Downing ONE VCT plc Half-yearly Report for the six months ended 30 September 2017
FINANCIAL SUMMARY 30 Sep 31 Mar 30 Sep Nov
2017 2017 2016 2013
pence pence pence pence
Net asset value per share ('NAV') 88.8 90.4 93.1 100.4
Cumulative dividends paid since 12 November 2013 22.5 18.0 15.0 0.0 --------------------------- Total return 111.3 108.4 108.1 100.4 --------------------------- (net asset value plus cumulative dividends paid per share)
CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT I am pleased to present the Company's half-yearly report for the six-month period ended 30 September 2017. The news from the portfolio has generally been positive over the period resulting in a further advance in the Company's net asset value (after adjusting for dividends paid).
Net asset value and results As at 30 September 2017, the Company's NAV stood at 88.8p an increase of 2.9p (or 3.2%) compared to the 31 March 2017 year-end position, after adding back the 4.5p dividend paid during the period.
The return attributable to equity shareholders for the period was £2.8 million, comprising a revenue gain of £1.2 million and a capital return of £1.6 million.
Investment activity and performance The Company made 6 qualifying investments during the period totalling £2.9 million. Three of these were new investments and three were further funding of existing portfolio companies.
As mentioned in my statement in the last Annual Report, the Company also made a £5 million non-qualifying investment into the Downing Strategic Micro-Cap Investment Trust plc, a new Investment Trust managed by the same team at Downing that advises the Company on its AIM-quoted portfolio. As an Investment Trust, this is one of the few types of non-qualifying investments now permitted under the current VCT regulations and provides the Company with liquidity and some potential for growth on funds that would otherwise be held as cash while awaiting investment in new VCT qualifying opportunities. The Board has agreed with Downing that there will be no 'double charging' of fees in respect of this investment.
There were a number of disposals and part disposals in the period. The most significant was the sale of Vulcan Renewables Limited. The company developed an Anaerobic digestion plant and our investment was sold for £6.1 million compared to an original cost of £5.0 million, with £510,000 of the gain being recognised in the period and an additional £1.0 million of previously unrecognised loan stock interest being paid on exit. Total realisations in the period produced proceeds of £15.2 million and net realised gains in the period of £590,000.
In respect of the existing portfolio, net unrealised gains over the period were £1.3 million. The most significant uplift was the investment in Giving Limited, which operates the justgiving.com fundraising website. The investment was sold shortly after the period end so the valuation was increased by £447,000 to recognise the exit value. There were a number of other unrealised gains and losses across the portfolio, the most significant of which are detailed in the Investment Adviser's report.
Further details of the investment activities of the Company are in the Investment Adviser's Report.
Dividends The Company's stated policy is to seek to pay dividends of at least 4% of net asset value each year, which in recent years the Company has exceeded as a result of a significant level of realisations.
This year an interim dividend of 3p per share will be paid on 23 February 2018 to Shareholders on the register at 2 February 2018. This is in line with the usual February and August payment dates.
This will take the total dividends to 25.5p since the merger in November 2013.
Fundraising The Company launched a new offer for subscription on 7 September 2017 seeking to raise up to £20 million, with the option of a further £10 million. The offer has been well received by the market, with £9.9 million being raised to date.
Share buybacks The Company operates a policy of buying in its own shares that become available in the market at a 5% discount to NAV (subject to liquidity and any regulatory restrictions).
During the period, the Company purchased 1,123,930 shares at an average price of 84.3p per Ordinary Share, being a 5% discount to the latest announced NAV at the time of purchase.
Outlook Since the merger in 2013, we have experienced steady positive performance. With some 85 investments in the portfolio and the largest investment counting for little more than 5% of the total value, the impact of positive or negative developments in any one investment tends to have only a small influence on the overall performance of the Company. The Board believes that the portfolio has the potential to continue to deliver similar results into the future.
