Thames Ventures VCT 2 plc
LEI: 21380035MV1VRYEXPR95
Half Yearly Results
22 December 2022
Financial Highlights
| Unaudited 30 September 2022 pence | Audited 31 March 2022 pence | Unaudited 30 September 2021 pence | |
| Ventures Share pool | |||
| Net Asset Value per Ventures Share | 68.50 | 68.20 | 68.50 |
| Cumulative distributions | 8.00 | 5.25 | 5.25 |
| Total Return per Ventures Share | 76.50 | 73.45 | 73.75 |
| Healthcare Share pool | |||
| Net Asset Value per Healthcare Share | 71.70 | 84.40 | 88.70 |
| Cumulative distributions | 8.75 | 5.25 | 5.25 |
| Total Return per Healthcare Share | 80.45 | 89.65 | 93.95 |
| AIM Share pool | |||
| Net Asset Value per AIM Share | 99.0 | 99.9 | n/a |
| Cumulative distributions | - | - | n/a |
| Total Return per AIM Share | 99.0 | 99.9 | n/a |
| DSO D Share pool | |||
| Net Asset Value per DSO D Share | 2.6 | 2.6 | 10.2 |
| Cumulative distributions | 102.0 | 102.0 | 94.5 |
| Adjusted for Performance Incentive estimate | - | - | (0.3) |
| Total Return per DSO D Share | 104.6 | 104.6 | 104.4 |
| DP67 Share pool | |||
| Net Asset Value per DP67 Share | 24.4 | 26.8 | 19.5 |
| Cumulative distributions (since original launch) | 67.8 | 67.8 | 67.8 |
| Total Return per DP67 Share | 92.2 | 94.6 | 87.3 |
Chairman’s Statement
Introduction
I am pleased to present the Company’s Half-Yearly Report for the six months ended 30 September 2022.
During the period the Company has seen a change of Investment Manager and a change of name. In terms of investments, macro-economic conditions are increasingly challenging, which have contributed to some mixed results over the period for the existing portfolio companies.
Investment Management Arrangements and Change of name
As set out to you in the Annual Report, Foresight Group LLP (“Foresight”) purchased the non-healthcare ventures division of Downing LLP in July 2022, and the Board consented for the investment management agreement to be novated to Foresight.
The management of the Healthcare Share pool remains with Downing LLP, who are also continuing to provide investment management services for the planned exit and AIM share pools alongside the administration services for the VCT as a whole.
On 2 September 2022 the Company changed its name to Thames Ventures VCT 2 plc to recognise the change in main Investment Manager.
Fundraising
After the period end, in October 2022, the Company launched a new offer for subscription for the Healthcare Share class, closely followed, in early November, by an offer for the Ventures Share class, seeking to raise up to £10 million in each class, with an overallotment facility of up to £10 million respectively.
The Board believes that the Company offers an attractive proposition for VCT investors, as both the Ventures and Healthcare Share pools are still relatively young although the earliest investments are now several years old and making progress towards maturing.
Full details of the offer can be found on the Foresight and Downing websites:
Ventures: www.foresightgroup.eu/products/thames-ventures-vct-2-plc
Healthcare: www.downing.co.uk/investor/products/vct
Evergreen Share pool review
Ventures Share pool
During the period, the Ventures Share pool made a number of new and follow-on investments totalling £3.5 million, as well as completing three full exits generating a total of £4.1 million proceeds. The Ventures Share class Total Return stood at 76.5p as at 30 September 2022. This is an increase of 3.0p or 4.5% in NAV over the period, after adjusting for the dividend of 2.75p per Ventures Share, paid on 30 September 2022.
The Net Asset Value per share (“NAV”) increase over the period results from several valuation uplifts within the portfolio, including Hackajob Limited and Cornelis Networks, Inc., which along with the other US Dollar denominated investments, had also benefitted significantly from the US Dollar strengthening against Sterling, although some of those gains have reversed since the period end, as Sterling has recovered some ground.
There was a final redemption from MI Downing UK Micro-Cap Growth Fund during the period, which has now returned all its funds as part of its wind up. The investment in Downing Strategic Micro-Cap Investment Trust plc fell in value during the period, broadly in line with the trend for small cap stocks.
A more detailed review of the Ventures Share pool is included in the Ventures Investment Manager’s.
Healthcare Share pool
The Healthcare Share pool continues to be managed by Downing LLP, who have a dedicated and enlarged Healthcare investment management team. During the period, the Healthcare Share pool made one follow-on investment of £805,000 in FVRVS Limited (trading as Fundamental VR), including the conversion of a loan note already held in the company. Proceeds of £842,000 were generated on two other exits completed in the period, discussed in more detail in the Investment Manager’s Report.
As at 30 September 2022, the Healthcare Share pool Total Return stood at 80.45p. This is a decrease of 9.2p or 10.9% on NAV over the period, after adjusting for the dividend of 3.5p per Healthcare Share, paid on 30 September 2022.
The NAV decrease over the period is largely attributable to the fall in the valuation of the two companies which floated on AIM in 2021: Arecor and GENinCode. Based on their quoted share prices as at 30 September 2022, Arecor and GENinCode showed unrealised valuation losses totalling £1.8 million for the period. Share market liquidity for both businesses is limited, amplifying the AIM market share price falls and volatility as the general economic climate deteriorates. The remaining investments in the Healthcare ventures portfolio showed unrealised losses of £100,000 for the period.
As with the Ventures Share pool, the Healthcare Share pool received a final redemption from MI Downing UK Micro-Cap Growth Fund, which has now wound up.
A more detailed review of the Healthcare Share pool is included in the Investment Manager’s Report on pages 9 to 11.
AIM Share pool
As part of the change in management arrangements, Downing has agreed to provide management services in respect of the AIM Share pool for an interim period.
The deal flow for VCT qualifying AIM raises has been disappointing as IPOs have dried up and market sentiment has not supported new fundraises, against a backdrop of deteriorating general economic conditions. However, the Manager continues to see all new qualifying secondary and imminent IPOs and is using this time to do enhanced due diligence on potential investments. Since the period end, funds have been invested in liquidity assets which include a yielding money market fund and a market tracker.
Planned Exit Share pools
As with the AIM Share pool, Downing LLP continues to provide investment management services in respect of the investments held by the planned exit share pools.
DSO D Share pool
The DSO D Share pool continues to hold the two remaining investments. At the period end, NAV stood at 2.6p. Total Return at 30 September 2022 stood at 104.6p per share, unchanged since 31 March 2022.
The Manager is finalising plans to exit from these two businesses with exposure to the hospitality sector, Pearce and Saunders Limited and Pearce and Saunders DevCo Limited. It is expected that these two investments will exit by Q2 2023.
A more detailed review of the DSO D Share pool is included in the Investment Manager’s Report on page 12.
DP67 Share pool
The DP67 Share pool continues to hold three remaining investments of value. At the period end, NAV stood at 24.4p. Total Return at 30 September 2022 stood at 92.2p per share, a decrease of 2.4p per share since 31 March 2022.
The DP67 Share pool has significant exposure to the hospitality sector and progress continues to be slow in the aftermath of the pandemic. However, the Manager is hopeful that it will be able to secure the remaining exits in the early months of 2023.
A more detailed review of the DP67 Share pool is included in the Investment Manager’s Report on page 14.
Dividends
On 30 September 2022, the Company paid dividends in respect of the year ended 31 March 2022 of 2.75p per Ventures Share and 3.5p per Healthcare Share. This brings the total dividends paid to date on each of the Ventures and Healthcare Share pools, to 8.0p and 8.75p respectively.
Dividends in respect of the Ventures and Healthcare Share classes are paid once a year, typically in September. Both share classes target a dividend level of at least 4% of NAV per annum.
For both the DSO D and DP67 Share pools, the next and final dividends will be declared once further realisations have taken place.
The AIM Share class has no target dividend and is unlikely to pay any dividend in these early years of its life.
Share buybacks
The Company operates a general policy of buying in shares from its Evergreen Share pools (Ventures, Healthcare and AIM) that become available in the market, subject to regulatory and liquidity factors. Any such purchases are undertaken at a price approximately equal to NAV (i.e. at a nil discount).
