RNS Number : 6473E
Braveheart Investment Group plc
03 July 2023
 

Prior to publication, the information contained within this announcement was deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the UK Market Abuse Regulation. With the publication of this announcement, this information is now considered to be in the public domain.

 

3 July 2023

Braveheart Investment Group plc

("Braveheart", the "Company" or the "Group")

 

Final Results for the year ended 31 March 2023

 

Braveheart Investment Group plc (AIM: BRH) announces its audited annual results for the financial year ended 31 March 2023, highlights of which are set out below:

 

·    Earnings per share of 2.68 pence per share (2022: 4.02 pence per share)

·    Strong technical and product development progress at Kirkstall, Paraytec and Phasefocus

·    These strategic investments are now well positioned for growth in product, service and licence revenues

 

For further information:

 

Braveheart Investment Group plc

Tel: 01738 587555

Trevor Brown, Chief Executive Officer

Viv Hallam, Executive Director







Allenby Capital Limited (Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker)

Tel: 020 3328 5656

James Reeve / George Payne







Peterhouse Capital Limited (Joint Broker)

Tel: 020 7469 0936

Duncan Vasey / Lucy Williams


 

Chief Executive Officer's Report

 

I am pleased to report to shareholders for the year ended 31 March 2023.

 

I became CEO of Braveheart in August 2015. An investor buying the shares at the then market price and selling them at the end of the 2023 financial year would have enjoyed a total return (compound annual growth rate "CAGR") of *28.59% pa. By comparison, over the same period for the AIM All-Share index**, the CAGR was less than 2% pa (in the USA the CAGR of the S&P500 was 13% and Berkshire Hathaway 14%). In the belief of the Directors, a total compound return of 29% per annum places Braveheart amongst the best performing UK listed investments during this period.

 

Our strategy is to invest shareholder funds in businesses that we believe possess specific characteristics capable of generating exceptional returns on disposal. The timing and price of such disposals is impossible to forecast, and the Board acknowledges that patience may be required of shareholders while waiting for events to unfold. Although convention requires your directors to offer guidance about the future, the reality is that your directors have no more idea about timing of realisations than anyone else.  Where the directors do have control is in positioning the portfolio to maximise exposure to potentially positive events.

 

Strategic Investments Overview

 

Paraytec Limited (Braveheart owns 100% per cent of the company)

 

Paraytec develops high performance specialist detectors for the analytical and life sciences instrumentation markets. In addition, it has been undertaking a programme with the University of Sheffield to develop rapid tests ("CX300") for identifying pathogens, including viruses.

 

CX300 development programme and clinical study

As reported on 31 May 2023, the collection of patient specimens for the COVID-19 clinical study at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was successfully completed. The data set has since been 'locked' and passed to the independent clinical statisticians. Paraytec is awaiting the findings of the statistical analysis and initial reporting of results, which had been agreed for end June, but due to delays at the clinical statistician service provider, are now expected in July 2023.

 

Paraytec's programme to apply the CX300 technology to a test for the rapid diagnosis of bacteraemia causing sepsis is underway. An important element of this work has been to meet some of the UK's leading clinicians who design and implement the NHS treatment standards for the diagnosis and treatment of sepsis.

 

These meetings have concluded that the first target for Paraytec will be an instrument for the rapid detection of bacteria in a blood sample and if bacteria are present, to report whether these bacteria are classed as Gram-positive or Gram-negative. Differentiation between these two classes of bacteria is novel and invaluable to clinicians for a number of reasons: firstly, it will greatly help clinicians identify the likely source of the infection; secondly, different antibiotics are used to treat Gram-positive or Gram-negative bacteria, allowing clinicians to immediately target the best antibiotic treatment; thirdly, this will reduce the use of broad spectrum antibiotics to treat patients, as this can cause the bacteria present to rapidly increase their antibiotic resistance, making it even more difficult to treat the patient.

 

Paraytec's novel CX300 technology can be a major tool in the sepsis threat to global health and, as previously reported, proof-of-concept is expected to be completed by the end of this year. Antibiotic Stewardship is a challenge to global health. It demands the responsible and strategic use of antibiotics to optimise patient outcomes, minimize the development of antibiotic resistance and preserve the effectiveness of these valuable drugs for future generations.

 

Other applications

The CX300 instrument is now CE marked for laboratory use and marketed for sale, details of which are on Paraytec's website, www.paraytec.com/cx-300/. Instruments are being produced and initially sales will be direct to customer by Paraytec's team. As volumes grow, the Company will seek volume manufacturing partners and distributors. In parallel with the CX300 instrument sales, there is potential for a substantial consumable market, which Paraytec intends to develop and exploit.

 

Together with Professor Carl Smythe and his team at Sheffield University, Paraytec has commenced a programme to test and develop a series of user applications for the CX300. The first in this series concerns the analysis of protein aggregation and a Technical Note "Therapeutic Antibody Aggregation Analysis using CX-300 and ParaySelectTM" is now available on the Paraytec website (www.paraytec.com). This shows users how the CX300 can quantify aggregation in the monoclonal antibody Herceptin within 60 seconds, using a remarkably small sample of 30 microlitres. Paraytec has instruments ready to demonstrate this procedure and is setting up a contract service to analyse samples on behalf of researchers.

