
Unaudited Half-Yearly Financial Report
Total | Cost at date | Exit | Total | ||
invested | of disposal | proceeds | return | ||
Company | Detail | (£) | (£) | (£) | (£) |
Data Centre Response Limited | Full disposal | 557,441 | 557,441 | 2,916,694 | 2,916,694 |
Key portfolio developments
The Yield Focused portfolio reduced in value by £113,000 during the period, with one company, Data Centre Response Limited, recognising a gain of £494,000 on exit, as noted above, and four companies recognising unrealised losses of £607,000:
Pilgrim Trading Limited , an operator and owner of two children's nurseries in West London, decreased in value by £437,000 after two periods of unsuccessful marketing proved the last independent valuation of the business to be unachievable in current market conditions. Consequently, the independent valuation has now been heavily discounted.
Kimbolton Lodge Limited , a nursing and care home in Bedfordshire, decreased in value by £67,000 to bring the valuation in line with the anticipated proceeds from a sale process that is currently underway.
Doneloans Limited , which holds a portfolio of secured loans, decreased in value by £67,000 driven by the cost of its own funding marginally exceeding interest receivable from its borrowers.
SF Renewables (Solar) Limited , which built and operates a solar plant in India, was reduced by £36,000 in line with the exit proceeds received post period end.
Outlook
With one exit during the period and another shortly after period end, there were six investments remaining in the Yield Focused portfolio at the time of writing. Downing is actively seeking to progress exits from both Kimbolton Lodge and Pilgrim Trading, though the latter is currently looking less likely to materialise. Given current market conditions, sales of the higher value, hotel-related investments, Baron House Developments and Cadbury House Holdings, are expected to take some time to complete. The recovery of value from Doneloans is linked largely to the sale of Pilgrim Trading, which is the lender's largest loan, but additional recoveries are anticipated from other borrowers over the next 12 months.
Downing LLP and Foresight Group LLP
20 December 2024
Quoted Growth portfolio
For the six months to 30 September 2024, Downing LLP continued to advise the Company on the Quoted Growth portfolio under a subcontract from Foresight Group LLP. From 1 October 2024, Foresight Group LLP took on full responsibility for management of the Quoted Growth portfolio.
Investment activity
Markets continued to be volatile through the reporting period. The impending Budget dominated market behaviours, particularly the FTSE AIM Index, where fears over an abolition of IHT reliefs on AIM shares adversely affected the market. In the end, this fear was overcooked, and the FTSE AIM All Share rallied 4% on the day of the Budget, as it was announced that reliefs on AIM shares would remain, albeit at half the relief previously enjoyed. Since the Budget, the new concern has been focused on the impact of National Insurance increases, which have weighed heavily on UK Small and Mid-Cap companies. There is a general acceptance that inflation will still be a looming threat and hence interest rates will remain higher for longer.
There were no investments or realisations made during the six months to 30 September 2024.
Key portfolio developments
At 30 September 2024, the Quoted Growth portfolio was valued at £13.4 million, comprising 36 active investments. Over the six-month period, the portfolio produced net valuation losses of £4.7 million, offset by £3.8 million received in dividends from the portfolio. Two companies, valued at £78,000 at year end, have been written down to nil during the period.
The most significant loss was incurred in Tracsis plc , a provider of transport technology, which saw valuation losses of £2.4 million during the period due to a profit warning, citing delays on rail infrastructure spend incurred due to the early election. This was exacerbated by contract delays in their US business.
This was offset by valuation gains elsewhere in the portfolio, where Anpario plc , a specialist manufacturer and distributor of natural sustainable feed additives for animal health, nutrition and biosecurity, increased by £680,000 net of £46,000 dividends received, reflecting an improvement in trading post supply chain issues experienced during the inflationary period post covid.
