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Pembroke VCT plc

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FY2016 Annual Report · Pembroke VCT plc
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ANNUAL REPORT  AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTSfor the year ended 31 March 2016Contents

Financial Summary and Investment Objective

Chairman’s Statement

The Board

Investment Adviser’s Review

Investment Portfolio

Investment Review

Strategic Report

Directors’ Report

Directors’ Remuneration Report

Corporate Governance Statement

Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities

Independent Auditor’s Report

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Statement of Changes in Equity

Cash Flow Statement 

Notes to the Financial Statements

Notice of Annual General Meeting

Corporate Information

04

05

06

08

10

12

25

28

29

32

35

36

39

40

42

44

46

57

59

Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016 | 03

Financial Summary and Investment Objective

Chairman’s Statement

Financial Summary

Year ended
31.03.16
Ordinary 
shares

Year ended
31.03.16
B Ordinary 
shares

Year ended 
31.03.16 

total

Year ended 
31.03.15 
Ordinary
shares

Period ended
31.03.15* 
B Ordinary  
shares

Year ended 
31.03.15 

total

Net assets

£20,124,959

£8,558,027 £28,682,986 £18,857,630

£1,938,412 £20,796,042

Number of shares in issue

18,091,202

8,116,777

26,207,979

18,141,202

1,979,400

20,120,602

Net asset value per share

111.24p

105.44p

109.44p

103.95p

97.93p

103.36p

Investment income

£621,233

£183,441

£804,674

£496,083

–

£496,083

Profit on ordinary activities before tax

Revenue

Capital

Total

Return per share

Revenue

Capital

Total

£368,902

£103,031

£471,933

£166,938

£1,088,170

£530,538

£1,618,708

£994,610

£(745)

£(655)

£166,193

£993,955

£1,457,072

£633,569

£2,090,641

£1,161,548

£(1,400)

£1,160,148

1.72p

6.17p

7.89p

1.47p

9.32p

10.79p

n/a

n/a

n/a

0.92p

5.48p

6.40p

(0.04)p

(0.03)p

(0.07)p

n/a

n/a

n/a

*Period ended 31 March 2015 figures for B Ordinary shares reflect the period from the date of first allotment (19 March 2015)  
to 31 March 2015.

Investment Objective

Pembroke VCT plc (the “Company”) is a 
generalist VCT focused on private equity 
style investments in the leisure and 
luxury brands sectors. 

The Company invests in a diversified 
portfolio of small, principally unquoted 
companies, and selects those which 
Oakley Investment Managers LLP (the 
“Investment Adviser”) believes provide 
the opportunity for value appreciation.

The Board of Directors of the Company 
(the “Board”) believe that the Company 
can benefit from leveraging the previous 
sector experience of the Investment 
Adviser and also that there are likely to 
be synergistic advantages from grouping 
similar businesses. Consequently, most 
investments fall within one of four sectors:

• Health and Fitness
• Hospitality
• Apparel and Accessories
• Media and Technology

As mentioned in my letter to 
Shareholders in the Prospectus 2015,  
a number of changes to the VCT Rules 
were enacted in December 2015 to 
restrict the types of companies that 
VCTs can invest in. These primarily 
aimed to alter the behaviour of VCT 
funds which were increasingly helping 
to facilitate management buyouts and 
deploy later-stage ‘replacement capital’. 
Given Pembroke’s historic focus on 
growing early stage companies, the 
Board is comfortable that the underlying 
strategy of the Company is unaffected 
by these changes. For Pembroke VCT,  
it remains ‘business as usual’.

Annual General Meeting 
The Annual General Meeting (“AGM”) 
will be held at Oakley Capital 
Management’s offices at 3 Cadogan 
Gate, London SW1X 0AS on  
29 September 2016 at 11.00 am.

Jonathan Djanogly 
Chairman

29 July 2016

(6.40p) 2015: and per B Ordinary share 
of 10.79p (loss of 0.07p). Income arose 
from the unrealised revaluation of 
investments of £1.8 million (£1.1 million) 
and interest income, principally from 
loan notes provided to a number of the 
portfolio companies, of £0.8 million 
(£0.5 million). This was offset by 
Company expenses and Investment 
Adviser fees amounting, in total,  
to £0.5 million (£0.5 million). Total 
expenses in the Company (including 
Investment Adviser fees) are capped  
at 0.5% of NAV per quarter. 

NAV at 31 March 2016 was  
£28.7 million (£20.8 million), 
equivalent to 111.24p (103.95p) per 
Ordinary share and 105.44p (97.93p) 
per B Ordinary share. This includes the 
cost to NAV of the issue expenses of  
the offer, which were fixed at 2% of the 
gross proceeds raised.

Outlook
Funds raised from the latest B Ordinary 
share offer will enable the Investment 
Adviser to continue investing in high 
quality opportunities and selected 
follow-on opportunities from the 
existing share portfolio. At present the 
management team are evaluating a 
number of new companies, replicating 
the consumer focused strategy used to 
date in the Ordinary and B Ordinary 
share funds. 

I am pleased to present my report for 
the year ended 31 March 2016.

Having been fully invested in our 
Ordinary share offer at the beginning of 
the year, we have successfully deployed 
the proceeds of our first B Ordinary share 
offer which commenced in September 
2014. The second B Ordinary offer 
opened in October 2015 and at 
31 March 2016 had raised £5.4 million 
with the offer remaining open to new 
investors until September 2016. 

During the period the Total Return (net 
asset value (“NAV”) plus cumulative 
dividends paid) of the Ordinary shares 
rose from 106.95p per share at 
31 March 2015 to 114.84p per share at 
31 March 2016. Over the same period 
the Total Return of the B Ordinary 
shares rose from 97.93p to 105.44p. 

Investment Overview 
During the year we have made two new 
investments (ME+EM, Cheekfrills) and 
seen the opportunity to profitably 
re-invest in a further fourteen 
constituents of our existing portfolio. 
There have been a number of 
revaluations across the portfolio with 
the overall impact, including new 
investments from the B Ordinary share 
offer, being a rise in the total value of 
investments (including accrued income) 
from £17.7 million to £24.5 million, of 
which organic growth constituted  
£2.7 million. For further details please 
see the Investment Adviser’s Review and 
Investment Portfolio on pages 8 to 11.

Dividends 
In October 2015 the Company paid a 
dividend of 0.6 pence per Ordinary 
share. The Board now recommends that 
the shareholders approve, at the 
forthcoming Annual General Meeting, 
the payment of a further dividend of  
2 pence per Ordinary share and  
2 pence per B Ordinary share.

Results
The Company made a profit of  
£2.1 million in the year to 31 March 
2016 (year ending 31 March 2015:  
£1.2 million), representing a weighted 
profit per Ordinary share of 7.89p 

04 | Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016

Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016 | 05

 
 
The Board

Investments

Jonathan Djanogly 
Independent non- executive Chairman 

Laurence Blackall 
Independent non- executive Director 

Jonathan is a non-practising solicitor 
and was, for over ten years, a corporate 
partner at City law firm SJ Berwin LLP. 
He specialised in mergers and 
acquisitions, private equity and joint 
ventures as well as fund raising on 
public markets. Jonathan has been a 
Member of Parliament since 2001,  
in which capacity he served for 
approximately four years as a Member 
of the Trade and Industry Select 
Committee. Between 2005 and 2010, 
he also served on the Opposition front 
bench as shadow Solicitor General and 
as a shadow Minister for Trade and 
Industry with responsibility for 
employment law and corporate 
governance. From 2010 Jonathan served 
as a Justice Minister for over two years 
and from 2013 to 2015 he was a 
consultant at international law firm, 
King & Wood Mallesons LLP.

Laurence has had a 30-year career  
in the information, media and 
communication industries. After an 
early career at Virgin and the SEMA 
Group he was a director of Frost & 
Sullivan before moving to McGraw Hill 
where he was a vice-president in its 
computer and communications group. 
He then went on to found AIM listed 
Internet Technology Group plc in 1995 
and successfully negotiated its sale in 
2000 for a consideration of almost 
£150 million. Laurence was also 
instrumental in the creation of Pipex 
Communications plc. He has interests 
in a range of leisure and TMT businesses 
and currently holds a number of 
directorships in public and private UK 
companies. He is a Governor of the 
University of Kingston. 

Peter Dubens 
Non- independent 
non- executive Director 

Peter is an entrepreneur, best known  
for founding the Oakley Capital Group, 
a privately owned asset management 
and advisory group comprising private 
equity, venture capital, corporate 
finance and capital introduction 
operations managing over  
US$1.1 billion. 

Oakley Capital Private Equity invests 
and supports the continued growth  
and development of some of Europe’s 
leading companies, including the global 
multimedia platform TimeOut; the 
iconic sailing brand, North Sails; and 
Facile, Italy’s leading price comparison 
website. Oakley Capital currently 
advises Oakley Fund I (€287 million), 
Oakley Fund II (€524 million) and 
Oakley Fund III (in excess of 
€500 million), generating strong returns 
for its Limited Partners as well as Oakley 
Capital Investments Limited, a London, 
AIM-listed investment vehicle that 
invests in Oakley’s private equity funds.

Peter is also the founding partner of 
PROfounders Capital a venture capital 
fund for entrepreneurs powered by 
entrepreneurs who invest in and support 
new businesses in the mobile, internet 
and technology space with capital, 
proactive advice and expertise in  
order to create long term value and 
promote entrepreneurism.

Peter has been a consistent supporter  
of small entrepreneurial endeavours 
through both Pembroke VCT and 
personal investments. Oakley 
established the Company in 2013 to 
support the development of smaller, 
early stage high growth businesses. 
Peter has a particular focus on deal 
origination in relation to the Company. 

06 | Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016

Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016 | 07

Investment Adviser’s Review 

Investment Adviser’s Review continued

Overview
The Company has made two new 
investments and made follow-on 
investments in fourteen companies in 
the year to 31 March 2016, spanning 
the Company’s expertise in the health 
and fitness, hospitality, apparel and 
accessories, and media and technology 
sectors. At the year end, the portfolio 
comprised twenty two investments with 
a cost of £19.7 million and a fair value 
of £23.3 million, representing an 18.3% 
increase over cost.

Portfolio Review 
The Company invested £0.4 million in the 
two new investments made during the 
year and has invested a further 
£4.8 million in the form of debt and 
equity investments in the fourteen existing 
portfolio companies. The two new 
investments are in ME+EM and 
Cheekfrills, both of which were unquoted, 
with investments made in the form of new 
ordinary equity with full voting rights.  
The fourteen follow-on investments 
comprise seven further equity 
commitments to support further growth 
in Plenish, Dilly & Wolf, Chilango, 
Chucs Bar & Grill, Second Home, 
Troubadour and Penfield, alongside the 
extension of loans to provide working 
capital to ten investee companies.

Having taken a small equity position in 
Cheekfrills during the year, it became 
apparent that despite its strong list of 
retail partners the founders were unable 
to develop the business within the 
constraints of the fashion cash cycle.  
In December 2015 it was decided to 
place the business into administration 
and reflect this here as a write off of our 
initial investment of £0.2 million.

Since the year end the Company has 
made investments totalling £1.8 million 
in eleven companies including two  
new investments totalling £0.5 million 
and eleven follow-on investments of 
£1.3 million.

The new investments included 
£0.3 million in April 2016 in Bel-Air Inc., 
a London-based but Californian-styled 
premium delicatessen concept that serves 
the breakfast and lunch needs of workers 
in London’s financial and creative 
districts. Its distinctive market positioning 
in an area of strong growth in the 
lunchtime dining market make it a 
promising vehicle for furthering 
Pembroke’s exposure in the food and 
beverage sector. The second investment of 
£0.2 million was in a new fashion brand 
which uniquely allies distinctive styling 
with well-known and respected celebrity 
design exposure. Both investments were 
made by the B Ordinary share fund.

Post year end the B Ordinary share fund 
also invested £1.4 million in existing 
portfolio companies including Plenish 
(£0.1 million), Penfield (£0.2 million), 
Bella Freud Parfum (£30,000), Chucs 
Bar & Grill (£0.4 million), Rated People 
(£0.1 million), Zenos (£25,000), Blaze 
(£0.1 million), Dilly & Wolf (£25,000) 
and Boat International (£0.4 million).

Investment Performance 
Companies that have performed 
particularly well during the period and 
which justify upward revaluations 
include Plenish, which continued its 
strong growth of 2014-15 and in the 
process raise additional funds from new 
investors at a notably increased 
valuation. Five Guys, the premium 
fast-food restaurant chain, has 
performed exceptionally well, with 
continued roll-out across the UK ending 
with forty one sites at the end of our 
financial year and accounting for  
further value uplift of the equity 
attached to the loan note. We have also 
seen Second Home, the innovative 
workspace provider, watch take-up  
of their existing space extend into blue 
chip corporates, with plans for a second 
site well advanced. Chilangos has also 
seen its valuation increase in response 
to profitable extensions to its existing 

network to ten restaurants, with 
Manchester spearheading the brand’s 
regional roll-out. 

Owing to their trading performance,  
we have also assessed the fair value of 
Boom Cycle and Stillking Films to be 
higher than at March 2015. A number 
of our portfolio investments have had 
further funding rounds conducted at a 
premium to the previous price at which 
they were last valued, with the result 
that we have also revalued upwards; 
prominent examples include Rated 
People and Second Home.

Conversely, the turnaround at Chucs 
retail has taken longer than expected  
to deliver the wholesale revenues 
anticipated. Post the year end the 
company appointed Ben Mears, a 
highly experienced menswear designer, 
to the position of CEO. He has already 
begun to make significant 
improvements to the design, 
merchandising and channel mix of the 
brand. While the initial signs are 
encouraging, it is too early to recognise 
this in the valuation of the business, so 
the equity in this investment remains at 
nil value in line with December 2015. 
La Bottega, which operates in the  

casual dining sector, has responded  
to increasing competition from new 
operators and rent increases on several 
of its London sites by closing less 
profitable stores while reinvesting in 
others to improve ambience, the quality 
of the food offering and to extend 
opening hours to capitalise on the 
evening licensed trade. While this 
strategy takes root we have revalued  
the business downwards. A new  
funding round has been conducted  
at a discount at Penfield due to 
underperformance. Boat International 
continues to benefit from its 
repositioning as a luxury lifestyle leader 
meaning an improved enterprise 
valuation, with equity valuations 
impacted by the company taking 
advantage of new loan facilities.

Four investments are held at cost  
(Dilly & Wolf, Bella Freud Parfum, 
Zenos, Blaze) which we consider  
to be fair value, given that evidence of 
significant movement from the original 
investment appraisal has not yet been 
observed. Further details may be found 
in the Investment Portfolio and 
Investment Review on pages 10 to 23.

Valuation 
Investments held by the Company have 
been valued in accordance with the 
International Private Equity and Venture 
Capital (IPEVC) valuation guidelines 
developed by the British Venture Capital 
Association and other organisations. 
Through these guidelines, investments are 
valued as defined at ‘fair value’. Ordinarily, 
unquoted investments will be valued at 
cost for a limited period following the date 
of acquisition, being the most suitable 
approximation of fair value unless there 
is an impairment or significant accretion 
in value during the period. The portfolio 
valuations are prepared by the Investment 
Adviser, reviewed and approved by the 
Board and subject to audit annually.

In determining fair value, the Investment 
Adviser uses various valuation 
approaches, including a combination  
of the price of recent investment and 
market approach. The market approach 
ascribes a value to a business interest or 
shareholding by comparing it to similar 
businesses, using the principle of 
substitution: that is, that a prudent 
purchaser would pay no more for an 
asset than it would cost to acquire a 
substitute asset with the same utility  
and income earning potential.

