)
Disposals of investments 99,215 71,447
Net cash infl ow/(outfl ow) from capital expenditure and fi nancial investment 7,322 (5,533)
Dividends
Equity dividends paid
6
(7,214) (1,837)
Net cash infl ow/(outfl ow) before fi nancing 34 (7,138)
Financing
Gross proceeds of share issues 8,165
Purchase and sale of shares for treasury (613) (1,357)
Expenses on share issue and buybacks (6) (435)
Net cash (outfl ow)/infl ow from fi nancing (619) 6,373
Decrease in cash in the year (585) (765)
Reconciliation of net cash fl ow to movement in net cash
Decrease in cash (585) (765)
Opening cash at bank and on deposit 1,268 2,033
Closing cash at bank and on deposit
14
683 1,268

The accompanying notes are an integral part of this statement.

1. Accounting policies

(a) Basis of accounting

These fi nancial statements have been prepared under UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice ("UK GAAP") and in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice ("SORP") for investment trust companies and venture capital trusts issued by the Association of Investment Companies ("AIC") in January 2009, and on the assumption that the Company maintains VCT status.

The Company is no longer an investment company as defi ned by Section 833 of the Companies Act 2006, as investment company status was revoked on 4 February 2004 in order to permit the distribution of capital profi ts.

The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.

Presentation of the Income Statement

In order to better refl ect the activities of a VCT and in accordance with the SORP, supplementary information which analyses the income statement between items of a revenue and capital nature has been presented alongside the income statement.

Profi t/(loss) on ordinary activities after taxation is the measure the Directors believe appropriate in assessing the Company's compliance with certain requirements set out in Section 274 of the Income Tax Act 2007.

(b) Valuation of investments

Purchases or sales of investments are recognised at the date of transaction.

Investments are valued at fair value. For AIM traded, listed securities and collective investment vehicles this is either bid price or the last traded price, depending on the convention of the exchange on which the investment is traded.

In respect of unquoted investments, these are fair valued by the Directors using methodology which is consistent with the International Private Equity and Venture Capital Valuation ("IPEV") guidelines. This means investments are valued using an earnings multiple, which has a discount or premium applied which adjusts for points of difference to appropriate stock market or comparable transaction multiples. Alternative methods of valuation will include application of an arm's length third party valuation, a provision on cost or a net asset value basis.

Gains and losses arising from changes in the fair value of the investments are included in the income statement for the period as a capital item. Transaction costs on acquisition are included within the initial recognition and the profi t or loss on disposal is calculated net of transaction costs on disposal.

(c) Income

Interest income on loan stock and dividends on preference shares are accrued on a daily basis. Provision is made against this income where recovery is doubtful. Where the terms of unquoted loan stocks only require interest or a redemption premium to be paid on redemption, the interest and redemption premium is recognised as income once redemption is reasonably certain. Until such date interest is accrued daily and included within the valuation of the investment.

Income from fi xed interest securities and deposit interest is included on an effective interest rate basis.

Dividends on quoted shares are recognised as income on the date that the related investments are marked ex-dividend and where no dividend date is quoted, when the Company's right to receive payment is established.

(d) Expenses

All expenses are recorded on an accruals basis.

(e) Revenue/capital

The revenue column of the income statement includes all income and expenses. The capital column accounts for the realised and unrealised profi t and loss on investments and the proportion of management fee charged to capital.

(f) Issue costs

Issue costs are deducted from the share premium account.

(g) Deferred taxation

Deferred taxation is recognised in respect of all timing differences that have originated but not reversed at the balance sheet date where transactions or events that result in an obligation to pay more, or the right to pay less, tax in future have occurred at the balance sheet date. This is subject to deferred tax assets only being recognised if it is considered more likely than not that there will be suitable profi ts from which the future reversal of the underlying timing differences can be deducted. Timing differences are differences arising between the Company's taxable profi ts and its results as stated in the fi nancial statements which are capable of reversal in one or more subsequent periods.

(h) Capital reserves

(i) Capital Reserve

Gains and losses on realisation of investments of a capital nature are dealt with in this reserve. Purchase of the Company's own shares to be either held in treasury or cancelled are also funded from this reserve. 75 per cent. of management fees are allocated to the capital reserve in accordance with the Board's expected split between long term income and capital returns.

(ii) Revaluation Reserve

Changes in fair value of unrealised investments, are dealt with in this reserve.

2. Income

2011
£'000
2010
£'000
Income from investments†
UK franked 281 195
UK unfranked 1,242 1,872
Redemption premium 374 335
1,897 2,402
Other income‡
Deposit interest 3 5
Other income 63
Total income 1,963 2,407
Total income comprises:
Dividends 282 195
Interest 1,681 2,212
1,963 2,407
Income from investments:
AIM-traded & listed securities 309 234
Unquoted securities 1,588 2,168
1,897 2,402

† All investments have been designated fair value through profi t or loss on initial recognition, therefore all investment income arises on investments at fair value through profi t or loss.

‡ Other income on fi nancial assets not designated fair value through profi t or loss.

3. Investment management fee

2011
£'000
2010
£'000
Investment management fee 1,540 1,520
Performance fee
1,540 1,520

For the purposes of the revenue and capital columns in the income statement, the management fee has been allocated 25 per cent. to revenue and 75 per cent. to capital, in line with the Board's expected long term return in the form of income and capital gains respectively from the Company's investment portfolio.

The management agreement may be terminated by either party giving twelve months notice of termination. The Manager, ISIS EP LLP, receives a fee of 2.5 per cent. per annum of the net assets of the Company, calculated and payable on a quarterly basis.

The Manager is entitled to a performance fee when the total return on net proceeds of the ordinary share offers exceeds 8 per cent. per annum (on a simple rather than compound basis) on net funds raised. To the extent that the Total Return exceeds this threshold, a performance fee (plus VAT) will be paid to the Manager of 10 per cent. of the excess. The performance fee payable in any one year will be capped at 5 per cent. of the Shareholders' funds at the end of the calculation period. No performance fee is payable for the year ended 31 December 2011 (2010: £nil).

