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Pembroke VCT plc

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FY2018 Annual Report · Pembroke VCT plc
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3 Cadogan Gate, London SW1X 0AS

Incorporated in England and Wales

with registered number 08307631

ANNUAL REPORT
AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

for the year ended 31 March 2018

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
04 06 08 10

Financial summary

Chairman’s statement

The Board

Financial highlights  
and investment objective

12 14

Investment Adviser’s review

Investment portfolio

33

Strategic report

36

Directors’ report

38

Directors’ remuneration  
report

42

Corporate governance 
statement

45 46

Statement of Directors’ 
responsibilities

Independent auditor’s  
report

51

Income statement

52

Balance sheet

54

Statement of changes  
in equity

59 70 72

Corporate information

Notes to the financial 
statements

Notice of annual  
general meeting

56

Cash flow statement

73

Form of Proxy

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Financial highlights

Company net asset value  
as at 31 March 2018

Net asset value  
per Ordinary share

Weighted return 
per Ordinary share

£51.2m

124.03p

12.58p

Company profit for the year  
to 31 March 2018

£4.1m

Increase of portfolio value  
over cost

32%

Net asset value  
per B Ordinary share

108.12p

Total value of  
investments

£46.5m

Weighted return 
per B Ordinary share

7.10p

Cash invested in new and  
follow-on investments

£8.7m

Investment objective

Pembroke VCT plc (the “Company”) is a generalist VCT focused on early stage 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”) believes 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

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Financial summary

Results

Net assets
Number of shares in issue
Net asset value per share
Investment income

Profit/(loss) before tax
Revenue
Capital

Year ended
31.03.18
Ordinary 
shares

Year ended
31.03.18
B Ordinary 
shares

Year ended 
31.03.18

total

Year ended  
31.03.17
Ordinary
shares

Year ended
31.03.17
B Ordinary  
shares

Year ended 
31.03.17

total

£22,442,372
18,095,005
124.03p
£486,074

£28,777,540
26,615,404
108.12p
£538,457

£51,219,912
44,710,409
n/a
£1,024,531

£20,706,329
18,092,297
114.45p
£601,998

£15,679,533
15,285,811
102.58p
£603,037

£36,485,862
33,378,108
n/a
£1,205,035

£283,386
£1,992,393

£228,919
£1,554,114

£512,305
£3,546,507

£(412,942)
£1,327,698

£254,506
£(329,829)

£(158,436)
£997,869

Total

£2,275,779

£1,783,033

£4,058,812

£914,756

£(75,323)

£839,433

Return per share
Revenue
Capital

Total

1.31p
11.27p

12.58p

0.74p
6.36p

7.10p

n/a
n/a

n/a

(2.13)p
7.34p

5.21p

1.65p
(2.49)p

(0.84)p

n/a
n/a

n/a

Company performance – Ordinary shares

180p

160p

140p

120p

100p

80p

60p

40p

20p

0p

05.04.13

30.09.13

31.03.14

30.09.14

31.03.15

30.09.15

31.03.16

30.09.16

31.03.17

30.09.17

31.03.18

Portfolio performance – Ordinary shares

FTSE UK Small Cap 
total return index

Pembroke VCT 
total return per share*

Pembroke VCT 
share price

Pembroke VCT 
NAV per share

*including 30% tax rebate

£’000

3,500

3,250

3,000

2,750

2,500

2,250

2,000

1,750

1,500

1,250

1,000

725

500

250

0

+1,838.1

+2,726.3

+1,704.3

-1,960

+1,057.8

+499.1

+492.7

-102.2

-270.0

Boo m Cycle

KX Gy m

Plenish

Dilly & W olf

Chilango

Five G uys U K

Chucs Bar & Grill
La Bottega

Second H o m e

Sourced M arket

–

+952.9

+582.4

+474.3

-990.0

–

+391.2

-203.7

-500.0 +358.3

-63.0

Kat M aconie
Troubadour G oods

Bella Freud Parfu m
Bella Freud

Chucs

Boat International 

Rated People

Zenos Cars

Blaze

Stillking Film s

All figures in £’000

Cost of investment

Fair value as at 31 March 2018

Increase in fair value

Decrease in fair value

FTSE UK Small Cap 
total return index

Pembroke VCT 

total return per share*

Pembroke VCT 

share price

Pembroke VCT 

NAV per share

*including 30% tax rebate

180p

160p

140p

120p

100p

80p

60p

40p

20p

0p

£’000

3,000

2,800

2,600

2,400

2,200

2,000

1,800

1,600

1,400

1,000

800

600

400

200

0

31.03.15

30.09.15

31.03.16

30.09.16

31.03.17

30.09.17

31.03.18

+405.0

+664.5 –

+346.4

+488.5

–

+402.5

1,200

-216.8

+693.2

–

-550

+91.1

+174.4

–

+631.9

–

-125.0

+36.4

-300.0

–

+8.9

-125

–

-130.0

–

–

–

–

Boo m Cycle

Plenish

Dilly & W olf

KX Urban

Chilango

Five G uys U K

La Bottega

Chucs Bar & Grill

Second H o m e

Sourced M arket

Bel(Air Inc

Kat M aconie

Troubadour G oods

Bella Freud

Bella Freud Parfu m

Chucs

M E+E M

Alexa Chung

Heist Studios

PlayerLayer

Boat International 

Rated People

Zenos Cars

Blaze

W ishi Fashion

Unbolted

StylIndex

Popsa

All figures in £’000

Cost of investment

Fair value as at 31 March 2018

Increase in fair value

Decrease in fair value

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
180p

160p

140p

120p

100p

80p

60p

40p

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FTSE UK Small Cap 
total return index

Pembroke VCT 
total return per share*

Pembroke VCT 
share price

Pembroke VCT 
NAV per share

20p

Total return
(net asset value (“NAV”) plus cumulative dividends paid)

30.09.14

30.09.13

30.09.15

05.04.13

31.03.14

31.03.15

0p

31.03.16

30.09.16

Year ended
31.03.18
Ordinary
shares
(pence  
per share)

31.03.17

30.09.17

31.03.18

Year ended
31.03.18
B Ordinary
shares
(pence  
per share)

Year ended
31.03.17
Ordinary
shares
(pence  
per share)

Year ended
31.03.17
 B Ordinary
shares
(pence  
per share)

*including 30% tax rebate

£’000
Dividends paid during the year ended
3,500
31 March 2015
3,250

+1,838.1

+2,726.3

3,000
31 March 2016
2,750
31 March 2017
2,500

2,250
31 March 2018
2,000

1,750

+1,704.3

1,500
Total dividends paid since launch
+499.1
1,250
Closing NAV
1,000

+492.7

-1,960

+1,057.8

725

-102.2
Total return 

500

250

0

3.00

0.60

2.00

3.00

–

–

2.00

3.00

–

3.00

0.60

2.00

–

–

–

2.00

+952.9

–

2.00

102.58

+582.4

8.60

–

+391.2

124.03

+474.3

5.00

-990.0
108.12

5.60

114.45

-270.0

132.63

113.12

-63.0

-203.7

-500.0 +358.3

120.05

104.58

Plenish

KX Gy m

Boo m Cycle

Five G uys U K
Kat M aconie
Troubadour G oods
Company performance – B Ordinary shares

Chucs Bar & Grill
La Bottega

Sourced M arket

Second H o m e

Dilly & W olf

Chilango

Bella Freud Parfu m
Bella Freud

Chucs

Boat International 

Rated People

Zenos Cars

Blaze

Stillking Film s

180p

160p

140p

120p

100p

80p

60p

40p

20p

0p

All figures in £’000

Cost of investment

Fair value as at 31 March 2018

Increase in fair value

Decrease in fair value

FTSE UK Small Cap 
total return index

Pembroke VCT 
total return per share*

Pembroke VCT 
share price

Pembroke VCT 
NAV per share

*including 30% tax rebate

31.03.15

30.09.15

31.03.16

30.09.16

31.03.17

30.09.17

31.03.18

Portfolio performance – B Ordinary shares

+405.0

+402.5

+664.5 –

+693.2

–

-550

£’000

3,000

2,800

2,600

2,400

2,200

2,000

1,800

1,600

1,400

1,200

-216.8

1,000

800

600

400

200

0

+346.4

+488.5

–

+91.1

+174.4

–

+631.9

–

-125.0

+36.4

-300.0

–

+8.9

-125

–

-130.0

–

–

–

–

Boo m Cycle

Plenish
Dilly & W olf

KX Urban

Five G uys U K
Chilango

Sourced M arket
Second H o m e
Chucs Bar & Grill
La Bottega

Bel-Air Inc

Bella Freud Parfu m
Kat M aconie
Bella Freud
Troubadour G oods

Chucs

Alexa Chung
M E+E M

Heist Studios

Rated People
Boat International 
PlayerLayer

Zenos Cars

Blaze

W ishi Fashion

Unbolted

StylIndex

Popsa

All figures in £’000

Cost of investment

Fair value as at 31 March 2018

Increase in fair value

Decrease in fair value

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Chairman’s statement

I am pleased to present my report for the year ended  
31 March 2018.

We continued to put investors’ funds to work throughout the 
year, deploying £8.7 million in new and follow-on investments 
having raised a total of £13.9 million in the prior B Ordinary 
share offer closing in June 2017. Our new B Ordinary share offer 
commenced in December 2017 raising £1.4 million at 31 March 
2018. The offer was closed on 30 June 2018 having raised a total 
of £6.4 million, underlining the progress Pembroke has made in 
establishing itself as a distinctive growth investment choice 
among advisers and individual investors.

During the year, the total return (NAV plus cumulative dividends 
paid) of the Ordinary shares rose from 120.05 pence per share at 
31 March 2017 to 132.63 pence per share at 31 March 2018. 
Over the year, the total return of the B Ordinary shares rose 
from 104.58 pence per share to 113.12 pence per share.

Investment overview 
During the year, we made four new investments (Heist, 
PlayerLayer, Stylindex and Popsa) and had the opportunity  
to re-invest in a further nine constituents of the portfolio.  

There have been a number of valuation changes across the 
portfolio, with the overall impact, including new investments 
funded by the B Ordinary share offer being a rise in the total value 
of investments including accrued interest from £32.9 million at 
31 March 2017 to £46.5 million at 31 March 2018, of which 
organic net increases on equity and debt values totalled £4 million.

The fund made no disposals during the year. However we wrote  
off our £0.3 million investment in Bel-Air Inc during the year  
as the company appointed liquidators on 8 December 2017.  
For further details please see the Investment Adviser’s review 
and investment portfolio on pages 12 to 31.

Dividends 
In June 2017 the Company paid an interim dividend of 1 pence 
per Ordinary share and 1 pence per B Ordinary share and in 
October 2017 paid a final dividend of 2 pence per Ordinary 
share and 2 pence per B Ordinary share in relation to the 
financial year ending 31 March 2017. The Board now 
recommends that shareholders approve, at the forthcoming 
annual general meeting, the payment of a final dividend of 
3 pence per Ordinary share and 3 pence per B Ordinary share.

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Results
The Company made a profit of £4.1 million in the year to 
31 March 2018 (year ending 31 March 2017: £0.8 million), 
representing a weighted return per Ordinary share of 
12.58 pence (2017: 5.21 pence) and a return per B Ordinary 
share of 7.10 pence (2017: loss: 0.84 pence). 

Income arose from the realised losses and unrealised revaluation 
of investments of £4.1 million (2017: £1.3 million) alongside 
income principally from loan notes provided to portfolio 
companies of £0.9 million (2017: £1.2 million) and dividends 
from portfolio companies of £0.2 million (2017: £nil).  
This was offset by Investment Adviser fees of £0.7 million  
(2017: £0.4 million) and other expenses totalling £0.4 million 
(2017: £1.3 million).

NAV at 31 March 2018 was £51.2 million (2017: £36.4 million), 
equivalent to 124.03 pence (2017: 114.45 pence) per Ordinary 
share and 108.12 pence (2017: 102.58 pence) per B Ordinary 
share. This includes the impact on NAV of the issue expenses  
of the offer and dividends paid to the balance sheet date. 

Outlook
Funds raised in the recently closed B Ordinary share offer will be 
deployed in a continuation of the current strategy of investing in 
high quality opportunities and selective follow-on investments 
in the existing portfolio. The management team continues to 
evaluate a wide range of new opportunities, seeing the existing 
strategy is capable of producing strong investments in a sector 
in which we have significant domain expertise. 

