British Smaller Companies VCT PLC Interim Management Statement (2320J)

TIDMBSV

RNS Number : 2320J

British Smaller Companies VCT PLC

15 August 2019

British Smaller Companies VCT plc

Interim Management Statement

For the quarter ended 30 June 2019

British Smaller Companies VCT plc (the "Company") presents its interim management statement for the quarter ended 30 June 2019. The statement also includes relevant financial information between the end of the quarter and the date of this statement. A copy of this interim management statement can be found at www.bscfunds.com.

Overview

Total Return was unchanged in the quarter at 221.7 pence per ordinary share.

The Company made three new and one follow-on investments of GBP7.8 million in the quarter, and on 12 June 2019 paid an interim dividend of 4.0 pence per ordinary share. In April 2019 the Company issued 28,769,702 ordinary shares relating to the fundraising with British Smaller Companies VCT2 plc receiving net proceeds of GBP21.3 million.

 
                              30 June 2019    Movement     31 March 
                                                              2019 
 Net Assets (GBPm)                98.7          16.7         82.0 
                             -------------  -----------  ------------ 
 NAV per share (PPS)             70.3p         (4.0p)        74.3p 
                             -------------  -----------  ------------ 
 Cumulative dividends paid 
  (PPS)                          151.4p         4.0p        147.4p 
                             -------------  -----------  ------------ 
 Total Return (PPS)              221.7p          -          221.7p 
                             -------------  -----------  ------------ 
 Shares in issue              140,535,138    30,177,340   110,357,798 
                             -------------  -----------  ------------ 
 

Performance

The movement in Total Return in pence per ordinary share is set out in the table below:

 
                                                                      Pence per 
                                                                    ordinary share 
 Cumulative dividends to 31 March 2019                              147.4 
 Net Asset Value ("NAV") at 31 March 2019                            74.3 
                                                                 -------- 
 Total Return at 31 March 2019                                                221.7 
 Net underlying increase in portfolio                                 0.1 
 Net income after expenses / share issues                           (0.1) 
                                                                 -------- 
 Change in Total Return                                                           - 
------------------------------------------  ----------  -------  --------  -------- 
 Total Return at 30 June 2019                                                 221.7 
------------------------------------------------   ------------  --------  -------- 
 
 

The Total Return at 30 June 2019, calculated by reference to the NAV per ordinary share and the cumulative dividends paid per ordinary share, was 221.7 pence per ordinary share compared to 221.7 pence per ordinary share at 31 March 2019. As a result of the payment of the annual dividend in the quarter, cumulative dividends paid increased by 4.0 pence per ordinary share to 151.4 pence per ordinary share (31 March 2019: 147.4 pence per ordinary share).

The unaudited NAV per ordinary share as at 30 June 2019 was 70.3 pence per ordinary share (31 March 2019: 74.3p pence per ordinary share), unchanged prior to the payment of the dividend of 4.0 pence per ordinary share on 12 June 2019.

The movement in NAV per ordinary share and the dividends paid are set out in the table below:

 
                                              GBPm            Pence per 
                                                            ordinary share 
 NAV at 31 March 2019                              82.0                74.3 
 Net underlying increase in portfolio       0.1             - 
 Net income after expenses                (0.1)             - 
 Issue of shares/buybacks                  22.3             - 
 Increase                                          22.3                   - 
 NAV before the payment of dividends              104.3                74.3 
 Dividends paid                                   (5.6)               (4.0) 
-----------------------------------------------  ------  ----  ------------ 
 NAV at 30 June 2019                               98.7                70.3 
-----------------------------------------------  ------  ----  ------------ 
 

Shares in issue

On 1 April 2019 the Company issued 28,769,702 ordinary shares relating to the fundraising at offer prices ranging between 76.00p and 77.52p per ordinary share, receiving net proceeds of GBP21.3 million.

Pursuant to its dividend re-investment scheme on 12 June 2019 the Company issued 2,397,364 ordinary shares at a price of 66.60 pence per ordinary share.

On 26 June 2019 the Company purchased 989,726 ordinary shares of 10 pence each at a price of 70.90 pence per ordinary share. These shares were placed in treasury.

