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LMS Capital plc

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FY2022 Annual Report · LMS Capital plc
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Annual Report 
& Accounts 2022

For the year ended 31 December 2022

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Who We Are and Why Invest?

LMS Capital plc (“LMS” or  
“the Company”) is a listed 
Investment Company. 

We harness experience, capital 
and access to deal flow to create 
enhanced shareholder returns 
for family offices, high net worth 
investors and others. 

Our competitive advantage lies in our long 
experience, our relationships with exceptional 
management teams with knowledge of, and 
connections in, the sectors where we focus –  
particularly in real estate, energy and 
late‑stage private equity.

We seek to achieve a balance between 
preserving and growing wealth. We expect 
to deliver an attractive rate of return – 12% to 
15% per annum over the medium to long term 
– of which an element will include an annual 
dividend. Dividends were commenced in 2020 
at 1.5% of our year end NAV with the intention 
to progressively increase as the investment 
portfolio evolves.

We invest in high‑quality portfolio companies 
that generally require a level of management 
attention which larger funds are unable 
to support or are too complex for direct 
investment by individual family offices 
or individual investors. 

2022 HIGHLIGHTS

NET ASSET VALUE (“NAV”) 

DIVIDENDS TO SHAREHOLDERS 

PORTFOLIO VALUE MOVEMENTS 

£46.5m

£0.7m

£nil

The net asset value (“NAV”) at 31 December 
2022 was £46.5 million, 57.7 pence per share 
(31 December 2021: £49.1 million, 60.8 pence 
per share).

The Company paid 0.925 pence per share 
being a 2021 final dividend to shareholders 
of 0.625 pence per share in June 2022 and 
an interim dividend for the 2022 year of 
0.3 pence per share in September 2022.

The portfolio showed no overall net increase or 
decrease in value in the year. Net realised and 
unrealised losses on the mature portfolio were 
£2.2 million (31 December 2021: £2.6 million 
increase), offset by net gains, interest income 
and foreign exchange movements on the new 
energy investment of £2.2 million (31 December 
2021: £1.2 million net increase). 

NET RUNNING COSTS

PORTFOLIO REALISATIONS

YEAR END CASH BALANCE 

£1.7m

£0.4m

£17.9m

Net Running costs, including those incurred 
by subsidiaries, were £1.7 million (31 December 
2021: £1.8 million) and there were an additional 
£0.4 million (31 December 2021: £0.3 million) 
of investment related costs.

Cash proceeds from portfolio realisations 
in the year totalled £0.4 million, mainly 
from the redemption of Medhost 
preference shares (31 December 2021:  
£2.7 million).

Cash balances at the year end, including 
amounts held by subsidiaries, were 
£17.9 million, representing 38.5% of 
the NAV (31 December 2021: £20.1 million  
and representing 41.0% of the NAV).

 
 
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IN THIS REPORT

Review

01  2022 Highlights
02  LMS at a Glance
04   Chairman and Managing 

Director’s Report

10  Portfolio Overview
12  Strategic Report
16  Responsible Investing
18 

 Company Performance in 2022 
and Objectives for 2023

20  Risk Management
22  Viability Statement
24  Portfolio Management Review

Governance

30  Board of Directors
32  Corporate Governance Report 
39  Audit Committee Report
42  Remuneration Report
57  Directors’ Report
60   Statement of Directors’ 

Responsibilities

Financial Statements

62	 Independent	Auditor’s Report
70  Company Income Statement 
 Company Statement of 
71 
Other Comprehensive	Income
 Company Statement of 
Financial Position	
 Company Statement of 
Changes in Equity	

73 

72 

74  Company Cash Flow Statement
75 

 Notes to the Financial 
Statements

Other Information

98  Corporate Information

For further investor information: 
www.lmscapital.com

01

 
LMS CapitaL pLC  |  ANNuAL REPORT AND ACCOuNTS 2022

LMS at a Glance

2022 NAV AT A GLANCE

CaSH 

£17.9m

MatURE iNVEStMENtS 

£20.8m

OtHER NEt LiaBiLitiES

£(2.3)m

NEW iNVEStMENtS

£10.1m

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£60m

£50m

£40m

£30m

£20m

£10m

£0

£17.9m

£46.5m

£(2.3)m

£10.1m

£20.8m

Mature 
investments

New
investments

Cash

Other net
liabilities

TOTAL 
NAV

There are three elements to our business today.

MATuRE  
INVESTMENTS

NEW INVESTMENTS – 
ENERGY

CASH AVAILABLE  
FOR DEPLOYMENT

•  originate from the Company’s 

•  Dacian, which was completed 

in 2021, is a cornerstone 
investment for LMS that 
highlights our ability to lead 
a co-investment group that 
enabled Dacian to complete 
its	first	acquisition	of	onshore	
oil	and	gas	production	fields	
in Romania.

strategy prior to 2012; 

•  held with a view to optimising 

realisation proceeds in a  
one to three-year period;

•  approximately 91% of the 
mature portfolio consists  
of four investments; 

•  managed largely by third-
party managers; and 

•  liquidity	is	expected	mainly  

in 2024 and 2025.

•  we seek opportunities within our  
three chosen sectors – real estate, 
energy	and	late-stage	private	equity	–	
that	offer:

 – attractive returns on the direct 

investment; and

 – cornerstone position allowing LMS 
to	have	influence	and	to	participate	
in developing and bringing further 
capital into the underlying business 
– both from its own balance sheet 
and its co-investment network.

02

 
 
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03

SECTORS

real eState

enerGY

LMS has a long history 
of investing in real 
estate and providing 
cornerstone funding 
to entrepreneurs	for	
the creation of niche 
real estate businesses.

LMS has deep 
relationships in the 
energy sector giving it 
a competitive	advantage	
in sourcing opportunities.

LATE-STAGE  
Private eQUitY

LMS has a track 
record of success 
in late-stage	private	
equity	investment,	
creating wealth for 
both its shareholders 
and entrepreneurs.

 
LMS CapitaL pLC  |  ANNuAL REPORT AND ACCOuNTS 2022

Chairman and Managing 
Director’s Report

Robert Rayne
Chairman

Nicholas Friedlos
Managing Director

We are pleased to report our results for the year ended 31 December 2022 and to 
provide an update on progress within the business.

The	Board	set	out	an	approach,	when	the	Company	returned	to	self-management in	
2020, based on investing in those sectors where the Company has a clear competitive 
advantage – primarily energy and real estate – with the aim to generate a return on 
equity,	after	running	costs,	of	between	12%	and	15%	per	annum	over	the	long	term.

This remains the aim of our 
investment strategy.

We view the year as one of solid 
progress but also recognise that 
uninvested cash is a drag on returns 
and appreciate the importance 
of translating our work into new 
investments which will generate 
the longer-term returns we 
are targeting.

•  the portfolio largely comprises 
positions managed by third-
party managers, with whom the 
Company maintains dialogue, 
although it does not control 
decision making; and

•  there	may	be	some	liquidity	from	
these assets in 2023, but the 
expectation	is	that	liquidity	will	
primarily be in 2024 and 2025.

•  entering 2023 the business is 

positioned to execute its business 
plan to increase production; and

•  the Board expects this investment 
to deliver returns that meet or 
exceed its target returns.

CASH LESS OTHER NET LIABILITIES –  
31 DECEMBER 2022 NAV £15.6 MILLION 
(19.1	PENCE	PER	SHARE)

There are three elements to  
our business.

NEW INVESTMENTS – DACIAN:  
31 DECEMBER 2022 NAV £10.1 MILLION 
(12.5	PENCE	PER	SHARE)

•  the Group cash amounts to  

£17.9 million; and

MATuRE ASSET PORTFOLIO –  
31 DECEMBER 2022 NAV £20.8 MILLION 
(25.8	PENCE	PER	SHARE)

•  this comprises investments which 
originate from the Company’s 
strategy pre-2012. 91% of the 
value is held in four positions;

•  the investments are managed 
with a view to optimising the 
realisation values;

•  Dacian	was	the	Company’s	first	
new investment following its 
return to self-management in 
early 2020. The investment was 
underwritten in August 2020 but 
only completed, following local 
Romanian regulatory approvals, 
in November 2021;

•  the year just ended therefore 

represents	the	first	full	year	of	
operation,	which	was	profitable	
and cash generative; 

•  other net liabilities amount to 
£2.3 million and relate mainly 
to accruals for income taxes, 
historic carried interest liabilities 
for one remaining asset and other 
sundry costs. 

04

NaV

£46.5m

DiViDEND

0.925

pence per share

DEPLOYMENT OF CAPITAL

INVESTMENT THEMES
When the Company returned to 
self-management in 2020, the 
Board laid out a strategy for the 
deployment of capital, making 
new investments	in	areas	where	
the Company has clear competitive 
advantage, through:

•  working with management teams 
we know well, who are respected 
in their sector, experienced and 
with a track record of successful 
execution;

•  “hard to access” assets, typically 

at the smaller end of their 
respective sectors, allowing more 
attractive	acquisition	pricing	and	
giving the opportunity for value 
creation through more intensive 
management; and

•  the opportunity to introduce 

co-investment capital alongside 
our own balance sheet.

These areas are principally in energy 
and real estate. Other late-stage 
private	equity	opportunities	are	
considered and evaluated but at 
present are not the primary focus.

We seek investments which not only 
meet our return criteria, but also 
give LMS a “cornerstone” position in 
the underlying business, enabling us 
to	influence	and	benefit	from	future	
growth and capital raising.

The approach leads to a slower 
pace of	deployment	of	capital,	but	
the Board continues to believe this 
is the right approach to create long-
term growth for the Company and 
value for shareholders.

REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT
We continue to see opportunity in 
the creation of specialist use real 
estate. During 2022, we have been 
working with our team to explore 
opportunities in retirement living – a 
sector in which we believe there will 
be strong growth in the coming years. 
The	sector	offers	the	opportunity	to	
combine our real estate skills with 
operational partners.

REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT
We are developing a management 
and investment structure which 
will allow LMS to invest in assets 
alongside co-investors and 
derive a return not just from the 
underlying asset but also from 
the management	platform.	

ENERGY
The Company has a history of 
investing in the energy sector and 
has connections with management 
teams that enable it to identify and 
execute on opportunities not readily 
accessible to others.

In relation to carbon-based energy, 
we see the extension of life of 
existing production assets and 
industrial infrastructure to reduce 
the carbon footprint per barrel 
produced, as having a key and 
environmentally important role 
to play in the world’s transition 
away from carbon fuels over the 
next few decades. We also see 
opportunities in renewable energy 
and in the businesses that service 
the generation of that energy.

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LMS CapitaL pLC  |  ANNuAL REPORT AND ACCOuNTS 2022

Statement from the Chairman and the Managing  
Director continued

NET	ASSET	VALUE	(“NAV”)	OVERVIEW

The NAV of the Company at  
31 December 2022 was £46.5 million, 
57.7 pence per share (31 December 
2021: £49.1 million, 60.8 pence per 
share). This represents a decrease 
of £2.6 million on the prior year 
and comprises:

•  net decrease on portfolio 

investments of £1.3 million, 
which includes net realised 
and unrealised	portfolio	losses;

• 

increase of £1.3 million, being 
accrued interest on Dacian;

•  net reduction of £1.9 million for 
other items including running 
costs, taxation, the investment 
costs principally associated 
with developing real estate 
deal opportunities and foreign 
exchange gains on non-portfolio 
assets; and

•  reduction of £0.7 million for 

dividends paid to shareholders.

After adjusting for the 0.925 pence 
per share distributed as dividends 
during 2022, the NAV has shown 
a decrease	on	the	year	of	3.7%.

MATuRE ASSETS

This portfolio showed a net 
reduction in the year of £2.2 million. 
In	part,	this	movement	reflects	the	
unrealised	effect	of	net	“ups	and	
downs”	arising	from	fluctuations	in	
exchange rates (76% of the portfolio 
is uS dollar denominated) and in 
the public market comparables 
used in the valuations. £1.6 million 
of the reduction is due to write 
downs	which	reflect	either	actual	
or imminent	realisations	of	assets	
by third-party fund managers.

The four largest assets comprise 
91% of the mature portfolio:

•  Medhost (NAV £5.7 million) – 

co-investment, alongside Primus 
Capital, in this uS software 
company serving the mid-sized 
hospital market in America. A 
mature business with strong and 
consistent revenues, earnings 
and	cash	flows.	The	unrealised	
decrease in NAV for the year, 
excluding the impact of foreign 
exchange gains, was £0.7 million, 
primarily as a result of changes in 
the public market comparators;

•  Brockton Capital Fund i (NAV 
£6.0 million) – the remaining 
asset in this real estate fund, of 
which the Company holds 16.7%, 
is a preferred debt investment 
in a “Super Prime” residential 
development in Mayfair, central 
London. During 2022, the fund 
has secured medium-term 
finance	to	allow	adequate	time	
to sell the apartments. The 
investment, which is valued on 
a	discounted	cash	flow	basis	
showed an unrealised increase in 
NAV for the year of £0.5 million;

•  Opus Capital Venture partners 

(NAV £5.3 million) – the Company 
holds 2.3% of this 2008 vintage 
uS early-stage technology fund, 
managed by Opus Capital Venture 
Partners. The fund life has now 
been exceeded, the manager is  
no longer charging annual fees. 
The	fund	has	two	significant	
remaining investments, both of 
which are cash generative and 
performing well. The manager’s 
expectation is that, subject to 
market conditions, an exit will 
be sought in the reasonably 
near term, but meantime both 
assets continue to grow. The 
unrealised increase in NAV during 
the year, excluding the impact 
of foreign exchange gains was 
£0.8 million; and

•  Weber Capital partners (NAV 

£2.0 million) – this uS micro-cap 
stock fund is managed by Weber 
Capital Partners with whom the 
Company has worked closely 
for over 20 years. The theme is 
substantially but not exclusively 
around technology and medical 
stocks. Historic returns have 
been excellent. To 31 December 
2022,	average	rolling	five-
year returns since 2006 and 
three-year returns since 2002 
have been 16.6% and 19.6%, 
respectively. The NAV decrease 
on this investment during 2022, 
excluding the impact of foreign 
exchange gains, was £0.9 
million, as a result of downward 
movements in the market price 
of	its	quoted	securities.

On other mature assets:

•  Elateral (NAV £0.6 million) 

– further working capital was 
invested in Elateral during the 
year. The company has invested 
in its revenue growth strategy, 
and has gained new business 
in the last three to six months. 
The company’s outsourced 
software development resources 
in ukraine, Russia and Belarus 
have been disrupted by the war, 
but it has successfully mitigated 
the	consequences	through	a	
restructuring of its development 
activities; and

•  iCU Eyewear (NAV £0.2 

million) – this investment is 
managed by San Francisco 
Equity	Partners	(SFEP).	In	2020	
it	produced	a	windfall	profit	
from its opportunistic move into 
distribution	of	PPE	equipment,	
from which LMS received 
distributions of £1.6 million. 
Since then, it has returned largely 
to its core eyewear activity. 
The December 2022 valuation 
reduction of £1.5 million, 
excluding the impact of foreign 
exchange	gains,	reflects	the	

06

 
Revenues in 2022, based on the 
unaudited management accounts, 
were approximately $32 million and 
the	business	was	cash	flow	positive	
after investing some $3 million in 
additional	equipment	and	inventory.	

We expect this investment to meet 
or exceed our target returns. 

LIQuIDITY – CASH LESS  
OTHER NET LIABILITIES 

CASH
Cash balances in the Company and 
its subsidiaries at 31 December 2022 
were £17.9 million (31 December 
2021: £20.1 million).

Outflows	during	the	year	amounted	
to £2.7 million, this includes 
running costs, investment related 
costs, dividend payments and 
new capital invested	in	Elateral.

Inflows	were	£0.5	million	and	include	
a £0.1 million distribution from 
Brockton, £0.4 million redemption 
of Medhost preference shares, plus 
sundry fund distributions. 

NET LIABILITIES
Net liabilities of £2.3 million 
(31 December	2021:	£1.9	million)	
consist primarily of accruals for 
income taxes, historic carried 
interest liabilities for one remaining 
asset and other sundry costs.

estimated proceeds from a sale 
that has completed since the 
year end. This is a disappointing 
outcome and is the last asset 
managed by SFEP.

NEW INVESTMENTS – DACIAN 

In 2021, LMS led the funding group 
which, including $9.1 million from 
LMS itself, invested $14 million in 
Dacian, a newly formed Romanian oil 
and gas production company formed 
to	acquire	and	operate	mature	
onshore energy production assets. 

With this investment, together with 
$6 million of external debt, Dacian 
was	able	to	make	its	first	acquisition	
of onshore oil and gas assets.

LMS’ $9.1 million is structured 
principally as senior secured loan 
notes, which are entitled to interest 
of 14% per annum gross before a 
withholding tax of 10%. LMS’ share 
of	equity	is	32%.	The	balance	of	the	
equity	is	held	by	LMS’	co-investors,	
18%, and management 50%. 
Distributions	to	equity	can	only	
occur once the senior loan notes 
and accrued coupon are fully repaid.

The rationale for the investment in 
Dacian was:

•  the business is operationally 

cash flow	positive	from	day	one;	

•  a business focused on the 

extension of life of existing 
production assets has an 
environmentally important role 
to play in the world’s transition 
away from carbon fuels; and

• 

it was evaluated and the 
investment decision taken 
on the basis	of:

 – attractive entry pricing;

 – a founder team with extensive 
industry experience and a 
Romanian team with prior 
knowledge of the assets 
being acquired;

 – a robust operating plan able 
to withstand volatility in 
energy prices;

 – the opportunity for gains 

through production enhancing 
technology that can extend 
the productive life of mature 
assets; and

 – overall, the potential to meet 

and exceed LMS’s target 
investment returns.

The investment was underwritten 
in August 2020 but then underwent 
a protracted period obtaining the 
necessary regulatory approvals 
in Romania, and completion only 
occurred in November 2021. The year 
just	ended	therefore	is	the	first	full	
year of operation.

For	the	first	six	to	nine	months	of	
operation backlog maintenance 
issues, inherited at completion, 
caused mechanical breakdowns 
and interruptions to production. 
These operational issues diverted 
resources to reactive repairs and 
away from workover projects 
designed to deliver long-term 
gains in	production.	

During	the	final	quarter	of	the	
year, management’s actions, in 
particular securing an inventory 
of replacement components and 
additional	maintenance	equipment,	
appear to have enabled production 
to be stabilised. 

Notwithstanding the operational 
issues, workover projects 
added some 250 barrels of oil 
equivalent	per	day	(“BOEPD”)	
in 2022.	Production	in	December	
2022 exceeded 1,000 BOEPD and 
management plan during 2023 
to build from this base through 
workover projects and ongoing 
continued reactive and preventative 
maintenance programs.

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LMS CapitaL pLC  |  ANNuAL REPORT AND ACCOuNTS 2022

Statement from the Chairman and the Managing  
Director continued

We would like to express our 
appreciation for the support from 
our team and from the network 
of people with whom we work 
on a regular basis. We would also 
like to express our appreciation 
for the continued support of our 
shareholders. We look forward  
to reporting progress to you  
during 2023. 

Robert Rayne
Chairman

Nicholas Friedlos
Managing Director

17 March 2023

DIVIDEND POLICY

DOuG MILLS

The Company paid £0.7 million in 
dividends during the year comprising 
a	final	dividend	for	the	year	ended	 
31 December 2021 of 0.625 pence per 
share, paid on 23 June 2022 and an 
interim dividend for the year ended 
31 December 2022 of 0.3 pence per 
share paid on 12 September 2022.

A	final	dividend	of	0.625	pence	 
per share for the year ended  
31 December 2022 is recommended 
by the Board. Subject to approval 
by shareholders at the AGM in May 
2023, the dividend will be paid to 
shareholders in early June 2023. 

The dividend policy laid out by the 
Board in 2020 was to pay a dividend 
in	respect	of	each	financial	year	
initially	equal	to	approximately	
1.5% of the closing NAV for that 
year. The proposed dividend for 2022 
will amount to approximately 1.6% 
of closing NAV. Having regard to 
the Company’s cash position and, 
whilst the dividends currently exceed 
the net cash income, the Board is 
confident	of	the	Company’s	ability	to	
generate future annual income and 
has therefore continued the policy.

The Board’s ambition is to increase 
the level of dividend and will keep 
the current policy under review. 
The actual level of dividend 
each year will take account of 
market conditions generally, the 
Company’s	financial	position	
and its distributable	reserves.

We operate with a small core team, a 
key member of which was Doug Mills 
who	oversaw	our	finance	function	
and, given his background in the 
energy industry, also supported the 
Dacian team. Doug passed away very 
suddenly and at a young age on 20 
September last year. We would like 
publicly to record our appreciation 
for Doug’s contribution to the 
business and for his friendship  
and support as a colleague. 

looKinG ForWarD
The Company’s objective is the 
preservation and creation of wealth 
for its shareholders over the longer 
term. Its target is to deliver returns, 
net of costs, of between 12% and 
15% over the longer period.

Looking forward in 2023, our 
priorities are: 

•  to bring to fruition the work that 
has been undertaken, particularly 
with our real estate teams, to 
deploy new capital from our own 
balance sheet in conjunction with 
our co-investors;

•  to support the Dacian team 

as it enters its second year of 
operation with an emphasis 
on its workover	program	to	
increase production; and

•  to continue to manage the 
mature asset portfolio to 
optimise realisation proceeds.

08

“ The Dacian team has 
made good progress during 
its first year, the business 
has been profitable and 
cash generative and we 
believe is now positioned 
to show growth in 2023.”
NiCHOLaS FRiEDLOS
Managing Director

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LMS CapitaL pLC  |  ANNuAL REPORT AND ACCOuNTS 2022

Portfolio Overview

The following are the principal portfolio investments  
of the Company, representing 96.2% of the total 
portfolio value:

Dacian PetroleUm

REGION: Eu | YEAR: 2021 | 
% Holding: 32% | NAV: £10.1 million  
(31 December 2021: £7.9 million)

www.dacianpetroleum.ro

Dacian is a Romanian oil and natural gas production company which 
completed	its	first	acquisition	in	2021.	It	operates	approximately	100	
producing	wells	across	40	onshore	oil	and	gas	fields	in	Romania.	These	are	
late-life assets, and the business plan is to prolong the life of this established 
industrial infrastructure through careful management and investment in a 
program of workover projects designed to increase production.

10

PrinciPal UnQUoteD inveStmentS

Medhost

REGION: uS | YEAR: 2008 | 
% Holding: 8.8% | NAV: £5.7 million (31 December 2021: £6.0 million)

www.medhost.com

Medhost, a co-investment with funds of Primus Capital, is a healthcare information technology group 
that provides cloud-based enterprise, departmental and healthcare engagement solutions to over 
1,000 community	and	specialty	hospitals.	Its	products	include	cloud-based	clinical,	financial	and	
operational solutions as well as maintenance, support and consulting services.

Elateral

REGION: uK | YEAR: 2008 | 
% Holding: 62.5% | NAV: £0.6 million (31 December 2021: £0.8 million)

www.elateral.com

Elateral operates in the digital marketing sector and has developed cloud-based software which 
allows corporate marketing materials to be distributed to local marketing teams to enable content 
to be tailored whilst protecting brand identity. Elateral targets large international companies with 
multi-language	requirements	and	has	a	concentration	of	global	corporate	customers.

PrinciPal FUnDS

Brockton Capital Fund I

REGION: uK | YEAR: 2008 |  
NAV: £6.0 million (31 December 2021: £5.6 million)

www.brocktoneverlast.com

Brockton is a uK real estate fund with one remaining investment in a super prime London residential development. 
The Company’s investment represents its share of preferred debt investments via the Brockton fund.

Opus Capital Venture Partners

REGION: uK | YEAR: 2008 |  
NAV: £5.3 million (31 December 2021: £3.9 million)

www.opuscapitalventures.com

Opus is a uS fund that invests in early-stage technology opportunities with two principal assets remaining.

Weber Capital Partners

REGION: uK | YEAR: 2008 |  
NAV: £2.0 million (31 December 2021: £2.6 million)

www.webercapital.com

Weber Capital GW 2001 is a fund that invests in listed u.S. microcap stocks, primarily in the technology and medical sectors.

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LMS CapitaL pLC  |  ANNuAL REPORT AND ACCOuNTS 2022

Strategic Report

LMS Capital is a listed investment company. It is self-managed and 
is entered by the FCA on the Register of Small Registered AIFMs.

This Strategic Report is set out in the following parts:
•  Strategy
Investment policy
• 
•  Responsible investing
•  Company performance for the year ended 31 

December	2022	and objectives	for	2023

•  Risk management
•  Viability statement

StrateGY
Since 2020, the Board has reshaped the Company to 
focus on investment in its known areas of expertise in 
real	estate,	energy	and	late-stage	private	equity.	The	
emphasis across each of these themes is on deals with 
a well protected downside and a target overall return 
over the longer term of 12% to 15% per annum, net of 
all costs, and including the annual dividend payment 
to shareholders.

oUr inveStment 
OBJeCTiveS

oUr inveStment 
APPROACH

We will focus on areas where we 
have competitive advantages: 

The characteristics of individual 
deals will include:

To deliver consistent  
long-term	financial	returns	 
for our shareholders:

•  an overall total return,  
net of costs, over the 
longer term of 12% to 15% 
per annum;

•  the total return to include 

an annual dividend, initially 
set at 1.5% of NAV and 
ultimately progressing to 
3.0%; and

•  real estate;

•  energy; and

•  late-stage	private	equity.

Our competitive advantage 
comes from:

•  our	significant	experience	and	

knowledge;

•  our track record of successful 

•  to broaden our shareholder 

investing; and

base and develop the 
Company into an attractive 
investment for family 
offices,	high	net	worth	
investors and institutions 
attracted by the returns we 
can achieve and our access 
to	deal	flow.

•  our ability to access 

exceptional management 
teams, our experienced 
Advisory Groups and a strong 
pipeline of opportunities.

12

•  an opportunity for LMS to 

contribute expertise as well 
as financial	backing;

•  assets at the smaller end of 

their respective sectors where 
market	inefficiencies	allow	
attractive entry pricing;

•  situations	requiring	a	level	of	
management attention which 
larger funds are unable to 
support or are too complex 
for direct investment by family 
offices	or	individual	investors;	
and

•  controlling	or	influential	

minority positions:

 – Board or Investment 

Committee representation; 
and

 – full information rights.

HoW We 
OPeRATe

We have assembled an experienced Board to oversee the development of our business and 
also to function as the Investment Committee that closely monitors existing investments 
and evaluates and approves new investments. Information on our Board is set out on pages 
30 to 31 of this report.

We operate through a small core team, working closely with the management teams in our 
investee businesses.

We have a network of investment professionals with whom our core team work on 
individual opportunities.

We have appointed advisory groups of individuals with relevant experience in each of our 
three areas of focus. The groups provide additional external perspective, access to further 
investment opportunities in their sectors and guidance for the Company.