We have seen a number of changes to the VCT sector in light of 
the modification of the VCT Rules in November 2017, which aimed 
to further the rule changes made in November 2015. Pembroke’s 
strategy has remained unchanged throughout this transition, 
having been a supporter of early stage, high growth businesses 
since its inception and as such is unaffected by the new rules.

Annual general meeting 
The annual general meeting will be held at the Company’s 
offices at 3 Cadogan Gate, London SW1X 0AS on 27 September 
2018 at 8.30 am.

Jonathan Djanogly 
Chairman 
12 July 2018

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Board

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. 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 he is currently a member of the 
Exiting the EU Select Committee. 

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 Dubens is a British entrepreneur best 
known for founding the Oakley Capital 
Group, a privately owned asset management 
and advisory group comprising of private 
equity, venture capital, corporate finance 
and capital introduction operations with  
a fund of around US$1.7 billion.

Peter has, over the last 27 years, managed 
the acquisition, restructuring and 
consolidation of public and private 
companies, including the formation of 
two public companies, namely 365 Media 
Group plc and Pipex Communications plc. 
The 365 Media Group consolidated 
12 businesses within the online sports 
information and betting industry and 
Pipex Communications plc consolidated 
14 businesses within the telecoms and 
internet industries. 365 Media was sold 
for over £102 million to BSkyB and the 
main operating divisions of Pipex were 
sold for £370 million.

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investments

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Investment Adviser’s review

30 investments with a cost of £35.3 million  
and a fair value of £46.5 million, 
representing a 32% increase over cost

four new 
investments
totalling 
£3.9 million

Overview
The Company made four new investments and nine follow-on 
investments in companies in the year to 31 March 2018, 
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 30 investments 
with a cost of £35.3 million and a fair value of £46.5 million, 
representing a 32% increase over cost.

Portfolio review 
The Company invested £3.9 million in the four new investments 
made during the year and has invested a further £4.8 million in 
the form of debt and equity investments in the nine existing 
portfolio companies. 

The four new investments were Heist, PlayerLayer, Stylindex and 
Popsa all of which are unquoted, with investments made in the 
form of new ordinary equity with full voting rights. The new 
investments capitalise on our insights into the sectors in which 
we invest.

Heist is an innovative producer of premium hosiery offering a 
disruptive product which has already achieved significant sales 
and has the potential to gain wider traction in a large but 
previously static global market. We also made a further 
follow-on investment in Heist in February 2018 at a higher 
valuation following significant success of the business to 
facilitate further expansion. 

PlayerLayer designs and manufactures customised sports kit for 
universities, sports clubs and schools. Since it was founded in 
2008, it has become a leader in the premium education market. 
Customers include universities, schools, local and professional 
clubs, such as the British Speed Skating team, England Lacrosse, 
London Blitz American football team and some of Holland’s top 
hockey clubs.

Stylindex is a platform that helps content producers find the 
best models, creative talent, and production resources for 
photoshoots, videos, and events. Stylindex’s cloud-based 
platform allows brand teams to manage shoots and assets in 
one place.

Popsa is a photobook app that, through the use of proprietary 
machine learning algorithms, has reduced the time it takes for 
customers to produce photobooks from two hours to an average 
of just six minutes. Popsa operates in a £5 billion global industry 
that has been built on a clunky and frustrating process – by 
automating the selection of a customer’s most relevant photos, 
Popsa’s disruptive software removes this frustration and makes 
the whole process much easier and more fun.

The nine follow-on investments comprise five further equity 
commitments to support further growth in Alexa Chung,  
Plenish, Bella Freud, Chucs Bar & Grill and Boom Cycle alongside 
the extension of loans to provide working capital to seven 
investee companies (Sourced Market, Boom Cycle, La Bottega, 
KX U, Alexa Chung, Kat Maconie and Chucs Bar & Grill).  
All investments were made by the B Ordinary share class.

The year also saw Bel-Air Inc enter administration following 
some tight cash flow issues as the roll out of sites continued.  
The Company’s equity investment of £0.3 million was written 
off in the quarter ending 31 December 2017 following 
notification of the administration process.

Since the year-end the Company has made investments totalling 
£1.4 million in four companies all as follow-on investments.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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follow-on investments 
in nine companies
totalling £4.8 million

Investment performance 
Companies that have performed well and justified upwards 
revaluations during the year of the equity held include Plenish, 
which has taken full advantage of its position in the nut milks 
market to see significant growth in this area. This growth was 
funded via an equity raise in July 2017 at a higher valuation, in 
which the Company participated in what is an attractive growth 
opportunity with clear routes to exit. Blaze’s success continues 
and the laser lights are now installed on many of the London 
Santander Cycles with further development of the company’s 
cycle hire technologies offering coming to fruition. We are also 
pleased to see the growth of Chucs Bar & Grill over the past 
12 months as it has increased its footprint from two to four 
restaurants with new openings in Harrods and the Serpentine, 
having secured further funding from third party investors.

Owing to their trading performance, we have also assessed the 
fair value of KX Gym, Chilango and Stillking Films to be higher 
than at March 2017. A number of our other portfolio investments 
have had further funding rounds conducted at a premium to the 
previous price at which they were last valued, often the result of 
strong underlying performance being recognised by new 
investors wishing to participate in the next stage of growth.

La Bottega, which operates in the casual dining sector, has 
responded to continued rental pressure on several of its London 
sites by closing less profitable stores with the company now 
operating three sites in London. While this process was 
underway, we chose to further write down the value of the debt 
and cease to recognise any accrued interest due, to reflect the 
fundamental value of the business. During the year ended 
31 March 2017 all interest previously accrued on the debt was 
forgone (see note 8 to the financial statements on page 61).  
We have also judged it prudent to write down the valuation of 
Boom Cycle’s initial equity investments following an investment 
round with a lower share price as a result of slower than expected 
sales growth after opening two new sites, however, we believe this 
could be reversed if their sales performance in 2018 continues. 

Eight investments are held at cost (KX U, Sourced Market, 
PlayerLayer, Boat, Wishi, Unbolted, Stylindex and Popsa) 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 
Adviser’s review and investment portfolio on pages 12 to 31.

There have been a number of instances in the portfolio where 
loans to portfolio companies have undergone conversion into 
equity, in line with their contractual provisions. In such cases,  
the carrying value, including accrued interest not foregone,  
is converted to new equity. This is the case for KX U and  
Sourced Market. 

Valuation 
Investments held by the Company have been valued in 
accordance with the International Private Equity and Venture 
Capital 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 increase 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 a market-based 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.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment portfolio

Ordinary shares

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
Bella Freud Parfum
Chucs

Media and technology
Boat International Media
Rated People
Zenos Cars
Blaze
Stillking Films

as at 31 March 2018
Fair value
£

% of net 
assets

Cost
£

as at 31 March 2017
Fair value
£

% of net 
assets

Cost
£

429,460
700,000
325,000
270,000

327,302
1,199,116
2,029,312
–

549,850
1,512,800
1,960,000
614,278
525,074
830,000

320,000
590,000
400,000
190,000
990,039

2,100,000
585,738
500,000
200,000
1,451,770

1,042,560
3,350,880
–
1,672,123
3,251,356
830,000

711,254
1,172,423
874,320
127,000
–

2,100,000
382,046
–
558,319
2,404,675

1.5
5.3
9.0
–

4.6
15.0
–
7.4
14.5
3.7

3.2
5.2
3.9
0.6
–

9.4
1.7
–
2.5
10.7

98.2

3.7

429,460
700,000
325,000
270,000

349,860
827,835
1,416,375
–

549,850
1,512,800
1,960,000
614,278
525,074
830,000

320,000
590,000
400,000
190,000
990,039

2,100,000
585,738
500,000
200,000
1,451,770

729,792
3,179,495
885,808
591,729
3,249,446
903,612

711,233
1,171,722
983,333
122,500
73,118

1,741,491
458,648
–
284,920
2,112,862

15,044,009

19,793,779

483,420

483,420

15,527,429
429,130

20,277,199
429,130

1.7
4.0
6.8
–

3.5
15.3
4.3
2.9
15.7
4.4

3.4
5.7
4.7
0.6
0.4

8.4
2.2
–
1.4
10.2

95.6

2.3

97.9
2.1

15,956,559

20,706,329

100.0

Investments before interest

15,044,009

22,032,686

Interest rolled up in fixed income investments*

822,684

822,684

Total investments
Net current assets

Net assets

15,866,693
(412,998)

22,855,370
(412,998)

15,415,695

22,442,372

102.0
(2.0)

100.0

*Added to investments in financial statements

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B Ordinary shares

as at 31 March 2018
Fair value
£

% of net 
assets

Cost
£

as at 31 March 2017
Fair value
£

% of net 
assets

Cost
£

Health and fitness
Boom Cycle
Plenish
Dilly & Wolf
KX Urban

Hospitality
Chilango
Five Guys UK
La Bottega
Chucs Bar & Grill
Second Home
Sourced Market
Bel-Air Inc

Apparel and accessories
Kat Maconie
Troubadour Goods
Bella Freud
Bella Freud Parfum
Chucs
ME+EM
Alexa Chung
Heist Studios
PlayerLayer

Media and technology
Boat International Media
Rated People
Zenos Cars
Blaze
Wishi Fashion
Unbolted
Stylindex
Popsa

1,091,646
1,050,035
125,000
986,455

874,858
1,452,543
–
986,455

85,000
570,400
950,000
2,342,963
960,022
1,566,767
300,000

345,000
150,000
950,000
50,000
225,000
800,000
1,488,961
1,748,466
1,000,507

1,300,000
55,480
130,000
352,697
153,433
250,033
200,000
1,000,000

121,429
1,263,641
400,000
2,747,989
1,624,506
1,566,767
–

345,000
158,954
1,041,133
50,000
100,000
974,418
1,977,500
2,094,840
1,000,507

1,300,000
55,480
–
984,585
153,433
250,033
200,000
1,000,000

3.0
5.0
–
3.4

0.4
4.4
1.4
9.5
5.6
5.5
–

1.2
0.5
3.6
0.2
0.4
3.4
6.9
7.3
3.5

4.5
0.2
–
3.4
0.5
0.9
0.7
3.5

724,979
850,004
125,000
480,000

724,979
854,590
–
480,000

85,000
570,400
550,000
1,045,011
960,022
650,000
300,000

200,000
150,000
800,000
50,000
225,000
800,000
650,000
–
–

1,300,000
55,480
175,000
352,697
153,433
250,033
–
–

85,000
1,198,986
–
935,192
1,623,551
561,825
300,000

200,000
158,859
800,000
50,000
26,882
974,403
1,000,000
–
–

1,300,000
52,698
–
413,134
153,433
250,033
–
–

Investments before interest

20,227,865

22,724,071

Interest rolled up in fixed income investments*

970,228

970,228

Total investments
Net current assets

Net assets

*Added to investments in financial statements

21,198,093
5,083,241

23,694,299
5,083,241

78.9

3.4

82.3
17.7

11,502,059

12,143,565

453,210

453,210

11,955,269
3,082,758

12,596,775
3,082,758

26,281,334

28,777,540

100.0

15,038,027

15,679,533

100.0

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5.5
–
3.1

0.5
7.6
–
6.0
10.4
3.6
1.9

1.3
1.0
5.1
0.3
0.2
6.2
6.4
–
–

8.3
0.3
–
2.6
1.0
1.6
–
–

77.5

2.9

80.4
19.6

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment portfolio

Segment analysis 
The charts below show the segmental breakdown of the investment portfolio based on cost at 31 March 2018.

Ordinary share investment portfolio

11.5% Health and fitness

32.2% Media
and technology

16.5% Apparel
and accessories

39.8% Hospitality

B Ordinary share investment portfolio

17.0% Media
and technology

16.1% Health and fitness

33.4% Apparel
and accessories

33.5% Hospitality

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Health and fitness

Representing 11.5% and 16.1% respectively of the Ordinary share and B Ordinary share 
investment portfolios by cost

Plenish, founded in 2012, is one of the leading cold 
pressed juicing businesses in the UK, offering 100% 
raw organic (unpasteurised) juice. The company has 
supplemented  its  juice  range  with  four  varieties  of 
nut  milk,  which  has  been  well  received  by  the 
wholesale and retail markets and is now stocked by 
several of the UK’s major supermarket groups.

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 

£1,375,035

£3,481,855

£20,979

Last equity raise

32.0%

£200,031

£12,000

Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 201817Pembroke VCT plc18

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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.