A net gain of £615,000 was made in Downing Strategic Micro ‐ Cap Investment Trust plc , where special dividends of £3.7 million were made during the period, as part of the managed wind-down of the Trust. Since the period end, a further special dividend of 2.2p, equating to £133,000, has been received by the Company.
Meanwhile Cohort plc, the parent company of six businesses providing a wide range of services and products for British, Portuguese and other international customers in defence and security markets, booked an unrealised gain of £558,000. This mirrored profit upgrades, contract renewals and strong financial results. This momentum has continued post period end.
As at 17 December 2024, the valuation of the Quoted Growth portfolio had decreased by £226,000 (-1.7%).
IBP Capital Markets Limited
As noted in the Annual Report, the Company recovered c.80% of its total Quoted Growth portfolio on 19 July 2024, with the remaining c.20% to be recovered following court proceedings, currently anticipated to take place in the second half of 2025. Up until July, the ability to trade the portfolio continued to be restricted and hence there has been limited ability to manage exposures within the portfolio. The Company is now able to trade its positions, having been unable to do so since October 2023.
Post-period end activity
Post period end, ahead of the Budget, shares were sold in 14 of the Company's Quoted Growth portfolio holdings. Notably, holdings in Anpario plc and Craneware plc were reduced, as well as in Impact Healthcare REIT plc, a non-qualifying holding. As previously communicated to Shareholders, the strategy going forward is to realise the Quoted Growth portfolio over time, which will free up funds to be redeployed into Unquoted Growth holdings.
Outlook
A number of the Quoted Growth companies in the portfolio have been consistently overoptimistic about hitting milestones for product development, revenues and ultimately profits. Given competition for capital amongst the wider portfolio of venture capital holdings, Foresight took the difficult decision to reduce a number of these positions. Achieving a total sale of individual holdings has not been possible, given that 20% of the Company's Quoted Growth assets are still tied up in the custodian IBP Capital Markets Limited (“IBP”), which remains in special measures. While this is frustrating, as it does not allow portfolio management to be conducted across the entire portfolio should changes need to be made, we are able to make them to substantially all of the holdings.
The Quoted Growth holdings have reduced as a percentage of the Company's total assets, but we firmly believe that by making these changes we have increased the overall quality and see an encouraging future, despite an uncertain macroeconomic background.
Downing LLP and Foresight Group LLP
20 December 2024
UNAUDITED HALF-YEARLY RESULTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES STATEMENTS
Principal risks and uncertainties
The principal risks faced by the Company are as follows:
- Investment performance Regulatory Operational Economic, political and other external factors
The Board reported on the principal and emerging risks and uncertainties faced by the Company in the Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024. A detailed explanation can be found on pages 26 to 28 of the Annual Report and Accounts, which is available on the Investment Adviser's website or by writing to Foresight Group at The Shard, 32 London Bridge Street, London SE1 9SG.
In the view of the Board, there have been no changes to the fundamental nature of these risks since the previous report and these principal risks and uncertainties are equally applicable to the remaining six months of the financial year as they were to the six months under review.
Directors' responsibility statement
The Disclosure and Transparency Rules (“DTR”) of the UK Listing Authority require the Directors to confirm their responsibilities in relation to the preparation and publication of the Half-Yearly Financial Report.
The Directors confirm to the best of their knowledge that:
a) The summarised set of financial statements has been prepared in accordance with FRS 104
b) The interim management report includes a fair review of the information required by DTR 4.2.7R (indication of important events during the first six months and description of principal risks and uncertainties for the remaining six months of the year)
c) The summarised set of financial statements gives a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of the Company as required by DTR d) The interim management report includes a fair review of the information required by DTR 4.2.8R (disclosure of related parties' transactions and changes therein)
Going concern
The Company's business activities, together with the factors likely to affect its future development, performance and position, are set out in the Strategic Report of the Annual Report. The financial position of the Company, its cash flows, liquidity position and borrowing facilities are described in the Chair's Statement, Strategic Report and Notes to the Accounts of the 31 March 2024 Annual Report. In addition, the Annual Report includes the Company's objectives, policies and processes for managing its capital; its financial risk management objectives; details of its financial instruments; and its exposures to credit risk and liquidity risk.