08 | Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016

Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016 | 09

Investment Portfolio as at 31 March 2016

Investment Portfolio as at 31 March 2016 continued

Ordinary shares

  As at 31.03.16

  As at 31.03.15

B Ordinary shares

  As at 31.03.16

  As at 31.03.15

Cost 
£

Fair value 
£

% of net 
assets

Cost 
£

Fair value 
£

% of net 
assets

Cost 
£

Fair value 
£

% of net 
assets

Cost 
£

Fair value 
£

% of net 
assets

Health and Fitness

Boom Cycle

KX Gym

Plenish

Dilly & Wolf

Hospitality

Chilango

Five Guys UK

La Bottega

Chucs Bar & Grill

Second Home

Sourced Market

Apparel and Accessories

Kat Maconie

Troubadour Goods

Bella Freud

Chucs

Bella Freud Perfume

Penfield

Media and Technology

Boat International Media

Rated People

Zenos Cars

Blaze

Stillking Films

Investments before interest

Interest rolled up in fixed  
income investments*

Total investments

Net current assets

Net assets

*Added to investments in Financial Statements

429,460

700,000

325,000

270,000

412,487

733,344

1,392,664

270,000

549,850

729,792

1,512,800

3,211,687

1,960,000

1,090,000

614,278

525,074

830,000

320,000

590,000

400,000

990,039

190,000

614,400

822,170

1,433,633

760,353

711,233

1,106,265

983,333

340,000

190,000

404,817

2,100,000

1,315,824

585,738

500,000

200,000

486,053

500,000

200,000

1,451,770

1,542,641

2.1

3.7

6.9

1.3

3.6

16.0

5.4

4.1

7.1

3.8

3.5

5.5

4.9

1.7

0.9

2.0

6.5

2.4

2.5

1.0

7.7

388,562

700,000

325,000

170,000

388,562

724,027

594,413

170,000

549,850

695,040

1,512,800

3,025,203

1,960,000

1,393,249

614,278

525,074

830,000

420,000

590,000

350,000

990,039

140,000

364,400

822,221

833,349

1,032,205

840,955

590,000

685,356

340,000

140,000

291,564

2.1

3.8

3.2

0.9

3.7

16.0

7.4

4.4

4.4

5.5

4.5

3.1

3.6

1.8

0.7

1.6

2,100,000

2,100,000

11.1

489,978

500,000

490,000

44,030

550,550

490,000

1,451,770

1,451,770

0.2

2.9

2.6

7.7

15,658,409

18,636,296

92.6

15,461,751

17,202,494

91.2

1,099,753

1,099,753

16,758,162

19,736,049

388,910

388,910

5.5

98.1

1.9

483,881

483,881

15,945,632

17,686,375

1,171,255

1,171,255

2.6

93.8

6.2

17,147,072

20,124,959

100.0

17,116,887

18,857,630

100.0

Health and Fitness

Plenish

Dilly & Wolf

Hospitality

Chilango

Five Guys UK

La Bottega

Chucs Bar & Grill

Second Home

Sourced Market

Apparel and Accessories

Troubadour Goods

Penfield

Cheekfrills

ME+EM

Media and Technology

Boat International Media

Blaze

250,000

100,000

250,000

100,000

85,000

570,400

250,000

375,011

510,034

250,000

150,000

324,733

205,000

200,000

85,000

1,211,124

250,000

375,011

662,072

250,000

150,000

232,790

–

289,028

500,000

290,000

500,000

290,000

2.9

1.2

1.0

14.2

2.9

4.4

7.7

2.9

1.8

2.7

–

3.4

5.8

3.4

Investments before interest

4,060,178

4,645,025

54.3

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

1,938,412

1,938,412

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

100.0

100.0

Interest rolled up in fixed income  
investments*

Total investments

Net current assets

Net assets

*Added to investments in Financial Statements

Segment analysis

124,197

124,197

4,184,375

4,769,222

3,788,805

3,788,805

1.4

55.7

44.3

7,973,180

8,558,027

100.0

1,938,412

1,938,412

The charts below show the segment analyses of the investment portfolio based on cost at 31 March 2016.

Pembroke Ordinary

Pembroke B Ordinary

 11%  Health and 
  Fitness

 38%  Hospitality

 20%  Apparel and 

  Accessories

 31%  Media and 
  Technology

  9%  Health and 
  Fitness

 50%  Hospitality

 22%  Apparel and 

  Accessories

 19%  Media and 
  Technology

10 | Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016

Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016 | 11

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment Review as at 31 March 2016

Investment Review as at 31 March 2016 continued

Health and Fitness

Boom Cycle

KX Gym

Plenish

Dilly & Wolf

Boom Cycle is an indoor cycling concept which offers a fun, 
high intensity cardiovascular workout. The business currently 
has two studios based in London (Shoreditch and Holborn) 
where they combine indoor spin cycling with various exercise 
classes for both upper and lower body work-outs. Boom 
Cycle is one of the first dedicated spinning studios in London, 
and it has the potential to replicate the success of some larger 
players in the US.

KX Gym, founded in 2002, is a private members’ gym and spa, 
which includes a restaurant and clubroom, located in Chelsea, 
London. KX offers members an exclusive holistic approach to 
wellbeing, incorporating fitness, diet and relaxation. 

Plenish, founded in 2012, is one of the leading cold-pressed 
juicing businesses in the UK, offering 100% raw organic 
(unpasteurised) juice. Cold-press juicing is a convenient way 
to pack a large amount of vegetables and fruit into your diet. 
The company offers both a full body cleanse package and 
off-the-shelf juice bottles. The company is currently selling 
through two main channels: online and through select retailers 
(e.g. Ocado, Selfridges, Planet Organic, Harvey Nichols). 

Founded in 2013, Dilly & Wolf is a new premium snack 
brand. The company produces tasty and nourishing food 
using globally inspired recipes such as kabuki beans, quinoa 
and fava beans. Their flagship products are stocked in 
multiple retailers including Sainsburys, Ocado and Natural 
Kitchen, with plans to extend the range.

Cost

Valuation

Interest rolled up in  
fixed income investment

Basis of valuation

Equity holding

£429,460

£412,487

Cost

Valuation

£nil

Interest rolled up in  
fixed income investment

Multiples

Basis of valuation

27.7%

Equity holding

Investment in the year at cost

Total income recognised in the year

Short term loans and accrued interest

£40,897

£1,017

£26,017

Investment in the year at cost

Total income recognised in the year

Short term loans and accrued interest

£700,000

£733,344

£nil

Multiples

11.8%

£nil

£nil

£nil

Year to 31.12.15 
Revenue £9.3m  |  Profit before tax £(2.3)m  |  Net assets £5.4m

Note: where a company’s financial information – revenue, profit before tax and net assets – is audited and available, it has been 
provided in this review.

Cost

Valuation

Interest rolled up in  
fixed income investment

Basis of valuation

Equity holding

£575,000

Cost

£1,642,664

Valuation

£6,003

Interest rolled up in  
fixed income investment

£370,000

£370,000

£19,193

Last equity raise

Basis of valuation

Last equity raise

31.4%

Equity holding

Investment in the year at cost

£250,000

Investment in the year at cost

Total income recognised in the year

Short term loans and accrued interest

£12,024

£nil

Transferred from short term  
to long term loans in year

Total income recognised in the year

Short term loans and accrued interest

27.0%

£100,000

£100,000

£12,026

£nil

12 | Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016

Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016 | 13

 
Investment Review as at 31 March 2016 continued

Investment Review as at 31 March 2016 continued

Hospitality

Chilango

Five Guys UK

La Bottega

Chucs Bar & Grill

Chilango is a fast-casual Mexican restaurant chain concept 
based on successful US business models. There are currently 
ten restaurants: Upper Street, Fleet Street, Chancery Lane, 
London Wall, Brushfield Street, Monument, Camden, London 
Bridge and Leather Lane, plus a newly opened Manchester 
outlet that forms the basis for the brand’s regional roll-out.

Five Guys was founded in the US. The company serves a 
range of hand-made burgers made with fresh locally sourced 
beef and cooked on a grill, along with fresh-cut fries, served 
with unlimited toppings. It now has 49 outlets in the UK with 
plans for further growth.

La Bottega is an Italian chain of delicatessens in London, 
which serve high-quality authentic Italian food and coffee. 
Currently there are five shops trading in London, Chelsea, 
Belgravia, South Kensington, Ryder Street and Pont Street.

Chucs Bar & Grill is a restaurant concept reflecting the style 
and branding of the Chucs retail brand. The first restaurant is 
located on Dover Street in Mayfair, next door to the Chucs 
retail store, which opened in 2014. A second site successfully 
opened on Westbourne Grove in February 2016.

Cost

Valuation

Interest rolled up in  
fixed income investment

Basis of valuation

Equity holding

£634,850

£814,792

Cost

Valuation

£nil

Interest rolled up in  
fixed income investment

Last equity raise

Basis of valuation

3.0%

Equity holding

Investment in the year at cost

£85,000

Investment in the year at cost

Total income recognised in the year

Short term loans and accrued interest

£nil

£nil

Total income recognised in the year

Short term loans and accrued interest

£2,083,200

£4,422,811

£408,592

Multiples

4.2%

£570,400

£253,053

£nil

Cost

Valuation

Interest rolled up in  
fixed income investment

Basis of valuation

Equity holding

£2,210,000

Cost

£1,340,000

Valuation

£470,075

Interest rolled up in  
fixed income investment

Multiples

Basis of valuation

40.0%

Equity holding

Investment in the year at cost

Total income recognised in the year

Short term loans and accrued interest

£250,000

£215,867

£154,142

Investment in the year at cost

Total income recognised in the year

Short term loans and accrued interest

£989,289

£1,197,181

£77,758

Last equity raise

26.6%

£375,011

£44,158

£301,085

14 | Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016

Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016 | 15

Investment Review as at 31 March 2016 continued

Investment Review as at 31 March 2016 continued

Hospitality continued

Apparel and Accessories

Second Home

Sourced Market

Kat Maconie

Troubadour

Second Home offers flexible and modern office space for 
fast-growing technology firms and creative businesses. 
Combining architectural design with first class amenities, 
Second Home provides users with a unique and impressive 
office environment in which to locate their business for short, 
medium and long term. 

Sourced Market, launched in 2007, is a retail, café and 
restaurant concept that offers a curated selection of locally 
sourced fresh produce replicating the products and ambience 
found at a farmers’ market. The company’s flagship site is in  
St Pancras International in King’s Cross and has been 
complemented by a second destination site in Marylebone.

Kat Maconie, founded in 2008, designs and manufactures 
ladies’ shoes which are sold online, in department stores and 
in boutiques globally. In 2014, the company signed an 
exclusive license in China whereby nine own brand stores / 
concessions have been opened to date, with plans for further 
international licensing agreements in the pipeline

Troubadour Goods is a London-based luxury men’s 
accessories brand specialising in designing and creating 
superior handcrafted leather goods. 

Cost

Valuation

Interest rolled up in  
fixed income investment

Basis of valuation

Equity holding

£1,035,108

Cost

£2,095,705

Valuation

£7,839

Interest rolled up in  
fixed income investment

Current equity raise

Basis of valuation

5.5%

Equity holding

Investment in the year at cost

£510,034

Investment in the year at cost

Total income recognised in the year

£7,839

Total income recognised in the year

Short term loans accrued interest

£nil

Short term loans and accrued interest

£1,080,000

£1,010,353

£1,644

Multiples

20.7%

£250,000

£1,644

£nil

Cost

Valuation

Interest rolled up in  
fixed income investment

Basis of valuation

Equity holding

£320,000

£711,233

Cost

Valuation

£nil

Interest rolled up in  
fixed income investment

£740,000

£1,256,265

£nil

Last equity raise

Basis of valuation

Last equity raise

23.9%

Equity holding

Investment in the year at cost

£nil

Investment in the year at cost

Total income recognised in the year

£3,255

Total income recognised in the year

Short term loans and accrued interest

£nil

Short term loans and accrued interest

Long term loan repaid in year

£100,000

44.4%

£150,000

£nil

£nil

16 | Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016

Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016 | 17

Investment Review as at 31 March 2016 continued

Investment Review as at 31 March 2016 continued

Apparel and Accessories continued

Bella Freud

Bella Freud Perfume

Chucs

Penfield

Bella Freud is a fashion designer and manufacturer producing 
a range of high-end men’s and women’s clothing, focusing on 
knitwear. Currently her products are available at her own 
e-commerce site and through a range of luxury boutiques and 
department stores in the UK, Asia and US. 

With the continuing success of her fashion brand, Bella 
Freud, in cooperation with perfumer Azzi Glasser, has 
launched a series of fragrances with three scents blending 
modernity and heritage, including Je t’aime Jane, Ginsberg  
is God and the 1970. Bella Freud Perfume is now stocked  
in a range of boutiques and department stores globally.

Chucs is a luxury brand of men’s leisure wear.  Chucs is 
currently sold through its retail stores on Dover Street and 
Westbourne Grove in London and its seasonal store in  
St Tropez. 

Penfield is an outdoor clothing brand, founded in 1975 in 
Hudson Massachusetts. The brand’s range now consists of 
highest-quality down-filled jackets, fleece, anoraks, t-shirts, 
shorts and accessories for both men and women. Penfield 
products can be purchased online and in over 30 countries 
globally in a range of large retailers (e.g. Urban Outfitters,  
J Crew, Size).

Cost

Valuation

Interest rolled up in  
fixed income investment

Basis of valuation

Equity holding

£400,000

£983,333

£15,668

Cost

Valuation

Interest rolled up in  
fixed income investment

Equity raise and multiples

Basis of valuation

27.8%

Equity holding

Investment in the year at cost

Total income recognised in the year

£50,000

£29,070

Investment in the year at cost

Total income recognised in the year

Short term loans accrued interest

£515,726

Short term loans accrued interest

£190,000

£190,000

£12,733

Cost

30.0%

£50,000

£10,662

£nil

Cost

Valuation

Interest rolled up in  
fixed income investment

Basis of valuation

Equity holding

£990,039

£340,000

£43,762

Cost

Valuation

Interest rolled up in  
fixed income investment

Multiples

Basis of valuation

31.5%

Equity holding

Investment in the year at cost

£nil

Investment in the year at cost

Total income recognised in the year

Short term loans accrued interest

£56,847

£247,274

Transferred from short term  
to long term loans in year

Total income recognised in the year

Short term loans accrued interest

£939,133

£637,607

£49,839

Last equity raise

8.7%

£324,733

£250,000

£41,373

£nil

Year to 31.12.14: 
Revenue £8.6m  |  Profit before tax £(0.8)m  |  Net assets £1.4m

18 | Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016

Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016 | 19

 
Investment Review as at 31 March 2016 continued

Investment Review as at 31 March 2016 continued

Apparel and Accessories continued

Media and Technology

Cheekfrills

ME+EM

Boat International Media

Rated People

Cheekfrills, founded in 2012, is a women’s underwear brand 
which focuses on premium everyday knickers. The company 
first launched with a range of knickers and soon expanded  
to include other undergarments including: vests, pyjamas, 
bralets, robes, shorts and chemises. The company entered 
administration in December 2015.

ME+EM, founded in 2008, is a contemporary womenswear 
brand founded by Claire Hornby, designing and producing  
its collections primarily through catalogues and online, with 
one retail site in Connaught Street. The range now consists  
of dresses, knitwear, denim, separates and accessories.  
The brand targets women aged 30-55 who are busy and 
fashion conscious, offering a classic authentic look with 
designer quality at an affordable price.

Recognised as a significant worldwide media group serving 
the superyacht industry, Boat International Media provides 
information and services across traditional print, digital media 
and high quality events. In 2014 / 2015 the team re-launched 
the new Boat International and Show Boats magazines, and a 
new digital website. 

Rated People, founded in 2005, is one of the UK’s leading 
online market places for homeowners to find tradesmen for 
home improvement jobs. 

Cost

Valuation

Interest rolled up in  
fixed income investment

Basis of valuation

Equity holding

£205,000

Cost

£nil

£nil

Valuation

Interest rolled up in  
fixed income investment

Cost less impairment

Basis of valuation

n/a

Equity holding

Investment in the year at cost

£205,000

Investment in the year at cost

Total income recognised in the year

Short term loans and accrued interest

£nil

£nil

Total income recognised in the year

Short term loans and accrued interest

£200,000

£289,028

£nil

Multiples

5.1%

£200,000

£nil

£nil

Cost

Valuation

Interest rolled up in  
fixed income investment

Basis of valuation

Equity holding

£2,600,000

Cost

£1,815,824

Valuation

£110,844

Interest rolled up in  
fixed income investment

Multiples

Basis of valuation

21.6%

Equity holding

Investment in the year at cost

Total income recognised in the year

Short term loans and accrued interest

£500,000

£106,215

£507,200

Investment in the year at cost

Total income recognised in the year

Short term loans and accrued interest

£585,738

£486,053

£nil

Last equity raise

1.5%

£95,760

£nil

£nil

20 | Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016

Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016 | 21

Year to 31.12.15: 
Revenue £10.2m | Profit before tax £(3.1)m | Net assets £6.2m

Year to 31.12.15: 
Revenue £11.3m | Profit before tax £(2.1)m | Net assets £(1.4)m

 
 
Investment Review as at 31 March 2016 continued

Investment Review as at 31 March 2016 continued

Media and Technology continued

Media and Technology continued

Zenos Cars

Blaze

Zenos Cars has created lightweight sports cars that provide 
thrilling driveability and performance at an affordable price 
point. Zenos is led by Mark Edwards, previously chief 
operating officer of Caterham cars. The first E10 sports car has 
successfully been produced and received excellent reviews 
from relevant automobile publications.