In addition, the Manager receives an annual secretarial and accounting fee that was initially fi xed at £33,816 in 2006 and is revised annually to refl ect the movement in RPI, plus a variable fee of 0.125 per cent. of the net assets of the Company which exceed £5 million. The annual fee was initially capped at £102,212 per annum and is also revised annually to refl ect the movement in RPI. It is chargeable 100 per cent. to revenue.

Amounts payable to the Manager at the year end are disclosed in note 10.

4. Other expenses

2011
£'000
2010
£'000
Directors' fees 73 74
Secretarial and accounting fees 113 109
Remuneration of the auditors and their associates:
– audit 22 16
– other services supplied pursuant to legislation (interim review) 5 5
– other services supplied relating to taxation 9 5
Trail Commission (17)
Other 143 168
365 360

From 1 January 2011 to 30 September 2011, the Chairman received £23,500 per annum (2010: £23,500). Each of the other Directors received £15,500 per annum (2010: £15,500). From 1 October 2011 to 31 December 2011, the Chairman received £25,000 per annum and the Chairman of the Audit and Risk Committee received £20,000 per annum. Each of the other Directors received £17,500 per annum.

Charges for other services provided by the auditors in the year ended 31 December 2011 were in relation to the interim review and tax compliance work (including iXBRL). The Audit and Risk Committee reviews the nature and extent of non-audit services to ensure that independence is maintained. The Directors consider the auditors were best placed to provide these services.

5. Tax on ordinary activities

5a. Analysis of charge for the year

2011
£'000
2010
£'000
UK corporation tax

The income statement shows the tax charge allocated between revenue and capital.

5b. Factors affecting tax charge for the year

The tax charge for the year is lower than the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK for a company. The differences are explained below:

Revenue
£'000
2011
Capital
£'000
Total
£'000
Revenue
£'000
2010
Capital
£'000
Total
£'000
Profi t on ordinary activities before taxation 1,213 2,072 3,285 1,667 5,568 7,235
Corporation tax at rate of 26.5 per cent. (2010: 28 per cent.) 321 549 870 467 1,559 2,026
Effect of:
Non-taxable dividend income (74) (74) (55) (55)
Non-taxable investment gains (855) (855) (1,878) (1,878)
Marginal relief (3) 3
Losses carried forward/(utilised) 59 59 (93) (93)
Tax charge for the year (note 5a) 244 (244) 412 (412)

At 31 December 2011 the Company had surplus management expenses of £1,856,000 (2010: £1,498,000) which have not been recognised as a deferred tax asset. This is because the Company is not expected to generate taxable income in a future period in excess of the deductible expenses of that future period and, accordingly, the Company is unlikely to be able to reduce future tax liabilities through the use of existing surplus expenses. Due to the Company's status as a VCT, and the intention to continue meeting the conditions required to obtain approval in the foreseeable future the Company has not provided deferred tax on any capital gains and losses arising on the revaluation or disposal of investments.

6. Dividends

Revenue
£'000
2011
Capital
£'000
Total
£'000
Revenue
£'000
2010
Capital
£'000
Total
£'000
Amounts recognised as distributions to equity holders in the year:
For the year ended 31 December 2010
– Interim dividend of 3.0p per ordinary share paid on 15 September 2010 673 1,164 1,837
– Final dividend of 4.5p per ordinary share paid on 8 April 2011 546 2,183 2,729
For the year ended 31 December 2011
– First interim dividend of 3.0p per ordinary share paid on 29 September 2011 389 1,407 1,796
– Second interim dividend of 4.5p per ordinary share paid on 9 December 2011 597 2,092 2,689
1,532 5,682 7,214 673 1,164 1,837

In the 2011 fi nancial year Baronsmead VCT 3 paid a second interim dividend in lieu of a fi nal dividend which resulted in three dividend payments during the year.

7. Returns per share

The 5.46p return per ordinary share (2010: 12.07p return) is based on the net profi t from ordinary activities after taxation of £3,285,000 (2010: £7,235,000 profi t) and on 60,112,945 ordinary shares (2010: 59,933,988), being the weighted average number of shares in circulation during the year.

8. Investments

All investments are designated fair value through profi t or loss at initial recognition, therefore all gains and losses arise on investments designated at fair value through profi t or loss.

Financial Reporting Standard 29 'Financial Instruments: Disclosures' (the Standard) requires an analysis of investments valued at fair value based on the reliability and signifi cance of the information used to measure their fair value. The level is determined by the lowest (that is the least reliable or independently observable) level of input that is signifi cant to the fair value measurement for the individual investment in its entirety as follows:

  • Level 1 investments whose prices are quoted in an active market.
  • Level 2 investments whose fair value is based directly on observable current market prices or indirectly being derived from market prices.
  • Level 3 investments whose fair value is determined using a valuation technique based on assumptions that are not supported by observable current market prices or based on observable market data.
2011
£'000
2010
£'000
Level 1
Listed interest bearing securities 9,979 16,287
Investments traded on AIM 14,402 12,522
Investments listed on LSE 1,318 1,561
Investment traded on NYSE 179
25,699 30,549
Level 2
Collective investment vehicle (Wood Street Microcap Investment Fund) 2,826 2,123
Level 3
Unquoted investments 30,787 30,735
59,312 63,407