The Company has adequate financial resources at the period end and holds a diversified portfolio of investments. As a consequence, the Directors believe that the Company is well placed to manage its business risks successfully.
The Directors have reasonable expectation that the Company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus they continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the half-yearly financial statements.
The Half-Yearly Financial Report has not been audited nor reviewed by the auditors.
On behalf of the Board
Atul Devani
Chair
20 December 2024
UNAUDITED INCOME STATEMENT
For the six months ended 30 September 2024
Six months ended 30 September 2024 (Unaudited) | Six months ended 30 September 2023 (Unaudited) | Year ended 31 March 2024 (Audited) | |||||||
Revenue | Capital | Total | Revenue | Capital | Total | Revenue | Capital | Total | |
£'000 | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | |
Realised gains/(losses) on investments | - | 2,202 | 2,202 | - | (5,203) | (5,203) | - | (8,015) | (8,015) |
Investment holding (losses)/gains | - | (10,311) | (10,311) | - | 1,028 | 1,028 | - | 3,465 | 3,465 |
Income | 4,187 | - | 4,187 | 1,065 | - | 1,065 | 906 | - | 906 |
Investment management fees | (404) | (404) | (808) | (449) | (449) | (898) | (863) | (863) | (1,726) |
Other expenses | (482) | - | (482) | (376) | - | (376) | (1,346) | - | (1,346) |
Return/(loss) on ordinary activities before taxation | 3,301 | (8,513) | (5,212) | 240 | (4,624) | (4,384) | (1,303) | (5,413) | (6,716) |
Taxation | - | - | - | (24) | 24 | - | - | - | - |
Return/(loss) on ordinary activities after taxation | 3,301 | (8,513) | (5,212) | 216 | (4,600) | (4,384) | (1,303) | (5,413) | (6,716) |
Return/(loss) per share | 1.9p | (4.8)p | (2.9)p | 0.1p | (2.5)p | (2.4)p | (0.7)p | (3.1)p | (3.8)p |
The total columns of this statement are the profit and loss account of the Company and the revenue and capital columns represent supplementary information.
All revenue and capital items in the above Income Statement are derived from continuing operations. No operations were acquired or discontinued in the period.
The Company has no recognised gains or losses other than those shown above, therefore no separate statement of total recognised gains and losses has been presented.
The Company has only one class of business and one reportable segment, the results of which are set out in the Income Statement and Balance Sheet.
There are no potentially dilutive capital instruments in issue and, therefore, no diluted earnings per share figures are relevant. The basic and diluted earnings per share are, therefore, identical.
UNAUDITED RECONCILIATION OF MOVEMENTS IN SHAREHOLDERS' FUNDS
For the six months ended 30 September 2024
Called-up | Share premium | Capital redemption | Special | Capital | Revaluation | Revenue | ||
share capital | account | reserve | reserve | reserve | reserve | reserve | Total | |
£'000 | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | |
As at 1 April 2024 | 1,775 | 2,522 | 71 | 86,901 | (10,791) | 6,057 | (4,619) | 81,916 |
Share issues in the period | 7 | 301 | - | - | - | - | - | 308 |
Expenses in relation to share issues | - | (46) | - | - | - | - | - | (46) |
Repurchase of shares | (55) | - | 55 | (2,340) | - | - | - | (2,340) |
Realised gains on disposal of investments | - | - | - | - | 2,202 | - | - | 2,202 |
Investment holding losses | - | - | - | - | - | (10,311) | - | (10,311) |
Dividends paid | - | - | - | - | (1,953) | - | - | (1,953) |
Management fees charged to capital | - | - | - | - | (404) | - | - | (404) |
Revenue return before taxation for the period | - | - | - | - | - | - | 3,301 | 3,301 |
Taxation for the period | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
As at 30 September 2024 | 1,727 | 2,777 | 126 | 84,561 | (10,946) | (4,254) | (1,318) | 72,673 |
Distributable reserves at 30 September 2024 total £51,490,000 (31 March 2024: £58,151,000).