Blaze designs products which enhance bike safety. Their 
flagship product is the Blaze Laserlight, which projects a laser 
image five to six metres on the ground ahead of the cyclist to 
ensure other road users know that you are present. The 
company is entering the global cycle hire market with a 
broadened product offer.

Cost

Valuation

Interest rolled up in 
fixed income investment

Basis of valuation

Equity holding

£500,000

£500,000

Cost

Valuation

£nil

Cost

Interest rolled up in  
fixed income investment

Basis of valuation

11.5%

Equity holding

Investment in the year at cost

£nil

Investment in the year at cost

Total income recognised in the year

£6,214

Total income recognised in the year

Short term loans and accrued interest

£156,214

Short term loans and accrued interest

£490,000

£490,000

£nil

Last equity raise

7.6%

£290,000

£nil

£nil

Stillking Films

Stillking Films is a prolific producer of commercials,  
TV series, feature films and music videos. The company has 
created commercials for almost all Dow Jones and FTSE 
advertisers. They have co-produced a number of successful 
feature films, including Casino Royale, Narnia, Mission 
Impossible 4 and The Bourne Identity and created music 
videos for artists including Beyoncé, Kanye West, Blur, 
Madonna and One Direction.

Cost

Valuation

Interest rolled up in  
fixed income investment

Basis of valuation

Equity holding

Investment in the year at cost

Total income recognised in the year

Short term loans and accrued interest

£1,451,770

£1,542,641

£nil

Multiples

5.0%

£nil

£nil

£nil

22 | Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016

Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016 | 23

Statutory Reports

Strategic Report
Statutory Reports

This report has been prepared by the 
Directors in accordance with the 
requirements of section 414 of the 
Companies Act 2006 and incorporates 
the Financial Summary, Chairman’s 
Statement and Investments section. 

The aim of the Strategic Report is to 
provide shareholders with the ability  
to assess how the Directors have 
performed their duty to promote the 
success of the Company for 
shareholders’ collective benefit. 

Investment strategy 
The Investment objective of the 
Company is to generate tax free capital 
gains and income on investors’ funds 
through investment primarily in 
companies within the leisure and luxury 
brands sectors, whilst mitigating risk 
appropriately within the framework  
of the structural requirements imposed 
on all VCTs. 

Investment policy 
The Company will continue to invest 
primarily in unquoted companies, 
across a diverse range of businesses; 
predominantly those which the 
Investment Adviser considers are 
capable of organic growth and, in the 
long term, sustainable cash flow 
generation. The investments will be 
focused towards consumer-facing 
businesses with an established brand or 
where brand development opportunities 
exist. The Company will continue its 
strategy of investing in a small portfolio 
of qualifying investments where, in most 
cases, the Investment Adviser is able to 
exert influence over key elements of 
each investee company’s strategy and 
operations. Investee companies may be 
at any stage in their development from 
start-up to established businesses, 
however the Company aims to invest 
broadly 60% in established and 40% in 
early-stage businesses. It is expected 
that a substantial proportion of the 
qualifying investments will be in the 
form of ordinary shares, and in some 
cases preference shares or loans. 

It is anticipated that, at any time, up to 
30% of investments will be held in 
non-qualifying investments, recognising 
that no single investment will represent 

more than 15% of net assets (at the time 
of investment). Until suitable qualifying 
investments are identified, up to 30% of 
net assets will be invested in a portfolio 
of investments which may include 
unquoted companies, money market 
securities, gilts and cash deposits. The 
portfolio of non-qualifying investments 
will be managed with the intention of 
generating a positive return.

Business review 
A detailed review of the Company’s 
development and performance during 
the year and consideration of its future 
prospects may be obtained by reference 
to this Report, the Chairman’s Statement 
(page 5) and the Investment Adviser’s 
Review (page 8). Details of the 
investments made by the Company are 
given in the Investment Portfolio 
summary (pages 8 and 9) and the 
Investment Review report (pages 12 to 
23). A summary of the Company’s key 
financial measures is given on page 4.

Management agreement 
Under an investment management 
agreement entered into on 15 February 
2013, novated to the Investment Adviser 
in July 2014 and variation on 3 October 
2014 (the “IMA”), the Investment 
Adviser provides discretionary and 
advisory investment management 
services to the Company in respect  
of its portfolio of investments.

Under the IMA, the Investment Adviser 
and the Company have agreed to fix the 
annual running costs of the Company at 
2.0% of the Company’s net asset value 
(and to the extent that they exceeded 
that cap, the Investment Adviser would 
bear those costs). The Investment Adviser 
is entitled to an annual management fee 
of the amount by which the annual 
running costs (other than the annual 
management fee) are less than 2.0%.  
It is therefore expected that the annual 
running costs payable by the Company 
each year will be 2.0% of its net asset 
value. The annual management fee is 
payable quarterly in advance based on 
projected Annual Running Costs and 
subject to a final balancing adjustment 
payment either way. Annual running 
costs include the regular ordinary 

course of business running costs  
of the Company but do not include 
costs related to extraordinary events  
or significant discretionary corporate 
events and do not include any 
Performance Fee payable (as  
described below).

As is customary in the venture capital 
industry, the Investment Adviser will 
receive a performance fee when the 
Company has performed well.  
The performance fee payable by the 
Company is 20% (exclusive of VAT) of 
any amounts distributed to shareholders 
in excess of £1 per share. In order to 
ensure that the interests of the 
Investment Adviser and shareholders  
are aligned, and to provide a strong 
incentive to the Investment Adviser,  
the performance fee will not be payable 
until distributions (whether of capital or 
income) to shareholders have exceeded 
certain hurdles. The hurdle in respect of 
the Ordinary Shares is that Ordinary 
shareholders must have received in 
aggregate a return equivalent to at least 
8% per annum per share on the amount 
subscribed per share as from 20 January 
2014 in respect of Ordinary shares 
issued pursuant to the launch offer and 
from 31 March 2014 in respect of 
Ordinary shares issued under the 2014 
top up offer. The hurdle in respect of the 
B Ordinary shares is that B Ordinary 
shareholders must have received in 
aggregate a return equivalent to at least 
3% per annum per share on the amount 
subscribed per share as from (i) the date 
of the last allotment under the offer of 
B Ordinary shares on the basis of the 
October 2014 prospectus in respect of 
shares issued under that prospectus or 
(ii) the date of the issue of relevant 
B Ordinary shares under any 
subsequent offer of B Ordinary shares, 
and in either case up to the date of 
proposed payment of the relevant 
Performance Incentive Fee. Where,  
at the time of a distribution there have 
been previous distributions to the 
relevant class of shareholders, for the 
purposes of determining if the hurdle  
on the relevant shares has been met,  
the return will be calculated from the 
day after the previous distribution date 
for the relevant shares on the total 

24 | Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016

Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016 | 25

Strategic Report continued

Strategic Report continued

amount subscribed per relevant share 
by shareholders but reduced by the 
aggregate amount of such previous 
distributions made on the relevant 
shares on a per share basis. The 
performance fee will be calculated 
separately on the Ordinary shares and 
the B Ordinary shares.

For example, in respect of Ordinary 
shares, once total paid or declared 
dividends have reached £1.00 per 
Ordinary share plus 8p per Ordinary 
share per annum, the Investment 
Adviser will be paid 20% (exclusive of 
VAT) of any amounts distributed to 
shareholders in excess of £1.00 per 
Ordinary share, with the remaining 
80% being distributed as a dividend to 
Ordinary shareholders.

In respect of B Ordinary shares, once 
total paid or declared dividends have 
reached £1.00 per B Ordinary share 
plus 3p per B Ordinary share per 
annum, the Investment Adviser will be 
paid 20% (exclusive of VAT) of any 
amounts distributed to shareholders in 
excess of £1.00 per share, with the 
remaining 80% being distributed as a 
dividend to B Ordinary shareholders. 

The Investment Adviser’s appointment 
under the IMA will continue until 
terminated on 12 months’ notice given 
by either party at any time. The 
Directors are of the opinion that the 
Investment Adviser has made a very 
successful start to raising, investing and 
managing funds for the Company and 
that the continuing appointment of the 
Investment Adviser on the terms agreed 
is in the interests of all shareholders.

Venture Capital Trust status 
The Company was granted approval as 
a Venture Capital Trust by HM Revenue 
& Customs under section 274 of the 
Income Tax Act 2007. The Directors 
have managed the affairs of the 
Company in compliance with this 
section throughout the year under 
review and intend to continue to do so.

Risk management 
The Board has carried out a robust 
assessment of the principal risks facing 
the Company through a risk 

management programme whereby it 
continually identifies the principal risks 
and uncertainties faced by the 
Company, including those that would 
threaten its business model, future 
performance, solvency or liquidity and 
reviews both the nature and 
effectiveness of the internal controls 
adopted to protect the Company from 
such risks as far as is possible. The 
principal risks facing the Company are 
Venture Capital Trust status risk and 
investment valuation and liquidity risk.

Venture Capital Trust  
status risk 
The Company is required to fulfil 
certain criteria in order to maintain its 
VCT status. Where full approval as a 
VCT is not maintained, this could 
potentially result in the loss of tax relief 
(i.e. capital gains and income tax relief) 
which have been provided to both the 
Company and investors alike. The 
Investment Adviser continually monitors 
compliance with the relevant VCT 
regulations, and has engaged Philip 
Hare & Associates LLP to provide 
periodic reports to ensure compliance. 

Investment valuation  
and liquidity risk 
The Company invests in small to 
medium sized businesses, some of 
which are start-up companies. As such, 
there is an inherent degree of risk and 
lower liquidity than is the case when 
investing in larger, established quoted 
companies. The Investment Adviser 
performs in-house due diligence on all 
investments, and also engages 
independent third-party providers when 
the investments are of a certain size or 
complexity. In addition, the Company 
aims to diversify its portfolio by investing 
in a range of industries and companies 
at varying stages of development. 

Internal control risk 
Failures in key controls - in particular 
those designed to mitigate Venture 
Capital Trust status risk and investment 
valuation and liquidity risk - within the 
Board or within the Investment Adviser’s 
business, could put assets of the 

Company at risk or result in reduced or 
inaccurate information being passed to 
the Board or to shareholders.

The Board seeks to mitigate the internal 
control risk by setting policy, regular 
reviews of performance, enforcement of 
contractual obligations and monitoring 
progress and compliance. Details of the 
Company’s internal controls are 
included within the Corporate 
Governance Statement.

Economic risk 
Events such as economic recession and 
movement in interest rates can affect 
investor sentiment towards liquidity risk, 
and hence have a negative impact on 
the valuation of smaller companies.  
The Investment Adviser seeks to mitigate 
this risk by seeking to adopt a suitable 
investment style for the current point in 
the business cycle, and to diversify the 
exposure to geographic end markets. 

Operational risk 
Failure of the Investment Adviser’s, or 
other contracted third-parties’, 
accounting systems or disruption to 
their businesses might lead to an 
inability to provide accurate reporting 
and monitoring or loss to shareholders. 
The Investment Adviser regularly 
reviews the performance of third-party 
suppliers at management meetings  
and the Directors review the 
performance of the Investment Adviser 
at Board meetings.

Social, environmental, 
community and human  
rights issues 
The Company had no employees during 
the year and the Company has three 
Directors, all of whom are male. The 
Company, being an externally managed 
investment company with no 
employees, has no policies in relation 
to environmental matters, social, 
community and human rights issues. 

Statement on Long Term 
Viability
In accordance with the revisions to the 
UK Corporate Governance Code in 
2014 (the “2014 Code”), the Directors 
have carried out a robust assessment of 
the prospects of the Company for the 
period to 31 March 2019, taking into 
account the Company’s current position 
and principal risks, and are of the 
opinion that, at the time of approving 
the financial statements there is a 
reasonable expectation that the 
Company will be able to continue in 
operation and meet liabilities as they 
fall due.

The Directors consider that for the 
purpose of this exercise a three year 
period is an appropriate time frame, as 
it allows for reasonable forecasts to be 
made to allow the Board to provide 
shareholders with reasonable assurance 
over the viability of the Company. In 
making their assessment the Directors 
have taken into account the nature of 
the Company’s business and investment 
policy, its risk management policies, the 
diversification of its portfolio and the 
Company’s cash position. 

Alternative Investment Fund 
Managers Directive 
(“AIFMD”)
In July 2013 the AIFMD was 
implemented, a European directive 
affecting the regulation of VCTs. The 
Company has appointed its Investment 
Adviser as its AIFM. The Company’s 
Investment Adviser was entered on the 
register of small registered UK AIFMs in 
February 2014. As an AIFM, the 
Investment Adviser is required to submit 
an annual report to the FCA setting out 
various information relating mainly to 
the Company’s investments, principal 
exposures and liquidity.

By Order of the Board  
The City Partnership (UK) Limited 
Company Secretary 
29 July 2016

26 | Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016

Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016 | 27

Directors’ Report

Directors’ Remuneration Report

This Directors’ Report incorporates the 
Corporate Governance Statement on 
pages 32 to 34 and the Statement of 
Directors Responsibilities on page 35.

Principal activity and status 
The Company is registered as a public 
limited company in England and Wales 
under registration number 08307631. The 
Directors have managed and intend to 
continue to manage the Company’s affairs 
in such a manner as to comply with 
section 274 of the Income Tax Act 2007.

Directors 
The Directors of the Company during 
the year under review were Jonathan 
Djanogly, Laurence Blackall and Peter 
Dubens. Brief biographical details of  
the Directors are given on page 6.  
In accordance with the Listing Rules of 
the Financial Conduct Authority, Peter 
Dubens, as a member of the Company’s 
Investment Adviser, is not considered 
independent and will therefore be subject 
to annual re-election by shareholders.

Dividend 
In October 2015 the Company paid an 
interim dividend of 0.6p per Ordinary 
share. The Board now recommends that 
the shareholders approve, at the 
forthcoming Annual General Meeting, 
the payment of further dividends of  
2.0p per Ordinary share and 2.0p per 
B Ordinary share. 

Share capital 
As at 31 March 2016 a total of 
18,091,202 (2015: 18,141,202) 
Ordinary shares of 1p each and 
8,116,777 (2015: 1,979,400) B Ordinary 
shares of 1p each were in issue. During 
the year ended 31 March 2016 a total of 
6,137,377 B Ordinary shares were 
issued. Of the 6,137,377 B Ordinary 
shares issued in the year, 3,856,720 
were issued at a price of £1.00, in 
accordance with the terms of the offer 
for subscription dated 3 October 2014. 
The remaining 2,280,657 B Ordinary 
shares issued in the year were issued 
and allotted at share prices ranging from 
£0.9952 to £1.0373 per share, in 
accordance with the terms of the offer 
for subscription dated 29 October 2015. 
During the year 50,000 Ordinary shares 
were bought back by the Company at a 
price of £1.0725 per Ordinary share.

The rights and obligations attaching to 
the Company’s Ordinary shares and 
B Ordinary shares are set out in the 
Company’s Articles of Association, 
copies of which can be obtained from 
Companies House. The holders of 
Ordinary shares and B Ordinary shares 
are entitled to receive dividends when 
declared, to receive the Company’s 
report and accounts, to attend and speak 
at general meetings, to appoint proxies 
and to exercise voting rights. There are 
no restrictions on the voting rights 
attaching to the Company’s shares or the 
transfer of securities in the Company.

The Company will consider requests to 
buy back shares but is mindful that 
investment in the Company was 
promoted as comparatively long term 
with venture capital portfolios typically 
taking from five to seven years to mature.

