National Storage Mechanism | Additional information
RNS Number : 6232C
Maven Renovar VCT PLC
09 October 2025
 

Maven Renovar VCT PLC

 

Legal Entity Identifier: 213800HAEDBBK9RWCD25

 

Interim Results for the Six Months Ended 31 July 2025

 

Chairman's Statement

 

Highlights

 

•    Appointment of Maven Capital Partners UK LLP as Investment Manager effective 1 May 2025

 

•    Stable performance achieved during the period under review, with a modest increase in NAV total return since the year end

 

•    NAV total return at 31 July 2025 of 214.58p per Ordinary Share

 

•    NAV at 31 July 2025 of 67.24p per Ordinary Share

 

•    Special dividend of 10.00p per Ordinary Share paid on 30 May 2025

 

•    Interim dividend of 2.50p per Ordinary Share to be paid on 14 November 2025

 

•    Special dividend of 2.50p per Ordinary Share to be paid on 14 November 2025

 

 

Introduction

This interim period has been a busy time for your Company. There has been much already communicated to Shareholders over the past few months, following the AGM and the recent General Meetings. All of the documentation surrounding these events as well as information regarding the lengthy Strategic Review, which resulted in the change of Investment Manager to Maven, is readily accessible on the Company's webpage which can be found at: mavencp.com/renovarvct .

 

Since the appointment on 1 May 2025 of the new Investment Manager, your Board and Maven have established an effective, professional and collaborative partnership and the Board remains confident that Maven has the necessary experience, skills, expertise and resources to deliver an improvement to Shareholder value. Despite the continued lack of quality and the scarcity of opportunities currently available on AIM, the Board looks forward to working with Maven's AIM and private equity teams to explore the pipeline of investment opportunities generated across Maven's nationwide network of regionally based investment executives.

 

Investment Policy

As Shareholders will be aware, a central component of the Strategic Review was to identify opportunities to improve your Company's performance, in light of the ongoing structural challenges within the AIM market. A key outcome of this process was your Board's belief that moving to an "AIM Plus" strategy would provide an opportunity to enhance performance by allowing a greater degree of investment in private companies, alongside continued investment in the AIM and AQSE markets.

 

This proposal was presented to Shareholders at the 2025 AGM, where the resolution, unfortunately, did not meet the requisite majority of votes cast to be passed. The Investment Policy, therefore, remains unchanged and the Company's portfolio will continue to be managed in accordance with the parameters of the existing policy.

 

Maven's appointment was not contingent on a change in Investment Policy and Maven has a well established and highly experienced, London based, dedicated AIM and Listed Markets team with a track record of making and managing AIM investments. Although AIM remains a challenging market, Maven's AIM and Listed Markets team will continue to assess new AIM and AQSE investment opportunities, progressing those that present a credible investment case with a clear opportunity for value creation.

 

The existing Investment Policy does permit investment in qualifying private companies that are likely to seek a quotation on AIM or AQSE and, in this regard, the Board anticipates that certain unlisted companies sourced through Maven's nationwide team of investment executives, which meet these criteria, will be selectively completed. The Board believes that Maven has the resource and expertise to support the management of your Company's portfolio going forward, whether under the existing Investment Policy or under an "AIM Plus" strategy, if that were to be approved by Shareholders in the future.

 

In order for your Company to benefit from Maven's preferred approach to treasury management, the strategy with respect to permitted, non-qualifying holdings has been amended to bring it in line with the approach adopted by the other Maven managed VCTs. Maven's preferred treasury management strategy is to invest excess liquidity across a diversified portfolio of treasury management investments with strong fundamentals and attractive income characteristics, comprising money market funds (MMFs) and London Stock Exchange listed investment companies, with the remaining cash held on deposit across several UK banks in order to minimise counterparty risk. The objective of this strategy is to optimise the income generated from cash held prior to investment in VCT qualifying companies, whilst also meeting the requirements of the Nature of Income condition, a mandatory part of VCT legislation, which states that not less than 70% of a VCT's income must be derived from shares or securities. Maven has been operating this diversified treasury management strategy for several years and the Board has approved the adoption of this approach.

 

It is worthwhile reiterating that Maven is waiving its investment management fee for two years from the date of appointment, which the Board believes represents excellent value for Shareholders.