BOARD & iNveSTMeNT COMMiTTee

Robert Rayne
Nicholas Friedlos
James Wilson

Peter Harvey
Graham Stedman

ADviSORY  
GROUPS

CORe TeAM

Nicholas Friedlos
Gary Cresswell

Aimee Fraser
Chris Garrod

ReAL eSTATe

eNeRGY

Chris Dancer
Ben Young
Tim Willis

Bernard Duroc-Danner
Thomas Bruni

PRivATe eQUiTY

£

LMS CO-INVEST

Richard Fidler
Tim Willis
Josh Lamstein

Tim Willis

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LMS CapitaL pLC  |  ANNuAL REPORT AND ACCOuNTS 2022

Strategic Report continued

OUR CO-INVESTMENT 
ACTiviTY

We seek to bring co-investors 
to deals to invest alongside the 
Company’s own capital. Each deal 
will	be	different,	but	LMS	sees	the	
opportunity for each £1 of its own 
capital to bring at least as much 
again from co-investors.

Our co-investors gain the 
opportunity to invest directly in 
deals which they would be unlikely 
to access directly. 

LMS	benefits	from	influencing	a	
larger pool of capital, participation 
in	a	more	diversified	range	of	
deals, the possibility of enhanced 
economics and the ability to recover 
fees	to	offset	against	its	costs.

Our	first	cornerstone	investment	
under internal management, 
Dacian, is an example of our 
ability to attract co-investment 
capital. We invested $9.1 million 
in senior loan notes and a 32% 
equity	ownership	in	Dacian	and	
also led a co-investment group 
that invested an additional $5.0 
million in senior loan notes and 
an	18%	equity	ownership.

oUtlooK anD ProSPectS
The	Board	is	focused	on	finding	
opportunities in our three core 
sectors that meet our return targets 
and	allow	us	to	have	influence	over	
the underlying business.

We are also focused on progressing 
the existing portfolio, either 
through an orderly realisation or 
through	financial	support	where	
the investment case validates 
this course	of	action.	

Our approach to the further 
deployment of capital is to seek 
opportunities, within our chosen 
sectors,	which	not	only	offer	
attractive returns on the direct 
investment but also allow LMS to 
have	influence	and	to	participate	
in developing and bringing further 
capital into the underlying business 
– both from its own balance sheet 
and its co-investment network. 
This potentially creates additional 
fee	streams	and	equity	opportunity	
for LMS.

This approach results in fewer, 
but	more	significant	transactions.	
One	consequence	of	this	is	that	
individual deals can take longer – 
Dacian has been an example of this. 
However, we believe this approach 
to	be	the	most	effective	one	given	
the current size of the Company and 
our ambition to grow.

inveStment PolicY
The Company’s investment 
objective, stated in the current 
investment policy approved by 
shareholders in August 2016, is 
to achieve total returns over the 
medium to longer term, principally 
through capital gains supplemented 
with the generation of a longer-
term income yield. The Company is 
targeting	a	return	on	equity,	after	
running costs, of between 12% and 
15% per annum over the long term 
on new capital invested.

The investment strategy is focused 
predominantly	on	private	equity	
investment and alternative, 
specialist asset classes: 

•  the Company will invest in 

profitable	and	cash	generative	
businesses and investments;

•  the focus will primarily be 

on smaller	private	investment	
opportunities below £50 million 
value where the Company 
believes	there	to	be	significant	
market	inefficiencies	which	 
create opportunities for superior 
long-term returns and to  
leverage the experience of 
the investment	team;	

• 

investments may include 
alternative, specialist asset 
classes which target long-
term,	illiquid	strategies	both	
through co-investment and 
fund opportunities	on	preferred	
terms; and

•  the Company will optimise the 
value of existing holdings, and 
make additional investment 
where growth prospects are clear, 
to preserve and support longer-
term value creation. 

14

No investment in any single 
company will (at the time of 
investment) represent more than 
15% of the Company’s net assets. 
Any investment in securities of a 
single company or investment fund, 
which represents more than 10% 
of the Company’s net assets at 
the time the investment is made, 
requires	the	Board’s	approval.

The Company may invest  
in public	or	private	securities.	
Investments may be made in  
the	form	of,	inter	alia,	equity,	 
equity-related	instruments,	
derivatives and indebtedness.  
The Company may hold controlling 
or non-controlling positions and 
may invest directly or indirectly. 

Whilst the Company has three 
focus areas, it is not restricted to 
specific	sectors;	its	assets	are	and	
will continue to be predominantly 
invested in the united Kingdom, 
Europe and North America.

The Company may put in place bank 
facilities to help manage working 
capital, but indebtedness of the 
Company will not exceed 25% 
of NAV measured at the time of 
drawdown. The Company had no 
indebtedness, other than inter-
group indebtedness, at 31 December 
2022 or at the date of this report.

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LMS CapitaL pLC  |  ANNuAL REPORT AND ACCOuNTS 2022

Responsible Investing

The Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (“TCFD”) Recommendations, 
first	launched	in	2017,	are	designed	to	encourage	consistent	and	comparable	
reporting on climate-related risks and opportunities by companies to their 
stakeholders. The TCFD Recommendations are structured around four content 
pillars: (i) Governance; (ii) Strategy; (iii) Risk Management; and (iv) Metrics & 
Targets.	This	responsible	investing	section	reflects	a	summary	of	our	progress	
made to	date	towards	our	goal	of	incorporating	climate	risk	and	opportunity	
identification	and	management	into	our	overall	business	strategy.

oUr aPProacH
The origins of the Company lie in 
the investment of family wealth, 
much of it used to endow charitable 
foundations focused on a wide range 
of endeavours in society. The Board 
understands its responsibility to 
build on this history and evolve it to 
ensure that the Company adopts and 
adheres to an approach to business 
that is relevant to environmental, 
social and governance (“ESG”) 
standards today. 

As a small investment company, 
much of our ESG impact is driven by 
the companies in which we choose 
to invest. We believe that investing in 
businesses that place an emphasis on 
ESG issues both protects and creates 
value for our shareholders. 

Governance 
AND STRATEGY
The Board has overall responsibility 
for the development and 
implementation of our ESG 
principles, including climate risks 
and opportunities. The Board has 
ensured that ESG principles are 
integrated into the Company’s 
investment strategy. We are 
committed to maintaining high 
standards of corporate governance. 
As a company listed on the London 
Stock Exchange, we are diligent in 
our own internal procedures and 
reporting to shareholders.

Our ESG considerations are 
guided by	our	core	responsible	
investment principles:

We also target new investments 
where	we	have	influence	over	
the management	team.	

• 

integrate ESG considerations 
throughout our investment 
process;

•  focus on making responsible, 

long-term decisions, supported 
by the expertise of our network, 
that minimise the risks associated 
with poor ESG practices; and

•  maintain high standards of 
corporate governance.

riSK manaGement
Our risk management procedures 
include carrying out an assessment 
of the principal risks within our 
business and considering the 
likelihood and potential impact of 
each	risk	and	the	effectiveness	of	
the procedures to mitigate each 
risk (see	pages	20	to	21).	

We have a broad investment 
universe in the sectors we focus on, 
and we aim to increase the potential 
for long-term success by minimising 
our exposure to companies which 
are at risk of disruption, litigation, 
regulation or loss of business as 
a result of poor ESG practices. As 
part of our investment process, we 
aim to integrate ESG considerations 
throughout	–	from	the	identification	
of potential investments in our 
pipeline of opportunities, to time 
of investment, throughout our 
ownership and ultimately to exit. 

New investments are subject to a 
rigorous multi-stage assessment 
and approval process by the 
Investment Committee and Board. 
Our evaluation of investments 
includes, but is not limited to, 
consideration of climate change 
impacts, the business ethics of 
an investee company, its human 
resource practices, health and 
safety record and, overall, the way it 
implements, monitors and manages 
its own ESG policies. The relative 
significance	of	individual	factors	
will vary from business to business 
according	to	the	nature	of its	
operations.

We work closely with the 
management teams of our 
investee businesses,	with	input	
from our Advisory Groups with 
specific	sector	knowledge,	to	drive	
responsible, long-term decisions 
and ensure alignment with our own 
responsible investment principles.

metricS
The Company monitors its 
greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions 
annually (see pages 57 to 58) and 
continues to maintain low GHG 
emissions levels due to its small 
size and	limited	office	footprint.	

16

DACiAN PeTROLeUM

Dacian is a Romanian oil and natural gas production 
company	with	40	mature	fields.	The	production	of	
natural resources, while essential to our current daily 
lives, also contributes to some of the environmental 
issues at the forefront of society today. The Company 
considered the climate change impact and other ESG 
factors when	making	its	decision	to	invest	in	Dacian.	
The key factors	the	Company	considered	were:

On an ongoing basis 
the following	factors	
are monitored:

•  the company continues 

to retain	a	local,	Romanian	
workforce and has a minimal 
number of expatriates; and

•  the company’s management 
team puts the health and 
safety of its employees 
at the forefront	of	its	
business operations.

•  Dacian has a portfolio of 

later-life assets where the 
extension of life of these 
ageing assets allows for low-
carbon footprint per barrel 
and molecule produced 
because the existing 
industrial infrastructure 
is put	to	further	use;

•  the business is primarily 
focused on a workover 
programme that extends  
the life of existing wells as 
opposed to exploration  
and drilling activity that 
has a significantly	higher	
carbon footprint; and

•  the natural gas production 
is primarily utilised in the 
generation of electricity 
and displaces coal, which 
has a much higher carbon 
footprint, in that mix of 
natural resources.

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LMS CapitaL pLC  |  ANNuAL REPORT AND ACCOuNTS 2022

Company Performance in 2022 
and Objectives for 2023

A detailed review of the management of the portfolio is set out on pages 24 to 29 of this Annual Report. 
The detailed	financial	results	are	set	out	in	the	accounts	on	pages	70	to	97.

The Board’s overall aim is to create value for the Company’s shareholders, through a combination of annual dividends 
and share price appreciation. To achieve this aim, the Board is focused on delivering its stated target returns, and 
its success will be measured by the Total Shareholder Return (“TSR”) generated by the Company’s shares over 
the longer term.	The	Board	is	also	aware	of	the	need	to	expand	and	diversify	the	capital	base	of	the	Company.

The Board determines annual priorities and objectives for the Company with a view to achieving its long-term 
goals. These priorities and objectives will generally be focused on the following areas:

•  achieving the annual returns target by:

 – effectively	managing	its	active	investments;

 – sourcing new investment opportunities, which meet its target returns, and deploying surplus cash; and 

 – exercising strict control over its running costs.

•  building	the	profile	of	the	Company	in	the	public	markets	and	taking	advantage	of	opportunities	that	arise	to	

expand the capital base.

The table below provides a summary of the outcomes of the annual objectives set for 2022 and an indication of the 
priorities and objectives for 2023.

area oF  
activitY

commentarY on acHievementS in 2022 anD oBJectiveS  
For 2023

Development of 
new investment 
opportunities

ENERGY

Dacian	completed	in	November	2021	and	2022	was	its	first	full	year	of	operation.	Objectives	for	2022	
were to work with the Dacian team to implement its business plan, in particular around the capital 
and to	identify	further	opportunities	to	build	an	energy	business	focused	on	mature	production	assets.

The company is well positioned to execute its business plan in 2023. LMS has provided support 
to the team,	in	particular	around	its	financial	reporting.

Our objectives for 2023 are to continue supporting Dacian as it seeks to commence the 
implementation of its workover program to achieve a 10%-20% step up in production rates 
during the	year.

REaL EStatE

Objectives for 2022 were to create opportunities with both our development and investment partners.

Work	has	been	undertaken	on	building	expertise	and	identifying	potential	site	acquisitions	in	the	
retirement living sector. Good progress has been made from a “standing start” and we expect to 
be able	to	deploy	capital	in	2023.

The investment market has seen some uncertainty due to the macro economic environment, 
particularly in the uK. Together with our partners we are positioning to be able to take advantage 
of opportunities	that	may	arise.

Our objectives for 2023 are to deploy capital in the retirement living sector and in investment 
opportunities, in conjunction with our operational partners; in both cases introducing capital 
from our	co-investment	network	alongside	our	own.

18

area oF  
activitY

commentarY on acHievementS in 2022 anD oBJectiveS  
For 2023

Development of 
new investment 
opportunities 
continued

LatE-StaGE pRiVatE EQUitY

Our focus during 2022 has been on energy and real estate, where we believe we have greatest 
competitive	advantage,	and	less	on	late-stage	private	equity.	

For 2023, we will continue to consider opportunities, in particular those which have some cross over 
or connection	with	the	energy	or	real	estate	sectors,	whilst	remaining	disciplined	in	our	approach.

Managing the mature 
portfolio

The	bulk	of	the	mature	portfolio	comprises	interests	in	funds	and	minority	equity	positions	where	the	
Company	has	access	to	information	and	is	able	to	engage	with	and	seek	to	influence	management	
but does	not	have	control	of	decisions.

The underlying performance of the mature portfolio during the year showed a net reduction overall 
of	£2.2	million.	We	are	disappointed	that	this	primarily	relates	to	the	realisation	of	the	final	assets	
by two funds	SFEP	and	Eden.	

Additional capital was introduced into Elateral and the business is being supported to achieve a return 
on the additional investment through sales growth and a successful exit.

The objective for 2023 is to continue to manage the portfolio through our relationships with third-
party	managers	and	to	seek	to	exert	influence	where	we	believe	appropriate.	

Other

The Company’s other objectives for 2022 included continuing to develop its co-investment network 
and	building	its	public	markets	profile.

We	believe	these	two	objectives	flow	from	the	development	of	new	investment	opportunities	and	
expect to make progress in 2023.

PerFormance inDicatorS
The Board’s objective is to create wealth in the Company over the medium to longer term and takes decisions 
through the lens of this timeframe.

Progress	towards	the	medium	to	longer-term	objective	may	not	be	reflected	in	individual	annual	performance	metrics.	
However, the Board recognises the need to report the Company’s annual performance against these measures.

The Company’s NAV per share total return, excluding the impact of dividends, was minus 3.7% (31 December 2021: 
plus 4.0%) and its share price total return was minus 16% for the year ended 31 December 2022. These measures 
compare	to the	FTSE	All	Share	Index	which	showed	a	return	of	nil%	for	the	year	ended	31	December	2022.

Further information on the Company’s performance is provided in the Portfolio Management Review 
on pages 24 to 29.

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LMS CapitaL pLC  |  ANNuAL REPORT AND ACCOuNTS 2022

Risk Management

On behalf of the Board, the Audit 
Committee has responsibility for 
ensuring that the Company has an 
effective	process	to	identify,	assess	 
and manage the various risks within  
its business.

The Company has carried out an 
assessment of the principal risks 
within its business and has considered 
the likelihood and potential impact 
of	each	risk	and	the	effectiveness	
of	the procedures	to	mitigate	each	
risk.	A summary	of	the	principal	risks	
identified	is	set	out	below.

PrinciPal riSKS in eacH cateGorY

mitiGation

Strategic risk
Risk that the business model does not deliver target long-term returns of 12% to 15% to shareholders 
or that	the	Board	is	unable	to	implement	its	strategy	or	cannot	pay	its	target	dividend.

Market risk
Risk that macro market and geopolitical uncertainties have an adverse impact on investment values, 
liquidity	and	deal	flow	or	otherwise	disrupt	the	markets	in	which	the	Company	operates.

Investment risk
Risk that the Company’s investments may perform below expectations or may not achieve target 
exit valuations	or	timing.	

New	investments	may	not	meet	investment	criteria	or	fit	with	the	strategy	set	by	the	Board,	
including the Company’s	Environmental,	Social	and	Governance	(“ESG”)	direction.

The Board establishes both long-term and annual objectives with KPIs against which it monitors the Company’s 

performance. It also considers the Company’s performance in the context of investment market conditions and 

developments generally.

asset level.

and Board. 

Regular assessment at Board level of the macro environment on the Company’s business overall and at the individual  

The	current	significant	level	of	cash	held	by	the	Company	provides	some	protection	against	uncertainty	in	the	short	term.

Regular monitoring by the Board of the underlying performance and realisation strategy for all investments. 

Where	the	Company	does	not	control	the	investment	realisation	decision,	it	maintains	dialogue	with	external	managers  

and regularly considers alternative realisation routes.

New investments are subject to a rigorous multi-stage assessment and approval process by the Investment Committee  

The Board also integrates ESG considerations throughout the whole investment process, including consideration of how  

an investee company monitors and manages its own ESG impact.

Financial risk
Risk that the valuation of the investment portfolio is misstated.

The investment portfolio is valued at fair value in accordance with IPEV Guidelines and supported by third-party evidence 

where available. Valuation judgements are reviewed regularly by the Board and Audit Committee and also subject to 

external auditor review.

Operational and Governance risk
Risk that the Company does not have the appropriate resources in place to support the delivery of its 
strategy. This includes the risk of heavy reliance on a small core team and the risk that Board makeup 
may no	longer	be	appropriate.

The core team whilst small, is supported by advisers in key areas and also by outsourced providers. The Company, through 

its Board,	has	a	wide	network	of	associates	who	provide	additional	input	on	an	as	needs	basis	and	who	could	provide	

additional support were members of the core team to be unavailable.

The	Board	was	appointed	in	November	2019	and	regularly	reviews	its	effectiveness	through	a	combination	of	internal	

and external	reviews.

Legal and Regulatory risk
The risk that the Company does not comply with the legal regulatory framework to which it is subject, 
including but not limited to the Companies Act 2006, the FCA listing and DTR rules, the principles of the 
uK Corporate Governance Code and the uK international accounting standards. Risk that changes to 
the legal	or	regulatory	framework	could	impact	the	Company’s	business.	

Compliance	with	the	relevant	legal	and	regulatory	requirements	is	overseen	by	the	Audit	Committee	and	the	Board.	

The Company	has	in	place	the	necessary	procedures	and	policies	required	by	the	regulatory	framework,	and	works	with	

external advisers periodically to review its procedures and to ensure it is aware of relevant legislative or regulatory changes.

20

PrinciPal riSKS in eacH cateGorY

mitiGation

Risk that the business model does not deliver target long-term returns of 12% to 15% to shareholders 

or that	the	Board	is	unable	to	implement	its	strategy	or	cannot	pay	its	target	dividend.

Strategic risk

Market risk

Risk that macro market and geopolitical uncertainties have an adverse impact on investment values, 

liquidity	and	deal	flow	or	otherwise	disrupt	the	markets	in	which	the	Company	operates.

Investment risk

exit valuations	or	timing.	

Risk that the Company’s investments may perform below expectations or may not achieve target 

New	investments	may	not	meet	investment	criteria	or	fit	with	the	strategy	set	by	the	Board,	

including the Company’s	Environmental,	Social	and	Governance	(“ESG”)	direction.

The Board establishes both long-term and annual objectives with KPIs against which it monitors the Company’s 
performance. It also considers the Company’s performance in the context of investment market conditions and 
developments generally.

Regular assessment at Board level of the macro environment on the Company’s business overall and at the individual  
asset level.

The	current	significant	level	of	cash	held	by	the	Company	provides	some	protection	against	uncertainty	in	the	short	term.

Regular monitoring by the Board of the underlying performance and realisation strategy for all investments. 

Where	the	Company	does	not	control	the	investment	realisation	decision,	it	maintains	dialogue	with	external	managers  
and regularly considers alternative realisation routes.

New investments are subject to a rigorous multi-stage assessment and approval process by the Investment Committee  
and Board. 

The Board also integrates ESG considerations throughout the whole investment process, including consideration of how  
an investee company monitors and manages its own ESG impact.

Financial risk

Risk that the valuation of the investment portfolio is misstated.

The investment portfolio is valued at fair value in accordance with IPEV Guidelines and supported by third-party evidence 
where available. Valuation judgements are reviewed regularly by the Board and Audit Committee and also subject to 
external auditor review.

Operational and Governance risk

Risk that the Company does not have the appropriate resources in place to support the delivery of its 

strategy. This includes the risk of heavy reliance on a small core team and the risk that Board makeup 

may no	longer	be	appropriate.

The core team whilst small, is supported by advisers in key areas and also by outsourced providers. The Company, through 
its Board,	has	a	wide	network	of	associates	who	provide	additional	input	on	an	as	needs	basis	and	who	could	provide	
additional support were members of the core team to be unavailable.

The	Board	was	appointed	in	November	2019	and	regularly	reviews	its	effectiveness	through	a	combination	of	internal	
and external	reviews.

Legal and Regulatory risk

The risk that the Company does not comply with the legal regulatory framework to which it is subject, 

including but not limited to the Companies Act 2006, the FCA listing and DTR rules, the principles of the 

uK Corporate Governance Code and the uK international accounting standards. Risk that changes to 

the legal	or	regulatory	framework	could	impact	the	Company’s	business.	

Compliance	with	the	relevant	legal	and	regulatory	requirements	is	overseen	by	the	Audit	Committee	and	the	Board.	
The Company	has	in	place	the	necessary	procedures	and	policies	required	by	the	regulatory	framework,	and	works	with	
external advisers periodically to review its procedures and to ensure it is aware of relevant legislative or regulatory changes.

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LMS CapitaL pLC  |  ANNuAL REPORT AND ACCOuNTS 2022

Viability Statement

The Directors have assessed the Company’s current position and prospects 
as described	in	the	Chairman	and	Managing	Director’s	Report	and	the	Portfolio	
Management Review, as well as the principal risks and uncertainties set out above. 
The Directors have carried out a robust assessment of the emerging and principal 
risks and concluded that they have a reasonable expectation that the Company 
will continue in operation and meet its liabilities as they fall due over a three-
year	period	from	the	date	of	this	report.	The	three-year	timeframe	reflects	the	
Company’s internal planning horizon as well as that of most of the companies in 
which	it	is	invested.	Given	the	illiquid	nature	of	much	of	its	investment	portfolio,	
investment/divestment	decisions	tend	to	reflect	a	time	period	which	can	be	up	
to three	years	or	more.

In performing their assessment, 
the Directors	considered	principally:

•  the	Company’s	liquidity	forecast,	
including	the	flexibility	in	the	
dividend policy and lack of 
any external	debt;	

•  the	significant	cash	balances	
on hand at 31 December 2022 
compared to the level of 
annual running	costs;

•  the latest report on the 

investment portfolio which 
includes (for every Board 
meeting) an assessment of 
operational issues as well as 
broader market factors and each 
asset’s cash needs (if any) and 
likely future cash generation 
(amount and timing); and

•  the potential impact on 

the Company’s	operations,	
portfolio	and	liquidity	from	the	
macroeconomic environment, 
geopolitical uncertainties  
and possible legal and  
regulatory changes. 

The Directors’ consideration of 
these reports was made against 
the background	of	the	following:

•  many of the Company’s 

investments are in private 
companies for which the timing 
and amount of income and/or 
realisation is uncertain. In many 
cases the realisation of assets 
is in the hands of third-party 
managers and not the Company;

•  at 31 December 2022 the 

Company continues to hold 
sufficient	sources	of	liquidity 	
from its available cash balances. 
The Board has reviewed the 
liquidity	of	the	Company	and 	
considered commitments to 
private	equity	investments,	
long-term cash flow projections 
and the potential availability 
of gearing. It has also satisfied 
itself that assumptions 
regarding future cash 
inflows are	reasonable;

•  the Board has considered the 
downside risk in the value of 
marketable securities, where 
realisations of these form part 
of	the	liquidity	forecast.	This	
risk typically includes factors 
impacting the price of the 
security and the exchange rate 
against sterling of the currency 
in which it is denominated and 
uncertainty about the timing 
of its	realisation;	and

• 

in making its assessment, the 
Board has carried out a robust 
assessment of the emerging 
and principal risks, including 
taking into account the threats 
to the Company’s solvency or 
liquidity	incorporated	in	the	
principal risks and uncertainties, 
including potential impacts from 
the ongoing Coronavirus global 
pandemic,	and	has	satisfied	itself	
that they are being addressed as 
outlined above.

22

Directors’ Responsibilities 
Pursuant to Section 172 of 
the Companies Act 2006

The Directors are responsible for acting in a way that they consider, 
in good faith, is the most likely to promote the success of the 
Company	for	the	benefit	of	its	members.	In	doing	so,	they	should	
have regard for the needs of stakeholders and the wider society. 

The Company’s objective is to 
provide investors with an annual 
return of 12% to 15% per annum 
over the longer term through 
a combination of share price 
appreciation and distributions.

Key decisions are those that are 
either material to the Company 
or	are	significant	to	any	of	the	
Company’s key stakeholders.  
The Company’s engagement with  
its key stakeholders is discussed  
further in the Corporate Governance 
Report. The below key decisions 
were made or approved by the 
Directors during the year, with 
the overall aim of promoting the 
success of the Company while 
considering the impact on its 
members and wider stakeholders. 

Further details relating to this 
are set out in the long-term 
consequences	of	decisions	section	
in the Companies Act Section 172 
statement, on page 32.

DiviDenDS
It is the Company’s stated intention 
that a return should be paid to 
shareholders by way of an annual 
dividend of 1.5% of the Net Asset 
Value.	A	final	dividend	payment	for	
the year 2021 of 0.625 pence per 
share was paid in June 2022 and an 
interim dividend of 0.3 pence per 
share for the year to 31 December 
2022 was paid in September 2022. 
A	final	dividend	for	the	year	of	
0.625 pence per share will be 
recommended by the Board to 
shareholders at the AGM and if 
approved, will bring the dividend 
for the year to 1.6%. In paying the 
interim dividend and recommending 
a	final	dividend,	the	Board	will	
take account of progress towards 
covering the dividend with income, 
other circumstances relevant to the 
Company’s	financial	condition	and	
market conditions.

For and on behalf of the Board

Robert Rayne
Chairman
17 March 2023

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LMS CapitaL pLC  |  ANNuAL REPORT AND ACCOuNTS 2022

Portfolio Management Review

introDUction
During 2022, the Company’s mature asset portfolio showed a net reduction 
in	value of	£2.2	million	(9.8%)	as	a	result	of	underlying	foreign	exchange	gains,	
offset	by	reductions	in	the	underlying	values	of	the	assets.	Dacian,	its	first	new	
investment, showed an increase in value of £2.2 million (27.8%) as a result of foreign 
exchange gains and accrued income. Portfolio realisations totalled £0.4 million 
during 2022, primarily from the redemption of the Medhost preference shares.

Cash in the Group at 31 December 2022 was £17.9 million 
(31 December 2021: £20.1 million), including £14.5 million  
held by the Company and £3.4 million held by subsidiaries. 
Inflows,	as	noted	above,	were	£0.4	million.	Significant	
outflows	have	been	£0.7	million	of	dividend	payments	
and £0.4 million invested in Elateral. Other net cash 
movements	amounted	to	an	outflow	of	£2.3	million,	
including £1.9 million of running costs and £0.4 million 
of investment-related costs.

marKet BacKGroUnD
There was optimism as we entered 2022, with the 
successful rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine programme 
and the prospect of no further lockdown restrictions. 
However, Russia’s invasion of ukraine in February 
2022 created further uncertainty in the markets and 
resulted in a refugee and humanitarian crisis in Europe. 
International	food	and	energy	supplies	were	affected,	
and	global	inflation	returned.	Later	in	the	year,	political	
factors in the uK also created market uncertainty, 
resulting in sterling falling to a record low against 
the US	dollar.	