8. Investments (continued)

2011
£'000
2010
£'000
Equity shares 28,324 18,170
Loan notes 21,009 28,790
Preference shares 160
Interest bearing securities 9,979 16,287
59,312 63,407
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
Listed
interest
bearing
securities
£'000
Traded
on AIM
£'000
Listed
on LSE
£'000
Traded
on NYSE
£'000
Collective
investment
vehicle
£'000
Unquoted
£'000
Total
£'000
Opening book cost 16,287 15,437 1,204 157 1,825 22,315 57,225
Opening unrealised (depreciation)/appreciation (2,915) 357 22 298 8,420 6,182
Opening valuation 16,287 12,522 1,561 179 2,123 30,735 63,407
Movements in the year:
Reclassifi cation in year (525) 525
Purchases at cost 81,924 2,469 700 6,800 91,893
Sales – proceeds (88,232) (323) (109) (10,551) (99,215)
– realised (losses)/gains on sales (11) (70) 1,905 1,824
Unrealised gains realised during the year 263 22 4,424 4,709
Increase/(decrease) in unrealised appreciation 7 (768) (22) 3 (2,526) (3,306)
9,979 14,402 1,318 2,826 30,787 59,312
Closing book cost 9,979 17,310 1,729 2,525 24,893 56,436
Closing unrealised (depreciation)/appreciation (2,908) (411) 301 5,894 2,876
9,979 14,402 1,318 2,826 30,787 59,312

During the year the Company incurred brokerage costs on purchases of £1,800 (2010: £1,600) and brokerage costs on sales of £1,000 (2010: £4,000) in respect of ordinary shareholder interests.

The gains and losses included in the above table have all been recognised in the income statement on page 32.

The Standard requires disclosure, by class of fi nancial instruments, if the effect of changing one or more inputs to reasonably possible alternative assumptions would result in a signifi cant change to the fair value measurement. The information used in determination of the fair value of Level 3 investments is chosen with reference to the specifi c underlying circumstances and position of the investee company. The portfolio has been reviewed and both downside and upside reasonable possible alternatives have been identifi ed and applied to the valuation of each of the unquoted investments. Applying the downside alternatives the value of the unquoted investments would be £2 .8 million or 9.2 per cent. lower. Using the upside alternative the value would be increased by £2.4 million or 7.8 per cent.

9. Debtors

2011
£'000
2010
£'000
Prepayments and accrued income 562 447
Other debtors 14
562 461

10. Creditors (amounts falling due within one year)

2011
£'000
2010
£'000
Management , secretarial and accounting fees due to the Manager 405 435
Other creditors 57 58
462 493

11. Called-up share capital

Allotted, called-up and fully paid:

Ordinary Shares £'000
67,619,851 ordinary shares of 10p each listed at 31 December 2010 6,762
67,619,851 ordinary shares of 10p each listed at 31 December 2011 6,762
6,977,317 ordinary shares of 10p each held in treasury at 31 December 2010 (698)
235,000 ordinary shares of 10p each sold during the year previously held in treasury 24
880,000 ordinary shares of 10p each repurchased during the year and held in treasury (88)
7,622,317 ordinary shares of 10p each held in treasury at 31 December 2011 (762)
59,997,534 ordinary shares of 10p each in circulation at 31 December 2011 6,000

As at 1 6 February 2012 the Company's issued share capital was 67,619,851 ordinary shares of 10 pence each, of which 7,622,317 were held in treasury. The number of shares in circulation was 59,997,534 ordinary shares carrying one vote each.

The capital of the Company is managed in accordance with its investment policy, in pursuit of its investment objectives, both of which are detailed in the Report of the Directors on pages 18 and 19.

Treasury shares

The Companies (Acquisition of Own Shares) (Treasury Shares) Regulations 2003 came into force on 1 December 2003 and allowed the Company to hold shares acquired by way of market purchase as treasury shares, rather than having to cancel them. Shareholders have previously approved a resolution permitting the Company to issue shares from treasury at a discount to the prevailing NAV if the Board considers it in the best interests of the Company to do so. However, treasury shares will not be sold at a discount wider than the discount prevailing at the time the shares were initially bought back by the Company. It is the Board's intention only to use the mechanism of reissuing treasury shares when demand for the Company's shares is greater than the supply available in the market place. Such issues would be captured under the terms of the Prospectus Directive and subject to the annual cap of 5 million Euros on funds raised before requiring a full prospectus, although they would not be considered by HM Revenue & Customs to be new shares entitling the purchaser to initial income tax relief, and therefore shares are unlikely to be issued from treasury in the same year as a ''top up'' offer for subscription.

The Company does not have any externally imposed capital requirements.

Where shares are bought back but not cancelled the issued share capital remains unchanged. The NAV is calculated by using the number of shares in issue less those bought back and held in treasury.

12. Reserves

15,012 10,862 24,262 2,876 321
(5,682) (1,532)
969
244
(1,155)
1,403
1,824
4,709 (4,709)
(6)
(613)
15,012 10,862 24,941 6,182 884
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
Revenue
reserve
Capital
Share
premium
redemption
reserve
Capital
reserve
Revaluation
reserve

At 31 December 2011, reserves distributable by way of dividend amounted to £21,264,000 (2010: £23,587,000), comprising the capital reserve and revenue reserve less the net unrealised loss on those level one investments whose prices are quoted in an active market and deemed readily realisable.

* The total of these items is £3,285,000 which agrees to the total profi t on ordinary activities after taxation on page 32.

13. Net asset value per share

The net asset value per share and the net asset values attributable to the ordinary shares at the year end are calculated in accordance with their entitlements in the Articles of Association and were:

Net asset value
Number of shares
per share attributable
Net asset value attributable
2011 2010 2011 2010 2011 2010
number number pence pence £'000 £'000
Ordinary shares (basic) 59,997,534 60,642,534 100.16 106.60 60,095 64,643
Ordinary shares (treasury) 67,619,851 67,619,851 99.16 105.32 67,050 71,219

Basic net asset value per share is based on net assets at the year end, and on 59,997,534 (2010: 60,642,534) ordinary shares, being the respective number of shares in circulation at the year end.