Shareholders may be aware that the Government recently undertook a 'Patient Capital Review' which examined the supply of capital to growing innovative firms in the UK. The results of the review were published as part of the Budget in November and accordingly a number of changes to the VCT regulations were announced.
In general, the new regulations seek to focus future VCT investment into growing businesses where the investment carries a significant risk. At this stage, it is not exactly clear how the proposed tests will be applied by HMRC. There is a possibility that these changes may restrict the Company's ability to make further new 'income focussed' investments in future. The Board may decide to modify the Company's Investment Policy in due course to make it consistent with the new regulations. The Board and Adviser will monitor developments. However, with a large proportion of the Company's funds already invested, the Board does not anticipate that there will be a significant shift in the risk profile of the portfolio in the short term.
I look forward to updating Shareholders on developments and progress of the portfolio in my statement with the Annual Report covering the year to 31 March 2018.
Chris Kay Chairman
INVESTMENT ADVISER'S REPORT
Introduction At 30 September 2017, the Company held a portfolio of 85 investments, valued in total at £81.0 million. There have been some positive and negatives within the portfolio over the period, however overall there has been a rise in value across both the quoted and unquoted portfolios. Unquoted portfolio Investment activity At 30 September 2017, the unquoted portfolio was valued at £52.7 million comprising 54 investments, spread across a number of sectors.
Three new qualifying investments were made during the six month period as follows: Volo Commerce Limited has developed software as a service platform to support online merchants selling through market places such as Amazon and eBay. Downing ONE has invested £566,000 in the business.
£394,000 was invested in BridgeU Corporation, an education technology business which assists students with university applications.
£250,000 was invested in Empiribox Limited, a business that provides equipment and training to teachers in UK primary schools to facilitate the delivery of engaging and practical science lessons.
Three qualifying investments were also made into existing portfolio companies:
£850,000 was invested in Leytonstone Pub Limited to enable the installation of a cocktail bar and enhancements to the premises.
A further qualifying investment of £750,000 was made in Xupes, the pre-owned luxury e-commerce business based in Bishops Stortford, specialising in watches, handbags, jewellery and antiques.
£100,000 was also invested in Curo Compensation Limited, the provider of a human resource software service. Realisations of investments in the six months generated proceeds of £13.7 million and total profits over holding value of £685,000.
A summary of the most significant realisations is shown below: The investment in Vulcan Renewables Limited, an anaerobic digestion plant in south Yorkshire, was sold, generating proceeds of £6.1 million, a gain over previous holding value of £510,000 and also £1.0 million of loan stock interest paid that had not previously been recognised.
£1.3 million proceeds were received for Mosaic Spa and Health Clubs Limited which part redeemed loan notes at our previous carrying value, but which was £465,000 lower than original cost.
The Gara Rock leisure development was sold generating £672,000 of proceeds. These proceeds repaid loan notes at par.
A portfolio of Scottish bars and night clubs was sold during the period generating total proceeds of £580,000 from Cheers Dumbarton Limited, City Falkirk Limited, Fubar Stirling Limited and Lochrise Limited. This resulted in a realised gain in the period of £121,000, although this was a loss of £33,000 against original cost. A further distribution is expected this year for the remaining loan notes held in Fubar Stirling Limited.
In addition, a £2.5 million investment in each of Brownfields Trading Limited and Rhodes Solutions Limited was returned to the Company when the businesses were wound up having been unable to secure the business opportunities that they were pursuing.
Portfolio valuation A number of adjustments to carrying values have been made at the period end and the overall movement on the unquoted portfolio was a gain of £949,000. The most significant of which are summarised below:
Giving Limited, the online charity fundraising platform, was sold in October. The September value reflects the actual proceeds received which represented an uplift of £447,000 in the period.
Data Centre Response, the provider of uninterruptable power supply systems has performed well in the last year and the value has been increased by £207,000.
Leytonstone Pub Limited, is performing well and an uplift of £186,000 has been recognised.