 

Increased Dividend Policy

Your Board understands the importance of tax free distributions to Shareholders and, following approval by Shareholders at the AGM, has improved the dividend policy by increasing the target annual yield from 5% to 6% of the Company's NAV at its immediately preceding financial year end. This will be subject to distributable reserves, cash resources and other relevant factors such as realisations and VCT qualifying levels, and with the authority to increase or decrease this level at the Directors' discretion. This improvement brings your Company's dividend policy in line with the other Maven managed VCTs.

 

Dividends will continue to be paid in cash while the Dividend Reinvestment Scheme remains suspended.

 

Interim and Special Dividends

In line with the increased dividend policy, and given your Company's high level of distributable cash, the Directors are pleased to announce an interim dividend, for the year ending 31 January 2026, of 2.50p per Ordinary Share.

 

As previously communicated, the Directors confirm that where holdings in the AIM portfolio are realised (as and when market opportunities arise) the intention is that the majority of these proceeds will generally be returned to Shareholders by way of a dividend. In light of the ongoing realisations within the AIM quoted portfolio, and consistent with the stated approach, the Directors are also pleased to announce a special dividend of 2.50p per Ordinary Share.

 

The 2026 interim and special dividend, totalling 5.00p per Ordinary Share, will be paid on 14 November 2025 to Shareholders who are on the register at 17 October 2025, with an ex-dividend date of 16 October 2025.

 

As detailed in the 2025 Annual Report, given the high level of distributable cash, ongoing realisations within the AIM quoted portfolio and with the quality of new AIM investment opportunities remaining sub-optimal, the Directors announced that a special dividend of 10.00p per Ordinary Share would be paid on 30 May 2025 to Shareholders who were on the register at 2 May 2025, with an ex-dividend date of 1 May 2025.

 

After receipt of these two special dividends and the 2026 interim dividend, a total of 15.00p per Ordinary Share will have been paid to Shareholders so far this year. This represents a yield of 19.6%, based on the NAV at the immediately preceding year end. Since the Company's launch, and after receipt of the two special dividends and the 2026 interim dividend, a total of 152.34p per Ordinary Share will have been paid to Shareholders in tax free distributions. It should be noted that the payment of a dividend reduces the NAV of the Company by the total amount of the distribution.

 

The Board would like to remind Shareholders that the Company has moved to paying all cash dividends by bank transfer, rather than by cheque. Shareholders are encouraged to complete a bank mandate form by contacting the Registrar (The City Partnership) on 01484 240910 or by emailing: [email protected]. Please check that you have received your dividends and contact the Registrar if you have not. Whilst we will make every effort to ensure that dividends are received correctly by Shareholders, unpaid dividends are kept by the Registrar for a period of 12 years after the payment date.

 

Share Buy-backs

The Directors acknowledge the need to maintain an orderly market in the Company's shares and have delegated authority to the Manager to enable the Company to buy back its own shares in the secondary market for cancellation, subject always to such transactions being in the best interests of Shareholders. The Board has revised its policy to now maintain a share price that is at a discount of approximately 5% to the latest published NAV per Ordinary Share, subject to the overall constraint that such purchases are in the Company's best interest, and take into consideration market conditions, available liquidity (both for making new and follow-on investments and the continued payment of dividends to Shareholders) and the maintenance of the Company's VCT qualifying status. This change brings the Company in line with the other Maven managed VCTs.

 

The Board is pleased to confirm that the Company has continued to buy back shares on a regular basis and, subject to the factors outlined above, will continue to support this approach. During the period under review, 2,360,209 Ordinary Shares were bought back at a total cost of £1.58 million.

 

Shareholders should note that neither the Company nor the Manager can execute a transaction in the Company's shares. Any instruction by a Shareholder to buy or sell shares on the secondary market must be directed through a stockbroker of their choice.

 

Constitution of the Board

During the period under review, the Board has been strengthened by the addition of two new, highly experienced, independent non-executive Directors. Importantly, neither of these new Directors were involved in the Strategic Review process and, as such, bring a fresh perspective and impartial viewpoint, and to date they have made very valuable contributions.

