Kings Arms Yard VCT PLC: Annual Financial Report
Kings Arms Yard VCT PLC
Annual Financial Report
LEI Code 213800DK8H27QY3J5R45
As required by the UK Listing Authority’s Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules 4.1 and 6.3, Kings Arms Yard VCT PLC today makes public its information relating to the Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2023.
The announcement was approved for release by the Board of Directors on 19 April 2024.
This announcement has not been audited.
The Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 (which have been audited), will shortly be sent to shareholders. Copies of the full Annual Report and Financial Statements will be shown via the Albion Capital Group LLP website by clicking www.albion.capital/funds/KAY/31Dec2023.pdf.
Investment policy
The Company is a Venture Capital Trust and the investment policy is intended to produce a regular and predictable dividend stream with an appreciation in capital value.
The Company will invest in a broad portfolio of higher growth businesses across a variety of sectors of the UK economy including higher risk technology companies. Allocation of assets will be determined by the investment opportunities which become available but efforts will be made to ensure that the portfolio is diversified both in terms of sector and stage of maturity of company.
Funds held pending investment or for liquidity purposes are held as cash on deposit or similar instruments with banks or other financial institutions with high credit ratings assigned by international credit rating agencies.
Risk diversification and maximum exposures
Risk is spread by investing in a number of different businesses within venture capital trust qualifying industry sectors using a mixture of securities. The maximum amount which the Company will invest in a single portfolio company is 15% of the Company’s assets at cost, thus ensuring a spread of investment risk. The value of an individual investment may increase over time as a result of trading progress and it is possible that it may grow in value to a point where it represents a significantly higher proportion of total assets prior to a realisation opportunity being available.
The Company’s maximum exposure in relation to gearing is restricted to the amount equal to its adjusted capital and reserves.
Financial calendar
| 12 April 2024 | Record date for first dividend |
| 30 April 2024 | Payment date for first dividend |
| Noon on 4 June 2024 | Annual General Meeting |
| September 2024 | Announcement of Half-yearly results for the six months ending 30 June 2024 |
| 31 October 2024 | Payment date for second dividend (subject to Board approval) |
Financial highlights
| 0.42p | Basic and diluted return per share for the year ended 31 December 2023 (2022: 0.16p) |
| 2.2% | Shareholder return for the year ended 31 December 2023† (2022: 0.9%) |
| 1.05p | Total tax free dividends per share paid in the year to 31 December 2023 (2022: 2.30p) |
| 20.37p | Net asset value per share as at 31 December 2023 (2022: 20.95p) |
†This is considered an Alternative Performance Measure, see note 3 in the Strategic report for further explanation.
Movements in net asset value
| 31 December 2023 pence per share | 31 December 2022 pence per share | |||
| Opening net asset value | 20.95 | 23.05 | ||
| Capital return | 0.26 | 0.07 | ||
| Revenue return | 0.16 | 0.09 | ||
| Total return | 0.42 | 0.16 | ||
| Dividends paid | (1.05) | (2.30) | ||
| Impact from share capital movements | 0.05 | 0.04 | ||
| Net asset value | 20.37 | 20.95 |
Total shareholder value per share
| Ordinary shares (pence per share) | |
| Total dividends paid to 31 December 2023 | 74.53 |
| Net asset value as at 31 December 2023* | 20.37 |
| Total shareholder value per share as at 31 December 2023 | 94.90 |
*In the period from launch to 1 January 2011, there was a decrease in the net asset value of 83.40 pence per share. In the period from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2023, the period that Albion Capital have been investment manager, there has been an increase in the net asset value of 3.77 pence per share.
The above financial summary is for the Company, Kings Arms Yard VCT PLC only. Details of the financial performance of the various Quester, SPARK and Kings Arms Yard VCT 2 PLC companies, which have been merged into the Company, can be found at www.albion.capital/funds/KAY under the ‘Financial summary for previous funds’ section.
The Directors have declared a first dividend of 0.51 pence per share for the year ending 31 December 2024, which will be paid on 30 April 2024 to shareholders on the register on 12 April 2024.
Chairman’s statement
Introduction
In the year to 31 December 2023, the Company delivered a positive total return of 0.42 pence per share, which equates to a 2.2% shareholder return. Despite facing a backdrop of macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty, which will likely persist in the short-term, the Board continues to be encouraged by the progress being made by many of the portfolio companies, supported by an increase in young companies looking for funding. We expect the continuing digitalisation strategies of corporate and healthcare customers to create attractive long-term investment opportunities, despite the current economic headwinds.
Results and dividends
As at 31 December 2023, the net asset value (“NAV”) was £105.5 million or 20.37 pence per share, compared to £104.0 million or 20.95 pence per share at 31 December 2022. The total return before taxation was £2.1 million compared to a return of £0.7 million for the previous year. Further details of the progress of a number of our portfolio companies are discussed later in this statement.
In line with the dividend policy targeting payment of around 5% of NAV per annum, the Company paid dividends of 1.05 pence per share during the year to 31 December 2023 (2022: 2.30 pence per share). The 2022 dividend included a special dividend of 1.14 pence per share.
The Board is pleased to have declared a first dividend for the financial year ending 31 December 2024 of 0.51 pence per share, being 2.5% of the prevailing NAV, to be paid on 30 April 2024 to shareholders on the register on 12 April 2024.
Investment realisations
The Company had a number of realisations in the year, with proceeds totalling £2.8 million, leading to realised gains of £0.6 million. The most notable exit in the year was the sale of Ophelos, generating £1.5 million in proceeds, and achieving a 2.1x return on cost.
Further details on the investment realisations during the year can be found in the table on page 29 of the full Annual Report and Financial Statements.
Investment performance and progress
In spite of the global uncertainties faced, many of our portfolio companies have performed well and this has contributed to the total uplift in value of £3.3 million to the Company’s investments for the year.
The top 3 investments by value in the portfolio, Quantexa, Proveca and Egress, which together account for 32.7% of net asset value, have performed well in the year, and their valuations have increased in the year to 31 December 2023. In the year, Quantexa raised an externally led $129 million Series E fundraising, which completed in April 2023, and continues to perform well (£6.1m uplift), whilst Egress and Proveca have shown strong growth contributing £1.1m and £0.8m uplifts respectively.
In contrast, certain portfolio companies have been adversely impacted by the difficult macroeconomic environment, including Black Swan Data (£1.1m write down), Threadneedle Software Holdings (T/A Solidatus) (£0.6m write down) and Brytlyt (£0.6m write down).
The Company has continued to be an active investor during the year with £6.5 million invested into portfolio companies, of which £2.1 million was invested across five new portfolio companies, all of which are expected to require further investment as the companies prove themselves and grow. The average age of the five new portfolio companies was 2.63 years, illustrating the Company’s focus on investing in earlier-stage businesses and building value over the longer term. The new investments during the year were:
- £0.8 million (Albion VCTs: £5.0 million) in OpenDialog AI, a provider of AI powered chatbots and virtual assistants;
- £0.5 million (Albion VCTs: £3.0 million) in Gridcog International, a SaaS platform which provides project modelling software to plan, track and optimise Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) across multiple sites and asset types integrated together;
- £0.4 million (Albion VCTs: £2.4 million) in Phasecraft, which develops new algorithms to make use of early quantum computers for materials science problems;
- £0.2 million (Albion VCTs: £1.0 million) in Kennek Solutions, a vertical end to end software for non-bank lenders that allows them to manage the full value chain of lending in a single platform; and
- £0.2 million (Albion VCTs: £1.0 million) in Mondra Global, a software platform to automate environmental product Lifecycle Assessments (LCA), allowing global retailers to measure, manage and importantly reduce carbon emissions of their products in their supply chains.
The Company also provided ongoing support to its portfolio in the year, in the form of follow-on funding, with £4.4 million invested across thirteen existing portfolio companies. This included a total of £1.3 million in Proveca, £0.7 million in Gravitee TopCo (T/A Gravitee.io) and £0.6 million in Panaseer.
A full list of the Company's investments and disposals, including their movements in value for the year, can be found in the Portfolio of investments on pages 27 to 29 of the full Annual Report and Financial Statements.
Updated NAV announcement after the year end
On 12 March 2024, a NAV update was announced with a 0.71 pence per share uplift, representing a 1.0% increase on the 31 December 2023 NAV. This uplift is a result of terms being agreed for the sale of a company within the portfolio, however there is no certainty that this deal will complete.
Risks and uncertainties
The Company faces significant risks, including higher interest rates, high levels of inflation and the ongoing impact of geopolitical tensions. This complex backdrop is factored into how the Company is managed, including how it manages its cash.
Our investment portfolio, while concentrated mainly in the technology and healthcare sectors, remains diversified in terms of both sub-sector and stage of maturity. The Manager is continually assessing the exposure to these risks for each portfolio company and appropriate actions, where possible, are being implemented. This includes the potential provision of further financial support to portfolio companies where necessary.
A detailed analysis of the principal risks and uncertainties facing the business is shown in the Strategic report below.
Share buy-backs
It remains the Board’s primary objective to maintain sufficient resources for investment in existing and new portfolio companies and for the continued payment of dividends to shareholders. The Board’s policy is to buy back shares in the market, subject to the overall constraint that such purchases are in the Company’s interest.
It is the Board’s intention for such buy-backs to be in the region of a 5% discount to net asset value, so far as market conditions and liquidity permit. Details of shares bought back during the year can be found in note 14.
Board continuity
Simon Thorpe was appointed to the Board on 1 September 2023, and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Board. Simon is a qualified Chartered Accountant and former chairman and director of Cambridge Angels with extensive experience of analysing and investing in early-stage public and private companies in the technology and technology enabled healthcare sectors.
After being appointed to the Board and serving as chairman of the Audit and Risk Committee since 2011, Thomas Chambers will be retiring from the Board at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting on 4 June 2024. I would like to take this opportunity to wish him well for the future, and express my thanks on behalf of the Board and shareholders for his significant contribution during his tenure. Simon Thorpe will succeed him as chairman of the Audit and Risk Committee.
More information on the re-election and election of the Directors can be found on page 49 of the full Annual Report and Financial Statements.
Albion VCTs Prospectus Top Up Offer
On 16 March 2023, the Board announced the closure of the 2022/23 Top Up Offer having reached its £12.5 million limit.
Your Board, in conjunction with the Boards of four other VCTs managed by Albion Capital Group LLP, published a Prospectus Top Up Offer of new Ordinary shares on 15 December 2023. The Offer launched on 2 January 2024 and the Company announced it had reached its £10.5 million limit on 19 March 2024.
The funds raised by the Company pursuant to the Offer will be added to the cash resources available for investment, putting the Company into a position to take advantage of investment opportunities over the next two to three years.