Kimbolton Lodge Limited which operates a care home for the elderly in Bedford was uplifted by £121,000 following continued good performance.
An uplift of £78,000 was recognised on Fresh Green Power Limited, a company that owns and operates photovoltaic solar panels. Fenkle Street LLP owns a building in Newcastle and converted it into a hotel. The hotel continues to trade well and a further uplift of £49,000 has been recognised.
The above gains were partially offset in the period by two value write downs in the period totalling £140,000.
Quoted investments Investment activity At 30 September 2017 the quoted portfolio was valued at £28.4 million comprising 31 active investments.
An opportunity arose to dispose of the holding in Plastics Capital plc which produced proceeds of £1.4 million and realised a gain against cost of £584,000 although a loss of £95,000 against the previous carrying value.
Portfolio valuation Overall the quoted portfolio produced unrealised gains of £410,000. The most notable movements in the portfolio over the period as discussed below.
Anpario plc, the international producer of natural feed additives for animal health, experienced appreciation in its share price following an upgrade in analysts' expectations following strong interim results. This resulted in an increase in value of £588,00.
Craneware plc, the provider of billing software solutions in the US healthcare market, saw earnings progress along with forward order book. Given the confidence in future earnings the company experienced a further re-rating in the period resulting in an increase in value of £174,000.
Meanwhile, on the negative side, Science in Sport plc, the manufacturer and distributor of nutritional sports products, saw its share price decline in the period, providing an unrealised loss of £394,000. The share price reduction was a result of profit taking by largely small shareholders, despite continued growth in turnover.
Outlook We remain broadly satisfied with the portfolio and believe it continues to contain investments which can deliver good outcomes for Shareholders in the future. With existing funds available and new funds being raised, the Company will be an active investor over the remainder of the year. In line with the current VCT regulations, the main focus for new investments is on younger growth companies and we have worked to produce a steady pipeline of such businesses. Although it is likely to be a competitive environment for new investments, we expect to see several prospects joining the portfolio in due course.
Downing LLP
UNAUDITED BALANCE SHEET as at 30 September 2017
30 Sep 30 Sep 31 Mar 2017 2017 2016
£'000 £'000 £'000
Fixed assets
Investments 81,037 87,644 86,397 -------- --------- ------------
Current assets
Debtors 767 248 448
Cash at bank and in hand 8,337 8,118 5,523 -------- --------- ------------ 9,104 8,366 5,971
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (249) (239) (498)
Net current assets 8,855 8,127 5,473 -------- --------- ------------
Net assets 89,892 95,771 91,870 -------- --------- ------------
Capital and reserves
Called up share capital 1,008 1,014 1,016
Capital redemption reserve 1,564 1,536 1,553
Share premium 13,710 11,624 13,387
Share capital to be issued 361 1,353 -
Special reserve 73,559 81,704 77,049
Capital reserve - unrealised (259) (2,050) (1,002)
Revenue reserve (51) 590 (133)
-------- --------- ------------
Equity shareholders' funds 89,892 95,771 91,870 -------- --------- ------------
Basic and diluted net asset value per share 88.8p 93.1p 90.4p
UNAUDITED INCOME STATEMENT for the six months ended 30 September 2017
Year ended Six months ended Six months ended 31 March 30 September 2017 30 September 2016 2017
Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total Total
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
Income 2,102 - 2,102 859 - 859 1,945
Gains/(losses) on investments
- realised - 590 590 - 491 491 652
- unrealised - 1,314 1,314 - 1,681 1,681 2,085 ----------------------- ----------------------- ---------- 2,102 1,904 4,006 859 2,172 3,031 4,682
Investment (413) (413) (826) (439) (439) (878) (1,750) management fees
Other expenses (345) - (345) (331) - (331) (652)
----------------------- ----------------------- ---------- Return on ordinary activities before tax 1,344 1,491 2,835 89 1,733 1,822 2,280
Tax on total comprehensive income and ordinary activities (124) 124 - (132) 132 - -
----------------------- ----------------------- ---------- (Loss)/return attributable to equity shareholders 1,220 1,615 2,835 (43) 1,865 1,822 2,280 ----------------------- ----------------------- ----------
Basic and diluted return per share 1.2p 1.6p 2.8p 0.0p 1.9p 1.9p 2.3p
The total column within the Income Statement represents the Statement of Total Comprehensive Income of the Company prepared in accordance with Financial Reporting Standards ('FRS102'). There are no other items of comprehensive income. The supplementary revenue and capital return columns are prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice issued in November 2014 by the Association of Investment Companies ('AIC SORP').