 

Herceptin™ is an important biopharmaceutical used to treat early and advanced Her2+ cancers, including breast, stomach and oesophageal cancer, either alone or as an antibody-drug conjugate. Aggregation is to be avoided because it results in loss of function, decreased solubility, and, most importantly, enhances unwanted immunogenicity. Aggregate information is highly valuable to medical protein producers, who need to know if the material is denatured or aggregated before they use it in drug production. The CX300 can greatly increase aggregate detection over current methods, which would assist the research, development and production of better-quality drugs and diagnostics, whilst saving time and cost.

 

Phasefocus Holdings Limited (Braveheart owns 44.19% of the company)

 

Phasefocus' patented imaging and analysis technology uses a novel computational method for high fidelity Quantitative Phase Imaging ("QPI") and advanced microscopy, known in the scientific literature as "ptychography". The technology is useful for a wide range of applications including live cell imaging, engineering metrology and electron microscopy. The company's principal offering, Livecyte®, combines its QPI technology with integrated, proprietary, analysis software for live cell analysis. What sets this system apart from its counterparts is its unique ability to continuously track thousands of individual cells and sustain cell health and viability over prolonged durations. This fundamental feature facilitates longitudinal studies involving live cells, thereby permitting a more thorough exploration of dynamic cellular processes.  The system enables users to automatically characterize growth, morphology, and motility of large populations of cells in a 96-well plate assay format.

 

We believe that the Livecyte® imaging and analysis system https://www.phasefocus.com/livecyte is truly market leading. Its easy-to-use image processing and cell tracking algorithms allow cell biologists to identify and track individual cells in real time. Researchers can now monitor the effect of drugs on cell behaviour over many days, identifying cell division events and subsequent daughter cells.

 

Many drug treatments used in cancer therapy aim to: (1) disrupt the cell cycle to stop the tumour growing; or (2) reduce the probability of cells causing secondary cancers through metastasis. Livecyte® has been demonstrated to provide novel measurements crucial to assessing the performance of both therapy targets; cell growth, proliferation and division events are useful for understanding (1) and cell motion and migration characteristics are valuable for (2).

 

Stem cells are extremely sensitive to DNA damage, which makes them very challenging to image with most high-content cell analysis systems which use high-power laser sources and fluorescent labelling. Livecyte®, with its QPI technology, produces high contrast images without the need for fluorescent labels or a high-powered illumination source, making it more suited to stem cell research.  Cells analysed with Livecyte® are also left viable for subsequent downstream use, e.g. for further cell growth or additional analysis. 

 

Unlike comparative QPI systems, Livecyte® removes the need for expensive consumables, reduces set up times, improves image quality, expands the field of view and greatly reduces time to results through real-time data analysis.

 

Two new Livecyte® applications have been developed by Phasefocus in response to customer requests and are scheduled for launch before the end of 2023. These will be marketed as proprietary assays, to meet the needs of cell biologists testing drug performance in immuno-oncology and neuroscience applications. 

 

Livecyte® systems are already being used in research laboratories across the globe, with over 40 scientific research papers featuring Livecyte® data published to date.  There is substantial further potential; the global live cell imaging market is estimated to be $2.7 billion in 2023 and expected to grow at CAGR of 10.2% over the period to 2028.

 

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/live-cell-imaging-market-163914483.html#:~:text=The%20global%20live%20cell%20imaging,trend%20analysis%20of%20the%20market.

 

Kirkstall Limited (Braveheart owns 86.11% of the company) 

 

Kirkstall operates in the market known as 'organ-on-a-chip', where it has developed Quasi Vivo®, a system of chambers for cell and tissue culture in laboratories. Its patented technology is used by researchers in the growing New Approach Methodologies ("NAMs"), which enable human-relevant drug safety decisions to be made without the need for animal testing.

 

Kirkstall is committed to delivering alternatives to animal testing into the hands and mind-sets of researchers worldwide. With Quasi Vivo and its associated test assays, the Directors believe that Kirkstall has the potential to change the research landscape. Quasi Vivo® systems enable precise control of flow and pressure, to provide a significantly more human relevant research environment than competitor systems, which enables the use of human cells/tissue slices in 2D or 3D constructs (scaffolds, gels or spheroids) in long term toxicology, mechanistic and metabolic studies.

Kirkstall's new QV1200 product was launched in February 2023 and has already attracted strong interest from academic and commercial customers. The QV1200 combines all of the most useful features of the previous Kirkstall products: it is easy to set up; allows single and multi-organ experiments; has an air-liquid interface (e.g. for use on lung experiments) and a liquid-liquid interface (e.g. for use on blood brain barrier experiments); has a standard microplate compatible with lab equipment and uses the standard wells for cell experiments. In addition, the QV1200 has an increased throughput, allows for cell imaging and uses improved biocompatible materials. The QV1200 culture chambers are single use, allowing Kirkstall to benefit from repeat sales from each customer.

 

Together with the launch of QV1200, Kirkstall has taken the exciting step of establishing its own contract research organisation (CRO) service to customers from its laboratory in Sheffield. Kirkstall will use the power of its NAMs technology to provide early stage, clinically transferrable data across a range of applications, providing customers with greater confidence in the success of their projects, at a fraction of the time and cost www.kirkstall.com/contact-us/.

 

Kirkstall's research team is developing toxicity test assays for liver, lung and gut cells and will offer these to others, both through its CRO service and by providing assay kit products for other laboratories to use. In parallel work, researchers at Oxford University are developing blood-brain barrier assays for Kirkstall. The aim is to provide data to prove that QV1200 system replicates the human physiology more effectively than other flow systems.

