ShareSoc welcomes announcement of changes at the Oxford Technology VCTs

PRESS RELEASE 57 (31/07/2014)

The Oxford Technology VCT (OXT) and Oxford Technology 3 VCT (OTT) previously had their VCT status withdrawn by HMRC, although this has now been temporarily “set aside” pending an appeal. ShareSoc formed a “Shareholder Action Group” with a committee of interested shareholders to make representations on this matter and protect their interests.

We also pushed for changes to the corporate governance of these VCTs including changes in the directors (see the note dated the 1st July on this web page, where the history of events is documented).

Today the boards of these companies have announced major changes, with two new directors (Alex Starling and Richard Roth) on OXT and one new director (Robin Goodfellow) on OTT. Alex Starling will become the Chairman of OXT and Robin Goodfellow will become the Chairman of OTT. 

Lucius Cary, the fund manager, will resign as a director at the forthcoming AGM but we understand is remaining as fund manager and will advise the boards when necessary.

ShareSoc Deputy Chairman Roger Lawson had this to say on the above changes: “I welcome these changes and the appointment of Robin Goodfellow, who was one of the Shareholder Action Group committee members, is particularly appreciated. I think these changes provide a sounder footing for these companies in the future, although their small size is still a concern and we encourage the boards of these companies to consider a merger. I hope that these changes will also help with the appeal to HMRC as it should demonstrate that the boards of these companies will continue to strengthen their internal processes to avoid the kinds of mistake that led to the loss of VCT status. This campaign has achieved a clear success for shareholders whatever the outcome of the appeal to HMRC and I thank Tim Grattan for leading this campaign to date“.

Note that ShareSoc will issue some new and revised voting recommendations for the forthcoming AGMs of these companies on the 27th August as soon as the resolutions are published.

For further information, please contact:

Roger W. Lawson,
Deputy Chairman, ShareSoc
Telephone: 020-8467-2686
Email: info@sharesoc.org 

Or Tim Grattan on Telephone 01483-767741

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