Oxford Technology 4 Venture Capital Trust Plc
Unaudited Half-Yearly Report
For the period
1 March 2017 to 31 August 2017
Financial Headlines
| |
6 Months Ended
31 August 2017 |
Year Ended
28 February 2017
|
Net Assets at Period End
|
£6.29m |
£5.98m |
Net Asset Value per Share
|
54.7p |
51.9p |
Cumulative Dividend per Share
|
37.0p |
37.0p |
Total NAV Return per Share
|
91.7p |
88.9p |
Share Price at Period End
|
37.0p |
40.0p |
| Earnings per Share |
2.8p |
(14.9)p
|
Company Number: 5038854
Registered Address: The Magdalen Centre, Oxford Science Park, Oxford OX4 4GA
Statement on behalf of the Board
I am pleased to present the unaudited results for the six month period ended 31 August 2017.
Results and Dividends
The Company's net asset value (NAV) per share has risen from 51.9p at 28 February 2017 by 2.8p to 54.7p at 31 August 2017. No dividend was declared or paid in the period, and further dividends are likely to require the realisation of further assets.
Portfolio Review
The companies within the VCT portfolio continue to develop, and where required and permitted under VCT rules your company continues to invest to support that development. During the period, additional investments were made into Immunobiology Limited (Immbio) (£59k), Plasma Antennas (£50k) and Zuvasyntha (£40k). Following a successful first in human clinical trial, Immbio is now negotiating commercial licences for its Pneumococcal Vaccine Pnubiovax. Plasma continues to develop its unique technology whilst looking for commercial partners and Zuvasyntha to develop its manufacturing processes to scale output.
Abzena (ABZA) raised additional capital, placing additional shares representing approximately 55.0 per cent of the company's existing issued share capital at a price of 33 pence per share raising proceeds of approximately £25 million (before expenses). Your company did not participate in the placing. Since the placing a trading update reported revenues for Abzena to be below the Board's expectations. As a result, Abzena expects revenue for the first half of the year to not be significantly higher than the revenue reported for the six months to 30 September 2016, with a corresponding impact on the Group's expected loss.
The Castleton Technology (CTP) share price rose from 56.5p on 28 February 2017 to 66.0p per share on 31 August 2017. This recovery places the share price at a small premium 2.0p per share to the share price on 31 August 2016.
The Directors have reviewed the valuation of each investee company in the unquoted portfolio. Changes have been made to a number of valuations to reflect company performance including Diamond Hard Services whose valuation has risen by £117k to reflect its continuing revenue growth. The recent investment in Immbio was in a new class of share with a significant preference. This has resulted in an uplift in the Immbio valuation of £28k. At the same time as subscribing for new shares in Plasma, we converted another instrument on beneficial terms, generating a valuation uplift of £76k. On a negative note, Glide went into administration after the period end after both the two previous major investors refused to put up further funds or renegotiate their preference shares leading to your company having to write off the remaining £85k of investment.
Select Technology, a photocopier and Multi-Function Device software company is profitable and continues to grow, despite the strategic decision to reduce dependency on one particular supplier increasing business resilience. Taking these developments into account, we have reverted to a valuation methodology based on a sales multiple to more appropriately reflect the prospects of the business, although the impact of this is small during the half year period.
The Directors along with the Investment Advisor continue to take an active interest in the companies within the portfolio, both to support their management teams to achieve company development, but also to prepare companies for realisation at the appropriate time. It should however be noted, that approaches do occur at other times, and the ability of the Directors and Investment Advisor to be able to provide support when such approaches occur is essential for maximising value.
Liquidity
At period end our Company had net current assets of £198k. This provides sufficient resource to match the expected short term support required for the portfolio.
VCT qualifying status
The Board has procedures in place to ensure that the Company continues to comply with the conditions laid down by HMRC for maintaining approval as a VCT.
Presentation of half-yearly report
In order to reduce the length of this report, we have omitted details of the Company's objectives and investment strategy, its Advisers and Registrar and how to buy and sell shares in the Company. These details are all included in the Annual Reports, which together with previous half-yearly reports, are available for viewing on the Oxford Technology website.
Outlook
Your Directors continue to monitor changes to VCT legislation, and their potential impact on both the VCT and their investee companies. The recent publication of the Patient Capital Review makes many recommendations regarding investment into early stage high growth companies. It is expected that this may drive additional changes to tax efficient investment schemes. Your Directors do not expect that this will have any impact on the current portfolios, or on current investors as the VCT is fully invested. Whilst the impact of Brexit remains unclear, your Directors do not expect its eventual outcome to have a material impact on portfolio valuations.