Annual General Meeting (“AGM”)
The AGM will be held virtually at noon on 4 June 2024 via the Lumi platform. Information on how to participate in the live webcast can be found on the Manager’s website www.albion.capital/vct-hub/agms-events.
The Board welcome questions from shareholders at the AGM and shareholders will be able to ask questions using the Lumi platform during the AGM. Alternatively, shareholders can email their questions to KAYchair@albion.capital prior to the Meeting.
Further details on the format and business to be conducted at the AGM can be found in the Directors’ report on pages 50 and 51 and in the Notice of the Meeting on pages 92 to 95 of the full Annual Report and Financial Statements.
Due to the success and ongoing participation of shareholders at the Albion Shareholders Seminar, there will be another opportunity to meet again at this years event, details of which will be available in due course at www.albion.capital/vct-hub/agms-events.
Audit tender process
Following a formal and rigorous audit tender process, and with the outgoing auditors approaching the maximum period a firm can act as auditor, Johnston Carmichael LLP (“Johnston Carmichael”) was appointed as the new Auditor of the Company in October 2023. Johnston Carmichael has conducted the audit of the Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2023. Shareholders will be asked to confirm the appointment of Johnston Carmichael at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting.
The Board would like to thank BDO for their diligent service over the last 9 years.
Further details on the tender process can be found in the Statement of corporate governance on page 56 of the full Annual Report and Financial Statements.
Change of name
In order to closer align with the identity of the other VCTs managed by Albion Capital Group LLP, the Board is pleased to announce a change in the Company’s name to Albion KAY VCT PLC, which is expected to take place later this year.
Outlook and prospects
The Board is pleased with the positive return for the year, which highlights the resilience of the Company’s portfolio in a challenging climate and supports our emphasis on structural growth trends within the technology and healthcare sectors. We continue to minimise exposure to discretionary consumer expenditure, which should strengthen the Company's resilience during uncertain economic times. The Manager’s ability to deploy cash into promising new companies has also been encouraging, with five new investments completed during the year.
There are numerous economic and geopolitical challenges that still lie ahead for our portfolio companies; however, we have confidence in the prospects for the Company’s portfolio and its ability to deliver growth in shareholder value in the medium to long term.
Fiona Wollocombe
Chairman
19 April 2024
Strategic report
The Company is a Venture Capital Trust and its investment policy can be found above.
Business model
The Company operates as a Venture Capital Trust. This means that the Company has no employees and has outsourced the management of all its operations to Albion Capital Group LLP, including secretarial and administrative services. Further details of the Management agreement can be found below.
Current portfolio sector allocation
The pie charts at the end of this announcement show the split of the portfolio valuation as at 31 December 2023 by: sector; stage of investment; and number of employees. This is a useful way of assessing how the Company and its portfolio is diversified across sector, portfolio companies’ maturity measured by revenues and their size measured by the number of people employed. Details of the principal investments made by the Company are shown in the Portfolio of investments on pages 27 and 28 of the full Annual Report and Financial Statements.
Direction of portfolio
The analysis of the Company’s investment portfolio shows that it is well diversified and evenly spread across the FinTech, healthcare (including digital healthcare), software and technology and renewable energy sectors.
The cash currently sits at 19% of NAV which the Company will use to support those portfolio companies that require it, as well as to capitalise on any new investment opportunities that arise. The Manager has a deep sector knowledge in healthcare (including digital healthcare), FinTech and enterprise software, and these funds will be invested predominantly into higher growth technology companies within these sectors. In addition, as an extension to the breadth of the Company’s technology investing, it intends to make a number of DeepTech investments over the forthcoming years.
Results and dividends
| £'000 | |
| Net capital return for the year ended 31 December 2023 | 1,321 |
| Net revenue return for the year ended 31 December 2023 | 815 |
| Total return for the year ended 31 December 2023 | 2,136 |
| First dividend of 0.52 pence per share paid on 28 April 2023 | (2,743) |
| Second dividend of 0.53 pence per share paid on 31 October 2023 | (2,767) |
| Unclaimed dividends | 8 |
| Transferred from reserves | (3,366) |
| Net assets as at 31 December 2023 | 105,490 |
| Net asset value per share as at 31 December 2023 | 20.37p |
The Company paid dividends of 1.05 pence per share during the year ended 31 December 2023 (2022: 2.30 pence per share, which included a special dividend of 1.14 pence per share). The Board has a variable dividend policy which targets an annual dividend yield of around 5% on the prevailing net asset value. As a result, the Board has declared a first dividend of 0.51 pence per share (2023: 0.52 pence per share) for the year ending 31 December 2024, which will be paid on 30 April 2024 to shareholders on the register on 12 April 2024.
As shown in the Income statement, investment income has increased to £1,498,000 (2022: £1,079,000) due mainly to bank interest increasing to £376,000 (2022: £68,000) and income from fixed term funds increasing to £254,000 (2022: £59,000), both as a result of rising interest rates. This increase was partially offset by dividend income falling to £115,000 (2022: £125,000) and loan stock interest decreasing to £753,000 (2022: £827,000). The gain on investments for the year was £3,306,000 (2022: £2,237,000). The key drivers of this gain are detailed in the Portfolio of investments section on pages 27 to 29 of the full Annual Report and Financial Statements.
The total return for the year was £2,136,000 (2022: £726,000), equating to a return of 0.42 pence per share (2022: 0.16 pence per share).
The Balance sheet shows that the net asset value has decreased over the last year to 20.37 pence per share (2022: 20.95 pence per share).
There has been a net cash outflow of £5,983,000 for the year (2022: outflow of £7,666,000), mainly resulting from a high number of investments into new and existing portfolio companies, though lower than in the prior year, and dividends paid during the year. These outflows were offset by the issue of Ordinary shares under the Albion VCTs Top Up Offers 2022/23 and proceeds received from exits in the year.
Cash in bank and at hand at the year end decreased to £20.2 million (2022: £26.2 million), representing 19% (2022: 25%) of net asset value.
Review of business and future changes
A review of the Company’s business during the year is set out in the Chairman’s statement.
There is a continuing focus on growing the healthcare (including digital healthcare), FinTech and software and other technology sectors. The majority of these investment returns are delivered through equity and capital gains and will be the key driver of success for the Company. Investment income, which is received primarily from our renewable energy investments, is expected to remain steady over the coming years.
Details of significant events which have occurred since the end of the financial year are listed in note 18. Details of transactions with the Manager are shown in note 4.
Future prospects
The Company’s financial results for the year demonstrate that the portfolio remains well balanced across sectors and risk classes, and is largely weathering the impacts of the ongoing global issues caused as a result of high levels of interest rates and inflation, due in part to the geopolitical tensions, however the full effects of these issues will continue to be felt in years to come. Although there remains much uncertainty, the Board considers that the current portfolio has the potential to deliver long term growth, whilst maintaining a predictable stream of dividend payments to shareholders. Further details on the Company’s outlook and prospects can be found in the Chairman’s statement.
Key Performance Indicators (“KPIs”) and Alternative Performance Measures (“APMs”)
The Directors believe that the following KPIs and APMs, which are typical for Venture Capital Trusts, used in their own assessment of the Company, will provide shareholders with sufficient information to assess how effectively the Company is applying its investment policy to meet its objectives. The Directors are satisfied that the results shown in the following KPIs and APMs give a good indication that the Company is achieving its investment objective and policy.
1. Total shareholder return relative to FTSE All-Share Index total return
The graph on page 8 of the full Annual Report and Financial Statements shows the Company’s total shareholder return relative to the FTSE All-Share Index total return, with dividends reinvested, since 1 January 2014. The FTSE All-Share index is considered a reasonable benchmark as the Company is classed as a generalist UK VCT investor, and this index includes over 600 companies listed in the UK, including small-cap, covering a range of sectors. Details on the performance of the net asset value and return per share for the year are shown in the Chairman’s statement.
2. Net asset value per share (APM) and cumulative dividends
The graph on page 16 of the full Annual Report and Financial Statements illustrates the movement in net asset value per share and cumulative dividends paid for the period 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2023.
3. Shareholder value (APM) and Shareholder return† (APM)
Total shareholder value since inception (being the NAV plus dividends paid) increased by 0.47 pence per share (2.2% on opening NAV) to 94.90 pence per share for the year ended 31 December 2023.
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
| (0.7%) | 9.3% | 11.4% | 5.6% | 11.0% | 1.9% | 4.2% | 16.3% | 0.9% | 2.2% |
†Methodology: Calculated as the movement in total shareholder value for the year divided by the opening net asset value.
The table above shows that total shareholder value has increased in 9 out of the last 10 years, with an average return of 6.2% per annum.
4. Dividend distributions
Dividends paid in respect of the year ended 31 December 2023 were 1.05 pence per share (2022: 2.30 pence per share). The cumulative dividend paid since inception is 74.53 pence per share.
5. Ongoing charges (APM)
The ongoing charges ratio for the year to 31 December 2023 was 2.43% (2022: 2.43%). The ongoing charges ratio has been calculated using The Association of Investment Companies (“AIC”) recommended methodology. This figure shows shareholders the total recurring annual operational expenses (including investment management fees charged to capital reserve) as a percentage of the average net assets attributable to shareholders. The ongoing charges are subject to an annual cap of 3.00%. The Directors expect the ongoing charges ratio for the year ahead to be approximately 2.45%.
6. VCT compliance*
The investment policy is designed to ensure that the Company continues to qualify and is approved as a VCT by HMRC. In order to maintain its status under Venture Capital Trust legislation, a VCT must comply on a continuing basis with the provisions of Section 274 of the Income Tax Act 2007, details of which are provided in the Directors’ report on pages 46 and 47 of the full Annual Report and Financial Statements.
The relevant tests to measure compliance have been carried out and independently reviewed for the year ended 31 December 2023. These showed that the Company has complied with all tests and continues to do so.
*VCT compliance is not a numerical measure of performance and thus cannot be defined as an APM.
Gearing
As defined by the Articles of Association, the Company’s maximum exposure in relation to gearing is restricted to its adjusted share capital and reserves. The Directors do not currently have any intention to utilise gearing for the Company.
Operational arrangements
The Company has delegated the investment management of the portfolio to Albion Capital Group LLP, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Albion Capital Group LLP also provides company secretarial and other accounting and administrative support to the Company.
Management agreement
Under the Investment Management Agreement, Albion Capital Group LLP provides investment management, company secretarial and administrative services to the Company. Albion Capital Group LLP is entitled to an annual management fee of 2% of net asset value of the Company, payable quarterly in arrears, along with an annual administration fee of £50,000.
The aggregate payable for management and administration (normal running costs) are subject to an aggregate annual cap of 3% of the year end closing net asset value, for accounting periods commencing after 31 December 2011.
