Albion Venture Capital Trust PLC: Annual Financial Report
Albion Venture Capital Trust PLC
LEI number: 213800JKELS32V2OK421As required by the UK Listing Authority’s Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules 4.1 and 6.3, Albion Venture Capital Trust PLC today makes public its information relating to the Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2020.This announcement was approved for release by the Board of Directors on 1 July 2020.This announcement has not been audited.The Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2020 (which have been audited), will shortly be sent to shareholders. Copies of the full Annual Report and Financial Statements will be shown via the Albion Capital Group LLP website by clicking www.albion.capital/funds/AAVC/31Mar2020.pdf.The information contained in the Annual Report and Financial Statements will include information as required by the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules, including Rule 4.1.Investment policyAlbion Venture Capital Trust PLC (the “Company”) is a venture capital trust and the investment policy is intended to produce a regular dividend stream with an appreciation in capital value.The Company will invest in a broad portfolio of smaller, unquoted growth businesses across a variety of sectors including higher risk technology companies. Investments may take the form of equity or a mixture of equity and loans. Allocation of funds will be determined by the investment opportunities which become available but efforts will be made to ensure that the portfolio is diversified both in terms of sector and stage of maturity of company. Funds held pending investment or for liquidity purposes will be held as cash on deposit.Risk diversification and maximum exposures
Risk is spread by investing in a number of different businesses within venture capital trust qualifying industry sectors. The maximum amount which the Company will invest in a single portfolio company is 15 per cent. of the Company’s assets at cost, thus ensuring a spread of investment risk. The value of an individual investment may increase over time as a result of trading progress and it is possible that it may grow in value to a point where it represents a significantly higher proportion of total assets prior to a realisation opportunity being available.Gearing
The Company’s maximum exposure in relation to gearing is restricted to 10 per cent. of the adjusted share capital and reserves.Background to the CompanyThe Company is a venture capital trust which raised a total of £39.7 million through an issue of Ordinary shares in 1996 and through an issue of C shares in the following year. The C shares merged with the Ordinary shares in 2001. The Company has raised a further £40.6 million under the Albion VCTs Top Up Offers since 2011.On 25 September 2012, the Company acquired the assets and liabilities of Albion Prime VCT PLC (“Prime”) in exchange for new shares in the Company, resulting in a further £14.3 million of net assets.Financial calendarFinancial summary