RNS Number:3206T
Private Investors Capital Trust PLC
16 December 2003



                      PRIVATE INVESTORS CAPITAL TRUST PLC

              Preliminary Announcement of the Interim Results (Unaudited)
                        For the six months to 30th November 2003


The Board of Private Investors Capital Trust plc (PICT) is pleased to announce
the results for the six months to 30th November 2003. The formal results which
follow at the end of this Announcement are presented in a format which
summarises the information which will be given in the forthcoming Interim
Report.


                               CHAIRMAN'S REVIEW
                    For the six months to 30th November 2003

The share price of Private Investors Capital Trust has risen by 10.3% over the
last six months, reflecting better global stockmarkets. The North American
economy has recovered, companies have started to report improving profits, and
most importantly investor confidence has returned. Indeed the 8% rate of GDP
growth reported for the United States in the third quarter of 2003 is a level
more typical of the Asian tiger economies. The UK, continental Europe and Japan
are moving forward in the wake of US growth. Internationally company managements
who reported a stabilisation in their businesses earlier in the year have become
cautiously optimistic.

This initial stage of the stockmarket recovery has been led by those companies
most damaged by recession, typically loss making cyclical businesses such as
steel and the commodity end of the technology industry. PICT's policy of long
term investment in good quality growth businesses means that these recovery
stocks are not in your portfolio; in spite of this the investments made
reasonable progress. However, there was one significant underperformer in the
portfolio, Goshawk. This specialist insurance company with a record of very good
performance was hit by the disclosure of inadequate underwriting reserves. The
resulting fall in the share price of this large holding partly explains why the
Net Asset Value underperformed the FTSE All-Share Index, but was to some extent
offset by strong returns from overseas investments.

Net Asset Value and Discount

The Net Asset Value increased by 6.4% during the six months since May which
compares with an increase of 9.0% in the FTSE All-Share Index and a rise of 9.1%
in the FTSE World (ex UK) Index. The discount at which the share price trades to
the Net Asset Value has been reduced over the interim period from 21% to below
18%. Your Board and management continue to work to reduce the discount. For
example, a low cost PICT Savings Scheme and ISA have been launched and promoted
to a targeted audience.

Borrowings

At the end of November the Trust had short term borrowings of #977,628
representing 4.6% of gross assets. These borrowings were offset by cash held in
Sterling. For the six months under review the loan was drawn in US Dollars and
Japanese Yen in approximately equal proportions. The net impact of the
fluctuations in exchange rates on the capital value of the loan outstanding was
not significant The loan has been rolled forward into Dollars, partly as a hedge
against the portfolio's significant exposure to that currency through owning
quality American businesses.



                          PRIVATE INVESTORS CAPITAL TRUST PLC

              Preliminary Announcement of the Interim Results (Unaudited)
                    For the six months to 30th November 2003




Dividend

An interim dividend of 2.7p net has been declared and will be paid on 21st
January 2004 to shareholders registered on 30th December 2003. This increase of
3.8% on last year's interim dividend of 2.6p compares favourably with the 2.5%
annualised rate of inflation.

Outlook

As we look forward to 2004 the investment outlook appears more promising than
for many years. There is growth in the global economy spearheaded by the United
States and Asia, where we continue to find attractive growth companies. This is
feeding through to sales growth, and even more importantly to increased profits
and dividends for our investments. The current environment of growth, while
interest rates rise only slowly, should allow these higher returns to be
reflected in better share prices.



                                            30th        30th      31st
Summary of Performance                  November    November       May
                                            2003        2002      2003

Net asset value per share                  318.6p      302.2p    299.4p
(fully-diluted)
Dividend per share (net)                     2.7p        2.6p      5.3p

                                       (interim)   (interim)   (total)

Share price                                262.0p      233.0p    237.5p
Discount                                      18%         23%       21%
Gross Assets1                              #22.3m      #20.2m    #21.0m

1 Total assets less current liabilities excluding overseas currency loans.


                          PRIVATE INVESTORS CAPITAL TRUST PLC

              Preliminary Announcement of the Interim Results (Unaudited)
                        For the six months to 30th November 2003


          STATEMENT OF TOTAL RETURN (Incorporating the Income Account)