The Investment Management Agreement can be terminated by either party on 12 months’ notice and is subject to earlier termination in the event of certain breaches or on the insolvency of either party.
The Manager is also entitled to an arrangement fee on investment, payable by each portfolio company, of approximately 2% of each investment made and monitoring fees where the Manager has a representative on the portfolio company’s board. Further details of the Manager’s fee can be found in note 4.
Performance incentive fee
As an incentive to maximise the return to investors, the Manager would receive an incentive fee in the event that the returns exceed minimum target levels.
The performance hurdle is equal to the greater of the starting NAV of 20 pence per share, increased by the increase in RPI plus 2% per annum from the start date of 1 January 2014 (calculated on a simple and not compound basis) and the highest total return for any earlier period after the start date (the ‘high watermark’). An annual fee (in respect of each share in issue carrying voting rights on the last day of the financial period) of an amount equal to 15% of any excess of the total return (this being NAV per share plus dividends paid after the start date) as at the end of the relevant accounting period over the performance hurdle will be due to the Manager.
For the year ended 31 December 2023, the total return of the Company since 1 January 2014 (the performance incentive fee start date) was 33.57 pence per share, compared to a performance hurdle rate of 37.42 pence per share, resulting in a shortfall of 3.85 pence per share. As a result, no performance incentive fee is payable to the Manager (2022: £nil).
Evaluation of the Manager
The Board has evaluated the performance of the Manager based on:
• the returns generated by the Company;
• the continuing achievement of the HMRC tests for VCT status;
• the long term prospects of the current portfolio of investments;
• the management of treasury, including use of buy-backs and participation in fund raising; and
• benchmarking the performance of the Manager to other service providers including the performance of other VCTs that
the Manager is responsible for managing.
The Board believes that it is in the interests of shareholders as a whole, and of the Company, to continue the appointment of the Manager for the forthcoming year.
Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (“AIFMD”)
The Board appointed the Manager as the Company’s AIFM in 2014 as required by the AIFMD. The Manager is a full-scope Alternative Investment Fund Manager under the AIFMD. Ocorian Depositary (UK) Limited is the appointed Depositary and oversees the custody and cash arrangements and provides other AIFMD duties with respect to the Company.
Consumer Duty
Consumer Duty came into effect from 31 July 2023. These rules set a higher standard of consumer protection in financial services. The Manager as AIFM is within scope of the FCA’s Consumer Duty, but the Company itself is not.
The Manager is a manufacturer of the Company’s shares as it is a firm that has some influence over design and distribution of the Company’s share product. The Manager’s latest assessment of value for the Company’s shares was completed in December 2023. The value assessment concluded that the Company provides fair value for shareholders. Where the Manager’s product review concludes that changes may help deliver better outcomes for consumers, it will recommend these changes to the Board.
Companies Act 2006 Section 172 Reporting
Under Section 172 of the Companies Act 2006, the Board has a duty to promote the success of the Company for the benefit of its members as a whole in both the long and short term, having regard to the interests of other stakeholders in the Company, such as suppliers, and to do so with an understanding of the impact on the community and environment and with high standards of business conduct, which includes acting fairly between members of the Company.
The Board is very conscious of these wider responsibilities in the ways it promotes the Company’s culture and ensures, as part of its regular oversight, that the integrity of the Company’s affairs is foremost in the way the activities are managed and promoted. This includes regular engagement with the wider stakeholders of the Company and being alert to issues that might damage the Company’s standing in the way that it operates. The Board works very closely with the Manager in reviewing how stakeholder issues are handled, ensuring good governance and responsibility in managing the Company’s affairs, as well as visibility and openness in how the affairs are conducted.
The Company is an externally managed investment company with no employees, and as such has nothing to report in relation to employee engagement but does keep close attention to how the Board operates as a cohesive and competent unit. The Company also has no customers in the traditional sense and, therefore, there is also nothing to report in relation to relationships with customers.
The table that follows sets out the stakeholders the Board considers most relevant, details how the Board has engaged with these key stakeholders and the effect of these considerations on the Company’s decisions and strategies during the year.
| Engagement with Stakeholder | Outcomes and decisions based on engagement |
| Shareholders | |
The key methods of engaging with Shareholders are as follows:
|
|
| Manager | |
| The performance of Albion Capital Group LLP is essential to the long term success of the Company, including achieving the investment policy and generating returns to shareholders, as well as the impact the Company has on Environment, Social and Governance practice. |
|
| Suppliers | |
The key suppliers with regular engagement from the Manager are:
|
|
| Portfolio companies | |
| The portfolio companies are considered key stakeholders, not least because they are principal drivers of value for the Company. However, as discussed in the Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) report on pages 41 to 44 of the full Annual Report and Financial Statements, the portfolio companies’ impact on their stakeholders is also important to the Company. |
|
| Community and environment | |
| The Company, with no employees, has no effect itself on the community and environment. However, as discussed above, the portfolio companies’ ESG impact is extremely important to the Board. |
|
Social and community issues, employees and human rights
The Board recognises the requirement under section 414C of the Companies Act 2006 (the “Act”) to detail information about social and community issues, employees and human rights; including any policies it has in relation to these matters and effectiveness of these policies. As an externally managed investment company with no employees, the Company has no formal policies in these matters, however, it is at the core of its responsible investment strategy as detailed above.
General Data Protection Regulation
The General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) has the objective of unifying data privacy requirements across the European Union. GDPR forms part of the UK law after Brexit, now known as UK GDPR. The Manager continues to take action to ensure that the Manager and the Company are compliant with the regulation.
Further policies
The Company has adopted a number of further policies relating to:
● Environment
● Global greenhouse gas emissions
● Anti-bribery
● Anti-facilitation of tax evasion
● Diversity
and these are set out in the Directors’ report on pages 47 and 48 of the full Annual Report and Financial Statements.
Risk management
The Board carries out a regular review of the risk environment in which the Company operates, together with changes to the environment and individual risks. The Board also identifies emerging risks which might impact on the Company. In the year ended 31 December 2023, the most noticeable risks have been the emergence of rising interest rates and inflation, caused in part as a result of the geopolitical tensions, and rising volatility in world markets. The full impacts of these risks are likely to continue to be uncertain for some time.
The Board has carried out a robust assessment of the Company’s principal risks, emerging risks and uncertainties, and seeks to mitigate these risks through regular reviews of performance and monitoring progress and compliance. The Board applies the principles detailed in the Financial Reporting Council’s Guidance on Risk Management, Internal Control and Related Financial and Business Reporting, in the mitigation and management of these risks. More information on specific mitigation measures for the principal risks, emerging risks and uncertainties are explained in the following table.
| Possible consequence | Risk assessment during the year | Risk management |
| Principal Risks | ||
| Risk: Investment, performance, technology, and valuation risk | ||
| The risk of investment in poor quality businesses, which could reduce the returns to shareholders and could negatively impact on the Company’s current and future valuations. By nature, smaller unquoted businesses, such as those that qualify for Venture Capital Trust purposes, are more volatile than larger, long-established businesses. Technology related risks are also likely to be greater in early, rather than later, stage technology investments, including the risks of the technology not becoming generally accepted by the market or the obsolescence of the technology concerned, often due to greater financial resources being available to competing companies. The Company’s investment valuation methodology is reliant on the accuracy and completeness of information that is issued by portfolio companies. In particular, the Directors may not be aware of or take into account certain events or circumstances which occur after the information issued by such companies is reported. | No change during the year, but remains high due to the economic and geopolitical issues as referred to in the Chairman’s statement. | To reduce this risk, the Board places reliance upon the skills and expertise of the Manager and its track record over many years of making successful investments in this segment of the market. In addition, the Manager operates a formal and structured investment appraisal and review process, which includes an Investment Committee, comprising investment professionals from the Manager for all investments, and at least one external investment professional for investments greater than £1 million in aggregate across all the Albion managed VCTs. The Manager also invites and takes account of comments from non-executive Directors of the Company on matters discussed at the Investment Committee meetings. Investments are actively and regularly monitored by the Manager (investment managers normally sit on portfolio company boards), including the level of diversification in the portfolio, and the Board receives detailed reports on each investment as part of the Manager’s report at quarterly board meetings. The Board and Manager regularly review the deployment of investments and cash resources available to the Company in assessing liquidity required for servicing the Company’s buy-backs, dividend payments and operational expenses. The decision to issue a Prospectus for the 2023/24 Top Up was due to careful analysis of these factors. The unquoted investments held by the Company are designated at fair value through profit or loss and valued in accordance with the International Private Equity and Venture Capital Valuation Guidelines updated in 2022. These guidelines set out recommendations, intended to represent current best practice on the valuation of venture capital investments. The valuation takes into account all known or knowable material facts at the date of valuation. |
| Risk: VCT approval risk | ||
| The Company must comply with section 274 of the Income Tax Act 2007 which enables its investors to take advantage of tax relief on their investment and on future returns. Breach of any of the rules enabling the Company to hold VCT status could result in the loss of that status. | No change in the year. | To reduce this risk, the Board has appointed the Manager, which has a team with significant experience in Venture Capital Trust management, used to operating within the requirements of the Venture Capital Trust legislation. In addition, to provide further formal reassurance, the Board has appointed Philip Hare & Associates LLP as its taxation adviser, who report quarterly to the Board to independently confirm compliance with the Venture Capital Trust legislation, to highlight areas of risk and to inform on changes in legislation. Each investment in a new portfolio company is also pre-cleared with our professional advisers or H.M. Revenue & Customs. The Company monitors closely the extent of qualifying holdings and addresses this as required. |
| Risk: Regulatory and compliance risk | ||
| The Company is listed on The London Stock Exchange and is required to comply with the rules of the Financial Conduct Authority, as well as with the Companies Act, Accounting Standards and other legislation. Failure to comply with these regulations could result in a delisting of the Company’s shares, or other penalties under the Companies Act or from financial reporting oversight bodies. | No change in the year. | Board members and the Manager have experience of operating at senior levels within or advising quoted companies. In addition, the Board and the Manager receive regular updates on new regulation from its auditor, lawyers and other professional bodies. The Company is subject to compliance checks through the Manager’s compliance officer, and any issues arising from compliance or regulation are reported to its own board every two months. These controls are also reviewed as part of the quarterly Board meetings, and also as part of the review work undertaken by the Manager’s compliance officer. The report on controls is also evaluated by the internal auditors. The Government has announced its intention to extend the VCT sunset clause to 2035. This will help to enable the Company to continue supporting its portfolio of high growth companies. |