 

Kirkstall's products and services sit in the Cell Biology Research and CRO markets, both of which are growing rapidly. The global cell culture market size was USD 21.95 billion in 2021 and is expected to surpass USD 52.65 billion by 2030 with a CAGR of 10.21% during the forecast period 2022 to 2030. The CRO market is projected to reach USD 188.5 billion by 2030 from USD 73.4 billion in 2022, at a CAGR of 12.5 %. Kirkstall's products support the Early Phase

 

Development market which represents approximately 20% of this market and is forecast to grow faster during this period due to the increasing investment in the development of life-saving drugs.

 

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/contract-research-organization-cro-services-market-100864

https://www.precedenceresearch.com/cell-culture-market

 

Listed Investments

 

At 31 March 2023, Braveheart held investments in the following AIM listed companies:

 

·    Aukett Swanke Group plc (Braveheart owns 12.96% of the company): a professional services group that principally provides architectural and interior design services in the primary international market sectors of offices, residential, education, industrial, hospitality and mixed use or 'hybrid' developments. 

 

·    Autins Group plc (Braveheart owns 15.98% of the company): an industry-leading designer, manufacturer and supplier of acoustic and thermal insulation solutions for the automotive industry and other sectors.

 

·    Image Scan Group plc (Braveheart owns 7.05% of the company): a specialist supplier of X-ray screening systems to the security and industrial inspection markets.

 

·    Velocity Composites plc (Braveheart owns 1.26% of the company): a UK based company and leading supplier of composite material kits to aerospace and other high-performance manufacturers.

 

Your Board believes these technology-driven companies each has a significant opportunity to build sales and deliver profit. As always, Braveheart is an active investor, regularly communicating with their boards and seeking to introduce opportunities that help deliver shareholder returns.

 

The Company also has a number of portfolio investments that are smaller scale legacy investments. We will continue to manage these investments and seek exits where appropriate.

 

Portfolio investments

 

The Company also has a number of portfolio investments that are smaller scale legacy investments which we continue to manage and seek exits where appropriate.

 

Prior-Year Restatement

 

Your Board has reviewed its accounting policy and concluded that as Braveheart is an investment company and in accordance with IFRS 10, Kirkstall and Paraytec are not required to be consolidated and thus these financial statements, including the prior year have been restated to remove these previously consolidated entities.

 

Investment Strategy

 

When Braveheart became a company listed on AIM, the Admission Document approved by shareholders on 27 March 2007 set out the Investment Strategy which was appropriate to the business and the market at that time. Over the years, Braveheart has moved away from FCA regulated legacy fund management activities and has for some years focused on making and managing direct investments made from its own balance sheet resources. Your Board of directors now considers that a New Investment Strategy is needed to reflect the business opportunities and market conditions that the Company now faces and recommends that this amendment to the Admission Document be approved by shareholders at the forthcoming AGM.

 

Outlook

 

Shareholder funds are now deployed maximally to enhance the attractiveness of our investments to potential acquirers. Intensive work continues to further develop the attractiveness and value of our 'cutting edge' science businesses. With the bait in the water, masterful inactivity is probably the most appropriate stance for your directors to take for now, as we wait for approaches.

 

 

 

Trevor Brown

Chief Executive Officer

30 June 2023

 

* Braveheart share price on 24/08/2015 was 7.5p and on 31/03/23 was 7.5p. Total dividend paid during the above period was 43.25p, which equates to a CAGR of 28.59%.

** https://www.londonstockexchange.com/indices/ftse-aim-all-share

 



 

FINANCIAL REVIEW

 

During the year, we continued the comprehensive review of our cost base and continued to reduce the central costs.

 

Income Statement

Fee-based revenue was generated by Braveheart Investment Group Plc. The principal revenue from the Group's operations comprises investment management fees, with total revenue during the year being £51,000 (2022: £64,000). Finance income was £Nil (2022: £Nil), this being interest on outstanding loan notes within the directly held portfolio.

 

As at 31 March 2023, the total number of directly held investments in the portfolio of Strategic Investments and the Portfolio Investments was 21 companies (2022: 18).  The fair value of the directly held portfolio was £9,458,000 (2022: £4,937,000). During the year the group made investments of £1,828,000 into six companies: Autins Group Plc, Aukett Swanke Plc, Image Scan Holdings Plc, KDS Architecture Limited, Kirkstall Limited and Phasefocus Holdings Limited.

 

Total income for the year ended 31 March 2023, including realised gains and unrealised revaluation gains and losses, was £2,958,000 (2022: £2,691,000).

 

The average number of employees remained at four during the period under review. Employee benefits expense was £556,000 (2022: £534,000). Other operating and finance costs increased to £283,000 (2022: £226,000). 

 

The total profit after tax decreased to £1,585,000 (2022: £1,883,000), equivalent to a basic profit per share of 2.68 pence (2022: 4.02 pence).

 

Financial Position

 

The Group's net assets of £10,520,000 (2022: £7,486,000).

 

At the year end, the Group had cash balances of £935,000 (2022: £1,853,000). There were no material borrowings.