Substantial shareholdings
As at the date of this report the 
Company was aware of the following 
individual shareholdings exceeding  
3% of the issued share capital:

• Roy Nominees Limited 15.1%

• UBS Private Banking  
Nominees Ltd 6.5%

Independent Auditor 
A resolution to re-appoint Grant 
Thornton UK LLP as Independent 
Auditor will be proposed at the 
forthcoming AGM.

Accountability and audit 
The Directors’ responsibility statement 
in respect of the Financial Statements is 
set out on page 35 of this report. The 
report of the Independent Auditor is set 
out on pages 36 to 37 of this report. The 
Directors who were in office on the date 
of approval of these Financial Statements 
have confirmed that, as far as they were 
aware, there is no relevant audit 
information of which the auditors are 
unaware. Each of the Directors have 
taken all the steps they ought to have 
taken as Directors in order to make 
themselves aware of any relevant audit 
information that has been 
communicated to the auditors.

Future developments 
The primary focus will continue to be 
on the development of an investment 

portfolio which will deliver attractive 
returns over the medium to longer term. 
The Company will continue to provide 
support for the ongoing development of 
investee companies and the Company’s 
Investment Adviser will continue to 
work closely with all investee 
companies towards accelerating their 
growth and identifying possible exits in 
the short to mid term. Further details on 
the Company’s future prospects may be 
found in the Outlook paragraph in the 
Chairman’s Statement on page 5. 
Details of post-balance-sheet events 
may be found at note 22 to the 
Financial Statements.

Going concern 
After making enquiries, the Directors are 
satisfied that the Company has adequate 
resources to continue to operate for at 
least twelve months from the date of 
approval of the Financial Statements.  
For this reason, the going concern basis 
has been deemed appropriate to adopt 
in the preparation of the Company’s 
Financial Statements.

Financial instruments 
Information on the principal financial 
instruments held by the Company, 
including details about risk 
management, may be found in the 
Investment Review forming part of the 
Strategic Report and at note 20 to the 
Financial Statements.

Global greenhouse  
gas emissions 
The Company has no direct greenhouse 
gas emissions to report from its 
operations, being an externally managed 
investment company.

Requirement of the  
Listing Rules 
Listing Rule 9.8.4 requires the Company 
to include certain information in a single 
identifiable section of the annual report 
or a cross reference table indicating 
where this information is set out.  
The Directors confirm that there are  
no disclosures required to be made  
in this regard.

By Order of the Board 
The City Partnership (UK) Limited 
Company Secretary 
29 July 2016

This report has been prepared by the 
Directors in accordance with The Large 
and Medium-sized Companies and 
Groups (Accounts and Reports) 
Regulations 2008 (as amended) (the 
“Regulations”). An ordinary resolution 
for the approval of the Directors’ Annual 
Report on Remuneration will be put to 
members at the forthcoming AGM. 

The Company’s auditors, Grant 
Thornton UK LLP, are required to give 
their opinion on certain information 
included in this report. The disclosures 
which have been audited are indicated 
as such. The auditor’s opinion on these 
and other matters is set out in their 
report on pages 36 to 37.

Annual statement from the 
Chairman of the Company 
All of the Directors began their term on 
27 November 2012. There have been 
no changes to Directors’ remuneration 
during the period. Directors’ fees are 
reviewed annually and are set by the 
Board to attract individuals with the 
appropriate range of skills and 
experience. In determining the level of 
fees, their duties and responsibilities are 
considered, together with the level of 
time commitment required in preparing 
for and attending meetings.

As all the Directors are non-executive, it 
is not considered appropriate to appoint 
a nomination or remuneration 

committee. Any decisions on the 
appointment of new directors and 
remuneration are taken by the  
Board as a whole. The use of formal 
advertisements and external consultants 
is not considered cost effective given 
the Company’s size. 

Directors’ remuneration 
policy 
The Board considers that Directors’ fees 
should reflect the time commitment 
required and the high level of 
responsibility borne by Directors, and 
should be broadly comparable to the 
fees paid by similar companies while 
ensuring that the fees payable are 
appropriate to retain individuals of 
sufficient calibre to lead the Company 
in achieving its short and long term 
strategy. The Company’s Articles of 
Association place an overall limit of 
£100,000 per annum on Directors’ 
remuneration. None of the Directors is 
eligible for pension benefits, share 
options, bonuses or other benefits in 
respect of their services as non-
executive Directors of the Company. 
The Board has not received any views 
from the Company’s shareholders in 
respect of the levels of Directors’ 
remuneration.

This policy was approved by members 
at the AGM in 2014 and it is intended 
that this policy will continue for the 
year ending 31 March 2017 and 

subsequent years. In accordance with 
the Regulations, a binding ordinary 
resolution to approve the Directors’ 
Remuneration Policy will be put to 
shareholders at least once every  
three years.

Terms of appointment 
None of the Directors has a service 
contract with the Company. On being 
appointed, all Directors received a letter 
from the Company setting out the terms 
of their appointment, details of the fees 
payable and their specific duties and 
responsibilities. A Director’s 
appointment may be terminated by the 
Director or by the Company on the 
expiry of three months’ notice in writing 
given by the Director or the Company 
as the case may be. No arrangements 
have been entered into between the 
Company and the Directors to entitle 
any of the Directors to compensation 
for loss of office. The letters of 
appointment are available for inspection 
on request from the company secretary.

The Company’s Articles of Association 
provide that the Directors will be 
subject to election at the first annual 
general meeting after their appointment 
and at least every three years thereafter. 
Peter Dubens, as a non-independent 
Director, is subject to re-election at the 
AGM in 2016.

Brief biographical details of these 
Directors are given on page 6.

Directors’ Annual Report on Remuneration 
Directors’ fees for the year (audited) 
The fees payable to individual Directors in respect of the year ended 31 March 2016 are shown in the table below.

Jonathan Djanogly

Laurence Blackall

Peter Dubens*

Total annual 
fee 
£

Total fee paid for year 
ended 31.03.16 
£

Total fee paid for year 
ended 31.03.15 
£

20,000

15,000

15,000

20,000

15,000

–

20,000

15,000

–

*Peter Dubens has waived his right to a fee for the years ended 31 March 2016 and 31 March 2015.

No taxable benefits were paid to the Directors, no pension related benefits were paid to the Directors and no money or other 
assets were received or receivable by the Directors for the relevant financial year. There were no fees payable to past Directors or 
payments made for loss of office.

Fees are not specifically related to the Directors’ performance, either individually or collectively. Peter Dubens, as a member of 
the Investment Adviser, will benefit from performance related fees paid to the Investment Adviser. Details of these incentive fees 
are disclosed within the Strategic Report and note 7 to the Financial Statements.

28 | Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016

Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016 | 29

Directors’ Remuneration Report continued

Governance

Relative importance of spend on pay 
The table below shows the total remuneration paid to the Directors and shareholder distributions in the year to 31 March 2016 
and the prior year:

Year ended  
31.03.16
£

Year ended  
31.03.15
£

Percentage  
increase/(decrease) 
% 

Total Directors’ fees
Dividend
Repurchase on own shares

35,000
108,847
53,896

35,000
544,236
–

–
(80.0)
100.0

Directors’ shareholdings (audited) 
The beneficial interests of the Directors in the shares of the Company at the year end and at the date of this report were as follows:

As at 31.03.16
% of  
Ordinary 
shares 
in issue

B Ordinary 
shares 
held

% of  
B Ordinary 
shares 
in issue

Ordinary 
shares 
held

Director

Jonathan Djanogly
Laurence Blackall
Peter Dubens

25,000
200,000
400,000

0.14
1.11
2.21

25,000
100,000
400,000

0.31
1.23
4.93

As at 31.03.15
% of  
Ordinary 
shares 
in issue

B Ordinary 
shares 
held

% of  
B Ordinary 
shares 
in issue

0.14
1.10
2.20

-
-
200,000

-
-
10.10

Ordinary 
shares 
held

25,000
200,000
400,000

The Company confirms that it has not set out any formal requirements or guidelines for a Director to own shares in the Company. 
There have been no changes in Directors’ shareholdings since the year end.

Company performance 
The Board is responsible for the Company’s investment strategy 
and performance, although the management of the Company’s 
investment portfolio is delegated to the Investment Adviser through 
a management agreement. The Directors consider that, given 
the early stage of the Company, any comparison of investment 
performance with a relevant index would be misleading. However 
a comparison is required by law and is therefore provided below.

The graph below compares the Company’s Ordinary and 
B Ordinary share prices, net asset values and total return per 
share with the total return from a notional investment of 100p 
in the FTSE UK Small Cap Index over the same period. This 
index is considered to be the most appropriate broad equity 
index for comparative purposes.

At the last AGM held on 24 September 2015, 100% of 
shareholders voted for and nil shares were withheld in respect 
of the resolution approving the Directors’ remuneration report. 
At the AGM held in 2014 100% of shareholders voted for and 
nil shares were withheld in respect of the resolution approving 
the Directors’ remuneration policy. An ordinary resolution for 
the approval of the Directors’ Annual Report on Remuneration 
will be put to shareholders at the forthcoming AGM. 

On behalf of the Board 
Jonathan Djanogly 
Director 
29 July 2016

Ordinary Shares

135p

130p

125p

120p

115p

110p

105p

100p

95p

B Ordinary Shares

135p

130p

125p

120p

115p

110p

105p

100p

95p

5 Apr
2013

30 Sep
2013

31 Mar
2014

30 Sep
2014

31 Mar
2015

30 Sep
2015

31 Mar
2016

31 Mar
2015

30 Sep
2015

31 Mar
2016

FTSE UK Small Cap Total Return Index

Pembroke VCT NAV per Share

Pembroke VCT Share Price

Pembroke VCT Total Return per Share

30 | Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016

Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016 | 31

 
Corporate Governance Statement

Corporate Governance Statement continued

The Directors of Pembroke VCT plc 
confirm that the Company has taken 
appropriate action to enable it to 
comply with the Principles of the UK 
Corporate Governance Code (the 
“Code”) issued by the Financial 
Reporting Council in September 2014.

As a Venture Capital Trust, most of the 
Company’s day-to-day responsibilities 
are delegated to third parties and the 
Directors are all non-executive. Thus, 
not all the provisions of the Code are 
directly applicable to the Company. 
Apart from the matters referred to in the 
following paragraphs, the requirements 
of the Code were complied with 
throughout the year ended  
31 March 2016.

In view of its non-executive nature and 
the requirements of the Company’s 
Articles of Association that all Directors 
are subject to election by shareholders 
at the first annual general meeting after 
their appointment and thereafter every 
third annual general meeting, the Board 
considers that it is not appropriate for 
the Directors to be appointed for a 
specific term as recommended by the 
Code. Full details of duties and 
obligations are provided at the time of 
appointment and are supplemented by 
further details as necessary. In light of 
the responsibilities retained by the 
Board and the Audit Committee and of 
the responsibilities delegated to the 
Investment Adviser, the VCT status 
adviser and the company secretary, the 
Company has not appointed a chief 
executive, deputy chairman or a senior 
independent non-executive Director. 
There is no formal induction programme 
for Directors but any newly appointed 
Director will be given a comprehensive 

introduction to the Company’s business, 
including meeting the Company’s 
advisers.

Being an externally managed 
investment company, the Company 
does not have an independent internal 
audit function. Such a function is 
thought by the Board to be unnecessary 
given the size of the Company and the 
nature of its business.

Board of Directors 
The Company has a Board of three 
non-executive Directors, two of whom 
are considered to be independent. The 
third Director, Peter Dubens, is also a 
member of the Investment Adviser. The 
Company has no employees. 

All non-executive Directors have signed 
letters confirming the terms of their 
appointment as non-executive Directors 
with effect from 5 April 2013. 

Directors are provided with key 
information on the Company’s activities 
including regulatory and statutory 
requirements and internal controls by 
the Company’s VCT status adviser, 
Philip Hare & Associates LLP, and by 
the company secretary, The City 
Partnership (UK) Limited. The Board has 
direct access to corporate governance 
advice and compliance services through 
the company secretary, which is 
responsible for ensuring that Board 
procedures are followed and 
compliance requirements are met.

All Directors may take independent 
professional advice in furtherance of 
their duties as necessary.

The Board is responsible to shareholders 
for the proper management of the 
Company and looks to meet on at least 

four occasions each year. It has formally 
adopted a schedule of matters which 
must be brought to it for decision, thus 
ensuring that it maintains full and 
effective control over appropriate 
strategic, financial, operational and 
compliance issues. Those matters 
include the appointment or removal of 
the Investment Adviser and monitoring 
the performance of the Investment 
Adviser and investee companies. The 
Chairman and the company secretary 
establish the agenda for each Board 
meeting and all necessary papers are 
distributed in advance of the meetings. 

Board performance 
The Board aims to carry out 
performance evaluations of the Board 
and the Audit Committee and, 
consequently, individual Directors each 
coming year. Due to the size of the 
Company, the fact that all Directors are 
non-executive and the costs involved, 
external facilitators will not be used in 
the evaluation. A performance 
evaluation of the Board, the Audit 
Committee and individual directors was 
led by Jonathan Djanogly. The Directors 
concluded that the balance of skills is 
appropriate and all Directors contribute 
fully to discussion in an open, 
constructive and objective way. The size 
and composition of the Board is 
considered adequate for the effective 
governance of the Company. 

Audit Committee 
The Audit Committee operates within 
clearly defined written terms of 
reference which are available on 
request from the company secretary.

The Audit Committee comprises two 
independent Directors. The members of 
the committee are Laurence Blackall 
(chairman) and Jonathan Djanogly.  
A quorum shall be two members.

During the year ended 31 March 2016 
and up to the date of signing the Annual 
Report and Financial Statements, the 
Audit Committee discharged its 
responsibilities by:

•  Reviewing the content and 

monitoring the integrity of the 
financial statements of the Company, 
including the fair value of investments 
as determined by the Investment 
Adviser, calculation of the 
management fee and allocation of 
expenses between revenue and 
capital, and making 
recommendations to the Board;

•  Reviewing the Company’s accounting 

policies;

•  Reviewing internal controls and 

assessing the effectiveness of those 
controls in minimising the impact of 
key risks;

•  Reviewing and approving the 

statements to be included in the 
annual report concerning the internal 
control and risk management;

•  Reviewing the need to appoint an 

internal audit function;

•  Reviewing and approving the 

Independent Auditor’s terms of 
engagement, including remuneration;

•  Reviewing and monitoring the 

independence and objectivity of the 
auditor and the effectiveness of the 
audit process;

•  Recommending to the Board and 

shareholders the ongoing 
appointment of and fee payable to 
Grant Thornton UK LLP; and

•  Reviewing the arrangements for staff 
of the Investment Adviser to raise 
concerns in confidence about 
possible improprieties in financial 
reporting or other matters and 
ensuring that those arrangements 
allow proportionate and independent 
investigation of such matters and 
appropriate follow up actions.

The key areas of risk identified by the 
Audit Committee in relation to the 
business activities and Financial 
Statements of the Company are:

•  Compliance with HM Revenue & 

Customs rules – in particular s274 of 
the Income Tax Act 2007 – to 
maintain the Company’s VCT status; 
and

•  Valuation of unquoted investments.

These risks were discussed with the 
Investment Adviser at the Audit 
Committee meeting before sign-off of 
the Financial Statements. The 
Committee concluded:

Venture Capital status – the Investment 
Adviser confirmed to the Audit 
Committee that the conditions for 
maintaining the Company’s status  
had been complied with throughout  
the period. 

Valuation of unquoted investments – the 
Investment Adviser confirmed to the 
Audit Committee that the basis of 
valuation for unquoted companies was 
in accordance with published industry 
guidelines, taking account of the latest 
available information about investee 
companies and current market data.  
The Audit Committee examined the 
Investment Adviser’s confirmation and 
considered it appropriate.

•  Reviewing and approving the 

Independent Auditor’s audit plan;

The Investment Adviser and auditor 
confirmed to the Audit Committee that 

they were not aware of any material 
misstatements. Having reviewed the 
Company’s financial statements and 
reports received from the Investment 
Adviser and auditor, the Audit 
Committee is satisfied that the key areas 
of risk and judgment have been 
appropriately addressed in the Financial 
Statements and that the significant 
assumptions used in determining the 
value of assets and liabilities have  
been properly appraised and are 
sufficiently robust.