As the planned exit share classes are in the process of returning funds to Shareholders, the Company no longer operates a share buyback policy in respect of the DSO D and DP67 Share classes.
During the six-month period ended 30 September 2022, the Company repurchased Ventures Shares and Healthcare Shares, at average prices of 67.15p and 78.51p per share, respectively.
If you wish to sell or buy Shares in the Company, Panmure Gordon can supply details of closed periods etc. Contact details can be found on the Shareholder Information page of this Half-Yearly Report. Shareholders are reminded that any sales of shares before they have been held for five years from allotment will normally result in the loss of the initial income tax relief.
Outlook
The Board is encouraged by the continuing deployment of funds in building the Ventures Share portfolio, now under the management of the team at Foresight. There remains some cash for investment in this, and we hope to see new funds raised under the current offers which will support the existing portfolio, allowing further diversification as the Company takes advantage of new opportunities.
For the planned exit share pools, the ongoing delays in exiting the investments are frustrating, but we are now hopeful that these can be brought to a close in the near future. The Board is satisfied that the Manager’s strategy in working towards exits while seeking to achieve optimal values is sensible. We hope to complete the task of returning final funds to these shareholders within the next six months.
Although there are now significant challenges for businesses in most sectors, the Board believes that young growth companies still have the ability to offer attractive rewards to investors. Funds raised under the offers for subscription will allow the Company to take advantage of new such opportunities. The Board hopes to see the ventures investment team leverage the full benefits of the regional office network and other resources of the Foresight Group and will be looking to both Managers to identify suitable new potential investments to further diversify the portfolios, while also closely monitoring and supporting the existing investments.
I look forward to updating all Shareholders in my statement with the Annual Report, which we expect to publish in July 2023.
Sir Aubrey Brocklebank Bt.
Chairman
Investment Manager’s Report - Ventures Share Pool
Introduction
We are pleased to present our first review of the investment portfolio for the Ventures Share pool as Foresight Group LLP, following the acquisition by Foresight of Downing LLP’s non-healthcare ventures investment division in the summer.
This Investment Manager’s Report is split into two sections comprising this overview and a review of the portfolio. Where the Ventures Share pool has invested alongside the Healthcare Share pool, further valuation commentary can be found within the Investment Manager’s Report for the Healthcare Share pool, on pages 9 and 10.
Introduction to the Foresight Group
Foresight is a leading private equity and infrastructure investment manager with its parent company, Foresight Group Holdings Limited, listed on the London Stock Exchange. Established in 1984, Foresight has a track record of over 35 years investing into and growing small companies. The Foresight Group now has more than £12.5 billion of assets under management and a wide and varied investor base of private and institutional investors and has a commitment to attracting and retaining high quality and experienced staff.
We are pleased to report that the team that transferred from Downing is now well settled and is recruiting in line with expansion plans. They are also now starting to benefit from working with other teams within Foresight to generate new deal flow.
Net Asset Value and results
As at 30 September 2022, the NAV of a Ventures Share stood at 68.5p, an increase of 3.0p from 31 March 2022, after adding back the dividend of 2.75p which was paid during the period.
The return on ordinary activities for the Ventures Share pool for the period was £1.7 million, comprising a revenue loss of £228,000 and a capital gain of £1.9 million.
There continues to be further recovery in the NAV since 31 March 2022, with the Total Return to Shareholders as at 30 September 2022 being 76.5p per share.
Portfolio Overview
As at 30 September 2022, the Ventures Share pool held a portfolio of 37 ventures investments and one liquidity investment, with a total carrying value of £32.6 million.
Portfolio Performance
Overall, there were 11 valuation increases in the ventures portfolio, totalling £4.6 million, which more than offset the ten valuation reductions, totalling £2.5 million. The net valuation increase across the ventures portfolio was therefore £2.1 million as at 30 September 2022.
The carrying values of the liquidity investments have been adjusted to reflect their quoted prices as at 30 September 2022. This resulted in a valuation decrease of £618,000 for the half-year period.
Investment activity
During the period, £2.8 million was invested in new companies, as set out below. £676,000 was invested in four existing business in the ventures portfolio, of which one included a conversion of loan notes into equity.
New portfolio companies
Vivacity Labs Limited (£493,000) is a provider of AI-driven traffic congestion monitoring solutions and insights.
Maestro Media Limited (£340,000) have developed an online streaming platform in collaboration with the BBC, offering personal and insightful lessons from leading creative talents.
Glisser Limited (£199,000) is an award-winning platform for hosting both virtual and in-person events.
Follow-on portfolio companies
FVRVS Limited (trading as Fundamental VR) provides surgery simulation software for enterprise clients and hospitals. A further £527,000 was invested, including conversion of the loan note already held.
Smaller follow-on investments were also made into Streethub Limited (trading as Trouva) (£70,000), Upp Technologies Group Limited (£59,000) and Channel Mum Limited (£20,000).
Exits
There were two full exits in the period, the first being the success story of E-Fundamentals (Group) Limited, a Software as a Service (SaaS) analytics company, which has developed and commercialised a SaaS analytics tool, which was sold for total proceeds of £3.6 million at a gain over cost of £2.1 million. £1.7 million of the consideration was in shares in CommerceIQ, Inc which provides e-commerce management tools for the organisation of retail media, sales and operations.
On a more disappointing note, Streethub Limited (trading as Trouva), an online marketplace for a curated range of homeware and lifestyle products, exited in full for a loss of £1.1 million against total cost.
As noted above, £125,000 of loan notes held in FVRVS Limited were converted to shares alongside the further investment made in the period.
Portfolio valuation
During the period, the ventures portfolio of the Ventures Share pool increased in value by a total of £2.8 million, following a number of positive developments.
Hackajob Limited, the owner of a marketplace platform for hiring technical talent, has continued to progress well during the period, with recurring revenues continuing to grow and continued strong progress on fundraising. The valuation was uplifted by £1.4 million as a result.
Cornelis Networks, Inc. is a technology provider delivering purpose-built high-performance fabrics for High Performance Computing, Analytics and Artificial Intelligence to leading commercial, scientific, academic, and government organizations. The valuation was uplifted by £1.5 million as at 30 September 2022, as they continue to build-out customer base, drive new product and raise additional funding. £400,000 of the increase is due to the positive impact of USD/Sterling FX movements in the period since the year end.
Virtual Class Limited (trading as Third Space Learning) provides online lessons from specialist maths tutors to support school children. They have achieved significant growth in recent years, with revenues tripling since 2020 and the value has been uplifted by £775,000 to reflect this.
Ayar Labs, Inc., the developer of components for high performance computing and data centre applications, was uplifted in valuation by £522,000 as at 30 September 2022, including the impact of foreign exchange.
FundingXchange Limited, an SME funding platform and B2B technology provider which enables online lending, was subject to a further valuation reduction of £510,000 as at 30 September 2022, as revenue performance continues to be behind forecast.
Arecor Therapeutics plc floated in 2021 and so is valued at the quoted bid price. This is down £352,000 since the year end – see page 9 for further commentary.
It is disappointing to report that Channel Mum Limited, and Hummingbird Technologies Limited are no longer expected to recover, with a total reduction in value of £561,000 to bring the values to nil.
There are a number of smaller valuation movements which offset one another for the half-year period, resulting in a net positive movement of £70,000.
Liquidity investments
The Ventures Share pool holds a non-qualifying investment in Downing Strategic Micro-Cap Investment Trust plc (“DSM”). This decreased in value by £618,000 over the period, broadly in line with market conditions, although has seen some recovery since the period end.
Downing Micro-Cap Growth Fund, in which the share pool also had a small holding, completed the task of returning funds to shareholder as part of its wind up, producing a realised gain of £23,000 in the period.
Outlook
The six months to 30 September 2022, during which we became investment manager, has been against a backdrop of increasingly challenging market conditions, with inflation and global interest rates rising, having an inevitable impact on the portfolio.
Despite this environment, we are continuing to see improved performance from the Ventures Share class, driven by a number of valuation uplifts. Those portfolio companies that survived the current economic turbulence may be better placed than beforehand, due to tighter cost and cash management.