 

A summary analysis of the Group's performance is as follows:

 


2023

2022


£'000

£'000

Investment management revenue and sales

51

64

Finance income

21

-

Income before portfolio movements

72

64

Profit on disposal of investments

171

60

Change in fair value of investments, gain on disposal of investments and movement in contingent liability

2,958

2,691

Total income of continuing activities

3,201

2,815

Employee benefits expense (including share- based payments)

(556)

(534)

Other operating and finance costs

(286)

(228)

Total costs on continuing activities

(842)

(762)

Profit before tax - continuing

2,359

2,053

Tax

(774)

(170)

Total profit and total comprehensive profit for the year

1,585

1,883

 

 



Opening cash balance

1,853

2,134

Investment in portfolio companies

(1,529)

(1,467)

Proceeds from sale of equity investments

428

246

Amount paid to BBB

(6)

(171)

Warrants and share options exercised

-

7

Funds raised - net of share issue costs

930

2,416

Other activities

(741)

(1,312)

Closing cash balance

935

1,853




Net assets

10,520

7,487





 

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

 

The KPIs we use to monitor business performance have been changed in order to better reflect the emphasis that the Board has placed upon the development of the Strategic Investments as the best way to increase shareholder value over the short and medium term. Given the nature of our business, these KPI's remain as, primarily, financial measures.  They are:

 


2023

2022

Cash ('£000)

935

1,853

Share price (pence)

6.75

17.75

Income ('£000)

51

64

Value of investments

9,458

4,937

 

Principal Risks and Uncertainties

 

Through its operations the Group is exposed to a number of risks. The Group's risk management objectives and policies are described in the Corporate Governance Statement. Braveheart is ensuring that all necessary steps have been taken to maintain the integrity of the Company's assets and the health and well-being of our employees. 

 

Section 172 Statement

 

Section 172 (1) of the Companies Act obliges the Directors to promote the success of the Company for the benefit of the Company's members as a whole. This section specifies that the Directors must act in good faith when promoting the success of the Company and in doing so, have regard (amongst other things) to:

 

a. the likely consequences of any decision in the long term,

b. the interests of the Company's employees,

c. the need to foster the Company's business relationship with suppliers, customers and others,

d. the impact of the Company's operations on the community and environment,

e. the desirability of the Company maintaining a reputation for high standards of business conduct, and

f. the need to act fairly between members of the Company.

 

The Board of Directors is collectively responsible for formulating the Company's strategy, which is to provide advisory services to SMEs and invest in businesses where prospects appear to be exceptional and deliver growth to its shareholders.

 

The Board places equal importance on all shareholders and strives for transparent and effective external communications, within the regulatory confines of an AIM-listed company. The primary communication tool for regulatory matters and matters of material substance is through the Regulatory News Service, ("RNS"). The Company's

 

website is also updated regularly and provides further details on the business as well as links to helpful content such as our latest investor presentations.

 

Our employees are one of the primary assets of our business and will be critical to the future success of the Company. First and foremost, the Directors strive to ensure a safe working environment for all its staff and contractors, and we are proud of our safety achievements in 2022/23. We also seek to reward employees with remuneration packages which align the interests of the Company and its shareholders with those of employees. Employees are also provided with challenging work and external training opportunities to ensure their continual development.

 

The Directors believe they have acted in the way they consider most likely to promote the success of the Company for the benefit of its members as a whole, as required by Section 172 (1) of the Companies Act 2006.

 

 

 

On behalf of the Board

Trevor E Brown

Chief Executive Officer

30 June 2023

 

 

                                                                                                   



 

Consolidated Statement of comprehensive INCOME for the year ended 31 March 2023

 


 


 

 


 

Restated

 

 


2023

2022

 


Notes

£

£

 





 

Revenue from contracts with customers

3

50,902

64,257

 

Change in fair value of investments

5

2,957,665

2,690,598

 

Profit on disposal of investments

5

170,576

60,414

 

Total income


3,179,143

2,815,269

 



 

 

 

Employee benefits expense


(556,146)

(534,240)

 

Other operating costs


(283,356)

(225,780)

 

Total operating costs

 

(839,502)

(760,020)

 





Finance costs


(2,154)

(1,721)

 

Finance income


21,003

88

 

Total costs


(820,653)

(761,653)

 

 


 

 

 

Profit before tax


2,358,490

2,053,616

 

 


 

 

 

Tax


(773,652)

(170,398)

 





 

Profit from continuing operations


1,584,838

1,883,218

 

 


 

 

 

 


 

 

 

Total profit and total comprehensive loss for the year


1,584,838

1,883,218

 

 


 

 

 

Profit attributable to:




 

Equity holders of the parent


1,584,838

1,883,218

 



1,584,838

1,883,218

 





 

Earnings per share


Pence

Pence

 

- basic

4

2.68

4.02

 

- diluted

4

2.68

3.38

 





 

The accompanying accounting policies and notes form part of these financial statements.