INCOME RETURN               Six months to    Six months to     Year to
                                 30/11/03         30/11/02    31/05/03
                                     #000             #000        #000

Income

Dividends from UK                     142              122         289
companies

Dividends from overseas               100               79         194
companies

Interest on deposits                   18               21          40
                                  ---------        ---------   ---------

                                      260              222         523

Expenses

Investment management                 (20)             (19)        (42)
fee

Other administrative                  (76)             (59)       (102)
expenses                          ---------        ---------   ---------

Income before interest                164              144         379
payable and tax

Interest payable                      (14)             (13)        (27)
                                  ---------        ---------   ---------

Income on ordinary                    150              131         352
activities before tax

Tax                                    (7)              (9)        (18)
                                  ---------        ---------   ---------

Income attributable to                143              122         334
shareholders

Dividends*                           (149)            (144)       (293)
                                  ---------        ---------   ---------

(Deficit)/surplus for the              (6)             (22)         41
period                            ---------        ---------   ---------



INCOME RETURN PER SHARE -            2.58p            2.21p       6.04p
Basic                             ---------        ---------   ---------

- Fully-diluted                      2.28p            1.97p       5.29P
                                  ---------        ---------   ---------

*Total dividend per share of 2.7p for the period (2.6p for the six months to
30th November 2002 and 5.3p for the year to 31st May 2003).


CAPITAL RETURN                Six months to   Six months to    Year to
                                   30/11/03        30/11/02   31/05/03
                                       #000            #000       #000

Capital profits/(losses)

Realised (losses) on                   (453)         (1,321)      (919)
investments

Realised gains on currency                -              50         51
loans

Unrealised gains/losses on            1,856          (4,171)     (4742)
investments

Unrealised gains/(losses) on              1               -         18
currency loans                      ---------       ---------  ---------

                                      1,404          (5,442)     (5592)

Interest payable                        (43)            (40)       (81)

Investment management fee               (71)            (68)      (126)
                                    ---------       ---------  ---------

Capital gains/(losses)                1,290          (5,550)     (5799)
attributable to                     ---------       ---------  ---------
shareholders



CAPITAL RETURN PER SHARE -            23.32p        (100.33)p  (104.83)p
Basic                               ---------       ---------  ---------

- Fully-diluted                       19.70p         (82.40)p   (85.68)p
                                    ---------       ---------  ---------

TOTAL RETURN                  Six months to   Six months to    Year to
                                   30/11/03        30/11/02   31/05/03
                                       #000            #000       #000

Income attributable to                  143             122        334
shareholders

Capital gains/(losses)                1,290          (5,550)    (5,799)
attributable to                     ---------       ---------  ---------
shareholders

Total return attributable to          1,433          (5,428)    (5,465)
shareholders                        ---------       ---------  ---------



TOTAL RETURN PER SHARE -              25.90p         (98.12)p   (98.79)p
Basic                               ---------       ---------  ---------

- Fully-diluted                       21.98p         (80.43)p   (80.39)p
                                    ---------       ---------  ---------

                          PRIVATE INVESTORS CAPITAL TRUST PLC

              Preliminary Announcement of the Interim Results (Unaudited)
                        For the six months to 30th November 2003

                                 BALANCE SHEET


                               At 30/11/03   At 30/11/02   At 31/05/03
                                      #000          #000          #000

Investments

Equities

UK                                   9,894         9,447         9,575

USA                                  3,460         3,775         3,215

Japan                                1,052         1,012           860

Far East (ex UK)                     2,889         2,511         2,430

Continental Europe                   3,141         2,341         2,394

Emerging Markets                     1,054         1,101         1,275
                                   ---------     ---------     ---------

                                    21,490        20,187        19,749
                                   ---------     ---------     ---------

Current Assets

Debtors                                302            33            64

Cash and Deposits                    1,062           264         1,471
                                   ---------     ---------     ---------

                                     1,364           297         1,535
                                   ---------     ---------     ---------



Current Liabilities (due
within one year)

Creditors                             (389)         (100)         (103)

Overseas currency loan                (978)            -          (978)

Dividend payable                      (149)         (144)         (149)
                                   ---------     ---------     ---------