We are now expanding our team to enable us to take full advantage of the opportunities the new fundraising will present. Our role over the remainder of the year will focus on continued support of the existing portfolio companies in the ventures portfolio, as well as looking to add new investments to this portfolio with the remaining proceeds from the last fundraising.
Thames Ventures VCT Team
Foresight Group LLP
Review of Investments – Ventures Share Pool
The following investments were held at 30 September 2022:
| Cost as at 30 September 2022 | Valuation as at 30 September 2022 | Valuation movement in period | % of portfolio | ||
| Portfolio of investments | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | ||
| Hackajob Limited | 784 | 2,885 | 1,362 | 7.7% | |
| Cornelis Networks, Inc. | 1,402 | 2,850 | 1,480 | 7.6% | |
| Virtual Class Limited (Third Space Learning) | 1,053 | 2,591 | 775 | 6.9% | |
| Ayar Labs, Inc. | 764 | 2,048 | 522 | 5.5% | |
| Rated People Limited | 1,382 | 1,917 | 22 | 5.1% | |
| Imagen Limited | 1,000 | 1,763 | - | 4.7% | |
| CommerceIQ, Inc. | 1,749 | 1,749 | - | 4.7% | |
| Cambridge Touch Technologies Limited | 959 | 1,376 | 7 | 3.7% | |
| Trinny London Limited | 219 | 1,374 | 134 | 3.7% | |
| Ecstase Limited (t/a ADAY) | 1,000 | 1,182 | (75) | 3.2% | |
| Upp Technologies Group Limited (previously Volo Commerce) | 1,077 | 1,136 | 59 | 3.0% | |
| Firefly Learning Limited | 1,047 | 1,047 | - | 2.8% | |
| FVRVS Limited (t/a Fundamental VR) | 777 | 904 | 18 | 2.4% | |
| Parsable, Inc. | 766 | 839 | 128 | 2.2% | |
| Arecor Therapeutics plc^ | 418 | 789 | (352) | 2.1% | |
| Limitless Technology Limited | 757 | 786 | (134) | 2.1% | |
| Carbice Corporation | 656 | 753 | 114 | 2.0% | |
| Masters of Pie Limited | 667 | 667 | - | 1.8% | |
| Congenica Limited | 734 | 605 | (141) | 1.6% | |
| Vivacity Labs Limited | 493 | 493 | - | 1.3% | |
| Maverick Pubs (Holdings) Limited | 1,000 | 490 | 40 | 1.3% | |
| Fenkle Street LLP* | 301 | 348 | (57) | 0.9% | |
| Maestro Media Limited | 340 | 340 | - | 0.9% | |
| MIP Diagnostics Limited | 300 | 300 | - | 0.8% | |
| FundingXchange Limited | 1,050 | 276 | (510) | 0.7% | |
| Distributed Limited | 275 | 275 | - | 0.7% | |
| Bulbshare Limited | 249 | 249 | - | 0.7% | |
| Glisser Limited | 199 | 199 | - | 0.5% | |
| Destiny Pharma plc^ | 500 | 108 | (45) | 0.3% | |
| Channel Mum Limited | 757 | - | (311) | 0.0% | |
| Hummingbird Technologies Limited | 750 | - | (250) | 0.0% | |
| Lignia Wood Company Limited | 1,778 | - | - | 0.0% | |
| Empiribox Holdings Limited | 1,563 | - | - | 0.0% | |
| Live Better With Limited | 1,211 | - | - | 0.0% | |
| Ormsborough Limited | 900 | - | - | 0.0% | |
| Lineten Limited | 400 | - | - | 0.0% | |
| London City Shopping Centre Limited* | 30 | - | - | 0.0% | |
| 29,307 | 30,339 | 2,786 | 80.9% | ||
| Liquidity investment | |||||
| Downing Strategic Micro-Cap Investment Trust plc*^ | 4,269 | 2,257 | (618) | 6.0% | |
| 33,576 | 32,596 | 2,168 | 86.9% | ||
| Cash at bank and in hand | 4,910 | 13.1% | |||
| Total investments | 37,506 | 100.0% | |||
*non-qualifying investment
^listed and traded on the London Stock Exchange
Investment movements for the period ended 30 September 2022
| Cost | |
| Additions | £’000 |
| CommerceIQ, Inc. | 1,749 |
| FVRVS Limited (t/a Fundamental VR) | 527 |
| Vivacity Labs Limited | 493 |
| Maestro Media Limited | 340 |
| Glisser Limited | 199 |
| Streethub Limited (t/a Trouva) | 70 |
| Upp Technology Group Limited | 59 |
| Channel Mum Limited | 20 |
| 3,457 |
| Cost | Valuation at 01/04/22 | Proceeds | Profit/(loss) vs. cost | Realised gain | |
| Disposals | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 |
| E- Fundamentals Limited | 1,508 | 3,847 | 3,607 | 2,099 | (240) |
| Streethub Limited (t/a Trouva) | 1,349 | 141 | 242 | (1,107) | 101 |
| FVRVS Limited (t/a Fundamental VR) | 125 | 125 | 125 | - | - |
| Liquidity investments | |||||
| MI Downing UK Micro-Cap Growth Fund* | 123 | 116 | 139 | 16 | 23 |
| 3,105 | 4,229 | 4,113 | 1,008 | (116) |
*non-qualifying investment
Investment Manager’s Report- Healthcare Share Pool
Introduction
We present a review of the investment portfolio and activity for the Healthcare Share pool over the six-month period to 30 September 2022.
As noted earlier in this report, although Foresight Group is now the primary Investment Manager for the Company, Downing LLP continues to be the Investment Manager of the Healthcare Share Pool.
Net Asset Value and results
As at 30 September 2022, the NAV of the Healthcare Shares stood at 71.7p, a decrease of 9.2p from 31 March 2022, after adding back the dividend of 3.50p which was paid during the period. The vast majority of this fall was from the quoted investments in the portfolio.
The loss on ordinary activities for the Healthcare Share pool for the period was £2.1 million, comprising a revenue loss of £147,000 and a capital loss of £1.9 million.
The Total Return to Healthcare Shareholders, as at 30 September 2022, was 80.45p.
Portfolio Overview
As at 30 September 2022, the Healthcare Share pool held a portfolio of 14 ventures investments and one liquidity investment, with a combined value of £13.8 million.
The valuation movements during the period are discussed in more detail in the following sections of this Investment Manager’s Report.
Portfolio Performance
There were a number of valuation movements in the Healthcare ventures portfolio during the period, resulting in a net valuation decrease of £1.9 million.
The carrying value of the liquidity investment has been adjusted to reflect the quoted prices as at 30 September 2022. This resulted in a valuation decrease of £106,000 for the period.
Investment activity
During the period, £805,000 was invested in FVRVS Limited (trading as Fundamental VR) an existing portfolio company which provides surgery simulation software for enterprise clients and hospitals. Included in the investment was the conversion of a loan note already held.
Exits
Future Health Works (trading as MyRecovery) was exited in full during the period, generating proceeds of £798,000, being a £270,000 gain over cost and a positive result for the portfolio.
As noted above, £250,000 of loan notes held in FVRVS Limited were converted to shares alongside the further investment made in the period.
Final proceeds of £44,000 were also received from the wind up of the MI Downing UK Micro-Cap Growth Fund.
Portfolio valuation
There were a number of valuation movements within the portfolio over the period.
Arecor plc is quoted on AIM and valued at the bid price at 30 September 2022 of £2.40. The Healthcare Share pool’s investment saw a decrease in value of £1.3 million over the period. Despite the fall in its quoted share price, the company is making headway, having completed the acquisition of Tetris Pharma which has launched a new diabetes treatment “Ogluo” in Germany. The company itself has also made significant progress with its proprietary portfolio and clinical trials are accelerating around their product of ultra-concentrated rapid acting insulin. Despite a regular positive news flow, the company’s share price has dropped off. This appears to be a combination of less market interest in low liquidity, pre-revenue stocks and early investors selling into this low liquidity market.
Genincode plc is also valued at its quoted bid price of 17p, which has resulted in a reduction in value of £542,000 at 30 September 2022. The business has continued to underperform against its targets; we continue to wait for meaningful US regulatory and market access progress.