| Risk: Operational and internal control risk | ||
| The Company relies on a number of third parties, in particular the Manager, for the provision of investment management and administrative functions. Failures in key systems and controls within the Manager’s business could put assets of the Company at risk or result in reduced or inaccurate information being passed to the Board or to shareholders. | No change in the year. | The Company and its operations are subject to a series of rigorous internal controls and review procedures exercised throughout the year. The Board receives reports from the Manager on its internal controls and risk management. The Audit and Risk Committee reviews the Internal Audit Reports prepared by the Manager’s internal auditors, Azets and has access to their internal audit partner to whom it can ask specific detailed questions in order to satisfy itself that the Manager has strong systems and controls in place including those in relation to business continuity and cyber security, as mentioned below. Ocorian Depositary (UK) Limited is the Company’s Depositary, appointed to oversee the custody and cash arrangements and provide other AIFMD duties. The Board reviews the quarterly reports prepared by Ocorian Depositary (UK) Limited to ensure that the Manager is adhering to its policies and procedures as required by the AIFMD. In addition, the Board annually reviews the performance of its key service providers, particularly the Manager, to ensure they continue to have the necessary expertise and resources to deliver the Company’s investment objective and policy. The Manager and other service providers have also demonstrated to the Board that there is no undue reliance placed upon any one individual. |
| Risk: Cyber and data security risk | ||
| A cyber-attack on one of the Company's third party suppliers could result in the security of, potentially sensitive, data being compromised, leading to financial loss, disruption or damage to the reputation of the Company. | No change in the year. | The Manager outsources some of its IT services, including hardware and software procurement, server management, backup provision and day-to-day support through an outsourcing arrangement with an IT consultant. In house IT support is also provided. In addition, the Manager also has a business continuity plan which includes off-site storage of records and remote access provisions. This is revised and tested annually and is also subject to Compliance, Group Risk and Internal Audit reporting. Penetration tests are also carried out to ensure that IT systems are not susceptible to any cyber-attacks. The Manager’s Internal Auditor performs reviews on IT general controls and data confidentiality and makes recommendations where necessary. The 2023 internal audit focused specifically on IT systems. |
| Risk: Economic, political and social risk | ||
| Changes in economic conditions, including, for example, interest rates, rates of inflation, industry conditions, competition, political and diplomatic events, and other factors could substantially and adversely affect the Company’s prospects in a number of ways. This also includes risks of social upheaval, including from infection and population re-distribution, as well as economic risk challenges as a result of healthcare pandemics/infection. | Increased in the year, due to the continued high levels of inflation and interest rates and new areas of geopolitical tensions. | The Company invests in a diversified portfolio of companies across a number of industry sectors and in addition often invests in a mixture of instruments in portfolio companies and has a policy of minimising any external bank borrowings within portfolio companies. At any given time, the Company has sufficient cash resources to meet its operating requirements, including share buy-backs and follow-on investments. In common with most commercial operations, exogenous risks over which the Company has no control are always a risk and the Company does what it can to address these risks where possible, not least as the nature of the investments the Company makes are long term. The Board and Manager are continuously assessing the resilience of the portfolio, the Company and its operations and the robustness of the Company’s external agents, as well as considering longer term impacts on how the Company might be positioned in how it invests and operates. Ensuring liquidity in the portfolio to cope with exigent and unexpected pressures on the finances of the portfolio and the Company is an important part of the risk mitigation in these uncertain times. The portfolio is structured as an all-weather portfolio with c.65 companies which are diversified as discussed above. Exposure is relatively small to at-risk sectors that include leisure, hospitality, retail and travel. |
| Risk: Liquidity risk | ||
| The Company may not have sufficient cash available to meet its financial obligations. The Company’s portfolio is primarily in smaller unquoted companies, which are inherently illiquid as there is no readily available market, and thus it may be difficult to realise their fair value at short notice. | No change in the year. | To reduce this risk, the Board reviews the Company’s three year cash flow forecasts on a quarterly basis. These include potential investment realisations (which are closely monitored by the Manager), Top Up Offers, dividend payments and operational expenditure. This ensures that there are sufficient cash resources available for the Company’s liabilities as they fall due. |
| Emerging Risks | ||
| Risk: Environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) risk | ||
| An insufficient ESG policy could lead to an increased negative impact on the environment, including the Company’s carbon footprint. Non-compliance with reporting requirements could lead to a fall in demand from investors, reputational damage and penalties. Climate risks could also negatively impact on the value of portfolio investments. | No change in the year. | The Manager is a signatory of the UN PRI and the Board is kept appraised of the evolving ESG policies at quarterly Board meetings. Full details of the specific procedures and risk mitigation can be found in the ESG report on pages 41 to 44 of the full Annual Report and Financial Statements. These procedures ensure that this increased risk continues to be mitigated where possible. Whilst the Company itself has limited impact on climate change, due to no employees nor greenhouse gas emissions, the Board works closely with the Manager to ensure the Manager themselves are working towards reducing their impact on the environment, and that the Manager takes account of ESG factors, including climate change, when making new investment decisions. With specific respect to the Company, a key operation is increasing the use of electronic communications with Shareholders, where that preference has been specified. |
Viability statement
In accordance with the FRC UK Corporate Governance Code published in 2018 and provision 36 of the AIC Code of Corporate Governance, the Directors have assessed the prospects of the Company over three years to 31 December 2026. The Directors believe that three years is a reasonable period in which they can assess the ability of the Company to continue to operate and meet its liabilities as they fall due. This is the period used by the Board as part of its strategic planning process, which includes: the estimated timelines for finding, assessing and completing investments; the potential impact of any new regulations; and the availability of cash.
The Board has carried out a robust assessment of the principal and emerging risks facing the Company, including those that could threaten its business model, future performance, solvency or liquidity, and focused on the major factors which affect the economic, regulatory and political environment. The Board carefully assessed, and were satisfied with, the risk management processes in place to avoid or reduce the impact of these risks. The Board has carried out robust stress testing of cashflows which included; factoring in higher levels of inflation when budgeting for future expenses, only including proceeds from investment disposals where there is a high probability of completion, whilst also assessing the resilience of investee companies given the current decline in the global economy, including the requirement for any future financial support.
The Board has additionally considered the ability of the Company to comply with the ongoing conditions to ensure it maintains its VCT qualifying status under its current investment policy. As a result of the Board’s quarterly valuation reviews, it has concluded that the portfolio is well balanced and geared towards delivering long term growth and strong returns to shareholders.
The Board has concluded that there is a reasonable expectation that the Company will be able to continue in operation and meet its liabilities as they fall due over the three year period to 31 December 2026. The Board is mindful of the ongoing risks and will continue to ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place, in addition to monitoring the quarterly cashflow forecasts to ensure the Company has sufficient liquidity.
Companies Act 2006
This Strategic report of the Company for the year ended 31 December 2023 has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of section 414A of the Companies Act 2006 (the “Act”). The purpose of this report is to provide Shareholders with sufficient information to enable them to assess the extent to which the Directors have performed their duty to promote the success of the Company in accordance with Section 172 of the Act.
For and on behalf of the Board
Fiona Wollocombe
Chairman
19 April 2024
Responsibility statement
In preparing these Financial Statements for the year to 31 December 2023, the Directors of the Company, being Fiona Wollocombe, Thomas Chambers, Swarupa Pathakji and Simon Thorpe, confirm to the best of their knowledge:
- summary financial information contained in this announcement and the full Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 for the Company has been prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (UK Accounting Standards and applicable law) and give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of the Company; and
- the Chairman’s statement and Strategic report include a fair review of the development and performance of the business and the position of the Company, together with a description of the principal risks and uncertainties it faces.
We consider that the Annual Report and Financial Statements, taken as a whole, are fair, balanced, and understandable and provide the information necessary for shareholders to assess the Company’s position, performance, business model and strategy.
A detailed “Statement of Directors’ responsibilities” is contained on page 52 of the full Annual Report and Financial Statements.
For and on behalf of the Board
Fiona Wollocombe
Chairman
19 April 2024
Income statement
| Year ended 31 December 2023 | Year ended 31 December 2022 | ||||||
| Revenue | Capital | Total | Revenue | Capital | Total | ||
| Note | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | |
| Gains on investments | 2 | - | 3,306 | 3,306 | - | 2,237 | 2,237 |
| Investment income | 3 | 1,498 | - | 1,498 | 1,079 | - | 1,079 |
| Investment Manager’s fees | 4 | (219) | (1,985) | (2,204) | (214) | (1,923) | (2,137) |
| Other expenses | 5 | (464) | - | (464) | (453) | - | (453) |
| Profit on ordinary activities before tax | 815 | 1,321 | 2,136 | 412 | 314 | 726 | |
| Tax on ordinary activities | 7 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Profit and total comprehensive income attributable to shareholders | 815 | 1,321 | 2,136 | 412 | 314 | 726 | |
| Basic and diluted return per share (pence)* | 9 | 0.16 | 0.26 | 0.42 | 0.09 | 0.07 | 0.16 |
*adjusted for treasury shares
The accompanying notes form an integral part of these Financial Statements.
The total column of this Income statement represents the profit and loss account of the Company. The supplementary revenue and capital columns have been prepared under guidance published by The Association of Investment Companies.
All gains and losses are recognised in the Income statement and all items in the above statement are derived from continuing operations.
Balance sheet
| 31 December 2023 | 31 December 2022 | ||
| Note | £’000 | £’000 | |
| Fixed assets investments | 10 | 84,105 | 76,706 |
| Current assets | |||
| Trade and other receivables | 12 | 1,884 | 1,773 |
| Cash in bank and at hand | 20,196 | 26,179 | |
| 22,080 | 27,952 | ||
| Payables: amounts falling due within one year | |||
| Trade and other payables | 13 | (695) | (659) |
| Net current assets | 21,385 | 27,293 | |
| Total assets less current liabilities | 105,490 | 103,999 | |
| Equity attributable to equity holders | |||
| Called-up share capital | 14 | 6,057 | 5,757 |
| Share premium | 21,388 | 13,888 | |
| Capital redemption reserve | 64 | - | |
| Unrealised capital reserve | 31,363 | 27,634 | |
| Realised capital reserve | 4,267 | 6,675 | |
| Other distributable reserve | 42,351 | 50,045 | |
| Total equity shareholders’ funds | 105,490 | 103,999 | |
| Basic and diluted net asset value per share (pence)* | 15 | 20.37 | 20.95 |
*excluding treasury shares
The accompanying notes form an integral part of these Financial Statements.
