SVE.L Regulatory News (SVE)

2 May 2006 11:00

Starvest PLC02 May 2006 Starvest plc Chairman's update for shareholders - May 2006 Investment performance I am pleased to report that the significant progress achieved during the sixmonths to the interim reporting date of 31 January 2006 has been maintained. Theachievements of the past three months have been: •Raised £1.7m cash and made a gross profit of £1.64m by reducing the holding in African Platinum plc; the Company continues to have a substantial holding of 10.25m ordinary shares in African Platinum plc. •Based on mid-market closing prices on Friday 28 April the position was: + •Company net asset value pre tax: £17.7m + •Net asset value per share pre tax: 42.8 per share, fully diluted + •Starvest share price: 26 pence + •Share price discount to NAV: 39.27% + •NAV increase since 31 January 2006: £1.2m •This valuation is arrived at after deducting a full tax provision on the realised investment profits. •Since the Interim report issued as at 31 January 2006, Starvest has made new investments in Sunrise Diamonds plc, and added to its investment in Fundy Minerals Limited and St Helen's Capital plc. In addition, it has acquired an interest in Greatland Gold Limited, a company with advanced gold resources in Western Australia and Tasmania. Starvest has committed to further support the company on its admission to AIM which is expected during June 2006. •The Core Business plc has successfully raised funds and been admitted to AIM. •Concorde Oil & Gas plc has announced that, subject to raising the necessary funds during May, it expects to conclude an acquisition of operational oil and gas assets in the Russian Federation, this to be followed by a transfer from Ofex to AIM. •Myhome International plc declared a first profit with accelerating expansion and a share price to match. The Board continues to be very pleased with the 24 investments held; we expectcontinued growth during the next two years during which we will take a cautiousview in changing markets. Extraordinary general meeting The resolutions before Members at the extraordinary general meeting held on 14March 2006 were duly passed. The Company is in the process of submitting apetition to the High Court to have the deficit on the profit and loss accountcancelled, thus bringing forward the time when a dividend may be paid or theCompany may purchase its own shares. An update will be provided in the annualreport due during September 2006. Taxation A number of Shareholders have enquired as to the status of the Company's sharesfor the purposes of capital gains tax and inheritance tax. The Company'sadvisers, Grant Thornton, have opined that the tax position of Shareholdersshould be as follows: •Taper relief: The Company should be regarded as a qualifying company for business asset taper relief applicable for capital gains tax purposes. •Business property relief: Although the Company's shares are listed on AIM, business property relief from inheritance tax is not available where the business of the company consists of dealing in securities, stocks or shares; this is Starvest's business. Shareholders should always seek their own professional advice on personaltaxation matters. The Company now holds trade investments in the following companies: •Addworth plc Active capital investment company www.addworth.co.uk •African Platinum plc Platinum group metals in Southern Africa www.afplats.com •Agricola Resources plc Platinum and uranium exploration www.agricolaresources.com •Belmore Resources (Holdings) plc Zinc exploration in Ireland www.belmoreresources.com •Beowulf Mining plc Gold and copper exploration in Sweden www.beowulfmining.com •Black Rock Oil & Gas plc Oil and gas in Southern England,Columbia and Australia www.blackrockpertroleum.com.au •Brazilian Diamonds Limited Diamond exploration in Brazil www.braziliandiamonds.com •Carpathian Resources Limited Oil and gas in the Czech and Slovak Republics www.carpathian.com.au •Concorde Oil & Gas plc Operational oil & gas projects in the Russian Federation •The Core Business plc Personal care and beauty products •Franchise Investment Strategies plc Franchise consultancy and investment www.fisplc.com •Franconia Minerals Corporation North American minerals www.franconiaminerals.com •Fundy Minerals Limited Gold and base metal exploration in Canada and West Africa www.fundyminerals.com •Gippsland Limited Tantalum exploration in Egypt www.gippslandltd.com.au •Greatland Gold Limited Gold exploration in Western Australia and Tasmania •Hidefield Gold plc Gold exploration in North and South America www.hidefield.co.uk •India Star Energy plc Oil & gas investments •Matisse Holdings plc Cash shell •Myhome International plc Domestic cleaning services www.myhomeplc.com •Red Rock Resources plc Iron ore and manganese exploration in Australia; uranium exploration in Malawi. www.rrrplc.com •Regency Mines plc Copper & nickel exploration in Australia www.regency-mines.com •Sheba Exploration (UK) plc Gold exploration in Ethiopia www.shebagold.com •St Helen's Capital plc Corporate finance advisor www.sthelenscapital.co.uk •Sunrise Diamonds plc Diamond exploration in Finland www.sunrisediamonds.com Shareholders who wish to receive electronic copies of announcements are invitedto register their email address on the home page of the Company website:www.starvest.co.uk. Your Board plans to announce the full year results to 31 July 2006 during lateAugust and to hold the Company's Annual General Meeting during October 2006. R Bruce Rowan 2 May 2006Chairman & Chief Executive Enquiries to: •Bruce Rowan, telephone 020 7486 3997 or to •Tony Scutt, telephone 01483 475909 or to tony@starvest.co.uk END This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange