WORSLEY INVESTORS LIMITED
9
Investment Advisor’s Report (continued)
Equity Investment Strategy (continued)
In mid-February, the share price of Daniel Thwaites PLC dropped significantly on no company news, owing to a paucity of
buyers, after other regional pub companies had reported difficulties recovering input cost increases. On 17 June, Daniel Thwaites
published its preliminary results, for the year to 31 March 2025, which revealed modest progress. We continue to add to our
holding when volume becomes available in the rarely traded stock.
The Northamber Plc shareholding remained unchanged in the second six months of the 2025 year. The share price was down
25% over the course of the half, but since 31 March is up some 17%, notwithstanding its reporting an increased operating loss
in the interim results to 31 December 2024. During the second half we continued to engage with management, which appears
out of its depth. In mid-March LMS Capital plc announced a managed winddown of the group and throughout the half we
acquired further shares as they were offered to us.
Towards the end of the financial year, AssetCo PLC underwent a share reorganisation and changed its name to River Global
PLC, and we added to our holding over the period. During the second half, we also added to three other holdings, took part
profits in one stock and exited another completely. Preliminary (less than 2% of Net Assets) holdings are held in 7 other
companies.
Since 30 September, the Company’s portfolio initially had a strong three months, following which it has weakened, with the
result that as at 14 July 2025 had a total cost of £6.54 million, a combined market value of £9.68 million, and comprised 16
stocks. The surplus on the portfolio was a little over 48% of cost, and the annualised return on capital invested since the new
strategy was adopted remains very satisfactory, at just under 23%.
Results for the period
Cash rental revenue from Curno for the year to 31 March 2025 was €830,700 (£699,000) (31 March 2024: €1,058,700
(£915,000)). No ticket overage revenue was earned.
Property operating expenses, mainly local Curno property taxes, of some €192,400 (£162,000) ((31 March 2024: €173,900
(£150,000)), were incurred, which in the second half were significantly in excess of budget. This was a direct result of UCI
defaulting on its lease, with €9,000 of lease registration taxes being deemed as unrecoverable and unbudgeted costs of €9,200
incurred on ad hoc security at Curno.
General and administrative expenses (including transaction charges) of £689,000 (31 March 2024: £573,000) substantially
exceeded the 2024 run rate, and represented a large increment to budget. A sharp increase in Italian legal expenses, as the Group
dealt with legal manoeuvrings by its cinema tenant, in net terms accounted for the entire overrun. Group General expenses,
having been considerably higher in the first six months, for the full year, as foreshadowed, ended broadly in line with original
expectations. As commented on in the Interim Report, increased Net Assets resulted in higher AUM-based fees compared to
2024.
Transaction charges incurred on equity acquisitions were £12,000 (31 March 2024: £7,000). As indicated in the Interim Report,
this reflected higher activity than usual, following a low level in the previous year.
In the forthcoming year the Group’s ongoing operating costs are projected to between the 2025 and 2024 levels, with the out
turn heavily dependent on the level of Italian legal expenses required to pursue the claim against UCI. Prior to the ultimate sale
of Curno there remains little scope for significant reduction in the overall cost base.
The equities portfolio, having risen strongly in the first half, continued to strengthen in the third quarter but weakened
substantially in the fourth to be down for the final six months, culminating for the year as a whole in a marginal (£0.021 million)
net investment mark-to-market gain (31 March 2024: £0.510 million reduction). Investment Income for the year, entirely
dividends, was £863,000 and net investment gains realised
added £356,000. In consequence, the total annualised return on capital
invested in the portfolio over the year came out at 16.3%.
Taxation is payable on an ongoing basis on Italian income and in Luxembourg. For the year, an operating tax charge of £89,000
(31 March 2024: £117,000) was incurred. In addition, net VAT, predominantly in Luxembourg, of some £3,000 was paid.
In the current year, the substantially lower Curno rental will be partly offset by a nil tax rate at Multiplex, but, notwithstanding
lower budgeted legal expenses, operating cash flow (that is prior to allowance for equity income and net purchases) is expected
to be negative.