The Financial Statements were approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 19 April 2024 and were signed on its behalf by:
Fiona Wollocombe
Chairman
Company number: 03139019
Statement of changes in equity
| Called-up share capital | Share premium | Capital redemption reserve | Unrealised capital reserve | Realised capital reserve* | Other distributable reserve* | Total | |
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | |
| At 1 January 2023 | 5,757 | 13,888 | - | 27,634 | 6,675 | 50,045 | 103,999 |
| Profit/(loss) and total comprehensive income for the period | - | - | - | 2,441 | (1,120) | 815 | 2,136 |
| Transfer of previously unrealised losses on disposal of investments | - | - | - | 1,288 | (1,288) | - | - |
| Purchase of own shares for treasury | - | - | - | - | - | (1,751) | (1,751) |
| Purchase of own shares for cancellation | (64) | - | 64 | - | - | (1,256) | (1,256) |
| Issue of equity | 364 | 7,720 | - | - | - | - | 8,084 |
| Cost of issue of equity | - | (220) | - | - | - | - | (220) |
| Dividends paid | - | - | - | - | - | (5,502) | (5,502) |
| At 31 December 2023 | 6,057 | 21,388 | 64 | 31,363 | 4,267 | 42,351 | 105,490 |
| At 1 January 2022 | 5,103 | 60,854 | 11 | 29,199 | 4,796 | 1,868 | 101,831 |
| (Loss)/profit and total comprehensive income for the period | - | - | - | (1,269) | 1,583 | 412 | 726 |
| Transfer of previously unrealised gains on disposal of investments | - | - | - | (296) | 296 | - | - |
| Purchase of own shares for treasury | - | - | - | - | - | (2,254) | (2,254) |
| Issue of equity | 654 | 14,247 | - | - | - | - | 14,901 |
| Cost of issue of equity | - | (359) | - | - | - | - | (359) |
| Dividends paid | - | - | - | - | - | (10,846) | (10,846) |
| Cancellation of share premium and capital redemption reserve | - | (60,854) | (11) | - | - | 60,865 | - |
| At 31 December 2022 | 5,757 | 13,888 | - | 27,634 | 6,675 | 50,045 | 103,999 |
*These reserves include an amount of £17,164,000 (2022: £22,036,000) which is considered distributable. Over the next two years an additional £25,029,000 will become distributable. This is due to the HMRC requirement that the Company cannot use capital raised in the past three years to make a payment or distribution to shareholders. On 1 January 2024, £9,656,000 became distributable in line with this.
The accompanying notes form an integral part of these Financial Statements.
The nature of each reserve is described in note 1 below.
Statement of cash flows
| Year ended 31 December 2023 | Year ended 31 December 2022 | ||
| £’000 | £’000 | ||
| Cash flow from operating activities | |||
| Investment income received | 798 | 725 | |
| Deposit interest received | 376 | 68 | |
| Income from fixed term funds received | 254 | 59 | |
| Dividend income received | 115 | 125 | |
| Investment Manager’s fees paid | (2,177) | (3,166) | |
| Other cash payments | (458) | (448) | |
| UK corporation tax paid | - | - | |
| Net cash flow generated from operating activities | (1,092) | (2,637) | |
| Cash flow from investing activities | |||
| Purchase of fixed asset investments* | (6,526) | (15,249) | |
| Proceeds from disposals of fixed asset investments* | 2,246 | 8,818 | |
| Net cash flow generated from investing activities | (4,280) | (6,431) | |
| Cash flow from financing activities | |||
| Proceeds from issue of share capital | 7,080 | 12,926 | |
| Cost of issue of equity** | (40) | (52) | |
| Purchase of own shares | (3,007) | (2,254) | |
| Equity dividends paid (net of Dividend Reinvestment Scheme) | (4,644) | (9,218) | |
| Net cash flow generated from financing activities | (611) | 1,402 | |
| Decrease in cash in bank and at hand | (5,983) | (7,666) | |
| Cash in bank and at hand at start of the year | 26,179 | 33,845 | |
| Cash in bank and at hand at end of the year | 20,196 | 26,179 |
* Purchases and disposals detailed above do not agree to note 10 due to restructuring of investments, conversion of convertible loan stock and settlement receivables and payables.
** The cost of issue of equity does not agree to the Statement of changes in equity due to prospectus fundraising amounts being received net of fees.
The accompanying notes form an integral part of these Financial Statements.
Notes to the Financial Statements
1. Accounting policies
Basis of accounting
The Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with applicable United Kingdom law and accounting standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 (“FRS 102”), and with the Statement of Recommended Practice “Financial Statements of Investment Trust Companies and Venture Capital Trusts” (“SORP”) issued by The Association of Investment Companies (“AIC”). The Financial Statements have been prepared on a going concern basis and further details can be found in the Directors’ report on page 46 of the full Annual Report and Financial Statements.
The preparation of the Financial Statements requires management to make judgements and estimates that affect the application of policies and reported amounts of assets, liabilities, income and expenses. The most critical estimates and judgements relate to the determination of carrying value of investments at Fair Value Through Profit and Loss (“FVTPL”) in accordance with FRS 102 sections 11 and 12. The Company values investments by following the International Private Equity and Venture Capital Valuation (“IPEV”) Guidelines as updated in 2022 and further detail on the valuation techniques used are outlined below.
Company information can be found on page 4 of the full Annual Report and Financial Statements.
Fixed asset investments
The Company’s business is investing in financial assets with a view to profiting from their total return in the form of income and capital growth. This portfolio of financial assets is managed and its performance evaluated on a fair value basis, in accordance with a documented investment policy, and information about the portfolio is provided internally on that basis to the Board.
In accordance with the requirements of FRS 102, those undertakings in which the Company holds more than 20% of the equity as part of an investment portfolio are not accounted for using the equity method. In these circumstances the investment is measured at FVTPL.
Upon initial recognition (using trade date accounting) investments, including loan stock, are classified by the Company as FVTPL and are included at their initial fair value, which is cost (excluding expenses incidental to the acquisition which are written off to the Income statement).
Subsequently, the investments are valued at ‘fair value’, which is measured as follows:
- Investments listed on recognised exchanges are valued at their bid prices at the end of the accounting period or otherwise at fair value based on published price quotations.
- Unquoted investments, where there is not an active market, are valued using an appropriate valuation technique in accordance with the IPEV Guidelines. Indicators of fair value are derived using established methodologies including earnings multiples, revenue multiples, the level of third party offers received, cost or price of recent investment rounds, net assets and industry valuation benchmarks. Where price of recent investment is used as a starting point for estimating fair value at subsequent measurement dates, this has been benchmarked using an appropriate valuation technique permitted by the IPEV guidelines.
- In situations where cost or price of recent investment is used, consideration is given to the circumstances of the portfolio company since that date in determining fair value. This includes consideration of whether there is any evidence of deterioration or strong definable evidence of an increase in value. In the absence of these indicators, other valuation techniques are employed to conclude on the fair value as at the measurement date. Examples of events or changes that could indicate a diminution include:
- the performance and/or prospects of the underlying business are significantly below the expectations on which the investment was based;
- a significant adverse change either in the portfolio company’s business or in the technological, market, economic, legal or regulatory environment in which the business operates; or
- market conditions have deteriorated, which may be indicated by a fall in the share prices of quoted businesses operating in the same or related sectors.
- the performance and/or prospects of the underlying business are significantly below the expectations on which the investment was based;
Investments are recognised as financial assets on legal completion of the investment contract and are de-recognised on legal completion of the sale of an investment.
Dividend income is not recognised as part of the fair value movement of an investment, but is recognised separately as investment income through the Income statement when a share becomes ex-dividend.
Current assets and payables
Receivables (including debtors due after more than one year), payables and cash are carried at amortised cost, in accordance with FRS 102. Debtors due after more than one year meet the definition of a financing transaction held at amortised cost, and interest will be recognised through capital over the credit period using the effective interest method. There are no financial liabilities other than payables.
Investment income
Dividend income
Dividend income is included in revenue when the investment is quoted ex-dividend.
Unquoted loan stock income
Fixed returns on non-equity shares and debt securities are recognised when the Company’s right to receive payment and expect settlement is established. Where interest is rolled up and/or payable at redemption then it is recognised as income unless there is reasonable doubt as to its receipt.
Fixed term funds income
Income from fixed term funds is recognised on an accruals basis using the rate of interest agreed with the bank.
Bank deposit income
Interest income is recognised on an accruals basis using the rate of interest agreed with the bank.
Investment management fee, performance incentive fee and other expenses
All expenses have been accounted for on an accruals basis. Expenses are charged through the other distributable reserve except the following which are charged through the realised capital reserve:
- 90% of management fees and 100% of performance incentive fees, if any, are allocated to the realised capital reserve; and
- expenses which are incidental to the purchase or disposal of an investment are charged through the realised capital reserve.
Taxation
Taxation is applied on a current basis in accordance with FRS 102. Current tax is tax payable (refundable) in respect of the taxable profit (tax loss) for the current period or past reporting periods using the tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted at the financial reporting date. Taxation associated with capital expenses is applied in accordance with the SORP.
Deferred tax is provided in full on all timing differences at the reporting date. Timing differences are differences between taxable profits and total comprehensive income as stated in the Financial Statements that arise from the inclusion of income and expenses in tax assessments in periods different from those in which they are recognised in the Financial Statements. As a VCT the Company has an exemption from tax on capital gains. The Company intends to continue meeting the conditions required to obtain approval as a VCT for the foreseeable future. The Company therefore, should have no material deferred tax timing differences arising in respect of the revaluation or disposal of investments and the Company has not provided for any deferred tax.
Share capital and reserves
Called-up share capital
This reserve accounts for the nominal value of the shares.
Share premium
This reserve accounts for the difference between the price paid for the Company’s shares and the nominal value of those shares, less issue costs.
Capital redemption reserve
This reserve accounts for amounts by which the issued share capital is diminished through the repurchase and cancellation of the Company’s own shares.
Unrealised capital reserve
Increases and decreases in the valuation of investments held at the year end against cost are included in this reserve.
Realised capital reserve
The following are disclosed in this reserve:
• gains and losses compared to cost on the realisation of investments or permanent diminution in value (including gains recognised on the realisation of investment where consideration is deferred and not distributable as a matter of law);
• finance income in respect of the unwinding of the discount on deferred consideration that is not distributable as a matter of law;
• expenses, together with the related taxation effect, charged in accordance with the above policies; and
• dividends paid to equity holders where paid out by capital.
Other distributable reserve
The special reserve, treasury share reserve and the revenue reserve were combined in 2012 to form a single reserve named other distributable reserve.
This reserve accounts for movements from the revenue column of the Income statement, the payment of dividends, the buy-back of shares and other non-capital realised movements.
Dividends
Dividends by the Company are accounted for in the period in which the dividend is paid or approved at the AGM.
Unclaimed dividends older than a period of twelve years from the dividend declaration date are forfeited and returned to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Articles of Association.