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY for the six months ended 30 September 2017
Funds held in respect of Capital Share shares Capital Share redemption premium not yet Special reserve Revaluation Revenue Capital reserve account allotted reserve -realised reserve reserve Total
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
For the six months ended 30 September 2017
At 1 April 1,016 1,553 13,387 - 77,049 - (1,002) (133) 91,870 2017
Total comprehensive - income - - - - 301 1,314 1,219 2,834
Realisation of revaluations from previous years* - - - - - 571 (571) - -
Transfer between reserves** - - - - (2,540) 2,540 - - -
Transactions with owners
Dividends - - - - - (3,412) - (1,137) (4,549) paid
Unallotted - - - 361 - - - - 361 shares
Issue of new 3 - 323 - - - - - 326 shares
Share issue - - - - - - - - - costs
Purchase of own shares (11) 11 - - (950) - - - (950) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- At 30 September 2017 1,008 1,564 13,710 361 73,559 - (259) (51) 89,892 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* A transfer of £571,000 representing previously recognised unrealised gains on disposal of investments during the period ended 30 September 2017 (year ended 31 March 2017: losses £1,593,000) has been made from the Capital Reserve realised to the Special reserve. ** A transfer of £2.5 million representing realised gains on disposal of investments, less capital expenses and capital dividends in the year (year ended 31 March 2017: £5.1 million) has been made from Capital Reserves - realised to Special reserve.
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY for the year ended 31 March 2017
Funds held in respect of Capital Share shares Capital Share redemption premium not yet Special reserve Revaluation Revenue Capital reserve account allotted reserve -realised reserve reserve Total
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
For the year ended 31 March 2017
At 1 April 932 1,525 2,792 4,423 86,483 - (4,680) 633 92,108 2016
Total comprehensive income - - - - - 207 2,085 (12) 2,280
Cancellation of Share Premium account - - - - - - - - -
Realisation of revaluations from previous - - - - - (1,593) 1,593 - - years
Transfer between reserves - - - - (6,716) 6,716 - - -
Transactions with owners
Utilised in - - - (4,423) - - - - (4,423) share issue
Dividends - - - - - (5,330) - (754) (6,084) paid
Unallotted - - - - - - - shares -
Issue of new shares 112 - 10,595 - - - - - 10,707
Share - - - - (234) - - (234) issue costs -
Purchase of own shares (28) 28 - - (2,484) - - - (2,484) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
At 31 1,016 1,553 13,387 - 77,049 (1,002) (133) 91,870 March 2017 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UNAUDITED CASH FLOW STATEMENT for the six months ended 30 September 2017
30 Sep 2017 30 Sep 2016 31 Mar 2017
£'000 £'000 £'000
Cash flow from operating activities