The treasury net asset value per share as at 31 December 2011 included ordinary shares held in treasury valued at the mid share price of 91.25p at 31 December 2011 (2010: 94.25p).

14. Analysis of changes in cash

As at 31 December 2011 683 1,268
Net cash outfl ow (585) (765)
Beginning of year 1,268 2,033
2011
£'000
2010
£'000

15. Reconciliation of profi t on ordinary activities before taxation to net cash (outfl ow)/infl ow from operating activities

2011
£'000
2010
£'000
Profi ton ordinary activities before taxation 3,285 7,235
Gains on investments (3,227) (6,708)
Increase in debtors (101) (117)
( Decrease)/increase in creditors (31) 23
Income reinvested (201)
Net cash (outfl ow)/infl ow from operating activities (74) 232

16. Contingencies, guarantees and fi nancial commitments

At 31 December 2011 there were no contingent liabilities, guarantees or fi nancial commitments of the Company.

17. Signifi cant interests

There are no interests of 20 per cent. or more of any class of share capital in any underlying holdings in investee companies.

Further information on the signifi cant interests is disclosed on pages 9 to 11.

18. Financial instruments

The Company's fi nancial instruments comprise equity and fi xed interest investments, cash balances and liquid resources including debtors and creditors. The Company holds fi nancial assets in accordance with its investment policy to invest in a diverse portfolio of UK growth businesses, whether unquoted or traded on AIM.

Fixed asset investments (see note 8) are valued at fair value. For quoted securities this is either bid price or the last traded price, depending on the convention of the exchange on which the investment is quoted. In respect of unquoted investments, these are fair valued by the Directors (using rules consistent with IPEV. The fair value of all other fi nancial assets and liabilities is represented by their carrying value in the balance sheet.

The Company's investing activities expose it to various types of risk that are associated with fi nancial instruments and markets in which it invests. The most important types of fi nancial risk to which the Company is exposed are market risk, credit risk and liquidity risk.

The nature and extent of the fi nancial instruments outstanding at the balance sheet date and the risk management policies employed by the Company are discussed in notes 19 to 22.

19. Market risk

Market risk embodies the potential for both loss and gains and includes interest rate risk and price risk.

The Company's strategy on the management of investment risk is driven by the Company's investment objective as outlined in note 18. The management of market risk is part of the investment management process and is typical of private equity investment. The portfolio is managed in accordance with policies and procedures in place as described in more detail in the Report of the Directors on pages 18 to 20, with an awareness of the effects of adverse price movements through detailed and continuing analysis, with an objective of maximising overall returns to shareholders. Investments in unquoted stocks and AIM traded companies, by their nature, involve a higher degree of risk than investments in the main market. Some of that risk can be mitigated by diversifying the portfolio across business sectors and asset classes. The Company's overall market positions are monitored by the Board on a quarterly basis.

Details of the Company's investment portfolio at the balance sheet date are disclosed in the schedule of investments set out on pages 9 to 11. An analysis of investments between debt and equity instruments is disclosed in note 8.

31 per cent. (2010: 25 per cent.) of the Company's investments are listed on the London Stock Exchange, traded on AIM or invested through Wood Street Microcap Fund. A 5 per cent. increase in stock prices as at 31 December 2011 would have increased the net assets attributable to the Company's shareholders and the total profi t for the year by £927,000 (2010: £819,000); an equal change in the opposite direction would have decreased the net assets attributable to the Company's shareholders and the total profi t for the year by an equal amount.

52 per cent. (2010: 48 per cent.) of the Company's investments are in unquoted companies held at fair value. Valuation methodology includes the application of earning multiples derived from either listed companies with similar characteristics or recent comparable transactions. Therefore the value of the unquoted element of the portfolio may also be indirectly affected by price movements on the listed exchanges. A 5 per cent. increase in the valuations of unquoted investments at 31 December 2011 would have increased the net assets attributable to the Company's shareholders and the total profi t for the year by £1,539,000 (2010: £1,537,000); an equal change in the opposite direction would have decreased the net assets attributable to the Company's shareholders and the total profi t for the year by an equal amount.

20. Interest rate risk

At 31 December 2011 £6,799,000 (2010: £9,387,000) fi xed rate securities were held by the Company. As a result, the Company is subject to exposure to fair value interest rate risk due to fl uctuations in the prevailing levels of market interest rates.

At 31 December 2011 £21,009,000 (2010: £17,611,000) fi xed rate loan notes were held by the Company. The weighted average coupon rate for the loan note securities is 9.34 per cent. as at 31 December 2011 (2010: 8.48 per cent.). Due to complexity of the instruments and uncertainty surrounding timing of redemption the weighted average time for which the rate is fi xed has not been calculated.

The table below summarises weighted average effective interest rates for the fi xed interest-bearing fi nancial instruments:

2011 2010
Total
fi xed
rate
portfolio
£'000
Weighted
average
interest
rate
%
Weighted
average
time for
which rate
is fi xed
days
Total
fi xed
rate
portfolio
£'000
Weighted
average
interest
rate
%
Weighted
average
time for
which rate
is fi xed
days
Fixed rate
Fixed interest instruments 6,799 0.2 3 9,387 0.5 12

Floating rate

When the Company retains cash balances, the majority of cash is ordinarily held on interest bearing deposit accounts and, where appropriate, within an interest bearing money market open ended investment company ("OEIC"). The benchmark rate which determines the interest payments received on interest bearing cash balances is the bank base rate which was 0.5 per cent. as at 31 December 2011 (2010: 0.5 per cent.).

2011
£'000
2010
£'000
Floating rate
Floating rate instruments ("OEIC") 3,180 6,900
Cash at bank and on deposit 683 1,268
3,863 8,168

21. Credit risk

Credit risk is the risk that a counterparty to a fi nancial instrument will fail to discharge an obligation or commitment that it has entered into with the Company. The Investment Manager has in place a monitoring procedure in respect of counterparty risk which is reviewed on an ongoing basis. The carrying amounts (value) of fi nancial assets best represents the maximum credit risk exposure at the balance sheet date.