UNAUDITED BALANCE SHEET
As at 30 September 2024
Registered number: 03150868
As at | As at | As at | |
30 September | 30 September | 31 March | |
2024 | 2023 | 2024 | |
(Unaudited) | (Unaudited) | (Audited) | |
£'000 | £'000 | £'000 | |
Fixed assets | |||
Investments held at fair value through profit or loss | 57,746 | 65,871 | 67,393 |
Current assets | |||
Debtors | 8,467 | 7,393 | 7,570 |
Cash and cash equivalents | 7,097 | 13,580 | 7,559 |
Total current assets | 15,564 | 20,973 | 15,129 |
Creditors | |||
Amounts falling due within one year | (637) | (1,077) | (606) |
Net current assets | 14,927 | 19,896 | 14,523 |
Net assets | 72,673 | 85,767 | 81,916 |
Capital and reserves | |||
Called-up share capital | 1,727 | 1,770 | 1,775 |
Share premium account | 2,777 | 2,252 | 2,522 |
Capital redemption reserve | 126 | 71 | 71 |
Special reserve | 84,561 | 85,122 | 86,901 |
Capital reserve | (10,946) | (5,627) | (10,791) |
Revaluation reserve | (4,254) | 3,619 | 6,057 |
Revenue reserve | (1,318) | (1,440) | (4,619) |
Equity shareholders' funds | 72,673 | 85,767 | 81,916 |
Net Asset Value per share | 42.1p | 48.5p | 46.1p |
UNAUDITED CASH FLOW STATEMENT
For the six months ended 30 September 2024
Six months ended | Six months ended | Year ended | |
30 September | 30 September | 31 March | |
2024 | 2023 | 2024 | |
(Unaudited) | (Unaudited) | (Audited) | |
£'000 | £'000 | £'000 | |
Cash flow from operating activities | |||
Loss on ordinary activities after taxation | (5,212) | (4,384) | (6,716) |
Loss on investments | 8,109 | 4,175 | 4,550 |
Increase in debtors | (1,768) | (891) | (1,134) |
Increase in creditors | 59 | 82 | 304 |
Net cash inflow/(outflow) from operating activities | 1,188 | (1,018) | (2,996) |
Cash flow from investing activities | |||
Purchase of investments | (1,125) | (2,209) | (4,394) |
Net proceeds on sale of investments | 2,917 | 3,295 | 3,433 |
Net proceeds on deferred consideration | 543 | 419 | 637 |
Net cash inflow/(outflow) from investing activities | 2,335 | 1,505 | (324) |
Cash flows from financing activities | |||
Proceeds of fundraising | - | 1,586 | 1,585 |
Expenses of fundraising | - | (7) | (7) |
Repurchase of own shares | (2,340) | (2,270) | (2,964) |
Equity dividends paid | (1,645) | (1,498) | (3,017) |
Net cash outflow from financing activities | (3,985) | (2,189) | (4,403) |
Net outflow of cash in the period | (462) | (1,702) | (7,723) |
Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net funds | |||
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents for the period | (462) | (1,702) | (7,723) |
Net cash and cash equivalents at start of period | 7,559 | 15,282 | 15,282 |
Net cash and cash equivalents at end of period | 7,097 | 13,580 | 7,559 |
Analysis of changes in net debt
As at 1 April 2024 £'000 | Cash flow £'000 | At 30 September 2024 £'000 | |
Cash and cash equivalents | 7,559 | (462) | 7,097 |
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED HALF-YEARLY RESULTS
For the six months ended 30 September 2024
1
The Unaudited Half-Yearly Financial Report has been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies set out in the statutory accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 March 2024. Unquoted investments have been valued in accordance with IPEV Valuation Guidelines.