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 

£700,000

£1,199,116

£nil

Multiples

11.8%

£nil

£nil

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KX Urban (KX U) is a pay as you go development of 
the  established  KX  luxury  gym  brand.  It  offers  a 
range  of  gym  classes  including  Hiit  &  Run,  Body 
Barre, yoga, boxing and spinning within a high quality 
gym environment with a healthy food and beverage 
offering.  It  opened  its  first  site  in  London’s  Sloane 
Square in September 2017.

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 

£986,455

£986,455

£48,847

Cost

10.3%

£500,000

£52,836

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

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 

£1,521,106

£1,202,160

£11,984

Last equity raise

33.3%

£366,667

£11,984

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Hospitality

Representing 39.8% and 33.5% respectively of the Ordinary share and B Ordinary share 
investment portfolios by cost

Five  Guys  was  founded  in  1986  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  79  outlets  in  the  UK  with  the 
estate now close to reaching maturity.

Cost 

Valuation 

Interest rolled up in  
fixed income investment 

Basis of valuation 

Equity holding 

Investment in the year at cost 

£2,083,200

£4,614,521

£555,881

Multiples

2.1%

£nil

Total income recognised in the year 

£294,275

Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2018 
 
21

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Chilango  is  a  fast  casual  Mexican  restaurant  chain 
concept based on successful US business models. There 
are currently eleven restaurants across high footfall 
areas  of  Central  London,  plus  a  Manchester  outlet 
that forms the basis for the brand’s regional roll out.

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 

£634,850

£1,163,989

£nil

Last equity raise

2.9%

£nil

£nil

La  Bottega  is  an  Italian  chain  of  delicatessens  in 
London,  which  serve  high  quality  authentic  Italian 
food  and  coffee.  Currently,  there  are  three  shops 
trading  in  London  in  Chelsea,  South  Kensington  
and Victoria.

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 

£2,910,000

£400,000

£nil

Cost less impairment

87.6%

£400,000

£6,000

Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2018 
 
22

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Chucs  Bar  &  Grill  is  a  restaurant  concept  reflecting 
the  style  and  branding  of  the  Chucs  retail  brand.  
The first restaurant opened on Dover Street in Mayfair, 
London in 2014, the second on Westbourne Grove, 
and  a  third  site  opened  in  Harrods  in  early  2018.  
There is one new prestigious site due to open in 2018.

Cost 

Valuation 

Interest rolled up in  
fixed income investment 

Basis of valuation 

Equity holding 

Investment in the year at cost 

£2,957,241

£4,420,112

£346,226

Last equity raise

27.1%

£1,297,952

Total income recognised in the year 

£135,870

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 an 
impressive  office  environment  in  which  to  locate 
their business for the short, medium and long term. 
Following  the  opening  of  their  initial  site  in  east 
London,  a  second  site  has  opened  in  Lisbon  with  
a further two London sites opening in 2018.

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 

£1,485,096

£4,875,862

£nil

Last equity raise

4.6%

£nil

£nil

Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2018 
 
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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 in St Pancras International 
in  King’s  Cross  has  been  complemented  by  three 
further sites in Marylebone, Victoria and Barbican.

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 

£2,396,767

£2,396,767

£21,876

Cost

30.8%

£900,000

£55,027

Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2018 
 
24

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Apparel and accessories

Representing 16.5% and 33.4% respectively of the Ordinary share and B Ordinary share 
investment portfolios by cost

Bella Freud is a fashion designer producing a range of 
high  end  men’s  and  women’s  clothing,  focusing  on 
knitwear. Currently her products are available at her 
own  flagship  store  on  Chilton  Street  in  London, 
online and through a range of luxury boutiques and 
department stores in the UK, Asia and the US.

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 

£1,350,000

£1,915,453

£179,668

Last equity raise

40.2%

£150,000

£78,564

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

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 

£740,000

£1,331,377

£nil

Last equity raise

36.1%

£nil

£nil

Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2018 
 
25

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Chucs  is  a  luxury  brand  of  men’s  leisure  wear.  
The  company  will  seek  routes  to  realise  value  in  
the  Chucs  brand  through  commercial  partnerships 
with partners worldwide.

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 

£1,215,039

£100,000

£nil

Cost less impairment

11.6%

£nil

£nil

With  the  continuing  success  of  her  fashion  brand, 
Bella  Freud  has  launched  a  series  of  fragrances 
blending modernity and heritage, including Je t’Aime 
Jane, Ginsberg is God and the 1970. The scents are 
available in eau de parfum and candle format. Bella 
Freud Parfum is now stocked in a range of boutiques 
and department stores globally.

Cost 

Valuation 

Interest rolled up in  
fixed income investment 

Basis of valuation 

Equity holding 

Investment in the year at cost 

£240,000

£177,000

£40,077

Last equity raise

22.5%

£nil

Total income recognised in the year 

£12,000

Founded  in  2008  by  Clare  Hornby,  ME+EM  is  a 
contemporary womenswear brand which markets its 
collections primarily through catalogues and online, with 
two retail sites (Bayswater and Belgravia). The range 
now  consists  of  dresses,  knitwear,  denim,  separates 
and accessories. It targets women aged 30-55 who are 
busy and fashion conscious, offering a classic aesthetic 
embodying designer quality at an affordable price.

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 

Interest forgiven in year 

£800,000

£974,418

£nil

Last equity raise

13.1%

£nil

£nil

£nil

Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2018 
 
founded 

Kat  Maconie, 
in  2008,  designs  and 
manufactures  distinctive  ladies’  boots  and  shoes 
which  are  sold  online,  in  department  stores  and  in 
boutiques  globally.  In  Summer  2017  the  company 
collaborated with a Korean cosmetics major, resulting 
in significant expansion in sales in the Asian market.

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 

£665,000

£1,056,254

£36,578

Last equity raise

22.3%

£145,000

£31,153

The  iconic  model  and  designer,  launched  her  own 
fashion label in May 2017. It offers accessible luxury 
womenswear  and  has  already  achieved  substantial 
first  season  wholesale  orders.  It  will  produce  four 
in-season  collections  per  year  internationally,  with 
stockists in over fifteen countries.

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 

£1,488,961

£1,977,500

£14,795

Last equity raise

16.7%

£838,961

£14,795

Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 201826Pembroke VCT plc27

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Established  in  2015,  Heist  is  a  premium  hosiery 
manufacturer that seeks to redefine how tights can feel 
and wear. Its ambitions are to evolve rapidly from being 
a London fashion editors’ favourite to become the go 
to shapewear brand for discerning women worldwide.

Cost 

Valuation 

Interest rolled up in  
fixed income investment 

Basis of valuation 

Equity holding 

£1,748,466

£2,094,840

£nil

Last equity raise

12.5%

Investment in the year at cost 

£1,748,466

Total income recognised in the year 

£nil

PlayerLayer  designs  and  manufactures  customised 
sports kit for universities, sports clubs and schools. 
Since  it  was  founded  in  2008,  it  has  become  a  
leader in the premium education market with annual 
sales  of  £5  million  in  2016/17.  Customers  include 
universities,  schools,  local  and  professional  clubs, 
such  as  the  British  Speed  Skating  team,  England 
Lacrosse,  London  Blitz  American  football  team  and 
some of Holland’s top hockey clubs.

Cost 

Valuation 

Interest rolled up in  
fixed income investment 

Basis of valuation 

Equity holding 

£1,000,507

£1,000,507

£nil

Cost

6.1%

Investment in the year at cost 

£1,000,507

Total income recognised in the year 

£nil

Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2018 
 
28

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Media and technology

Representing 32.2% and 17.0% respectively of the Ordinary share and B Ordinary share 
investment portfolios by cost

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  2016  the  team  re  branded  Show  Boats 
magazine under the Boat International USA title.

Cost 

Valuation 

Interest rolled up in  
fixed income investment 

Basis of valuation 

Equity holding 

Investment in the year at cost 

£3,400,000

£3,400,000

£516,001

Cost

21.6%

£nil

Total income recognised in the year 

£212,000

Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2018 
 
29

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Rated  People,  founded  in  2005,  is  one  of  the  
UK’s  leading  online  market  places  for  homeowners  
to  find  tradesmen  for  home  improvement  jobs.  
The company embarked on a new funding round in 
2017 at an improved valuation, having implemented 
a  number  of  cost-saving  initiatives  and  enhancing  
its customer service offering.

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 

£641,218

£437,526

£nil

Last equity raise

1.6%

£nil

£nil

Blaze  designs  products  which  enhance  bike  safety. 
Their  flagship  product  is  the  Blaze  Laserlight,  which 
projects  a  laser  image  onto  the  ground  five  to  six 
metres ahead of the cyclist to ensure other road users 
know that you are present. The company has entered 
the  global  cycle-hire  market  with  a  broadened 
product  offer,  being  featured  throughout  London’s 
current and forthcoming new Santander Cycle fleet.

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 

£552,697

£1,542,904

£nil

Last equity raise

5.1%

£nil

£nil

Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2018 
 
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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 

£1,451,770

£2,404,675

£nil

Multiples

5.0%

£nil

Total income recognised in the year 

£137,810

Stylindex is a platform that helps content producers 
find the best models, creative talent, and production 
resources  for  photoshoots,  videos,  and  events. 
Stylindex’s cloud-based platform allows brand teams 
to manage shoots and assets in one place.

Cost 

Valuation 

Interest rolled up in  
fixed income investment 

Basis of valuation 

Equity holding 

£200,000

£200,000

£nil

Cost

5.1%

Investment in the year at cost 

Total income recognised in the year 

£200,000

£nil

Unbolted  provides  a  platform  for  peer  to  peer 
secured  lending,  offering  short-term  liquidity  to 
individuals seeking bridging facilities, or advance sale 
loans for personal or small business use.

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 

£250,033

£250,033

£nil

Cost

4.2%

£nil

£nil

Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2018 
 
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Popsa  is  a  photobook  app  that,  through  the  use  of 
proprietary machine learning algorithms, has reduced 
the time it takes for customers to produce photobooks 
from two hours to an average of just six minutes. In 2017 
the company grew by 60% month-on-month. Popsa 
operates in a £5 billion global industry that has been 
built on a clunky and frustrating process - by automating 
the selection of a customer’s most relevant photos, 
Popsa’s disruptive software removes this frustration.

Cost 

Valuation 

Interest rolled up in  
fixed income investment 

Basis of valuation 

Equity holding 

£1,000,000

£1,000,000

£nil

Cost

10.2%

Investment in the year at cost 

£1,000,000

Total income recognised in the year 

£nil

Wishi  is  an  innovative  fashion  technology  business 
that  brings  together  personal  styling  and  online 
wardrobe  management  functionality  to  help  fully 
exploit an individual’s current wardrobe and provide 
new clothing suggestions personalised to their look.

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 

£153,433

£153,433

£nil

Cost

2.1%

£nil

£nil

Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2018 
 
statutory reports

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Strategic report

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 overview 
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 
Investment objectives 
The Company will seek to invest in a diversified portfolio  
of smaller companies, principally unquoted companies but 
possibly also including stocks quoted on AIM or NEX, selecting 
companies which the Investment Adviser believes provide the 
opportunity for value appreciation. Pending investment in 
suitable Qualifying Investments, the Investment Adviser  
will invest in investments intended to generate a positive  
return, which may include certain money market securities, 
listed securities and cash deposits. The Company will continue  
to hold up to 30% of its net assets (20% from 1 April 2020)  
in such products after it is fully invested under the VCT rules.

Investment strategy 
For its “qualifying investments” (being investments which 
comprise Qualifying Investments for a venture capital trust  
as defined in Chapter 4 Part 6 of the Income Tax Act 2007) 
(“Qualifying Investments”), the Company is expected to invest 
primarily in unquoted companies, although it may also invest  
in companies whose shares are traded on AIM or NEX.  
The Company will invest in 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. It is likely that investment will be biased 
towards consumer-facing businesses with an established  
brand or where brand development opportunities exist.  
The Company will invest in a small portfolio of carefully  
selected Qualifying Investments where the Investment Adviser 
should be able to exert influence over key elements of each 
investee company’s strategy and operations. The companies 
may be at any stage in their development from start-up to 
established businesses.

It is anticipated that, at any time, up to 30% of investments 
(20% from 1 April 2020) will be held in non-VCT 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 the 
net proceeds of any offer (20% from 1 April 2020) will be 
invested in other funds, with the balance being invested in other 
investments which may include certain money market securities, 
and cash deposits.