Profit on ordinary activities before 2,835 1,822 2,280 taxation
Gains on investments (1,904) (2,172) (2,737)
Decrease/(increase) in debtors (317) 44 (156)
Decrease in creditors (77) (102) (14)
Cash from operations
Corporation tax paid - - -
------------- ------------- ------------ Net cash generated/(utilised) from operating activities 537 (408) (627) ------------- ------------- ------------
Cash flow from investing activities
Purchase of investments (7,910) (25,577) (27,821)
Proceeds from disposal of investments 15,171 5,549 9,607
------------- ------------- ------------ Net cash generated/(utilised) from 7,261 (20,028) (18,214) investing activities ------------- ------------- ------------
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from share issue 323 8,925 10,707
Funds held in respect of shares not 361 (3,070) (4,423) yet allotted
Share issue costs - (202) (234)
Purchase of own shares (1,119) (985) (2,315)
Equity dividends paid (4,549) (2,827) (6,084)
------------- ------------- ------------ Net cash (utilised)/generated from (4,984) 1,841 (2,349) financing activities ------------- ------------- ------------
Increase/(Decrease) in cash 2,814 (18,595) (21,190) ------------- ------------- ------------
Net increase in cash
Beginning of year 5,523 26,713 26,713
Net cash inflow/(outflow) 2,814 (18,595) (21,190) ------------- ------------- ------------
End of year 8,337 8,118 5,523 ------------- ------------- ------------
SUMMARY OF INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO as at 30 September 2017
Valuation movement % of portfolio Cost Valuation in period by value
£'000 £'000 £'000
Top twenty venture capital investments (by value)
Doneloans Limited 5,000 5,000 - 5.6%
Downing Strategic Micro Cap Investment 5.5% Trust plc ** 5,000 4,875 (125)
Downing Care Homes Holdings Limited 3,880 4,250 - 4.8%
Leytonstone Pub Limited 1,911 3,686 186 4.1%
Tracsis plc* 1,443 3,314 116 3.7%
Cadbury House Holdings Limited 3,082 3,075 - 3.4%
Baron House Developments LLP 2,695 2,695 - 3.0%
Pilgrim Trading Limited 2,594 2,594 - 2.9%
Jito Trading Limited 2,500 2,500 - 2.8%
Yamuna Renewables Limited 2,500 2,500 - 2.8%
Vectis Alpha Limited 2,500 2,500 - 2.8%
Anpario Group plc * 1,448 2,474 588 2.8%
Craneware plc * 850 2,375 174 2.7%
Universe Group plc * 1,586 2,349 - 2.5%
Inland Homes plc * 1,526 1,801 15 2.0%
Pantheon Trading Limited 1,500 1,500 - 1.7%
Quadrate Catering Ltd 1,500 1,500 - 1.7%
Quadrate Spa Ltd 1,872 1,500 - 1.7%
Harrogate Street LLP 1,400 1,400 - 1.6%
Xupes Limited 1,350 1,350 - 1.5% ------------------------------------------ 46,137 53,238 954 59.6%
Other venture capital investments 35,159 27,799 360 31.1% ------------------------------------------
81,296 81,037 1,314 90.7% -------- -----------
Cash at bank and in hand 8,337 9.3% ----------- ---------------
Total investments 89,374 100.0% ----------- ---------------
All venture capital investments are unquoted unless otherwise stated.