Congenica Limited has also underperformed against plan and, accordingly, the value has been reduced by £350,000.
On a more positive note, Open Bionics Limited, an award-winning designer, manufacturer and supplier of bionic limbs, has been uplifted in value to calibrate to a recent funding round. The company continues to exceed revenue budgets and meet its KPIs. The resulting uplift for the Healthcare Share pool was £251,000 as at 30 September 2022.
DiA Imaging Analysis Limited (“DiA”) was increased in value by £139,000 as at 30 September 2022, to reflect an offer to acquire the company, which is being explored further, along with the movement in the exchange rate in the US Dollar/Sterling exchange rate, since the last year end.
The valuation of FVRVS Limited (trading as Fundamental VR) has been increased as a result of a calibration to the most recent funding round. The valuation uplift for the Healthcare Share pool was £36,000 as at 30 September 2022.
Destiny Pharma plc, which is listed on AIM, was reduced in value by £67,000 as at 30 September 2022. The business continues to progress with its clinical pipeline and trials, however the quoted share price has fallen on the back of limited trading volumes. We continue to believe that there will be long-term appreciation in the share price, as key milestones continue to be achieved.
Liquidity investments
The Ventures Share pool holds a non-qualifying investment in Downing Strategic Micro-Cap Investment Trust plc (“DSM”). This decreased in value by £106,000 over the period, broadly in line with market conditions, although has seen some recovery since the period end.
Downing Micro-Cap Growth Fund, in which the share pool also had a small holding, completed the task of returning funds to shareholders as part of its wind up, producing a realised gain of £7,000 in the period.
Outlook
A significant proportion of the value of the Healthcare portfolio is in companies that have floated after our initial VCT investment. The share price of small, quoted companies can often tend to be disproportionately affected in weaker markets. Whilst Genincode is performing behind plan, we believe the other quoted companies in the Healthcare portfolio are making good progress, which has not been reflected in their share prices.
Over the remainder of the year, we will continue to focus on supporting the existing companies in the Healthcare Portfolio, whilst also looking to further add to this portfolio in deploying existing and new fundraising proceeds. The healthcare sector continues to provide a good level of dealflow, and we hope that new fundraising will allow us to take advantage of some of the best opportunities which present themselves.
Downing LLP
Review of Investments – Healthcare Share Pool
The following investments were held at 30 September 2022:
| Cost as at 30 September 2022 | Valuation as at 30 September 2022 | Valuation movement in period | % of portfolio | |
| Portfolio of investments | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | |
| Arecor Therapeutics plc^ | 1,533 | 2,894 | (1,292) | 17.6% |
| Adaptix Limited | 1,056 | 1,843 | - | 11.2% |
| Open Bionics Limited | 1,000 | 1,630 | 251 | 9.9% |
| FVRVS Limited (t/a Fundamental VR) | 1,305 | 1,559 | 36 | 9.5% |
| GENinCode plc^ | 1,202 | 1,082 | (542) | 6.6% |
| Congenica Limited | 1,184 | 865 | (350) | 5.3% |
| Cambridge Respiratory Innovations Limited | 800 | 800 | - | 4.9% |
| Closed Loop Medicine Limited | 650 | 650 | - | 4.0% |
| DiA Imaging Analysis Limited | 415 | 568 | 139 | 3.5% |
| The Electrospinning Company Limited | 478 | 544 | - | 3.3% |
| Invizius Limited | 500 | 500 | - | 3.1% |
| MIP Diagnostics Limited | 300 | 300 | - | 1.8% |
| Destiny Pharma plc^ | 750 | 162 | (67) | 1.0% |
| Live Better With Limited | 1,106 | - | - | 0.0% |
| 12,279 | 13,397 | (1,825) | 81.7% | |
| Liquidity Investments | ||||
| Downing Strategic Micro-Cap Investment Trust plc*^ | 729 | 385 | (106) | 2.4% |
| 84.1% | ||||
| Cash at bank and in hand | 2,596 | 15.9% | ||
| Total investments | 13,008 | 16,378 | (1,931) | 100.0% |
*non-qualifying investment
^listed and traded on the London Stock Exchange
Investment movements for the period ended 30 September 2022
| Cost | |
| Additions | £’000 |
| FVRVS Limited (t/a Fundamental VR) | 805 |
| 805 |
| Cost | Valuation at 01/04/21 | Proceeds | Profit vs. cost | Realised gain | |
| Disposals | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 |
| Future Health Works Limited (t/a MyRecovery) | 528 | 750 | 798 | 270 | 48 |
| FVRVS Limited (t/a Fundamental VR) | 250 | 250 | 250 | - | - |
| Liquidity investments | |||||
| MI Downing UK Micro-Cap Growth Fund* | 40 | 37 | 44 | 4 | 7 |
| 818 | 1,037 | 1,092 | 274 | 55 |
*non-qualifying investment
Investment Manager’s Report DSO D Share Pool
Introduction
The process of realising the investments and returning funds to Shareholders remains the focus of the DSO D Share pool, although this has continued to be subject to significant delays.
Net Asset Value and results
The Net Asset Value (“NAV”) per DSO D Share at 30 September 2022, stood at 2.6p.
Total Return stands at 104.6p per share compared to initial cost to Shareholders, net of income tax relief, of 70.0p per Share. We consider this to be a satisfactory performance when compared to the initial NAV of 100p.
The loss on ordinary activities after taxation for the period was £4,000, comprising a revenue gain of £23,000 and a capital loss of £27,000.
We continue to experience delays in exiting from the DSO D Share pool’s investments in Pearce and Saunders and Pearce and Saunders DevCo Limited. We are working on plans to extract the remaining values for the companies.
Ventures investments
As at 30 September 2022, the DSO D Share Pool held two ventures investments with a total value of £16,000.
There have been no movements in the portfolio during the period, as we continue to push to exit the final investments at the highest possible proceeds for investors.
Portfolio valuation
During the year, the carrying value of the portfolio of investments held by the DSO D Share pool was decreased by £27,000.
Pearce and Saunders Limited made a final distribution of £24,000 of interest to the Company in the period, and now has no further value to distribute, resulting in a reduction in the investment value of £27,000.
Pearce and Saunders DevCo Limited has a residual balance of £16,000, anticipated to be recovered in the final exit process hoped for next year.
Outlook
The focus for the DSO D Share pool continues to be on realising the remaining investments. A final distribution will be paid once the remaining realisations have taken place.
Foresight Group LLP
Review of investments - DSO D Share Pool
The following investments were held at 30 September 2022:
| Cost as at 30 September 2022 | Valuation as at 30 September 2022 | Valuation movement in period | % of portfolio | |
| Portfolio of investments | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | |
| Pearce and Saunders Limited | 255 | - | (27) | 0.0% |
| Pearce and Saunders DevCo Limited* | 19 | 16 | - | 15.5% |
| 274 | 16 | (27) | 15.5% | |
| Cash at bank and in hand | 87 | 84.5% | ||
| Total investments | 103 | 100.0% |
* non-qualifying investment
There were no investment disposals during the period.
Investment Manager’s Report - DP67 Share Pool
Introduction
The process of realising the investments and returning funds to DP67 Shareholders remains the focus for this Share pool, although this continues to be subject to substantial delays, with the remaining assets all in the hospitality sector.
Net Asset Value and results
The Net Asset Value (“NAV”) per DP67 Share at 30 September 2022 stood at 24.4p, a decrease of 2.4p over the period. Total Return stands at 92.2p per DP67 Share, compared to initial cost to Shareholders, net of income tax relief, of 70.0p per Share.
The loss on ordinary activities after taxation for the period was £268,000, comprising a revenue loss of £156,000 and a capital loss of £112,000.
We continue to try to work towards achieving optimal proceeds for shareholders from the remnants of the portfolio, in what continues to be a challenging environment in the hospitality sector.
Ventures investments
As at 30 September 2022, the DP67 Share pool held a portfolio of five investments, with a total value of £1.8 million.
Portfolio activity
There were no realisations during the period.
Portfolio valuation
The DP67 portfolio decreased in value by a total of £107,000 during the period. This was wholly attributable to Fenkle Street LLP, which has been adjusted to reflect the anticipated proceeds from the pending sale, along with Gatewales Limited. As part of the terms agreed, Fenkle Street will make a contribution to the remedial fire stopping improvement works required, which is reflected in the decrease in value.