The Audit Committee has managed the 
relationship with the auditor and 
assessed the effectiveness of the audit 
process. When assessing the 
effectiveness of the process for the 
period under review the Committee 
considered the auditor’s technical 
knowledge and that they have a clear 
understanding of the business of the 
Company; that the audit team is 
appropriately resourced; that the auditor 
provided a clear explanation of the 
scope and strategy of the audit and 
maintained independence and 
objectivity. As part of the review of 
auditor effectiveness and independence, 
Grant Thornton UK LLP has confirmed 
that it is independent of the Company 
and has complied with applicable 
auditing standards. Grant Thornton UK 
LLP does not provide any non-audit 
services to the Company and the Audit 
Committee must approve the 
appointment of the external auditor for 
any non-audit services. Grant Thornton 
UK LLP has held office as auditor for 
three years; in accordance with ethical 
standards the engagement partner is 
rotated after at most five years, and  
the current partner has served for  
three years.

32 | Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016

Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016 | 33

Corporate Governance Statement continued

Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities 

Board

Audit Committee

4

4

2

3

3

–

Relations with shareholders 
The Board welcomes the views of 
shareholders and puts a premium on 
effective communication with the 
Company’s members. All written 
communication with shareholders is 
reviewed by the Board to ensure that 
shareholder enquiries are promptly and 
adequately resolved. Shareholders are 
encouraged to attend the Company’s 
Annual General Meeting where the 
Directors and representatives of the 
Company’s advisers will be available to 
answer any questions members may 
have. The notice of the Annual General 
Meeting forms part of this report.  
A separate resolution is proposed for 
each substantive issue.

The Board also communicates with 
shareholders through the half-yearly 
and annual reports which will include a 
Chairman’s statement and an investment 
adviser’s report both of which are 
reviewed and approved by the Board to 
ensure that they present a fair 
assessment of the Company’s position 
and future prospects.

Attendance at Board and committee meetings

During the year ended 31 March 2016 
there were:

Director

•  4 full Board meetings; and

•  3 Audit Committee meetings.

The Directors’ attendance at these 
meetings is noted here.

Jonathan Djanogly

Laurence Blackall

Peter Dubens

Review of internal control 
The process adopted by the Board for 
identifying, evaluating and managing 
the risks faced by the Company includes 
an annual review of the control systems. 
The review covers a consideration of 
the significant risks in each of three 
areas: statutory and regulatory 
compliance; financial reporting; and 
investment strategy and performance. 
Each risk is considered with regard to: 
the likelihood of occurrence, the 
probable impact on the Company, and 
the controls exercised at source, 
through reporting and at Board level. 
The Board has identified no problems 
with the Company’s internal controls.

Internal control 
The Board has established a process for 
the identification, evaluation and 
management of the significant risks 
faced by the Company. The Board 
acknowledges that it is responsible for 
the Company’s internal control systems 
and for reviewing their effectiveness. 
Internal controls are designed to 
manage the particular needs of the 
Company and the risks to which it is 
exposed. The internal control systems 
aim to ensure the maintenance of 
proper accounting records, the 
reliability of the financial information 
on which business decisions are made 
and which is used for publication, and 
that the assets of the Company are 
safeguarded. They can by their nature 
provide only reasonable and not 
absolute assurance against material 
misstatement or loss. The financial 
controls operated by the Board include 
the authorisation of investments and 
regular reviews of both the financial 
results and investment performance.

The Board has delegated to third parties 
the provision of: investment advisory 
services; VCT status advisory services; 
broking services; day-to-day accounting, 
company secretarial and administration 
services; and share registration services.

Each of these contracts was entered into 
after full and proper consideration by 
the Board of the quality and cost of 
services offered. The Board receives and 
considers regular reports from the 
Investment Adviser. Ad hoc reports and 
information are supplied to the Board as 
required. The Board keeps under review 
the terms of the agreement with the 
Investment Adviser.

Directors’ responsibilities 
pursuant to DTR4
We confirm that to the best of our 
knowledge:

•  the Financial Statements, prepared in 
accordance with UK GAAP, give a 
true and fair view of the assets, 
liabilities, financial position and 
return 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 
it faces.

The names of the Directors 
undersigning this Statement of 
Responsibilities may be found in the 
Directors’ Report on page 28.

On behalf of the Board 
Jonathan Djanogly 
Director 
29 July 2016

The Directors are responsible for 
preparing the Strategic Report, 
Directors’ Report, Directors’ 
Remuneration Report and the Financial 
Statements in accordance with 
applicable laws and regulations. The 
Directors have chosen to prepare the 
Financial Statements for the Company 
in accordance with United Kingdom 
Generally Accepted Accounting 
Practice (“UK GAAP”).

Company law requires the Directors to 
prepare Financial Statements for each 
financial year. Under that law the 
Directors must not approve the 
Financial Statements unless they are 
satisfied that they give a true and fair 
view in accordance with UK GAAP of 
the state of affairs of the Company as at 
the end of the financial year and of the 
profit or loss of the Company for that 
period and which comply with UK 
GAAP and the Companies Act 2006. 

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

•  Select suitable accounting policies 
and then apply them consistently;

•  Make judgments and estimates that 

are reasonable and prudent;

•  State whether all applicable UK 
Accounting Standards have been 
followed, subject to any material 
departures disclosed and explained in 
the Financial Statements respectively;

•  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 Strategic Report, a 

Directors’ Report and Directors’ 
Remuneration Report which comply 
with the requirements of the 
Companies Act 2006.

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 which enable them to ensure that 
the Financial Statements comply with 
the Companies Act 2006. They are also 
responsible for the system of internal 
control, 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 consider that the Annual 
Report and Financial Statements of the 
Company for the year ended 31 March 
2016 as a whole is fair, balanced and 
understandable and provides the 
information necessary for the members 
of the Company to assess the 
Company’s position and performance, 
business model and strategy. 

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.

34 | Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016

Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016 | 35

Independent Auditor’s Report to the members of Pembroke VCT plc

Independent Auditor’s Report to the members of Pembroke VCT plc

Our opinion on the financial 
statements is unmodified

In our opinion the financial statements: 

• give a true and fair view of the state of 
the Company’s affairs as at 31 March 
2016 and of its profit for the year then 
ended;

• have been properly prepared in 

accordance with applicable law and 
United Kingdom Accounting 
Standards (United Kingdom Generally 
Accepted Accounting Practice) 
including FRS 102 ‘The Financial 
Reporting Standard applicable in the 
UK and Republic of Ireland’; and

• have been prepared in accordance 

with the requirements of the 
Companies Act 2006.

Who we are reporting to

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.

What we have audited

Pembroke VCT plc’s financial statements 
for the year ended 31 March 2016 
comprise the Income Statement, the 
Balance Sheet, the Statement of 
Changes in Equity, the Cash Flow 
Statement and the related Notes.

The financial reporting framework that 
has been applied in their preparation is 
United Kingdom Generally Accepted 
Accounting Practice including FRS 102 
‘The Financial Reporting Standard 
applicable in the UK and Republic of 
Ireland’. 

Overview of our audit approach

• Overall materiality: £288,600 which 
represents 1% of the Company’s net 
assets; and

• Key audit risk was identified as 

valuation of unquoted investments. 

Our assessment of risk

In arriving at our opinions set out in this 
report, we highlight the following risks 
that, in our judgement, had the greatest 
effect on our audit: 

Audit risk –  
Valuation of unquoted investments
The investment strategy of the Company 
is to generate tax free capital gains and 
income on investors’ funds through 
investment primarily in companies within 
the leisure and luxury brands sectors. 
These investments which amount, by 
value, to 85% of Equity, comprise 
unquoted shares and loans and, 
therefore, no quoted market price is 
available. The investments in unquoted 
shares are measured at fair value, which 
is established in accordance with the 
International Private Equity and Venture 
Capital (IPEVC) valuation guidelines by 
using measurements of value such as 
price of recent investment and earnings 
multiples which are subjective and 
include significant assumptions. The 
investments held as loans are measured 
at fair value, which is established by 
discounting expected future contractual 
payments at a market rate of interest.  
We therefore identified valuation of 
unquoted investments as a significant risk 
that requires special audit consideration. 

How we responded to the risk
Our audit work included, but was not 
restricted to: 
• reviewing and challenging the 

reasonableness of both the valuation 
model used and the assumptions made 
by the investment adviser to value the 
unquoted shares that had been valued 
using a valuation model, including 
corroboration of financial inputs to the 
relevant investee company 
management accounts; and 
considering whether the valuation 
methodology applied was consistent 
with published guidance, in particular 
the IPEVC valuation guidelines; 

• where the price of a recent transaction 
had been used to value a holding, we 
obtained an understanding of the 
circumstances relating to it and whether 
it was appropriate to be considered as 
an arms-length transaction that could 
be used as a valuation input; 

• where an investment was continued 
to be carried at cost, we considered 
the specific circumstances of the 
investment and the time elapsed since 
the investment was made in 
determining whether cost remains an 
appropriate basis of valuation; 

• for loans made to investee companies 

we obtained a copy of the loan 
agreements and compared the forecast 
of future cash flows made by the 
investment adviser to the contractual 
terms; obtained an understanding of 

the factors considered in determining 
the market rate of interest to use and 
considered whether the rate used was 
appropriate; and considered events 
which occurred subsequent to the year 
end up until the date of this report; and

• attending the year end audit 

committee meeting where we 
assessed the effectiveness and rigour 
of the audit committee’s challenge 
and appraisal of the valuation of the 
unquoted investments; and 
considering the appropriateness, in 
accordance with relevant accounting 
standards, of the disclosures relating 
to the unquoted investments. 

The Company’s accounting policy on 
investments, including the valuation of 
unquoted investments, is shown in note 
5(a) and related disclosures are included 
in note 12. The audit committee also 
identified the valuation of unquoted 
investments as a key area of risk in its 
report on page 26, where the committee 
also described the action that it has taken 
to address this risk. 

Our application of materiality and an 
overview of the scope of our audit
Materiality
We define materiality as the magnitude of 
misstatement in the financial statements 
that makes it probable that the economic 
decisions of a reasonably knowledgeable 
person would be changed or influenced. 
We use materiality in determining the 
nature, timing and extent of our work 
and in evaluating the results of that work.
We determined materiality for the audit of 
the financial statements as a whole to be 
£288,600 which is 1% of the Company’s 
net assets. This benchmark is considered 
the most appropriate because net assets, 
which are primarily composed of the 
Company’s investment portfolio, is 
considered to be a key driver of the 
Company’s total return performance.
Materiality for the current year is higher 
than the level that we determined for 
the year ended 31 March 2015 to reflect 
the increase in the value of underlying 
net assets.
We use a different level of materiality, 
performance materiality, to drive the 
extent of our testing and this was set at 
60% of financial statement materiality 
for the audit of the financial statements. 
We also determine a lower level of 
specific materiality for certain areas 
such as management fees and  
directors’ remuneration.
We determined the threshold at which 
we will communicate misstatements to 
the audit committee to be £14,400.  

In addition we will communicate 
misstatements below that threshold that, 
in our view, warrant reporting on 
qualitative grounds.

Overview of the scope of our audit
A description of the generic scope  
of an audit of financial statements  
is provided on the Financial  
Reporting Council’s website at  
www.frc.org.uk/auditscopeukprivate.
We conducted our audit in accordance 
with ISAs (UK and Ireland). Our 
responsibilities under those standards are 
further described in the ‘Responsibilities 
for the financial statements and the 
audit’ section of our report. We believe 
that the audit evidence we have obtained 
is sufficient and appropriate to provide 
a basis for our opinion.
We are independent of the Company in 
accordance with the Auditing Practices 
Board’s Ethical Standards for Auditors, 
and we have fulfilled our other ethical 
responsibilities in accordance with 
those Ethical Standards.
Our audit approach was based on a 
thorough understanding of the 
Company’s business and is risk based. 
The day-to-day management of the 
Company’s investment portfolio, the 
custody of its investments and the 
maintenance of the Company’s 
accounting records is outsourced to 
third-party service providers. 
Accordingly, our audit work included: 
• obtaining an understanding of, and 
evaluating, internal controls at the 
Company and the third-party service 
providers, and inspecting records and 
documents held by the third-party 
service provider; and 

• undertaking substantive testing on 

significant transactions, balances and 
disclosures, the extent of which was 
based on various factors such as our 
overall assessment of the control 
environment and the management of 
specific risks.

Other reporting required by regulations
Our opinion on other matters 
prescribed by the Companies Act 2006 
is unmodified
In our opinion: 
• the part of the Directors’ Remuneration 
Report to be audited has been properly 
prepared in accordance with the 
Companies Act 2006; and 

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

Matters on which we are required to 
report by exception

Under the Companies Act 2006 we  
are required 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. 

Under the Listing Rules, we are required 
to review:
• the directors’ statements in relation to 

going concern and longer-term 
viability, set out on pages 20 and 17 
respectively; and 

• the 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.

Under the ISAs (UK and Ireland), we are 
required to report to you if, in our opinion, 
information in the annual report is:
• materially inconsistent with the 

information in the audited financial 
statements; or

• apparently materially incorrect based 
on, or materially inconsistent with, 
our knowledge of the Company 
acquired in the course of performing 
our audit; or

• otherwise misleading.

In particular, we are required to report 
to you if:
• we have identified any inconsistencies 

between our knowledge acquired 
during the audit and the directors’ 
statement that they consider the 
annual report is fair, balanced and 
understandable; or 

• the annual report does not 

appropriately disclose those matters 
that were communicated to the audit 
committee which we consider should 
have been disclosed.

We have nothing to report in respect of 
the above.
We also confirm that we do not have 
anything material to add or to draw 
attention to in relation to:

• the directors’ confirmation in the 

annual report that they have carried 
out a robust assessment of the 
principal risks facing the Company 
including those that would threaten  
its business model, future 
performance, solvency or liquidity;
• the disclosures in the annual report 
that describe those risks and explain 
how they are being managed or 
mitigated;

• the directors’ statement in the 

financial statements about whether 
they have considered it appropriate  
to adopt the going concern basis of 
accounting in preparing them, and 
their identification of any material 
uncertainties to the Company’s ability 
to continue to do so over a period of 
at least twelve months from the date 
of approval of the financial 
statements; and

• the directors’ explanation in the annual 
report as to how they have assessed the 
prospects of the Company, over what 
period they have done so and why 
they consider that period to be 
appropriate, and their statement as  
to whether they have a reasonable 
expectation that the Company will be 
able to continue in operation and meet 
its liabilities as they fall due over the 
period of their assessment, including 
any related disclosures drawing 
attention to any necessary 
qualifications or assumptions.

Responsibilities for the financial 
statements and the audit

What the Directors are responsible for:
As explained more fully in the 
Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities 
set out on page 29 the directors are 
responsible for the preparation of the 
financial statements and for being 
satisfied that they give a true and fair 
view. 

What we are responsible for:
Our responsibility is to audit and 
express an opinion on the financial 
statements in accordance with 
applicable law and ISAs (UK and 
Ireland). Those standards require us to 
comply with the Auditing Practices 
Board’s Ethical Standards for Auditors.

Julian Bartlett 
Senior Statutory Auditor 
for and on behalf of Grant Thornton UK LLP 
Statutory Auditor, Chartered Accountants 
London 
29 July 2016

36 | Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016

Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016 | 37

Financial Statements

Income Statement for the year ended 31 March 2016 

Realised/unrealised gains and losses on 

investments

Income 

Investment adviser’s fees 

Other expenses

Profit on ordinary activities before tax

Tax on ordinary activities

  Year ended 31.03.16

  Year ended 31.03.15

Note

Revenue
£

Capital
£

Total
£

Revenue
£

Capital
£

Total
£

12

5,6

7

8

9

– 1,821,992 1,821,992

– 1,115,046

1,115,046

804,674

–

804,674

478,608

17,475

496,083

(65,458)

(196,371)

(261,829)

(37,891)

(113,670)

(151,561)

(267,283)

(6,913)

(274,196)

(274,524)

(24,896)

(299,420)

471,933 1,618,708 2,090,641

166,193

993,955

1,160,148

(75,000)

40,000

(35,000)

–

–

–

Profit attributable to equity shareholders

396,933 1,658,708 2,055,641

166,193

993,955

1,160,148

Return per share

Ordinary shares

B Ordinary shares*

11

11

1.72p

1.47p

6.17p

7.89p

0.92p

5.48p

6.40p

9.32p

10.79p

(0.04)p

(0.03)p

(0.07)p

*Year ended 31 March 2015 Return per share for B Ordinary shares reflect the period from 19 March 2015, the date of first 
allotment, to 31 March 2015.