The Directors' view remains that the portfolio, continues to develop with a number of investees beginning to show their true potential. The ongoing strategy is to seek to crystallise value from the portfolio and distribute cash to shareholders when the opportunity arises.
We were pleased to welcome a large number of shareholders to our AGM in July and I would like to take this opportunity to thank shareholders for their continued support. Three of our investees Arecor, Castleton and Immbio presented at the AGM, and their presentations are available on the Oxford Technology website.
David Livesley
Chairman
20 October 2017
Investment Portfolio as at 31 August 2017
| Company |
Description |
Net Cost of investment £'000 |
Carrying value at 31/8/17
£'000 |
Change in value for the 6 month period £'000 |
% Equity held
OT4 |
% Equity held
All OT |
%
of fund investment value |
Castleton Technology
(bid price 66.0p) |
Mobile software for contractors |
192 |
1,533 |
221 |
2.9 |
2.9 |
25.1 |
| Select Technology |
Photocopier interfaces |
237 |
858 |
12 |
18.4 |
58.6 |
14.1 |
Plasma Antennas
|
Directional antennas |
700 |
757 |
126 |
30.9 |
48.9 |
12.4 |
Arecor
|
Protein stabilisation |
491 |
734 |
- |
7.5 |
11.3 |
12.1 |
| Diamond Hard Surfaces |
Diamond coatings |
640 |
639 |
117 |
49.9 |
49.9 |
10.5 |
ImmBio
|
Novel vaccines |
731 |
534 |
87 |
9.3 |
16.2 |
8.8 |
Dynamic Extractions
|
Separation technology |
377 |
313 |
- |
30.4 |
30.4 |
5.1 |
Oxis Energy
|
Rechargeable batteries |
305 |
183 |
- |
0.3 |
0.5 |
3.0 |
Zuvasyntha
|
Microbial technology |
383 |
162 |
40 |
31.1 |
31.1 |
2.7 |
Orthogem
|
Bone graft material |
230 |
135 |
- |
7.2 |
20.2 |
2.2 |
Insense
|
Wound healing |
476 |
67 |
- |
2.5 |
6.8 |
1.1 |
Novacta
|
Bioengineering & antibiotics |
347 |
63 |
- |
2.4 |
2.4 |
1.0 |
Abzena
(bid price 44.0p) |
Protein based peptide drugs |
33 |
42 |
7 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
0.7 |
| Historic Futures |
Traceability software
|
420 |
32 |
- |
6.6 |
6.6 |
0.5 |
| MirriAd Advertising |
Virtual product placement |
- |
31 |
- |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.5 |
| Metal Nanopowders |
Production of metal powders |
52 |
11 |
- |
16.7 |
36.7 |
0.2 |
| Superhard Materials |
Production of hard materials |
9 |
2 |
- |
18.2 |
40.0 |
0.0 |
Glide Technologies
|
Needle free injector |
975 |
- |
(85) |
- |
- |
- |
Total Investments
|
|
6,598 |
6,096 |
525 |
|
|
100% |
Other Net Assets
|
|
|
198 |
|
|
|
|
Net Assets
|
|
|
6,294
|
|
|
|
|
Responsibility Statement of the Directors in respect of the half-yearly report
We confirm that to the best of our knowledge:
- the half-yearly financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the statement "Interim Financial Reporting" issued by the Financial Reporting Council;
- the half-yearly report includes a fair review of the information required by the Financial Services Authority Disclosure and Transparency Rules, being:
-
an indication of the important events that have occurred during the first six months of the financial year and their impact on the condensed set of financial statements.
-
a description of the principal risks and uncertainties for the remaining six months of the year.
-
a description of related party transactions that have taken place in the first six months of the current financial year that may have materially affected the financial position or performance of the Company during that period and any changes in the related party transactions described in the last annual report that could do so.