 



 

consolidated statement of financial position as at 31 March 2023



 

 

 

Restated

Restated

 

 

2023

2022

2021

 

Notes

£

£

£

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

Non-current assets

 




Property, plant and equipment


418

  796

421

Investments at fair value through profit or loss       

5

9,458,324

4,937,155

834,922

Debtors due in over one year


1,155,200

813,200

317,200

 

 

10,613,942

5,751,151

1,152,543

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets

 

 

 

 

Trade and other receivables


64,510

211,782

188,921

Cash and cash equivalents

7

934,861

1,852,742

2,133,746



999,371

2,064,524

2,322,667






Total assets


11,613,313

7,815,675

3,475,210

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES





Current liabilities

 

 

 

 

Trade and other payables


(149,656)

(158,761)

(473,173)

 


(149,656)

(158,761)

(473,173)

 

Non-current liabilities

 

 

 

 

Deferred taxation


(944,050)

(170,398)

-

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

 

(1,093,706)

(329,159)

(473,173)

 

 

 

 

 

Net assets


10,519,607

7,486,516

3,002,037


 

 

 

 

EQUITY

 

 

 

 

Called up share capital

4

1,274,469

1,044,807

766,148

Share premium reserve

4

5,370,711

4,371,343

2,226,671

Share based payment reserve


471,203

309,835

137,200

Retained earnings


3,403,224

1,760,531

(127,982)

Equity attributable to owners of the Parent

 

10,519,607

7,486,516

3,002,037

Total equity

 

10,519,607

7,486,516

3,002,037

 

The accompanying accounting policies and notes form part of these financial statements.             

 



 

Consolidated Statement of CAsh flows for the year ended 31 March 2023

 


 

 

 

 


 

 

Restated

 


 

2023

2022

 

 

 

£

£

Operating activities

 

 



Profit before tax



2,358,490

2,053,616

Adjustments to reconcile profit before tax to net cash flows from operating activities





Share based payment



219,223

177,930

Increase in the fair value movements of investments



(2,957,665)

(2,690,598)

Profit on disposal of equity investments



(170,576)

(60,414)

Investment movement owed to BBB



6,801

41,265

Depreciation and amortisation



378

271

Interest income



(21,003)

(138)

Increase in trade and other receivables



(194,728)

(518,861)

Decrease in trade and other payables



(9,106)

(314,412)

Cash flow from operating activities


 

(768,186)

(1,311,341)






Investing activities





Proceeds from sale of investments



428,066

245,871

Amount paid to BBB



-

(170,887)

Purchase of investments



(1,529,127)

(1,467,469)

Purchase of tangibles



-

(646)

Interest received



21,003

138

Net cash flow from investing activities


 

(1,080,058)

(1,392,993)






Financing activities





Warrants and share options exercised



-

7,480

Funds raised, net of share issue costs 



930,363

2,415,850

Net cash flow from financing activities


 

930,363

2,423,330






Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents



(917,881)

(281,004)

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year



1,852,742

2,133,746

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year


 

934,861

1,852,742






During the year, there were two share for share exchanges involving Aukett Swanke plc that resulted in additional non cash investment of £298,668 and an equal uplift in share capital and share premium.

 

The accompanying accounting policies and notes form part of these financial statements.

 



 

Consolidated Statement of ChAnges in Equity for the year ended 31 March 2023


Called up Share Capital

Share Premium Reserve

Share based payment Reserve

Retained Earnings/ (Deficit)

Total

 

Non-controlling interest

Total Equity

GROUP

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

At 1 April 2021

766,148

2,226,671

137,200

(559,897)

2,570,122

(6,025)

2,564,097

Prior year adjustment

-

-

-

431,915

431,915

6,025

437,940

At 1 April 2021 restated

766,148

2,226,671

137,200

(127,982)

3,002,037

-

3,002,037

Profit and total comprehensive profit for the year

Allotment of shares

-

278,659

-

2,228,822

-

-

1,883,218

-

1,883,218

2,507,481


1,883,218

2,507,481

Cost of shares issued

-

(84,150)

-

-

(84,150)


(84,150)

Share based payments

-

-

177,930

-

177,930


177,930

Transfer to retained earnings

-

-

(5,295)

5,295

-


-

Transactions with owners, recognised directly in equity

278,659

2,144,672

172,635

1,888,513

4,484,479


4,484,479

At 1 April 2022 restated

1,044,807

4,371,343

309,835

1,760,531

7,486,516

 

7,486,516

Profit and total comprehensive profit for the year

Allotment of shares

-

229,662

-

1,034,118

-

-

1,584,838

-

1,584,838

1,263,780


1,584,838

1,263,780

Cost of shares issued

-

(34,750)

-

-

(34,750)


(34,750)

Share based payments

-

-

219,223

-

219,223


219,223

Transfer to retained earnings

-

-

(57,855)

57,855

-


-

Transactions with owners, recognised directly in equity

229,662

999,368

161,368

1,642,693

3,033,091


3,033,091

At 31 March 2023

1,274,469

5,370,711

471,203

3,403,224

10,519,607

 

10,519,607









Share capital is the number of shares issued in the company at their nominal value. The share premium account represents the gross proceeds from issue of shares, less their nominal value.

 

 



 

Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2023

1 Corporate information

The Group and Company financial statements of Braveheart Investment Group plc (the Company) for the year ended 31 March 2023 were authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 30 June 2023 and the statements of financial position were signed on the Board's behalf by Trevor Brown.

Braveheart Investment Group plc is a public company incorporated in the United Kingdom under the Companies Act 2006 limited by shares.  The address of the registered office is detailed at the back of this report.  The nature of the Group's operations and its principal activities are set out in the Strategic Report and Directors' Report.  The Company is registered in Scotland.  The Company's ordinary shares are traded on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange.

 

2 Accounting policies

(a) Basis of preparation

The Group and Company financial statements have been prepared in accordance with UK-adopted international accounting standards in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and in accordance with the requirements of the AIM rules. The principal accounting policies adopted by the Group and by the Company are set out in the following notes.