The total column of this Income Statement represents the profit and loss account of the Company, prepared in accordance with 
Financial Reporting Standard 102 (“FRS 102”). The supplementary revenue and capital return columns are prepared in 
accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice, “Financial Statements of Investment Trust Companies and Venture 
Capital Trusts” (“SORP”) revised in November 2014. A separate Statement of Comprehensive Income has not been prepared as all 
comprehensive income is included in the Income Statement.

All the items above derive from continuing operations of the Company.

Unaudited Non-Statutory Analysis between the Ordinary and B Ordinary shares

Realised/unrealised gains and losses on 

investments

Income 

Investment adviser’s fees 

Other expenses

Profit on ordinary activities before tax

Tax on ordinary activities

Ordinary shares

B Ordinary shares

Note

Revenue
£

Capital
£

Total
£

Revenue
£

Capital
£

Total
£

12

5,6

7

8

9

– 1,237,145 1,237,145

–

584,847

584,847

621,233

–

621,233

183,441

–

183,441

(49,659)

(148,975)

(198,634)

(15,799)

(47,396)

(63,195)

(202,672)

– (202,672)

(64,611)

(6,913)

(71,524)

368,902 1,088,170 1,457,072

103,031

530,538

633,569

(57,000)

30,000

(27,000)

(18,000)

10,000

(8,000)

Profit attributable to equity shareholders

311,902 1,118,170 1,430,072

85,031

540,538

625,569

The accompanying notes on pages 46 to 56 are an integral part of the Financial Statements.

38 | Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016

Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016 | 39

 
 
Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2016

Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2016

Fixed assets

Investments

Current assets

Debtors

Cash at bank and in hand

As at 
31.03.16
£

As at 
31.03.15
£

Note

12

24,505,271

17,686,375

14

2,105,465

444,992

2,306,940

3,214,882

4,412,405

3,659,874

Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

15

(234,690)

(550,207)

Net current assets

Net assets

Capital and reserves

Called up share capital

Share premium account

Capital redemption reserve

Special reserve

Capital reserves

Revenue reserves

Total shareholders’ funds

Net asset value per share

4,177,715

3,109,667

28,682,986

20,796,042

16,17

262,080

201,206

17

17

17

17

17

18

9,452,414

3,519,742

500

–

15,281,104

15,443,847

3,156,351

1,497,643

530,537

133,604

28,682,986

20,796,042

109.44p

103.36p

The Financial Statements were approved by the Directors authorised for issue on 29 July 2016 and signed on their behalf by:

Jonathan Djanogly 
Director

Unaudited Non-Statutory Analysis between the Ordinary and B Ordinary Share Funds

As at 31.03.16

As at 31.03.15

Note

 Ordinary 
shares 
£

 B Ordinary 
shares 
£

Total
£

 Ordinary  
shares 
£

 B Ordinary 
shares 
£

Total
£

12

19, 736,049

4,769,222

24,505,271

17,686,375

–

17,686,375

14

58,604

2,046,861

2,105,465

405,278

39,714

444,992

Fixed assets

Investments

Current assets

Debtors

Cash at bank and in hand

488,973

1,817,967

2,306,940

1,314,784

1,900,098

3,214,882

547,577

3,864,828

4,412,405

1,720,062

1,939,812

3,659,874

Creditors: amounts falling  
due within one year

Net current assets

Net assets

Capital and reserves

16

(158,667)

(76,023)

(234,690)

(548,807)

(1,400)

(550,207)

388,910

3,788,805

4,177,715

1,171,255

1,938,412

3,109,667

20,124,959

8,558,027

28,682,986

18,857,630

1,938,412

20,796,042

Called up share capital

16,17

180,912

81,168

262,080

181,412

19,794

201,206

Share premium account

Capital redemption reserve

Special reserve

Capital reserves

Revenue reserves

17

17

17

17

17

1,599,724

7,852,690

9,452,414

1,599,724

1,920,018

3,519,742

500

15,281,104

–

–

500

–

15,281,104

15,443,847

–

–

–

15,443,847

2,616,468

539,883

3,156,351

1,498,298

(655)

1,497,643

446,251

84,286

530,537

134,349

(745)

133,604

Total shareholders’ funds

20,124,959

8,558,027

28,682,986

18,857,630

1,938,412

20,796,042

Net asset value per share

18

111.24p

105.44p

109.44p

103.95p

97.93p

103.36p

The accompanying notes on pages 46 to 56 are an integral part of the Financial Statements.

The accompanying notes on pages 46 to 56 are an integral part of the Financial Statements.
The accompanying notes on pages XX to XX are an integral part of the Financial Statements.

40 | Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016

Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016 | 41

Statement of Changes in Equity for the year ended 31 March 2016

Statement of Changes in Equity for the year ended 31 March 2016

for the year ended  
31 March 2016 

Called
up share
capital
£

Share
premium
£

Capital
redemption
reserve
£

Special
reserve
£

Capital
reserve 
£

Revenue
reserve
£

Total
reserves
£

Opening balance  
as at 1 April 2015

201,206

3,519,742

Shares issued

61,374

6,083,346

–

–

Shares bought back

(500)

–

500

(53,896)

15,443,847

1,497,643

133,604

20,796,042

–

–

(108,847)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

6,144,720

(53,896)

(150,674)

(108,847)

–

1,658,708

396,933

2,055,641

–

–

–

(150,674)

–

–

–

–

–

Share issue expenses

Dividends paid

Profit for the year

Closing balance  

as at 31 March 2016

262,080

9,452,414

500

15,281,104

3,156,351

530,537

28,682,986

Unaudited Non-Statutory Analysis between the Ordinary and B Ordinary Share Funds

Ordinary Shares 

Opening balance  
as at 1 April 2015

Called
up share
capital
£

Share
premium
£

Capital
redemption
reserve
£

Special
reserve
£

Capital
reserve 
£

Revenue
reserve
£

Total
reserves
£

181,412

1,599,724

–

15,443,847

1,498,298

134,349

18,857,630

Shares bought back

(500)

500

(53,896)

–

–

–

–

–

(108,847)

–

–

–

1,118,170

311,902

1,430,072

–

–

–

–

(53,896)

(108,847)

Dividends paid

Profit for the year

Closing balance  

as at 31 March 2016

180,912

1,599,724

500

15,281,104

2,616,468

446,251

20,124,959

for the year ended  
31 March 2015 

Called
up share
capital
£

Share
premium
£

Capital
redemption
reserve
£

Special
reserve
£

Capital
reserve 
£

Revenue
reserve
£

Total
reserves
£

B Ordinary Shares 

Called
up share
capital
£

Share
premium
£

Capital
redemption
reserve
£

Special
reserve
£

Capital
reserve 
£

Revenue
reserve
£

Total
reserves
£

Opening balance  
as at 1 April 2014

181,412

1,599,724

Shares issued

19,794

1,959,606

Share issue expenses

Dividends paid

Profit for the year

Closing balance  

as at 31 March 2015

–

–

–

(39,588)

–

–

201,206

3,519,742

–

–

–

–

–

–

15,988,083

503,688

(32,589)

18,240,318

–

–

(544,236)

–

–

–

–

–

–

1,979,400

(39,588)

(544,236)

–

993,955

166,193

1,160,148

15,443,847

1,497,643

133,604

20,796,042

Opening balance  
as at 1 April 2015

19,794

1,920,018

Shares issued

61,374

6,083,346

Share issue expenses

Profit for the year

Closing balance  

as at 31 March 2016

–

–

(150,674)

–

81,168

7,852,690

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(655)

(745)

1,938,412

–

–

–

–

6,144,720

(150,674)

540,538

85,031

625,569

539,883

84,286

8,558,027

42 | Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016

Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016 | 43

 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash Flow Statement for the year ended 31 March 2016 

Cash Flow Statement for the year ended 31 March 2016 

Unaudited Non-Statutory Analysis between the Ordinary and B Ordinary Share Funds

Year Ended
31.03.16
£

Year Ended
31.03.15
£

Note

Year ended 31.03.16

Year ended 31.03.15

Ordinary
Shares
£

B Ordinary
Shares
£

Total
£

Ordinary
Shares
£

B Ordinary
Shares
£

Total
£

Operating activities

Investment income received – qualifying

Deposit and similar interest received  
– non-qualifying

Investment adviser’s fees paid

Company secretarial fees paid 

Cash paid to and on behalf of Directors 

Other cash payments

13,123

46,685

Investment income received – qualifying

13,123

–

13,123

46,685

Operating activities

3,594

15,247

(286,901)

(153,801)

(109,642)

–

(37,606)

(48,854)

(183,186)

(127,990)

Deposit and similar interest received  
– non-qualifying

2,010

1,584

3,594

15,247

Investment adviser’s fees paid

(239,548)

(47,353)

(286,901)

(153,801)

Company secretarial fees paid 

(93,469)

(16,173)

(109,642)

–

Cash paid to and on behalf of Directors 

(30,185)

(7,421)

(37,606)

(48,854)

Other cash payments

(143,938)

(39,248)

(183,186)

(127,990)

Net cash outflow from operating activities

19

(600,618)

(268,713)

Net cash outflow from operating activities

(492,007)

(108,611)

(600,618)

(268,713)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

46,685

15,247

(153,801)

–

(48,854)

(127,990)

(268,713)

Cash flows from investing activities

Purchase of investments 

Long term loans made

Short term loans made

Long term loans repaid

Net cash outflow from investing activities

(2,062,036)

(4,156,944)

(2,234,800)

(1,941,600)

(1,850,000)

(350,000)

100,000

–

(6,046,836)

(6,448,544)

Cash flows from investing activities

Purchase of investments 

(136,658)

(1,925,378)

(2,062,036)

(4,156,944)

– (4,156,944)

Long term loans made

Short term loans made

Long term loans repaid

(100,000)

(2,134,800)

(2,234,800)

(1,941,600)

– (1,941,600)

– (1,850,000)

(1,850,000)

(350,000)

100,000

–

100,000

–

–

–

(350,000)

–

Net cash outflow from investing activities

(136,658)

(5,910,178)

(6,046,836)

(6,448,544)

– (6,448,544)

Net cash outflow before financing

(6,647,454)

(6,717,257)

Net cash outflow before financing

(628,665)

(6,018,789)

(6,647,454)

(6,717,257)

– (6,717,257)

Cash flows from financing activities

Net proceeds from share issues

Share buybacks paid

Equity dividends paid

Cost of creation of special reserve

Net cash inflow from financing

(Decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year

5,901,985

3,465,669

(53,626)

–

(108,847)

(544,236)

–

(9,159)

5,739,512

2,912,274

(907,942)

(3,804,983)

3,214,882

7,019,865

2,306,940

3,214,882

Cash flows from financing activities

Net proceeds from share issues

(17,573)

5,919,558

5,901,985

1,565,571

1,900,098

3,465,669

Share buybacks paid

Equity dividends paid

Cost of creation of special reserve

(53,626)

(108,847)

–

–

–

–

(53,626)

–

(108,847)

(544,236)

–

(9,159)

–

–

–

–

(544,236)

(9,159)

Net cash (outflow)/ inflow from financing

(180,046)

5,919,558

5,739,512

1,012,176

1,900,098

2,912,274

(Decrease)/increase in cash

(808,711)

(99,231)

(907,942)

(5,705,081)

1,900,098 (3,804,983)

The accompanying notes on pages 46 to 56 are an integral part of the Financial Statements.
The accompanying notes on pages XX to XX are an integral part of the Financial Statements.

The accompanying notes on pages XX to XX are an integral part of the Financial Statements.

44 | Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016

Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016 | 45

Notes to the Financial Statements

  1. Company information

The Company is a Public Limited Company incorporated in England and Wales. The registered address is 3 Cadogan Gate, 
London SW1X 0AS. The principal activity is investing in private equity type transactions.

  2. Basis of preparation

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with applicable United Kingdom accounting standards, 
including Financial Reporting Standard 102 – ‘The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and 
Republic of Ireland’ (‘FRS 102’), and with the Companies Act 2006 and in accordance with the SORP issued by the 
Association of Investment Companies (“AIC”) in November 2014. The financial statements have been prepared on the 
historical cost basis except for the modification to a fair value basis for certain financial instruments as specified in the 
accounting policies below.

This is the first year in which the financial statements have been prepared under FRS 102 and in accordance with the SORP 
issued by AIC in November 2014. There are no significant changes to the Company’s accounting policies as a result of the 
adoption of FRS 102 or the SORP. The Company has early adopted “Amendments to FRS102 – Fair value hierarchy 
disclosures” issued by the Financial Reporting Council in March 2016.

The financial statements are prepared in pounds sterling, which is the functional currency of the Company.

  3. Going concern

The Board of Directors is satisfied that the Company has adequate availability of funding in order to continue as a going 
concern. Therefore, the Company continues to adopt the going concern basis in preparing these financial statements.

  4. Significant judgments and estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting practice requires the use of 
estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements 
and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Although these estimates are based on 
management’s best knowledge of the amount, event or actions, actual results may ultimately differ from those estimates. 

The estimates and assumptions that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets 
and liabilities within the next financial year are those used to determine the fair value of investments at fair value through 
profit or loss, as disclosed in note 5 to the financial statements. The fair value of investments at fair value through profit or 
loss is determined by using valuation techniques explained in note 5.

  5. Accounting policies 

A summary of the principal accounting policies, all of which have been applied consistently throughout the period,  
is set out below.

a)  Investments 

  The Company did not hold any listed investments at any time during the period under review. Investments in unlisted 
companies are held at fair value through profit or loss by the Directors. Information about the portfolio is provided 
internally to the Directors on that basis and the Directors consider the basis to be consistent with the Company’s 
investment strategy, with reference to the International Private Equity and Venture Capital Valuation Guidelines (“IPEVCV 
guidelines”). The IPEVCV guidelines include the following: 

  All unquoted equity investments are held at the price of a recent investment for an appropriate period where there is 

considered to have been no change in fair value. Where such a basis is no longer considered appropriate, the following 
factors will be considered:

(i)  Where a value is indicated by a material arms-length transaction by an independent third party in the shares of a 

company, this value will be used.

(ii) 

In the absence of (i), and depending upon both the subsequent trading performance and investment structure of an 
investee company, the valuation basis will usually move to either:

a)  an earnings multiple basis. The shares may be valued by applying a suitable price-earnings ratio to that 

company’s historical, current or forecast post-tax earnings before interest and amortisation (the ratio used being 
based on a comparable sector but the resulting value being adjusted to reflect points of difference identified by 
the Investment Adviser compared with the sector including, inter alia, a lack of marketability); or

b)  an assessment of other relevant, objective evidence.

(iii)  Where an earnings multiple or other objective evidence is not appropriate and overriding factors apply, discounted 

cash flow or net asset valuation bases may be applied.

(iv)  Loan stock investments are recognised at their fair value which is measured at the present value of expected future 
cash flows discounted at a market rate of interest. Loan stock investments receivable within the next 12 months are 
classified as short term.

  Realised surpluses or deficits on the disposal of investments are taken to realised capital reserves, and unrealised 

surpluses and deficits on the revaluation of investments are taken to unrealised capital reserves.