 

On 1 May 2025, Neeta Patel CBE joined the Board. Neeta is currently a non-executive director of Allianz Technology Trust PLC and European Opportunities Trust PLC and was, until recently, a director of Albion Venture Capital Trust PLC. Neeta's experience includes senior leadership roles at Legal & General Group PLC, ft.com (the Financial Times' website) and the British Council, the government's international education and cultural agency. More recently, she was the founding CEO of the Centre for Entrepreneurs, a board adviser at Tech London Advocates, a member of the advisory board at City University Ventures and an entrepreneur mentor-in-residence at London Business School. Neeta was awarded a CBE in the Queen's Honours List in October 2020 for services to entrepreneurship and technology.

 

Julia Henderson had previously informed the Directors of her intention to retire from the Board during 2025, and, at that time, a recruitment process was initiated to identify her successor. Owing to family circumstances and time commitments, Julia decided to stand down at the conclusion of the 2025 AGM, which expedited the recruitment process. On 19 June 2025, the Board resolved to appoint Robert Legget, a long standing shareholder in the Company, as a non-executive Director. Robert is a seasoned financial professional with over two decades of industry experience. He co-founded Progressive Value Management Limited (PVML) in 2000, a firm dedicated to unlocking value and liquidity for institutional investors in underperforming companies. He served as Chairman of PVML until stepping down in 2023. Robert has held several prominent directorships, including roles at Quayle Munro Holdings plc, Sureserve Group plc, Trian Investors 1 Limited, CT Private Equity Trust plc, R & Q Insurance Holdings Limited, and Downing Strategic Micro-Cap Investment Trust plc. Robert is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland and is widely respected for his expertise in shareholder value creation.

 

Robert succeeds Julia as Chair of the Nomination Committee and Neeta will Chair the Remuneration Committee.

 

On behalf of my fellow Directors, I would like to take this opportunity to extend sincere thanks to Julia for her invaluable contribution during her tenure on the Board and in particular for the important role she played during the lengthy Strategic Review process. We wish her a well deserved and happy retirement.

 

General Meetings

As Shareholders will be well aware, your Company held two General Meetings on 13 August 2025. The resolutions to re-appoint your Independent Board were passed by a majority of those voting and the requisitioned resolutions were decisively defeated. As previously noted, all relevant documentation published in connection with those meetings is available on the Company's webpage.

 

Owing to the legal obligations imposed by the Requisition and the efforts the Board made to ensure that as many Shareholders as possible were able to have their say, costs have been incurred by the Company, as detailed in the notes to the Income Statement on page 27, which have, unfortunately, been borne by Shareholders through the Company's NAV. These are in addition to the costs already borne by the Company in conducting the full Strategic Review. While the legal framework does not allow the Company to reclaim these costs from the Requisitioners, the Board has sought to minimise costs borne by the Company and is separately continuing to explore whether it may be possible (and in the best interests of shareholders) to seek to recover any sums paid to, or otherwise due to the Company from, the Company's former manager.

 

Tender Offer

The Board recognises that some Shareholders, including the Requisitioners, may not want to remain invested in the Company and may wish to seek liquidity in respect of their shares. In this respect, the Board re-confirms the commitment for the Company to continue to buy back shares and to explore other options which may enable those Shareholders who wish to sell their shares to do so. As detailed in the General Meetings Circular, dated 21 July 2025, the Board intends to consult with Shareholders on proposals for a tender offer. It is intended that any tender offer would only be made once a majority of shares have been held for over five years and tax relief is not expected to be subject to claw back on sale.

 

Fund Raising

Given the ongoing challenges within the AIM market and the decision by Shareholders to vote against a change to the Company's Investment Policy, the Board has decided that your Company will not raise funds this year. Shareholders wishing to make a VCT investment this tax year may wish to consider the Joint Offers currently being marketed by the other four Maven managed VCTs, where existing Maven Renovar Shareholders will qualify for the early incentive discount. Further details of the Offers can be found on Maven's website at: www.mavencp.com/vctoffer .

 

Principal and Emerging Risks and Uncertainties

The principal and emerging risks and uncertainties facing the Company are those associated with investment in small and medium sized AIM quoted and unlisted companies which, by their nature, carry a higher level of risk and are generally subject to lower liquidity than investments in larger quoted companies.

 

The valuation of investee companies may be affected by economic conditions, the credit environment and other factors such as investor sentiment and market liquidity. Other risks considered on an ongoing basis by the Company and the Manager include compliance with relevant legislation, regulation, adherence to VCT qualifying rules, as well as the effectiveness of the internal controls operated by the Manager and associated third parties.