* Quoted on AIM ** Listed and traded on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange
SUMMARY OF INVESTMENT MOVEMENTS for the six months ended 30 September 2017
Additions £'000
Quoted
Downing Strategic Micro-Cap Investment Trust plc 5,000 -------- 5,000 -------- Unquoted
Leytonstone Pub Limited 850
Xupes Limited 750
Volo Commerce Limited 566
BridgeU Corporation 394
Empiribox Limited 250
Curo Compensation Limited 100 -------- 2,910 --------
Total additions 7,910 --------
SUMMARY OF INVESTMENT MOVEMENTS for the six months ended 30 September 2017
Disposals Gain/(loss) Realised Value at Disposal against gain/(loss) in Cost 31/03/17* Proceeds cost period
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
Quoted
Market sales
Plastics Capital 849 1,528 1,433 584 (95) plc ---------------------------------------------------------------- 849 1,528 1,433 584 (95) ----------------------------------------------------------------
Unquoted
Including loan note redemptions
Vulcan 5,030 5,548 6,058 1,028 510 Renewables Limited
Mosaic Spa and 1,800 1,325 1,325 (475) - Health Clubs Limited
Gararock Resort 672 672 672 - - Limited
City Falkirk 326 236 324 (2) 88 Limited
Fubar Stirling 223 201 209 (14) 8 Limited
Gatewales 16 22 60 44 38 Limited
Tramps Nightclub 30 27 40 10 13 Limited
Cheers Dumbarton 64 22 37 (27) 15 Limited
Lochrise Limited - - 10 10 10
Cedarville - - 2 2 2 Limited
Investments wound up without commencing a trade
Brownfields 2,500 2,500 2,501 1 1 Limited
Rhodes Solutions 2,500 2,500 2,500 - - Limited
---------------------------------------------------------------- 13,161 13,053 13,738 577 685 ----------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------- 14,010 14,581 15,171 1,161 590 ---------------------------------------------------------------- * adjusted for purchases in the period
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the six months ended 30 September 2017
1. General Information Downing ONE VCT plc ('the Company') is a Venture Capital Trust established under the legislation introduced in the Finance Act 1995 and is domiciled in the United Kingdom and incorporated in England and Wales.
2. Basis of accounting The unaudited half-yearly financial results cover the six months to 30 September 2017 and have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in the statutory accounts for the year ended 31 March 2017, which were prepared in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard 102 ('FRS102') and in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice 'Financial Statements of Investment Trust Companies' revised November 2014 ('SORP').
3. The Company has only one class of business and derives its income from investments made in shares, securities and bank deposits.
4. The comparative figures were in respect of the six months ended 30 September 2016 and the year ended 31 March 2017 respectively.
5. Return per share
Revenue Capital Weighted average return/(loss) Gain number of shares in issue £'000 £'000
Period ended 30 September 2017 101,366,948 1,220 1,615 ----------------- ----------
Period ended 30 September 2016 99,896,761 (43) 1,865 ----------------- ----------
Year ended 31 March 2017 101,137,288 (12) 2,292 ----------------- ----------
6. Dividends paid in the period
Six months ended Year ended 30 September 2017 31 March 2017
Revenue Capital Total Total
Date paid £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
2017 Final 18 August 2017: 4.5p 1,137 3,412 4,549 -
2017 Interim 24 February 2017: 3.0p - - - 3,068
2016 Final 12 August 2016: 3.0p - - - 3,016 ----------------------- ----------- 1,137 3,412 4,549 6,084 ----------------------- -----------
7. Basic and diluted net asset value per share NAV per Shares in issue Net assets share
£'000 pence
Period ended 30 September 2017 100,829,225 89,892 88.8 ------------ Period ended 30 September 2016 101,392,582 95,771 93.1 ------------ Year ended 31 March 2017 101,583,111 91,870 90.4 ------------ 8. Called up share capital Shares in issue £'000
Period ended 30 September 2017 100,829,225 1,008 -------- Period ended 30 September 2016 101,392,582 1,014 -------- Year ended 31 March 2017 101,583,111 1,016 --------
9. Reserves The Special reserve is available to the Company to enable the purchase of its own shares in the market without affecting its ability to pay dividends/capital distributions.
