Schroder British Opportunities Trust plc announced that director Diana Dyer Bartlett has been appointed as senior independent non-executive director of the Company, in addition to her role as chair of the audit & risk committee. Separately, the Company has also decided to form a new valuations committee, to be chaired by director Professor Tim Jenkinson, a leading authority on private equity and the mechanisms of valuation. This decision recognises the importance of the Board's oversight role on valuations and the need for shareholders to have confidence in the outcomes.

The valuations committee will review, and where necessary challenge, the valuations carried out by the specialist in-house valuations team at Schroders. This team operates independently of the portfolio management team. Valuations are calculated using established methodologies and public market comparators in accordance with International Private Equity and Venture Capital guidelines.

The outcome of the valuations committee will be then subject to further review by the audit & risk committee and, in respect of the annual results, the Company's external auditors. The changes above are effective immediately.