Segmental reporting
The Directors are of the opinion that the Company is engaged in a single operating segment of business, being investment in smaller companies principally based in the UK.
| 2. Gains on investments | Year ended 31 December 2023 £’000 | Year ended 31 December 2022 £’000 |
| Unrealised gains/(losses) on fixed asset investments | 2,441 | (1,269) |
| Realised gains on fixed asset investments | 603 | 3,282 |
| Unwinding of discount on deferred consideration | 262 | 224 |
| 3,306 | 2,237 |
| 3. Investment income | Year ended 31 December 2023 £’000 | Year ended 31 December 2022 £’000 |
| Loan stock interest | 753 | 827 |
| Bank interest | 376 | 68 |
| Income from fixed term funds | 254 | 59 |
| Dividend income | 115 | 125 |
| 1,498 | 1,079 |
| 4. Investment Manager’s fees | Year ended 31 December 2023 £’000 | Year ended 31 December 2022 £’000 |
| Investment management fee charged to revenue | 219 | 214 |
| Investment management fee charged to capital | 1,985 | 1,923 |
| 2,204 | 2,137 |
Further details of the Management agreement under which the investment management fee and performance incentive fee are paid are given in the Strategic report.
During the year, £2,204,000 (2022: £2,137,000) of management fees and £50,000 (2022: £50,000) of administration fees were purchased by the Company from Albion Capital Group LLP. There is no performance incentive fee payable this year (2022: £nil). At the financial year end, the amount due to Albion Capital Group LLP in respect of these services disclosed within payables was £561,000 (2022: £534,000).
Albion Capital Group LLP is, from time-to-time, eligible to receive arrangement fees and monitoring fees from portfolio companies. During the year ended 31 December 2023, fees of £152,000 (2022: £274,000) attributable to the investments of the Company were paid pursuant to these arrangements.
Albion Capital Group LLP, its partners and staff hold 3,498,456 Ordinary shares in the Company as at 31 December 2023.
The Company has entered into an offer agreement relating to the Offers with the Company’s investment manager Albion Capital Group LLP, pursuant to which Albion Capital will receive a fee of 2.5% of the gross proceeds of the 2022/23 Offer, and 3.0% of the gross proceeds of the 2023/24 Offer, and out of which Albion Capital will pay the costs of the Offers, as detailed in the Prospectus.
| 5. Other expenses | Year ended 31 December 2023 £’000 | Year ended 31 December 2022 £’000 |
| Directors’ fees (including NIC) | 104 | 120 |
| Auditor’s remuneration for statutory audit services (excluding VAT) | 53 | 48 |
| Secretarial and administration fee | 50 | 50 |
| Other administrative expenses | 257 | 235 |
| 464 | 453 |
| 6. Directors’ fees | Year ended 31 December 2023 £’000 | Year ended 31 December 2022 £’000 | |
| Directors’ fees | 95 | 110 | |
| National insurance | 9 | 10 | |
| 104 | 120 | ||
The Company’s key management personnel are the Directors. Further information regarding Directors’ remuneration can be found in the Directors’ remuneration report on page 61 of the full Annual Report and Financial Statements.
| 7. Tax on ordinary activities | Year ended 31 December 2023 £’000 | Year ended 31 December 2022 £’000 |
| UK Corporation tax payable | - | - |
Reconciliation of profit on ordinary activities to taxation charge | Year ended 31 December 2023 £’000 | Year ended 31 December 2022 £’000 |
| Profit on ordinary activities before taxation | 2,136 | 726 |
| Tax charge on profit at the effective UK corporation tax rate of 23.45% (2022: 19.00%) | 501 | 138 |
| Effects of: | ||
| Non-taxable gains | (775) | (425) |
| Non-taxable income | (27) | (24) |
| Unutilised management expenses | 301 | 311 |
| - | - |
The tax charge for the year shown in the Income statement is lower than the effective rate of corporation tax in the UK of 23.45% (2022: 19.00%). The differences are explained above. From April 2023 the Company’s rate of corporation tax increased from 19% to 25%, therefore the average rate is 23.45% for the year ended 31 December 2023.
The Company has excess management expenses of £16,854,000 (2022: £15,569,000) that are available for offset against future profits. A deferred tax asset of £4,213,000 (2022: £3,892,000) has not been recognised in respect of those losses as they will be recoverable only to the extent that the Company has sufficient future taxable profits.
There is no expiry date on timing differences, unused tax losses or tax credits.
| 8. Dividends | Year ended 31 December 2023 £’000 | Year ended 31 December 2022 £’000 |
| First dividend of 0.52 pence per share paid on 28 April 2023 (29 April 2022: 0.58 pence per share) | 2,743 | 2,742 |
| Second dividend of 0.53 pence per share paid on 31 October 2023 (31 October 2022: 0.58 pence per share) | 2,767 | 2,761 |
| Special dividend of 1.14 pence per share paid on 29 July 2022 | - | 5,385 |
| Unclaimed dividends returned to the Company | (8) | (42) |
| 5,502 | 10,846 |
The Directors have declared a first dividend of 0.51 pence per share for the year ending 31 December 2024, which will amount to approximately £2,883,000. This dividend will be paid on 30 April 2024 to shareholders on the register on 12 April 2024.
| 9. Basic and diluted return per share | ||||||
| Year ended 31 December 2023 | Year ended 31 December 2022 | |||||
| Revenue | Capital | Total | Revenue | Capital | Total | |
| Return attributable to shareholders (£’000) | 815 | 1,321 | 2,136 | 412 | 314 | 726 |
| Weighted average shares in issue (adjusted for treasury shares) | 516,008,195 | 471,274,000 | ||||
| Return attributable per equity share (pence) | 0.16 | 0.26 | 0.42 | 0.09 | 0.07 | 0.16 |
The weighted average number of Ordinary shares is calculated after adjusting for treasury shares of 87,982,092 (2022: 79,380,503).
There are no convertible instruments, derivatives or contingent share agreements in issue so basic and diluted return per share are the same.
| 10. Fixed asset investments | 31 December 2023 £’000 | 31 December 2022 £’000 |
| Investments held at fair value through profit or loss Unquoted equity and preference shares | 73,307 | 63,666 |
| Quoted equity | 141 | 437 |
| Unquoted loan stock | 10,657 | 12,603 |
| 84,105 | 76,706 |
| 31 December 2023 £’000 | 31 December 2022 £’000 | |
| Opening valuation | 76,706 | 66,996 |
| Purchases at cost | 7,171 | 16,286 |
| Disposal proceeds | (2,772) | (8,691) |
| Realised gains | 603 | 3,282 |
| Movement in loan stock accrued income | (44) | 102 |
| Movement in unrealised gains/(losses) | 2,441 | (1,269) |
| Closing valuation | 84,105 | 76,706 |
| Movement in loan stock accrued income | ||
| Opening accumulated loan stock accrued income | 270 | 168 |
| Movement in loan stock accrued income | (44) | 102 |
| Closing accumulated loan stock accrued income | 226 | 270 |
| Movement in unrealised gains | ||
| Opening accumulated unrealised gains | 27,622 | 29,187 |
| Transfer of previously unrealised (losses)/gains to realised reserve on disposal of investments | 1,288 | (296) |
| Movement in unrealised gains/(losses) | 2,441 | (1,269) |
| Closing accumulated unrealised gains | 31,351 | 27,622 |
| Historical cost basis | ||
| Opening book cost | 48,813 | 37,641 |
| Purchases at cost | 7,171 | 16,286 |
| Sales at cost | (3,457) | (5,114) |
| Closing book cost | 52,527 | 48,813 |
Purchases and disposals detailed above may not agree to purchases and disposals in the Statement of cash flows due to restructuring of investments, conversion of convertible loan stock and settlement of receivables and payables.
Loan stock accrued income above, represents only the loan stock interest which has been recognised as revenue on the basis that it is expected to be received in accordance with the accounting policy in note 1. Where loan stock interest does not meet the note 1 recognition criteria for investment income, it forms part of the investment valuation where this is supported by the overall valuation of the portfolio company, and is included within the unrealised gains and losses on investments.
Amounts shown as cost represent the acquisition cost in the case of investments made by the Company and/or the valuation attributed to the investments acquired from other VCTs at the dates of merger, plus any subsequent acquisition cost.
The Company does not hold any assets as the result of the enforcement of security during the period, and believes that the carrying values for both impaired and past due assets are covered by the value of security held for these loan stock investments.
Fixed asset investments are valued at fair value in accordance with the IPEV guidelines as follows:
Valuation methodology | 31 December 2023 £’000 | 31 December 2022 £’000 |
| Cost and price of recent investment (calibrated and reviewed for impairment) | 39,767 | 39,203 |
| Revenue multiple | 31,179 | 23,255 |
| Discounted cash flow (supported by third party valuation) | 10,072 | 10,873 |
| Earnings multiple | 1,945 | 1,998 |
| Earnings multiple (supported by third party valuation) | 569 | 557 |
| Net assets | 344 | 383 |
| Bid price | 141 | 437 |
| Discounted offer price | 88 | - |
| 84,105 | 76,706 |
When using the cost or price of recent investment in the valuations, the Company looks to re-calibrate this price at each valuation point by reviewing progress within the investment, comparing against the initial investment thesis, assessing if there are any significant events or milestones that would indicate the value of the investment has changed and considering whether a market-based methodology (i.e. using multiples from comparable public companies) or a discounted cashflow forecast would be more appropriate. The background to the transaction is also considered when the price of investment may not be an appropriate measure of fair value, for example, disproportionate dilution of existing investors from a new investor coming on board or the market conditions at the time of investment no longer being a true reflection of fair value.
The main inputs into the calibration exercise, and for the valuation models using multiples, are revenue, EBITDA and P/E multiples (based on the most recent revenue, EBITDA or earnings achieved and equivalent corresponding revenue, EBITDA or earnings multiples of comparable companies), quality of earnings assessments and comparability difference adjustments. Revenue multiples are often used, rather than EBITDA or earnings, due to the nature of the Company’s investments, being in growth and technology companies which are not normally expected to achieve profitability or scale for a number of years. Where an investment has achieved scale and profitability the Company would normally then expect to switch to using an EBITDA or earnings multiple methodology.
In the calibration exercise and in determining the valuation for the Company’s equity instruments, comparable trading multiples are used. In accordance with the Company’s policy, appropriate comparable companies based on industry, size, developmental stage, revenue generation and strategy are determined and a trading multiple for each comparable company identified is then calculated. The multiple is calculated by dividing the enterprise value of the comparable group by its revenue, EBITDA or earnings. The trading multiple is then adjusted for considerations such as illiquidity, marketability and other differences, advantages and disadvantages between the portfolio company and the comparable public companies based on company specific facts and circumstances.