Domestically, the outlook for 2023 looks uncertain. 
Interest rates have risen to their highest in 14 years 
and	inflation	remains	high,	due	in	part	to	the	rapidly	
increasing energy prices seen throughout 2022. 

The	consequences	of	recent	developments	and	the	
impact of macroeconomic and domestic issues will 
continue to be monitored closely by the Board.

As reported last year, Elateral one of our direct 
investments was directly impacted by events in 
ukraine, where it had outsourced much of its software 
development work. The company has successfully 
managed	the	consequences	of	that	disruption.

PerFormance revieW
The movement in NAV during the year was as follows:

Opening NAV
(Loss)/profit	on	investments
Investment interest income
Advisory fee income
Dividends
Overheads and other net movements

2022 
£’000

49,109
(1,305)
1,274
165
(747)
(1,955)

2021 
£’000

47,923
2,556
1,241
–
(727)
(1,884)

Closing NaV

46,541

49,109

Cash realisations and new and follow-on investments 
from the portfolio were as follows:

Proceeds from the sale 
of investments	
Proceeds from redemption 
of convertible	debt
Proceeds from redemption 
of preference	shares
Distributions from funds 
and loan repayments

Total – gross cash realisations
New and follow-on investments
Fund calls

total – net

Year ended 
31 December
2022 
£’000

2021 
£’000

2

–

336

97 

435
(428)
(41)

(34)

–

750

–

1,916 

2,666
(7,153)
(43)

(4,530)

Realisations of £0.4 million in 2022 include:

•  £0.1 million distribution from Brockton; and

•  proceeds of £0.3 million from Medhost for 
the redemption of the preferred shares and 
accrued interest.

The new and follow-on investments relate to 
£0.4 million	of	additional	equity	and	working	
capital funding	for	Elateral,	a	UK	direct	investment.	

The fund calls are primarily for SFEP management fees.

24

Below	is	a	summary	of	the	investment	portfolio	of	the	Company	and	its	subsidiaries,	which	reflects	all	investments	
held by the Group:

Mature investment portfolio

Quoted
Unquoted
Funds

New investment portfolio

Quoted
Unquoted
Funds

Year ended 31 December

2022

US  
£’000

39
5,945
7,357

total  
£’000

160
6,626
14,033

uK  
£’000

218
924
7,242

2021

uS  
£’000

165
7,744
6,687

Total  
£’000

383
8,668
13,929

13,341

20,819

8,384

14,596

22,980

UK  
£’000

121
681
6,676

7,478

UK  
£’000

US  
£’000

–
–
–

–

–
10,145
–

10,145

total 
£’000

–
10,145
–

10,145

uK  
£’000

uS  
£’000

Total 
£’000

–
–
–

–
7,958
–

- 7,9587,958

–
7,958
–

7,958

total investments

7,478

23,486

30,964

8,384

22,554

30,938

BASIS OF VALUATION:
QuOTED INVESTMENTS

Quoted investments for which an active market exists are valued at the bid price at the reporting date.

uNQuOTED DIRECT INVESTMENT

Unquoted	direct	investments	for	which	there	is	no	active	market	are	valued	using	the	most	appropriate	valuation	
technique	with	regard	to	the	stage	and	nature	of	the	investment.	Valuation	methods	that	may	be	used	include:

• 

• 

• 

investments in an established business are valued using revenue or earnings multiples depending on the stage 
of development	of	the	business	and	the	extent	to	which	it	is	generating	sustainable	revenue	or	earnings;

investments in an established business which is generating sustainable revenue or earnings but for which other 
valuation	methods	are	not	appropriate	are	valued	by	calculating	the	discounted	cash	flow	of	future	cash	flows;	

investments in debt instruments or loan notes are determined on a standalone basis, with the initial investment 
recorded	at	the	price	of	the	transaction	and	subsequent	adjustments	to	the	valuation	are	considered	for	changes	
in credit risk or market rates; and 

•  convertible instruments are valued by disaggregating the convertible feature from the debt instrument and 

valuing it using a Black-Scholes model.

FuNDS

Investments in managed funds are valued at fair value. The general partners of the funds will provide periodic 
valuations	on	a	fair	value	basis,	the	latest	available	of	which	the	Company	will	adopt	provided	it	is	satisfied	that	
the	valuation	methods	used	by	the	funds	are	not	materially	different	from	the	Company’s	valuation	methods.	
Adjustments will be made to the fund valuation where the Company believes there is evidence available for 
an alternative	valuation.

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LMS CapitaL pLC  |  ANNuAL REPORT AND ACCOuNTS 2022

Portfolio Management Review continued

PerFormance oF tHe inveStment PortFolio
The return on investments for the year ended 31 December 2022 was as follows:

asset type

Quoted
Unquoted
Funds

Credit/(charge) for incentive plans

Realised 
gains/ 
(losses)  
£’000

2022
Unrealised 
gains/ 
(losses)  
£’000

(1)
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–

23

(220)
(1,285)
108

(1,397)

Operating and similar income of subsidiaries

–

–

Year ended 31 December

Realised 
gains/ 
(losses)  
£’000

2021
unrealised 
gains/ 
(losses)  
£’000

–
(5)
–

(5)

–

186
(90)
2,473

2,569

–

total  
£’000

(221)
(1,261)
108

(1,374)

69

(1,305)

1,081

(224)

Total  
£’000

186
(95)
2,473

2,564

(9)

2,555

1,282

3,837

The Company operates carried interest arrangements 
in	line	with	normal	practice	in	the	private	equity	
industry. The credit for incentive plans for the Company 
is £30,000 and for subsidiaries a credit of £39,000 for 
carried interest and other incentives relating to historic 
arrangements. The charge for carried interest incentive 
plan is included in the net losses on investments in the 
Income Statement.

Approximately 76% of the portfolio at 31 December 2022 
is denominated in uS dollars (31 December 2021: 73%) 
and the above table includes the impact of currency 
movements. In the year ended 31 December 2022, the 
weakening of sterling against the uS dollar over the year 
as a whole resulted in an unrealised foreign currency gain 
of £2.74 million (31 December 2021: unrealised gain of 
£0.02	million).	As	a	common	practice	in	private	equity	
investment, it is the Board’s current policy not to hedge 
the Company’s underlying non-sterling investments.

QuOTED INVESTMENTS

Company

Tialis Essential IT plc 
(formally IDE Group 
Holdings)
Arsenal Digital Holdings 
Inc (formally Global 
Green Solutions)
Others

Sector

uK 
technology

uS energy

–

31 December
2022 
£’000

2021 
£’000

121

218

13
26

160

139
26

383

The	net	gains	and	losses	on	the	quoted	portfolio	arose	
as follows:

Gains/(losses), net

Realised 
Tialis Essential IT plc 

Unrealised 
Tialis Essential IT plc 
Arsenal Digital Holdings Inc 
Other	quoted	holdings
unrealised foreign currency gains/
(losses)

total net gains/(losses)

Year ended 
31 December
2022 
£’000

2021 
£’000

(1)

(1)

(94)
(135)
(2)
11

(220)

(221)

–

–

100
78
9
(1)

186

186

26

 
TIALIS	ESSENTIAL	IT	PLC	(FORMALLY	IDE	GROUP	HOLDINGS)

Having shown signs of recovery in 2021 following 
the Coronavirus pandemic, the performance of Tialis 
Essential IT declined further during 2022, resulting 
in a £0.1 million unrealised loss. In February 2023, 
the company announced that it had completed the 
acquisition	of	three	profitable	partner	contracts	
which are	expected	to	add	around	50%	to	the	
revenues in	2023.

uNQuOTED INVESTMENTS

Company

Sector

Dacian
Medhost Inc
Elateral
ICu Eyeware*
Tialis loan notes
Cresco

uS energy
uS technology
uK technology
uS consumer
uK technology
uS consumer

*  Co-investment managed by SFEP.

Year ended 
31 December
2022 
£’000

2021 
£’000

10,145
5,673
599
232
82
40

16,771

7,959
5,997
817
1,746
107
–

16,626

The	net	gains	and	losses	on	the	unquoted	portfolio	
arose as follows:

Gains/(losses), net

Realised 
Medhost
Northbridge

Unrealised 
Tialis loan notes
Elateral
Medhost
YesTo
ICu Eyewear
unrealised foreign currency gains

total net losses

Year ended 
31 December
2022 
£’000

2021 
£’000

24
–

24

(25)
(645)
(691)
–
(1,778)
1,854

(1,285)

(1,261)

–
(5)

(5)

35
21
235
(74)
(313)
6

(90)

(95)

Valuations are sensitive to changes in the following  
two inputs:

•  the operating performance of the individual 

businesses within the portfolio; and

•  changes	in	the	revenue	and	profitability	multiples	
and transaction prices of comparable businesses, 
which are used in the underlying calculations.

Comments on individual companies are set out below:

MEDHOST
Medhost is a co-investment with funds of Primus 
Capital. The company operates in a mature market and 
continues	to	be	profitable	and	cash	generative	and	is	
performing in line with budgets. The Company relies on 
valuations provided by Primus Capital which resulted in 
an unrealised loss of £0.7 million for 2022, primarily as 
a result of changes in the public market comparators. 
In June 2022, the Medhost’s preference shares were 
redeemed resulting in gross proceeds of $460,000.

ELATERAL
Elateral was, as noted above, impacted by events in 
Ukraine	and	required	additional	investment	for	working	
capital and to invest in a revenue growth strategy. In 
the	last	quarter	of	the	year,	the	company	has	won	new	
revenue and is now trading at or around breakeven. 
Whilst it is believed that there is scope to grow the 
company and create value, until a longer period of 
sustained growth can be demonstrated, a cautious 
view is	taken	on	valuation.

ICU EYEWEAR
This	business,	managed	by	San	Francisco	Equity	Partners	
Fund 3, was in an exit process at year end and the 
valuation	reflects	the	indicated	outcome	of	that	process	
at 31 December. The exit was concluded during February 
2023. LMS expects to receive its share of the proceeds 
by way of a distribution from the fund in due course. 
The proceeds are likely to be slightly, but not materially 
ahead of the valuation. This is a disappointing result. In 
2020	the	business	produced	a	windfall	profit	from	the	
sale	of	PPE	equipment	during	the	Covid	pandemic,	from	
which LMS received £1.6 million. However, in its core 
business it has not been able successfully to diversify 
its customer base – it is heavily dependent on one 
customer with whom it has no long-term contract – 
and	this	poor	quality	revenue	stream,	coupled	with	low	
profitability	is	reflected	in	the	poor	outcome	on	exit.

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LMS CapitaL pLC  |  ANNuAL REPORT AND ACCOuNTS 2022

Portfolio Management Review continued

FuND INTERESTS

General partner

Brockton Capital Fund I
Opus Capital Venture Partners
Weber Capital Partners
EMAC ILF
Simmons
Eden Ventures
San	Francisco	Equity	Partners
Other interests 

Sector

uK real estate
uS venture capital
US	micro-cap	quoted	stocks
uK
uK
uK venture capital
uS consumer & technology
–

31 December
2022 
£’000

2021 
£’000

6,036
5,275
2,046
341
262
37
–
36

5,635
3,948
2,644
733
381
494
55
39

14,033

13,929

The net gains on the Company’s fund portfolio for 
the year	ended	31	December	2022	were	as	follows:

Gains/(losses), net

Realised 
Other funds

Unrealised 
Opus Capital Venture Partners
Brockton Capital Fund I
Primus Capital Fund V
San	Francisco	Equity	Partners	
(“SFEP”)
Simmons Parallel Energy
EMAC Illyrian Land Fund II
Eden Ventures
Weber Capital Partners Fund 1 
unrealised foreign currency gains 

total net gains

Year ended 
31 December
2022 
£’000

2021 
£’000

–

–

755
458
(7)
(103)

(144)
(419)
(457)
(855)
880

108

108

–

–

398
1,528
5
(389)

53
(56)
118
801
15

2,473

2,473

SAN FRANCISCO EQUITY PARTNERS
SFEP	Fund	1	no	longer	has	significant	assets	and	holds	a	
small interest in ICu, which has been sold, as explained 
above. The general partner is in the process of winding 
the fund up.

OTHER FUND INTERESTS
•  Brockton Capital Fund I – the Company’s investment 

represents its share (via the Brockton Fund) of 
preferred debt investments in a Super Prime central 
London residential development. The investment 
showed an increase in the valuation of £0.5 million 
for 2022 due to unrealised gains from the unwinding 
of the discount rate as the investment is valued on 
a discounted	cash	flow	basis;

•  Weber Capital – holds u.S. publicly traded  

micro-cap securities and showed an unrealised 
loss of	 £0.9	million	reflecting	a	decrease	in	
the	underlying	equity	prices,	partially	offset	
by £0.3 million	in	foreign	exchange	gains;	

•  Opus Capital – a u.S. venture fund, showed an 
unrealised gain of £0.8 million from valuation 
gains in	its	two	main	assets	along	with	unrealised	
foreign exchange gains of £0.6 million; and

•  Eden Ventures – Eden has now sold all of its 

assets and	is	in	the	process	of	being	wound	up.	
The unrealised	loss	of	£0.5	million	reflects	primarily	
the decrease in value on sale of the last asset.

28

coStS
Running costs for the year were £1.7 million  
(31 December 2021: £1.8 million) and investment  
related costs, being support costs for real estate  
and co-investment activities, were £0.4 million  
(31 December 2021: £0.3 million).

taXation
The Group tax provision for the year, all of which arose 
in the subsidiaries, is £0.4 million (31 December 2021: 
£0.1 million). This includes £0.2 million of withholding 
tax on our foreign sourced income.

Financial reSoUrceS anD commitmentS
At 31 December 2022 cash holdings, including cash 
in subsidiaries, were £17.9 million (31 December 2021: 
£20.1 million) and neither the Company nor any of its 
subsidiaries had any external debt in either 2022 or 2021.

At 31 December 2022, subsidiary companies had 
commitments of £2.7 million (31 December 2021:  
£2.7 million) to meet outstanding capital calls 
from fund	interests.

LMS Capital plc
17 March 2023

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LMS CapitaL pLC  |  AnnuAl report And Accounts 2022

Board of Directors

“ Our Board 
operates through 
both formal 
and informal 
interactions and  
is closely involved 
with the direction  
of the business.”

ROBERt RaYNE
chairman

NiCHOLaS FRiEDLOS
Managing Director

ROBERt RaYNE
NON-EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN

NiCHOLaS FRiEDLOS
MAnAGInG dIrector

COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIPS: 
chairman of the Investment 
committee and the  
nomination committee

COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIPS: 
Member of the Investment 
committee and the  
nomination committee

DATE APPOINTED TO THE BOARD: 
6 April 2006

DATE APPOINTED TO THE BOARD: 
28 november 2019

DATE APPOINTED AS CHAIRMAN: 
28 november 2019 

DATE APPOINTED AS  
MANAGING DIRECTOR:
28 november 2019 

Directorships: chairman of  
the rayne Foundation and a  
non-executive director/trustee  
of a number of charitable trusts  
and foundations.

Experience: robert has 
expertise in a wide range of 
sectors, including real estate, 
media, consumer, technology 
and energy. He established the 
company’s investment activities 
in the early 1980s as investment 
director and later managing director 
and chief executive officer of London 
Merchant securities.

Role and Experience: Managing 
Director, with overall responsibility 
for running the Company’s 
operations going forward, working 
with and supporting the activities 
of the investment teams as well 
as overseeing the administrative 
and regulatory matters.

Nick is a chartered accountant and was 
a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers. 
For the last 20 years he has worked 
asa consultant to and as ceo and 
cFo in alternative asset investment 
businesses including real estate, 
private equity and renewable energy.

30

pEtER HaRVEY
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

GRaHaM StEDMaN
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

JaMES WiLSON
SENIOR NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 

COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIPS: 
chairman of the Audit committee, 
member of the nomination 
committee, remuneration 
committee and Investment 
committee

COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIPS: 
chairman of the remuneration 
committee, member of the Audit 
committee, nomination committee 
and Investment committee

COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIPS: 
Member of the Audit committee, 
nomination committee, 
remuneration committee  
and Investment committee

DATE APPOINTED TO THE BOARD: 
28 november 2019

DATE APPOINTED TO THE BOARD: 
28 november 2019

DATE APPOINTED TO THE BOARD: 
28 november 2019

DATE APPOINTED AS CHAIRMAN 
OF AUDIT COMMITTEE:
28 november 2019 

DATE APPOINTED AS CHAIRMAN OF 
THE REMUNERATION COMMITTEE:
28 november 2019 

Directorships: peter has a number 
of other roles with not-for-profit 
organisations in Cornwall.

Experience: peter is a chartered 
accountant and, prior to his 
retirement in 2010, was a partner 
at PricewaterhouseCoopers. He 
has been involved as chairman of 
the shareholder group in a private 
company in the brewing sector and 
has worked closely with the board  
of this business.

Directorships: number of advisory 
roles and has a particular interest 
in mentoring smaller organisations 
both in the commercial and in the 
not-for-profit sectors to develop 
their businesses.

Experience: Graham is a lawyer  
and spent most of his career as  
a corporate law partner in London  
advising on mergers and acquisitions,  
takeovers, and other corporate 
transactions in both public 
markets and private equity 
and venture capital.

Directorships: chairman and 
managing partner of Source 
squared. serves on the state Board 
of Advisors for the salvation Army 
and the Advisory Board of the 
Cambridge Conservation Initiative 
at Cambridge University in the UK.

Experience: James has expertise 
in a wide range of sectors. He was a 
founding partner of Boston Ventures, 
one of the leading U.S. media private 
equity funds, responsible for building 
the firm’s practice in the information 
services industries.

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LMS CapitaL pLC  |  AnnuAl report And Accounts 2022

Corporate Governance Report

This report sets out the Company’s corporate governance arrangements, which 
reflect the standards of practice required by the 2018 UK Corporate Governance 
Code (“the Code”) in relation to the management of the Company.

The Board is committed to delivering value to 
shareholders while maintaining high standards of 
corporate governance and business ethics. This report 
is made under the 2018 UK Corporate Governance Code 
(“the code”). copies of the code are available from the 
Financial Reporting Council’s website at www.frc.org.uk.

the Board has adopted the voluntary AIc code 
of Corporate Governance issued in February 2019 
(“the AIC Code”). Copies of the AIC Code are available 
from the AIC’s website at https://www.theaic.co.uk.

This report sets out how the Company has applied the 
principles in the code, the AIc code and the extent to 
which it has complied with the detailed provisions set 
out therein. the Board considers that the company 
has complied with all of the provisions of the Code, 
except where explanatory statements have been 
included below. The Board made good progress in the 
full implementation of the code and shall continue 
to consider the likely consequences of its decisions 
in the long term and the importance of maintaining a 
reputation for high standards of business conduct and 
to ensure that in 2023 any changes will be monitored 
to guarantee adherence to the Code is applied. 

The work of the Board during the year was conducted 
through five formal meetings and regular informal 
engagement with executive management. 

Key areas of focus this year have been executing 
our strategy, articulating our purpose and values, 
reviewing and managing our portfolio and maintaining 
close dialogue with our shareholders, through both 
formal and informal interactions.

UK cORPORate GOveRnance cODe 
AND S172 REPORTING
During 2022, we continued to abide by the overriding 
principles of the 2018 Code which are designed to:

•  promote long-term sustainable success of 

the Company, business effectiveness, efficiency, 
responsibility and accountability in accordance 
with section 172 of the Companies Act 2006 
(“S172”) which requires Directors to act in the way 
they consider, in good faith, would be most likely to 
promote the success of the Company for the benefit 
of its shareholders as a whole and, in doing so, having 
regard to the factors, including stakeholder factors, 
set out in section 172(1)(a) to (f) of the Companies 
Act 2006;

•  provide suitable opportunity for employee 

engagement in the business;

•  assist the effective review and monitoring of the 

company’s activities;

•  help identify and mitigate significant risks to the 
Company, as set out in our Risk Report on pages 
20 to 21; and

•  provide the necessary disclosures to stakeholders 
to make a meaningful analysis of the Company’s 
business activities and its financial position.

32

GOveRnance KeY eventS
•  over the course of the year, the company has 

continued to keep under review its documented 
policies and procedures, where required to comply 
with the various areas of regulation. A policy 
relating to co-investment by Directors, employees 
or consultants was added in 2022 and is described 
on page 35. The Company shall continue to formally 
review its policies on an annual basis.

•  The Company’s AGM is an opportunity to engage 
directly with shareholders. In 2022, in addition to 
being invited to attend in person, shareholders 
were provided with the opportunity to listen to the 
AGM’s presentation remotely, and shareholders were 
encouraged to submit proxy votes and to submit 
questions before and after the meeting. It is intended 
that the 2023 AGM will be held as per the normal 
process, but the company shall continue to provide 
the opportunity to join the proceedings remotely 
and also monitor any relevant advice from the UK 
Government and Public Health England. Further 
details will be set out in the Notice of AGM that 
will be circulated ahead of the meeting.

•  A continuing review of the Code, with steps taken 

towards full compliance.

UK cORPORate GOveRnance cODe – 
eXPlicit eXPlanatORY StatementS
provision 6 of the code requires the Board to ensure 
that there is a means in which the workforce may raise 
concerns in confidence, and if they wish anonymously. 
During 2020, the Company updated its whistleblowing 
policy and provided training to its staff, that has 
remained in force since.

provision 9 of the code requires that the chair of the 
Company should be independent on appointment when 
assessed against the circumstances set out in Provision 
10. robert rayne is not considered to be independent, 
as defined by the Code, as he previously served as 
an executive director and is a major shareholder in 
lMs capital plc. While not independent, the Board 
considers that robert rayne remains to be the most 
appropriate person to chair the company to ensure the 
adherence to good governance. The Board recognises 
that Robert Rayne continues to offer substantive and 
intellectual challenge to other Board members and 
strong leadership. The Board are satisfied that Robert 
rayne’s role as chair is clearly separated from that of 
the Managing Director, and he therefore continues to 
be appointed accordingly.

provision 13 of the code requires the chair to hold 
meetings with the Non-Executive Directors without 
the Executive Director being present. In January 2022 
and again in February 2023 the Board reviewed the 
performance of the Executive Director for the preceding 
year and agreed performance objectives, and such 
meetings were held without the Executive Director 
present. The Board consider these reviews sufficient.

provision 19 of the code requires that the chair should 
not remain in post beyond nine years from the date of 
their first appointment to the Board. Robert Rayne has 
been on the Board for over nine years and therefore the 
Company is not in compliance with Provision 19. Robert 
rayne continues to be considered the most appropriate 
person to chair the Board following the management 
changes and he remains appointed accordingly. 

provision 20 of the code requires that an open 
advertising and/or an external search consultancy 
should generally be used for the appointment of 
the chair and non-executive directors. Given the 
circumstance around the management changes in 
november 2019 and detail in the eGM documents, 
this Provision was not adhered to. 

provision 21 of the code requires that there should 
be a formal and rigorous annual evaluation of the 
performance of the Board, its committees, the chair 
and individual Directors. A Board effectiveness review, 
facilitated by an external consultant, was undertaken in 
respect of 2020. In respect of 2021, the Board conducted 
an internal review of its effectiveness in January 2022 and 
plans to have a further internal review in March 2023.

provision 34 of the code states that the remuneration 
for all non-executive directors should not include 
share options or other performance-related elements. 
This Provision was not complied with as Robert Rayne 
still retains a participation in the company’s historic 
carried interest plans. the carried interest relates to 
entitlements earned during previous years when he was 
an executive of the company and, in this respect, he is 
not treated differently from other former executives 
who in some cases also retained carried interest 
entitlements. There have been no new carried interest 
plans introduced since the company returned to 
internal management.

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LMS CapitaL pLC  |  AnnuAl report And Accounts 2022

Corporate Governance Report continued

enGaGement witH StaKeHOlDeRS
Provision 5 of the Code requires the Board to understand 
the views of the Company’s key stakeholders. 

The Board regards our people as our most valuable 
asset and are committed to responsible employment 
practices, by promoting the fair treatment of our 
workforce, providing equal opportunity, preventing 
discrimination and upholding human rights. 

In accordance with the Code, the Remuneration 
committee determines the executive director 
remuneration policy and practices and addresses the 
following factors: clarity, simplicity, risk, predictability, 
proportionality and alignment to culture.

When determining remuneration schemes and the 
remuneration policy, the committee considers the  
use of discretion by the committee to override 
formulaic outcomes.

the senior non-executive director, James Wilson 
together with the Chairman, is available to meet 
with shareholders as appropriate. Nicholas Friedlos, 
our Managing Director, and each of our Committee 
Chairmen are available to engage with shareholders on 
significant matters related to their area of responsibility. 

The Committee reviews at least annually the ongoing 
appropriateness and relevance of the remuneration 
policy and consults with significant shareholders, 
as appropriate, on the policy or any other aspects of 
remuneration. In carrying out its role, the Committee 
takes advice from external remuneration consultants.

All Directors will be available at our AGM in 2023 to 
answer any questions. At the AGM the level of proxy 
votes lodged on each resolution is made available, both 
at the meeting and subsequently on the Company’s 
website. Each substantially separate issue is presented 
as a separate resolution. the committee chairmen are 
available to answer questions from shareholders.

SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS
The Board has stayed in regular contact with its 
major institutional shareholders and ensures that 
all its members have an understanding of the views 
and concerns of investors about the company. this is 
achieved by the Directors maintaining contact from time 
to time with representatives of institutional shareholders 
to discuss matters of mutual interest relating to the 
Company and reporting back to the Board.

the interim and annual results of the company, 
along with all other press releases, are posted on the 
Company’s website, www.lmscapital.com, as soon as 
possible after they have been announced to the market. 
The website also contains an archive of all documents 
sent to shareholders, as well as details on the Company’s 
investments, strategy and share price.

RemUneRatiOn
The Remuneration Policy was approved at the AGM 
held in 2020. In 2021 and 2022 it was the subject of 
an advisory vote at the AGMs.

At the 2023 AGM, this being the third anniversary of the 
previous approval vote, the remuneration policy will be 
put to shareholders again for approval. The proposed 
policy is set out in the Remuneration Report on pages 
42 to 56.

The Committee is further entitled to invoke agreed 
safeguards, for example, clawback or withholding  
the payment of any sum or share award in  
certain circumstances. 

Detailed information on the remuneration arrangements 
for the directors can be found in the remuneration 
Report on page 44.

accOUntaBilitY anD RiSK
The Board formally reviews the Company’s risk 
profile each year and periodically discusses principal 
and emerging risks facing the Company and appropriate 
controls. Risk identification and mitigation regularly 
form part of the Board’s deliberations on strategic 
decisions. Monitoring the Company’s risk and assurance 
systems is key to the business and forms part of Board 
meeting discussions.

Detailed information on how the Company manages risk 
can be found in the Strategic Report on pages 12 to 23 
and the Audit Committee Report on pages 39 to 41.

DiveRSitY anD SUcceSSiOn PlanninG
The Board has reviewed the combination of skills 
and experience on the Board and has evaluated its 
composition looking at both the existing and desired 
skill sets. The Nomination Committee recognises the 
need to keep this under review and is cognisant in 
respect of the diversity of the Board. 