  Those venture capital investments that may be categorised as associated undertakings are carried at fair value as 

determined by the Directors in accordance with the Company’s normal policy. Carrying investments at fair value is 
specifically permitted under FRS102 section 14.4B.

b)  Income 

  Dividends receivable on listed equity shares are brought into account on the ex-dividend date. Dividends receivable on 
unlisted equity shares are brought into account when the Company’s right to receive payment is established and it is 
probable that payment will be received. Special dividends receivable are treated as a revenue receipt or a capital receipt 
depending on the facts and circumstances of each particular case. Fixed returns on non-equity shares and debt securities 
are recognised on an accruals basis using the effective interest method. Such amounts are recognised in the revenue 
column provided that it is probable that payment will be received in due course.

c)  Expenses 

  All expenses are accounted for on an accruals basis. In respect of the analysis between revenue and capital items 
presented within the income statement, all expenses have been accounted for as revenue items except as follows:

Expenses are split and presented partly as capital items where a connection with the maintenance or enhancement of the 
value of the investments held can be demonstrated, and accordingly the investment management fee is currently 
allocated 25% to revenue and 75% to capital, which reflects the Directors’ expected long term view of the nature of the 
investment returns of the Company.

d)  Debtors 

Short term debtors (including short term loans) are measured at transaction price, less any impairment. 

e)  Creditors 

Short term trade creditors are measured at the transaction price. 

f)  Taxation

  Current tax is recognised for the amount of income tax payable in respect of the taxable profit for the current or past 
reporting periods using the tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting date. 

  Deferred tax is recognised in respect of all timing differences at the reporting date, except as otherwise indicated. 

Deferred tax assets are only recognised to the extent that it is probable that they will be recovered against the reversal of 
deferred tax liabilities or other future taxable profits. 

  Deferred tax is calculated using the tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting 

date that are expected to apply to the reversal of the timing difference. 

  The tax expense/(income) is presented either in the Income Statement or Statement of Changes in Equity depending on 
the transaction that resulted in the tax expense/(income). Deferred tax liabilities are presented within provisions for 
liabilities and deferred tax assets within debtors.

g)  Financial instruments 

  The Company has elected to apply the provisions of section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and section 12 ‘Other 

Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.

  The Company’s financial instruments comprise its investment portfolio, cash balances and most debtors and creditors. 

These financial assets and financial liabilities are carried either at fair value or, in the case of debtors, creditors and cash, 
using the cost which is considered to be a reasonable approximation of their fair value.

h)  Events after the balance sheet date 

  Dividends declared and approved by the Company after the balance sheet date have not been recognised as a liability of 

the Company at the balance sheet date.

46| Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016

Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016 | 47

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Financial Statements continued

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

  6. Income 

Interest receivable – revenue

– from bank deposits 

– from long term loan stock

– from short term loan stock

– arrangement fees received

Interest receivable – capital

– from long term loan stock

  7. Investment Adviser’s fees 

Oakley Investment Managers LLP

2016
£

2015
£

3,434

691,189

104,031

6,020

5,890

442,446

24,282

5,990

804,674

478,608

–

804,674

17,475

496,083

Year ended 
31.03.16
£

Year ended 
31.03.15
£

261,829

151,561

Oakley Investment Managers LLP has been appointed as the Company’s Investment Adviser. This appointment shall continue 
until terminated by the expiry of not less than twelve months’ notice in writing given by either party. The appointment may 
also be terminated in circumstances of material breach by either party.

Details of the appointment may be found in the Strategic Report on pages 25 and 26.

  8. Other expenses 

Other expenses include:

Company secretarial fees 

Auditor’s fees – audit services

Additional prior year audit fees

Printing and stationery 

Marketing

Insurance

Investment acquisition costs

Employers NI on Directors’ remuneration

Other costs 

Interest forgone on renegotiation of loan investment

Irrecoverable VAT 

The Company has no employees other than the Directors.

2016
£

61,659

35,000

10,000

29,452

26,540

8,753

6,013

1,888

24,480

–

35,411

2015
£

44,429

29,700

–

33,789

4,295

3,420

20,869

2,634

30,109

62,160

29,709

Information relating to Directors’ remuneration can be found in the audited section of the Directors’ Remuneration Report 
on page 29.

  9. Tax on ordinary activities 

a)  Analysis of tax charge

Revenue charge

Credited to capital return

Current and total tax charge (note (b))

  b)  Factors affecting tax charge for the period 

Total return on ordinary activities before tax

Effect of:

Corporation tax at 20%

Non-taxable gains on investments

Movement in excess management expenses

Other movements

Tax charge for period (note (a))

2016
£

35,000

–

35,000

2015
£

–

–

–

2,090,641

1,160,148

418,128

232,030

(364,398)

(223,009)

(21,900)

3,170

35,000

(9,021)

–

–

No asset or liability has been recognised for deferred tax in relation to capital gains or losses on revaluing investments as the 
Company is exempt from corporation tax in relation to capital gains or losses as a result of qualifying as a Venture Capital Trust.

There is no potential liability to deferred tax. No deferred tax asset has been recognised on surplus expenses carried forward 
as it is not envisaged that any such tax will be recovered in the foreseeable future. The value of the unrecognised deferred 
tax is £nil (2015: £21,900).

 10. Dividends paid

2016
£

2015
£

Final dividend on Ordinary shares for the year ended 31 March 2016 of 0.6p per share 
(2015: Interim dividend 3.0p per Ordinary share)

108,847

544,236

The dividend was paid from the special reserve. Details of the proposed dividend for the year ended 31 March 2016 are 
provided in the Chairman’s statement.

 11. Return per share

2016

2015

Revenue

Capital

Total

Revenue

Capital

Total

Earnings per Ordinary share

Earnings/(loss) per B Ordinary share

1.72p

1.47p

6.17p

7.89p

0.92p

5.48p

6.40p

9.32p

10.79p

(0.04)p

(0.03)p

(0.07)p

Basic revenue return per Ordinary share is based on the net revenue return from ordinary activities after taxation of 
£311,902 (2015: £166,193) and on 18,133,662 (2015: 18,141,202) Ordinary shares, being the weighted average number of 
Ordinary shares in issue during the year. Basic capital return per Ordinary share is based on the net capital gain after 
taxation of £1,118,170 (2015: £994,610) and on 18,133,662 (2015: 18,141,202) Ordinary shares, being the weighted 
average number of shares in issue during the year.

Basic revenue return per B Ordinary share is based on the net revenue loss from ordinary activities after taxation of £85,031 
(2015: (period from 19 March 2015 (date of first issue of B Ordinary shares to 31 March 2015): £(745)) and on 5,798,035 
(2015: 1,979,400) B Ordinary shares, being the weighted average number of shares in issue during the year (2015: the 
period from 19 March 2015 (date of first issue of B Ordinary shares) to 31 March 2015). Basic capital return per B Ordinary 
share is based on the net capital gain after taxation of £540,538 (2015: Loss: £(655) (period from 19 March 2015 (date of 
first issue of B Ordinary shares) to 31 March 2015)) and on 5,798,035 (2015: 1,979,400 ) Ordinary shares, being the 
weighted average number of shares in issue during for the year (2015: period from 19 March 2015 (date of first issue of 
B Ordinary shares) to 31 March 2015).

48 | Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016

Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016 | 49

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Financial Statements continued

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

 12. Investments

 13. Significant interests 

Movements in investments during the period are summarised as follows:

Shares 
£

Loan stock 
£

Total 
£

As at the balance sheet date and from the dates of making the investments the Company has held 3% or more of the 
ordinary shares of:

Investment

Percentage equity holding 

Unrealised appreciation at 31 March 2016

3,562,735

–

3,562,735

Boat International Media (Boat International Limited)

Opening valuation:

Cost at 31 March 2015

11,508,952

3,952,800

15,461,752

Unrealised appreciation at 31 March 2015

1,740,743

–

1,740,743

Interest rolled up in fixed income investments

–

483,880

483,880

Valuation at 31 March 2015

13,249,695

4,436,680

17,686,375

Movements in the year:

Purchases at cost

1,772,034

2,234,800

4,006,834

Transferred from short term to long term loans

–

350,000

350,000

Unrealised gains on equity investments

1,821,992

–

1,821,992

Long term loans repaid

Interest rolled up in fixed income investments

–

–

(100,000)

(100,000)

740,070

740,070

Total movements in year

3,594,026

3,224,870

6,818,896

Closing valuation:

Cost at 31 March 2016

13,280,986

6,437,600

19,718,586

Interest rolled up in fixed income investments

–

1,223,950

1,223,950

Valuation at 31 March 2016

16,843,721

7,661,550

24,505,271

During the year, the Company incurred acquisition costs of £6,013 (2015: £20,869) and disposal costs of £nil (2015: £nil).

As at 31 March 2016, the Company had no arrangements in place to dispose of any of its holdings.

The Company is required to report the category of fair value measurements used in determining the value of its investments, 
to be disclosed by the source of inputs, using a three-level hierarchy:

Quoted market prices in active markets – “Level 1” 
Inputs to Level 1 fair values are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets. An active market is one in which quoted 
prices are readily and regularly available and those prices represent actual and regular occurring market transactions on an 
arm’s length basis. The Company has no investments classified in this category.

Valued using models with significant observable market parameters – “Level 2” 
Inputs to Level 2 fair values are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset, 
either directly or indirectly. The Company has no investments classified in this category.

Valued using models with significant unobservable market parameters – “Level 3” 
Inputs to Level 3 fair values are unobservable inputs for the asset. Unobservable inputs may have been used to measure fair 
value to the extent that observable inputs are not available, thereby allowing for situations in which there is little, if any, 
market activity for the asset at the measurement date (or market information for the inputs to any valuation models).  
As such, unobservable inputs reflect the assumptions the Company considers that market participants would use in pricing 
the asset. The Company’s unquoted equities and loan stock are classified within this category. As explained in Note 5, 
unquoted investments are valued in accordance with the IPEVEV guidelines. The fair value of all investments is assessed by 
the Company and, where appropriate, a revaluation against cost is made. The basis of revaluation may be based on a sales 
or profit multiple, or on market information that supersedes that held at the time of acquiring the investment.

Details of the basis of revaluation are included in the Investment Review on pages 12 to 23.

Boom Cycle (Boom Spin Limited)

KX Gym (KX Group Holding Limited)

Plenish (Plenish Cleanse Limited)

Dilly & Wolf (Dilly and Wolf Limited)

Chilango (Mucho Mas Limited)

Five Guys UK (Freston Road Ventures LLP)

La Bottega (LBID Holdings Limited)

Chucs Bar & Grill (Chucs Bar & Grill Limited)

Second Home (Second Homes Limited)

Sourced Market (SP Market Limited)

Kat Maconie (Kat Maconie Limited)

Troubadour Goods (Troubadour Goods Limited)

Bella Freud (Bella Freud Limited)

Chucs (Chucs Limited)

Bella Freud Perfume (Bella Freud Parfum Limited)

Penfield (Penfield Inc Limited)

ME+EM (ME and Em Limited)

Zenos Cars (Zenos Cars Limited)

Blaze (SMIDSY Limited)

Stillking Films UK (2020 Group Limited)

27.7

11.8

31.4

27.0

3.0

4.2

40.0

26.6

5.5

20.7

23.9

44.4

27.8

31.5

30.0

8.7

5.1

21.6

11.5

7.6

5.0

Details of holdings may be found in the Investment Portfolio summary and Investment Review on pages 10 to 23.

 14. Debtors 

Amounts falling due within one year:

Short term loan and accrued interest

Bank interest accrued

Sundry debtors and prepayments

2016
£

2015
£

1,907,658

365,633

–

197,807

2,105,465

161

79,198

444,992

50 | Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016

Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016 | 51

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Financial Statements continued

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

 15. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 

Sundry creditors and accruals

Deferred income

Corporation tax

Fixed asset investment deferred payment

2016
£

185,680

14,010

35,000

–

234,690

2015
£

240,177

20,030

–

290,000

550,207

16.  Called up share capital 

Number of 
Ordinary 
shares*

Number of 
B Ordinary 
shares**

Total

Allotted, called up and fully paid at 1 April 2015:

18,141,202

1,979,400

20,120,602

Issued during the year

–

6,137,377

6,137,377

Repurchase of own shares for cancellation

(50,000)

–

(50,000)

At 31 March 2016

18,091,202

8,116,777

26,207,979

*Ordinary shares of 1p each  
**B Ordinary shares of 1p each 

During the year, the Company issued 6,137,377 B Ordinary shares as detailed below:

Allotted, called up and fully paid: 

No of shares

2,171,720 B Ordinary shares issued on 2 April 2015

1,175,000 B Ordinary shares issued on 9 June 2015

510,000 B Ordinary shares issued on 29 July 2015

Nominal 
value 
£

Consideration
received
£

21,717

11,750

5,100

2,171,720

1,175,000

510,000

2,280,657 B Ordinary shares issued on 4 February 2016 

22,806

2,288,000

 18. Net asset value per share

The net asset values per share at the year-end were as follows:

2016
Net asset values attributable
Net assets 
per share

Net  
assets

2015
Net asset values attributable
Net assets 
per share

Net  
assets

Ordinary shares

B Ordinary shares

£20,124,959

111.24p

£18,857,630

£8,558,027

105.44p

£1,938,412

103.95p

97.93p

Net asset value per Ordinary share is based on net assets at the year end and on 18,091,202 (2015: 18,141,202) Ordinary 
shares, being the number of Ordinary shares in issue at the year end. 

Net asset value per B Ordinary share is based on net assets at the year end and on 8,116,777 (2015: 1,979,400) B Ordinary 
shares, being the number of B Ordinary shares in issue at the year end.

 19. Reconciliation of profit before taxation to net cash outflow from operating activities 

Profit before taxation for the year

Unrealised gains on investments

2016
£

2015
£

2,090,641

1,160,148

(1,821,992)

(1,129,702)

(Increase) in debtors (excluding share issue proceeds and short term loans)

(60,812)

(55,951)

(Increase) in interest rolled up in fixed income investments

(740,070)

(336,420)

(Decrease)/Increase in creditors and accruals (excluding share issue expenses,  

short term loans and fixed asset investment balances)

Net cash outflow from operating activities

(68,385)

93,212

(600,618)

(268,713)

 20. Financial instruments 

The Company’s financial instruments comprise:

During the year, the Company repurchased 50,000 of its own Ordinary shares for cancellation at a cost of £53,626.

(i)  Equity and fixed-interest investments that are held in accordance with the Company’s investment objectives as set out in 

 17. Reserves

Called up share capital represents the nominal value of shares that have been issued. 

Share premium account includes any premiums received on issue of share capital less any transaction costs associated with 
the issuing of shares and any amounts transferred to the special reserve. 

Special reserve include amounts transferred from the share premium account on 26 March 2014. The special reserve is 
distributable and is mainly used for payment of dividends.

Capital reserves includes all current and prior period realised and unrealised movements in the fair value of investments and 
all costs which are considered capital in nature. As at 31 March 2016 there were no realised gains therefore the balance is 
non-distributable.

Revenue reserve includes all current and prior period retained profits and losses. The balance on the account is distributable.

The total distributable reserves of the Company at 31 March 2016 is £15,811,641.

the Directors’ Report; and

(ii) Cash, liquid resources, short term debtors and creditors that arise directly from the Company’s operations.

Investments are made in a combination of equity and loans. Surplus funds are held on bank deposit. It is not the Company’s 
policy to trade in financial instruments or derivatives.

Details of the bases on which financial instruments, including investments, are held may be found at notes 5 and 12.

52 | Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016

Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016 | 53

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Financial Statements continued

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

 20. Financial instruments continued

The Company held the following categories of financial instruments, all of which are included in the balance sheet at fair 
value, at 31 March 2016:

Assets at fair value through profit and loss:

Equity investments

Loan stock

Short term loans

Assets measured at amortised cost:

Short term loans accrued interest

Accrued income

Other debtors

Liabilities measured at amortised cost: 

Creditors

Cash at bank

2016

2015

Cost 
£

Fair value 
£

Cost 
£

Fair value 
£

13,280,986

16,843,721

11,508,952

13,249,695

7,661,550

1,850,000

7,661,550

1,850,000

4,436,680

350,000

4,436,680

350,000

57,658

–

141,624

57,658

–

141,624

15,633

161

41,962

15,633

161

41,962

(234,690)

(234,690)

(550,207)

(550,207)

2,306,940

2,306,940

3,214,882

3,214,882

25,064,068

28,626,803

19,018,063

20,758,806

Loans to investee companies are treated as fair value through profit and loss and are included in the investment portfolio.

Unquoted investments account for 100% of the investment portfolio by value. The investment portfolio has a 100% 
concentration of risk towards small UK based, sterling denominated companies and represents 85.4% (2015: 85.0%) of net 
assets at the year end.

All financial liabilities are due within one year and are expected to be settled within six months of the period and in 
accordance with normal credit terms.