As part of the valuation process, the majority of the asset backed businesses also have an annual external third party valuation done to support the investment managers valuations. The third party valuers are experts in their fields, and have access to many similar business transactions in those specialty areas, and form part of the Manager’s fair value assessment.
Fair value investments had the following movements between valuation methodologies between 31 December 2022 and 31 December 2023:
| Change in valuation methodology (2022 to 2023) | Value as at 31 December 2023 £’000 | Explanatory Note |
| Cost and price of recent investment (calibrated and reviewed for impairment) to revenue multiple | 7,593 | Revenue multiple more relevant based on current trading |
| Revenue multiple to cost and price of recent investment (calibrated and reviewed for impairment) | 611 | Recent funding rounds |
The valuation will be the most appropriate valuation methodology for an investment within its market, with regard to the financial health of the investment and the IPEV Guidelines. The Directors believe that, within these parameters, these are the most appropriate methods of valuation as at 31 December 2023.
FRS 102 and the SORP requires the Company to disclose the inputs to the valuation methods applied to its investments measured at FVTPL in a fair value hierarchy. The table below sets out fair value hierarchy definitions using FRS 102 s.11.27.
| Fair value hierarchy | Definition |
| Level 1 | The unadjusted quoted price in an active market |
| Level 2 | Inputs to valuations are from observable sources and are directly or indirectly derived from prices |
| Level 3 | Inputs to valuations not based on observable market data |
The quoted investment is valued in accordance with Level 1 valuation methods (Arecor Therapeutics PLC shown on page 28 of the full Annual Report and Financial Statements). Unquoted equity, preference shares and loan stock are all valued according to Level 3 valuation methods.
Investments held at fair value through profit or loss (Level 3) had the following movements:
| 31 December 2023 £’000 | 31 December 2022 £’000 | |
| Opening valuation | 76,269 | 66,060 |
| Purchases at cost | 7,171 | 16,286 |
| Unrealised gains/(losses) | 2,484 | (843) |
| Movement in loan stock accrued income | (44) | 102 |
| Realised gains on disposal | 616 | 3,192 |
| Disposal proceeds | (2,532) | (8,528) |
| Closing valuation | 83,964 | 76,269 |
The Directors are required to consider the impact of changing one or more of the inputs used as part of the valuation process to reasonable possible alternative assumptions. 60% of the portfolio of investments, consisting of equity and loan stock, is based on recent investment price, discounted offer price, net assets and cost and therefore is not sensitised. For the remainder of the portfolio, the Board has considered the reasonable possible alternative input assumptions on the valuation of the portfolio and believes that changes to inputs (by adjusting the earnings and revenue multiples) could lead to a change in the fair value of the portfolio. The Board has reviewed the Manager’s adjusted inputs for a number of the largest portfolio companies (by value) which covers 26% of the portfolio, as shown in the table below. This has resulted in a total coverage of 86% of the portfolio of investments. The main inputs considered for each type of valuation are as follows:
| Valuation technique | Portfolio company sector | Input | Base Case* | Change in input | Change in fair value of investments (£’000) | Change in NAV (pence per share) |
| Revenue multiple | Healthcare (including digital healthcare) | Revenue multiple | 5.2x | +0.5x | 908 | 0.18 |
| -0.5x | (908) | (0.18) | ||||
| Revenue multiple | Software and other technology | Revenue multiple | 4.5x | +0.5x | 829 | 0.16 |
| -0.5x | (829) | (0.16) | ||||
| Discounted cash flow (supported by third party valuation) | Renewable energy | Discount rate | 6.5% | -0.5% | 83 | 0.02 |
| +0.5% | (77) | (0.01) |
*As detailed in the accounting policies, the base case is based on market comparables, discounted where appropriate for marketability, in accordance with the IPEV guidelines.
The impact of these changes could result in an overall increase in the valuation of the equity investments by £1,820,000 (1.7%) or a decrease in the valuation of equity investments by £1,814,000 (1.7%).
11. Significant holdings
The principal activity of the Company is to select and hold a portfolio of investments in unquoted securities. Although the Company, through the Manager, will, in some cases, be represented on the board of the portfolio company, it will not ordinarily take a controlling interest or become involved in the management. The size and structure of companies with unquoted securities may result in certain holdings in the portfolio representing a participating interest without there being any partnership, joint venture or management consortium agreement.
The Company has interests of greater than 20% of the nominal value of any class (some of which are non-voting) of the allotted shares in the portfolio companies as at 31 December 2023 as described below. The investments listed below are held as part of an investment portfolio and therefore, as permitted by FRS 102, they are measured at fair value and are not accounted for using the equity method.
| Company | Registered address and country of incorporation | Profit/(loss) before tax £’000 | Aggregate capital and reserves £’000 | % class and share type | % total voting rights | |
| Academia | CA 94108, USA | n/a | n/a | 23.2% Preferred shares | 2.3% | |
| Sift | BS1 4EX, UK | (868) | (230) | 42.1% Ordinary shares | 42.1% | |
12. Current assets
| Trade and other receivables | 31 December 2023 £’000 | 31 December 2022 £’000 |
| Deferred consideration under one year | 1,828 | 139 |
| Other receivables | 28 | 42 |
| Prepayments and accrued income | 28 | 26 |
| Deferred consideration over one year | - | 1,566 |
| 1,884 | 1,773 |
The majority of the deferred consideration under one year relates to the sale of G. Network Communications Limited in December 2020. These proceeds were received in January 2024.
The Directors consider that the carrying amount of receivables is not materially different to their fair value.
| 13. Payables: amounts falling due within one year | 31 December 2023 £’000 | 31 December 2022 £’000 |
| Trade payables | 48 | 19 |
| Accruals and deferred income | 647 | 640 |
| 695 | 659 |
The Directors consider that the carrying amount of payables is not materially different to their fair value.
14. Called-up share capital
| Allotted, called-up and fully paid | £’000 |
| 575,728,901 Ordinary shares of 1 penny each at 31 December 2022 | 5,757 |
| 36,369,220 Ordinary shares of 1 penny each issued during the year | 364 |
| 6,366,677 Ordinary shares of 1 penny each cancelled during the year | (64) |
| 605,731,444 Ordinary shares of 1 penny each at 31 December 2023 | 6,057 |
| 79,380,503 Ordinary shares of 1 penny each held in treasury at 31 December 2022 | (794) |
| 8,601,589 Ordinary shares of 1 penny each purchased during the year to be held in treasury | (86) |
| 87,982,092 Ordinary shares of 1 penny each held in treasury at 31 December 2023 | (880) |
| 517,749,352 Ordinary shares of 1 penny each in circulation* at 31 December 2023 | 5,177 |
*Carrying one vote each
During the year the Company purchased 8,601,589 Ordinary shares (2022: 10,771,178) representing 1.4% of the issued Ordinary share capital as at 31 December 2023, at a cost of £1,751,000 (2022: £2,254,000), including stamp duty, to be held in treasury. The Company also purchased 6,366,677 Ordinary shares (2022: nil) representing 1.1% of the issued Ordinary share capital as at 31 December 2023, at a cost of £1,256,000 (2022: £nil), including stamp duty, for cancellation.
The Company holds a total of 87,982,092 Ordinary shares in treasury, representing 14.5% of the issued Ordinary share capital as at 31 December 2023.
Under the terms of the Dividend Reinvestment Scheme Circular dated 19 April 2011, the following new Ordinary shares of nominal value 1 penny per share were allotted during the year:
| Date of allotment | Number of shares allotted | Aggregate nominal value of shares (£’000) | Issue price (pence per share) | Net invested (£’000) | Opening market price on allotment date (pence per share) |
| 28 April 2023 | 1,933,358 | 19 | 21.27 | 391 | 20.30 |
| 31 October 2023 | 1,987,220 | 20 | 20.75 | 393 | 19.70 |
| 3,920,578 | 784 |
During the period from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2023, the Company issued the following new Ordinary shares of nominal value 1 penny each under the Albion VCT Prospectus Top Up Offers 2022/23:
| Date of allotment | Number of shares allotted | Aggregate nominal value of shares (£’000) | Issue price (pence per share) | Net consideration received (£’000) | Opening market price on allotment date (pence per share) |
| 31 March 2023 | 31,071,626 | 311 | 22.40 | 6,786 | 20.70 |
| 14 April 2023 | 195,210 | 2 | 21.60 | 42 | 20.30 |
| 14 April 2023 | 114,678 | 1 | 21.80 | 24 | 20.30 |
| 14 April 2023 | 1,067,128 | 11 | 21.90 | 228 | 20.30 |
| 32,448,642 | 7,080 |
In addition to the allotments in the table above, there was also an allotment in December 2022 which forms the total of the 2022/23 Top Up Offer of £12.5 million.
15. Basic and diluted net asset value per share
| 31 December 2023 (pence per share) | 31 December 2022 (pence per share) | |
| Basic and diluted net asset value per Ordinary share | 20.37 | 20.95 |
The basic and diluted net asset values per share at the year end are calculated in accordance with the Articles of Association and are based upon total shares in issue (adjusting for treasury shares) of 517,749,352 Ordinary shares as at 31 December 2023 (2022: 496,348,398).
16. Capital and financial instruments risk management
The Company’s capital comprises Ordinary shares as described in note 14. The Company is permitted to buy back its own shares for cancellation or treasury purposes and this policy is described in more detail in the Chairman’s statement.
The Company’s financial instruments comprise equity and loan stock investments in quoted and unquoted companies, cash balances and liquid cash instruments and short term receivables and payables which arise from its operations. The main purpose of these financial instruments is to generate cash flow, revenue and capital appreciation for the Company’s operations. The Company has no gearing or other financial liabilities apart from short term payables. The Company does not use any derivatives for the management of its Balance sheet.
The principal financial instrument risks arising from the Company’s operations are:
- Market and investment risk (which comprises investment price and cash flow interest rate risk);
- credit risk; and
- liquidity risk.
The Board regularly reviews and agrees policies for managing each of these risks. There have been no changes in the nature of the risks that the Company has faced during the past year and there have been no changes in the objectives, policies or processes for managing risks during the past year. The key risks are summarised below.
Market risk
As a Venture Capital Trust, it is the Company’s specific nature to evaluate the market risk of its portfolio in unquoted companies. Market risk is the exposure of the Company to the revaluation and devaluation of investments as a result of macroeconomic changes. The main driver of market risk is the dynamics of market quoted comparators, as well as the financial and operational performance of portfolio companies. The Board seeks to reduce this risk by having a spread of investments across a variety of sectors. More details on the sectors the Company invests in can be found in the pie chart at the end of this announcement.
The Manager and the Board formally review market risk, both at the time of initial investment and at quarterly Board meetings.