34

CO-INVESTMENT POLICY
An important part of the Company’s strategy is 
developing a co-investment network, and this can 
include one or more of the company’s directors, 
employees or consultants (“the lMs team”). the 
Board has adopted a co-investment policy to provide 
guidance in situations where one or more members 
of the lMs team proposes to become a co-investor 
in one of the Company’s new investments. The policy 
states that any such co-investment should be on the 
same or no better terms and at the same time as the 
company’s investment. the policy also sets out the 
regulatory requirements and requires all proposed LMS 
Team co-investments be reviewed and approved by 
an Independent Board, being the Board, but excluding 
any Board members who are part of the proposed co-
investment. should all Board members be proposed 
co-investors, the arrangement would be reviewed by  
the Company’s financial advisor.

leaDeRSHiP anD BOaRD eFFectiveneSS
The structure of the Board and Committees is designed 
to ensure that the Board applies its focus to the overall 
objectives of the Company with emphasis on strategy, 
monitoring the performance of the portfolio, risk and 
control issues. The Board ensures that the right people 
and leadership are employed and utilised to achieve 
the strategy and plans of the Company.

BOARD EVALUATION 
The Board considers the guidance on Board 
Effectiveness issued by the FRC in July 2018. 

The Board aims to review its own performance 
annually. The assessment covers the effectiveness 
and performance of the Board as a whole, the Board 
committees and an evaluation of each director. It is 
led by the chairman, and includes an independent 
evaluation of the chairman by the senior Independent 
non-executive director.

In respect of 2021, the Board conducted an internal 
review of its effectiveness in January 2022, that was 
led by the chairman. the assessment concluded that 
the Board and each committee continue to operate 
effectively and that all Board members (including 
the Chairman) continue to operate effectively and 
are committed to providing support, advice and 
challenge to the Chairman and Managing Director. 
It also concluded that the Board had been able to 
act effectively and responsively during the Covid-19 
pandemic despite all the challenges. 

The overall conclusion was that the Board was 
operating effectively with no significant areas 
requiring to be addressed.

A further internal review of the Company’s strategy, 
including the effectiveness of its Board and each 
Committee as well as revision of performance of 
the Chairman will be carried out in March 2023.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
the Board is responsible to the company’s shareholders 
for the performance of the company and for its overall 
strategic direction, its values and its governance. 
It provides the leadership necessary to enable the 
Company’s business objectives to be met within 
the governance framework detailed below.

COMPOSITION
The Board currently comprises five Directors. Brief 
biographies of the Directors appear on pages 30 to 31. 
the Board considers that it has an appropriate balance 
of skills, knowledge and experience available to it.

robert rayne is the chairman, and he is responsible for 
the effective running of the Board, including setting the 
Board’s agenda and ensuring that all matters relating to 
performance and strategy are fully addressed. He is also 
responsible for ensuring that the Board’s effectiveness is  
regularly evaluated. The role description of the Chairman 
was reviewed, documented and approved by the Board in  
November 2020, and was reviewed again in January 2023. 

NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS
each non-executive director is appointed for an initial 
term of three years. Subject to agreement, satisfactory 
performance and re-election by shareholders, their 
appointments were renewed for further terms of three 
years. the appointments expired in november 2022 and 
have been extended for a further three years, subject 
to each Director offering themselves for re-election 
annually at the AGM.

DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE AND COMMITMENT
In the opinion of the Board, Peter Harvey, Graham 
stedman and James Wilson are each considered to be 
independent in character and judgement and there are 
no relationships or circumstances which are likely to 
affect (or could appear to affect) their judgement.

robert rayne is not considered to be independent 
as he previously served as an Executive Director 
and is a major shareholder in LMS Capital plc.

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LMS CapitaL pLC  |  AnnuAl report And Accounts 2022

Corporate Governance Report continued

nicholas Friedlos is not considered to be independent 
as he is the Managing Director of the Company.

DIRECTORS’ CONFLICTS OF INTERESTS
The Company’s Articles of Association allow 
the Directors to authorise conflicts of interest 
and a register has been set up to record all actual and 
potential conflict situations which have been declared. 
All declared conflicts have been reviewed and approved 
by the Board at each Board meeting held during 2022. 
the company has instituted procedures to ensure that 
Directors’ outside interests do not give rise to conflicts 
with its operations and strategy.

The Board is of the view that the Chairman and each 
of the Non-Executive Directors who held office during 
2022 committed sufficient time to fulfilling their duties 
as members of the Board.

INDEPENDENT SENIOR NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
the senior non-executive director, James Wilson, acts 
as a sounding board for the Chairman and acts as an 
intermediary for other directors. the directors consider 
that the senior non-executive director is able to ensure 
significant engagement with shareholders. 

DIRECTOR RE-ELECTION
In order to comply with the Code, all Directors will offer 
themselves for re-election by shareholders at each AGM.

BOARD SUPPORT
There are agreed procedures for the Directors to take 
independent professional advice, if necessary, at the 
Company’s expense. This was not used during the 
year, however all Directors have access to the advice 
and services of the company secretary. In addition, 
newly appointed Directors would be provided with 
comprehensive information about the company and its 
investee companies as part of their induction process.

While no formal structured continuing professional 
development programme has been established for the 
Non-Executive Directors, every effort is made to ensure 
that they are fully briefed before Board meetings on the 
company’s business and its investments. In addition, 
they receive updates from time to time from the 
company’s advisers and from the company secretary 
on recent developments in corporate governance 
and compliance. each of the non-executive directors 
independently ensures that they update their skills 
and knowledge sufficiently to enable them to fulfil 
their duties appropriately.

the Board has adopted a schedule of matters reserved 
to it for approval. These include the approval of financial 
statements, strategic plans and annual budgets, as 
well as acquisitions and disposals and major capital 
and operating expenditure. The Board delegates specific 
responsibilities to its Committees, which operate within 
written terms of reference approved by the Board. These 
Committees report regularly to the Board.

BOARD MEETINGS 
Five scheduled Board meetings were held in 2022. At each scheduled meeting, the Board considered a report on 
current operations and significant business issues, such as major investment or divestment proposals and strategy, 
as well as a financial report. Papers for each scheduled Board meeting are usually provided during the week before 
the meeting.

ATTENDANCE AT BOARD MEETINGS
The following were Directors of the Company during 2022. They attended the following number of scheduled 
meetings of the Board and (where they were members) its Committees during the year:

Meetings held
robert rayne
nicholas Friedlos
Peter Harvey
Graham stedman 
James Wilson

Board

audit Nomination Remuneration

investment

5
5
5
5
5
5

3
–
–
3
3
3

1
1
1
1
1
1

3
–
–
3
3
3

4
4
4
4
4
4

The Directors maintain a regular dialogue regarding the business of the Company outside of scheduled Board 
and Committee meetings. In months where no such meetings are scheduled, the Directors will arrange informal 
meetings, generally by way of conference calls. 

36

EXTERNAL AUDIT
In order to safeguard the independence and objectivity 
of the external auditor, the committee is responsible 
for the development, implementation and monitoring 
of the company’s policy on the provision of non-audit 
services and oversight of the hiring of personnel from 
the external auditor, should this occur. the Audit 
Committee reviews the conduct of the external audit, 
including its effectiveness and independence on an 
annual basis and makes recommendations to the Board 
regarding the reappointment or removal of the external 
auditor, their terms of engagement and the level of 
their remuneration. The Committee also reviews the 
process which is in place to ensure the independence 
and objectivity of the external auditor.

During the year, the Committee monitors the external 
audit as it proceeds. The Committee reviews, discusses 
and approves the external audit plan for the current 
financial year; the Committee then meets with the 
external auditor prior to the Board’s consideration 
of the full-year and half-year results to consider 
their findings. 

A policy regarding the engagement of the external 
auditor to supply non-audit services is in place. the 
policy recognises the importance of maintaining the 
objectivity and independence of the external auditor 
by carefully monitoring their involvement in projects 
of a non-audit nature. It is, however, also acknowledged 
that, due to their detailed understanding of the 
company’s business, it may sometimes be necessary or 
desirable to involve the external auditor in non-audit 
related work to the extent permitted.

INTERNAL CONTROL AND RISK MANAGEMENT
IQ-EQ Administration Services (UK) Limited, appointed 
in 2017, continue to manage the Company’s day-to-day 
financial and administrative functions, acting within 
delegated authority limits and in accordance with 
clearly defined systems of control. IQ-EQ Corporate 
Services (UK) Limited appointed in 2017 also continue 
as company secretary and support the Board in the 
delivery of governance procedures, in particular the 
planning of agendas for the annual cycle of Board 
and Committee meetings.

BOARD COMMITTEES
the Board has an Audit committee, a remuneration 
committee, a nomination committee and an 
Investment committee. 

each Board committee has established terms of 
reference detailing its responsibilities and authority. 
these are available in the Investor relations section 
of the Company’s website at www.lmscapital.com.

AUDIT COMMITTEE
The Audit Committee comprises: Peter Harvey 
(committee chairman), Graham stedman and James 
Wilson. Peter Harvey is considered by the Board to 
have recent and relevant financial experience and the 
Committee as a whole has competence relevant to 
the sector in which the Company operates.

the chairman of the committee may invite non-
members to attend Committee meetings and these 
typically include a representative of the company’s 
external auditor and other directors. A report on the 
activities of the Audit committee is set out on  
pages 39 to 41.

The terms of reference for the Committee, which 
are reviewed on an annual basis, take into account the 
requirements of the code and the AIc code. the role of 
the Committee is to assist the Board with the discharge 
of its responsibilities in relation to the company’s 
Financial Statements in the areas set out below.

the committee chairman reports to the full Board at 
each scheduled Board meeting immediately following 
a Committee meeting.

CORPORATE REPORTING
The Committee monitors the integrity of the 
Financial statements of the company and any formal 
announcements relating to the Company’s financial 
performance, with particular emphasis on reviewing 
significant financial reporting judgements contained in 
them. It reviews the draft annual Financial Statements 
and half-year results statement prior to discussion and 
approval by the Board and reviews the external auditor’s 
detailed reports on these.

It then reports to the Board any matters which it 
considers the Board should take into account in ensuring 
that published financial reports provide a fair, balanced 
and understandable assessment of the company’s 
position and prospects. In identifying any such matters, 
the Committee also takes into account the findings 
reported to it from the external audit process.

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LMS CapitaL pLC  |  AnnuAl report And Accounts 2022

Corporate Governance Report continued

Risk management and internal controls is a standing 
agenda item for each Audit Committee meeting. 
Although the Company has no internal audit function, 
the Committee reviews the effectiveness of the internal  
controls throughout the year and will take any necessary  
corrective actions should any significant failings or  
weaknesses be identified. When reviewing the 
effectiveness of the internal controls, the Committee 
considers the Guidance on Risk Management, Internal  
Control and Related Financial and Business Reporting  
issued by the Frc in september 2014 and are comfortable  
that these are adhered to. More information on the 
results of these reviews during 2022 are set out in the 
Audit Committee Report on pages 39 to 41. Details of 
the principal risks and uncertainties potentially facing 
the Company can be found in the Strategic Report on 
pages 12 to 23.

Following the appointment of IQ-EQ Administration 
Services (UK) Limited to manage the Company’s day-
to-day financial and administrative functions, the Board 
continues to be reliant on third-party reports to gain 
comfort on internal controls operated by IQ-eQ. 

Although not a regulatory requirement as a small self-
managed alternative investment fund, the Company has 
retained the services of Indos Financial limited to act as 
its depository and provide additional internal controls for 
the safeguarding and record keeping of its assets.

nOminatiOn cOmmittee
the Board considers that every member of the Board 
plays an important role in the decision-making process 
and hence all directors are members of the nomination 
Committee, which is chaired by Robert Rayne. The 
Committee is responsible for assisting the Board in 
determining the composition, gender equality and make-
up of the Board. It is also responsible for periodically 
reviewing the Board’s structure and identifying potential 
candidates to be appointed as directors, as the need 
arises. The selection process is, in the Board’s view, 
both rigorous and transparent in order to ensure that 
appointments are made on merit and against objective 
criteria set by the Committee. In reviewing potential 
candidates, the Committee takes into account the need 
to consider the benefits of gender and ethnic diversity 
on the Board, while ensuring that appointments are 
made based on merit and relevant experience.

When considering succession planning, the Committee 
looks at the balance, structure and composition of the 
Board and takes into account the future challenges 
and opportunities facing the Company.

the nomination committee meets as required, 
and at least once each year. 

RemUneRatiOn cOmmittee
The Remuneration Committee comprises: Graham 
Stedman (Committee Chairman), Peter Harvey and 
James Wilson. the remuneration committee has, under 
its terms of reference, been delegated responsibility of  
setting the remuneration of the Directors. There is 
a formal and transparent procedure for developing 
policy on executive remuneration and for fixing the 
remuneration packages of individual Directors. The 
Committee consults with external remuneration 
consultants as part of its annual review process.

the remuneration committee meets as required, 
but at least twice each year.

A report on the activities of the remuneration 
Committee is set out on pages 42 to 56.

Financial RePORtinG
The Directors have acknowledged, in the Statement 
of Directors’ Responsibilities set out on page 60, their 
responsibility for preparing the Financial Statements of 
the company. the external auditor has included, in the 
Independent Auditor’s Report set out on pages 62 to 69, 
a statement about its reporting responsibilities.

the directors are also responsible for the publication 
of a half-year report for the Company, which provides 
a balanced and fair assessment of the company’s 
financial position for the first six months of each 
accounting period.

Robert Rayne
chairman
17 March 2023

38

Audit Committee Report

intRODUctiOn FROm tHe cHaiRman OF tHe aUDit cOmmittee

I am pleased to present the report of the Audit Committee for 2022 which provides 
shareholders with an overview of the activities of the Committee during the year. 
These activities are focused on the following: 

•  the integrity of the Company’s financial reporting;

•  the quality and effectiveness of the external audit process, including the independence and objectivity of the 

external auditor; 

•  risk management and internal control; and

•  the day-to-day accounting responsibilities, which are undertaken by a third-party service provider, IQ-EQ 

Administration Services (UK) Limited. 

Throughout 2022, the Committee has overseen the financial reporting process and discharged its other responsibilities. 

As Chairman of the Committee, I report to the full Board at each scheduled Board meeting immediately following 
a Committee meeting, and other times as appropriate.

A summary of how the Committee carried out its responsibilities during 2022 as well as the more significant issues 
addressed is set out in the report.

cORPORate RePORtinG
The Committee had three scheduled meetings during 
2022 and also met on 7 March 2023; each meeting 
was attended by the external auditor. 

since the publication of the 2021 Annual report the 
Committee has reviewed the following:

•  the report from Bdo llp (“Bdo”) on the results 
of their review of the half-year report for 2022;

•  the 2022 half-year results and announcement;

•  reports from BDO on the planning of their audit 

for the year ended 31 December 2022;

•  the report from Bdo on their audit of the results 

for the year ended 31 December 2022;

•  the preliminary announcement of 2022 results; and

•  the 2022 Annual report.

ANNUAL REPORT 2022
The Committee advises the Board on whether it believes 
that the 2022 Annual Report and Accounts, taken as a  
whole, is fair, balanced and understandable and provides 
the information necessary for shareholders to assess 
the company’s position and performance, business 
model and strategy. A report confirming this to be the 
case was presented to the Board at a meeting where it 
considered the full-year results and Annual report. 

In formulating its report to the Board, the matters 
considered by the Committee included the following:

•  the roles of IQ-EQ in the reporting process;

•  the process underlying the preparation of financial 
and narrative information which is reported to 
the Board at each of its meetings;

•  whether the information in the Strategic Report and 
the Portfolio Management Review is consistent with 
that reported to the Board throughout the year;

•  ensuring that positive and negative factors affecting 

the Company’s performance are given equal 
prominence; and

•  the appropriateness of the key performance 

indicators and comments on them.

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LMS CapitaL pLC  |  AnnuAl report And Accounts 2022

Audit Committee Report continued

SiGniFicant accOUntinG JUDGementS
During the year, the Committee considered the key 
accounting matters and judgements in respect of the 
Financial Statements and these are described below. In 
relation to the 2022 full-year results, the committee has 
received relevant papers prepared by the internal team. 
These papers were subject to challenge by the Committee, 
as it considered appropriate in the circumstances.

INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO VALUATION

the principal focus for the committee is the investment 
portfolio valuation; a full valuation is prepared and 
reported to the Committee at least twice a year and 
used for the preparation of the Company’s half-year 
and full-year financial reports. 

As part of its review of each valuation report the 
committee receives comments on the valuations 
from the external auditor – based on their review of the 
30 June (half-year) valuation and audit of the 31 december 
(full-year) valuation. 

The following areas were of particular focus for the 
committee in its consideration of the approach to 
investment valuation in 2022:

•  ensuring that the valuation methodology complied 
with the International Private Equity and Venture 
Capital Valuation Guidelines (December 2018 
edition), and the Company’s stated accounting 
policy, and that the Guidelines had been applied 
on a consistent basis;

•  the availability of third-party information to 
corroborate valuation results at individual 
investment level, including:

 – reports from general partners for the Company’s 

fund interests; 

 – market prices for its quoted investments; and

 – the nature and reason for any adjustments made 
to third-party information for the company’s 
valuation purposes.

the valuation of unquoted investments inevitably requires 
the exercise of judgement and the Committee studied in 
detail the variables underpinning the valuation of each 
unquoted investment, in particular:

•  consideration of current trading and future prospects 
in determining the appropriate revenues or earnings 
base for valuation purposes;

•  consistency of approach in the valuation, satisfying 

itself that any change made was appropriate;

•  ensuring that metrics from comparable quoted 
companies were appropriate and up to date; and

•  for co-investments, comparing the Company’s 

carrying value with (where available) the valuation 
used by the lead investor and ensuring that there 
were proper explanations for any differences.

At its meeting to consider the full-year results, the 
committee considered a detailed report on the year end 
investment valuation and concluded that the valuation 
process had been properly carried out and that the 
valuation was appropriate in aggregate. In reaching this 
conclusion the Committee took into account the findings 
of the external auditor.

GoInG concern

The Financial Statements are prepared on a going concern 
basis and the committee considered this and concluded 
that the use of the going concern basis continued to 
be appropriate. the committee primarily considered 
the Company’s liquidity forecast, the significant cash 
balances on hand at 31 December 2022, and the latest 
report on the investment portfolio. 

As part of this review the Committee also satisfied itself 
that the Viability Statement in the Strategic Report and the 
statement on going concern under “Basis of preparation” 
in note 1 to the financial information were appropriate.

EXTERNAL AUDIT FINDINGS

the auditor also reported to the committee the 
corrected and uncorrected judgemental differences 
and misstatements they had found during the course 
of their work.

40

 
inteRnal cOntROl 
AND RISK MANAGEMENT
The Committee reviews the operation of the Company’s 
internal financial control system to ensure it is sufficiently 
resourced and has the appropriate processes and controls 
over financial reporting to fulfil its duties. That assessment 
is taken into account by the Board that reviews and 
approves the risk matrix annually. Risk management and 
internal controls were reviewed by the Committee at 
each of its scheduled meetings during the year. Since its 
appointment, the Committee has reviewed the Company’s 
detailed internal risk analysis and the disclosures in 
relation to risks and longer-term viability in the Strategic 
Report. The Committee is of the view that:

•  risks have been properly identified;

the committee conducts an assessment of the external 
audit process each year which includes members of the 
Committee and members of the Company’s finance team 
providing their comments and evaluation to the Chairman 
of the Committee on areas including:

•  the procedures adopted by the external auditor 
to ensure their independence and objectivity;

•  the appropriateness of risk identification 
in determining the external audit plan;

•  their conduct of the audit process, including the 
extent of challenge of judgement areas; and

•  the nature and content of reports presented 

to the Committee.

•  the systems were operating satisfactorily during 

2022 and up to the date of this report; and

•  mitigation of the risks identified is satisfactory 

and appropriate to the Company’s circumstances.

Bdo have been auditors for the company for seven years. 
A new audit partner Orla Reilly was rotated onto the 
engagement in July 2021 in advance of the half-year review 
and was the Responsible Individual (“RI”) for both the 2021 
and 2022 year end audits.

eXteRnal aUDit
It is the responsibility of the Committee to review 
and monitor the external auditor’s independence and 
objectivity and the effectiveness of the external audit 
process. the committee also ensures that the company 
complies with the EU audit reform as now implemented 
in the UK.

Reports presented to the Committee by BDO during 
2022 and to the date of this report covered:

•  the results of their audit of the 2021 Financial 

statements and Annual report; 

•  the results of their review of the 2022 half-year report; 

•  their plans and proposed audit scope for 2022; and

•  the results of their audit of the 2022 Financial 

statements and Annual report.

In addition, Bdo reported to the committee their 
procedures to ensure their independence and objectivity 
and confirmed the compliance of the partners and staff 
assigned to the Company’s audit with those procedures.

The Company has a formal policy governing the 
engagement of the external auditor to provide non-audit 
services, which includes procedures designed to limit 
such services to areas which would comply with relevant 
legislation and not result in potential conflict with the 
objectivity and independence of the external audit process. 

During the year the amount of fees paid for non-audit 
services provided by BDO was £18,250 (31 December 2021: 
£23,250). These permissible non-audit related services 
were in respect of the interim review for the six months to 
30 June in both 2022 and 2021 and the client money and 
custody assets limited assurance report for a subsidiary in 
2021 and 2022.

aUDit cOmmittee eFFectiveneSS
The Board evaluation arrangements described on page 35 
include each year the work of the Committee and have 
concluded that it was working satisfactorily.

peter Harvey 
chairman, Audit committee 
17 March 2023

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LMS CapitaL pLC  |  AnnuAl report And Accounts 2022

Remuneration Report

INTRODUCTION FROM THE CHAIRMAN
I am pleased to present our remuneration committee report, which summarises 
the work of the Remuneration Committee (“the Committee”).

REMUNERATION COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP
The members of the Committee, their dates 
of appointment and the number of meetings 
attended during the year are as follows:

Member

Date appointed

Meetings  
attended (held)

G Stedman (Chair)
J Wilson
P Harvey

28 november 2019
28 november 2019
28 november 2019

3 (3)
3 (3)
3 (3)

It is the intention of the Committee to meet whenever 
important matters of remuneration arise and for the 
number of meetings to be not fewer than two per year.

REMUNERATION POLICY
The current remuneration policy was approved by 
shareholders at the 2020 AGM held on 24 June 2020 for 
the three years commencing 1 January 2020 as follows: 
votes in favour were 99.83%, against 0.17%; 11,676 votes 
were withheld. 

At the 2020 AGM, the shareholders also approved 
the long-term incentive arrangements, structured 
as a Value Creation Plan (“VCP”) linked to Total 
Shareholder Return (“TSR”) , for Executive Directors 
and senior management: votes in favour were 96.22%, 
3.78% against and 349,288 votes were withheld.

At the 2023 AGM, being the third anniversary of the 
shareholder approval, the remuneration policy is, in 
accordance with the provisions of the Code, required 
to be laid before shareholders for approval for a further 
three years.

In proposing the policy for the 2023 AGM, the Committee 
has conducted a full review of the effectiveness of the 
policy and is proposing certain changes to the long-term 
incentive arrangements because:

•  the domestic and economic backdrop has changed 
significantly since the VCP was adopted in 2020 –  
a longer deeper Covid impact, war in Ukraine, 
inflation and potential recession; 

•  the VCP as approved in 2020 was devised during 

Covid with the emphasis on avoiding any artificial 
enhancement from a Covid recovery; and

•  the VCP will lapse in July 2025. The first three years 

of the current plan have not resulted in any payment 
to participants and, as currently calibrated, the VCP is 
unlikely to deliver any significant value to participants, 
regardless of performance in the next few years. On  
its own, therefore, the Committee believes that the  
VCP is unlikely to help the Company attract, retain 
and motivate key executives in a competitive 
employment market.

The proposed new arrangements are set out in detail on 
pages 46 to 52. In summary these arrangements propose:

•  retaining the VCP, linked to TSR, but with a reduced  

number of units with a further five-years performance 
measurement period; and 

• 

introducing, alongside the VCP, a share option scheme  
under which annual awards may be made with time- 
based vesting criteria (specifically to encourage 
retention) and performance-based vesting criteria 
linked to Company performance measured over 
a three-year period and continued employment.

the committee believes the proposed revised 
arrangements provide the Company with a relevant  
long-term incentive plan in a competitive employment 
market and, through the introduction of the share option  
scheme, allow greater flexibility in its approach to 
incentivisation and retention. The Committee considers 
that the retention of an element of VCP is appropriate to 
the circumstances of the Company because this structure 
resembles a carried interest plan which is the standard type 
of long-term incentive plan in the private equity industry.

In carrying out its review the Committee has taken 
specialist external advice from MM&K Limited (“MM&K”), 
acting solely as remuneration consultants and who have 
no other relationship with the Company. MM&K helped 
the Company to apply the principles set in Provision 40 of 
the Code and in so doing helped to ensure that the terms 
of our Remuneration Policy are transparent, simple and 
predictable. At the same time, we also consulted with 
some of our principal shareholders. 

42

2022 PERFORMANCE AND 
INCENTIVE OUTCOMES 
The Company continued to make progress towards its 
goals and strategies in 2022.

The performance criteria for the Managing Director’s 
bonus for 2022 included the continuing development of 
the Company’s pipeline of investment opportunities in 
its chosen sectors of energy, real estate and late-stage 
private equity and supporting the Dacian team during 
its first year of operation. Criteria also included the 
management of the existing assets. The Committee has 
reviewed the performance of the Managing Director 
in 2022 against these criteria, in conjunction with the 
Chairman, and has approved a bonus for the year equal 
to 54.5% of his base salary. Further information on the 
2022 performance review and 2023 objectives is set out 
on pages 18 to 19.

the committee considers that these outcomes 
appropriately reflect its “pay for performance” 
principles, given the Company’s performance 
as a whole for the year.

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Remuneration Report continued

PART 1 – ANNUAL REPORT ON REMUNERATION FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022 
(AUDITED)
SINGLE TOTAL FIGURE OF REMUNERATION

The tables below (which have been subject to audit) set out amounts paid to each Director during the financial 
years ended 31 December 2022 and 31 December 2021:

2022

R Rayne
N Friedlos
P Harvey
G stedman
J Wilson

2021 

R Rayne
N Friedlos
P Harvey
G stedman
J Wilson

Fixed remuneration

variable remuneration

Salary/
fees £’000

75.0
220.0
50.0
50.0
50.0

445.0

Taxable 
benefits 
£’000
17.51
7.9
–
–
–

25.4

Pension 
£’000

LTIP  
£’000

Bonus  
£’000

Total  
£’000

–
19.42
–
–
–

19.4

–
–3
–
–
–

–

–
120.0
–
–
–

120.0

92.5
367.3
50.0
50.0
50.0

609.8

Fixed Remuneration

Fixed Remuneration

Salary/fees 
£’000

taxable 
benefits 
£’000

pension  
£’000

Ltip  
£’000

Bonus  
£’000

total  
£’000

75.0
220.0
50.0
50.0
50.0

445.0

18.21
4.1
–
–
–

22.3

–
19.42
–
–
–

19.4

–
–3
–
–
–

–

–
105.6
–
–
–

105.6

93.2
349.1
50.0
50.0
50.0

592.3

1   Amounts included for taxable benefits are insurance premiums for private healthcare.

2   Pension contributions are based on 10% of salary for all staff including Executive Directors and can be taken as cash in lieu.