On behalf of the Board:
David Livesley - Chairman
20 October 2017
Income Statement
| |
Six months to 31 Aug 2017 |
Six months to 31 Aug 2016 |
Year to 28 February 2017 |
| |
Revenue |
Capital |
Total |
Revenue |
Capital |
Total |
Revenue |
Capital |
Total |
| |
£'000 |
£'000 |
£'000 |
£'000 |
£'000 |
£'000 |
£'000 |
£'000 |
£'000 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Gain on disposal of fixed asset investments |
- |
- |
- |
- |
2 |
2 |
- |
12 |
12 |
| Unrealised gain/(loss) on valuation of fixed asset investments |
- |
376 |
376 |
- |
32 |
32 |
- |
(1,667) |
(1,667) |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Investment income |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
68 |
- |
68 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Investment management fees |
(8) |
(22) |
(30) |
(10) |
(28) |
(38) |
(19) |
(58) |
(77) |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Other expenses |
(27) |
- |
(27) |
(27) |
- |
(27) |
(54) |
- |
(54) |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Return on ordinary activities before tax |
(35) |
354 |
319 |
(37) |
6 |
(31) |
(5) |
(1,713) |
(1,718) |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Taxation on ordinary activities |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Return on ordinary activities after tax |
(35) |
354 |
319 |
(37) |
6 |
(31) |
(5) |
(1,713) |
(1,718) |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Earnings per share - basic and diluted |
(0.3)p |
3.1p |
2.8p |
(0.3)p |
0.0p |
(0.3)p |
(0.0)p |
(14.9)p |
(14.9)p |
- The 'Total' column of this statement is the profit and loss account of the Company; the supplementary Revenue return and Capital return columns have been prepared under guidance published by the Association of Investment Companies.
- All revenue and capital items in the above statement derive from continuing operations.
- The accompanying notes are an integral part of the half-yearly report.
- The Company has only one class of business and derives its income from investments made in shares and securities and from bank and money market funds.
The Company has no recognised gains or losses other than the results for the period as set out above. Accordingly, a Statement of Comprehensive Income is not required.
Balance Sheet
| |
As at 31 Aug 2017 |
As at 31 Aug 2016 |
As at 28 February 2017 |
| |
£'000 |
£'000 |
£'000 |
£'000 |
£'000 |
£'000 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fixed asset investments *
|
|
6,096 |
|
6,961 |
|
5,571 |
| Current assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Debtors |
19 |
|
18 |
|
2 |
|
| Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year |
(19) |
|
(32) |
|
(34) |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Cash at Bank |
198 |
|
729 |
|
436 |
|
| Net current assets |
|
198 |
|
715 |
|
404 |
Creditors: Amounts falling due in more than one
year |
|
- |
|
(14) |
|
- |
| Net assets |
|
6,294 |
|
7,662 |
|
5,975 |
| Called up equity share capital |
|
1,152 |
|
1,152 |
|
1,152 |
| Share premium |
|
813 |
|
813 |
|
813 |
| Unrealised capital reserve |
|
(502) |
|
821 |
|
(878) |
| Profit and Loss account reserve |
|
4,831 |
|
4,876 |
|
4,888 |
| Total equity shareholders' funds |
|
6,294 |
|
7,662 |
|
5,975 |
| Net asset value per share |
|
54.7p |
|
66.5p |
|
51.9p |
* At fair value through profit and loss
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Statement of Changes in Equity
| |
Share Capital
£'000 |
Share Premium £'000 |
Unrealised Capital Reserve
£'000 |
Profit & Loss
Reserve
£'000 |
Total
£'000 |
As at 1 March 2016 |
1,152 |
813 |
600 |
5,128 |
7,693 |
| Revenue return on ordinary activities after tax |
- |
- |
- |
(37) |
(37) |
| Expenses charged to capital |
- |
- |
- |
(28) |
(28) |
| Current period gains on disposal |
- |
- |
- |
2 |
2 |
| Current period gains on fair value of investments |
- |
- |
32 |
- |
32 |
| Prior years' unrealised losses now realised |
- |
- |
189 |
(189) |
- |
| Balance as at 31 August 2016 |
1,152 |
813 |
821 |
4,876 |
7,662 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| As at 1 March 2016 |
1,152 |
813 |
600 |
5,128 |
7,693 |
| Revenue return on ordinary activities after tax |
- |
- |
- |
(5) |
(5) |
| Expenses charged to capital |
- |
- |
- |
(58) |
(58) |
| Current period gains on disposal |
- |
- |
- |
12 |
12 |
| Current period losses on fair value of investments |
- |
- |
(1,667) |
- |
(1,667) |
| Prior years' unrealised losses now realised |
- |
- |
189 |
(189) |
- |
| Balance as at 28 February 2017 |
1,152 |
813 |
(878) |
4,888 |
5,975 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| As at 1 March 2017 |
1,152 |
813 |
(878) |
4,888 |
5,975 |
| Revenue return on ordinary activities after tax |
- |
- |
- |
(35) |
(35) |
| Expenses charged to capital |
- |
- |
- |
(22) |