Asset allocation
Qualifying Investment portfolio 
For its Qualifying Investments, the Company will invest primarily 
in companies whose shares are not traded on any exchange, 
although it may also invest in companies whose shares are traded 
on AIM or NEX, and will invest up to a maximum of 15% (at the 
time of investment) in any single Qualifying Investment. The 
Investment Adviser will seek to construct a portfolio comprising 
a diverse range of 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.

Non-Qualifying Investment portfolio 
Under current VCT legislation, the Company must have invested 
at least 70% of funds raised in Qualifying Investments within 
three years of the funds being raised (80% from 1 April 2020). 
However, this programme of investment in Qualifying 
Investments will take time to complete; thus in the first three 
years a considerable proportion of those funds will need to be 
invested elsewhere, in Non-Qualifying Investments such as 
certain money market securities, listed securities and cash 
deposits. At any time after the end of the three years of initial 
investment in Qualifying Investments, the Company will hold  
no more than 30% of its funds in Non-Qualifying Investments 
(20% from 1 April 2020).

The portfolio of Non-Qualifying Investments will be managed  
with the intention of generating a positive return. Until suitable 
Qualifying Investments are identified, up to 30% of the net 
proceeds of any offer will be invested in other funds (20% from 
1 April 2020), with the balance being invested in other investments 
which may include money market securities and cash deposits.

Risk diversification 
The Directors will control the overall risk of the portfolio by 
ensuring that the Company has exposure to a diversified range of 
unquoted companies, in particular, targeting a variety of sectors.

In order to limit concentration in the portfolio that is derived 
from any particular investment, at all times no more than 15% 
by value of the relevant share pool of the Company (at the  
time of investment) will be invested in any single company.  
In addition, no more than 10%, in aggregate, of the assets of the 
Company (at the time the investment is made) will be invested 
in other listed closed-ended investment funds.

The Company may invest in a range of securities including, but 
not limited to, ordinary and preference shares, loan stocks and 
convertible securities, and other interest-bearing securities. 
Unquoted Qualifying Investments will usually be structured as  
a combination of ordinary shares, preference shares and loans.

Gearing 
In common with many other VCTs, whilst the Board does  
not intend that the Company will borrow funds, the Company  
is entitled to do so subject to the aggregate principal amount  
at the time of borrowing not exceeding 25% of the value of  
the adjusted capital and reserves of the Company (being, in 
summary, the aggregate of the issued share capital, plus any 
amount standing to the credit of the Company’s reserves, 
deducting any distributions declared and intangible assets and 
adjusting for any variations to the above since the date of the 
relevant balance sheet).

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Strategic report continued

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 (pages 8 and 9) and the Investment 
Adviser’s Review (pages 12 and 13). Details of the investments 
made by the Company are given in the Investment Portfolio 
summary (pages 14 to 16) and the Investment Review report 
(pages 17 to 31). A summary of the Company’s key financial 
measures is given on page 6.

Management agreement 
Under an investment management agreement entered into on 
15 February 2013, novated to the Investment Adviser in July 
2014 and varied on 3 October 2014 and 1 December 2017  
(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, any performance fee payable and, in any rolling period  
of 12 months, does not include audit fees, administration, 
accounting and company secretarial costs, share registrars’ fees, 
London Stock Exchange fees, printing and mailing costs in 
respect of the Audited Accounts, interim reports and circulars to 
shareholders, fees in respect of regulatory announcements made 
through a Regulatory Information Service, corporate broking 
fees, insurance premiums and remuneration of the Board 
(including employers’ national insurance contributions) where 
the aggregate of such fees in any rolling period of 12 months,  
for such time as the Company’s NAV is £100,000,000 or less,  
is less than £350,000 and, for such time as the Company’s NAV 
exceeds £100,000,000, is less than £500,000. 

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 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 8 pence 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 3 pence 
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 continues to raise, invest and manage  
funds for the Company successfully 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.

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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 has 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. 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 
underlying sectors and 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 UK Corporate Governance Code in 2016 
(the “2016 Code”), the Directors have considered their obligation 
to assess the viability of the Company over a period longer than 
the twelve months from the date of the approval of the financial 
statements required by the going concern basis of accounting. 
The Directors have carried out a robust assessment of the 
prospects of the Company for the period to 31 March 2021, 
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 
12 July 2018

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Directors’ report

This Directors’ report incorporates the Corporate governance 
statement on pages 42 to 44 and the Statement of Directors 
responsibilities on page 45.

share raising £12.1 million net of issue costs. 59,210 B Ordinary 
shares were allotted at an average price of 102.8 pence per 
B Ordinary share raising £60,840 under the DIS. 

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 period under review 
were Jonathan Djanogly, Laurence Blackall and Peter Dubens. 
Brief biographical details of the Directors are given on page 10. 
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. 

Dividends 
The Board is recommending final dividends for the year ended 
31 March 2018 of 3 pence per Ordinary share and 3 pence  
per B Ordinary share payable on 31 October 2018. 

Share capital 
There were 18,095,005 Ordinary shares and 26,615,404 
B Ordinary shares in issue at the year end. 

During the year, 2,708 Ordinary shares were allotted at an 
average price of 112.6 pence per Ordinary share raising £3,050 
under the Dividend Investment Scheme (“DIS”).

11,363,326 B Ordinary shares were allotted under the Offer for 
subscription at an average price of 108.8 pence per B Ordinary 

Since the year end, 5,093,598 B Ordinary shares have been 
issued, please refer to note 22 on page 69 for further details.

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. During the year to 
31 March 2018, 92,943 B Ordinary shares were bought back  
at a cost of £89,677.

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.

Substantial shareholdings
At 31 March 2018, and as at the date of this report, there  
were no holdings representing (directly or indirectly) 3% or  
more of the voting rights attached to the issued share capital  
of the Company. 

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

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Accountability and audit 
The Directors’ responsibility statement in respect of the financial 
statements is set out on page 45 of this report. The report of the 
independent auditor is set out on pages 46 to 49 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 
auditor is 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 auditor.

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 9. Details of post-balance-sheet events may 
be found at note 22 to the financial statements.

Going concern 
In accordance with FRC Guidance for Directors on going concern 
and liquidity risk the Directors have assessed the prospects of 
the Company and are of the opinion that, at the time of 
approving the financial statements, the Company has adequate 
resources to continue in business for at least twelve months 
from the date of approval of the financial statements.  
In reaching this conclusion the Directors took into account  
the nature of the Company’s business and investment policy,  

its risk management policies, the diversification of its portfolio 
and the cash holdings. The Company’s business activities, 
together with the factors likely to affect its future development, 
performance and position including the financial risks the 
Company is exposed to, are set out in the strategic report on 
page 35. As a consequence, the Directors have a reasonable 
expectation that the Company has sufficient cash to continue to 
operate and the Company is well placed to manage its business 
risks successfully and meet its liabilities as they fall due. Thus the 
Directors believe it is appropriate to continue to apply the going 
concern basis in preparing the 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.

Requirements 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 
12 July 2018

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Directors’ remuneration report

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 2018.

Brief biographical details of these Directors are given on page 10.

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). 
Ordinary resolutions for the approval of the Directors’ 
remuneration policy and the Directors’ annual report on 
remuneration will be put to members at the forthcoming AGM. 

The Company’s auditor, Grant Thornton UK LLP, is required to 
give its 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 46 to 49.

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 year. 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 on Directors’ remuneration. None of the Directors 
are 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 last approved by members at the AGM in 2017 
and will next be put for approval to shareholders at the AGM  
to be held in 2020.

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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 2018 are shown in the table below:

Jonathan Djanogly

Laurence Blackall

Peter Dubens*

Total annual 
fee 
£

Total fee paid for  
year ended 31.03.18 
£

Total fee paid for  
year ended 31.03.17 
£

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 2018 and 31 March 2017.

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.

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 2018 and 
the prior year:

Total Directors’ fees

Dividend

Repurchase of own shares

Year ended  
31.03.18 
£

35,000

1,296,637

89,676

Year ended  
31.03.17 
£

35,000

611,466

–

Increase/ 
(decrease) 
% 

–

112

100

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

As at 31.03.18
% of  
Ordinary 
shares 
in issue

B Ordinary 
shares 
held

% of  
B Ordinary 
shares 
in issue

Ordinary 
shares 
held

Director

Jonathan Djanogly

25,000

Laurence Blackall

Peter Dubens

200,000

400,000

0.14

1.11

2.21

25,000

100,000

586,689

0.09

0.38

2.20

As at 31.03.17

% of  
Ordinary 
shares 
in issue

B Ordinary 
shares 
held

% of  
B Ordinary 
shares 
in issue

0.14

1.11

2.21

25,000

100,000

400,000

0.16

0.65

2.62

Ordinary 
shares 
held

25,000

200,000

400,000

On 5 April 2018 Peter Dubens bought 188,235 B Ordinary shares at a price of 106.3p per B Ordinary share under the Offer for subscription.

The Company confirms that it has not set out any formal requirements or guidelines for a Director to own shares in the Company.

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Directors’ remuneration report continued

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 
a comparison of investment performance against the FTSE UK 
Small Cap Index is the best available metric, although readers 
should note that the differences between the scale, capital 
structure and liquidity of investments in the two differ markedly.

At the last AGM held on 7 September 2017, 100% of shareholders 
voted for, no shareholders voted against and 9,386 shares were 
withheld in respect of the resolution approving the Directors’ 
remuneration report and 99.9% of shareholders voted for, 0.1% 
of shareholders voted against and 23,336 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. 

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 
100 pence in the FTSE UK Small Cap Index over the same period. 

On behalf of the Board 
Jonathan Djanogly 
Director 
12 July 2018

170p

Ordinary shares

160p

150p

140p

130p

120p

110p

100p

90p

5 Apr
2013

30 Sep
2013

31 Mar
2014

30 Sep
2014

31 Mar
2015

30 Sep
2015

31 Mar
2016

30 Sep
2016

31 Mar
2017

30 Sep
2017

31 Mar
2018

Ordinary shares (above)

150p

B Ordinary shares

Pembroke VCT Ord total return per share (inc. 30% tax rebate)

FTSE UK Small Cap total return index

Pembroke VCT Ord total return per share

Pembroke VCT Ord NAV per share

Pembroke VCT Ord share price

B Ordinary shares (right)

Pembroke VCT B Ord total return per share (inc. 30% tax rebate)

140p

130p

120p

110p

100p

FTSE UK Small Cap total return index

Pembroke VCT B Ord total return per share

Pembroke VCT B Ord NAV per share

Pembroke VCT B Ord share price

90p

31 Mar
2015

30 Sep
2015

31 Mar
2016

30 Sep
2016

31 Mar
2017

30 Sep
2017

31 Mar
2018

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
governance

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Corporate governance statement

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 2016.

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 2018.

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. 
The Board has considered the recommendations of the Code 
concerning diversity and welcomes initiatives aimed at  
increasing diversity generally. The Board believes, however,  
that all appointments should be made on merit rather than 
positive discrimination. The policy of the Board is that 
maintaining an appropriate balance around the Board table 
through a diverse mix of skills, experience, knowledge and 
background is of paramount importance and all forms of 
diversity are a significant element of this.

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. As all Directors have acted in the interests  
of the Company throughout the period of their appointment  
and demonstrated commitment to their roles, the Board 
recommends they be re-elected at the AGM. 

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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 2018 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;

•  Reviewing and approving the independent auditor’s  

audit plan;

•  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 year. 

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 
valuation of unquoted investments is discussed regularly at 
Board meetings, Directors are also consulted about material 
changes to these valuations between Board meetings. The Audit 
Committee examined the Investment Adviser’s confirmation and 
considered it appropriate. 

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 five years; in accordance with ethical 
standards, the engagement partner is rotated after at most five 
years, and the current partner, Andrew Heffron, has served for 
two years. The Board notes that statutory audit retendering is 
required after an auditor has been in place for ten years.

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Corporate governance statement continued

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.

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 annual general meeting forms part of this report.

The Board also communicates with shareholders through the 
half-yearly and annual reports and financial statements 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.

On behalf of the Board 
Jonathan Djanogly 
Director 
12 July 2018

Attendance at Board and committee meetings
During the year ended 31 March 2018 there were:

•  5 full Board meetings; and

•  2 Audit Committee meetings.

The Directors’ attendance at these meetings is noted below.

Director

Board

Audit Committee

Jonathan Djanogly

Laurence Blackall

Peter Dubens

5

5

–

2

2

n/a

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.