2
These are not statutory accounts in accordance with s436 of the Companies Act 2006 and the financial information for the six months ended 30 September 2024 and 30 September 2023 has been neither audited nor formally reviewed. Statutory accounts in respect of the year ended 31 March 2024 have been audited and reported on by the Company's auditor and delivered to the Registrar of Companies and included the report of the auditor which was unqualified and did not contain a statement under s498(2) or s498(3) of the Companies Act 2006. No statutory accounts in respect of any period after 31 March 2024 have been reported on by the Company's auditor or delivered to the Registrar of Companies.
3
Copies of the Unaudited Half-Yearly Financial Report will be sent to Shareholders via their chosen method and will be available for inspection at the Registered Office of the Company at The Shard, 32 London Bridge Street, London SE1 9SG.
4 Net Asset Value per share
The Net Asset Value per share is based on net assets at the end of the period and on the number of shares in issue at the date.
Number of shares | ||
Net assets | in issue | |
30 September 2024 | £72,673,000 | 172,715,260 |
30 September 2023 | £85,767,000 | 176,968,887 |
31 March 2024 | £81,916,000 | 177,546,529 |
5 Return per share
The weighted average number of shares used to calculate the respective returns are shown in the table below.
Number of shares | |
Six months ended 30 September 2024 | 176,320,908 |
Six months ended 30 September 2023 | 179,310,912 |
Year ended 31 March 2024 | 178,234,061 |
Earnings for the period should not be taken as a guide to the results for the full year.
6 Income
Six months ended | Six months ended | Year ended | |
30 September | 30 September | 31 March | |
2024 | 2023 | 2024 | |
£'000 | £'000 | £'000 | |
Income from investments | |||
Loan stock interest | 240 | 920 | 424 |
Dividend income | 3,827 | 145 | 415 |
4,067 | 1,065 | 839 | |
Other income | 120 | - | 67 |
4,187 | 1,065 | 906 |
7 Investments held at fair value through profit or loss
Unquoted Growth investments £'000 | Unquoted Yield Focused investments £'000 | Quoted Growth investments £'000 | Total £'000 | |
Book cost at 1 April 2024 | 39,760 | 13,651 | 23,241 | 76,652 |
Investment holding losses at 1 April 2024 | (3,374) | (751) | (5,134) | (9,259) |
Valuation at 1 April 2024 | 36,386 | 12,900 | 18,107 | 67,393 |
Movements in the period: | ||||
Purchases | 1,125 | - | - | 1,125 |
Disposal proceeds | - | (2,917) | - | (2,917) |
Realised (losses)/gains on disposals1 | (775) | 2,360 | - | 1,585 |
Foreign exchange losses | (669) | - | - | (669) |
Investment holding losses2 | (1,554) | (2,473) | (4,744) | (8,771) |
Valuation at 30 September 2024 | 34,513 | 9,870 | 13,363 | 57,746 |
Book cost at 30 September 2024 | 40,110 | 13,094 | 23,241 | 76,445 |
Investment holding losses at 30 September 2024 | (5,597) | (3,224) | (9,878) | (18,699) |
Valuation at 30 September 2024 | 34,513 | 9,870 | 13,363 | 57,746 |
Investment holding losses in the Income Statement include unrealised losses which are a result of the deferred consideration debtor decrease of £871,000. The debtor movement reflects the recognition of amounts receivable in respect of DIA Imaging Analysis Limited (£45,000) and Firefly Learning Limited (£8,000), offset by receipts in respect of StorageOS Inc (£419,000), Efundamentals Group Limited (£96,000), Firefly Learning Limited (£74,000), Imagen Limited (£14,000) and DIA Imaging Analysis Limited (£14,000). Amounts were previously recognised as receivable but written down at 30 September 2024 in respect of Efundamentals Group Limited (£295,000), JRNI Limited (£8,000) and Imagen Limited (£4,000).