3  

 The Company issued 500 VCP units to the Managing Director in July 2020. Subject to any changes to the Remuneration Policy approved by shareholders at the 2023 AGM, these units 
will vest in accordance with the rules of the VCP in July 2025. For IFRS 2 purposes these units are estimated to have a fair value of £418.44 per unit, which will be recognised in the 
accounts evenly over the five-year vesting period. The charge for the year ended 31 December 2022 in relation to Mr. Friedlos was £42,000 (31 December 2021: £42,000).

cArrIed Interest

Robert Rayne, by virtue of his past executive roles with the business, participated in the carried interest 
arrangements in place for staff involved in the management and development of the investment portfolio. 
Mr. Rayne’s participation in the carried interest is in run-off. 

No amounts of carried interest became payable to Mr. Rayne in 2022 or in 2021. There is only one remaining 
investment in respect of which carry could become payable to Mr. Rayne. If this investment was realised at its 
valuation at 31 December 2022, Mr. Rayne would be entitled to further carried interest payments of £249,000.

RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF SPEND ON PAY 

The Board recognises the importance of spend on pay for the current and previous years, and the percentage change, 
relative to remuneration paid to all employees, amounts paid as dividends and any other significant distributions. 
There were no new employees added in the Group during 2022. 

The table below shows the spend on staff costs in 2022 and 2021, compared to the (loss)/profit before tax and dividends:

Staff costs
Average number of staff
(Loss)/profit before tax
Annual Dividends (excluding Special Dividends)

44

2022  
£’000

£1,188
9
(£1,874)
£747

2021  
£’000

£1,025
10
£1,872
£727

 
PAYMENTS TO PAST DIRECTORS IN 2022 (AUDITED)

There were no payments to past Directors and no payments of compensation for loss of office.

PERFORMANCE GRAPH

The Committee considers the FTSE All-Share Index a relevant index for the Company’s Total Shareholder Return 
performance comparison disclosure as it represents a broad equity market index of which the Company is a member.

The performance graph below shows the Company’s Total Shareholder Return performance for the ten-year period 
ended 31 December 2022 compared with that of the FTSE All-Share Index.

250

200

150

100

50

lMs shareholder return

FTSE All share return

d ec ‘12

d ec ‘13

d ec ‘14

D ec ‘15

D ec ‘16

D ec ‘17

d ec ‘18

d ec ‘19

d ec ‘20

d ec ‘21

d ec ‘22

DIRECTORS’ INTERESTS IN SHARES (AUDITED)

The beneficial interests of the Directors in the  
ordinary shares of the Company are set out below:

There have been no changes in the above Directors’ 
interests between 31 December 2022 and the date of 
this report.

R Rayne
N Friedlos
P Harvey
G stedman
J Wilson

31 December 

2022

2021

2,670,124
161,410
20,000
20,000
–

2,670,124
161,410
20,000
20,000
–

In addition, Robert Rayne has a non-beneficial interest 
in 7,767,173 ordinary shares held in trust. 

The Company is not aware of any other interests of any 
Director in the ordinary share capital of the Company. 
There are no requirements or guidelines concerning 
share ownership by Directors.

No share awards were vested in the year and no new 
awards were granted. In July 2020, the Company issued 
500 VCP units to the Managing Director at a share price 
of 33.816p. For accounting purposes, these units have a 
fair value of £418.44 per unit.

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LMS CapitaL pLC  |  AnnuAl report And Accounts 2022

Remuneration Report continued

PART 2 – DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION POLICY AND REMUNERATION COMMITTEE
The remuneration policy in place at 31 December 2022, which was developed with advice from independent 
external advisers MM&K, was approved by shareholders at the Company’s AGM on 24 June 2020.

The Company is required, by Company Law, to seek shareholders’ approval for its Directors’ Remuneration Policy in  
a binding vote every three years. Accordingly, shareholders will be asked at the 2023 AGM to approve the Company’s  
proposed remuneration policy for a period of three years starting on the date of the AGM. The proposed policy 
(“the 2023 Proposals”) is unchanged except in relation to the long-term incentive arrangements referred to 
on pages 48 to 52 and set out in more detail below.

The table below sets out the Company’s policy for each component of Directors’ remuneration. Changes to the 
policy which was in place for the whole of 2022 are highlighted in the table.

SALARY (FIXED PAY) 

(NO PROPOSED CHANGE TO THE POLICY IN 2023 PROPOSALS)

Purpose and link to strategic 
objectives 

Essential to provide a level of fixed cash income to support the recruitment and retention of 
Executive Directors of the calibre required to manage and grow the Company successfully and 
to deliver the Group strategy. 

operation 

Reviewed annually with increases, if awarded, effective from 1 January each year. 

Opportunity and recovery or 
withholding provisions 

Base salaries will be set by the Committee taking into account a range of factors. Decisions 
about salary increases take account of increases in the cost of living but also take into account 
other factors such as external market positioning, change in the scope of the individual’s 
responsibilities or level of experience and development in the role and the overall structure 
of total remuneration packages. In deciding on any salary increases for an Executive Director, 
the Committee will not sanction an increase any greater than that applied to the Company’s 
workforce generally other than in exceptional circumstances or where there is a change in role 
and/or responsibilities justifying a larger increase.

No recovery or withholding provisions.

Performance metrics

None, although the performance of the individual will be considered by the Committee when 
reviewing salaries each year.

PENSION  
(FIXED PAY)

(NO PROPOSED CHANGE TO THE POLICY IN 2023 PROPOSALS)

Purpose and link to strategic 
objectives 

To provide a means of retirement saving as part of a range of benefits alongside basic salary 
to help the recruitment and retention of high-calibre Executive Directors.

operation

Executive Directors are offered a defined contribution, based on a percentage of salary, to a 
personal pension scheme or a cash salary supplement (or a combination of both) at their choice. 
Only the base salary is pensionable.

Opportunity and recovery or 
withholding provisions 

Maximum pension contribution by the Company is 10%. This is in line with what is offered to 
all employees in the Company.

Performance metrics

None.

No recovery or withholding provisions.

46

BENEFITS (FIXED PAY)

(NO PROPOSED CHANGE TO THE POLICY IN 2023 PROPOSALS)

Purpose and link to 
strategic objectives 

To provide a competitive and attractive range of benefits alongside basic salary to help recruit and 
retain high-calibre individuals to Executive Director roles.

operation

Executive Directors are provided with family private medical insurance cover and death-in-service 
insurance. The extent of cover may be amended or adjusted in line with market practice.

The Executive Directors are also covered by the Company’s directors’ and officers’ liability 
insurance policy and have the benefit of an indemnity in the form permitted under the Company’s 
Articles of Association. 

Executive Directors are also eligible to receive other minor benefits and expense payments in line 
with other employees of the Company. 

Additional benefits, which may include relocation or expatriation benefits, housing allowance or 
other benefits-in-kind, may be provided in certain circumstances if considered appropriate and 
reasonable by the Committee, typically only as may be required on a new recruitment.

Opportunity and recovery 
or withholding provisions 

The cost of the benefits that are provided fluctuates depending on market conditions and will, 
therefore, determine the maximum value of benefits under the Policy in any single year. There is 
therefore no overall maximum opportunity under this component of the Policy.

Performance metrics

None.

No recovery or withholding provisions.

SHORT-TERM INCENTIVE  
(VARIABLE PAY)

Purpose and link to 
strategic objectives 

(NO PROPOSED CHANGE TO THE POLICY IN 2023 PROPOSALS)

To provide a simple, competitive short-term incentive plan to reward performance on an 
annual basis against key financial, operational and individual objectives. A key purpose of the 
annual bonus plan is to provide a real incentive to achieve the Company’s short-term strategic 
objectives and KPIs.

operation 

Targets and weightings are set annually; performance is measured over a single year. Bonus awards 
are determined by the Committee after the year end based on achievement against targets.

Opportunity and recovery 
or withholding provisions

Bonus is not pensionable.

The maximum bonus payable in a 12-month period is up to 100% of base salary. 

Exceptionally, the Committee may offer a bonus opportunity of up to 200% of salary to a 
new incoming Executive Director in his or her first full financial year in order to help recruit 
that executive.

The ability to receive the maximum bonus may be split across two or more performance metrics. 
Other than for binary or milestone performance metrics, the intention will be that 25% of 
maximum is payable for threshold performance and 50% at target.

All bonus payments are subject to the overriding discretion of the Committee who may adjust, 
downwards or upwards, the outcome of the annual bonus plan in any year if it believes that it 
does not properly reflect overall corporate performance.

In order to be entitled to receive an annual bonus, an Executive Director must normally be in the 
Group’s employment and not under notice of termination (either given or received) at the time 
the bonus is paid.

Malus and clawback provisions apply so that in certain circumstances such as serious misconduct 
by a Director, the material misstatement of financial results or if bonus awards are based on 
erroneous figures, the Company will be entitled not to pay a bonus in any year or to claw back 
the value of any cash amount already paid under the annual bonus scheme, for a period of three 
years following the year end to which the bonus related.

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Remuneration Report continued

PART 2 – DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION POLICY AND REMUNERATION COMMITTEE CONTINUED

SHORT-TERM INCENTIVE 
(VARIABLE PAY)

Performance metrics

(NO PROPOSED CHANGE TO THE POLICY IN 2023 PROPOSALS)

The Company’s long-term objectives are creating total shareholder return. Its performance 
metrics on a year to year basis will typically be set around the necessary steps to be taken to 
achieve the longer-term objective. Specific performance targets will vary from year to year in 
accordance with the Company’s short-term KPIs.

Potential Performance metrics may include:

•  deployment of capital in new deals;

•  performance of the underlying investment portfolio companies;

•  realisations and cash generation;

•  building the Company’s co-investment capability; 

•  development of a deal pipeline;

•  putting in place appropriate financial structures to support the Company’s business objectives, 
which might include securing access to debt and consideration of equity structures to expand 
the capital base;

•  maintaining an effective shareholder communication programme; and

•  attainment of personal objectives.

LONG-TERM INCENTIVE 
(VARIABLE PAY)

(PROPOSED CHANGES AS PART OF THE 2023 PROPOSALS ARE  
HIGHLIGHTED BELOW)

Purpose and link to 
strategic objectives 

Rationale for the proposed 
new policy and for changes 
to the current policy

To provide a competitive long-term incentive plan to reward sustained performance over the 
long term. A key purpose of the long-term incentive plan is to provide a real incentive to achieve 
the Company’s main long-term strategic objective, to deliver a TSR for shareholders over five 
years that is exceptional. It is considered vital that the Company has a truly competitive long-
term incentive plan to enable it to recruit and retain the level of talent it needs to deliver on its 
longer-term strategic plan.

The Committee is proposing a change to the current LTIP arrangements which are based entirely 
on participation in the VCP approved by shareholders at the AGM in May 2020. 

In summary the Committee’s revised proposals are:

•  to retain the existing VCP but cancel the existing units, which have a vesting period which 

expires in June 2025, and issue a reduced number of new units which will vest, subject to TSR 
performance measures, in five years from date of issue; and

•  to supplement the amended VCP with a new employee share incentive plan (“Share Plan”) 

under which it is proposed that participants, at the discretion of the Committee, may receive 
annual option awards which, in normal circumstances, vest after not less than three years 
related to both continued employment and performance.

The Committee believes the 2023 Proposals provide the Company with a relevant long-term 
incentive plan that is fit-for-purpose in a competitive employment market: 

•  through the revised VCP, albeit on a reduced basis, the 2023 Proposals retain a significant 
direct link to TSR. The Committee has resolved to retain a VCP structure because it most 
closely resembles a carried interest plan which is the standard type of long-term incentive 
in the private equity industry;

•  the selection of TSR as the performance measure creates a strong alignment between 

participants and shareholders and communicates a strong message to participants that 
over the longer term the Company’s TSR performance is its most important key performance 
indicator; and

•  through the proposed Share Plan, the 2023 Proposals provide the flexibility to supplement 

the TSR-based VCP, with a share-based incentive linked to corporate performance measures, 
which in the opinion of the Committee underlie and contribute to the overall TSR goal.

48

LONG-TERM INCENTIVE 
(VARIABLE PAY)

(PROPOSED CHANGES AS PART OF THE 2023 PROPOSALS ARE  
HIGHLIGHTED BELOW)

Operation of the VCP

In recommending the new proposals the Committee has noted that:

•  the existing LTIP arrangements have not had any adverse effects, either in terms of impact on 

NAV, cash cost to the Company or dilution; and

•  the 2023 proposals will not provide any element of reward for the past three years. Existing 

VCP awards will be cancelled and the potential value of any new VCP award or award under the 
Share Plan will be measured only by reference to future performance and/or retention criteria 
from the date of issue.

In addition, in rare circumstances, the Committee may determine that an executive should 
participate in an incentive pool linked directly to the investment returns in one of the underlying 
investments (“a Direct Award”). The Committee is proposing that the Remuneration Policy be 
amended to provide the flexibility to make a Direct Award in limited circumstances, as explained 
in more detail below.

The VCP is governed by a set of rules approved by shareholders at the AGM on 24 June 2020. 
The cancellation of the existing VCP units awarded and proposed issue of new VCP units 
following the AGM in 2023, can be implemented within the current VCP rules so will not 
require any change to the existing framework.

The VCP, provides for participants, at the discretion of the Committee, to share in a pool of up 
to 1,000 VCP units, initially.

Participants receive a share, proportionate to their share of the pool, in positive TSR generated by 
the Company measured over a period of five years from the award date. The share is calculated 
in accordance with the bandings set out below. 

If the Company raises additional capital, the Committee may award up to 1,000 additional 
VCP units enabling participants to share proportionately in any positive TSR generated by the 
Company on that additional capital over the period of five years from the award date in excess 
of a hurdle rate of return to be set by the Committee.

Ordinarily, VCP units, subject to TSR performance, will vest five years after the initial grant date, 
at which point participants may be granted nil-cost share options to acquire ordinary shares in 
the Company or the Company may choose to settle by way of a cash amount. 

Payments under the VCP are not pensionable.

VCP Performance metrics

The Company’s TSR Performance over the five years commencing on the award date.

VCP Opportunity and 
recovery or withholding 
provisions for current 
awards;

and

Proposed changes for 
approval at 2023 AGM

The TSR targets have been set by the Committee with the aim of delivering increasing reward for 
greater outperformance.

For the avoidance of doubt, the TSR Performance and the performance hurdles of the Plan for a 
subsequent award, following a capital raise, will be set at that time by the Committee.

625 VCP units were awarded 2020, of which 500 units were awarded to the Managing Director and 
125 units to other employees, who are not Directors. It is proposed that those awards will be cancelled 
to be replaced by new awards.

For the purposes of determining the TSR performance for these initial awards as well as the starting 
point from which the value created is to be measured for these awards, the starting share price was 
taken as the greater of the average closing share price of an ordinary share over the previous six 
months and 30p (resulting in a starting price of 33.816p per share).

It is proposed that the average of the closing share price of an ordinary share over the previous 
six months will be the starting share price for any new VCP units awarded following approval 
of the 2023 Proposals.
For all current awards under the Plan, there is a qualifying performance metric, such that if 
the TSR achieved does not equal or exceed 8% on an annualised basis on the eventual vesting 
date, then no VCP units can vest and they will all then lapse on the vesting date. In addition, in 
respect of any awards made under the Plan, no awards will vest unless the closing share price on 
the vesting date, when added to the aggregated value of all dividends that are declared on that 
share over the performance period, equals or exceeds 52.8p.

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LMS CapitaL pLC  |  AnnuAl report And Accounts 2022

Remuneration Report continued

PART 2 – DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION POLICY AND REMUNERATION COMMITTEE CONTINUED

LONG-TERM INCENTIVE
(VARIABLE PAY)

(PROPOSED CHANGES AS PART OF THE 2023 PROPOSALS ARE  
HIGHLIGHTED BELOW)

If the qualifying performance metric is met, the share that participants will receive will depend on 
the TSR performance achieved over the five years commencing on the date of the initial award of 
VCP units. In respect of awards made following the 2023 AGM, if all available units are awarded, 
the share of TSR measured after five years from the award date which will be attributable to 
participants is as follows:
•  TSR up to 8% per annum compound: £nil;
•  if the TSR achieved exceeds 8% per annum compound but does not exceed 14%: 8% of the 

TSR performance above the 8% per annum hurdle;

•  if the TSR achieved exceeds 14% per annum compound but does not exceed 20%: 8% of the 

TSR performance between the 8% per annum hurdle and 14% per annum plus 15% of the TSR 
achieved above 14% per annum compound; and

•  if the TSR achieved exceeds 20% per annum compound: 8% of the TSR performance between 
the 8% per annum hurdle and 14% per annum, plus 15% of the TSR performance between 
14% and 20% per annum, plus 17.5% of the TSR performance above 20% per annum.
The closing share price, at the end of the performance period, will be taken as the average 
closing share price of an ordinary share over the three-month period ending on the day 
immediately preceding the vesting date. The dividend part of this calculation shall be taken 
as the aggregate value of dividends per share declared over the five-year performance period.
On vesting, the value of VCP units will normally be settled by the Company granting nil-priced 
options over new ordinary shares which will be exercisable for a period of one year from the 
option grant date. However, the Remuneration Committee may choose to settle the awards in 
cash if it considers that there are good reasons for doing so at the time. The maximum value of 
VCP units that may vest and therefore the maximum number of shares that may be issued on any 
date pursuant to options granted under the VCP and any other employees’ share scheme adopted 
by the Company (including the proposed Share Plan) in the 10 years preceding that date may not 
exceed 10% of the number of issued shares at the date. 
The value of VCP units at the end of the five-year performance period will in any event be subject 
to the overriding discretion of the Remuneration Committee who may adjust, downwards 
or upwards, the outcome of the VCP at the vesting date if the Committee believes that the 
formulaic outcome does not properly reflect overall corporate performance.
Malus and clawback provisions apply so that in certain circumstances, such as serious misconduct by 
a Director, the material misstatement of financial results or if units awards or option grants are based 
on erroneous figures, the Company will be entitled not to grant or permit the exercise of an option 
in any year or to claw back the value of any shares transferred or cash amount already paid under the 
VCP, for a period of three years following the year end to which the award or option grant relates.

In making the initial awards in 2020, the Committee was aware that, due to the Coronavirus 
crisis, the Plan was being implemented at a time of considerable market uncertainty. The design 
of the Plan therefore sought to avoid participants benefitting from a temporary decline in share 
price during 2020 which corrected within a reasonable period of time. The Committee reviewed 
the share price at which VCP units were issued during 2020 and concluded that no upward 
adjustment to the price was appropriate. If there is a longer-term structural change in markets, 
the Committee will have discretion, subject to consultation with the Company’s principal 
shareholders, to amend the performance metrics and vesting criteria.
It is proposed that the Committee will have a similar level of flexibility under the 2023 Proposals.

VCP Opportunity and 
recovery or withholding 
provisions for current 
awards continued;

and

Proposed changed for 
approval at 2023 AGM 
continued

remuneration committee 
discretion under the Vcp

50

LONG-TERM INCENTIVE
(VARIABLE PAY)

(PROPOSED CHANGES AS PART OF THE 2023 PROPOSALS ARE  
HIGHLIGHTED BELOW)

Proposed employee share 
incentive plan (“Share Plan”)

The terms of the Share Plan will allow for the Committee to utilise any reasonable equity-based 
long-term incentive award that may be available to it. 

The current intention is to use nil-cost options subject to the Company having sufficient reserves. 
This will need to be assessed on a grant-by-grant basis. If there are not sufficient reserves, then 
the exercise price will need to be the “Nominal” value of the underlying share.

Options will have performance vesting criteria attached, measured over a minimum period of 
three years, that the Committee considers to be appropriate, and which are aligned with the 
delivery of the Company’s overall strategy.

Awards may be made each year at the discretion of the Committee and the conditions attaching 
to Options may be varied year to year according to the requirements of the business.

Each time the terms of a new Award are finalised by the Committee the Board will meet to 
grant the proposed Award. The date the Board resolves to grant an Award will be the relevant 
Date of Grant. 

The terms of the Award Agreement will be specified in an Option Agreement that would need to 
be signed by the Company as well as the participant.

Executive Directors, senior executives and employees and individuals engaged via consultancy 
arrangements may be eligible to receive an Award under the Plan.

Participants will be selected at the discretion of the Committee. Where appropriate, the MD 
may make nominations as to potential Awards – however, the final decision remains with the 
Committee at all times.

The Share Plan will have leaver provisions and malus and clawback arrangements consistent with 
those in the VCP.

The number of shares issued under the Share Plan, taken together with VCP awards and any other 
employees’ share scheme adopted by the Company, shall not result in shareholder dilution in 
excess of 10% in any ten-year period.

An important element of LMS’ strategy is to bring co-investment funding alongside its own 
balance sheet when investing and to create opportunities in underlying businesses where,  
over time, further external capital can be introduced, benefitting both LMS’ own capital and  
co-invest capital. 

To achieve this there may be situations where its executives are required to devote substantial 
proportions of their time to those underlying businesses.

In these situations, which are anticipated to be rare, the Committee may determine that the 
executive should participate in an incentive pool linked directly to the investment returns in that 
underlying business (“a Direct Award”).

Where a Direct Award is made it is likely that there would be a reduction in any further awards 
to the individual concerned, of VCP units or Share Plan awards under the policy described in 
Appendix 1.

•  A Direct Award is likely only to be appropriate rarely and in a small number of situations.

direct Awards

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LMS CapitaL pLC  |  AnnuAl report And Accounts 2022

Remuneration Report continued

PART 2 – DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION POLICY AND REMUNERATION COMMITTEE CONTINUED

LONG-TERM INCENTIVE
(VARIABLE PAY)

(PROPOSED CHANGES AS PART OF THE 2023 PROPOSALS ARE  
HIGHLIGHTED BELOW)

direct Awards continued

•  In determining whether to make a Direct Award, the Committee will consider all relevant 

criteria including: 

 – the LMS executive will be heavily engaged in the development and growth of the Investment 

(i.e. quasi executive input as well as investor input);

 – the Investment draws in material third party money alongside LMS. Typically LMS will be a 
minority investor in these business, with the majority of equity investment coming from  
co-investors and others; and

 – LMS executive input is working not just for LMS but for a substantially wider pool of  

co-invest money.

•  The structure and quantum of a Direct Award will depend on the circumstances of the 

Investment to which it relates.

 – It is envisaged that any Direct Award would be allocated from the incentive pool set aside 

for the wider team in the underlying business. 

 – the performance criteria would match the criteria applying to the wider team incentive pool. 
For a private company the performance criteria may be linked to exit values, capital raising 
or other long-term measures of value creation appropriate to the situation of the business. 

 – the accounting and actual cost of the incentive is likely to be borne by all investors in the 
relevant underlying business. The Committee will observe the Investment Association 
guidelines in relation to disclosures and procedures in relation to any Direct Awards.

The table below sets out each component of the Chairman’s and the Non-Executive Directors’ remuneration and 
the approach taken by the Company in relation thereto:

CHAIRMAN AND NON-
EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS
Chairman’s and Non-
Executive Directors’ fees 

Other pay and benefits

(NO PROPOSED CHANGE TO THE POLICY IN THE 2023 PROPOSALS)
The Chairman’s fee is determined by the Committee and the Non-Executive Directors’ fees are 
set by the Board. These are reviewed periodically taking into account the responsibilities and 
time commitments required and Non-Executive Director fee levels generally. 

The Chairman and the Non-Executive Directors receive basic fees. In addition, special fees are 
paid for the chairmanship of the Audit and Remuneration Committees and also for the role 
of being on the Investment Committee and for the role of the Senior Independent Director.

The Chairman previously participated as an executive in the Company’s carried interest plans 
which are now in run-off, but under which payments could still arise in relation to unrealised 
historic investments, and is covered under the Company’s health insurance policy. 

The Chairman and the Non-Executive Directors will not be able to participate in any variable 
pay scheme operated by the Company.

52

REMUNERATION SCENARIOS FOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS BASED ON FUTURE POLICY

The chart below illustrates remuneration for the Managing Director in 2021 for ‘Fixed’, ‘Expected’ 
and ‘Maximum’ scenarios.

Maximum

52.7%

47.3%

£466k

Expected

69.1%

30.9%

£356k

Fixed

Bonus

Fixed

100%

£247k

0

50

100

150

200

250

£’000

300

350

400

450

500

The above illustrations are based on the following assumptions:

•  the Fixed scenarios show the fixed level of remuneration, assuming there is no performance-related pay;

•  the Expected scenarios illustrate the amounts receivable if performance is in line with expectations. Bonus 
awards are 50% of maximum bonus opportunity. As the VCP does not pay out until year five and there is no 
adjustment for share price movement, there are no amounts included for the VCP in the Expected scenario; and

•  the Maximum scenarios illustrate the levels of remuneration which would be payable if a maximum bonus 

award was received (100% of base salary). As the VCP does not pay out until year five and there is no adjustment 
for share price movement, there are no amounts included for the VCP in the Maximum scenario.

The total remuneration for the Managing Director in 2022 was £367,300, which was just above the Expected scenario.

LETTERS OF APPOINTMENT AND SERVICE CONTRACT

The following table provides details of the Non-Executive Directors’ and Managing Director’s letters of 
appointment and service contract. The documents are available on request at the Company’s registered office 
during business hours.

Name

R Rayne 
P Harvey
G stedman
J Wilson
N Friedlos 

Date of appointment 

Date of expiry of current term 

6 April 2006
28 november 2019
28 november 2019
28 november 2019
28 november 2019

27 November 2025
27 November 2025
27 November 2025
27 November 2025
Rolling Service Contract

TERMS OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S SERVICE CONTRACT AND NED LETTERS OF APPOINTMENT

The Executive Director is engaged on a rolling service contract, which provides for six-months’ written notice of 
termination from either the individual or the Company – except where there is a change of control of the business. 
In such circumstances, the notice period extends to 12 months, should the executive be given notice within the six 
months following the date that the change of control occurs.

Non-Executive Directors are engaged by letter of appointment for a period of up to three years, terminable on 
one month’s written notice from either the individual or the Company – except where termination is due to a 
shareholder resolution. Under such circumstances, termination will occur automatically from the date of ceasing 
to be a Director. The three-year appointments made in 2019 and early 2020 have expired, and have been renewed 
through to 2025 as noted above.

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Remuneration Report continued

PART 2 – DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION POLICY AND REMUNERATION COMMITTEE CONTINUED
POLICY ON TERMINATION PAYMENTS

Any compensation payment made to an Executive Director for termination of employment will be determined 
with reference to the terms of the individual’s service agreement and the rules of any incentive plan in which the 
individual is a participant. 

The Committee reserves the right to make additional payments, where such payments are made in good faith 
in discharge of an existing legal obligation (or by way of damages for breach of such an obligation) or by way of 
settlement or compromise of any claim arising in connection with the termination of an Executive Director’s office 
or employment. 

When deciding on the amount of any payment for loss of office, the Committee will seek to minimise the cost to 
the Company to the extent permitted by the circumstances of the particular case.