The main risks arising from the Company’s financial instruments are credit risk, investment valuation risk, interest rate risk 
and liquidity risk. All assets and liabilities are denominated in sterling, hence there is no currency risk.

Credit risk 

The Company has exposure to credit risk in respect of its loan stock investments. This risk is managed through the due 
diligence process adopted when making loan investments to unquoted companies and through regular monitoring of the 
investee companies by the Investment Adviser. The selection of credit institution at which to hold cash balances is made by 
the Investment Adviser and monitored by the Board. The credit risk is managed by ensuring cash is held with an institution 
or institutions with a Standard & Poors long term credit rating of BBB or better. The maximum exposure to credit risk at the 
balance sheet date was £12,017,772 (2015: £8,059,318).

Investment valuation risk 

The Board manages the investment valuation risk inherent in the Company’s portfolio by maintaining an appropriate spread 
of risk and by ensuring full and timely access to relevant information from the Investment Adviser. The Board reviews the 
investment performance and financial results, as well as compliance with the Company’s investment objectives. The Board 
seeks to ensure that an appropriate proportion of the Company’s portfolio is invested in cash and readily realisable securities 
which are sufficient to meet any funding commitments which may arise. The Company does not use derivative instruments 
to hedge against market risk.

The equity and fixed interest stocks of the Company’s unquoted investee companies are very seldom traded and, as such, 
their prices are more uncertain than those of more frequently traded stocks. It is estimated that a 15% fall in the carrying 
value of the Company’s unquoted investments would reduce profit before tax for the year and the Company’s net asset value 
per share by £3,675,791 and 14.0p (Period ended 31 March 2015: £2,652,957 and 13.1p) respectively.

A 15% estimate is considered to be an appropriate illustration given historical volatility and market expectations of  
future performance.

Interest rate risk 

The Company’s financial assets include loan stock and bank deposits which are interest bearing, at a mix of fixed and 
variable rates. As a result, the Company is exposed to interest rate risk due to fluctuations in prevailing levels of market 
interest rates. The Board seeks to mitigate this risk through regular monitoring of the Company’s interest bearing investments. 
The Company does not use derivative instruments to hedge against interest rate risk.

As at 31 March 2016, the Company’s financial assets by value, excluding short term debtors and creditors which are not 
exposed to interest rate risk, comprised:

Financial assets

£

Venture capital investments

   Ordinary shares

   Loan stock 

   Loan stock

   Loan stock 

   Loan stock 

   Loan stock 

   Loan stock

   Loan stock 

   Loan stock 

   Loan stock 

   Loan stock

   Loan stock 

   Loan stock 

   Loan stock

   Loan stock 

   Loan stock 

   Loan stock 

   Loan stock

   Loan stock 

   Loan stock 

   Loan stock 

   Loan stock 

Short term loans

   Loan

   Loan

   Loan

   Loan

   Loan

   Loan

   Loan

   Loan

   Loan

   Loan

   Loan

16,843,721

1,454,750

265,325

2,491,792

459,967

150,522

106,003

369,609

57,163

150,986

56,089

54,619

54,960

58,085

54,648

233,240

119,194

307,839

251,644

288,534

550,877

125,704

137,773

109,501

109,304

205,830

156,214

103,518

26,017

154,142

403,682

301,085

200,592

Bank deposits

2,306,940

Weighted 
average 
interest rate 
%

Interest 
rate

Fixed 
term 
years

N/a

Fixed

Fixed

Fixed

Fixed

Fixed

Fixed

Fixed

Fixed

Fixed

Floating

Floating

Fixed

Floating

Fixed

Fixed

Fixed

Fixed

Fixed

Fixed

Fixed

Fixed

Fixed

Fixed

Floating

Fixed

Fixed

Fixed

Fixed

Fixed

Fixed

Fixed

Fixed

Floating

N/a

15.0

10.0

12.0

12.0

7.5

12.0

12.0

12.0

12.0

8.0

8.0

12.0

11.5

12.0

12.0

12.0

5.0

8.0

12.0

12.0

12.0

12.0

12.0

12.0

8.0

12.0

12.0

15.0

12.0

12.0

12.0

12.0

0.15

N/a

5.0

5.0

5.0

5.0

N/a

5.0

5.0

5.0

5.0

5.0

5.0

5.0

5.0

5.0

5.0

5.0

5.0

5.0

5.0

5.0

5.0

1.0

1.0

1.0

1.0

1.0

1.0

1.0

1.0

1.0

1.0

1.0

n/a

%

58.7

5.1

0.9

8.7

1.6

0.5

0.4

1.3

0.2

0.5

0.2

0.2

0.2

0.2

0.2

0.8

0.4

1.1

0.9

1.0

1.9

0.4

0.5

0.4

0.4

0.7

0.5

0.4

0.1

0.5

1.4

1.0

0.7

8.0

28,719,869

100.0

54 | Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016

Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016 | 55

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Financial Statements continued

Notice of Annual General Meeting

20.  Financial instruments continued  

It is estimated that, if the floating interest rate fell to 0%, pre-tax profit for the year would fall by 1.37% (2015: 0.49%)  
on an annualised basis.

The risk from future fluctuations in interest rate movements should be mitigated by the Company’s intention to complete  
its investment strategy and to hold a majority of its investments in instruments which are not exposed to market interest  
rate changes.

Liquidity risk 

The investments in equity and fixed interest stocks of unquoted companies that the Company holds are not traded and thus 
are not readily realisable. At times, the Company may be unable to realise its investments at their carrying values because of 
an absence of willing buyers. The Company’s ability to sell investments may also be constrained by the requirements set 
down for VCTs. To counter such liquidity risk, sufficient cash and money market funds are held to meet running costs and 
other commitments. 

 21. Management of capital 

The Board of Directors considers the Company’s net assets to be its capital and the Company does not have any externally 
imposed capital requirements.

The Company’s objectives when managing capital are to safeguard the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern, 
satisfy the relevant HMRC requirements and provide at least adequate returns for shareholders.

As a VCT, the Company must have, and must continue to have, within three years of raising its capital at least 70% by value 
of its investments in VCT qualifying holdings which are a relatively high risk asset class of small UK companies. In satisfying 
this requirement, the Company’s capital management scope is restricted. Subject to this restriction, the Company directs 
investment policy and may adjust dividends, return capital to shareholders, issue new shares or sell assets to maintain the 
level of liquidity to remain a going concern.

 22. Post balance sheet events 

Since 31 March 2016 the Company has made investments of £1,786,059, of which £500,000 represented new investments 
and £1,286,059 follow-on investments in existing holdings. The Company has no other investment commitments at the 
balance sheet date. 

A further allotment of 3,084,856 B Ordinary shares was made on 5 April 2016 for £3,143,650.

 23. Geographical analysis 

The operations of the Company are wholly in the United Kingdom.

 24. Transactions with the Investment Adviser 

The Company retains Oakley Investment Managers LLP (“OIM”) as its Investment Adviser. 

Peter Dubens, a non-executive Director of the Company, is a member of OIM. During the year ended 31 March 2016, 
£261,829 was payable to OIM for investment adviser services of which £43,683 was owed to OIM at the year end  
(2015: £151,561, of which £68,753 was owed at the period end). During the year OIM paid expenses on behalf of the 
Company amounting to £nil (2015: £nil), of which £nil (2015: £nil) was outstanding at the year end.

Palmer Capital LLP (“Palmer”), of which Peter Dubens is a member, acted as promoter for the offer during the year. The fees 
in the year amounted to £150,674 (31 March 2015: £39,588) out of which Palmer cover the costs of the offer. The costs paid 
by the Company in the year amounted to £250,336, resulting in a balance of £141,624 owed from Palmer to the Company 
at the year end (2015: Palmer owed the Company £41,962).

The number of Ordinary shares (all of which are held beneficially) by employees of OIM are:

2016

2015

Ordinary
shares held

B Ordinary
shares held

Ordinary
shares held

B Ordinary
shares held

Peter Dubens

Director

Stewart Porter

Investment Adviser

400,000

75,000

400,000

–

400,000

75,000

200,000

–

It is the Board’s opinion that all resolutions are in the best interests of shareholders as a whole and the Board recommends that 
shareholders should vote in favour of all resolutions. Any shareholder who is in doubt as to what action to take should consult an 
appropriate independent financial adviser authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.

If you have sold or transferred all your Shares in the Company, please forward this document, together with the Forms of Proxy to 
the purchaser, transferee, stockbroker or other agent through whom the sale or transfer was effected, for transmission to the 
purchaser or transferee. 

Notice is hereby given that the third annual general meeting of Pembroke VCT plc will be held at 11.00am on 29 September 2016 
at 3 Cadogan Gate, London SW1X 0AS for the purpose of considering and, if thought fit, passing the following Resolutions (of 
which, Resolutions 1 to 7 will be proposed as Ordinary Resolution and Resolution 8 will be proposed as a Special Resolution):

Ordinary Business 

1.  To receive the Directors’ and the Independent Auditor’s Reports and the Company’s financial statements for the year ended 31 

March 2016.

2.  To approve final dividends of 2p per Ordinary share and 2p per B Ordinary share in respect of the year ended 31 March 2016 

with a payment date of 31 October 2016 and a record date of 30 September 2016.

3.  To receive and approve the Directors’ Remuneration Report for the year ended 31 March 2016.

4.  To re-appoint Grant Thornton UK LLP as auditor of the Company to hold office until the conclusion of the next general meeting 

at which accounts are laid before the Company.

5.  To authorise the Directors to fix the remuneration of the auditor.

6.  To re-elect Peter Dubens as a Director of the Company.

7.  That, the Directors be authorised to offer holders of Shares in the Company the right to receive Shares, credited as fully paid, 

instead of cash in respect of the whole (or some part as may be determined by the Directors from time to time) of any dividend 
declared in the period commencing of the date of this resolution and this power shall expire on the date falling 15 months after 
the date of the passing of this resolution pursuant to the Company’s dividend investment scheme.  

Special Resolution 

8.  That the Company be and is hereby generally and unconditionally authorised within the meaning of section 701 of the Act to 

make market purchases of Ordinary and B Ordinary shares of 1p each in the capital of the Company (“Ordinary and 
B Ordinary shares”) provided that:

(i)  the maximum number of Ordinary and B Ordinary shares hereby authorised to be purchased is an amount equal to 

14.99% of the issued Ordinary and 14.99% of the issued B Ordinary share capital of the Company from time to time;

(ii)  the minimum price which may be paid for an Ordinary or B Ordinary share is 1p per share, the nominal amount thereof;

(iii) the maximum price which may be paid for an Ordinary or B Ordinary share is an amount equal to 105% of the average of 
the middle market prices shown in the quotations for an Ordinary or B Ordinary share as applicable in The London Stock 
Exchange Daily Official List for the five business days immediately preceding the day on which that share is purchased;

(iv)  the authority hereby conferred shall (unless previously renewed or revoked) expire on the earlier of the annual general 
meeting of the Company to be held in 2017 and the date which is 15 months after the date on which this resolution is 
passed; and

(v)  the Company may make a contract or contracts to purchase its own Ordinary or B Ordinary shares under this authority 

before the expiry of the authority which will or may be executed wholly or partly after the expiry of the authority, and may 
make a purchase of its own Ordinary or B Ordinary shares in pursuance of any such contract or contracts as if the 
authority conferred hereby had not expired. 

By Order of the Board 
The City Partnership (UK) Limited 
Secretary 
29 July 2016

56 | Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016

Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016 | 57

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notice of Annual General Meeting continued

Corporate Information

 Notes 

  1. Pursuant to Regulation 41 of the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001 and paragraph 18(c) of The Companies Act 2006 
(Consequential Amendments) (Uncertificated Securities) Order 2009, only shareholders registered in the register of members 
of the Company as at 11.00am on 27 September 2016 (48 hours, excluding non-working days, before the time appointed for 
the meeting) shall be entitled to attend and vote at the AGM in respect of the number of shares registered in their name at such 
time. If the meeting is adjourned, the time by which a person must be entered in the register of members in order to have the 
right to attend and vote at the adjourned meeting is 48 hours before the time of any adjourned meeting. 

  2. As a member of the Company, you are entitled to appoint a proxy to exercise all or any of your rights to attend and vote at the 
meeting and you should have received a Form of Proxy with this notice of meeting. You can appoint a proxy only by using the 
procedures set out in these notes and the notes to the Form of Proxy. A proxy does not need to be a member of the Company 
but must attend the meeting to represent you.

  3. To appoint a proxy you may use the Form of Proxy enclosed with this Notice of AGM. To be valid, the Form of Proxy must  
be deposited by 11.00am on 27 September 2016, or if this meeting is adjourned, by no later than 48 hours, excluding 
non-working days, prior to the time and date set for the adjourned meeting, using one of the following methods:

-  By sending a signed completed hard copy of the Form of Proxy to Share Registrars Limited, The Courtyard, 17 West Street, 

Farnham, Surrey GU9 7DR; or

-  By sending a legible scan of the completed hard copy of the Form of Proxy to proxies@shareregistrars.uk.com.

  4. You may appoint more than one proxy provided each proxy is appointed to exercise rights attached to different shares.  

You may not appoint more than one proxy to exercise rights attached to any one share. To appoint more than one proxy you 
should photocopy the Form of Proxy. Please indicate alongside the proxy holder’s name, the number of shares in relation to 
which they are authorised to act as your proxy. The notes to the Form of Proxy explain how to direct your proxy to vote on 
each resolution or withhold their vote. 

  5. In the case of joint holders, where more than one of the joint holders purports to appoint a proxy, only the appointment 

submitted by the most senior holder will be accepted. Seniority is determined by the order in which the names of the joint 
holders appear in the Company’s register of members in respect of the joint holding (the first-named being the most senior).

  6. In order to revoke a proxy instruction you will need to inform the Company using one of the following methods:

-  By sending hard copy notice clearly stating your intention to revoke your proxy appointment to Share Registrars Limited, 
The Courtyard, 17 West Street, Farnham, Surrey GU9 7DR. In the case of a member which is a company, the revocation 
notice must be executed under its common seal or signed on its behalf by an officer of the company or an attorney for the 
company. Any power of attorney or any other authority under which the revocation notice is signed (or a duly certified copy 
of such power or authority) must be included with the revocation notice; or

-  By sending an email, clearly stating your intention to revoke your proxy appointment, to proxies@shareregistrars.uk.com.

  7. Appointment of a proxy does not preclude you from attending the meeting and voting in person. If you have appointed a 

proxy and attend the Meeting in person, your proxy appointment will automatically be terminated.

  8. The issued share capital of the Company at the date of this notice is 18,091,202 Ordinary Shares and 11,201,633 B Ordinary 

Shares, therefore the total number of voting rights in the Company as at the date of this notice is 29,292,835.

  9. The following documents are available for inspection at the registered office of the Company:

-  The Directors’ letters of appointment

-  Register of the Directors’ interests in the share capital of the Company.

 10. You may not use any electronic address provided either in this notice of meeting or any related documents, to communicate 

with the Company for any purposes other than those expressly stated.

Directors  
(all non-executive) 

Independent 

Not independent 

Jonathan Simon Djanogly (Chairman) 

Peter Adam Daiches Dubens

Laurence Charles Neil Blackall

All of the registered office and 
principal place of business 

3 Cadogan Gate 
London  
SW1X 0AS

www.pembrokevct.com

Investment Adviser 
Oakley Investment Managers LLP 
3 Cadogan Gate 
London 
SW1X 0AS 

Secretary 
The City Partnership (UK) Limited 
Thistle House 
21 Thistle Street 
Edinburgh 
EH2 1DF  

Telephone: 0131 243 7210

Registrar 
The City Partnership (UK) Limited 
c/o Share Registrars Limited   
The Courtyard 
17 West Street 
Farnham 
Surrey 
GU9 7DR

Bankers 
Barclays Bank plc 
1st Floor 
99 Hatton Garden 
London 
EC1N 8DN 

Independent Auditor 
Grant Thornton UK LLP 
30 Finsbury Square 
London 
EC2P 2YU

VCT Status Adviser 
Philip Hare & Associates LLP 
4-6 Staple Inn 
London  
WC1V 7QH

Reporting Calendar 

for year ending 31 March 2017

Results announced: 

Interim – October 2016

Annual – July 2017

58 | Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016

Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016 | 59

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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60 | Pembroke VCT plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016

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