At the reporting date, the Company's fi nancial assets exposed to credit risk amounted to the following:

2011
£'000
2010
£'000
Investments in fi xed interest instruments 6,799 9,387
Investments in fl oating rate instruments 3,180 6,900
Cash at bank and on deposit 683 1,268
Interest, dividends and other receivables 562 461
11,224 18,016

Credit risk arising on fi xed interest instruments is mitigated by investing in UK Government Stock.

Credit risk arising on fl oating rate instruments is mitigated by investing in money market open ended investment companies managed by BlackRock and JPMorgan Chase ("JPM"). Credit risk on unquoted loan stock held within unlisted investments is considered to be part of market risk as disclosed in note 19.

Credit risk arising on transactions with brokers relates to transactions awaiting settlement. Risk relating to unsettled transactions is considered to be small due to the short settlement period involved and the high credit quality of the brokers used. The Board monitors the quality of service provided by the brokers used to further mitigate this risk.

Credit risk on fi xed interest investments in unlisted companies is managed as part of the Company's main investment management procedures.

All the assets of the Company which are traded on a recognised exchange are held by JPM, the Company's custodian. The Board monitors the Company's risk by reviewing the custodian's internal control reports .

Substantially all of the cash held by the Company is held by JPM. The Board monitors the Company's risk by reviewing regularly JPM's internal control reports as previously described. Should the credit quality or the fi nancial position of JPM deteriorate signifi cantly the Investment Manager will seek to move the cash holdings to another bank.

There were no signifi cant concentrations of credit risk to counterparties at 31 December 2011 or 31 December 2010. No individual investment exceeded 9.4 per cent. of the net assets attributable to the Company's shareholders at 31 December 2011 (2010: 8.8 per cent.).

22. Liquidity risk

The Company's fi nancial instruments include investments in unquoted companies which are not traded in an organised public market as well as AIM-traded equity investments both of which generally may be illiquid. As a result, the Company may not be able to liquidate quickly some of its investments in these instruments at an amount close to their fair value in order to meet its liquidity requirements, or to respond to specifi c events such as deterioration in the creditworthiness of any particular issuer.

The Company's liquidity risk is managed on an ongoing basis by the Investment Manager in accordance with policies and procedures in place as described in the Report of the Directors on page 19. The Company's overall liquidity risks are monitored on a quarterly basis by the Board.

The Company maintains suffi cient investments in cash and readily realisable interest bearing securities to pay accounts payable and accrued expenses. At 31 December 2011 these investments were valued at £10,662,000 (2010: £17,555,000).

23. Related parties

Related party transactions include Management, Secretarial, Accounting and Performance fees payable to the Manager, ISIS EP LLP, as disclosed in notes 3 and 4, and fees paid to the Directors as disclosed in note 4. In addition, the Manager operates a Co-Investment Scheme, detailed in the Report of the Directors on page 22, whereby employees of the Manager are entitled to participate in certain unquoted investments alongside the Company.

24. Post balance sheet events

On 12 January 2012 the Company launched an offer for subscription to raise just less than €5 million which is the equivalent of £4.135 million. This offer became fully subscribed on 7 February 2012.

Notice is hereby given that the eleventh Annual General Meeting of Baronsmead VCT 3 plc will be held at the London Stock Exchange, 10 Paternoster Square, London EC4M 7LS on Wednesday, 11 April 2012 at 10:30 a.m. for the purposes of considering and, if thought fi t, passing the following resolutions, resolutions 1 to 8 being proposed as ordinary resolutions and resolutions 9 to 11 being proposed as special resolutions:

    1. That the Report and Accounts for the year to 31 December 2011 be received.
    1. That the Directors' Remuneration Report for the year to 31 December 2011 be approved.
    1. That Anthony Townsend be re-elected as a director of the Company.
    1. That Andrew Karney be re-elected as a director of the Company.
    1. That Gillian Nott be re-elected as a director of the Company.
    1. That KPMG Audit Plc, Chartered Accountants, be re-appointed as independent auditors.
    1. That the directors of the Company are authorised to determine the remuneration of the auditors.
    1. THAT, in substitution for all subsisting authorities to the extent unused, the directors of the Company be and are hereby generally and unconditionally authorised, in accordance with section 551 of the Companies Act 2006, to exercise all the powers of the Company to allot shares in the Company and to grant rights to subscribe for or to convert any security into shares in the Company ("Rights") up to an aggregate nominal amount of £1,799,926 during the period commencing on the passing of this resolution and expiring on the fi fth anniversary of the date of the passing of this resolution (unless previously revoked, varied, renewed or extended by the Company in general meeting), but so that this authority shall allow the Company to make before the expiry of this authority offers or agreements which would or might require shares to be allotted or Rights to be granted after such expiry and the directors of the Company shall be entitled to allot shares or grant Rights pursuant to any such offers or agreements as if the authority conferred by this resolution had not expired.
    1. THAT, subject to the passing of resolution 8 set out in the notice of this meeting, the directors of the Company be and are hereby empowered, pursuant to sections 570 and 573 of the Companies Act 2006 (the "Act") to allot equity securities (as defi ned in section 560 of the Act) including the grant of rights to subscribe for or to convert any security into shares of the Company, for cash pursuant to the authority conferred by resolution 9 set out in the notice of this meeting, and to sell equity securities held by the Company as treasury shares for cash, as if section 561(1) of the Act did not apply to any such allotment and sales of equity securities, provided that this power shall be limited to:
  • (a) the allotment of equity securities up to an aggregate nominal amount representing 10 per cent. of the issued share capital of the Company (excluding treasury shares) pursuant to one or more offers for subscription;
  • (b) the allotment of equity securities up to an aggregate nominal amount representing 10 per cent. of the issued share capital of the Company (excluding treasury shares) from time to time which may be issued at a discount to NAV pursuant to any dividend reinvestment scheme operated by the Company; and
  • (c) the allotment of equity securities (otherwise than pursuant to sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) above) up to an aggregate nominal amount representing 10 per cent. of the issued share capital of the Company (excluding treasury shares) from time to time which may be at a discount to NAV; and