                                    (1,516)         (244)       (1,230)
                                   ---------     ---------     ---------

Net current (liabilities)/            (152)           53           305
assets                             ---------     ---------     ---------

Total Assets less Current           21,338        20,240        20,054
Liabilities



Less:

Creditors (due after one year)

3.25% Convertible Bonds 2009        (3,115)       (3,115)       (3,115)
                                   ---------     ---------     ---------

Total Net Assets                    18,223        17,125        16,939
                                   ---------     ---------     ---------

represented by:

Capital and Reserves

Ordinary share capital               5,532         5,532         5,532

Share premium account                6,694         6,694         6,694

Capital Redemption Reserve             105           105           105

Capital Reserve-realised             2,680         2,943         3,246

Capital Reserve-unrealised           2,875         1,570         1,019

Revenue Reserve                        337           281           343
                                   ---------     ---------     ---------

Equity Shareholders' funds          18,223        17,125        16,939
                                   ---------     ---------     ---------



Net asset value per share           329.43p       309.60p       306.23p
(basic)

Net asset value per share           318.55p       302.18p       299.40p

(diluted-FRS14)


                          PRIVATE INVESTORS CAPITAL TRUST PLC

              Preliminary Announcement of the Interim Results (Unaudited)
                        For the six months to 30th November 2003


                              CASH FLOW STATEMENT

                              Six months to   Six months to    Year to
                                   30/11/03        30/11/02   31/05/03
                                       #000            #000       #000

Operating activities

Dividends and interest                  259             233        480
received from investments

Interest received                        19              21         33
                                    ---------       ---------  ---------

                                        278             254        513
                                    ---------       ---------  ---------

Investment management fee               (89)            (97)      (174)

Directors' fees paid                    (21)            (21)       (42)

Other cash payments                     (69)            (39)       (67)
                                    ---------       ---------  ---------

Net cash inflow from                     99              97        230
operating activities                ---------       ---------  ---------

Returns on investments and
servicing

of finance

Interest paid                           (58)            (54)      (103)
                                    ---------       ---------  ---------

Net cash outflow from returns
on investments

and servicing of finance                (58)            (54)      (103)
                                    ---------       ---------  ---------

                                         41              43        127

Taxation

Tax (paid)/recovered                      -               -          -
                                    ---------       ---------  ---------

                                         41              43        127

Capital expenditure and
financial investment

Purchases of investments             (2,336)         (1,463)    (2,061)

Sales of investments                  2,035           1,955      2,824
                                    ---------       ---------  ---------

Net cash (outflow)/inflow
from capital expenditure
and financial investment               (301)            492        763
                                    ---------       ---------  ---------

Net cash (outflow)/inflow              (260)            535        890
before equity dividends

Equity dividends paid                  (149)           (144)      (288)
                                    ---------       ---------  ---------

Net cash (outflow)/inflow              (409)            391        602
before financing                    ---------       ---------  ---------

Financing

Overseas currency loan                    -            (911)      (912)
repaid

Overseas currency loan                    -               -        997
received                            ---------       ---------  ---------

Net cash (outflow)/inflow                 -            (911)        85
from financing                      ---------       ---------  ---------

Net cash (outflow)/inflow              (409)           (520)       687
                                    ---------       ---------  ---------

(Decrease)/increase in cash            (409)           (520)       687
                                    ---------       ---------  ---------


Notes

 1. The financial information contained within this Preliminary Announcement
    does not constitute statutory accounts as defined in Section 240 of the
    Companies Act 1985. The results for the year ended 31st May 2003 are an
    abridged version of the statutory accounts for those years, which received
    unqualified audit reports and did not contain statements under sections 237
    (2) or (3) of the Companies Act 1985. Statutory accounts for 2003 have been
    filed with the registrar of Companies.

 2. The Income Return Statement is the Income Account of the Company.

 3. The accounting policies applied in preparing these accounts are consistent
    with those applied in the latest published annual accounts.

 4. The terms of the Interim Report and the Preliminary Announcement were
    approved by the Board on 16th December 2003.



Enquiries:     Frances Mullan/Ivan Blair Tel: 0131 225 8484
               Adam & Company Investment Management Limited



16th December 2003



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