APPROACH TO THE REMUNERATION OF NEWLY APPOINTED DIRECTORS

Where an Executive Director is appointed by way of an external hire, their remuneration will be in accordance with 
the policy outlined above. 

Where a suitable external candidate has been identified and can show that their transfer would lead to a loss 
of incentive payments from their previous employer, the Committee reserves the discretion to “buy out” the 
candidate’s previous incentives if it deems it necessary to secure the candidate. The Committee will ensure that 
it avoids paying out more than is necessary to secure the candidate.

Where an Executive Director is appointed by way of internal promotion, the policy described above will apply from 
the date of promotion. Any pre-existing remuneration will continue until it expires or vests (as appropriate).

STATEMENT OF CONSIDERATION OF EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS ELSEWHERE IN THE GROUP

When making decisions about Directors’ remuneration, and particularly the remuneration of Executive Directors, 
the Committee will take into account the Company’s remuneration policy for the wider workforce. 

STATEMENT OF CONSIDERATION OF SHAREHOLDER VIEWS

The responsibility for creating the remuneration policy lies with the Committee and has been created by the 
Committee based upon their experiences and having reviewed relevant market practices. The Committee has 
engaged with principal shareholders in relation to the 2023 Proposals and thanks shareholders for their positive 
commitment to that process. 

54

PART 3 – IMPLEMENTATION OF REMUNERATION POLICY IN 2023
BASE SALARIES AND BENEFITS

The Committee, at its meeting in February 2023, considered the recent increase in annual inflation and therefore 
whether any adjustment should be made to the base salaries of the core team including the Managing Director. 
The Committee noted that in 2022 an adjustment had been made to the salaries of some employees in the team 
but not the Managing Director. The Committee determined that for 2023 all employees, including the Managing 
Director should be treated equally and an adjustment equal to a 7% increase in basic salary will be made for 
all employees. 

The Managing Director will continue to have access to Private Medical Insurance and, if implemented by the 
Company, Life Assurance. 

The Company’s employer pension contribution will be at 10% of pensionable salary, the same as that applicable 
to all members of staff.

ANNUAL BONUS – SUMMARY OF KPIS FOR 2022

The Committee, in conjunction with the Board, establishes goals in respect of each year. Individual goals are 
weighted according to their importance in determining the overall performance achieved in the year. 

The performance criteria for 2022 included the continuing development of the Company’s pipeline of investment 
opportunities in its chosen sectors of energy, real estate and late-stage private equity and, in particular, supporting 
the Dacian team in its first full year of operations. Criteria also included the management of the existing assets and 
the development of the Company’s profile in the public markets.

The Committee has reviewed performance for the year, in conjunction with the Board, and without the Managing 
Director present. The Committee has approved a bonus equal to 54.5% of base salary for the Managing Director 
in respect of 2022 that will be paid in March 2023. 

The Committee in conjunction with the Board has also considered performance goals for 2023, with weighting on 
deal flow, capital deployment and developing the Company’s profile generally and in particular in the public markets.

LTIP – VALUE CREATION PLAN 

Following the 2023 AGM, the Committee proposes to implement the 2023 Proposals for the Share Plan and 
amendments to the operation of the VCP, as described in this report. Shareholders will be asked to approve 
the proposed Share Plan rules at the AGM.

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Remuneration Report continued

PART 3 – IMPLEMENTATION OF REMUNERATION POLICY CONTINUED
CHAIRMAN AND NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS’ FEES

The current fees of the Chairman and the Non-Executive Directors on implementation of the remuneration policy 
are as follows:

Chairman Fee (including all Committees)
Basic Non-Executive Director Fee
Additional Fee for being the Senior Independent Director 
Additional Fee for being Chair of a Board Committee
Additional Fee for sitting on the Investment Committee

These fees will remain at this level for 2023.

EXTERNAL ADVISORS

£75,000
£40,000
£5,000
£5,000
£5,000

During the year the Committee received advice from MM&K. MM&K is a member of the Remuneration Consultants 
Group and adheres to its Code in relation to executive remuneration consulting in the UK.

MM&K assisted the Company with the design of the Directors’ Remuneration Policy including the design of the VCP 
and its documentation in 2020. In 2022, MM&K assisted with the remuneration outcomes and the preparation of 
this report and also the proposed remuneration policy to be put for approval by shareholders at the AGM in 2023. 
MM&K did not have any other relationship with the Company.

This Directors’ Remuneration Report was approved by the Board on 17 March 2023 and signed on its behalf by:

Graham Stedman
Chairman of the Remuneration Committee
17 March 2023

56

Directors’ Report

LMS Capital plc is an investment company whose shares are traded on the 
London Stock Exchange. Details of the Company’s strategy, risk management 
and performance in 2022 are included in the Strategic Report on pages 12 to 23 
and the Portfolio Management Review on pages 24 to 29.

The Corporate Governance Report set out on pages 32 to 38 of the Annual Report 
forms part of the Directors’ Report.

DIRECTORS
The names and biographical details of the current Directors of the Company are given on pages 30 to 31. In addition, 
further information about the Board is set out in the Corporate Governance Report on pages 32 to 38.

Details of the current Directors’ letters of appointment, together with their interests in the Company’s shares, 
are shown in the Remuneration Report on pages 44 to 45. Directors’ and officers’ liability insurance is maintained 
by the Company.

The Directors may exercise all the powers of the Company subject to the provisions of relevant legislation and the 
Company’s Articles of Association. 

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
personnel And resources 

The average number of Directors and staff was as follows:

directors
Staff

enVIronMent 

2022

2021

Male

Female

total

Male

Female

total

5
2

7

–
2

2

5
4

9

5
3

8

–
2

2

5
5

10

LMS Capital has a limited direct impact upon the environment and there are few environmental risks associated 
with its activities.

Since June 2020 and throughout 2022, the Company occupied office space under a rental agreement, which 
comprises 596 square feet. The table below includes greenhouse gas emissions by scope:

totAl eMIssIons

scope

scope 1

scope 2

source

Emissions from combustion of fuel
Process or fugitive emissions

Emissions from electricity, heat, steam and cooling 
purchased for own use using location-based method

scope 3

Emissions from employee travelling

Year ended 31 December 

2022  
tonnes CO2e

2021  
tonnes co2e

0.00
0.00

1.23

5.05

6.28

0.00
0.00

1.60

0.00

1.60

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Directors’ Report continued

totAl eMIssIons CONTINUED

Intensity

– emissions per square metre of floor area
– emissions per £100,000 of revenue
– emissions per FTE

Year ended 31 December 

2022  
tonnes CO2e
0.11
0.38
1.26

2021  
tonnes co2e
0.04
0.13
0.32

Note:   To meet the requirements of the GHG Protocol Scope 2 Guidance, the Company accounts for its Scope 2 emissions using a market-based method as well as a  

location-based method.

The Company has reported on all the emissions sources required under the Companies Act 2006 (Strategic Report 
and Directors’ Report) Regulations 2013. These sources fall within the Financial Statements. The Company has 
no responsibility for any emissions sources which are not included in the Financial Statements. 

The Company has used the GHG Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard and the GHG Protocol 
Scope 2 Guidance, data gathered from its operations, emission factors from UK Government’s Conversion Factors 
for Company Reporting 2017 and emission factors relating to electricity supply and the UK grid mix. The Company 
is considered a low emission company.

CHARITABLE DONATIONS
The Company did not make any charitable contributions during 2022 (31 December 2021: £nil).

POLITICAL DONATIONS
The Company did not make any political donations during 2022 (31 December 2021: £nil).

GOING CONCERN
The Company’s business activities, together with the factors likely to affect its future development, performance 
and financial position, are set out in the Strategic Report on pages 12 to 23 and the Portfolio Management Review 
on pages 24 to 29. The Directors have carried out a robust assessment of the emerging and principal risks and 
concluded that they have a reasonable expectation that the Company will continue in operation and meet 
its liabilities as they fall due over a three-year period from the date of this report. This assessment included 
reviewing the liquidity forecasts of the Company that include the flexibility in the dividend policy and lack of any 
external debt, the significant cash balances on hand at 31 December 2022, the expected future expenditures and 
commitments and the latest report on the investment portfolio. In preparing this liquidity forecast, consideration 
has been given to the expected ongoing impact of the war in Ukraine on the Company and the wider Group as well 
as the potential impact on the underlying investee companies. The Directors have considered these factors for a 
period not less than 12 months from the date of this report. The Directors have adopted the going concern basis 
of accounting in preparing the Financial Statements. The Viability Statement of the Company is included in the 
Strategic Report on page 22.

CONTRACTUAL ARRANGEMENTS
There are no contracts or arrangements with third parties which the Board deems essential to the operation of the 
Company, or which take effect, alter or terminate on a change of control of the Company following a takeover bid.

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Details of related party transactions are set out in note 21 to the Financial Statements.

DIvIDENDS
The Company paid a £0.5 million final dividend in June 2022 of 0.625 pence per share for the year ended 31 December 
2021 and £0.2 million or 0.3 pence per share for the 2022 interim dividend in September 2022.

58

AUDITORS
The auditors, BDO LLP, have indicated their willingness 
to continue in office and a resolution will be proposed 
at the AGM for their reappointment and to authorise 
the Directors to fix their remuneration.

The Directors who held office at the date of approval of 
this report each confirm that, so far as they are aware, 
there is no relevant audit information (as defined by 
Section 418 (3) of the Companies Act 2006) of which 
the Company’s auditor is unaware; and each Director 
has taken all the steps that ought to have been taken 
as a Director to make themselves aware of any relevant 
audit information and to establish that the Company’s 
auditor is aware of that information.

By order of the Board.

iQ-EQ Corporate Services (UK) Limited
Company Secretary
17 March 2023

SHARE CAPITAL
At 31 December 2022, the Company’s issued share 
capital remains at 80,727,450 ordinary shares of 
10p each. Each share carries one vote. No shares are 
currently held in treasury. There are no restrictions on 
the transfer of shares. There has been no change in the 
issued share capital between the year end and the date 
of this report.

SUBSTANTIAL SHAREHOLDINGS
As at 17 March 2023, the Company was aware of the 
following significant direct and indirect interests in the 
issued share capital of the Company.

Name of shareholder
Rayne Family Holdings
First Equity Limited
Charles Stanley & Co Ltd
Lady R Lacey1
schroders plc
Ms t Woods1
Robert Rayne1,2
A P Rayne1

Notes:

percentage  
of issued 
share capital
42.08
14.07
10.80
4.53
4.83
4.40
3.31
3.21

1 

2 

 There are common interests in certain of these shares, which are held within 
charitable trusts.

 Robert Rayne holds a non-beneficial interest in 7,767,173 ordinary shares held in 
trust and a personal interest in 2,670,124 ordinary shares.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The Company intends to hold the AGM on 17 May 2023. 
The notice of meeting, which includes explanatory notes 
and provides full details of the resolutions being proposed 
at the AGM will be provided separately in due course and 
will also be available to view on the Company’s website 
at www.lmscapital.com in due course.

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LMS CapitaL pLC  |  AnnuAl report And Accounts 2022

Statement of Directors’ 
Responsibilities

The Directors are responsible for 
preparing the Annual Report and the 
Financial Statements in accordance with 
UK adopted international accounting  
standards and applicable law 
and regulations. 

They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of 
the Company and hence for taking reasonable steps  
for the prevention and detection of fraud and other 
irregularities. The Directors have ensured that the 
Annual Report and Accounts, taken as a whole, is 
fair, balanced, and understandable and provides the 
information necessary for shareholders to assess the 
position and performance, business model and strategy. 

Company law requires the Directors to prepare 
financial statements for each financial year. Under 
that law the Directors are required to prepare the 
Financial Statements in accordance with UK adopted 
international accounting standards. Under company 
law the Directors must not approve the Financial 
Statements unless they are satisfied that they give a 
true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Company 
and of the profit or loss of the Company for that period. 

In preparing these Financial Statements, the Directors 
are required to:

•  select suitable accounting policies and then apply 

them consistently;

•  make judgements and accounting estimates that 

are reasonable and prudent;

•  state whether they have been prepared in accordance 
with UK adopted international accounting standards, 
subject to any material departures disclosed and 
explained in the Financial Statements;

•  prepare the Financial Statements on the going 

concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume 
that the Company will continue in business; and

•  prepare a Directors’ Report, a Strategic Report and 
Directors’ Remuneration Report which comply with 
the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

wEBSITE PUBLICATION
The Directors are responsible for ensuring the Annual 
Report and the Financial Statements are made available 
on a website. Financial Statements are published on 
the Company’s website in accordance with legislation 
in the United Kingdom governing the preparation 
and dissemination of financial statements, which 
may vary from legislation in other jurisdictions. The 
maintenance and integrity of the Company’s website 
is the responsibility of the Directors. The Directors’ 
responsibility also extends to the ongoing integrity 
of the Financial Statements contained therein.

DIRECTORS’ RESPONSIBILITIES  
PURSUANT TO DTR4
The Directors confirm to the best of their knowledge:

•  The Financial Statements have been prepared in 
accordance with the applicable set of accounting 
standards, give a true and fair view of the assets, 
liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of 
the Company.

•  The Annual Report includes a fair review of the 

development and performance of the business and 
the financial position of the Company, together with 
a description of the principal risks and uncertainties 
that they face.

For and on behalf of the Board.

The Directors are responsible for keeping adequate 
accounting records that are sufficient to show and 
explain the Company’s transactions and disclose with 
reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of  
the Company and enable them to ensure that the Financial  
Statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. 

Robert Rayne
chairman
17 March 2023

60

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LMS CapitaL pLC  |  AnnuAl report And Accounts 2022

Independent auditor’s report to the 
members of LMS Capital plc

OPINION ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
In our opinion the Financial statements:

•  give a true and fair view of the state of the Company’s affairs as at 31 December 2022 and of its loss for the year 

then ended;

•  have been properly prepared in accordance with UK adopted international accounting standards; and

•  have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

We have audited the Financial Statements of LMS Capital plc (“the Company”) for the year ended 31 December 
2022 which comprise the Income statement, the statement of other comprehensive Income, the statement 
of Financial Position, the Statement of Changes in Equity, the Cash Flow Statement and notes to the Financial 
Statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that 
has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and UK adopted international accounting standards. 

BASIS FOR OPINION
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (“ISAs (UK)”) and applicable 
law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit 
of the Financial Statements section of our report. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient 
and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. Our audit opinion is consistent with the additional report to the 
Audit Committee. 

Independence

Following the recommendation of the Audit Committee, we were appointed by the Board of Directors in 
November 2016 and subsequently by the members at the Annual General Meeting held on 21 April 2017 to audit 
the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2016 and subsequent financial periods. The period of 
total uninterrupted engagement including retenders and reappointments is seven years, covering the years ended 
31 December 2016 to 31 December 2022. We remain independent of the Company in accordance with the ethical 
requirements that are relevant to our audit of the Financial Statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical 
Standard as applied to listed public interest entities, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in 
accordance with these requirements. The non-audit services prohibited by that standard were not provided to 
the Company. 

62

CONCLUSIONS RELATING TO GOING CONCERN
In auditing the Financial Statements, we have concluded that the Directors’ use of the going concern basis 
of accounting in the preparation of the Financial Statements is appropriate. Our evaluation of the Directors’ 
assessment of the Company’s ability to continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting included:

•  assessing the appropriateness of the Directors’ assumptions and judgements made by comparing the prior 
year forecasted costs to the actual costs incurred to check that the projected costs are reasonable for the 
next 12 months, including any future commitments and expected dividends;

•  evaluating the Director’s method of assessing the going concern in light of market volatility and the present 
uncertainties, by considering whether reasonable factors which could impact the cash position over the next 
12 months were factored into the assessment;

•  challenging the Director’s assumptions and judgements made with regards to stress-testing forecasts by 
stress-testing further the dividends and the expenditure and corroborating the commitments figure to 
third-party supporting documentation;

•  calculating key financial ratios, including net asset value, net current assets/liabilities and running costs 

as a multiple of cash, to ascertain the financial health of the Company; and

•  considering any other factors which could impact on going concern such as non-compliance with laws and 

regulation, legal matters and the presence of contingencies and commitments.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or 
conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the Company’s ability to continue as 
a going concern for a period of at least 12 months from when the Financial Statements are authorised for issue. 

In relation to the Company’s reporting on how it has applied the UK Corporate Governance Code, we have nothing 
material to add or draw attention to in relation to the Directors’ statement in the Financial Statements about 
whether the Directors considered it appropriate to adopt the going concern basis of accounting.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the Directors with respect to going concern are described in the 
relevant sections of this report.

OvERvIEw

Key audit matters

Valuation and ownership of investments (excluding other net 
assets of subsidiaries)

Financial Statements as a whole

2022



2021



materiality

£690,000 (31 December 2021: £730,000) based on 1.5% (31 December 2021: 1.5%)  
of net assets.

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LMS CapitaL pLC  |  AnnuAl report And Accounts 2022

Independent auditor’s report to the 
members of LMS Capital plc continued

AN OvERvIEw OF THE SCOPE OF OUR AUDIT
Our audit was scoped by obtaining an understanding of the Company and its environment, including the Company’s 
system of internal control, and assessing the risks of material misstatement in the Financial Statements. We also 
addressed the risk of management override of internal controls, including assessing whether there was evidence 
of bias by the Directors that may have represented a risk of material misstatement.

KEY AUDIT MATTERS

Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgement, were of most significance in our audit 
of the Financial Statements of the current period and include the most significant assessed risks of material 
misstatement (whether or not due to fraud) that we identified, including those which had the greatest effect on: 
the overall audit strategy, the allocation of resources in the audit, and directing the efforts of the engagement 
team. These matters were addressed in the context of our audit of the Financial Statements as a whole, and 
in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters.

Key audit matter 

Valuation and 
Ownership of 
Investments 
(Excluding other 
net assets of 
subsidiaries)

(Note 1 and  
note 10)

the investment portfolio at 
the year end comprised quoted 
equity, unquoted investments, 
fund investments and net assets 
of subsidiary companies held at 
fair value through profit or loss.

The valuation of unquoted and 
fund investments can be a highly 
subjective accounting estimate 
where there is an inherent risk of 
management override arising from 
the investment valuations as it is 
the principal driver of performance 
of the entity.

There is also a risk that errors made 
in the recording of these investment 
holdings result in the incorrect 
reflection of investments owned 
by the Company. 

therefore, we considered the 
valuation and ownership of 
these investments to be the 
most significant audit area as 
they represent the most significant 
balance and disclosures in the 
Financial statements and underpin 
the principal activity of the entity.

Furthermore, we consider the 
valuation disclosures to be a 
significant area as they are expected 
to be a key area of interest for the 
users of the Financial Statements.

How the scope of our audit addressed the key audit matter

Unquoted investments (54% of total investments)
In respect of 100% of the unquoted investments, which were 
not written down to nil, our procedures included, inter alia:

•  evaluating whether the valuation methodology adopted was the 
most appropriate in the circumstances under the International 
Private Equity and Venture Capital (“IPEV”) Guidelines and 
UK-adopted international accounting standards.

•  reperforming the calculation of the investment valuations.

•  agreeing the unquoted investment valuations to supporting third-
party data, where these were relevant. Variations were discussed 
with management to obtain their explanation and corroborated 
to independent supporting evidence.

•  evaluating the significant valuation judgements and assumptions 
made by management which included verifying and benchmarking 
key inputs and estimates, such as discount rates and volatility to  
independent information and our own research. Internal inputs 
such as revenue and earnings were assessed for consistency by 
comparing to management accounts and financial statements 
provided independently by the investee companies. Where 
corroborating evidence was not available professional 
judgement was used to assess the reasonableness of  
the Directors’ assessment.

•  performing sensitivity analysis on the valuation calculations 

in respect of investments where there was sufficient evidence 
to suggest reasonable alternative inputs might exist.

•  for 100% of unquoted investments, by value, we agreed ownership 
to a direct confirmation from the underlying investee company and 
to other supporting documents including share certificates or loan 
agreements as applicable.

Fund investments (45% of total investments)
For the fund investments our procedures included, inter alia:

•  reviewing the underlying fund manager report and assessing the 
quality and reliability of the information through assessing the 
expertise of the administrators preparing the reports, assessing 
the appropriateness of the valuation guidelines utilised by the 
administrators and reading the audit report to determine whether 
there were any matters which could impact the valuation. 

64

For these reasons we considered 
this to be a key audit matter. 

Key audit matter 

Valuation and 
Ownership of 
Investments 
(Excluding other 
net assets of 
subsidiaries) 
continued

How the scope of our audit addressed the key audit matter

•  challenging the appropriateness of any adjustments made to 

the value of the investment holding (for instance where reports 
available were not at the same year end date or more relevant 
information suggested an adjustment to the valuation) through 
consultations with our internal valuation experts and discussions 
with management.

•  we considered the appropriateness of the key assumptions in 

the valuation models based on our knowledge of the investment 
valuations from previous years and events and conditions present 
in the current year, considering each assumption in isolation as 
well as in conjunction with other assumptions and the valuations 
as a whole.

•  where appropriate, performing sensitivity analysis on the valuation 
calculations in respect of investments where there was sufficient 
evidence to suggest reasonable alternative inputs might exist.

•  for 99.7% of fund investments, by value, we agreed ownership to 
direct confirmation from the underlying investee company and to 
other supporting documents including share certificates or loan 
agreements as applicable.

We also considered the completeness and clarity of disclosures 
regarding the valuation of these investments in the Financial 
Statements against the requirements of the accounting standards.

Key observations:
Based on the work undertaken, we did not find any matters 
to suggest that the valuation and ownership of the unquoted 
and fund investments were inappropriate. 

We consider the investment disclosures to be in line with the 
requirements of the accounting standards.

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LMS CapitaL pLC  |  AnnuAl report And Accounts 2022

Independent auditor’s report to the 
members of LMS Capital plc continued

OUR APPLICATION OF MATERIALITY
We apply the concept of materiality both in planning and performing our audit, and in evaluating the effect 
of misstatements. We consider materiality to be the magnitude by which misstatements, including omissions, 
could influence the economic decisions of reasonable users that are taken on the basis of the Financial Statements. 

In order to reduce to an appropriately low level the probability that any misstatements exceed materiality, we 
use a lower materiality level, performance materiality, to determine the extent of testing needed. Importantly, 
misstatements below these levels will not necessarily be evaluated as immaterial as we also take account of the 
nature of identified misstatements, and the particular circumstances of their occurrence, when evaluating their 
effect on the Financial Statements as a whole. 

Based on our professional judgement, we determined materiality for the Financial Statements as a whole and 
performance materiality as follows:

Materiality

2022
£

690,000

Financial Statements

2021
£

730,000

Basis for determining materiality

1.5% of net assets

1.5% of net assets

Rationale for the benchmark applied

Net assets has been used as we consider this to be the most significant 
determinant of the Company’s financial performance used by shareholders 
and other users of the Financial Statements.

performance materiality

510,000

540,000

Basis for determining performance materiality

75% of materiality based on our risk assessment and consideration of the 
control environment. 

We also considered the history of misstatements based on our knowledge 
obtained in the previous year, aggregation effect of planned nature of 
testing and the overall size and complexity of the entity.

REPORTING THRESHOLD 

We agreed with the Audit Committee that we would report to them all individual audit differences in excess of 
£13,000 (31 December 2021: £14,000). We also agreed to report differences below this threshold that, in our view, 
warranted reporting on qualitative grounds.

66

OTHER INFORMATION
The Directors are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included 
in the Annual Report and Accounts other than the Financial Statements and our auditor’s report thereon. Our 
opinion on the Financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise 
explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is 
to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent 
with the Financial Statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be 
materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are 
required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the Financial Statements themselves. 
If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other 
information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

CORPORATE GOvERNANCE STATEMENT
The Listing Rules require us to review the Directors’ statement in relation to going concern, longer-term viability 
and that part of the Corporate Governance Statement relating to the Company’s compliance with the provisions 
of the UK Corporate Governance Code specified for our review.

Based on the work undertaken as part of our audit, we have concluded that each of the following elements of 
the Corporate Governance Statement is materially consistent with the Financial Statements or our knowledge 
obtained during the audit.

Going concern and  
longer-term viability

•  the directors’ statement with regards to the appropriateness of adopting the going concern 

basis of accounting and any material uncertainties identified; and

•  the directors’ explanation as to their assessment of the company’s prospects, the period this 

assessment covers and why the period is appropriate.

Other code provisions 

•  Directors’ statement on fair, balanced and understandable; 

•  Board’s confirmation that it has carried out a robust assessment of the emerging and 

principal risks; 

•  the section of the Annual Report that describes the review of effectiveness of risk management 

and internal control systems; and

•  the section describing the work of the Audit Committee.

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LMS CapitaL pLC  |  AnnuAl report And Accounts 2022

Independent auditor’s report to the 
members of LMS Capital plc continued

OTHER COMPANIES ACT 2006 REPORTING
Based on the responsibilities described below and our work performed during the course of the audit, we are 
required by the Companies Act 2006 and ISAs (UK) to report on certain opinions and matters as described below.

Strategic Report and 
Directors’ Report 

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

•  the information given in the Strategic Report and the Directors’ Report for the financial year for 
which the Financial statements are prepared is consistent with the Financial statements; and

•  the Strategic Report and the Directors’ Report have been prepared in accordance with applicable 

legal requirements.

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the Company and its environment obtained in 
the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Strategic Report or 
the Directors’ Report.

Directors’ remuneration

In our opinion, the part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report to be audited has been properly 
prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 2006.

Matters on which we 
are required to report by 
exception

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the companies 
Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

•  adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not 

been received from branches not visited by us; or

•  the Financial Statements and the part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report to be audited 

are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or

•  certain disclosures of Directors’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or

•  we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF DIRECTORS
As explained more fully in the Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities the Directors are responsible for the 
preparation of the Financial Statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such 
internal control as the Directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of Financial Statements that are 
free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the Financial Statements, the Directors are responsible for assessing the Company’s ability to continue 
as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of 
accounting unless the Directors either intend to liquidate the Company or to cease operations, or have no realistic 
alternative but to do so.

AUDITOR’S RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE AUDIT OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the Financial Statements as a whole are free from 
material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. 
Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance 
with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud 
or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to 
influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these Financial Statements.

EXTENT TO WHICH THE AUDIT WAS CAPABLE OF DETECTING IRREGULARITIES, INCLUDING FRAUD

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in 
line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including 
fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:

68

 
We gained an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework applicable to the Company and the industry in 
which it operates through discussions with management and our brought forward knowledge, and considered the 
risk of acts by the Company which were contrary to applicable laws and regulations, including fraud. We considered 
the significant laws and regulations to be the Companies Act 2006, the FCA listing and DTR rules, the principles of 
the UK Corporate Governance Code, industry practice represented by the AIC SORP and UK adopted international 
accounting standards.

We also assessed the susceptibility of the Financial Statements to material misstatement, including fraud 
and considered the fraud risk areas to be management override of controls and the valuation of unquoted and 
fund investments.