in each case where such proceeds of issue may be used to purchase shares in the Company and the power conferred by this resolution shall expire on the date falling 15 months after the date of the passing of this resolution (unless previously revoked, varied, renewed or extended by the Company in general meeting) or, if earlier, at the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting of the Company to be held in 2013, except that the Company may, before such expiry, make offers or agreements which would or might require equity securities to be allotted after such expiry and the directors of the Company shall be entitled to allot equity securities pursuant to any such offers or agreements as if the power conferred by this resolution had not expired.

    1. THAT in substitution for the Company's existing authority to make market purchases, the Company be and hereby is empowered to make market purchases within the meaning of section 693(4) of the Companies Act 2006 (the "Act") of ordinary shares of 10p each in the capital of the Company ("Ordinary Shares") on such terms and in such manner as the directors of the Company shall from time to time determine, provided that:
  • (a) the aggregate number of Ordinary Shares which may be purchased shall not exceed 14.99% of the Company's Ordinary Shares in issue at the date of the Annual General Meeting, excluding any Ordinary Shares held in treasury (equivalent to 8,993,630 Ordinary Shares at 17 February 2012, the date of this Notice of Annual General Meeting);
  • (b) the minimum price which may be paid for an Ordinary Share is the nominal value thereof of 10 pence;
  • (c) the maximum price which may be paid for an Ordinary Share is an amount equal to the higher of (i) an amount equal to 105 per cent. of the average of the middle market quotation for an Ordinary Share taken from the London Stock Exchange daily offi cial list for the fi ve business days immediately preceding the day on which such Ordinary Share is to be purchased; and (ii) the amount stipulated by Article 5(1) of the Buyback and Stabilisation Regulation 2003;
  • (d) the authority conferred by this resolution shall expire on the date falling 15 months after the date of the passing of this resolution or, if earlier, the conclusion of the annual general meeting to be held in 2013, unless such authority is renewed prior to such time; and
  • (e) the Company may make a contract to purchase Ordinary Shares under the authority conferred by this resolution prior to the expiry of such authority which will or may be executed wholly or partly after the expiration of such authority and may make a purchase of such Ordinary Shares pursuant to such contract as if the power conferred by this resolution had not expired.
    1. THAT a general meeting (other than an annual general meeting) may be called on not less than 14 clear days' notice, provided that this authority shall expire at the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company.

By Order of the Board

ISIS EP LLP Company Secretary Baronsmead VCT 3 plc 100 Wood Street London EC2V 7AN

17 February 2012

    1. No Director has a service contract with the Company.
    1. To be entitled to attend and vote at the meeting (and for the purposes of the determination by the Company of the number of votes they may cast), members must be registered in the Register of Members of the Company at 6:00 pm on 5 April 201 2 (or in the event of any adjournment, 48 hours before the time of the adjourned meeting). Changes to the Register of Members of the Company after the relevant deadline shall be disregarded in determining the rights of any person to attend and vote at the meeting.
    1. A member entitled to attend and vote at the meeting is entitled to appoint a proxy or proxies to attend, speak and vote on his or her behalf. A proxy need not also be a member, but must attend the meeting to represent you. Details of how to appoint the Chairman of the meeting or another person as your proxy using the proxy form are set out in the notes to the proxy form. If you wish your proxy to speak on your behalf at the meeting you will need to appoint your own choice of proxy (not the Chairman) and give your instructions directly to them.
    1. To appoint more than one proxy, an additional proxy form(s) may be obtained by contacting the Company's registrars, Computershare Investor Services PLC, helpline on 0870 703 0137 or you may photocopy the proxy form. Please indicate in the box next to the proxy holder's name, the number of shares in relation to which they are authorised to act as your proxy. Please also indicate by ticking the box provided, if the proxy instruction is one of multiple instructions being given. All forms must be signed and should be returned together in the same envelope.
    1. A reply paid form of proxy is enclosed with Shareholders' copies of this document. To be valid, it should be lodged with the Company's registrars, Computershare Investor Services PLC, The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol BS99 6ZZ so as to be received not later than 10:30 am on 5 April 2012 or, 48 hours before the time appointed for any adjourned meeting or, in the case of a poll taken subsequent to the date of the meeting or adjourned meeting, so as to be received no later than 24 hours before the time appointed for taking the poll.
    1. A person authorised by a corporation is entitled to exercise (on behalf of the corporation) the same powers as the corporation could exercise if it were an individual member of the Company. On a vote on a resolution on a show of hands, each authorised person has the same voting rights as the corporation would be entitled to. On a vote on a resolution on a poll, if more than one authorised person purports to exercise a power in respect of the same share:
  • (a) If they purport to exercise the power in the same way as each other, the power is treated as exercised in that way; or
  • (b) If they do not purport to exercise the power in the same way as each other, the power is treated as not exercised.
    1. Any person receiving a copy of this Notice as a person nominated by a member to enjoy information rights under section 146 of the Companies Act 2006 (a ''Nominated Person'') should note that the provisions in Notes 3 and 4 above concerning the appointment of a proxy or proxies to attend the meeting in place of a member, do not apply to a Nominated Person as only Shareholders have the right to appoint a proxy. However, a Nominated Person may have a right under an agreement between the Nominated Person and the member by whom he or she was nominated to be appointed, or to have someone else appointed, as a proxy for the meeting. If a Nominated Person has no such proxy appointment right or does not wish to exercise it, he/she may have a right under such an agreement to give instructions to the member as to the exercise of voting rights at the meeting.
    1. Nominated persons should also remember that their main point of contact in terms of their investment in the Company remains the member who nominated the Nominated Person to enjoy information rights (or, perhaps the custodian or broker who administers the investment on their behalf). Nominated Persons should continue to contact that member, custodian or broker (and not the Company) regarding any changes or queries relating to the Nominated Person's personal details and interest in the Company (including any administrative matter). The only exception to this is where the Company expressly requests a response from a Nominated Person.
  • Appointment of a proxy will not preclude a member from subsequently attending and voting at the meeting should the member subsequently decide to do so. A member can only appoint a proxy using the procedures set out in these notes and the notes to the proxy card. The termination of the authority of a person to act as a proxy must be notifi ed to the Company in writing. Amended instructions must be received by Computershare Investor Services PLC by the deadline for receipt of proxies.