Cadbury House Holdings is now actively marketing its hotel, and the value reflects the third-party valuation carried out for that process. It remains unchanged since the year end. We hope to achieve an exit by mid-2023.
Outlook
We are hopeful that the current plans will deliver exits from each of the remaining investments in the reasonably near future, now that the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on these assets is mostly behind us. There are now, of course, new challenges, including increasing inflation and spiralling energy costs, so we are keen to see transactions complete without undue delay.
Final dividends will be paid once the remaining realisations have taken place.
Foresight Group LLP
Review of Investments – DP67 Share PoolDP67
The following investments were held at 30 September 2022:
Cost | Valuation | Valuation movement in period | % of portfolio | |
| Portfolio of investments | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | |
| Cadbury House Holdings Limited | 1,409 | 791 | - | 44.1% |
| Fenkle Street LLP* | 405 | 652 | (107) | 36.3% |
| Gatewales Limited** | 343 | 344 | - | 19.2% |
| Yamuna Renewables Limited | 400 | - | - | 0.0% |
| London City Shopping Centre Limited* | 99 | - | - | 0.0% |
| 2,656 | 1,787 | (107) | 99.6% | |
| Cash at bank and in hand | 8 | 0.4% | ||
| Total investments | 1,795 | 100.0% | ||
*non-qualifying investment
**partially qualifying investment
There were no investment disposals during the period.
Investment Manager’s Report - AIM Share Pool
The AIM Share class raised a total of £2.7 million in its initial fundraising, which closed in May 2022. The NAV stands at 99.0p at 30 September 2022.
Since the original launch, the world has changed significantly with the start of the war in Ukraine, impending recession and poor market sentiment resulting in the current deal flow of VCT qualifying AIM fundraisers being at a low level.
However, the team continue to see all new qualifying secondary and imminent IPOs and are using this time to perform enhanced due diligence on potential investments. In the meantime, since the period end, some of the funds have been invested in liquidity assets, which include a yielding money market fund and a market tracker.
We hope to report an increased level of activity in the Annual Report.
Downing LLP
Unaudited Income Statement
for the six months ended 30 September 2022
| Six months ended 30 Sep 2022 | Six months ended 30 Sep 2021 | Year ended 31 Mar 2022 | |||||||
| Revenue | Capital | Total | Revenue | Capital | Total | Total | |||
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | |||
| Income | 158 | - | 158 | 43 | 2 | 45 | 1,296 | ||
| (Losses)/gains on investments | - | (17) | (17) | - | 7,244 | 7,244 | 6,599 | ||
| 158 | (17) | 141 | 43 | 7,246 | 7,289 | 7,895 | |||
| Investment management fees | (168) | (168) | (336) | (244) | (244) | (488) | (1,062) | ||
| Other expenses | (512) | - | (512) | (209) | - | (209) | (409) | ||
| (Loss)/profit on ordinary activities before tax | (522) | (185) | (707) | (410) | 7,002 | 6,592 | 6,424 | ||
| Tax on total comprehensive income and ordinary activities | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| (Loss)/profit attributable to equity Shareholders, being total comprehensive income for the period | (522) | (185) | (707) | (410) | 7,002 | 6,592 | 6,424 | ||
| Basic and diluted return per share: | |||||||||
| Ventures Share | (0.5p) | 3.9p | 3.4p | (0.5p) | 4.6p | 4.1p | 3.8p | ||
| Healthcare Share | (0.7p) | (9.1p) | (9.8p) | (0.7p) | 23.7p | 23.0p | 18.3p | ||
| AIM Share | (0.5p) | (0.2p) | (0.7p) | n/a | n/a | n/a | (2.3p) | ||
| DSO D Share | 0.3p | (0.3p) | (0.0p) | (0.1p) | 0.1p | 0.0p | 0.0p | ||
| DP67 Share | (1.4p) | (1.0p) | (2.4p) | (0.2p) | 1.3p | 1.1p | 8.3p | ||
A Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses has not been prepared as all gains and losses are recognised in the Income Statement as noted above.
Unaudited Income Statement
Analysed by Share pool
for the six months ended 30 September 2022
| Six months ended 30 Sep 2022 | Six months ended 30 Sep 2021 | Year ended 31 Mar 2022 | |||||||
| Revenue | Capital | Total | Revenue | Capital | Total | Total | |||
| Ventures Share pool | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | ||
| Income | 27 | - | 27 | 35 | 1 | 36 | 58 | ||
| Net gain on investments | - | 1,993 | 1,993 | - | 2,369 | 2,369 | 2,641 | ||
| 27 | 1,993 | 2,020 | 35 | 2,370 | 2,405 | 2,699 | |||
| Investment management fees | (95) | (95) | (190) | (152) | (152) | (304) | (628) | ||
| Other expenses | (160) | - | (160) | (136) | - | (136) | (235) | ||
| (Loss)/profit on ordinary activities before tax | (228) | 1,898 | 1,670 | (253) | 2,218 | 1,965 | 1,836 | ||
| Tax on total comprehensive income and ordinary activities | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| (Loss)/profit attributable to equity Shareholders, being total comprehensive income for the period | (228) | 1,898 | 1,670 | (253) | 2,218 | 1,965 | 1,836 | ||
| Six months ended 30 Sep 2022 | Six months ended 30 Sep 2021 | Year ended 31 Mar 2022 | |||||||
| Revenue | Capital | Total | Revenue | Capital | Total | Total | |||
| Healthcare Share pool | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | ||
| Income | - | - | - | 8 | 1 | 9 | 21 | ||
| Net (loss)/gain on investments | - | (1,876) | (1,876) | - | 4,727 | 4,727 | 4,172 | ||
| - | (1,876) | (1,876) | 8 | 4,728 | 4,736 | 4,193 | |||
| Investment management fees | (62) | (62) | (124) | (82) | (82) | (164) | (390) | ||
| Other expenses | (85) | - | (85) | (58) | - | (58) | (140) | ||
| (Loss)/profit on ordinary activities before tax | (147) | (1,938) | (2,085) | (132) | 4,646 | 4,514 | 3,663 | ||
| Tax on total comprehensive income and ordinary activities | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| (Loss)/profit attributable to equity Shareholders, being total comprehensive income for the period | (147) | (1,938) | (2,085) | (132) | 4,646 | 4,514 | 3,663 | ||
Unaudited Income Statement
Analysed by Share pool
for the six months ended 30 September 2022
| Six months ended 30 Sep 2022 | Six months ended 30 Sep 2021 | Year ended 31 Mar 2022 | |||||||
| Revenue | Capital | Total | Revenue | Capital | Total | Total | |||
| AIM Share pool | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | ||
| Income | - | - | - | n/a | n/a | n/a | - | ||
| Net gain on investments | - | - | - | n/a | n/a | n/a | - | ||
| - | - | - | n/a | n/a | n/a | - | |||
| Investment management fees | (6) | (6) | (12) | n/a | n/a | n/a | (4) | ||
| Other expenses | (8) | - | (8) | n/a | n/a | n/a | (2) | ||
| Loss on ordinary activities before tax | (14) | (6) | (20) | n/a | n/a | n/a | (6) | ||
| Tax on total comprehensive income and ordinary activities | - | - | - | n/a | n/a | n/a | - | ||
| Loss attributable to equity Shareholders, being total comprehensive income for the period | (14) | (6) | (20) | n/a | n/a | n/a | (6) | ||
Unaudited Income Statement
Analysed by Share pool
for the six months ended 30 September 2022
| Six months ended 30 Sep 2022 | Six months ended 30 Sep 2021 | Year ended 31 Mar 2022 | |||||||
| Revenue | Capital | Total | Revenue | Capital | Total | Total | |||