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Statement of Directors’ responsibilities

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

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

•  the financial statements, prepared in accordance with  

UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice, give a true and 
fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and return 
or loss of the Company; and

•  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 36.

On behalf of the Board 
Jonathan Djanogly 
Director 
12 July 2018

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 2018 
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. 

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Independent auditor’s report

Opinion
Our opinion on the financial statements is unmodified

We have audited the financial statements of Pembroke VCT plc 
(the ‘Company’) for the year ended 31 March 2018 which 
comprise the income statement, the balance sheet, the 
statement of changes in equity, the cash flow statement, and 
notes to the financial statements, including a summary of 
significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework 
that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and 
United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial 
Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard 
applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom 
Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion, the financial statements:

•  give a true and fair view of the state of the Company’s affairs 
as at 31 March 2018 and of its profit for the year then ended;

•  have been properly prepared in accordance with United 
Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and

•  have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of 

the Companies Act 2006.

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International 
Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law.  
Our responsibilities under those standards are further described 
in the auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial 
statements section of our report. We are independent of the 
Company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are 
relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, 
including the FRC’s Ethical Standard as applied to public interest 
entities, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in 
accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit 
evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to 
provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to principal risks, going concern  
and viability statement

We have nothing to report in respect of the following 
information in the annual report, in relation to which the ISAs 
(UK) require us to report to you whether we have anything 
material to add or draw attention to:

•  the disclosures in the annual report set out on page 35 that 
describe the principal risks and explain how they are being 
managed or mitigated;

•  the Directors’ confirmation, set out on page 35 of 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 Directors’ statement, set out on page 37 of the financial 

statements, about whether the Directors considered it 
appropriate to adopt the going concern basis of accounting  
in preparing the financial statements and the Directors’ 
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;

•  whether the Directors’ statement relating to going concern 
required under the Listing Rules in accordance with Listing 
Rule 9.8.6R(3) is materially inconsistent with our knowledge 
obtained in the audit; or 

•  the Directors’ explanation, set out on page 35 of 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.

Who we are reporting to

Overview of our audit approach

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.

•  Overall materiality: £511,000 which represents approximately 

1% of the Company’s net assets

•  Key audit matters were identified as existence, ownership and 
valuation of investments; and completeness and occurrence  
of investment income

•  We have performed full scope audit procedures on each of the 
key audit matters identified. We have not had to change our 
scope from the prior year.

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

Existence, ownership and valuation  
of investments

The investment strategy of the Company is to 
generate tax free capital gains and income on 
investors’ funds through equity investment 
and debt financing in companies within the 
health and fitness, hospitality, apparel and 
accessories, and media and technology sectors.

These investments, which represent 91% of 
the Company’s net assets, are measured at 
fair value 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 model based valuations driven by 
multiples such as EBITDA or revenue.  
The multiples themselves are subjective  
and include significant assumptions and 
management judgement. 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, less any impairments.

We have therefore identified existence, 
ownership and valuation of unquoted 
investments as a significant risk, which was 
one of the most significant assessed risks of 
material misstatement.

Completeness and occurrence of  
investment income

The Company aims to generate tax free 
capital gains and income on investors’ funds. 
Investment income is the Company’s major 
source of revenue and is the largest balance in 
the income statement. 

Under International Standard on Auditing (UK) 
240 ‘The auditor’s responsibilities relating to 
fraud in an audit of financial statements’, 
there is a presumed risk of fraud in  
revenue recognition. 

Accordingly, we identified the completeness 
and occurrence of investment income  
as a significant risk, which was one of  
the most significant assessed risks of  
material misstatement.

Our audit work included, but was not restricted to: 

•  Obtaining evidence of existence and ownership by agreeing to underlying 

agreements, bank statements and Companies House filings;

•  Assessing whether the valuation model used for estimating the valuation  

of the unquoted investments is appropriate, and in line with the requirements  
of FRS 102 and the IPEVC guidelines;

•  Assessing whether the assumptions used are reasonable and agreeing inputs  

to the models used to supporting documentation;

•  Holding discussions with key representatives of the investment management 
team in order to understand the valuation methods used and choice of inputs 
used in the valuation models and raising challenges where appropriate; and

•  Assessing the valuation of unquoted investments by taking into account the 
available information from management, including investees’ latest audited 
financial statements or management accounts, and assessing the rigour of 
management’s ongoing due diligence and valuation process.

The Company’s accounting policy on unquoted investments is shown in note 5(a) 
to the financial statements and related disclosures are included in note 12.  
The Audit Committee identified the valuation of unquoted investments as a 
significant issue in its report on page 43, where the Audit Committee also 
described the action that it has taken to address this issue. 

Key observations

Our audit work did not identify any material misstatements concerning the 
existence, ownership and valuation of unquoted investments.

Our audit work included, but was not restricted to: 

•  Assessing whether the Company’s accounting policy for revenue recognition  

is in accordance with the requirements of United Kingdom Generally Accepted 
Accounting Practice and the AIC SORP and testing its consistent application on 
revenue recognised during the year through performance of our audit procedures 
noted below;

•  Checking investment holdings to a management accounts and where available 

to financial statements of investee companies in order to develop an expectation 
for dividend entitlement for the year, and comparing it to the accounting records 
to determine whether the information is complete;

•  Obtaining underlying loan agreements and recalculating interest income, and 

comparing to the income recognised for the year; and

•  Obtaining the Company’s income schedule and comparing it to third party 

sources and bank statements to address the risk of occurrence.

The Company’s accounting policy on unquoted investments is shown in note 5(b) 
to the financial statements and related disclosures are included in note 6. 

Key observations

Based on the work performed, we found that the completeness and occurrence  
of investment income were supported by the evidence we obtained.

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Independent auditor’s report continued

Our application of 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 £511,000, which is approximately 
1% of net assets. This benchmark is considered the most 
appropriate because net assets, which is primarily comprised of 
the Company’s investment portfolio, is considered to be the 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 2017 to reflect the 
overall performance of the Company and growth in net assets 
during the year.

We use a different level of materiality, performance materiality, 
to drive the extent of our testing and this was set at 75% of 
financial statement materiality. 

We also determine a lower level of specific materiality for 
investment income, management fees, and related party 
transactions based on approximately 5% of total revenue.

We determined the threshold at which we will communicate 
misstatements to the audit committee to be £25,550. In addition 
we will communicate misstatements below that threshold that, 
in our view, warrant reporting on qualitative grounds.

An overview of the scope of our audit
Our audit approach was a risk-based approach founded on a 
thorough understanding of the Company’s business, its 
environment, and risk profile. 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. Therefore 
our audit work was focused on: 

•  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 

•  Performing substantive testing by obtaining direct 

confirmations on existence, ownership, and valuation of the 
unquoted investments; and agreeing the investment income 
to an independent source and bank for accuracy, occurrence, 
and completeness.

Other information
The Directors are responsible for the other information.  
The other information comprises the information included  
in the annual report, other than the financial statements and  
our auditor’s report thereon. Our opinion on the financial 
statements does not cover the other information and, except  
to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do  
not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our 
responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, 
consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent 
with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in  
the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated.  
If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material 
misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is  
a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material 
misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work  
we have performed, we conclude that there is a material 
misstatement of this other information, we are required to  
report that fact. 

We have nothing to report in this regard.

In this context, we also have nothing to report in regard to our 
responsibility to specifically address the following items in the 
other information and to report as uncorrected material 
misstatements of the other information where we conclude  
that those items meet the following conditions:

•  Fair, balanced and understandable set out on page 45 – the 
statement given by the Directors that they consider the 
annual report and financial statements taken as a whole is fair, 
balanced and understandable and provides the information 
necessary for shareholders to assess the Company’s 
performance, business model and strategy, is materially 
inconsistent with our knowledge obtained in the audit; or

•  Audit committee reporting set out on page 43 – the section 

describing the work of the audit committee does not 
appropriately address matters communicated by us to the 
audit committee; or

•  Directors’ statement of compliance with the UK Corporate 
Governance Code set out on page 42 – the parts of the 
Directors’ statement required under the Listing Rules relating 
to the Company’s compliance with the UK Corporate 
Governance Code containing provisions specified for review by 
the auditor in accordance with Listing Rule 9.8.10R(2) do not 
properly disclose a departure from a relevant provision of the 
UK Corporate Governance Code.

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Our opinions 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.

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

•  the information given in the strategic report and the Directors’ 
report for the financial year for which the financial statements 
are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and

•  the strategic report and the Directors’ report have been 

prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements; 

Matter on which we are required to report under  
the Companies Act 2006
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the Company 
and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have 
not identified material misstatements in the strategic report or 
the Directors’ report.

Matters on which we are required to report  
by exception
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in 
relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report 
to you if, in our opinion:

•  adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns 

adequate for our audit have not been received from branches 
not visited by us; or

•  the financial statements and the part of the Directors’ 

remuneration report to be audited are not in agreement  
with the accounting records and returns; or

•  certain disclosures of Directors’ remuneration specified  

by law are not made; or

•  we have not received all the information and explanations  

we require for our audit 

Responsibilities of Directors for the  
financial statements
As explained more fully in the Statement of Directors’ 
responsibilities set out on page 45, the Directors are responsible  
for the preparation of the financial statements and for being 
satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal 
control as the Directors determine is necessary to enable the 
preparation of financial statements that are free from material 
misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

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

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the  
financial statements
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about 
whether the financial statements as a whole are free from 
material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error,  
and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. 
Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a 
guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) 
will always detect a material misstatement when it exists.

Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered 
material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could 
reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions  
of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

We are responsible for obtaining reasonable assurance that  
the financial statements taken as a whole are free from  
material misstatement, whether caused by fraud or error.  
Owing to the inherent limitations of an audit, there is an 
unavoidable risk that material misstatements of the financial 
statements may not be detected, even though the audit is 
properly planned and performed in accordance with the ISAs 
(UK). Our audit approach is a risk-based approach and is 
explained more fully in the ‘An overview of the scope of our 
audit’ section of our audit report.

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

Other matters which we are required to address
We were appointed by the audit committee in 2014. The period 
of total uninterrupted engagement including previous renewals 
and reappointments of the firm is four years.

The non-audit services prohibited by the FRC’s Ethical Standard 
were not provided to the Company and we remain independent 
of the Company in conducting our audit.

Our audit opinion is consistent with the additional report  
to the audit committee.

Andrew Heffron 
Senior Statutory Auditor 
for and on behalf of Grant Thornton UK LLP 
Statutory Auditor, Chartered Accountants 
London 
18 July 2018

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financial statements

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Income statement
for the year ended 31 March 2018 

Realised/unrealised gains and losses  

on investments

Income 

Investment Adviser’s fees 

Other expenses

(Loss)/profit before tax

Tax

  Year ended 31.03.18

  Year ended 31.03.17

Note

Revenue
£

Capital
£

Total
£

Revenue
£

Capital
£

Total
£

12

5,6

7

8

9

– 4,093,607 4,093,607

– 1,300,433

1,300,433

1,024,531

– 1,024,531

1,205,035

–

1,205,035

(172,500)

(517,500)

(690,000)

(97,522)

(292,564)

(390,086)

(339,726)

(29,600)

(369,326)

(1,265,949)

(10,000)

(1,275,949)

512,305 3,546,507 4,058,812

(158,436)

997,869

839,433

(89,700)

89,700

–

(22,646)

22,077

(569)

Profit/(loss) attributable to equity shareholders

422,605 3,636,207 4,058,812

(181,082) 1,019,946

838,864

Return per share

Ordinary shares

B Ordinary shares

11

11

1.31p

0.74p

11.27p

12.58p

(2.13)p

7.34p

5.21p

6.36p

7.10p

1.65p

(2.49)p

(0.84)p

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 and updated in February 2018. 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

Ordinary shares

B Ordinary shares

Note

Revenue
£

Capital
£

Total
£

Revenue
£

Capital
£

Total
£

Realised/unrealised gains and losses on 

investments

Income 

Investment Adviser’s fees 

Other expenses

Profit before tax

Tax

12

5,6

7

8

9

– 2,238,907 2,238,907

– 1,854,700

1,854,700

486,074

–

486,074

538,457

–

538,457

(82,171)

(246,514)

(328,685)

(90,329)

(270,986)

(361,315)

(120,517)

–

(120,517)

(219,209)

(29,600)

(248,809)

283,386 1,992,393 2,275,779

228,919

1,554,114

1,783,033

(46,200)

46,200

–

(43,500)

43,500

–

Profit attributable to equity shareholders

237,186 2,038,593 2,275,779

185,419

1,597,614

1,783,033

The accompanying notes on pages 59 to 69 are an integral part of the financial statements.