8 Contingencies, guarantees and financial commitments
As outlined in note 17 to the Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024, the Company has used IBP Capital Markets Limited (“IBP”) as custodian for its quoted investments since September 2020. Appointing a custodian is a requirement of the FCA; IBP is an FCA authorised and regulated wholesale broker, providing custody services and access to equity and fixed income securities for non-retail clients (which includes the Company). On 13 October 2023, the FCA published a supervisory notice under section 55L(3)(a) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, imposing certain restrictions on IBP. On the same date, IBP applied to the High Court and special administrators were appointed.
During the period since, the Investment Adviser has been actively collaborating with the special administrators to reach a resolution, which has involved reconciling quoted stocks held with IBP (“Custody Assets”) and cash held with IBP (“Client Money”). As at 13 October 2023, the Company held Client Money of £1.1 million (1.2% of indicative NAV on the same date), and Custody Assets of £16.9 million (19.5% of indicative NAV on the same date).
With regard to Custody Assets, whilst the final outcome remains subject to change, particularly as additional claims may be made, there have so far been two differences of value identified, together totalling a variance of £0.28 million, which was provided for at 31 March 2024. It was announced on 17 May 2024 that the special administrators would be making an interim distribution of 80% of eligible Custody Assets, and the transfer of these to the new custodian completed on 19 July 2024. The Company is now able to trade these assets on the quoted market. The remaining 20% withheld will be distributed as part of a Final Court Approved Distribution Plan, unless additional claims are made resulting in a break.
With regard to Client Money, a progress report was released on 12 April 2024 which identified a potential 44% cash shortfall equating to £0.46 million of Client Money held by the Company which was provided for at 31 March 2024. Any further deduction for fees relating to the special administration process is unknown at this point, but from the information available these are anticipated to be in the region of £0.14 million payable by the Company. These fees were accrued for as at 31 March 2024 and there has been no further adjustment to this estimate. The total potential exposure based on information available to date is therefore currently estimated to be £0.88 million, representing 1.2% of NAV at 30 September 2024.
As noted, the outcome remains subject to change with the final distribution plan being shared following the court proceedings. Timing of this is currently anticipated to take place in the second half of 2025. The Company will communicate with Shareholders if there is any new information which materially impacts the numbers presented in this report.
9 Related party transactions
No Director has an interest in any contract to which the Company is a party other than their appointment and payment as Directors.
10 Transactions with the Investment Adviser
Details of arrangements with Foresight Group LLP are given in the Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024, in the Directors' Report and notes 4 and 5. All arrangements and transactions were on an arm's length basis.
Foresight Group LLP was appointed as Investment Adviser on 4 July 2022 and earned fees of £808,000 during the period to 30 September 2024 (30 September 2023: £898,000; 31 March 2024: £1,726,000).
Foresight Group LLP is the Company Secretary (appointed on 1 September 2023) and received, for accounting and company secretarial services, fees of £75,000 during the period to 30 September 2024 (30 September 2023: £80,000; 31 March 2024: £156,000).
At the balance sheet date there was £nil due to Foresight Group LLP (30 September 2023: £nil; 31 March 2024: £nil).
11 Post-balance sheet events
On 5 November 2024, the Company purchased for cancellation 2,197,967 ordinary shares of 1p at a gross price of 42.37p per share.
A copy of the Unaudited Half-Yearly Financial Report will be submitted to the National Storage Mechanism in accordance with UK Listing Rules (“UKLR”)11.4.1 / UKLR 6.4.1 and UKLR 6.4.3.
END
For further information, please contact:
Company Secretary
Foresight Group LLP
Contact: Stephen Thayer Tel: 0203 667 8100
Investor Relations
Foresight Group LLP
Contact: Andrew James Tel: 0203 667 8181


Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Comments
No comment