| DSO D Share pool | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | ||
| Income | 24 | - | 24 | - | - | - | - | ||
| Net gain/(loss) on investments | - | (27) | (27) | - | 10 | 10 | 19 | ||
| 24 | (27) | (3) | - | 10 | 10 | 19 | |||
| Investment management fees | - | - | - | (3) | (3) | (6) | (12) | ||
| Other expenses | (1) | - | (1) | (5) | - | (5) | (10) | ||
| (Loss)/profit on ordinary activities before tax | 23 | (27) | (4) | (8) | 7 | (1) | (3) | ||
| Tax on total comprehensive income and ordinary activities | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| (Loss)/profit attributable to equity Shareholders, being total comprehensive income for the period | 23 | (27) | (4) | (8) | 7 | (1) | (3) | ||
Unaudited Income Statement
Analysed by Share pool
for the six months ended 30 September 2022
| Six months ended 30 Sep 2022 | Six months ended 30 Sep 2021 | Year ended 31 Mar 2022 | |||||||
| Revenue | Capital | Total | Revenue | Capital | Total | Total | |||
| DP67 Share pool | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | ||
| Income | 107 | - | 107 | 10 | - | 10 | 1,217 | ||
| Net gain/(loss) on investments | - | (107) | (107) | - | (27) | (27) | (233) | ||
| 107 | (107) | - | 10 | (27) | (17) | 984 | |||
| Investment management fees | (5) | (5) | (10) | (7) | (7) | (14) | (28) | ||
| Other expenses | (258) | - | (258) | (8) | - | (8) | (22) | ||
| (Loss)/profit on ordinary activities before tax | (156) | (112) | (268) | (5) | (34) | (39) | 934 | ||
| Tax on total comprehensive income and ordinary activities | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| (Loss)/profit attributable to equity Shareholders, being total comprehensive income for the period | (156) | (112) | (268) | (5) | (34) | (39) | 934 | ||
Unaudited Balance Sheet
as at 30 September 2022
| As at 30 September 2022 | As at 30 September 2021 | As at 31 March 2022 | ||||
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | ||||
| Fixed assets | ||||||
| Investments (note 10) | 48,181 | 48,900 | 49,141 | |||
| Current assets | ||||||
| Debtors | 1,729 | 393 | 4,317 | |||
| Cash at bank and in hand | 10,290 | 4,964 | 8,384 | |||
| 12,019 | 5,357 | 12,701 | ||||
| Creditors: amounts falling due within one year | (679) | (644) | (965) | |||
| Net current assets | 11,340 | 4,713 | 11,736 | |||
| Net assets | 59,521 | 53,613 | 60,877 | |||
| Capital and reserves | ||||||
| Called up Share capital | 120 | 103 | 113 | |||
| Capital redemption reserve | 58 | 58 | 58 | |||
| Special reserve | 21,904 | 27,547 | 24,063 | |||
| Share premium account | 31,726 | 20,919 | 29,284 | |||
| Funds held in respect of Shares not yet allotted | 8 | 194 | 7 | |||
| Revaluation reserve | 5,696 | 5,804 | 6,995 | |||
| Capital reserve – realised | 3,943 | 3,166 | 3,769 | |||
| Revenue reserve | (3,934) | (4,178) | (3,412) | |||
| Total equity Shareholders’ funds | 59,521 | 53,613 | 60,877 | |||
| Basic and diluted Net Asset Value per Share: | ||||||
| Ventures Share | 68.5p | 68.5p | 68.2p | |||
| Healthcare Share | 71.7p | 88.7p | 84.4p | |||
| AIM Share | 99.0p | n/a | 99.9p | |||
| DSO D Share | 2.6p | 10.2p | 2.6p | |||
| DP67 Share | 24.4p | 19.5p | 26.8p | |||
Unaudited Balance Sheet
Analysed by Share pool
as at 30 September 2022
| As at 30 September 2022 | As at 30 September 2021 | As at 31 March 2022 | |||
| Ventures Share pool | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | ||
| Fixed assets | |||||
| Investments | 32,596 | 30,830 | 31,259 | ||
| Current assets | |||||
| Debtors | 523 | 198 | 1,801 | ||
| Cash at bank and in hand | 4,910 | 2,517 | 4,321 | ||
| 5,433 | 2,715 | 6,122 | |||
| Creditors: amounts falling due within one year | (288) | (404) | (490) | ||
| Net current assets | 5,145 | 2,311 | 5,632 | ||
| Net assets | 37,741 | 33,141 | 36,891 | ||
| Capital and reserves | |||||
| Called up share capital | 69 | 60 | 65 | ||
| Capital redemption reserve | 58 | 58 | 58 | ||
| Special reserve | 15,012 | 18,997 | 16,291 | ||
| Share premium account | 19,901 | 14,551 | 18,657 | ||
| Funds held in respect of shares not yet allotted | 1 | 189 | 2 | ||
| Revaluation reserve | 4,443 | 1,237 | 3,457 | ||
| Capital reserve – realised | 1,552 | 878 | 1,428 | ||
| Revenue reserve | (3,295) | (2,829) | (3,067) | ||
| Total equity Shareholders’ funds | 37,741 | 33,141 | 36,891 |
Unaudited Balance Sheet (continued)
Analysed by Share pool
as at 30 September 2022
| As at 30 September 2022 | As at 30 September 2021 | As at 31 March 2022 | |||||
| Healthcare Share pool | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | ||||
| Fixed assets | |||||||
| Investments | 13,782 | 15,350 | 15,945 | ||||
| Current assets | |||||||
| Debtors | 10 | 194 | 633 | ||||
| Cash at bank and in hand | 2,596 | 2,137 | 2,483 | ||||
| 2,606 | 2,331 | 3,116 | |||||
| Creditors: amounts falling due within one year | (212) | (187) | (310) | ||||
| Net current assets | 2,394 | 2,144 | 2,806 | ||||
| Net assets | 16,176 | 17,494 | 18,751 | ||||
| Capital and reserves | |||||||
| Called up share capital | 29 | 24 | 27 | ||||
| Special reserve | 6,877 | 7,987 | 7,752 | ||||
| Share premium account | 9,132 | 6,368 | 8,594 | ||||
| Funds held in respect of shares not yet allotted | 7 | 5 | 5 | ||||
| Revaluation reserve | 1,881 | 4,587 | 4,031 | ||||
| Capital reserve – realised | (18) | (74) | (73) | ||||
| Revenue reserve | (1,732) | (1,403) | (1,585) | ||||
| Total equity Shareholders’ funds | 16,176 | 17,494 | 18,751 | ||||
| AIM Share pool | |||||||
| Fixed assets | |||||||
| Investments | - | n/a | - | ||||
| Current assets | |||||||
| Debtors | 2 | n/a | 604 | ||||
| Cash at bank and in hand | 2,689 | n/a | 1,446 | ||||
| 2,691 | n/a | 2,050 | |||||
| Creditors: amounts falling due within one year | (21) | n/a | (21) | ||||
| Net current assets | 2,670 | n/a | 2,029 | ||||
| Net assets | 2,670 | n/a | 2,029 | ||||
| Capital and reserves | |||||||
| Called up share capital | 3 | n/a | 2 | ||||
| Special reserve | - | n/a | (2) | ||||
| Share premium account | (8) | n/a | 2,033 | ||||
| Funds held in respect of shares not yet allotted | 2,693 | n/a | - | ||||
| Revaluation reserve | - | n/a | - | ||||
| Revenue reserve | (18) | n/a | (4) | ||||
| Total equity Shareholders’ funds | 2,670 | n/a | 2,029 | ||||
Unaudited Balance Sheet (continued)
Analysed by Share pool
as at 30 September 2022
| As at 30 September 2022 | As at 30 September 2021 | As at 31 March 2022 | |||
| DSO D Share pool | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | ||
| Fixed assets | |||||
| Investments | 16 | 455 | 43 | ||
| Current assets | |||||
| Debtors | 112 | 65 | 61 | ||
| Cash at bank and in hand | 87 | 300 | 124 | ||
| 199 | 365 | 185 | |||
| Creditors: amounts falling due within one year | (11) | (20) | (20) | ||
| Net current assets | 188 | 345 | 165 | ||
| Net assets | 204 | 800 | 208 | ||
| Capital and reserves | |||||
| Called up share capital | 8 | 8 | 8 | ||
| Special reserve | 423 | 963 | 423 | ||
| Revaluation reserve | (258) | (128) | (231) | ||
| Capital reserve – realised | 22 | (37) | 22 | ||
| Revenue reserve | 9 | (6) | (14) | ||
| Total equity Shareholders’ funds | 204 | 800 | 208 | ||
| DP67 Share pool | |||||
| Fixed assets | |||||