(22) |
| Current period gains on disposal |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| Current period gains on fair value of investments |
- |
- |
376 |
- |
376 |
| Prior years' unrealised losses now realised |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| Balance as at 31 August 2017 |
1,152 |
813 |
(502) |
4,831 |
6,294 |
Statement of Cash Flows
| |
Six months to 31 Aug 2017 |
Six months to 31 Aug 2016 |
Year to 28 February 2017 |
| |
£'000 |
£'000 |
£'000 |
| Cash flows from operating activities |
|
|
|
| Return on ordinary activities before tax |
319 |
(31) |
(1,718) |
| Adjustments for: |
|
|
|
| (Increase)/Decrease in debtors |
(17) |
1 |
25 |
| Decrease in creditors |
(15) |
(17) |
(29) |
| Gain on disposal of fixed asset investments |
- |
(2) |
(12) |
| (Gain)/Loss on valuation of fixed asset investments |
(376) |
(32) |
1,667 |
| Movement in investment debtors and creditors |
- |
- |
(7) |
| Outflow from operating activities |
(89) |
(81) |
(74) |
| Cash flows from investing activities |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| Purchase of fixed asset investments |
(149) |
(320) |
(630) |
| Sale of fixed asset investments |
- |
19 |
29 |
| Total cash flows from investing activities |
(149) |
(301) |
(601) |
| |
|
|
|
| Cash flows from financing activities |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Dividends paid
|
- |
- |
- |
| Total cash flows from financing activities |
- |
- |
- |
| |
|
|
|
| Increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
(238) |
(382) |
(675) |
| |
|
|
|
| Opening cash and cash equivalents |
436 |
1,111 |
1,111 |
| |
|
|
|
| Closing cash and cash equivalents |
198 |
729 |
436 |
Notes to the Half-Yearly Report
1. Basis of preparation
The unaudited half-yearly results which cover the six months to 31 August 2017 have been prepared in accordance with the Financial Reporting Council's (FRC) Financial Reporting Standard 104 Interim Financial Reporting ('FRS 104') and the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) for Investment Companies re-issued by the Association of Investment Companies in November 2014. Details of the accounting policies and valuation methodologies are included in the Annual Report.
2. Publication of non-statutory accounts
The unaudited half-yearly results for the six months ended 31 August 2017 do not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of Section 415 of the Companies Act 2006. The comparative figures for the year ended 28 February 2017 have been extracted from the audited financial statements for that year, which have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The independent auditor's report on those financial statements, in accordance with chapter 3, part 16 of the Companies Act 2006, was unqualified. This half-yearly report has not been reviewed by the Company's auditor.
3. Earnings per share
The calculation of earnings per share for the period is based on the return attributable to shareholders divided by the weighted average number of shares in issue during the period. There are no potentially dilutive capital instruments in issue and, therefore, no diluted returns per share figures are relevant.
4. Net asset value per share
The net asset value per share is based on the net assets at the period end divided by the number of shares in issue at that date (11,516,946 in each case).
5. Principal risks and uncertainties
The Company's assets consist of equity and fixed interest investments, cash and liquid resources. Its principal risks are therefore market risk, credit risk and liquidity risk. Other risks faced by the Company include economic, loss of approval as a Venture Capital Trust, investment and strategic, regulatory, reputational, operational and financial risks. These risks, and the way in which they are managed, are described in more detail in the Company's Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 28 February 2017. The Company's principal risks and uncertainties have not changed materially since the date of that report.
6. Related party transactions
OT4 Managers Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary, provides investment management services to the Company for a fee of 1% of net assets per annum.
7. Copies of this statement are available from Oxford Technology Management, The Magdalen Centre, Oxford Science Park, Oxford OX4 4GA and on the Company's website - www.oxfordtechnology.com/vct4.
Board Directors: David Livesley, Alex Starling, Robin Goodfellow and Richard Roth.
Investment Manager: OT4 Managers Ltd with services contracted to Oxford Technology Management Ltd
Website: www.oxfordtechnology.com/vct4
Enquiries:
Lucius Cary, Oxford Technology Management
01865 784466
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: Oxford Technology 4 VCT plc via Globenewswire