Should a member wish to appoint a proxy electronically, such proxy appointment must be registered electronically at www.eproxyappointment.com, so as to be received not later than 10:30 am on 5 April 2012 or 48 hours before the time appointed for any adjourned meeting or, in the case of a poll taken subsequent to the date of the meeting or adjourned meeting, so as to be received no later than 24 hours before the time appointed to take the poll. To vote electronically, you will be asked to provide the Control Number, Shareholder Reference Number (SRN) and PIN, details of which are contained in the personalised proxy card enclosed. This is the only acceptable means by which proxy instructions may be submitted electronically.

  1. CREST members who wish to appoint a proxy or proxies by utilising the CREST electronic proxy appointment service may do so for the meeting and any adjournment(s) thereof by utilising the procedures described in the CREST manual, which is available to download from the Euroclear website (www.euroclear.com/CREST). CREST personal members or other CREST sponsored members, and those CREST members who have appointed a voting service provider(s), should refer to their CREST sponsor or voting service provider(s), who will be able to take the appropriate action on their behalf.

In order for a proxy appointment made by means of CREST to be valid, the appropriate CREST message (a ''CREST Proxy Instruction'') must be properly authenticated in accordance with Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited's specifi cations and must contain the information required for such instructions, as described in the CREST manual. The message must be transmitted so as to be received by the Issuer's agent ( 3 RA 50) by the latest time for receipt of proxy appointments specifi ed in note 5 above. For this purpose, the time of receipt will be taken to be the time (as determined by the timestamp applied to the message by the CREST applications host) from which the issuers agent is able to retrieve the message by enquiry to CREST in the manner prescribed by CREST.

CREST members and, where applicable, their CREST sponsors or voting service provider(s) should note that Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited does not make available special procedures in CREST for any particular messages. Normal system timings and limitations will therefore apply in relation to the input of CREST Proxy Instructions. It is the responsibility of the CREST member concerned to take (or, if the CREST member is a CREST personal member or sponsored member or has appointed a voting service provider(s), to procure that his CREST sponsor or voting service provider(s) take(s)) such action as shall be necessary to ensure that a message is transmitted by means of the CREST system by any particular time. In this connection, CREST sponsors or voting service providers are referred, in particular, to those sections of the CREST manual concerning practical limitations of the CREST system and timings.

The Company may treat as invalid a CREST Proxy Instruction in the circumstances set out in Regulation 35(5) of the Uncertifi cated Securities Regulations 2001.

  • 11 As at 1 6 February 2011 the Company's issued share capital consists of 67,619,851 Ordinary Shares of which 7,622,317 are held in Treasury. The total number of voting rights in the Company is 59,997,534 .
    1. A copy of the Notice of Annual General Meeting and the information required by Section 311A Companies Act 2006 is included on the Company's website, www.baronsmeadvct3.co.uk.
    1. Any electronic address provided either in this Notice or in any related documents (including the form of proxy) may not be used to communicate with the Company for any purposes other than those expressly stated.
    1. Section 319A of the Companies Act 2006 requires the directors to answer any question raised at the AGM which, relates to the business of the meeting, although no answer need be given (a) if to do so would interfere unduly with the preparation of the meeting or involve disclosure of confi dential information; (b) if the answer has already been given on the Company's website; or (c) if it is undesirable in the best interests of the Company or the good order of the meeting.

Members satisfying the thresholds in section 527 of the Companies Act 2006 can require the Company to publish a statement on its website setting out any matter relating to (a) the audit of the Company's accounts (including the auditor's report and the conduct of the audit) that are to be laid before the Annual General Meeting; or (b) any circumstances connected with an auditor of the Company ceasing to hold offi ce since the last Annual General Meeting, that the members propose to raise at the meeting. The Company cannot require the members requesting the publication to pay its expenses, Any statement required to be placed on the website must also be sent to the Company's auditors no later than the time it makes its statement available on the website. The business which may be dealt with at the meeting includes any statement that the Company has been required to publish on its website.

By attending the meeting, members and their proxies and representatives are understood by the Company to have agreed to receive any communications relating to the Company's shares made at the meeting.

    1. Under sections 338 and 338A Companies Act 2006, members meeting the threshold requirements in those sections have the right to require the Company:
  • (i) to give, to members of the Company entitled to receive notice of the meeting, notice of a resolution which may properly be moved and is intended to be moved at the meeting, and/or
  • (ii) to include in the business to be dealt with at the meeting any matter (other than a proposed resolution) which may be properly included in the business.

A resolution may properly be moved or a matter may properly be included in the business unless:

  • (a) ( in the case of a resolution only) it would, if passed, be ineffective (whether by reason of inconsistency with any enactment or the company's constitution or otherwise);
  • (b) it is defamatory of any person; or
  • (c) it is frivolous or vexatious.

Such a request may be in hard copy form or in electronic form, and must identify the resolution of which notice is to be given or the matter to be included in the business, must be authorised by the person or persons making it, must be received by the Company not later than six weeks before the meeting, and (in the case of a matter to be included in the business only) must be accompanied by a statement setting out the grounds for the request.