| Investments | 1,787 | 2,265 | 1,894 | ||
| Current assets | |||||
| Debtors | 1,082 | 1 | 1,218 | ||
| Cash at bank and in hand | 8 | 10 | 10 | ||
| 1,090 | 11 | 1,228 | |||
| Creditors: amounts falling due within one year | (147) | (98) | (124) | ||
| Net current assets | 943 | (87) | 1,104 | ||
| Net assets | 2,730 | 2,178 | 2,998 | ||
| Capital and reserves | |||||
| Called up share capital | 11 | 11 | 11 | ||
| Special reserve | (400) | (400) | (400) | ||
| Revaluation reserve | (370) | 108 | (263) | ||
| Capital reserve – realised | 2,387 | 2,399 | 2,392 | ||
| Revenue reserve | 1,102 | 60 | 1,258 | ||
| Total equity Shareholders’ funds | 2,730 | 2,178 | 2,998 |
Statement of Changes in Equity
for the six months ended 30 September 2022
| Called up Share capital | Capital Redemp-tion reserve | Special reserve | Share premium account | Funds held in respect of Shares not yet allotted | Reval-uation Reserve | Capital reserve - realised | Revenue reserve | Total | |
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | |
| At 31 March 2021 | 102 | 58 | 29,417 | 20,010 | 241 | (1,143) | 3,132 | (3,768) | 48,049 |
| Total comprehensive income | - | - | - | - | - | 6,335 | (267) | 356 | 6,424 |
| Transfer between reserves* | - | - | (5,159) | - | - | 1,803 | 3,356 | - | - |
| Unallotted Shares | - | - | - | - | (234) | - | - | - | (234) |
| Transactions with owners | |||||||||
| Dividend paid | - | - | - | - | - | - | (2,452) | - | (2,452) |
| Purchase of own shares | - | - | (195) | - | - | - | - | - | (195) |
| Issue of shares | 11 | - | - | 9,501 | - | - | - | - | 9,512 |
| Share issue costs | - | - | - | (227) | - | - | - | - | (227) |
| At 31 March 2022 | 113 | 58 | 24,063 | 29,284 | 7 | 6,995 | 3,769 | (3,412) | 60,877 |
| Total comprehensive income | - | - | - | - | - | 44 | (229) | (522) | (707) |
| Transfer between reserves* | - | - | (1,365) | - | (1,343) | 2,708 | - | - | |
| Unallotted Shares | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | 1 |
| Transactions with owners | |||||||||
| Dividend paid | - | - | - | - | - | - | (2,305) | - | (2,305) |
| Purchase of own shares | - | - | (794) | - | - | - | - | (794) | |
| Issue of shares | 7 | - | - | 2,499 | - | - | - | - | 2,506 |
| Share issue costs | - | - | - | (57) | - | - | - | - | (57) |
| At 30 Sept 2022 | 120 | 58 | 21,904 | 31,726 | 8 | 5,696 | 3,943 | (3,934) | 59,521 |
* A transfer of £1,343,000 (2022: £1,803,000) representing previously recognised realised gains and losses on disposal of investments during the period has been made between the Revaluation Reserve and the Capital reserve - realised. A transfer of £1,365,000 (2022: £5,159,000) representing the total of: realised losses on the disposal of investments, cumulative impairment losses, capital expenses and capital dividends in the period, has been made between the Capital Reserve - realised and the Special reserve.
Unaudited Statement of Cash Flows
for the six months ended 30 September 2022
| DSO D Share pool | DP67 Share pool | Ventures Share pool | Healthcare Share pool | AIM Share pool | Total | |
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | |
| Cash flows from operating activities | ||||||
| (Loss)/return on ordinary activities before taxation | (4) | (268) | 1,670 | (2,085) | (20) | (707) |
| Losses/(gains) on investments | 27 | 107 | (1,993) | 1,876 | - | 17 |
| Increase/(decrease) in creditors | (9) | 23 | (202) | (98) | - | (286) |
| (Increase)/decrease in debtors | (51) | 136 | 1,278 | 623 | 602 | 2,588 |
| Net cash (outflow)/inflow from operating activities | (37) | (2) | 753 | 316 | 582 | 1,612 |
| Corporation tax paid | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Net cash generated from operating activities | - | - | 753 | 316 | 582 | 1,612 |
| Cash flow from investing activities | ||||||
| Purchase of investments | - | - | (3,457) | (805) | - | (4,262) |
| Proceeds from disposal of investments | - | - | 4,113 | 1,092 | - | 5,205 |
| Net cash inflow from investing activities | - | - | 656 | 287 | - | 943 |
| Net cash (outflow)/inflow before financing | (37) | (2) | 1,409 | 603 | 582 | 2,555 |
| Cash flows from financing activities | ||||||
| Issue of share capital | - | - | (551) | (243) | - | (794) |
| Issue of share capital | - | - | 1,276 | 552 | 678 | 2,506 |
| Cost of issue of share capital | - | - | (28) | (12) | (17) | (57) |
| Funds held in respect of shares not yet allotted | - | - | (1) | 2 | - | 1 |
| Equity dividends paid | - | - | (1,516) | (789) | - | (2,305) |
| Net cash outflow/(inflow) from financing activities | (37) | (2) | (820) | (490) | 661 | (649) |
| Net change in cash | (37) | (2) | 589 | 113 | 1,243 | 1,906 |
| Cash and cash equivalents at start of the year | 124 | 10 | 4,321 | 2,483 | 1,446 | 8,384 |
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year | 87 | 8 | 4,910 | 2,596 | 2,689 | 10,290 |
| Cash and cash equivalents comprise | ||||||
| Cash at bank and in hand | 87 | 8 | 4,910 | 2,596 | 2,689 | 10,290 |
| Total cash and cash equivalents | 87 | 8 | 4,910 | 2,596 | 2,689 | 10,290 |
Unaudited Statement of Cash Flows
for the six months ended 30 September 2021
| DSO D Share pool | DP67 Share pool | Ventures Share pool | Healthcare Share pool | Total | |
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | |
| Cash flows from operating activities | |||||
| (Loss)/return on ordinary activities before taxation | (1) | 114 | 1,965 | 4,514 | 6,592 |
| Gains on investments | (10) | (138) | (2,369) | (4,728) | (7,245) |
| Increase in creditors | 3 | 24 | 164 | 88 | 279 |
| (Increase)/decrease in debtors | (36) | - | 269 | 59 | 292 |
| Net cash (outflow)/inflow from operating activities | (44) | - | 29 | (67) | (82) |
| Corporation tax paid | - | - | - | - | - |
| Net cash generated from operating activities | (44) | - | 29 | (67) | (82) |
| Cash flow from investing activities | |||||
| Purchase of investments | - | - | (547) | (3,614) | (4,161) |
| Proceeds from disposal of investments | - | - | 719 | 2,529 | 3,248 |
| Net cash inflow/(outflow) from investing activities | - | - | 172 | (1,085) | (913) |
| Net cash (outflow)/inflow before financing | (44) | - | 201 | (1,152) | (995) |
| Cash flows from financing activities | |||||
| Issue of share capital | - | - | (11) | (14) | (25) |
| Issue of share capital | - | - | 556 | 378 | 934 |
| Cost of issue of share capital | - | - | (14) | (10) | (24) |
| Funds held in respect of shares not yet allotted | - | - | (33) | (14) | (47) |
| Equity dividends paid | - | - | (1,323) | (542) | (1,865) |
| Net cash outflow from financing activities | - | - | (825) | (202) | (1,027) |
| Net change in cash | (44) | - | (624) | (1,354) | (2,022) |
| Cash and cash equivalents at start of the year | 344 | 10 | 3,141 | 3,491 | 6,986 |
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year | 300 | 10 | 2,517 | 2,137 | 4,964 |
| Cash and cash equivalents comprise | |||||
| Cash at bank and in hand | 300 | 10 | 2,517 | 2,137 | 4,964 |
Notes
- General Information
Thames Ventures VCT 2 plc (“the Company”) is a Venture Capital Trust established under the legislation introduced in the Finance Act 1995 and is domiciled in the United Kingdom and incorporated in England and Wales.