 

Global conflict and political stability alongside geopolitical risk and uncertainty were considered by the Directors as emerging risks and uncertainties facing the Company over the period under review. The increased use of Artificial Intelligence by either the Manager or portfolio companies, which could lead to increased exposure to risks relating to data protection, cyber security and improper use of intellectual property was also noted as an emerging risk.

 

The Directors also acknowledge the increased level of uncertainty created by recent events, in particular the outcome of the AGM, whereby the proposal to re-elect the Directors standing for re-election and to change the Investment Policy to an "AIM Plus" strategy did not pass, followed by the requisition of a General Meeting, which proposed the appointment of an alternative board of directors and a different investment strategy. The Directors hope that this period of uncertainty for Shareholders has come to an end but recognise that there remain a number of investors with significant shareholdings who are not aligned with the Board's view and strategy for the Company. The Directors are committed to engaging with these Shareholders in order to minimise any future disruption and enable the Board and the Manager to focus on improving the performance of your Company.

 

VCT Regulatory Update

During the period under review, there were no further amendments to the rules governing VCTs, and your Company remains fully compliant with the complex conditions and requirements of the VCT scheme.

 

In the 2025 Spring Statement, the Chancellor confirmed that the UK Government would continue to work with leading entrepreneurs and venture capital firms to ensure that its policy supports the UK business environment, including the role of tax relief schemes such as VCTs and the EIS. Through the VCT Association (VCTA), of which the Manager is a founding member, and the Association of Investment Companies (AIC), of which the Company is a member, the Manager will remain actively involved in discussions with policy makers to promote and reinforce the important role that VCTs play in supporting some of Britain's brightest and most entrepreneurial smaller companies and creating regional employment opportunities.

 

Valuation Methodology

Consistent with industry best practice, the Board and the Manager continue to apply the International Private Equity and Venture Capital Valuation (IPEV) Guidelines as the central methodology for all private company valuations. The IPEV Guidelines are the prevailing framework for fair value assessment in the private equity and venture capital industry. The Directors and the Manager continue to adhere to the IPEV Guidelines in all private company valuations. Investments quoted on AIM are generally valued at their closing bid price at the period end and those traded on SETS (the London Stock Exchange's electronic order book) are valued at their last traded price. The Board and the Manager are cognisant of the FCA Review of Private Market Valuations and will continue to prioritise governance as the fundamental building block for robust valuation reviews, ensuring ongoing accountability.

 

Outlook

On behalf of your Board, I would like to take this opportunity to thank those Shareholders who exercised their right to vote at the recent Shareholder Meetings. Your Board remains committed to working with Maven to help improve the performance of your Company and returning it to a steady growth path. Your Board acknowledges that there may be a minority of Shareholders who do not wish to remain invested, and we will seek to provide opportunities for those Shareholders to exit through the ongoing share buy back programme, or by participating in any future tender offer.

 

The objective at the outset of the Strategic Review process was to examine the strategic options that could improve the performance of your Company, given the challenging dynamic in AIM and in light of a deteriorating NAV. Notwithstanding the recent challenges, your Board is optimistic for the future prospects for your Company. Maven has a demonstrable track record for achieving growth in Shareholder value across its stable of managed VCTs and specifically has proven experience of turning round and repositioning an underperforming AIM focused VCT, all of which reinforced the decision to change Manager and appoint Maven.

 

Whilst it has only been a short period of time since Maven's appointment, it is important to highlight several key positive improvements that have already been introduced. These include:

•     Increasing the annual dividend target from 5% to 6%;

•     Announcing an interim dividend of 2.50p per Ordinary Share;

•     Announcing of a further special dividend of 2.50p per Ordinary Share, following AIM realisations;

•     Improving the share buyback policy by narrowing the target discount from 7% to 5%;

•     Introducing Maven's diversified and well established treasury management policy to manage excess liquidity; and

•     Completing two carefully selected private company investments.

 

We look forward to continuing to work with the team to deliver a brighter future for all Shareholders.

 

The objective remains to balance the interests of all Shareholders, and, to this end, the Directors will continue to actively engage with Shareholders who wish to express their views on the Company's strategy and future prospects or who may wish to exit their holding.