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a historical cost basis, except where otherwise indicated. The financial statements are presented in sterling and all values are rounded to the nearest pound (£), which is also the functional currency of the company and its subsidiaries, except where otherwise indicated.

The Group's business activities (together with the factors likely to affect its future development, performance and position) and its financial position is set out in the Chief Executive Officer's Report. The Group's risk management objectives and policies are described in the Corporate Governance Statement. Further information regarding the Group's financial risk management objectives and policies, including those in relation to credit risk, liquidity risk and market risk, is provided in note 21 to the financial statements. The Group's capital management objectives are stated on page 47, note (n).

 

3 Revenue from contracts with customers

Revenue is attributable to the principal activities of the Group. In 2023 and 2022, all revenue arose within the United Kingdom.




 

 

Restated




 

Group

2023

Group

2022




 

£

£

Investment management



15,000

21,167

Monitoring fees



3,600

-

Consultancy



32,302

43,090





50,902

64,257

 

Of the revenue stated above, £32,302 (2022: £43,090) related to The Lachesis Seed Fund Limited Partnership.

The group derives revenue from the transfer of goods and services over time and at a point in time in the following major product lines:

 

Investment management

Monitoring fee

Consultancy

Total

2023

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Timing of revenue recognition

 

 

 

 

 

At a point in time

15,000

 

3,600

-

18,600

Over time

-

 

-

32,302

32,302

 

15,000

 

3,600

32,302

50,902

2022 Restated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Timing of revenue recognition

 

 

 

 

 

At a point in time

21,167

 

-

-

21,167

Over time

-

 

-

43,090

43,090

 

21,167

 

-

43,090

64,257

 

4 Earnings per share

Basic earnings per share has been calculated by dividing the profit attributable to equity holders of the parent by the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the year.

The calculations of profit per share are based on the following profit and numbers of shares in issue:

 

 

Restated

 

  2023

  2022


£

£

Profit for the year

1,584,838

1,883,218




Weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue:

No.

No.

For basic profit per ordinary share

59,104,950

46,870,999

Potentially dilutive ordinary shares

-

1,633,195

For diluted earnings per ordinary share

59,104,950

48,504,194

 

Dilutive earnings per share adjusts for share options granted where the exercise price is less than the average price of the ordinary shares during the period.  At the current year end there were Nil (2022: 1,633,195) potentially dilutive ordinary shares.

The diluted loss per Ordinary Share is calculated by adjusting the weighted average number of Ordinary shares outstanding to consider the impact of options, warrants and other dilutive securities.

 

5 Investments at fair value through profit or loss


Level 1

Level 2

Level 3



Equity investments in quoted companies

Equity investments in unquoted companies

Debt investments in unquoted companies

Equity investments in unquoted companies

Debt investments in unquoted companies

Total

GROUP

£

£

£

£

£

£

At 1 April 2021 Restated

-

-

-

834,922

-

834,922

Additions at Cost

1,420,534

-

-

46,935

-

1,467,469

Disposals

-

-

-

(48,274)

-

(48,274)

Amount owed to creditors

-

-

-

(7,560)

-

(7,560)

Change in Fair Value

(286,680)

-

-

2,977,278

-

2,690,598

At 1 April 2022 Restated

1,133,854

-

-

3,803,301

-

4,937,155

Additions at Cost

1,177,139

-

-

650,656

-

1,827,795

Disposals

(257,490)

-

-

-

-

(257,490)

Amount owed to creditors

-

-

-

(6,801)

-

(6,801)

Change in Fair Value

(41,626)

-

-

2,999,291

-

2,957,665

At 31 March 2023

2,011,877

-

-

7,446,447

-

9,458,324

 

Included in the balance above are investments that would be owed to the British Business Bank through the Revenue Share Agreement. At the year end, an amount of £24,242 would be due to the British Business Bank on disposal. This liability is shown in the accounts within other creditors.

 

 

5 Investments at fair value through profit or loss (continued)

 


Level 1

Level 2

Level 3



Equity investments in quoted companies

Equity investments in unquoted companies

Debt investments in unquoted companies

Equity investments in unquoted companies

Debt investments in unquoted companies

Total

COMPANY

£

£

£

£

£

£

At 1 April 2021 Restated

-

-

-

731,366

-

731,366

Additions at Cost

1,420,534

-

-

46,935

-

1,467,469

Disposal

-

-

-

(126)

-

(126)

Change in Fair Value

(286,680)

-

-

2,980,518

-

2,693,838

At 1 April 2022 Restated

1,133,854

-

-

3,758,693

-

4,892,547

Additions at Cost

1,177,139

-

-

650,717

-

1,827,856

Disposal

(257,490)

-

-

-

-

(257,490)

Change in Fair Value

(41,626)

-

-

3,002,195

-

2,960,569

At 31 March 2023

2,011,877

-

-

7,411,605

-

9,423,482

 

As at 31 March 2023, the group total value of investments in companies was £9,458,324 (2022: £4,937,155). The group total change in fair value during the year was a profit of £2,957,665 (2022: profit £2,690,598).

Investments, which is made up of equity investments, are designated on initial recognition as financial assets at fair value through profit or loss. This measurement basis is consistent with the fact that the Group's performance in respect of its portfolio investments is evaluated on a fair value basis in accordance with an established investment strategy. When investments are recognised initially, they are measured at fair value.

