Exhibit
99.1
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Renaissance
Capital Growth & Income Fund III, Inc.
Financing
Emerging Growth Companies
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October
23, 2006
Dear
Shareholder,
The
purpose of this letter is to bring you up-to-date on the progress of Renaissance
Capital Growth & Income Fund III (“RENN III” or the “Fund”) in various
areas.
Progress
is Being Made
On
September 22, 2006, we accomplished our first goal of becoming current with
our
annual filings as the Fund’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the years ended
December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005 were filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. We are now in the process of preparing the quarterly filings (Forms
10-Q) for these same periods to bring them current as well. Additionally, soon
we will also have current quarterly filings (Forms 10-Q) for the first two
quarters of 2006, and have plans to file the Form 10-Q for the third quarter
of
2006, in a timely manner.
With
these accomplishments, your Fund will be able to apply for listing on either
the
American Stock Exchange or the NASDAQ Stock Market. In our previous letters
and
filings, we have detailed the reasons for the delay in making our filings.
This
is also disclosed in the Forms 10-K which can be accessed at the SEC website
(www.sec.gov).
Before
year end, we are planning to send you the 2005 Annual Report (including the
Form
10-K) along with a proxy statement to elect directors and vote on any other
proposals to be listed in the proxy statement.
A
History of Success
Over
the
years, RENN III has been a successful fund. According to Lipper Analytical,
for
most of the Fund’s history, , the Fund has been ranked number one or two in
performance amongst closed end convertible bond funds. RENN III initially raised
money in 1994 and began full operations in 1995 with $39 million of net capital.
To date, your Fund has realized gains of over $76 million. RENN III has declared
cash distributions of $13.71 per share to shareholders.
An
Illustration of Success
As
of
October 9, 2006, a 10,000 share purchase ($100,000) made at the beginning of
the
Fund (1994) is currently worth $409,762.04 (33,206 shares) by participating
in
the dividend reinvestment program. Had this same investment not participated
in
the dividend reinvestment program the shareholder would have received $13.71
per
share in cash dividends or $137,100. In other words, all of the initial
investment was earned back ($10.00) plus $3.71, and as of October 9, 2006 the
shares would still have a net asset value per share of $12.34 or $123,400.
This
eleven year period includes three of the worst years in stock market history.
The NASDAQ market is still trading considerably below the highs of
2000.
8080
N.
Central Expressway
Suite 210-LB 59
Dallas, Texas 75206-1857
214-891-8294
214-368-4629
FAX:
214-891-8291
Possible
Change in Dividend Policy
One
of
the major challenges your Fund faces is having enough capital to invest in
new
opportunities. Under US tax law, as a regulated investment company, we must
pay
out all of our capital gains and income to shareholders; thus, we do not have
increasing funds to invest and are unable to grow the Net Asset Value on a
long-term basis. One partial solution that similar funds currently use is called
a deemed dividend. Under this method, the Fund pays the taxes of approximately
35% on the gains and treats these gains as a dividend paid to the shareholders.
The shareholders receive a tax credit that can be applied against income, or
even receive a refund if no income is present. With such a deemed dividend
program, more capital would be retained in the Fund. While the shareholders
do
not receive the gains directly, there are a number of advantages to this program
as sited above.
Your
Directors are studying the deemed dividend program as a way of helping to grow
your Fund. Meanwhile, we are considering the fourth quarter dividend of $0.10
per share to bring the cash distribution in 2006 to $0.40 per share. After
speaking with several large shareholders, I have received favorable comments
as
well as endorsement on the deemed dividend. If any shareholders would like
to
express their opinion, please send us a note or give us a call. Your Board
of
Directors will be making a decision on the deemed dividend before year
end.
Brief
Update
2006
has
been a difficult year for the stock market with worries about interest rates,
the economy, and continued problems in the Middle East. Our view is that 2006
is
a year of consolidation in the stock market after a very strong period from
the
fall of 2002 through 2005. We believe the bull market will resume with the
strongest area being emerging growth companies. The key to our progress is
trying to join successful management teams and staying with them while they
build their firms.
We
have a
number of interesting companies in our portfolio with significant participation
in medical and industrial technologies as well as a list of diversified growth
companies. We are studying a number of new possible investments. You will be
receiving a packet of information with the President’s letter, the Annual Report
(including the 2005 Form 10-K), and a proxy statement over the next few months.
Meanwhile, thank you for being a shareholder and lending us your
support.
/s/
Russell Cleveland
President
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Forward
Looking Statements
This
report contains forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current
views of the Fund with respect to future events and are subject to certain
risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Although the Fund believes that the
expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, should
one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying
assumptions prove incorrect, actual future results or events may vary materially
from those described herein. Past performance is not indicative of future
results. For additional information, please visit www.rencapital.com.
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Investor
Contact:
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Media
Relations Contact:
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RENN
Capital Group, Inc.
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Chris
Rosgen
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Michelle
Sparks: 214-891-8294
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Capital
Market Relations
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corpfin@rencapital.com
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(949)
481-9739
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“FINDING
VALUE, ADDING VALUE, REALIZING VALUE”