The Board monitors the prices at which sales of investments are made to ensure that profits to the Company are maximised, and that valuations of investments retained within the portfolio appear sufficiently prudent and realistic compared to prices being achieved in the market for sales of unquoted investments.
Under FRS 102 the Board is required to illustrate by way of a sensitivity analysis the extent to which the assets are exposed to market risk. In order to show the impact of sensitivity in market movements on the Company, a 10% increase or decrease in the valuation of the fixed asset investment portfolio (keeping all other variables constant) would increase or decrease the net asset value and return for the year by £8,411,000. Accordingly, a 20% increase or decrease in the valuation of the fixed asset investment portfolio (keeping all other variables constant) would increase or decrease the net asset value and return for the year by £16,821,000. Further sensitivity analysis on fixed asset investments is included in note 10.
Investment risk (including investment price risk)
Investment risk (including investment price risk) is the risk that the fair value of future investment cash flows will fluctuate due to factors specific to an investment instrument or to a market in similar instruments. The management of risk within the venture capital portfolio is addressed through careful investment selection, by diversification across different industry segments, by maintaining a wide spread of holdings in terms of financing stage and by limitation of the size of individual holdings. The Manager receives management accounts from portfolio companies and members of the investment management team often sit on the boards of unquoted portfolio companies; this enables the close identification, monitoring and management of investment risk. The Directors monitor the Manager’s compliance with the investment policy, review and agree policies for managing this risk and monitor the overall level of risk on the investment portfolio on a regular basis.
Valuations are based on the most appropriate valuation methodology for an investment within its market, with regard to the financial health of the investment and the IPEV Guidelines. Details of the industries in which investments have been made are contained in the pie chart at the end of this announcement.
The maximum investment risk on the balance sheet date is the value of the fixed asset investment portfolio which is £84,105,000 (2022: £76,706,000). Fixed asset investments form 80% of the net asset value on 31 December 2023 (2022: 74%).
More details regarding the classification of fixed asset investments are shown in note 10.
Interest rate risk
It is the Company’s policy to accept a degree of interest rate risk on its financial assets through the effect of interest rate changes. On the basis of the Company’s analysis, it is estimated that a rise of 1% in all interest rates would have increased the profit before tax for the year by approximately £232,000 (2022: £300,000). Furthermore, it is considered that a material fall of interest rates below current levels during the year would have been unlikely.
The weighted average effective interest rate applied to the Company’s fixed rate assets during the year was approximately 9.7% (2022: 8.6%). The weighted average period to maturity for the fixed rate assets is approximately 6.2 years (2022: 6.5 years).
The Company’s financial assets and liabilities, denominated in Sterling, consist of the following:
| 31 December 2023 | 31 December 2022 | |||||||
Fixed rate £’000 | Floating rate £’000 | Non-interest bearing £’000 | Total £’000 | Fixed rate £’000 | Floating rate £’000 | Non-interest bearing £’000 | Total £’000 | |
| Unquoted equity | - | - | 73,307 | 73,307 | - | - | 63,666 | 63,666 |
| Quoted equity | - | - | 141 | 141 | - | - | 437 | 437 |
| Unquoted loan stock | 9,055 | 485 | 1,117 | 10,657 | 10,232 | 519 | 1,852 | 12,603 |
| Receivables* | - | - | 1,857 | 1,857 | - | - | 1,747 | 1,747 |
| Payables | - | - | (695) | (695) | - | - | (659) | (659) |
| Cash | 9,313 | 10,883 | - | 20,196 | - | 26,179 | - | 26,179 |
| 18,368 | 11,368 | 75,727 | 105,463 | 10,232 | 26,698 | 67,043 | 103,973 | |
*The receivables do not reconcile to the Balance sheet as prepayments are not included in the above table.
Credit risk
Credit risk is the risk that the counterparty to a financial instrument will fail to discharge an obligation or commitment that it has entered into with the Company. The Company is exposed to credit risk through its receivables, investment in unquoted loan stock and through the holding of cash on deposit with banks.
The Manager evaluates credit risk on loan stock instruments prior to investment and as part of its ongoing monitoring of investments. For investments made prior to 6 April 2018, which account for 94% of loan stock value, typically loan stock instruments will have a fixed or floating charge, which may or may not be subordinated, over the assets of the portfolio company in order to mitigate the gross credit risk.
The Manager receives management accounts from portfolio companies and members of the investment management team often sit on the boards of unquoted portfolio companies; this enables the close identification, monitoring and management of investment specific credit risk.
Bank deposits are held with banks with high credit ratings assigned by international credit rating agencies. The Company has an informal policy of limiting counterparty banking exposure to a maximum of 20% of net asset value for any one counterparty.
The Manager and the Board formally review credit risk (including receivables) and other risks, both at the time of initial investment and at quarterly Board meetings.
The Company’s total gross credit risk at 31 December 2023 was limited to £10,657,000 (2022: £12,603,000) of unquoted loan stock instruments, £20,196,000 (2022: £26,179,000) cash on deposit with banks and £1,884,000 (2022: £1,773,000) of other receivables.
As at the Balance sheet date, cash and liquid investments held by the Company are held with the National Westminster Bank plc, Scottish Widows Bank PLC (part of Lloyds Banking Group PLC), Barclays Bank PLC, and Bank of Montreal. Credit risk on cash transactions is mitigated by transacting with counterparties that are regulated entities subject to regulatory supervision, with high credit ratings assigned by international credit-rating agencies.
The credit profile of unquoted loan stock is described under liquidity risk below.
Liquidity risk
Liquid assets are held as cash on current account, deposit or short term money market accounts or similar instruments. Under the terms of its Articles, the Company has the ability to borrow an amount equal to its adjusted capital and reserves of the latest published audited Balance sheet, being £102,607,000 (2022: £101,256,000).
The Company has no committed borrowing facilities as at 31 December 2023 (2022: nil) and had cash balances of £20,196,000 (2022: £26,179,000). The main cash outflows are for new investments, dividends and share buy-backs, which are within the control of the Company. The Manager formally reviews the cash requirements of the Company on a monthly basis, and the Board on a quarterly basis, as part of its review of management accounts and forecasts.
All of the Company’s financial liabilities are short term in nature and total £695,000 as at 31 December 2023 (2022: £659,000).
The carrying value of loan stock investments analysed by expected maturity dates is as follows:
| 31 December 2023 | 31 December 2022 | |||||||
| Redemption date | Fully performing £’000 | Past due £’000 | Valued below cost £’000 | Total £’000 | Fully performing £’000 | Past due £’000 | Valued below cost £’000 | Total £’000 |
| Less than one year | 3,535 | 371 | 125 | 4,031 | 3,521 | 345 | - | 3,866 |
| 1-2 years | 52 | - | - | 52 | 153 | - | - | 153 |
| 2-3 years | 43 | - | - | 43 | 66 | 27 | - | 93 |
| 3-5 years | 1,517 | - | - | 1,517 | 2,783 | - | - | 2,783 |
| 5 + years | 4,857 | 157 | - | 5,014 | 5,544 | 164 | - | 5,708 |
| Total | 10,004 | 528 | 125 | 10,657 | 12,067 | 536 | - | 12,603 |
Loan stock can be past due as a result of interest or capital not being paid in accordance with contractual terms. The cost of loan stock valued below cost is £284,000 (2022: £24,000).
The Company does not hold any assets as the result of the enforcement of security during the period, and believes that the carrying values for both those valued below cost and past due assets are covered by the value of security held for these loan stock investments.
In view of the availability of adequate cash balances and the repayment profile of loan stock investments, the Board considers that the Company is subject to low liquidity risk.
Fair values of financial assets and financial liabilities
All the Company’s financial assets and liabilities as at 31 December 2023 are stated at fair value as determined by the Directors, with the exception of receivables (including debtors due after more than one year), payables and cash which are carried at amortised cost, in accordance with FRS 102. There are no financial liabilities other than payables. The Company’s financial liabilities are all non-interest bearing. It is the Directors’ opinion that the book value of the financial liabilities is not materially different to the fair value and all are payable within one year.
17. Commitments, contingencies and guarantees
As at 31 December 2023, the Company had no financial commitments (2022: £nil).
There were no contingent liabilities or guarantees given by the Company as at 31 December 2023 (2022: £nil).
18. Post balance sheet events
Since the year end, the Company has had the following material post balance sheet events:
- Received £1.8 million of deferred consideration from the historic disposal of G. Network Communications that was included in trade and other receivables at 31 December 2023;
- On 12 March 2024, a NAV update was announced with a 0.71 pence per share uplift, representing a 1.0% increase on the 31 December 2023 NAV. This uplift is a result of terms being agreed for the sale of a company within the portfolio, however there is no certainty that this deal will complete. This was not known at 31 December 2023 and therefore this is a non adjusting post balance sheet event;
- Investments totalling £2.7 million in one new and five existing portfolio companies; and
- The following new Ordinary shares of nominal value 1 penny each were allotted under the Albion VCTs Prospectus Top Up Offers 2023/24 after 31 December 2023:
| Date of allotment | Number of shares allotted | Aggregate nominal value of shares (£’000) | Issue price (pence per share) | Net consideration received (£’000) | Opening market price on allotment date (pence per share) |
| 22 March 2024 | 6,584,258 | 66 | 21.32 | 1,376 | 19.90 |
| 22 March 2024 | 1,716,211 | 17 | 21.43 | 359 | 19.90 |
| 22 March 2024 | 39,204,862 | 392 | 21.54 | 8,191 | 19.90 |
| 16 April 2024 | 376,192 | 4 | 20.80 | 77 | 19.40 |
| 16 April 2024 | 23,911 | - | 20.91 | 5 | 19.40 |
| 16 April 2024 | 953,045 | 10 | 21.02 | 194 | 19.40 |
| 48,858,479 | 10,202 |
19. Related party transactions
Other than transactions with the Manager as disclosed in note 4, and the Directors’ remuneration disclosed in the Directors’ remuneration report on page 61 of the full Annual Report and Financial Statements there are no related party transactions or balances requiring disclosure.
20. Other information
The information set out in this announcement does not constitute the Company’s statutory accounts within the terms of section 434 of the Companies Act 2006 for the years ended 31 December 2023 and 31 December 2022, and is derived from the statutory accounts for those financial years, which have been, or in the case of the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023, which will be, delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The Auditor reported on those accounts; the reports were unqualified and did not contain a statement under s498 (2) or (3) of the Companies Act 2006.
21. Publication
The full audited Annual Report and Financial Statements are being sent to shareholders and copies will be made available to the public at the registered office of the Company, Companies House, the National Storage Mechanism and also electronically at www.albion.capital/funds/KAY/31Dec2023.pdf.
Attachment
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