Our procedures to in response to the above included: 

•  agreement of the Financial statement disclosures to underlying supporting documentation;

•  enquiries of management and Those Charged With Governance of any instances of non-compliance with laws 

and regulations or known or suspected instances of fraud;

•  testing a sample of journal postings made during the year to supporting documentation to identify potential 

management override of controls;

•  review of legal invoices, legal correspondence and minutes of Board meetings throughout the period for 

any instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations or known or suspected instances of fraud; and

•  the procedures set out in the key audit matters section of our report. 

We also communicated relevant identified laws and regulations and potential fraud risks to all engagement team 
members and remained alert to any indications of fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations throughout 
the audit.

Our audit procedures were designed to respond to risks of material misstatement in the Financial Statements, 
recognising that the risk of not detecting a material misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of not 
detecting one resulting from error, as fraud may involve deliberate concealment by, for example, forgery, 
misrepresentations or through collusion. There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures performed 
and the further removed non-compliance with laws and regulations is from the events and transactions 
reflected in the Financial Statements, the less likely we are to become aware of it.

A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at:  
www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

USE OF OUR REPORT
This report is made solely to the Company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the 
Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the Company’s members 
those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest 
extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Company and 
the Company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Orla Reilly (Senior Statutory auditor)
For and on behalf of BDO LLP, Statutory Auditor
London, UK
17 March 2023

BDO LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales (with registered number OC305127).

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LMS CapitaL pLC  |  AnnuAl report And Accounts 2022

Company Income Statement
For the year ended 31 December 2022

Net (loss)/gain on investments
Interest income
other income

total gain on investments
operating expenses

(Loss)/profit before tax
taxation

(Loss)/profit for the year
Attributable to:
Equity shareholders

(Loss)/profit per ordinary share – basic
(Loss)/profit per ordinary share – diluted

All activities of the Company are classed as continuing.

The notes on pages 75 to 97 form part of these Financial Statements.

Year ended 31 December

2022
£'000

(224) 
189 
107

72 
(1,946)

(1,874) 

–

(1,874) 

(1,874) 

(2.3)p
(2.3)p

2021
£'000

3,837
23
–

3,860
(1,988)

1,872
– 

1,872

1,872

2.3p
2.3p

notes

2
3

4

7

8
8

70

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Company Statement of Other  
Comprehensive Income
For the year ended 31 December 2022

(Loss)/profit for the year

Total comprehensive (loss)/income for the year

Attributable to:
Equity shareholders

The notes on pages 75 to 97 form part of these Financial Statements.

Year ended 31 December

2022
£'000

(1,874)

(1,874)

2021
£'000

1,872

1,872

(1,874)

1,872

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LMS CapitaL pLC  |  AnnuAl report And Accounts 2022

Company Statement  
of Financial Position
As at 31 December 2022
Company registration number 05746555

assets
non-current assets
Right-of-use assets
Investments
Amounts receivable from subsidiaries

Total non-current assets

current assets
Operating and other receivables
cash

total current assets

total assets

liabilities
current liabilities
Operating and other payables
Amounts payable to subsidiaries

Total current liabilities

non-current liabilities
Other long-term liabilities

Total non-current liabilities

Total liabilities

net assets

equity
share capital
share premium
capital redemption reserve
Share-based equity
retained earnings

Total equity shareholders’ funds

net asset value per ordinary share

31 December

notes

2022
£'000

2021
£'000

18
10
13

11
12

14
15

14

16

17

70
68,207
5,158

73,435

71
14,542

14,613

88,048

97
68,461
5,191

73,749

51
14,518

14,569

88,318

(428)
(41,032)

(394)
(38,740)

(41,460)

(39,134)

(47)

(47)

(75)

(75)

(41,507)

(39,209)

46,541

49,109

8,073
508
24,949
128
12,883

46,541

8,073
508
24,949
75
15,504

49,109

24

57.65p

60.83p

The Financial Statements on pages 70 to 97 were approved by the Board on 17 March 2023 and were signed on its 
behalf by:

Robert Rayne
director

The notes on pages 75 to 97 form part of these Financial Statements.

72

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Company Statement of  
Changes in Equity
For the year ended 31 December 2022

Balance at 1 January 2021
comprehensive income for the year
Profit for the year

equity after total comprehensive income 
for the year
contributions by and distributions to 
shareholders
Share-based payments
dividends 

share
capital
£'000

8,073

share
premium
£'000

capital
redemption
reserve
£'000

508

24,949

–

–

–

8,073

508

24,949

–
–

–
–

–
–

as at 31 December 2021

8,073

508

24,949

comprehensive income for the year
loss for the year

equity after total comprehensive loss for 
the year
contributions by and distributions to 
shareholders
Share-based payments
dividends 

–

–

–

8,073

508

24,949

–
–

–
–

–
–

as at 31 December 2022

8,073

508

24,949

The notes on pages 75 to 97 form part of these Financial Statements.

Share- 
based
equity
£'000

34

–

34

41
–

75

–

75

retained
earnings
£'000

14,359

total
equity
£'000

47,923

1,872

1,872

16,231

49,795

–
(727)

41
(727)

15,504

49,109

(1,874)

(1,874)

13,630

47,235

53
–

128

–
(747)

53
(747)

12,883

46,541

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73

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
LMS CapitaL pLC  |  AnnuAl report And Accounts 2022

Company Cash Flow Statement
For the year ended 31 December 2022

Cash flows from operating activities
(Loss)/profit before tax
Adjustments for non-cash income and expense:
Equity settled share-based payment
Depreciation on right-of-use assets
Interest expense on lease
Losses/(gains) on investments
Interest income
other Income
Adjustments to incentives plans
Exchange gains on cash balances 

change in operating assets and liabilities
Decrease in operating and other receivables
Decrease/(increase) in operating and other payables
Decrease in amounts receivable from subsidiaries
Increase/(decrease) in amounts payable to subsidiaries

net cash from/(used in) operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities
Interest received
other income received
Proceeds from redemption of convertible debt
Investment in subsidiaries

net cash from investing activities

Cash flows from financing activities
dividends paid
Repayment of principal lease liabilities 
repayment of lease interest

Net cash used in financing activities

net decrease in cash
Exchange gains on cash balances 
Cash at the beginning of the year

cash at the end of the year

The notes on pages 75 to 97 form part of these Financial Statements.

Year ended 31 December

notes

2022
£'000

2021
£'000

(1,874)

1,872 

17
18
18
 2
3

2

3

10

9
18
18

12 

53
27
6
224
(189)
(107)
30
(71)

(1,901)

16
34
33
2,292

474

152
107
–
–

259

(747)
(27)
(6)

(780)

(47)
71
14,518

14,542 

41 
28 
8 
(3,837)
(23)
–
1 
(4)

(1,914)

16 
(23)
119 
(7)

(1,809)

23 
–
750 
(75)

698 

(727)
(25)
(8)

(760)

(1,871)
4 
16,385 

14,518 

74

 
 
 
Notes to the Financial Statements

1. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
REPORTING ENTITY

LMS Capital plc (“the Company”) is domiciled in the United Kingdom. These Financial Statements are presented in 
pounds sterling because that is the currency of the principal economic environment of the Company’s operations.

The Company was formed on 17 March 2006 and commenced operations on 9 June 2006 when it received the 
demerged investment division of London Merchant Securities plc.

BASIS OF PREPARATION

These Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2022 have been prepared in accordance with UK 
adopted International Accounting Standards. 

LMS Capital plc adopted an amendment to IFRS 10 with effect from 11 January 2016, which exempts investment 
entities from presenting consolidated financial statements. As a result, the Company is not required to produce 
consolidated accounts and only presents the results of the Company.

The Financial Statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis except for investments which are 
measured at fair value, with changes in fair value recognised in the Income Statement.

The Company’s business activities and financial position are set out in the Strategic Report on pages 12 to 23 and 
in the Portfolio Management Review on pages 24 to 29. In addition, note 19 to the financial information includes 
a summary of the Company’s financial risk management processes, details of its financial instruments and its 
exposure to credit risk and liquidity risk. Taking account of the financial resources available to it, the Directors 
believe that the Company is well placed to manage its business risks successfully. After making enquiries, the 
Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Company has adequate resources for the foreseeable future.

The Financial Statements are prepared on a going concern basis and the Directors considered this and concluded 
the use of the going concern basis continued to be appropriate. The Company’s business activities, together with 
the factors likely to affect its future development, performance and financial position, are set out in the Strategic 
Report on pages 12 to 23 and the Portfolio Management Review on pages 24 to 29. The Directors have carried out 
a robust assessment of the emerging and principal risks and concluded that they have a reasonable expectation 
that the Company will continue in operation and meet its liabilities as they fall due over a three-year period from 
the date of this report. This assessment included reviewing the liquidity forecasts of the Company that include the 
flexibility in the dividend policy and lack of any external debt, the significant cash balances on hand at 31 December 
2022, the expected future expenditures and commitments and the latest report on the investment portfolio. In 
preparing this liquidity forecast, consideration has been given to the expected ongoing impact of the war in Ukraine 
on the Company and the wider Group as well as the potential impact on the underlying investee companies. The 
Directors have considered these factors for a period not less than 12 months from the date of this report. 

NEW AND REVISED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS AND AMENDMENTS EFFECTIVE FOR THE CURRENT PERIOD

New and revised accounting standards and amendments that are effective for annual periods beginning 1 January 
2022 which have been adopted for the first time by the Company:

•  Annual Improvements 2018 – 2020: Amendments to IFRS 9 – Financial instruments.

•  Annual Improvements 2018 – 2020: Amendments to IFRS 16 – Leases.

The adoption of the standards and amendments listed above did not have any impact on the amounts recognised 
in prior periods and are not expected to significantly affect the current or future periods.

These have been endorsed by the EU/adopted by the UK.

There are no other standards, amendments to standards or interpretations that are effective for annual periods 
beginning on 1 January 2022 that have had a material effect on the Company’s Financial Statements.

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75

 
LMS CapitaL pLC  |  AnnuAl report And Accounts 2022

Notes to the Financial Statements 
continued
1. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES contInued
NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS, AMENDMENTS AND INTERPRETATIONS NOT YET EFFECTIVE,  
AND WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN EARLY ADOPTED

Other standards and amendments that are effective for subsequent reporting periods beginning on or after 
1 January 2023 and have not been early adopted by the Company include:

•  Amendments to IAS 1 – Presentation of Financial Statements: Classification of Liabilities as Current or 

Non-current (Amendments to IAS 1) (effective 1 January 2023).

•  Amendments to IAS 1 – Presentation of Financial Statements and IFRS Practice Statement 2: Disclosure of 

Accounting policies (effective 1 January 2023).

•  Amendments to IAS 8 – Accounting policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors: Definition of 

Accounting Estimates (effective 1 January 2023).

•  Amendments to IAS 12 – Income Taxes: Deferred Tax related to Assets and Liabilities arising from a Single 

Transaction (effective 1 January 2023).

•  Amendments to IFRS 16 – Leases: Lease Liability in a Sale and Leaseback (effective 1 January 2024).

These standards and amendments are not expected to have a significant impact on the Financial Statements 
in the period of initial application and therefore detailed disclosures have not been provided.

AMENDMENT TO IFRS 16 – LEASES 

IFRS 16 – Leases was issued in January 2016 and provides a single lessee accounting model, requiring lessees to 
recognise assets and liabilities for all leases unless the lease term is 12 months or less or the underlying asset 
has a low value. 

The amendments are effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2024. Earlier application 
is permitted. If a seller-lessee applies the amendments for an earlier period, it is required to disclose that fact.

A seller-lessee applies the amendments retrospectively in accordance with IAS 8 to sale and leaseback transactions 
entered into after the date of initial application, which is defined as the beginning of the annual reporting period in 
which the entity first applied IFRS 16. A rent concession granted after the reporting period is a non-adjusting event, 
as defined in IAS 10 Events after the Reporting Period, which is subject to disclosure in the Financial Statements for 
the current reporting period, if material. 

In June 2020, the Company entered into a lease agreement with The Rayne Foundation. The interest rate used by 
the Company is based on the incremental borrowing rate of 6.5%. 

IFRS 2 – SHARE-BASED PAYMENT

IFRS 2 – Share-based payment requires an entity to recognise equity-settled share-based payments measured 
at fair value at the date of grant. The fair value determined at the grant date of the equity-settled share-based 
payments is expensed over the vesting period, together with a corresponding increase in other capital reserves, 
based upon the Company's estimate of the shares that will eventually vest, which involves making assumptions 
about any performance and service conditions over the vesting period. Non-vesting conditions and market vesting 
conditions are factored into the fair value of the options granted. The vesting period is determined by the period of 
time the relevant participant must remain in the Company’s employment before the rights to the shares transfer 
unconditionally to them. The total expense is recognised over the vesting period, which is the period over which all 
the specified vesting conditions are to be satisfied. At the end of each period, the Company revises its estimates on 
the number of awards it expects to vest based on the service conditions.

Any awards granted to be settled by the issuance of equity are deemed to be equity-settled share-based payments, 
accounted for in accordance with IFRS 2 – Share-based payment.

76

Where the terms of an equity-settled transaction are modified, as a minimum, an expense is recognised as if the 
terms had not been modified. In addition, an expense is recognised for any increase in the value of the transaction 
as a result of the modification, as measured at the date of modification. 

Where an equity-settled transaction is cancelled, it is treated as if it had vested on the date of the cancellation, 
and any expense not yet recognised for the transaction is recognised immediately. However, if a new transaction 
is substituted for the cancelled transaction and designated as a replacement transaction on the date that it is 
granted, the cancelled and new transactions are treated as if they were a modification of the original transaction, 
as described in the previous paragraph. 

ACCOUNTING FOR SUBSIDIARIES

The Directors have concluded that the Company has all the elements of control as prescribed by IFRS 10 – 
Consolidated Financial Statements in relation to all its subsidiaries and that the Company continues to satisfy the 
three essential criteria to be regarded as an investment entity as defined in IFRS 10, IFRS 12 – Disclosure of lnterests in  
Other Entities and IAS 27 – Separate Financial Statements. The three essential criteria are such that the entity must:

•  obtain funds from one or more investors for the purpose of providing these investors with professional 

investment management services;

•  commit to its investors that its business purpose is to invest its funds solely for returns from capital 

appreciation, investment income or both; and

•  measure and evaluate the performance of substantially all of its investments on a fair value basis.

In satisfying the second essential criteria, the notion of an investment timeframe is critical. An investment entity 
should not hold its investments indefinitely but should have an exit strategy for their realisation. Although the 
Company has invested in equity interests that have an indefinite life, it invests typically for a period of up to ten years. 
In some cases, the period may be longer, depending on the circumstances of the investment, however, investments 
are not made with the intention of indefinite hold. This is a common approach in the private equity industry.

Subsidiaries are therefore measured at fair value through profit or loss, in accordance with IFRS 13 – Fair Value 
Measurement and IFRS 9 – Financial instruments.

The Company’s subsidiaries, which are wholly–owned and over which it exercises control, are listed in note 23.

USE OF ESTIMATES AND JUDGEMENTS 

The preparation of the Financial Statements require management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions 
that affect the application of accounting policies and the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, income and 
expense. Actual results may differ from these estimates. Estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an 
ongoing basis; revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimates are revised and 
in any future periods affected.

The areas involving significant judgements are: 

•  valuation technique selected in estimating fair value of unquoted investments – note 10;

•  valuation technique selected in estimating fair value of investments held in funds – note 10; and

•  recognition of deferred tax asset for carried forward tax losses – note 7.

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LMS CapitaL pLC  |  AnnuAl report And Accounts 2022

Notes to the Financial Statements 
continued
1. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES contInued
USE OF ESTIMATES AND JUDGEMENTS 

The areas involving significant estimates are: 

• 

 estimated inputs used in calculating fair value of unquoted investments – note 10; and

• 

 estimated inputs used in calculating fair value of investments held in funds – note 10.

Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated. They are based on historical experience and other factors, 
including expectations of future events that may have financial impact on the entity and that are believed to be 
reasonable under the circumstances.

INVESTMENTS IN SUBSIDIARIES

The Company’s investments in subsidiaries are stated at fair value which is considered to be the carrying value of 
the net assets of each subsidiary. On disposal of such investments, the difference between net disposal proceeds 
and the corresponding carrying amount is recognised in the Income Statement. 

VAluAtIon oF InVestMents

The Company and its subsidiaries manage their investments with a view to profit from the receipt of dividends, 
interest income and increase in fair value of equity investments which can be realised on sale. Therefore, all quoted, 
unquoted and managed fund investments are designated at fair value through profit or loss which can be realised 
on sale and carried in the Statement of Financial Position at fair value.

Fair values have been determined in accordance with the International Private Equity and Venture Capital Valuation 
(“IPEV”) Guidelines. These guidelines require the valuer to make judgments as to the most appropriate valuation 
method to be used and the results of the valuations.

each investment is reviewed individually with regard to the stage, nature and circumstances of the investment and 
the most appropriate valuation method selected. The valuation results are then reviewed and any amendment to 
the carrying value of investments is made as considered appropriate.

Quoted InVestMents

Quoted investments for which an active market exists are valued at the bid price at the reporting date.

unQuoted dIrect InVestMents

Unquoted direct investments for which there is no active market are valued using the most appropriate valuation 
technique with regard to the stage and nature of the investment. Valuation methods that may be used include:

• 

• 

• 

investments in an established business are valued using revenue or earnings multiples depending on the stage 
of development of the business and the extent to which it is generating sustainable revenue or earnings;

investments in an established business which is generating sustainable revenue or earnings but for which 
other valuation methods are not appropriate are valued by calculating the discounted cash flow of future 
revenue or earnings;

investments in debt instruments or loan notes are determined on a standalone basis, with the initial investment 
recorded at the price of the transaction and subsequent adjustments to the valuation are considered for changes 
in credit risk or market rates;

•  convertible instruments are valued by disaggregating the convertible feature from the debt instrument and 

valuing it using a Black-Scholes model; and

•  the Company has adopted the IPEV guidelines issued in December 2022.

78

Funds

Investments in managed funds are valued at fair value. The general partners of the funds will provide periodic 
valuations on a fair value basis, the latest available of which the Company will adopt provided it is satisfied that 
the valuation methods used by the funds are not materially different from the Company’s valuation methods. 
Adjustments will be made to the fund valuation where the Company believes there is evidence available for 
an alternative valuation.

cArrIed Interest

The Company historically offered its executives, including Board executives, the opportunity to participate in the 
returns from successful investments. A variety of incentive and carried interest arrangements were put in place 
during the years up to and including 2011. No new schemes have been introduced since. As is commonplace in the 
private equity industry, executives may, in certain circumstances, retain their entitlement under such schemes 
after they have left the employment of the Company. The liability under such incentive schemes is accrued if 
its performance conditions, measured at the reporting date, would be achieved if the remaining assets in that 
scheme were realised at their fair value at the reporting date. An accrual is made equal to the amount which the 
company would have to pay to any remaining scheme participants from a realisation of the reported value at the 
reporting date. 

FOREIGN CURRENCIES

Transactions in foreign currencies are recorded at the rate of exchange at the date of transaction. Monetary assets 
and monetary liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at the reporting date are reported at the rates of 
exchange prevailing at that date and exchange differences are included in the Income Statement.

RIGHT-OF-USE ASSETS

Right-of-use assets are initially measured at the amount of the lease liability. Subsequent to initial measurement, 
lease liabilities increase as a result of interest charged at a constant rate on the balance outstanding and are 
reduced for lease payments made. Right-of-use assets are amortised on a straight-line basis over the remaining 
term of the lease.

INTERCOMPANY RECEIVABLES

The Company measured intercompany receivables and other receivables at fair value less any expected credit 
losses. Expected credit losses are measured through a loss allowance at an amount equal to:

•  the 12-month expected credit losses (expected credit losses from possible default events within 12 months 

after the reporting date); or

•  full lifetime expected credit losses (expected credit losses from all possible default events over the life of 

the financial instrument).

A loss allowance for full lifetime expected credit losses is required for intercompany receivables and other 
receivables if the credit risk has increased significantly since initial recognition. 

Impairment losses on financial assets carried at amortised cost are reversed in subsequent periods if the 
expected credit losses decrease.

FInAncIAl Assets Held At AMortIsed cost 

The Company recognises trade receivables as financial assets classified at amortised cost. These are recognised 
initially at fair value. Subsequent to initial recognition, these are measured at amortised cost, less any expected 
credit losses.

Expected credit losses for these financial assets are measured using the simplified approach to the credit loss model. 
Under the simplified credit loss model approach, a provision is recognised based on the expectation of default rates over 
the full lifetime of the financial assets without the need to identify significant increases on credit risk on these assets. 

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LMS CapitaL pLC  |  AnnuAl report And Accounts 2022

Notes to the Financial Statements 
continued
1. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES contInued
cAsH

Cash, for the purpose of the cash flow statement, comprises cash in hand only.

FINANCIAL LIABILITIES

The Company’s financial liabilities include operating and other payables. These are initially recognised at fair value. 
Subsequent measurement is at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

DIVIDEND PAYABLE

Dividend distribution to the shareholders is recognised as a liability in Financial Statements when approved at an 
Annual General Meeting by the shareholders. Interim dividend approved during the year is recorded upon payment.

IncoMe

Gains and losses on investments
realised and unrealised gains and losses on investments are recognised in the Income statement in the period in 
which they arise.

interest income
Interest income is recognised as it accrues using the effective interest method. 

Dividend income
Dividend income is recognised on the date the Company’s right to receive payment is established.

eXpendIture

income tax expense
Income tax expense comprises current and deferred tax. Income tax expense is recognised in the Income Statement 
except to the extent that it relates to items recognised in other comprehensive income or directly in equity.

Current tax is the expected tax payable on the taxable income for the year, using tax rates enacted or substantively 
enacted at the reporting date, and any adjustment to tax payable in respect of previous years.

Deferred tax is recognised using the balance sheet liability approach, providing for temporary differences between 
the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for taxation 
purposes. Deferred tax is measured at the tax rates that are expected to be applied to the temporary differences 
when they reverse, based on the laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting date. 
A deferred tax asset is recognised to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profits will be available 
against which temporary differences can be utilised. Deferred tax assets are reviewed at each reporting date 
and are reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that the related tax benefit will be realised.

Additional income taxes that arise from the distribution of dividends are recognised at the same time 
as the liability to pay the related dividend is recognised.

80

2. NET GAINS/LOSSES ON INVESTMENTS
Gains and losses on investments were as follows:

Investment portfolio of the company
asset type

Realised
£'000

Unrealised
£'000

total
£'000

realised
£'000

unrealised
£'000

total
£'000

Year ended 31 December

 2022

 2021

Unquoted

credit for incentive plans

Investment portfolio of subsidiaries
asset type

Quoted
Unquoted
Funds

total

Credit/(charge) for incentive plans

Operating and similar income of subsidiaries* 

* 

Includes operating and legal costs and taxation charges of subsidiaries.

–

–

(1)
24
–

23

–

–

–

–

30

30

(220)
(1,285)
108

(221)
(1,261)
108

(1,397)

(1,374)

(5)

(5)

–
–
–

–

–

–

186 
(90)
2,473 

2,569 

(1,344)

39

(1,305)
1,081

(224)

(5)

(5)

1 

(4)

186 
(90)
2,473 

2,569 

2,565 

(10)

2,555 
1,282

3,837

The Company operates carried interest arrangements in line with normal practice in the private equity industry.  
The credit for incentive plans for the Company is £30,000 (31 December 2021: £1,000) and other incentives relating 
to historic arrangements. The charge for subsidiaries is included in the net gains/losses on investments in the 
Income Statement. 

3. INTEREST INCOME
Interest income comprises interest earned on bank deposits and on loan investments.

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LMS CapitaL pLC  |  AnnuAl report And Accounts 2022

Notes to the Financial Statements 
continued
4. OPERATING EXPENSES
operating expenses comprise administrative expenses and include the following:

Directors’ remuneration (note 5)
Staff expenses (note 6)
Depreciation on right-of-use assets
other administrative expenses
Foreign currency exchange differences
Auditor's remuneration
Fees to company auditor

– parent company
– interim review for lMs capital plc

Year ended 31 December

2022
£'000

2021
£'000

726
462
27
670
(24)

85

67
18

716 
309 
28 
752 
130 

53 

35 
18 

1,946

1,988 

The audit fee comprises £67,200 (31 December 2021: £34,500) for LMS Capital plc, £18,250 (31 December 2021: 
£18,250) for the interim review. Audit fees for the subsidiaries of £103,700 (31 December 2021: £72,500) were 
directly charged to subsidiaries. 

5. DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION

directors’ remuneration
Directors’ social security contributions
Directors’ other benefits

The highest paid Director was Nicholas Friedlos (31 December 2021 – Nicholas Friedlos)

The average number of Directors was as follows:

Year ended 31 December

2022
£'000

2021
£'000

584
77
65

726

367

570 
92 
54 

716 

349

Average number of Directors

31 December 2022

31 December 2021

Male

Female

total

Male

Female

total

5

5

–

–

5

5

5 

 5 

–

–

5 

5 

82

6. STAFF EXPENSES

Wages and salaries
Employers’ social security contributions
Employers’ other benefits

Year ended 31 December

2022
£'000

2021
£'000

378
54
30

462 

253 
30 
26 

309 

Staff benefits includes pension and health insurance. These benefits are recognised as expenses on an accrual basis 
as they are incurred.

The average number of staff was as follows:

Average number of staff

7. TAXATION

Current tax expense
current year

total tax expense

reconcIlIAtIon oF tAX eXpense

(Loss)/profit before tax

Corporation tax using the Company's domestic tax rate – 19% (31 December 2021: 19%)
Fair value adjustments not currently taxed
Non-deductible income
Difference between taxable and accounting profit on disposal
capital allowances
company relief
deferred tax asset not recognised
Group relief received

total tax expense

2022

2021

4

4

5 

5

Year ended 31 December

2022
£'000

2021
£'000

–

–

– 

– 

Year ended 31 December

2022
£'000

2021
£'000

(1,874)

1,872 

(356)
261
(214)
–
(3)
476
85
(249)

–

356 
(486)
(214)
29
(3)
406 
155 
(243)

–

As at year end, there are cumulative potential deferred tax assets of £2.377 million (31 December 2021: £2.205 million) 
in relation to the Company’s cumulative tax losses of £9.510 million (31 December 2021: £8.819 million). It is 
uncertain when the Company will generate sufficient taxable profits in the future to utilise these amounts and 
therefore no deferred tax asset has been recognised in the current or prior year.

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LMS CapitaL pLC  |  AnnuAl report And Accounts 2022

Notes to the Financial Statements 
continued
8. (LOSS)/PROFIT PER ORDINARY SHARE
The calculation of the basic and diluted earnings per share, in accordance with IAS 33, is based on the 
following data:

(Loss)/profit
(Loss)/profit for the purposes of (loss)/profit per share 
being net (loss)/profit attributable to equity holders of the parent

number of shares
Weighted average number of ordinary shares for the purposes of basic (loss)/profit per share

(Loss)/profit per share
Basic
diluted

The Company share awards issued will be dilutive if and when vested.