2. Basis of accounting
The unaudited half-yearly financial results cover the six months to 30 September 2022 and have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in the statutory accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022, which were prepared in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard 102 (“FRS 102”) and the Statement of Recommended Practice “Financial Statements of Investment Trust Companies” issued in July 2022 (“SORP”).
3. The Company has only one class of business and derives its income from investments made in shares, securities and bank deposits.
4. The comparative figures are in respect of the six months ended 30 September 2021 and the year ended 31 March 2022 respectively.
5. Net Asset Value per share at the period end has been calculated on the number of shares in issue at the period end as follows:
| Ventures Shares* | 55,133,116 |
| Healthcare Shares* | 22,547,213 |
| AIM Shares | 2,695,803 |
| DSO D Shares | 7,867,247 |
| DP67 Shares | 11,192,136 |
*Excludes Management Shares
6. Return per share for the period has been calculated on the average number of shares in issue in the period as follows:
| Ventures Shares* | 49,059,630 |
| Healthcare Shares* | 21,154,962 |
| AIM Shares | 2,640,965 |
| DSO D Shares | 7,867,247 |
| DP67 Shares | 11,192,136 |
*Excludes Management Shares
7. The unaudited financial statements set out herein do not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of Section 434 of the Companies Act 2006 and have not been delivered to the Registrar of Companies.
8. Dividends
| Six months ended 30 September 2022 | |||||
| Pence per Share | Revenue £’000 | Capital £’000 | Total £’000 | ||
| Ventures Shares | |||||
| Paid | - | 1,516 | 1,516 | ||
| Final (year ended 31 March 2022) | 2.75 | - | 1,516 | 1,516 | |
| Healthcare Shares | |||||
| Paid | - | 789 | 789 | ||
| Final (year ended 31 March 2022) | 3.50 | - | 789 | 789 | |
9. Reserves
| 30 Sep 2022 | 30 Sep 2021 | 31 Mar 2022 | |||
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | |||
| Capital redemption reserve | 58 | 58 | 58 | ||
| Special reserve | 21,904 | 27,547 | 24,063 | ||
| Share premium account | 31,726 | 20,919 | 29,284 | ||
| Revaluation reserve | 5,696 | 5,804 | 6,995 | ||
| Capital reserve – realised | 3,943 | 3,166 | 3,769 | ||
| Revenue reserve | (3,934) | (4,178) | (3,412) | ||
| Funds held in respect of shares not yet allotted | 8 | 194 | 7 | ||
| 59,401 | 53,510 | 60,764 |
The Revenue reserve, Special reserve and Capital reserve - realised are distributable reserves and are reduced by revaluation losses of £9.8 million. Distributable reserves at 30 September 2022 were £13.1 million.
10. Fixed asset – investments
| Liquidity investments | Quoted VC investments | Unquoted VC investments | Total | ||||
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | ||||
| Opening cost at 1 April 2022 | 5,161 | 4,403 | 40,146 | 49,710 | |||
| Unrealised (losses)/gains at 1 April 2022 | (1,642) | 2,930 | 5,802 | 7,090 | |||
| Unrealised foreign exchange losses at 1 April 2022 | - | - | (95) | (95) | |||
| Impairment losses at 1 April 2022 | - | - | (7,564) | (7,564) | |||
| Opening fair value at 1 April 2022 | 3,519 | 7,333 | 38,289 | 49,141 | |||
| Movements in the year: | |||||||
| Purchased at cost | - | - | 4,262 | 4,262 | |||
| Disposals - proceeds | (183) | - | (5,022) | (5,205) | |||
| - realised gains on disposals | 30 | - | (91) | (61) | |||
| Unrealised foreign exchange gains | - | - | 1,051 | 1,051 | |||
| Unrealised (losses)/gains in the Income Statement | (724) | (2,298) | 2,015 | (1,007) | |||
| Closing value at 30 Sept 2022 | 2,642 | 5,035 | 40,504 | 48,181 | |||
| Closing cost at 30 Sept 2022 | 4,998 | 4,403 | 40,648 | 50,049 | |||
| Unrealised (losses)/gains at 30 Sept 2022 | (2,356) | 632 | 6,464 | 4,740 | |||
| Unrealised foreign exchange gains at 30 Sept 2022 | - | - | 956 | 956 | |||
| Impairment losses at 30 Sept 2022 | - | - | (7,564) | (7,564) | |||
| Closing value at 30 Sept 2022 | 2,642 | 5,035 | 40,504 | 48,181 | |||
The fair value of investments is determined using the detailed accounting policy as shown in the audited financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022. The Company has categorised its financial instruments using the fair value hierarchy as follows:
Level 1 Reflects financial instruments quoted in an active market (quoted companies, investment funds and fixed interest bonds);
Level 2 Reflects financial instruments that have prices that are observable either directly or indirectly; and
Level 3 Reflects financial instruments that use valuation techniques that are not based on observable market data (investments in unquoted shares and loan note investments).
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | 30 Sept 2022 | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | 31 Mar 2022 | ||
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | ||
| Liquidity investments | 2,642 | - | - | 2,642 | 3,519 | - | - | 3,519 | |
| Quoted equity | 5,035 | - | - | 5,035 | 7,333 | - | - | 7,333 | |
| Unquoted loan notes | - | - | 2,194 | 2,194 | - | - | 3,250 | 3,250 | |
| Unquoted equity | - | - | 38,310 | 38,310 | - | - | 35,039 | 35,039 | |
| 7,677 | - | 40,504 | 48,181 | 10,852 | - | 38,289 | 49,141 | ||
11. Risk and uncertainties
Under the Disclosure and Transparency Directive, the Board is required in the Company’s half-year results to report on the principal risks and uncertainties facing the Company over the remainder of the financial year.
The Board has concluded that the key risks facing the Company over the remainder of the financial period are as follows:
(i) compliance risk of failure to maintain approval as a VCT;
(ii) market, liquidity and counterparty risk associated with Public Equity investments; and
(iii) investment risk associated with investing in small and immature businesses.
The Company’s compliance with the VCT regulations is continually monitored by the Manager, who reports regularly to the Board on the current position. The Company also retains Philip Hare & Associates LLP (“Philip Hare”) to provide regular reviews and advice in this area. Philip Hare has confirmed that all relevant tests have been complied with for the period under review. The Board considers that this approach reduces the risk of a breach of the VCT regulations.
With this approach, the Board believes that these risks are reduced.
In order to make VCT qualifying investments, the Company has to invest in small businesses which are often immature. It also has a limited period in which it must invest the majority of its funds into VCT qualifying investments. The Manager follows a rigorous process in vetting and carefully structuring new investments, including taking a charge over the assets of the business wherever possible and, after an investment is made, closely monitoring the business.
12. Going concern
The Directors have reviewed the Company’s financial resources at the period end and conclude that the Company is well placed to manage its business risks.
The Board confirms that it is satisfied that the Company has adequate resources to continue in business for the foreseeable future. For this reason, the Board believes that the Company continues to be a going concern and that it is appropriate to apply the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements.
13. The Directors confirm that, to the best of their knowledge, the Half-Yearly Report has been prepared in accordance with the “Statement: Half-Yearly Financial Reports” issued by the UK Accounting Standards Board as well as in accordance with FRS 104 Interim Financial Reporting, and the half-yearly financial report includes a fair review of the information required by:
a. DTR 4.2.7R of the Disclosure and Transparency Rules, being an indication of important events that have occurred during the first six months of the financial year and their impact on the condensed set of financial statements, and a description of the principal risks and uncertainties for the remaining six months of the year; and
b. DTR 4.2.8R of the Disclosure and Transparency Rules, being related party transactions that have taken place in the first six months of the current financial year and that have materially affected the financial position or performance of the entity during that period, and any changes in the related party transactions described in the last annual report that could do so.
14. Copies of the Half-Yearly Report will be sent to Shareholders shortly. Further copies can be obtained from the Company’s registered office or downloaded from https://www.foresightgroup.eu/products/thames-ventures-vct-2-plc