Shareholder Information and Contact Details

The Board has a policy of regular and open communication with shareholders based around quarterly statutory reporting. Electronic communication was introduced following new legislation in the 2006 Companies Act and the Baronsmead VCT 3's website is www.baronsmeadvct3.co.uk.

The Manager for Baronsmead VCT 3 plc is ISIS EP LLP.

For information on asset allocations, dividend policies, investment process, DRIP mechanism, share price movements, the share price discount and selling shares please contact:

By email: [email protected] ; [email protected]

By telephone: Michael Probin 020 7506 5796; Margaret Barff 020 7506 5630.

Internet: www.isisep.com

For comparative performance data of Baronsmead VCT and other generalist VCTs please visit the AIC performance statistics page at: www.theaic.co.uk/statistics-publications

The Registrar for Baronsmead VCT 3 is Computershare Investors Services PLC. To change the details held by Computershare in respect of your shareholding, including change of address, bank account details, joining the DRIP, please contact them as follows:

Baronsmead shareholder helpline: 0870 703 0137

(calls charged at geographical and national rates)

The Baronsmead shareholder helpline is available on UK business days between Monday and Friday, 8.30a.m. to 5p.m. If you wish to speak to someone please press '0'. The automated self-service system is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You will need your Shareholder Reference Number (SRN), which for security reasons you should always keep confi dential and is available on your share certifi cate and dividend tax voucher, in order to:

  • confi rm the latest share price
  • confi rm your current share holding balance
  • confi rm payment history
  • order a Change of Address, Dividend Bank Mandate or Stock Transfer Form

Managing online your own shareholding via the Investor Centre: www.investorcentre.co.uk

Computershare's secure website, Investor Centre, enables shareholders to manage their shareholding online. Using your SRN you will be able to do the following:

  • Holding Enquiry view balances, values, history, payments and reinvestments
  • Payments Enquiry view your dividends and other payment types
  • Address Change change your registered address
  • Bank Details Update choose to receive your dividend payments directly into your bank account instead of by cheque
  • e-Comms sign-up choose to receive email notifi cation when your shareholder communications become available instead of paper communications
  • Outstanding Payments reissue payments using our online replacement service
  • Downloadable Forms including dividend mandates, stock transfer, dividend reinvestment and change of address forms
  • By email – [email protected]

Shareholder Information and Contact Details

Share Price

The Company's ordinary 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. Share price information can also be obtained from the link on the Company's website and many fi nancial websites.

Trading Shares

The Company's shares can be bought and sold in the same way as any other quoted company on the London Stock Exchange via a stockbroker. As buying and selling existing shares in VCTs is complex, Shareholders should seek to trade shares on a "best execution" basis if appropriate.

The marketmakers in the shares of Baronsmead VCT 3 plc are:

Matrix Corporate Capital LLP 020 3206 7000
Singer Capital Markets Limited 020 3205 7500
Winterfl ood Securities Limited 020 3400 0251

Financial Calendar

11 April 2012 Annual General Meeting
August 2012 Announcement of interim results and posting of half-yearly report
February 2013 Announcement of fi nal results for year to 31 December 2012

Additional Information

The information provided in this report has been produced in order for shareholders to be informed of the activities of the Company during the period it covers. ISIS EP LLP does not give investment advice and the naming of companies in this report is not a recommendation to deal in them.

Baronsmead VCT 3 plc is managed by ISIS EP LLP which is Authorised and regulated by the FSA. Past performance is not necessarily a guide to future performance. Stock markets and currency movements may cause the value of investments and the income from them to fall as well as rise and investors may not get back the amount they originally invested. Where investments are made in unquoted securities and smaller companies, their potential volatility may increase the risk to the value of, and the income from, the investment.

Corporate Information

Directors

Anthony Townsend (Chairman)‡ Andrew Karney† Gillian Nott OBE* Ian Orrock

Secretary

ISIS EP LLP

Registered Office

100 Wood Street London EC2V 7AN

Investment Manager

ISIS EP LLP 100 Wood Street London EC2V 7AN

FPPE LLP ( listed interest bearing securities only) 100 Wood Street London EC2V 7AN

Investor Relations

Michael Probin 020 7506 5796

Registered Number

04115341

  • ‡ Chairman of the Nomination Committee and Chairman of the Management Engagement and Remuneration Committee
  • † Senior Independent Director
  • * Chairman of the Audit and Risk Committee

Registrars and Transfer Office

Computershare Investor Services PLC PO Box 82 The Pavilions Bridgwater Road Bristol BS99 6ZZ Tel: 0870 703 0137

Brokers

Matrix Corporate Capital LLP One Vine Street London W1J 0AM

Auditors

KPMG Audit Plc Saltire Court 20 Castle Terrace Edinburgh EH1 2EG

Solicitors

Norton Rose LLP 3 More London Riverside London SE1 2AQ

VCT Status Adviser

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP 1 Embankment Place London WC2N 6RH

Website

www.baronsmeadvct3.co.uk

Warning to Shareholders

Many companies are aware that their shareholders have received unsolicited phone calls or correspondence concerning investment matters. These are typically from overseas based ''brokers'' who target UK shareholders offering to sell them what often turn out to be worthless or high risk shares in US or UK investments. They can be very persistent and extremely persuasive. Shareholders are therefore advised to be very wary of any unsolicited advice, offers to buy shares at a discount or offers for free company reports.

Please note that it is very unlikely that either the Company or the Company Registrar, Computershare, would make unsolicited telephone calls to shareholders and that any such calls would relate only to offi cial documentation already circulated to shareholders and never in respect of investment ''advice''.

If you are in any doubt about the veracity of an unsolicited phone call, please call either the Company or the Registrar at the telephone numbers provided on page 50.

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