9. DIvIDENDS PAID
Dividends declared during the year ending 31 December 2022 are as follows.

Final dividend payment for 2020
Interim dividend payment for 2021

Total as at 31 December 2021

dividend date

21 May 2021
13 August 2021

payment date

14 June 2021
3 September 2021

Final dividend payment for 2021
Interim dividend payment for 2022

27 May 2022
12 August 2022

23 June 2022
12 September 2022

total as at 31 December 2022

Year ended 31 December

2022
£'000

2021
£'000

(1,874) 

1,872

Number

Number

80,727,450  80,727,450

pence

pence

(2.3)
(2.3)

2.3
2.3

dividend
£'000

484
243

727

505
242

747

dividend
per share
pence

0.6000
0.3000

0.9000

0.6250
0.3000

0.9250

A final dividend of 0.625p per share is recommended by the Board and, subject to approval by shareholders at the 
AGM on 17 May 2023, will be paid out in early June 2023.

84

10. INvESTMENTS
the company’s investments comprised the following:

total investments

these comprise:
Investment portfolio of subsidiaries
Other net assets of subsidiaries

The carrying amounts of the subsidiaries’ investment portfolios were as follows:

Investment portfolio of subsidiaries 
asset type 

Quoted
Unquoted 
Funds

Other net assets of subsidiaries

the movements in the investment portfolio were as follows:

Quoted
securities
£'000

Unquoted
securities
£'000

Balance at 1 January 2021
purchases
proceeds from disposal
Distributions from partnerships
Contribution to partnerships
Fair value adjustments
Reclassification of withholding tax* 

Balance at 31 December 2021

197 
–
–
–
–
186 
–

383 

10,138 
8,394
(750)
(1,586)
115
(95)
410 

Year ended 31 December

2022
£'000

68,207

30,964
37,243

68,207

2021
£'000

68,461

30,938 
37,523 

68,461

Year ended 31 December

2022
£'000

160
16,771
14,033

30,964
37,243

68,207

Funds
£'000

11,858 
–
–
(445)
43 
2,473 
–

2021
£'000

383
16,626
13,929 

30,938
37,523 

68,461

total
£'000

22,193 
8,394
(750)
(2,031)
158 
2,564 
410 

16,626 

13,929 

30,938 

* 

 As at 31 December 2020, unquoted securities investment fair value included a provision for withholding tax on distributions. This distribution was received in the first quarter of 2021 
and the remaining estimated withholding tax liability of £0.4 million was reclassified to current liabilities as at 31 December 2021.

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LMS CapitaL pLC  |  AnnuAl report And Accounts 2022

Notes to the Financial Statements 
continued
10. INvESTMENTS contInued

Quoted
securities
£'000

Unquoted
securities
£'000

Balance at 1 January 2022
Accrued interest 
purchases
proceeds from disposal
Distributions from partnerships
Contribution to partnerships
Fair value adjustments

Balance at 31 December 2022

383 
–
–
(2)
–
–
(221)

160

16,626 
1,274
427
–
(375)
80
(1,261)

Funds
£'000

13,929 
–
–
–
(56)
52
108

total
£'000

30,938 
1,274
427
(2)
(431)
132
(1,374)

16,771

14,033

30,964

The following table analyses investments carried at fair value at the end of the year, by the level in the fair value 
hierarchy into which the fair value measurement is categorised. The different levels have been defined as follows:

Level 1: quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets;

Level 2: inputs other than quoted prices included within level 1 that are observable for the asset, either directly 
(i.e., as prices) or indirectly (i.e., derived from prices); and

Level 3: inputs for the asset that are not based on observable market data (unobservable inputs such as trading 
comparables and liquidity discounts).

Fair value measurements are based on observable and unobservable inputs. Observable inputs reflect market data 
obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect the Company’s view of market assumptions 
in the absence of observable market information (see note 19 – Financial risk management).

the company’s investments are analysed as follows:

Level 1
level 2
Level 3

Level 3 includes:

Investment portfolio of subsidiaries
Other net assets of subsidiaries

31 December

2022
£'000

–
–
68,207

68,207

2021
£'000

– 
–
68,461 

68,461 

31 December

2022
£'000

30,964
37,243

68,207

2021
£'000

30,938
37,523

68,461

Investment portfolio of subsidiaries includes quoted investments of £160,000 (31 December 2021: £383,000). 

There were no transfers between levels during the year ending 31 December 2022.

86

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11. OPERATING AND OTHER RECEIvABLES

Other receivables and prepayments

12. CASH

Bank balances
demand deposits

31 December

2022
£'000

2021
£'000

71

71

51

51 

31 December

2022
£'000

201
14,341

14,542

2021
£'000

351 
14,167 

14,518 

At 31 December 2022, the total Group’s cash balance is £17.906 million (31 December 2021: £20.113 million) which 
includes cash held in subsidiaries of £3.364 million (31 December 2021: £5.595 million).

13. AMOUNTS RECEIvABLE FROM SUBSIDIARIES

Amounts receivable from subsidiaries

31 December

2022
£'000

5,158

5,158 

2021
£'000

5,191

5,191 

Amounts receivable from subsidiaries are intercompany loans repayable on demand and are interest free.

14. OPERATING AND OTHER PAYABLES

carried interest provision
Trade payables
Other non-trade payables and accrued expenses

Other long-term lease liabilities

31 December

2022
£'000

2021
£'000

9
41
378

428
47

475

35 
43 
316 

394 
75 

469 

The Company operates carried interest arrangements in line with normal practice in the private equity industry, 
calculated on the assumption that the investment portfolio is realised at its year end carrying amount. As at 
31 December 2022, £9,000 (31 December 2021: £35,000) has been accrued for in the Company and £419,000  
(31 December 2021: £438,000) has been accrued for in the subsidiaries. Carried interest accrued for in the 
subsidiaries is included in the amounts owing to subsidiaries on the Statement of Financial Position.

As at 31 December 2022, other non-trade payables and accrued expenses of 378,000 (31 December 2021: 316,000) 
includes current lease liability of 28,000 (31 December 2021: 26,000).

87

 
 
 
 
 
LMS CapitaL pLC  |  AnnuAl report And Accounts 2022

Notes to the Financial Statements 
continued
15. AMOUNTS PAYABLE TO SUBSIDIARIES

Amounts payable to subsidiaries

31 December

2022
£'000

41,032

41,032

2021
£'000

38,740

38,740

Amounts payable to subsidiaries are intercompany loans repayable on demand and are interest free.

16. CAPITAL AND RESERvES
sHAre cApItAl

Ordinary shares

Balance at the beginning of the year

Balance at the end of the year

2022
Number

2022
£'000

2021
Number

80,727,450

8,073

80,727,450 

80,727,450

8,073  80,727,450 

2021
£'000

8,073 

8,073 

The Company’s ordinary shares have a nominal value of 10p per share and all shares in issue are fully paid up.

the holders of ordinary shares are entitled to receive dividends as declared from time to time and are entitled to 
one vote per share at meetings of the Company.

sHAre preMIuM Account

The Company’s share premium account arose on the exercise of share options in prior years.

cApItAl redeMptIon reserVe

The capital redemption reserve comprises the nominal value of shares purchased by the Company out of its own 
profits and cancelled.

17. SHARE AwARDS 
In 2020, the Company established a long-term incentive plan for the employees of the Company. The plan grants the  
Board the authority to allot up to 1,000 VCP units with both performance and service conditions attached. The VCP  
units can only be awarded at the end of the five-year vesting period, 30 June 2025, if certain minimum performance 
conditions are met. These minimum performance conditions include two performance targets over the measurement  
period, including a minimum hurdle rate such that the annualised TSR over the measurement period must be not 
less than 8% and a minimum share price of 52.8p. If the minimum performance targets are met, the amount that 
the plan participants will receive will depend on the TSR performance of the Company achieved over the five-year 
vesting period. The Board retains the right to settle these awards in either shares or cash. As the Company does 
not have a present obligation to settle in cash, the awards are all recognised as equity-settled share awards.

88

The first share awards were granted in 2020 with respect to the performance year ended 31 December 2020. 
There were no share awards granted for the year ending 31 December 2022 (31 December 2021: Nil).

Grant date

30 June 2020 

type of  
award 

Number of  
shares  
awarded 

Fair value/ 
share 
£

shares 

500 

£418.44

17 November 2020 

shares 

125 

£393.63 

Vesting  
conditions 

Awards vest quarterly over five 
years provided the employee is still 
in service of the Company. 
Awards vest quarterly over five 
years provided the employee is still 
in service of the Company. 

Final  
vesting 
 date 

30 June 2025 

30 June 2025 

The fair value of the option granted in 2020 has been estimated using the Monte Carlo simulation. 
The principal assumptions used in the calculation were as follows:

Share price at 30 June 2020
Share price at 17 November 2020
exercise price
expected life
Weighted average risk-free rate
dividend yield

Outstanding at 1 January 2021 
Granted 

Outstanding at 31 December 2021

Granted 

Outstanding at 31 December 2022

2020

£ 0.328
£ 0.299
–
5 years
(0.04%)
2.0%

Weighted 
average 
fair value 
per award 

£413.48
–

£413.48

–

Number of 
awards

625 
–

625 

–

625 

£413.48

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LMS CapitaL pLC  |  AnnuAl report And Accounts 2022

Notes to the Financial Statements 
continued
18. LEASES

leAse coMMItMents

The Company leases a rental office and information with regards to this lease is outlined below:

Rental lease asset 

Leased asset recognised under IFRS 16 at 1 January 2021
depreciation for the year 

Balance at 31 December 2021
depreciation for the year

Balance as at 31 December 2022

Rental lease liability 

Leased asset recognised under IFRS 16 at 1 January 2021
Unwinding of the discount on lease liability 
payments for lease 

Balance at 31 December 2021
Unwinding of the discount on lease liability 
payments for lease 

Balance as at 31 December 2022

19. FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT
FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS BY CATEGORY

£'000

125 
(28) 

97 
(27)

70

£'000

127
8
(33)

102
6
(33)

75

The following tables analyse the Company’s financial assets and financial liabilities in accordance with the 
categories of financial instruments in IFRS 9. Assets and liabilities outside the scope of IFRS 9 are not included 
in the table below:

2022

Measured 
at
amortised
cost
£'000

–
5,158
60
14,542

19,760

Fair
value
through
profit or 
loss
£'000

68,207
–
–
–

68,207

31 December

2021

Measured 
at
amortised
cost
£'000

–
5,191 
41 
14,518 

Fair
value
through
profit or
loss
£'000

68,461
–
–
–

68,461 

19,750 

total
£'000

68,207
5,158
60
14,542

87,967

total
£'000

68,461
5,191 
41 
14,518 

88,211 

Financial assets

Investments
Amounts receivable from subsidiaries
Operating and other receivables
cash

90

2022

Measured 
at
amortised
cost
£'000

400
41,032
75

41,507

Fair
value
through
profit or
loss
£'000

–
–
–

–

31 December

Fair
value
through
profit or
loss
£'000

– 
– 
–

– 

total
£'000

400
41,032
75

41,507

2021

Measured 
at
amortised
cost
£'000

367 
38,740 
102 

total
£'000

367 
38,740 
102 

39,209 

39,209 

Financial liabilities

Operating and other payables
Amounts payable to subsidiaries
Lease liabilities

Intercompany payables to subsidiaries are all repayable on demand, thus there are no discounted contractual cash 
flows to present.

The Company has exposure to the following risks from its use of financial instruments:

•  credit risk;

•  liquidity risk; and

•  market risk.

This note presents information about the Company’s exposure to each of the above risks, its policies for measuring 
and managing risk, and its management of capital.

CREDIT RISK

Credit risk is the risk of the financial loss to the Company if a counterparty to a financial instrument fails to meet 
its contractual obligations and arises principally from the Company’s receivables and its cash.

Amounts receivable from subsidiaries
Operating and other receivables
cash

31 December

2022
£'000

5,158
60
14,542

2021
£'000

5,191 
41 
14,518 

19,760 

19,750 

The Company limits its credit risk exposure by only depositing funds with highly rated institutions. Cash holdings at 
31 December 2022 and 2021 were held in institutions currently rated A or better by Standard and Poor. Given these 
ratings, the Company does not expect any counterparty to fail to meet its obligations and therefore, no allowance 
for impairment is made for bank deposits.

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LMS CapitaL pLC  |  AnnuAl report And Accounts 2022

Notes to the Financial Statements 
continued
19. FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT contInued
The loss allowance as at 31 December 2022 and 31 December 2021 was determined as follows for trade receivables:

2022

expected loss rate
Other receivables

2021

expected loss rate
Other receivables

More than 
30 days  
past due
£'000

More than  
60 days  
past due
£'000

More than 
120 days  
past due
£'000

Current
£'000

–
60

60

–
–

–

–
–

–

100%
–

–

More than  
30 days  
past due
£'000

More than  
60 days  
past due
£'000

More than  
120 days  
past due
£'000

current
£'000

–
41

41

–
–

–

–
–

–

100%
–

–

total
£'000

–
60

60

total
£'000

–
41

41

The Company recognised credit losses of the full value of receivable for trade receivables not recovered  
after four months. As at 31 December 2022, the Company does not have an outstanding trade receivable  
(31 December 2021: £nil). 

For the year ending 31 December 2022, the Company did not witness a significant increase in the credit risk  
of the outstanding receivables from subsidiaries and other receivables, therefore no expected losses were 
recognised during the year (31 December 2021: £nil).

LIQUIDITY RISK

Liquidity risk is the risk that the Company will not be able to meet its financial obligations as they fall due. 
Its financing requirements are met through a combination of liquidity from the sale of investments and the 
use of cash resources.

The following table shows an analysis of the financial assets and financial liabilities by remaining expected 
maturities as at 31 December 2022 and 31 December 2021.

Financial assets:

2022

Investment
Amounts receivable from subsidiaries
Operating and other receivables
cash

Up to
3 months
£'000

3–12
months
£'000

1–5
years
£'000

–
–
60
14,542

14,602

–
–
–
–

–

–
–
–
–

–

Over
5 years
£'000

68,907
5,158
–
–

total
£'000

68,907
5,158
60
14,542

74,065

88,667

92

2021

Investment
Amounts receivable from subsidiaries
Operating and other receivables
cash

Financial liabilities:

2022

Operating and other payables
Amount payable to subsidiaries
Lease liabilities

2021

Operating and other payables
Amount payable to subsidiaries
Lease liabilities

up to 
3 months
£'000

3-12 
months
£'000

1-5 
years
£'000

–
–
41 
14,518 

14,559 

–
–
–
–

–

–
–
–
–

–

over
5 years
£'000

68,461 
5,191 
–
–

73,652 

Up to 
3 months
£'000

3–12 
months
£'000

1–5 
years
£'000

Over
5 years
£'000

400
41,032
6

41,438

–
–
22

22

–
–
47

47

–
–
–

–

up to 
3 months
£'000

3-12 
months
£'000

1-5 
years
£'000

over
5 years
£'000

367
38,740
6

39,113

–
–
21

21

–
–
75

75

–
–
–

–

total
£'000

68,461 
5,191 
41 
14,518 

88,211 

total
£'000

400
41,032
75

41,507

total
£'000

367
38,740
102

39,209

In addition, some of the Company’s subsidiaries have uncalled capital commitments to funds of £2,674,000  
(31 December 2021: £2,665,000) for which the timing of payment is uncertain (see note 20).

MARKET RISK

Market risk is the risk that changes in market prices such as foreign exchange rates, interest rates and equity 
prices will affect the Company’s income or the value of its holdings of financial instruments. The Company 
aims to manage this risk within acceptable parameters while optimising the return.

CURRENCY RISK

The Company is exposed to currency risk on those of its investments which are denominated in a currency other 
than the Company’s functional currency which is pounds sterling. The only other significant currency within the 
investment portfolio is the US dollar; approximately 76% of the investment portfolio is denominated in US dollars.

The Company does not hedge the currency exposure related to its investments. The Company regards its exposure 
to exchange rate changes on the underlying investment as part of its overall investment return and does not seek 
to mitigate that risk through the use of financial derivatives.

The Company is exposed to translation currency risk on sales and purchases which are denominated in a currency 
other than the Company’s functional currency. The currency in which these transactions are denominated is 
principally US dollars.

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LMS CapitaL pLC  |  AnnuAl report And Accounts 2022

Notes to the Financial Statements 
continued
19. FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT contInued
The Company’s exposure to foreign currency risk was as follows:

Investments
Amounts receivable from subsidiaries
Right-of-use assets
Operating and other receivables
cash
Operating and other payables
Amount payable to subsidiaries

Gross exposure
Forward exchange contracts

net exposure

31 December

2022

USD
£'000

23,486
1
–
–
314
(35)
(18)

23,748
–

23,748

GBp
£'000

44,118
5,157
70
71
14,228
(440)
(41,014)

22,190
–

22,190

Other
£'000

603
–
–
–
–
–
–

603
–

603

2021

usd
£'000

22,554 
11 
–
–
500 
(35)
(7,143)

15,887 
–

15,887 

GBP
£'000

44,794 
5,172 
97 
41 
14,018 
(434)
(31,597)

32,091 
–

32,091 

other
£'000

1,113 
8 
–
–
–
–
–

1,121 
–

1,121 

The aggregate net foreign exchange profit recognised in profit or loss was:

Net foreign exchange profit on investment
Net foreign exchange profit on non-investment

Total net foreign exchange profit recognised in profit before income tax for the year

31 December

2022
£'000

2,769
439

3,208

2021
£'000

21
172

193

At 31 December 2022, the rate of exchange was USD $1.21 = £1.00 (31 December 2021: $1.35 = £1.00).

A 10% strengthening of the US dollar against the pound sterling would have increased equity and increased profit 
by £2.6 million at 31 December 2022 (31 December 2021: increased equity and increased profit by £1.8 million). This 
assumes that all other variables, in particular interest rates, remain constant. A weakening of the US dollar by 
10% against the pound sterling would have decreased equity and decreased the profit for the year by £2.2 million 
(31 December 2021: decreased equity and decreased the profit for the year by £1.4 million). This level of change is 
considered to be reasonable based on observations of current conditions. 

INTEREST RATE RISK

At the reporting date, the Company’s cash is exposed to interest rate risk and the sensitivity below is based on 
these amounts.

An increase of 100 basis points in interest rates at the reporting date would have increased equity by £145,000 
(31 December 2021: increase of £155,000) and increased the profit for the year by £145,000 (31 December 2021: 
increased the profit £155,000). A decrease of 100 basis points would have decreased equity and increased the loss 
for the year by the same amounts. This level of change is considered to be reasonable based on observations of 
current conditions.

FAIr VAlues

All items not held at fair value in the statement of Financial position have fair values that approximate their 
carrying values.

94

 
OTHER MARKET PRICE RISK

Equity price risk arises from equity securities held as part of the Company’s portfolio of investments. The Company’s  
management of risk in its investment portfolio focuses on diversification in terms of geography and sector, as well 
as type and stage of investment.

The Company’s investments comprise unquoted investments in its subsidiaries and investments in quoted 
investments. The subsidiaries’ investment portfolios comprise investments in quoted and unquoted equity 
and debt instruments. Quoted investments are quoted on the main stock exchanges in London and New York. 
A proportion of the unquoted investments are held through funds managed by external managers.

As is common practice in the venture and development capital industry, the investments in unquoted companies  
are structured using a variety of instruments including ordinary shares, preference shares and other shares carrying  
special rights, options and warrants and debt instruments with and without conversion rights. The investments are  
held for resale with a view to the realisation of capital gains. Generally, the investments do not pay significant income.

The significant unobservable inputs used at 31 December 2022 in measuring investments categorised as level 3 in 
note 11 are considered below:

1. 

 Unquoted securities (carrying value £17 million) are valued using the most appropriate valuation technique 
such as a revenue-based approach, an earnings-based approach, or a discounted cash flow approach. These 
investments are sensitive to both the overall market and industry-specific fluctuations that can impact 
multiples and comparable company valuations. In most cases the valuation method uses inputs based 
on comparable quoted companies for which the key unobservable inputs are:

 – EBITDA multiples of approximately five times dependent on the business of each individual company, 

its performance and the sector in which it operates;

 – revenue multiples in the range 0.30–1.5 times, also dependent on attributes at individual investment  

level; and

 – discounts applied of up to 50%, to reflect the illiquidity of unquoted companies compared to similar quoted  
companies. The discount used requires the exercise of judgement taking into account factors specific to 
individual investments such as size and rate of growth compared to other companies in the sector.

2. 

 Investments in funds (carrying value £14 million) are valued using reports from the general partners of the fund 
interests with adjustments made for calls, distributions and foreign currency movements since the date of the 
report (if prior to 31 December 2022). The Company also carries out its own review of individual funds and their 
portfolios to satisfy themselves that the underlying valuation bases are consistent with the basis of valuation 
and knowledge of the investments and the sectors in which they operate. However, the degree of detail on 
valuations varies significantly by fund and, in general, details of the unobservable inputs used are not available.

Two of the Company’s subsidiaries’ underlying investments are valued using discounted cash flow (“DCF”) 
models. The table below shows the effect on profit/(loss) of increasing or decreasing the discount rate used on 
the valuation on these investments. The base-case discount rate used is 30% and a change to 20% or 40% is 
considered to be a reasonable possible change for the purpose of the sensitivity analysis.

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Effect of change in discount rate to 20%
Effect of change in discount rate to 40%

31 December

2022
£’000

1,643 
(1,201)

2021
£’000

1,059 
(840)

95

 
LMS CapitaL pLC  |  AnnuAl report And Accounts 2022

Notes to the Financial Statements 
continued
19. FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT contInued
The valuation of the investments in subsidiaries makes use of multiple interdependent significant unobservable 
inputs and it is not meaningful to sensitise variations of any one input on the value of the investment portfolio 
as a whole. Estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis, however, inputs are highly 
subjective. Changes in any one of the variables, earnings or revenue multiples or illiquidity discounts could 
potentially have a significant effect on the valuation.

The reported values of the level 3 investments would change, should there be a change in the underlying 
assumptions and unobservable inputs driving these values. The Company has performed a sensitivity analysis 
to assess the overall impact on the profit for the year of a 10% movement in these reported values of investments. 
The effect on profit/(loss) is shown in the table below:

Effect of 10% decrease in investment value 
Effect of 10% increase in investment value 

CAPITAL MANAGEMENT

31 December

2022
£’000

(6,800)
6,800

2021
£’000

(6,800)
6,800

The Company’s total capital at 31 December 2022 was £47 million (31 December 2021: £49 million) comprising 
equity share capital and reserves. The Company had no borrowings at 31 December 2022 (31 December 2021: £nil).

In order to meet the Company’s capital management objectives, the Board monitors and reviews the broad 
structure of the Company’s capital on an ongoing basis. This review includes:

•  working capital requirements and follow-on investment capital for portfolio investments, including calls 

from funds;

•  capital available for new investments; and

•  the annual dividend policy and other possible distributions to shareholders.

20. CAPITAL COMMITMENTS

outstanding commitments to funds

31 December

2022
£'000

2,674

2021
£'000

2,665

The outstanding capital commitments to funds comprise unpaid calls in respect of funds where a subsidiary of the 
Company is a limited partner.

As of 31 December 2022, the Company has no other contingencies or commitments to disclose (31 December 2021: £nil).

96

21. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTION
During the year, the Company paid rent of £32,780 (31 December 2021: £32,780) to The Rayne Foundation.  
Robert Rayne is the Chairman of The Rayne Foundation. 

22. SUBSEQUENT EvENTS
There are no subsequent events that would materially affect the interpretation of these Financial Statements.

23. SUBSIDIARIES
The Company’s subsidiaries are as follows:

Name

Country of incorporation 

Holding %

activity

International Oilfield Services Limited
LMS Capital (Bermuda) Limited
LMS Capital Group Limited
lMs capital Holdings limited
lioness property Investments limited
lion property Investments limited
lion Investments limited
Lion Cub Property Investments Limited
tiger Investments limited
lMs tiger Investments (II) limited
Westpool Investment trust plc
cavera limited
LMS Co-Invest Limited

Bermuda
Bermuda
england and Wales
england and Wales
england and Wales
england and Wales
england and Wales
england and Wales
england and Wales
england and Wales
england and Wales
england and Wales
england and Wales

100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

Investment holding
Investment holding
Investment holding
Investment holding
Investment holding
Investment holding
Investment holding
dormant
Investment holding
Investment holding
Investment holding
trading
trading

The registered office addresses of the Company’s subsidiaries are as follows:

Subsidiaries incorporated in England and Wales: 3 Bromley Place, London, United Kingdom, W1T 6DB.

Subsidiaries and partnerships incorporated in Bermuda: Clarendon House, 2 Church Street, 
Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda. 

24. NET ASSET vALUE PER SHARE
the net asset value per ordinary shares in issue are as follows:

nAV (£'000)
Number of ordinary shares in issue
nAV per share (in pence)

31 December

2022

2021

46,541
80,727,450
57.65

49,109 
80,727,450 
60.83

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LMS CapitaL pLC  |  AnnuAl report And Accounts 2022

Corporate Information

solIcItors

CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP
cannon place
78 Cannon Street
London EC4N 6AF

COMPANY WEBSITE

The Company’s website provides further information 
on the company’s strategy and investments, as well as 
information for shareholders.
www.lmscapital.com

FInAncIAl cAlendAr 2022

Annual General Meeting – 17 May 2023
Half-year results – July 2023

dIrectors

Robert Rayne
nicholas Friedlos 
peter Harvey 
Graham Stedman 
James Wilson 

SECRETARY

IQ EQ Corporate Services (UK) Limited
4th Floor, 3 More London Riverside
London SE1 2AQ

AudItor

BDO LLP
55 Baker Street
London W1U 7EU

BROKERS

shore capital limited
cassini House
57 St. James’s Street
London SW1A 1LD

REGISTERED OFFICE

3 Bromley Place
London W1T 6DB
Registered number 05746555

BANKERS

Barclays Bank plc
1 Churchill Place
London E14 5HP

REGISTRARS

Link Asset Services
the registry 
34 Beckenham Road
Beckenham 
Kent BR3 4TU 
Tel: (UK) 0871 664 0300
(Outside UK) +44 (0)20 8639 3399
Email: enquiries@linkgroup.co.uk

98

Notes

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LMS CapitaL pLC  |  AnnuAl report And Accounts 2022

Notes

100

FSC Logo 
to go here

Printed by a carbon balanced, FSC®-recognised printer, certified to ISO 14001 environmental 
management system using 100% renewable energy. This product has been made of material from 
well-managed, FSC®-certified forests and other controlled sources. Both paper and production are 
measured and carbon balanced, based on a third party, audited, calculation.

100% of the inks used are HP Indigo ElectroInk which complies with RoHS legislation and meets 
the chemical requirements of the Nordic Ecolabel (Nordic Swan) for printing companies, 95% of 
press chemicals are recycled for further use and, on average 99% of any waste associated with this 
production will be recycled and the remaining 1% used to generate energy. 

The printer contributes to the World Land Trust’s ‘Conservation Coast’ project in Guatemala. 
This scheme supports many landowners and local communities to register and obtain their own 
land and thereby protect thousands of acres of threatened coastal forest. The local organisation 
FUNDAECO works with over 3000 families to help transform local livelihoods through job creation 
and ecotourism.

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LMS Capital plc
3 Bromley Place
London
W1T 6DB

0207 935 3555
info@lmscapital.com

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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