 

After initial recognition the fair value of listed investments is determined by reference to bid prices at the close of business on the reporting date. Unlisted equity investments are measured at fair value by the directors in compliance with the principles of the International Private Equity and Venture Capital Guidelines, updated and effective December 2015, as recommended by the European Venture Capital Association. The fair value of unlisted equity investments is determined using the most appropriate of the valuation methodologies set out in the guidelines. These include using recent arm's length market transactions; reference to the current market value of another instrument, which is substantially the same; earnings or profit multiples; indicative offers; discounted cash flow analysis and pricing models.

The Group classifies its investments using a fair value hierarchy. Classification within the hierarchy has been determined on the basis of the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement of the relevant investment as follows:

·      Level 1 - valued using quoted prices in active markets for identical assets;

·      Level 2 - valued by reference to valuation techniques using observable inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1; and

·      Level 3 - valued by reference to valuation techniques using inputs that are not based on observable market data.

The fair values of quoted investments are based on bid prices in an active market at the reporting date. All unquoted investments have been classified as Level 3 within the fair value hierarchy, their respective valuations having been calculated using a number of valuation techniques and assumptions, notwithstanding that the basis of the valuation methodology preferred by the Group is 'price of most recent investment'.  To reflect the potential impact of alternative assumptions and a lack of liquidity in these holdings, a discount has been applied to all Level 3 valuations. When using the DCF valuation method, reasonably possible alternative assumptions could have a material effect on the fair valuation of investments.

 

The methodologies used in the year for level 3 investments are broken down as follows:

Methodology

Description

Inputs

Adjustments

 % of portfolio valued on this basis

 

Fund Raising

Used for unquoted investments where there has been a funding round, generally within the last twelve months

The price of the most recent investment

A liquidity discount is applied, typically 15%. Where last funding round is greater than twelve months then further discounts ranging between 0% and 100% are applied.

2.4%

 

Debt/Loan notes

Loan investments

The fair value of debt investment is deemed to be cost less any impairment provision

Impairment provision if deemed necessary

0.7%

 

Discounted cash flow and revenue multiples

Used for companies with long-term cash flows and having comparable transactions/ companies in the listed segment

Long term cash flows are discounted at a rate considered appropriate for the business, typically 25%. Revenue multiples are typically 5 to 10 times of forward looking revenue.

A liquidity discount is applied, typically 20%

96.9%

 

 

Change in fair value in the year:

 

Group

2023

Group

2022


 

£

£

Fair value gains

 

4,722,538

2,982,077

 

(1,764,873)

(291,479)


 

2,957,665

2,690,598










The gain in the year came from the uplift of the valuations in Phasefocus Holdings, Paraytec and Kirkstall

Details of investments where the nominal value of the holding in the undertaking is 20% or more of any class of share are as follows:

Caledonia Portfolio Realisations Limited ('CPR') holds a 20% aggregate shareholding in Verbalis Limited ('Verbalis'), a design and production of automated language translation systems company. Neither CPR nor the Company is represented on the Board or within management of Verbalis and in the opinion of the directors, this shareholding does not entitle the Company to exert a significant or dominant influence over Verbalis. The carrying value of Verbalis is £nil (2022: £nil).

The Company holds a 100% aggregate holding in Paraytec Limited, which develops high performance specialist detectors for the analytical and life sciences instrumentation market. The valuation of Paraytec has been reviewed following new patent filing of intellectual property, launch of its new product and associated business plans. The Company is represented on the board. The carrying value of Paraytec £3,038,625 (2022: £220,622). 

The Company holds a 86% aggregate holding in Kirkstall Limited, a biotechnology company which developed a system of interconnected chambers for cell and tissue culture in laboratories. The valuation of Kirkstall has been reviewed following development of new intellectual property, patent application and launch of its new product and associated business plans. The Company is represented on the Board. The carrying value of Kirkstall is £1,678,844 (2022: £Nil). 

The Company holds a 42% aggregate holding on PhaseFocus Holdings Limited, has developed a series of patented computational imaging techniques that have a wide range of applications including live cell imaging, engineering metrology and electron microscopy. The Company is represented on the Board and in the opinion of the directors, neither this shareholding nor the representative entitles the Company to exert a significant or dominant influence over PhaseFocus. The valuation method has changed following consultation with Phasefocus representatives and their advisers. The carrying value of Phase Focus is £2,502,512 (2022: £3,418,573).

The Company holds a 38% aggregate holding on Sentinel Medical Limited, this company is developing a point of care diagnostic device for bladder cancer detection and monitoring. The Company is represented on the Board and in the opinion of the directors, this shareholding nor the representative entitles the Company to exert a significant or dominant influence over Sentinel. The carrying value of Sentinel is £33 (2022: £33).

The Company holds a 38.65% aggregate holding in KDS Architecture Limited, a company which provides architectural services. The Company is not represented on the Board or within management of KDS Architecture and in the opinion of the directors, this shareholding does not entitle the Company to exert a significant or dominant influence over KDS Architecture. The carrying value of KDS Architecture is £76,074 (2022: £nil).