The number of ordinary shares in issue at 30 June 2019 was 140,535,138 (31 March 2019: 110,357,798). In addition, at 30 June 2019 the Company held 8,964,899 ordinary shares in treasury (31 March 2019: 7,975,173).

Net assets

Net assets at 30 June 2019 comprised the following:

 
                                       % of net 
                              GBP000     assets 
 Unquoted investments at 
  fair value                  58,914       59.6 
 Quoted investments at 
  bid price                    1,348        1.4 
                             -------  --------- 
 Total investments            60,262       61.0 
 Listed investment funds       2,566        2.6 
 Cash and cash equivalents    34,547       35.0 
 Other net current assets      1,351        1.4 
                             -------  --------- 
 Net assets                   98,726      100.0 
                             =======  ========= 
 

The investment portfolio at 30 June 2019 was comprised as follows:

 
                                              Valuation 
                                                 as a % 
                                  Valuation      of net 
                                     GBP000      assets 
 ACC Aviation Group Limited           9,267         9.4 
 Matillion Limited                    6,118         6.2 
 Intelligent Office UK                4,454         4.5 
 Business Collaborator Limited        3,941         4.0 
 Deep-Secure Limited                  3,571         3.6 
 Eikon Holdco Limited                 3,513         3.5 
 Tonkotsu Limited                     2,388         2.4 
 Arcus Global Limited                 2,378         2.4 
 Springboard Research Holdings 
  Limited                             2,162         2.2 
 Wooshii Limited                      2,160         2.2 
                                     39,952        40.4 
 Other investments                   20,310        20.6 
 Total investments                   60,262        61.0 
                                 ==========  ========== 
 

During the quarter to 30 June 2019 the Company made three new investments of GBP6.7 million into Tonkotsu Limited (a ramen restaurant chain), Wooshii Limited (a disruptive video agency) and Elucidat Limited (a business with an e-learning software platform) and one follow-on investment of GBP1.1 million into Arcus Global Limited.

In the quarter to 30 June 2019 the realisation and repayment of investments and loans generated cash proceeds of GBP4.7 million. The proceeds included GBP1.9 million from the full realisation of the investment in Leengate Holdings Limited. In May 2019 Matillion Limited successfully raised $35 million to support its continued international expansion. At the same time the Company realised part of its investment for GBP2.1 million ($2.8 million) at an attractive valuation of $160 million. The proceeds received equate to the cost of the first investment in November 2016 while retaining just under 5 per cent of the ordinary share capital.

Portfolio Performance

The Board continues to maintain a diversified portfolio and at 30 June 2019 two investments represented more than 5 per cent of the Company's NAV, the largest being 9.4 per cent.

Fundraising

On 27 November 2018 the Company launched a new share offer with British Smaller Companies VCT2 plc. The offer closed on 11 February 2019 raising total gross proceeds for both companies of GBP35 million. The allotment of 28,769,702 new ordinary shares took place on 1 April 2019, subsequent to which the Company received net proceeds of GBP21.3 million.

Board Composition

Following Edward Buchan's decision to retire from the Board at the Annual General Meeting on 11 September 2019 the Board has completed a successful recruitment process.

Adam Bastin, who will join the Board at the Annual General Meeting on 11 September 2019, is currently VP of Corporate Development at ARM Limited, where he leads acquisitions and investments on behalf of Arm. He also holds non-executive positions at a number of growing technology businesses.

Jonathan Cartwright, who will join the Board on 1 October 2019, has held a number of non-executive positions in private and public companies and has extensive experience of investment trusts and VCTs. He is currently Chairman of Blackrock Income & Growth Investment Trust plc and is a non-executive director of Income & Growth VCT plc.

Outlook

The recent changes to HMRC's advance assurance process have helped to deliver an encouraging level of investment in the first quarter of the financial year with three new investments totalling GBP6.7 million, across a range of sectors.

The new investment pipeline remains strong with several attractive opportunities currently under review and opportunities to realise the value of some of the more mature investments are being considered.

The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU No. 596/2014). Upon the publication of this announcement via Regulatory Information Service this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.

15 August 2019

For further information please contact:

David Hall YFM Private Equity Limited Tel: [phone]

   Robert Naylor         Panmure Gordon (UK) Limited                             Tel:  [phone] 

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August 15, 2019 10:14 ET (14:14 GMT)