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52

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Balance sheet
as at 31 March 2018 

Fixed assets

Investments

Current assets

Debtors

Cash at bank and in hand

Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

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 Ordinary share

Net asset value per B Ordinary share

Note

12

14

15

As at 
31.03.18
£

As at 
31.03.17
£

46,549,669

32,873,974

1,792,460

3,249,641

5,042,101

(371,858)

2,087,936

2,154,677

4,242,613

(730,725)

4,670,243

3,511,888

51,219,912

36,385,862

16,17

447,104

333,781

17

17

17

17

17

18

18

28,903,490

16,856,191

1,429

500

13,283,325

14,669,638

7,812,504

772,060

4,176,297

349,455

51,219,912

36,385,862

124.03p

114.45p

108.12p

102.58p

The financial statements were approved by the Directors and authorised for issue on 12 July 2018 and signed on their behalf by:

Jonathan Djanogly 
Director

The accompanying notes on pages 59 to 69 are an integral part of the financial statements.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance sheet
as at 31 March 2018 

Unaudited non‑statutory analysis between the Ordinary and B Ordinary share funds

  As at 31.03.18

  As at 31.03.17

Note

Ordinary  
shares
£

B Ordinary 
shares
£

Total
£

Ordinary  
shares
£

B Ordinary 
shares
£

Total
£

12

22,855,370 23,694,299 46,549,669

20,277,199 12,596,775 32,873,974

14

61,596

1,730,864

1,792,460

46,786

2,041,150

2,087,936

Fixed assets

Investments

Current assets

Debtors

Cash at bank and in hand

(327,817)

3,577,458

3,249,641

653,658

1,501,019

2,154,677

Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

15

(146,777)

(225,081)

(371,858)

(271,314)

(459,411)

(730,725)

(266,221)

5,308,322

5,042,101

700,444

3,542,169

4,242,613

Net current assets

Net assets

Capital and reserves

Called up share capital

Share premium account

Capital redemption reserve

Special reserve

Capital reserves

Revenue reserves

(412,998)

5,083,241

4,670,243

429,130

3,082,758

3,511,888

22,442,372 28,777,540 51,219,912

20,706,329 15,679,533 36,385,862

16,17

180,950

266,154

447,104

180,923

152,858

333,781

17

17

17

17

17

1,603,935 27,299,555 28,903,490

1,600,912 15,255,279 16,856,191

500

929

1,429

500

–

500

14,376,494 (1,093,169) 13,283,325

14,919,280

(249,642) 14,669,638

5,982,759

1,829,745

7,812,504

3,944,166

232,131

4,176,297

297,734

474,326

772,060

60,548

288,907

349,455

Total shareholders’ funds

22,442,372 28,777,540 51,219,912

20,706,329 15,679,533 36,385,862

Net asset value per share

18

124.03p

108.12p

n/a

114.45p

102.58p

n/a

The accompanying notes on pages 59 to 69 are an integral part of the financial statements.

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54

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Statement of changes in equity
for the year ended 31 March 2018 

for the year ended 31 March 2018

Non-distributable reserves

Distributable reserves

Called
up share
capital
£

Share
premium
£

Capital
redemption
reserve
£

Capital
reserve 
£

Special
reserve
£

Capital
reserve 
£

Revenue
reserve
£

Total

Total
reserves
£

Opening balance as at 1 April 2017

333,781 16,856,191

500 5,373,802

14,669,638 (1,197,505) 349,455

36,385,862

Shares issued

Shares bought back

Share issue expenses

Dividends paid

Profit for the year

114,252 12,310,167

(929)

–

– (262,868)

–

–

–

–

–

929

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(89,676)

–

(1,296,637)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

12,424,419

(89,676)

(262,868)

(1,296,637)

– 4,093,607

–

(457,400) 422,605

4,058,812

Closing balance as at 31 March 2018

447,104 28,903,490

1,429 9,467,409

13,283,325 (1,654,905) 772,060

51,219,912

for the year ended 31 March 2017

Non-distributable reserves

Distributable reserves

Called
up share
capital
£

Share
premium
£

Capital
redemption
reserve
£

Capital
reserve 
£

Special
reserve
£

Capital
reserve 
£

Revenue
reserve
£

Total

Total
reserves
£

Opening balance as at 1 April 2016

262,080 9,452,414

500 3,545,260

15,281,104 (388,909) 530,537

28,682,986

Shares issued

Share issue expenses

Dividends paid

Profit/(Loss) for the year

71,701 7,468,378

–

–

–

(64,601)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(611,466)

–

–

–

–

–

–

7,540,079

(64,601)

(611,466)

– 1,828,542

– (808,596) (181,082)

838,864

Closing balance as at 31 March 2017

333,781 16,856,191

500 5,373,802

14,669,638 (1,197,505) 349,455

36,385,862

The accompanying notes on pages 59 to 69 are an integral part of the financial statements.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Statement of changes in equity
for the year ended 31 March 2018 

Unaudited non‑statutory analysis between the Ordinary and B Ordinary share funds

Ordinary shares

Non-distributable reserves

Distributable reserves

Called
up share
capital
£

Share
premium
£

Capital
redemption
reserve
£

Capital
reserve 
£

Special
reserve
£

Capital
reserve 
£

Revenue
reserve
£

Total

Total
reserves
£

Opening balance as at 1 April 2017

180,923 1,600,912

500 4,732,296

14,919,280

(788,130) 60,548

20,706,329

Shares issued

Dividends paid

Profit for the year

27

–

–

3,023

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(542,786)

–

–

–

–

3,050

(542,786)

– 2,238,907

– (200,314) 237,186

2,275,779

Closing balance as at 31 March 2018 180,950 1,603,935

500 6,971,203

14,376,494 (988,444) 297,734

22,442,372

B Ordinary shares

Non-distributable reserves

Distributable reserves

Called
up share
capital
£

Share
premium
£

Capital
redemption
reserve
£

Capital
reserve 
£

Special
reserve
£

Capital
reserve 
£

Revenue
reserve
£

Total

Total
reserves
£

Opening balance as at 1 April 2017

152,858 15,255,279

Shares issued

Share bought back

Share issue expenses

Dividends paid

Profit for the year

114,225 12,307,144

(929)

–

929

– (262,868)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

641,506

(249,642)

(409,375) 288,907

15,679,533

–

–

–

–

–

(89,676)

–

(753,851)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

12,421,369

(89,676)

(262,868)

(753,851)

– 1,854,700

–

(257,086) 185,419

1,783,033

Closing balance as at 31 March 2018

266,154 27,299,555

929 2,496,206

(1,093,169)

(666,461) 474,326

28,777,540

The accompanying notes on pages 59 to 69 are an integral part of the financial statements.

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Cash flow statement
for the year ended 31 March 2018 

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 

Tax

Other cash payments

Year ended
31.03.18
£

Year ended
31.03.17
£

Note

128,810

6,841

(651,478)

(149,678)

(43,576)

(35,570)

530,496

1,756

(239,402)

–

(33,864)

–

(288,562)

(172,219)

Net cash (outflow)/inflow from operating activities

19

(1,033,213)

86,767

Cash flows from investing activities

Purchase of investments 

Disposal of investments

Long term loans made

Short term loans made

Long term loans repaid

Net cash outflow from investing activities

Net cash outflow before financing

Cash flows from financing activities

Net proceeds from share issues

Share buybacks paid

Equity dividends paid

Net cash inflow from financing

Increase/(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

(5,602,584)

(3,927,888)

–

552,898

(3,395,000)

(2,645,000)

–

(1,461,825)

45,000

764,400

(8,952,584)

(6,717,415)

(9,985,797)

(6,630,648)

12,467,074

7,089,851

(89,676)

–

(1,296,637)

(611,466)

11,080,761

6,478,385

1,094,964

(152,263)

2,154,677

2,306,940

3,249,641

2,154,677

The accompanying notes on pages 59 to 69 are an integral part of the financial statements.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash flow statement
for the year ended 31 March 2018 

Unaudited non‑statutory analysis between the Ordinary and B Ordinary share funds

  Year ended 31.03.18

  Year ended 31.03.17

Ordinary  
shares
£

B Ordinary 
shares
£

Total
£

Ordinary  
shares
£

B Ordinary 
shares
£

Total
£

Operating activities

Investment income received – qualifying

100,810

28,000

128,810

430,151

100,345

530,496

Deposit and similar interest received – non-qualifying

–

6,841

6,841

82

1,674

1,756

Investment Adviser’s fees paid

Company secretarial fees paid 

(342,117)

(309,361)

(651,478)

(159,384)

(80,018)

(239,402)

(74,820)

(74,858)

(149,678)

–

–

–

Cash paid to and on behalf of Directors 

(20,037)

(23,539)

(43,576)

(19,643)

(14,221)

(33,864)

Tax

Other cash payments

(26,040)

(9,530)

(35,570)

–

–

–

(79,535)

(209,027)

(288,562)

(114,864)

(57,355)

(172,219)

Net cash (outflow)/inflow from operating activities

(441,739)

(591,474)

(1,033,213)

136,342

(49,575)

86,767

Cash flows from investing activities

Purchase of investments 

Disposal of investments

Long term loans made

Short term loans made

Loans repaid

– (5,602,584)

(5,602,584)

– (3,927,888)

(3,927,888)

–

–

–

106,583

446,315

552,898

– (3,395,000)

(3,395,000)

– (2,645,000)

(2,645,000)

–

–

–

–

– (1,461,825)

(1,461,825)

45,000

45,000

250,000

514,400

764,400

Net cash (outflow)/inflow from investing activities

– (8,952,584)

(8,952,584)

356,583 (7,073,998)

(6,717,415)

Net cash (outflow)/inflow before financing

(441,739)

(9,544,058)

(9,985,797)

492,925

(7,123,573)

(6,630,648)

Cash flows from financing activities

Net proceeds from share issues

3,050 12,464,024

12,467,074

7,105

7,082,746

7,089,851

Share buybacks paid

Equity dividends paid

–

(89,676)

(89,676)

–

–

–

(542,786)

(753,851)

(1,296,637)

(361,824)

(249,642)

(611,466)

Net cash (outflow)/inflow from financing

(539,736)

11,620,497

11,080,761

(354,719)

6,833,104

6,478,385

(Decrease)/increase in cash

(981,475)

2,076,439

1,094,964

138,206

(290,469)

(152,263)

The accompanying notes on pages 59 to 69 are an integral part of the financial statements.

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notes to the  
financial statements

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Notes to the financial statements

  1.  Company information

The Company is a Public Limited Company incorporated in England and Wales with registered number 08307631. 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 in November 2014 and updated in February 2018 with consequential amendments. 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.

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 the Financial Statements requires the Board to make judgments and estimates that affect the application  
of policies and reported amounts of assets,

The carrying value of the unquoted fixed asset investments requires estimates to determine fair values. Estimates are based on 
historical experience and other assumptions that are considered reasonable under the circumstances. However, because of the 
inherent uncertainty of valuation, those estimated values may be materially higher or lower than the values that would have 
been used had a ready market for the investments existed. The availability of valuation techniques and observable inputs can 
vary from investment to investment and are affected by a wide variety of factors, including the type of investment, whether  
the investment is new and not yet established in the marketplace, the liquidity of markets, and other characteristics particular 
to the transaction. All unquoted investments are valued in accordance with current IPEV guidelines, this relies on subjective 
estimates such as appropriate sector earnings multiples, forecast results of investee companies and liquidity or marketability  
of the investments held. Although the estimates and the assumptions applied are under continuous review to ensure that the 
fair values are appropriately stated there is a risk that the carrying value of an unquoted investment may require material 
adjustment either within the next year or in the longer term. More information related to the unquoted investment and their 
valuations is included in note 12 and the Investment Advisor Review.

  5.  Accounting policies 

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

a)  Investments 

The Company did not hold any listed investments at any time during the reporting period. 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, if the recent investment was within a period  
of twelve months and 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 within the last twelve months, 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.

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Notes to the financial statements continued

  5.  Accounting policies (continued)

(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 14.4.

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.  
The tax effect of different items of income/gain and expenditure/loss is allocated between capital and revenue return  
on the “marginal” basis as recommended in the SORP. 