30 Sep 30 Sep 31 Mar 2017 2016 2017
£'000 £'000 £'000
Capital redemption reserve 1,564 1,536 1,553
Share premium account 13,710 11,624 13,387
Funds held in respect of shares not yet allotted 361 1,353 -
Special reserve 73,559 81,704 77,049
Revaluation reserve (259) (2,050) (1,002)
Revenue reserve (51) 590 (133) -------- --------- -------- Total reserves 88,884 94,757 90,854 -------- --------- --------
Distributable reserves are calculated as follows: 30 Sep 30 Sep 31 Mar 2017 2016 2017
£'000 £'000 £'000
Special reserve 73,559 81,704 77,049
Revenue reserve (51) 590 (133)
Unrealised losses (excluding unrealised unquoted gains) (4,115) (10,567) (4,354) --------- ---------- -------- 69,393 71,727 72,562 --------- ---------- --------
10. Investments The fair value of investments is determined using the detailed accounting policy as shown in the audited financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2017. The Company has categorised its financial instruments using the fair value hierarchy as follows:
Level a Reflects financial instruments quoted in an active market (quoted companies and fixed interest bonds); Level b Reflects financial instruments that have prices that are observable either directly or indirectly; and Level c i) Reflects financial instruments that use valuation techniques that are based on observable market data. ii) Reflects financial instruments that use valuation techniques that are not based on observable market data (investments in unquoted shares and loan note investments).
30 Sep 31 Mar Level a Level b Level c 2017 Level a Level b Level c 2017 (ii) (ii)
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
Quoted on 28,340 - - 28,340 24,458 - - 24,458 AIM
Quoted on 29 - - 29 30 - - 30 NEX
Unquoted loan notes - - 22,317 22,317 - - 26,858 26,858
Unquoted equity - - 30,351 30,351 - - 35,051 35,051 ----------------------------------- ---------------------------------- 28,369 - 52,668 81,037 24,488 - 61,909 86,397 ----------------------------------- ----------------------------------
11. The unaudited financial statements set out herein do not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of Section 434 of the Companies Act 2006 and have not been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The figures for the year ended 31 March 2017 have been extracted from the financial statements for that year, which have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies; the Auditor's report on those financial statements was unqualified.
12. Going concern The Directors have reviewed the Company's financial resources at the period end and concluded that the Company is well placed to manage its business risks.
The Directors confirm that they are satisfied that the Company has adequate resources to continue to operate for the foreseeable future. For this reason, the Directors believe that the Company continues to be a going concern and that it is appropriate to apply the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements.
13. Risks and uncertainties Under the Disclosure and Transparency Rules, the Board is required, in the Company's half-year results, to report on principal risks and uncertainties facing the Company over the remainder of the financial year.
The Board has concluded that the key risks are: (i) compliance risk of failure to maintain approval as a VCT; and (ii) investment risk associated with investing in small and immature businesses.
The Company's compliance with the VCT regulations is continually monitored by the Adviser, who regularly reports to the Board on the current position. The Company also retains Philip Hare & Associates LLP to provide regular reviews and advice in this area.
In order to make VCT qualifying investments, the Company has to invest in small businesses which are often immature. It also has a limited period in which it must invest the majority of its funds into VCT qualifying investments. The Adviser follows a rigorous process in vetting and careful structuring of new investments, including taking a charge over the assets of the business wherever possible and, after an investment is made, closely monitoring the business.
The Board is satisfied that these approaches provide satisfactory management of the key risks.
14. The Directors confirm that, to the best of their knowledge, the half yearly financial report has been prepared in accordance with the 'Statement: Half- Yearly Financial Reports' issued by the UK Accounting Standards Board as well as in accordance with FRS 104 Interim Financial Reporting and the half-yearly financial report includes a fair review of the information required by:
a) DTR 4.2.7R of the Disclosure and Transparency Rules, being an indication of important events that have occurred during the first six months of the financial year and their impact on the condensed set of financial statements, and a description of the principal risks and uncertainties for the remaining six months of the year; and
b) DTR 4.2.8R of the Disclosure and Transparency Rules, being related party transactions that have taken place during the first six months of the current financial year and that have materially affected the financial position or performance of the entity during that period, and any changes in the related party transactions described in the last annual report that could do so.
15. Copies of the unaudited half-yearly financial results will be sent to Shareholders shortly. Further copies can be obtained from the Company's Registered Office and will be available for download from www.downing.co.uk
This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients. The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.
Source: Downing ONE VCT plc via GlobeNewswire
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