The registered addresses for these entities are as follows:

Verbalis Limited                           Frostineb Cottage, Fala, Pathhead, Midlothian, Scotland, EH37 5TB

Paraytec Limited                          York House, Outgang Lane, Osbaldwick, York, England, YO19 5UP

Kirkstall Limited                           York House, Outgang Lane, Osbaldwick, York, England, YO19 5UP

Gyrometric Systems Limited       Dockholme Lock Cottage, 380 Bennett Street, Long Eaton, Nottingham, England, NG10 4JF

Phasefocus Holdings Limited        125 Wood Street, London, England, EC2V 7AW

Sentinel Medical Limited             York House, Outgang Lane, Osbaldwick, York, England, YO19 5UP

KDS Architecture Limited              42 Lytton Road, Barnet, England, EN5 5BY

 

6 Investment in subsidiaries

The Company has the following interests in subsidiary undertakings:

Name

Country of Incorporation

Nature of Business

% Interest





Caledonia Portfolio Realisations Limited (i)

Scotland

Investment management

100%

Braveheart Academic Seed Funding GP Limited (i)

England

Investment management

100%

Ridings Holdings Limited (i)

England

Investment management

100%

The Ridings Early Growth Investment Company Limited (ii)

England

Investment management

100%

Paraytec Limited (iii)

England

Development of high performance specialist detectors

100%

Kirkstall Limited (iii)

England

Biotechnology

86%

Combrook Holdings

England

Investment management

60%

 

(i) Direct subsidiary of Braveheart Investment Group plc

(ii) Indirect subsidiary of Braveheart Investment Group plc

(iii) Not consolidated




 

 

Group entities act as General Partner to, and have an interest in, the following limited partnerships:

Name

Place of

Business

% Interest




Lachesis Seed Fund

England

0%

 

The registered addresses for the subsidiary undertakings are as follows:

Caledonia Portfolio Realisations Limited                                          1 George Square, Glasgow, Scotland, G2 1AL

Braveheart Academic Seed Funding GP Limited                             One Fleet Place, London, EC4M 7WS

Ridings Holdings Limited                                                                  One Fleet Place, London, EC4M 7WS

The Ridings Early Growth Investment Company Limited                 One Fleet Place, London, EC4M 7WS

Paraytec Limited                                   York House, Outgang Lane, Osbaldwick, York, North Yorkshire, YO19 5UP              

Kirkstall Limited                                    York House, Outgang Lane, Osbaldwick, York, North Yorkshire, YO19 5UP

Combrook Holdings Limited                 Old Linen Court, 83-85 Shambles Street, Barnsley,South Yorkshire, England, S70 2SB  

 

 

7 Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

Restated

 

Restated

 

Group

Group

Company

Company

 

2023

2022

2023

2022


£

£

£

£

Cash at bank and on hand

934,861

1,852,742

684,532

1,602,140

Cash balances are held with HSBC Bank plc and earn interest at floating rates based on daily bank deposit rates.


8 Prior year adjustment

 

The accounts have been restated in order to take Kirkstall Limited and Paraytec Limited out of the group accounts. IFRS 10 provides mandates that an investment entity shall not consolidate its subsidiaries or apply IFRS 3 when it obtains control of another entity, excluding any subsidiary that is itself an investment entity and whose main purpose and activities are providing services that relate to the investment entity's investment activities. As such, the consolidation of Kirkstall Ltd and Paraytec Ltd in the prior year's financial statements is deemed to be not in accordance with IFRS 10 and as such requires correction and the prior-year figures should be restated to reflect this change. The effects are stated below.

Changes to the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position

 

 

 

 

 

 

As previously

Adjustment at

Adjustment at

Restated

 

reported

1 April 2021

31 March 2022

31 March 2022


£

£

£

£

Non current assets





Property, plant and equipment

1,776

(1,745)

765

796

Intangible assets

26,103

(28,152)

2,049

-

Goodwill

205,775

(205,775)

-

-

Investments at fair value through profit or loss       

4,716,080

221,075

-

4,937,155

Debtors due in over one year

-

371,200

442,000

813,200

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


                                                    

 

8 Prior year adjustment (Continued)

 

 

 

 

 

As previously

Adjustment at

Adjustment at

Restated

 

Reported 31 March 2022

1 April 2021

31 March 2022

31 March 2022

 

£

£

£

£

Current assets

 

 

 

 

Inventory

90,113

(98,441)

8,328

-

Trade and other receivables

123,412

(69,292)

157,662

211,782

Cash and cash equivalents

1,893,931

(9,120)

(32,069)

1,852,742






Current liabilities





Trade and other payables

(272,432)

117,906

(4,235)

(158,761)

Deferred income

(7,025)

41,843

(34,818)

-

 

Equity

 

 

 

 

Retained earnings

899,202

431,915

429,414

1,760,531

Total equity

6,607,335

437,940

441,241

7,486,516

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

Changes to the consolidated income statement

 

 

 

 

 

 

As previously

 

Restated

 


Reported 31 March 2022

Adjustment

31 March 2022



£

£

£

Total income


185,814

(121,557)

64,257

Total costs


(1,390,801)

629,148

(761,653)

Tax


(104,048)

(66,350)

(170,398)

Profit for the year


1,441,977

441,241

1,883,218

 

 

Changes to the consolidated cash flow

 

 

 

As previously

 

Restated

 


Reported 31 March 2022

Adjustment

31 March 2022



£

£

£

Cash flow from operating activities


(1,269,438)

(41,903)

(1,311,341)

Net cash flow from investing activities


(1,402,827)

9,834

(1,392,993)

Net cash flow from financing activities


2,423,330

-

2,423,330

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents


(248,935)

(32,069)

(281,004)

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year


2,142,866

(9,120)

2,133,746

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year


1,893,931

(41,189)

1,852,742

 

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