  Any tax relief obtained in respect of management fees allocated to capital is reflected in the capital column of the Statement 
of Comprehensive Income and a corresponding amount is charged against the revenue column. The tax relief is the amount 
by which corporation tax payable is reduced as a result of these capital expenses.

  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.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  6.  Income 

Interest receivable – revenue
  – from bank deposits 
  – from loan stock
  – Other interest
  – arrangement fees received
Dividends receivable

  7.  Investment Adviser’s fees 

Oakley Investment Managers LLP

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2018
£

6,841
902,504
(36,624)
14,000
137,810

2017
£

1,756
1,152,915
36,624
13,740
–

1,024,531

1,205,035

2018
£

2017
£

690,000

390,086

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 page 34.

No performance fee is due in respect of the year ended 31 March 2018 (2017: £nil).

  8.  Other expenses 

Other expenses include: 

Company secretarial fees 
Auditor’s remuneration – audit of statutory financial statements
Printing and stationery 
Marketing
Insurance
Investment acquisition costs
Employers NI on Directors’ remuneration
Other costs 
Interest forgone on loan investments
Irrecoverable VAT 

The Company has no employees other than the Directors.

2018
£

75,661
39,000
26,902
53,952
17,607
25,100
2,575
44,585
–
48,943

2017
£

65,591
38,986
31,311
24,213
19,197
10,000
2,591
35,565
975,149
37,495

Information relating to Directors’ remuneration can be found in the audited section of the Directors’ remuneration report  
on page 39.

Interest forgone on loan investments includes the amounts foregone on loans to the following investee companies:

Boom Cycle
Dilly & Wolf
La Bottega
Second Home
Chucs
ME+EM
Zenos Cars

2018

–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–

2017

37,271
33,477
735,827
13,208
115,463
15,689
24,214

975,149

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Notes to the financial statements continued

  9.  Tax

a) Analysis of tax charge 

Current year charge:
Revenue charge
Credited to capital return

Current tax charge (note (b))

Prior year charge:
Revenue charge
Credited to capital return

Total current and prior year tax charge

b) Factors affecting tax charge for the year 

Total return before tax
Effect of:
Corporation tax at 19% (2017: 19%)
Non-taxable gains on investments
Non-taxable dividends
Movement in excess management expenses
Other movements

Tax charge for year (note (a))

2018
£

–
–

–

–
–

–

2018
£

2017
£

–
–

–

569
–

569

2017
£

4,018,812

839,433

771,174
(777,785)
(26,184)
32,795
–

–

159,492
(247,082)
–
87,590
–

–

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 
£90,000 (2017: £78,000). This is calculated using a corporation tax rate of 17% which is the rate at which it is deemed that any 
losses would be utilised.

  10.  Dividends paid

Dividends recognised as distributions paid to equity holders during the year: 

Interim dividend on Ordinary and B Ordinary shares for the year ended 31 March 2017  

of 1.0 pence per share

Final dividend on Ordinary and B Ordinary shares for the year ended 31 March 2017  

of 2.0 pence per share

Final dividend on Ordinary and B Ordinary shares for the year ended 31 March 2016  

of 2.0 pence per share 

Dividends paid or payable in respect of the financial year: 

Interim dividend on Ordinary and B Ordinary shares for the year ended 31 March 2017  

of 1.0 pence per share – paid 7 June 2017

Final dividend on Ordinary and B Ordinary shares for the year ended 31 March 2018  

of 3.0 pence per share – payable on 31 October 2018 (2017: 2.0 pence)

All dividends are paid from the special reserve.

2018
£

427,839

868,798

–

1,296,637

2018
£

2017
£

–

–

611,466

611,466

2017
£

–

427,839

1,494,120

856,057

1,494,120

1,283,896

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  11.  Return per share

2018

2017

Revenue

Capital

Total

Revenue

Capital

Total

Earnings/(loss) per Ordinary share (pence)
Earnings/(loss) per B Ordinary share (pence)

1.31
0.74

11.27
6.36

12.58
7.10

(2.13)
1.65

7.34
(2.49)

5.21
(0.84)

Basic revenue return per Ordinary share is based on the net revenue gain after taxation of £237,186 (2017: Loss £(385,703))  
and on 18,093,800 (2017: 18,091,658) 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 £2,038,593 (2017: £1,327,698) 
and on 18,093,800 (2017: 18,091,658) 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 gain after taxation of £185,419 (2017: £204,621)  
and on 25,114,084 (2017: 12,383,649) B Ordinary shares, being the weighted average number of shares in issue during the year.  
Basic capital return per B Ordinary share is based on the net capital return after taxation of £1,597,614 (2017: Loss £(307,752)) 
and on 25,114,084 (2017: 12,383,649) Ordinary shares, being the weighted average number of shares in issue during for the year.

  12.  Investments

Movements in investments during the year are summarised as follows:  

Shares 
£

Loan stock 
£

Total 
£

Opening valuation:
Cost at 31 March 2017
Unrealised gains at 31 March 2017
Unrealised losses on loan notes at 31 March 2017
Interest rolled up in fixed income investments

17,252,868
6,695,468
–
–

9,293,200
–
(1,304,192)
936,630

26,546,068
6,695,468
(1,304,192)
936,630

Valuation at 31 March 2017

23,948,336

8,925,638

32,873,974

Movements in the year:
Purchases at cost
Disposals – proceeds
Loan repaid
Loans converted to equity
Loan interest converted to equity
Unrealised gains on equity investments
Unrealised losses on loan stock
Interest rolled up in fixed income investments 

5,602,584
–
–
810,000
23,222
4,934,415
–
–

3,145,000
–
(45,000)
(810,000)
–
–
(840,808)
856,282

8,747,584
–
(45,000)
–
23,222
4,934,415
(840,808)
856,282

Total movements in year

11,370,221

2,305,474

13,675,695

Closing valuation:
Cost at 31 March 2018
Unrealised gains at 31 March 2018
Unrealised losses on loan notes at 31 March 2018
Interest rolled up in fixed income investments

23,688,674
11,629,883
–
–

11,583,200
–
(2,145,000)
1,792,912

35,271,874
11,629,883
(2,145,000)
1,792,912

Valuation at 31 March 2018

35,318,557

11,231,112

46,549,669

There were no disposals in the year.

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Notes to the financial statements continued

  12.  Investments (continued)

As at 31 March 2018, the Company had no arrangements in place to dispose of any of its holdings.

During the year, the following changes in valuation of unquoted shares were considered material:

Plenish
La Bottega
Chucs Bar & Grill
Blaze

Carrying  
value at  
1 April 2017
£

2,270,965
885,808
1,526,921
698,054

Additions
in year
£

200,031
400,000
1,297,952
–

Increase/
(decrease) in
valuation
£

Carrying  
value at  
31 March 2018
£

1,010,859
(885,808)
1,595,239
844,850

3,481,855
400,000
4,420,112
1,542,904

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 IPEVCV 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 Adviser’s review and investment portfolio on pages 12 to 31.

  13.  Significant interests 

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 

equity holding
%

Investment 

equity holding
%

Boom Cycle (Boom Spin Limited) 
KX Gym (KX Group Holding Limited)  
Plenish (Plenish Cleanse Limited)  
Dilly & Wolf (Dilly and Wolf Limited)  
KX U (KX U Limited)  
La Bottega (LBID Holdings Limited)  
Chucs Bar & Grill (Chucs Bar & Grill Limited)  
Second Home (Second Homes Limited)  
Sourced Market (SP Market Limited)  
Bel-Air Inc (Bel-Air Inc Limited)  
Kat Maconie (Kat Maconie Limited)  
Troubadour Goods (Troubadour Goods Limited)  
Bella Freud (Bella Freud Limited)  

33.3
11.8
32.0
27.0
10.3
87.6
27.1
4.6
30.8
8.0
22.3
36.1
40.2

11.6
Chucs (Chucs Limited)  
22.5
Bella Freud Parfum (Bella Freud Parfum Limited)  
13.1
ME+EM (ME and EM Limited)  
16.7
Alexa Chung (Alpha Charlie Limited)  
12.5
Heist (Carousel Ventures Limited)  
PlayerLayer (PlayerLayer Limited)  
6.1
Boat International Media (Boat International Limited)   21.6
5.1
Blaze (SMIDSY Limited)  
5.0
Stillking Films UK (2020 Group Limited)  
4.2
Unbolted (Open Access Finance Ltd)  
5.1
Stylindex (Stylindex Limited)  
10.2
Popsa (Popsa Holdings Limited)  

Details of holdings may be found in the Investment Adviser’s review and investment portfolio on pages 12 to 31. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Company holds 87% of La Bottega. Although considered a subsidiary, the investment is held as part of the investment 
portfolio and is therefore excluded from consolidation. It has been valued at fair value using the same methods as described in 
this report in respect of investments held within the investment portfolio. La Bottega made a loss of £0.9 million for the year 
ended 26 March 2017 and its aggregate capital and reserves at 26 March 2017 amounted to £(2.5) million. As the Company 
does not hold any investment which require consolidation, no consolidated accounts have been prepared.

  14.  Debtors 

Amounts falling due within one year:
Sundry debtors and prepayments

  15.  Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 

Sundry creditors and accruals
Deferred income
Corporation tax
Fixed asset investment deferred payment

16.    Called up share capital 

Allotted, called-up and fully paid at 1 April 2017:
Issued during the year
Repurchased during the year

At 31 March 2018

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

During the year, the Company issued 2,708 Ordinary shares  
as detailed below: 

Allotted, called up and fully paid:

Ordinary shares issued on 7 June 2017
Ordinary shares issued on 26 October 2017

During the year, the Company issued 11,422,536 B Ordinary shares  
as detailed below:

Allotted, called up and fully paid:

B Ordinary shares issued on 5 April 2017
B Ordinary shares issued on 3 May 2017
B Ordinary shares issued on 7 June 2017
B Ordinary shares issued on 6 July 2017
B Ordinary shares issued on 26 October 2017
B Ordinary shares issued on 9 March 2018

2018
£

2017
£

1,792,460

2,087,936

1,792,460

2,087,936

2018
£

369,838
2,020
–
–

371,858

No of  
Ordinary  
shares*

18,092,297
2,708
–

No of  
B Ordinary  
shares**

15,285,811
11,422,536
(92,943)

2017
£

437,136
8,020
35,569
250,000

730,725

Total

33,378,108
11,425,244
(92,943)

18,095,005

26,615,404

44,710,409

No of  
Ordinary  
shares

876
1,832

2,708

No of  
B Ordinary  
shares

8,826,567
579,211
18,580
636,569
40,630
1,320,979

Nominal  
value
£

Consideration  
received
£

9
18

27

1,011
2,039

3,050

Nominal  
value
£

Consideration  
received
£

88,265
5,792
186
6,366
406
13,210

9,661,354
628,750
19,780
691,400
41,060
1,379,025

11,422,536

114,225

12,421,369

During the year, the Company repurchased 92,943 of its own B Ordinary shares for cancellation at a cost of £89,676.

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Notes to the financial statements continued

  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 includes 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 2018 there were realised losses of £1,654,905  
(2017: Loss £(1,197,505)) which are distributable, the balance is unrealised and 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 2018 is £12,400,480 (2017: £13,821,588).

  18.  Net asset value per share

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

Ordinary shares
B Ordinary shares

2018 
Net asset values 
attributable

2017  
Net asset values  
attributable

Net assets

Net assets  
per share 

Net assets

Net assets  
per share 

22,402,372
28,777,540

124.03p
108.12p

20,706,329
15,679,533

114.45p
102.58p

Net asset value per Ordinary share is based on net assets at the year-end and on 18,095,005 (2017: 18,092,297) 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 26,615,404 (2017: 15,285,811) 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
Net gains on investments
Increase/(decrease) in debtors (excluding share issue proceeds and short term loans)
Decrease/(increase) in interest rolled up in fixed income investments
Increase/(decrease) in creditors and accruals  

2018
£

4,058,812
(4,093,607)
(11,250)
(879,504)

(excluding share issue expenses, short term loans and fixed asset investment balances)

(107,664)

Net cash (outflow)/inflow from operating activities

(1,033,213)

2017
£

839,433
(1,300,433)
30,571
287,320

229,876

86,767

  20.  Financial instruments 

The Company’s financial instruments comprise:

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

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.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed asset investments are valued at fair value through profit or loss. Unquoted investments are valued by the Directors using 
rules consistent with IPEV guidelines. The fair value of all other financial assets and liabilities is represented by their carrying 
value in the balance sheet. Further details of the bases on which financial instruments, including investments, are held may be 
found at notes 5 and 12 and in the Investment Adviser’s Review and investment portfolio on pages 12 to 31.

The Company held the following categories of financial instruments, all of which are included in the balance sheet at fair value, 
at 31 March 2018:

Assets at fair value through profit and loss:
Equity investments
Loan stock

Assets measured at amortised cost:
Other debtors

Liabilities measured at amortised cost:
Creditors
Cash at bank

2018

Cost 
£

Fair value 
£

2017 

Cost 
£

Fair value 
£

23,688,674 35,318,557
11,231,112
13,376,112

17,252,868 23,948,336
8,925,638
10,229,830

1,740,441

1,740,441

2,040,569

2,040,569

(371,858)
3,249,641

(371,858)
3,249,641

(730,725)
2,154,677

(730,725)
2,154,677

41,683,010

51,167,893

30,947,219 36,338,495

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 91.0% (2017: 90.3%)  
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 £16,220,472 (2017: £13,120,884).

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 £6,982,450 and 15.6p (2017: £4,931,096 and 14.8p) respectively.

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

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Notes to the financial statements continued

  20.  Financial instruments (continued)

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 2018, the Company’s financial assets by value, excluding short-term debtors and creditors which are not 
exposed to interest rate risk, comprised:

Financial assets

£

%

Weighted 
average interest 
rate 
%

Interest  
rate

Fixed  
term 
years

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
Loan stock
Loan stock
Loan stock 
Loan stock
Loan stock 
Loan stock
Loan stock
Loan stock
Bank deposits

35,318,557
120,979
211,984
520,932
317,915
2,639,081
400,000
441,534
69,151
454,819
500,000
373,085
177,637
253,616
518,260
116,932
112,493
152,153
127,827
66,948
133,238
237,743
263,912
190,077
100,000
514,795
555,968
670,795
489,556
499,682
3,249,641

70.9
0.2
0.4
1.1
0.7
5.3
0.8
0.9
0.1
0.9
1.0
0.8
0.4
0.5
1.0
0.2
0.2
0.3
0.3
0.1
0.3
0.5
0.5
0.4
0.2
1.0
1.1
1.4
1.0
1.0
6.5

n/a
Fixed
Fixed 
Fixed 
Fixed 
Fixed
Fixed
Fixed
Fixed
Fixed
Fixed
Fixed
Fixed
Fixed
Fixed
Fixed
Fixed
Fixed
Floating
Fixed
Fixed
Fixed
Fixed
Fixed
Fixed
Fixed
Fixed
Fixed
Fixed
Fixed
Floating

n/a
12.0
9.0
8.0
9.0
12.0
12.0
12.0
12.0
12.0
8.0
12.0
8.0
8.0
10.0
12.0
12.0
22.0
8.0
12.0
12.0
8.0
12.0
12.0
8.0
8.0
12.0
12.0
12.0
12.0
0.15

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
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
n/a

49,799,310

100.0

It is estimated that, if the floating interest rate fell to 0%, pre-tax profit for the year would fall by 0.14% (2017: 0.61%)  
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 the Company’s year end, the following transactions have taken place:

• The Company has made investments of £1,429,266, all as follow-on investments in existing holdings. The Company has no 

other investment commitments at the balance sheet date.

• 3,859,164 B Ordinary shares were allotted under the B Ordinary share offer on 5 April 2018 raising net proceeds of £4,049,900. 

• 1,234,434 B Ordinary shares were allotted under the B Ordinary share offer on 29 June 2018 raising net proceeds of £1,292,500.

  23.  Geographical analysis 

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

  24.  Related parties

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 2018, £690,000 
was payable to OIM for Investment Adviser services of which £232,888 was owed to OIM at the year-end (2017: £390,086,  
of which £194,368 was owed at the year end).

Oakley Capital Limited (“OCL”), of which Peter Dubens has significant control, acted as promoter for the offer during the year.  
The fees in the year amounted to £389,700 (31 March 2017: £159,344) out of which OCL cover the costs of the offer.  
The costs paid by the Company in the year amounted to £305,075. OCL were paid £nil in fees, resulting in a balance of £227,214 
owed from OCL to the Company at the year-end (2017: OCL owed the Company £311,839). Following the year end, additional 
promoter fee income (net of costs) of £98,870 was recognised and as at the date of signing the financial statements, OCL owed 
the Company £128,344.

The number of Ordinary shares (all of which are held beneficially) by employees of OIM as at 31 March 2018 are:

2018

2017 

Ordinary 
shares held

B Ordinary 
shares held

Ordinary  
shares held

B Ordinary 
shares held

Peter Dubens
Stewart Porter

Director
Investment Adviser

400,000
75,000

586,689
–

400,000
75,000

400,000
–

The remuneration of the Directors, who are key management personnel of the Company, is disclosed in the  
Directors’ remuneration report on page 39.

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Notice of annual general meeting

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 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 fourth annual general meeting of Pembroke VCT plc will be held at 8.30 am on Thursday, 27 September 
2018 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 6 will be proposed as Ordinary Resolutions and Resolutions 7, 8 and 9 will be proposed as Special Resolutions):

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 2018.

2.  To approve final dividends of 3 pence per Ordinary share and 3 pence per B Ordinary share in respect of the year ended 31 March 

2018 with a payment date of 31 October 2018 and a record date of 28 September 2018.

3.  To receive and approve the Directors’ remuneration report for the year ended 31 March 2018.

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.

Special Business
7.  That, in accordance with article 147 of the Company’s Articles of Association and in addition to existing authorities, the Directors 
of the Company be and hereby generally and unconditionally authorised in accordance with section 551 of the Companies Act 
2006 (the “Act”) to exercise all the powers of the Company to allot and issue Ordinary and B Ordinary shares pursuant to the 
terms and conditions of the dividend investment scheme adopted by the Company on 3 December 2015 and in connection with 
any dividend declared or paid in the period commencing on the date of this Resolution 7 and ending on the date of the next AGM 
or the date falling 15 months after the date of the passing of this resolution:
a.  Ordinary shares of 1 pence each in the capital of the Company (“Ordinary shares”) up to an aggregate nominal amount 

representing 10% of the issued Ordinary share capital from time to time (approximately 1,809,500 Ordinary shares); and 
b.  B Ordinary shares of 1 pence each in the capital of the Company (“B Ordinary shares”) up to an aggregate nominal amount 
representing 10% of the issued B Ordinary share capital from time to time (approximately 3,047,456 B Ordinary shares).

8.  That, in accordance with section 570(1) of the Act, the Directors be and are hereby given power to allot or make offer or 

agreements to allot equity securities (as defined in section 560 of the Act) for cash pursuant to the authorities conferred by 
resolution 7 above as if section 561 of the Act did not apply to any such allotment, and so that:
a.  Reference to the allotment in this resolution shall be construed with section 560 of the Act; and
b.  The power conferred by this resolution shall enable the Company to make offers or agreements before the expiry of said power 
which would or might require equity securities to be allotted after the expiry of the said power and the Directors may allot 
equity securities of such offers or agreements notwithstanding the expiry of such power.

9.  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 1 pence 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 1 pence 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 2019 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 
12 July 2018

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 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 8.30 am on 25 September 2018 (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 using the Form of Proxy on page 73. 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 on page 73. To be valid, the Form of Proxy must be deposited by 8.30 am on 
25 September 2018, 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, 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 on page 74 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 18,095,005 Ordinary shares and 31,709,002 B Ordinary 

shares, therefore the total number of voting rights in the Company as at the date of this notice is 49,804,007.

  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.

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Corporate information

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

Secretary 
The City Partnership (UK) Limited 
110 George Street 
Edinburgh 
EH2 4LH 

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

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

Status Adviser 
Philip Hare & Associates 
Suite C 
First Floor 
4-6 Staple Inn 
London 
WC1V 7QH

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

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

Reporting Calendar 

for year ending 31 March 2019

Results announced: 

Interim – October 2018

Annual – July 2019

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Form of Proxy

Pembroke VCT plc – Form of Proxy for the Annual General Meeting on 27 September 2018

I/We (block capitals please) ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................

of ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

being a member of Pembroke VCT plc, hereby appoint (see notes 1 and 2) ....................................................................................................................

or failing him/her the chairman of the meeting to be my/our proxy and exercise all or any of my/our rights to attend, speak and vote 
for me/us in respect of my/our voting entitlement on my/our behalf at the annual general meeting of the Company to be held at 
3 Cadogan Gate, London SW1X 0AS on 27 September 2018 at 8.30 am, notice of which is dated 19 July 2018, and at any adjournment 
thereof. The proxy will vote as indicated below in respect of the resolution set out in the notice of meeting:

Please indicate by placing an ‘X’ in this box if this proxy appointment is one of multiple appointments being made  
(see note 2 overleaf).

Resolution

1  To receive the Directors’ report and financial statements together with  

the independent auditor’s report

2  To approve final dividends of 3 pence per Ordinary share and 3 pence per B Ordinary share

For

Against

Vote  
withheld

3  To approve the Directors’ remuneration report

4  To re-appoint Grant Thornton UK LLP as auditor

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  To authorise the allotment and issue of Ordinary and B Ordinary shares pursuant to the DIS

8  To disapply pre-emption rights in relation to the above allotment

9  To authorise the Directors to buy back shares

Please refer to the notes overleaf.

Attendance indication

Shareholders who intend to attend the annual general meeting are requested to place a tick in the box below in order to assist with 
administrative arrangements.

I/We intend to attend the annual general meeting at 3 Cadogan Gate, London SW1X 0AS  
on 27 September 2018 at 8.30 am.

Signed ....................................................................................................................................... 

Date ................................................................................................................................ 2018

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Notes relating to the Form of Proxy

1.  Every member has the right to appoint some other person(s) of his/her choice, who need not be a member, as his/her proxy to 

exercise all or any of his/her rights to attend, speak or vote on his/her behalf at the meeting. A member wishing to appoint a person 
other than the chairman of the meeting as proxy should insert the name of such person in the space provided. If the proxy is being 
appointed in relation to less than your full voting entitlement, please enter alongside the proxy holder’s name the number of shares 
in relation to which they are authorised to act as your proxy. If left blank your proxy will be deemed to be authorised in respect of 
your full voting entitlement (or if this Form of Proxy has been issued in respect of a designated account for a shareholder, the full 
voting entitlement for that designated account). Any alteration or deletion must be signed or initialled.

2.  A member may appoint more than one proxy in relation to a meeting, provided that the proxy is appointed to exercise the rights 
attached to a different share or shares held by him/her. To appoint more than one proxy, please contact The City Partnership (UK) 
Limited on 0131 243 7210 for (an) additional form(s), or you may photocopy this form. Please indicate alongside the proxy holder’s 
name the number of shares in relation to which the proxy holder is authorised to act as your proxy. Please also indicate by placing 
an ‘X’ in the box provided if the proxy instruction is one of multiple instructions being given. All forms must be signed and returned 
together in the same envelope.

3.  Use of the Form of Proxy does not preclude a member from attending and voting in person.

4.  Where the Form of Proxy is executed by an individual it must be signed by that individual or his or her attorney.

5.  Where the Form of Proxy is executed by joint shareholders it may be signed by any of the members, but the vote of the  

member whose name stands first in the register of members of the Company will be accepted to the exclusion of the votes  
of the other joint holders.

6.  Where the Form of Proxy is executed by a corporation it must be either under its seal or under the hand of an officer  

or attorney duly authorised.

7.  If the Form of Proxy is signed and returned without any indication as to how the proxy shall vote, the proxy will exercise  

his/her discretion as to whether and how he/she votes, as he/she will on any other matters to arise at the meeting.

8.  To be valid, the Form of Proxy, together with, if applicable, the power of attorney or other authority under which it is signed,  
or a certified copy thereof, must be sent or delivered to Share Registrars Limited, The Courtyard, 17 West Street, Farnham,  
Surrey GU9 7DR or by fax to 01252 719232 or by scan and email to proxies@shareregistrars.uk.com to be received no later  
than 8.30 am on 25 September 2017.

9.  The “vote withheld” option is provided to enable a member to abstain from voting on the resolution; however, it should be  
noted that a “vote withheld” is not a vote in law and will not be counted in the calculation of the proportion of the votes  
“for” and “against” the resolution.

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Designed by & inc. and printed by Portman Lodge Limited

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3 Cadogan Gate, London SW1X 0AS

Incorporated in England and Wales
with registered number 08307631

ANNUAL REPORT

AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

for the year ended 31 March 2018