 

I am always keen to hear from Shareholders and can be contacted by email at: [email protected]

 

 

Fiona Wollocombe

Chairman

 

8 October 2025

 

 

Summary of Investment Changes

 

For the Six Months Ended 31 July 2025

 

 

Valuation

31 January 2025

Net investment/ (disinvestment)

£'000

Appreciation/ (depreciation)

£'000

Valuation

31 July 2025

 

£'000

%

£'000

%

Listed investments 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equities

 

70,093

62.8

(15,776)

(370)

53,947

55.9

Unlisted investments

 

 

 

 

 

Equities

3,900

3.5

1,830 2

2,460

8,190

8.4

Loan Stock

 

Other investments3

4,507

4.0

-

(63)

4,444

4.6

OEICs

11,356

10.2

(2,507)

699

9,548

9.9

Money Market Funds

13,176

11.8

(497)

98

12,777

13.2

Total investments

 

 

103,032

92.3

(16,950)

2,824

88,906

92.0

Cash

8,963

8.1

(959)

-

8,004

8.3

Other net liabilities

(457)

(0.4)

137

-

(320)

(0.3)

Net assets

111,538

100.0

(17,772)

2,824

96,590

100.0

 

1     Shares traded on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM), National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (NASDAQ) and Main Market of the London Stock Exchange.

2      These movements include the transfer of shares, during the period, of Merit Group PLC and The Brighton Pier Group PLC from AIM to unlisted equity holdings.

3     The Open-Ended Investment Companies (OEICs) include WS Amati UK Listed Smaller Companies Fund.

 

 

Investment Manager's Interim Review

 

Highlights

 

•    Cash proceeds of £14.7 million generated following M&A activity across the AIM portfolio, underpinning the special dividends

 

•    In line with the existing Investment Policy, holdings in two new private companies were added to the portfolio

 

Overview

In the period leading up to the appointment of Maven as the new Investment Manager, our dedicated London based AIM team gained familiarity with your Company's existing portfolio of investments, which has included a detailed review and analysis of each AIM holding. Recognising that AIM remains a challenging market for new VCT qualifying investments and smaller quoted growth companies, Maven's priority will be to evaluate and grade the portfolio, and begin the process of rationalising your Company's AIM holdings with the objective of retaining a core, high conviction portfolio and reducing the exposure to more challenged, loss making companies. Across the portfolio it is evident that the older and more established businesses have continued to perform relatively well, whereas the AIM investments completed in the last five years are generally underperforming and reflect a loss in value. It is anticipated that these holdings will be the focus of our efforts to protect Shareholder value. Maven will also gradually start to introduce new investments to the portfolio through the selective addition of carefully curated private companies sourced through our nationwide investment team, which meet the criteria of the existing Investment Policy.

 

Maven is a leading UK private equity firm and VCT manager with more than 100 executives and has the capability to offer a dual private company and AIM VCT investment strategy. This allows the VCTs under its management to maximise asset and sector diversification and spread risk across large, broadly based portfolios. Since the VCT rule changes in November 2015, Maven has been one of the most active managers in the industry, completing 81 new unlisted and 46 AIM investments in UK based growth businesses operating across a range of dynamic sectors such as software, cyber security, data analytics, fintech, regtech and specialist engineering. We continue to see good demand for VCT eligible growth capital across our network of regional offices and, during the last 18 months, have also seen an acceleration in exit activity, notably, to US private equity buyers. We look forward to working with the Board to deliver the recovery plan for your Company and generating positive Shareholder returns. Further information about Maven can be found by visiting our website at: mavencp.com .

 

Performance review

The six months to 31 July 2025 were positive but volatile for stock markets. Initially, listed equities declined in April following the tariff policies announced by President Trump. However, a mix of postponements, concessions and subsequent trade deals have improved investor sentiment with markets rebounding sharply in May. There is some optimism that the UK could be a beneficiary of a higher tariff environment being more focused on services rather than goods and having achieved an early trade agreement with the US. However, consumer and business confidence remains fragile, and there is considerable uncertainty around the UK Government's fiscal policy.

 

During the six month period, AIM recorded a total return gain of 7.2%. Despite a difficult market for valuations M&A activity remained at a high level, which benefitted your Company directly. Unfortunately, the market continues to favour profitable companies, and it remained a challenging period for the valuations of younger, pre-profitable emerging companies. New IPO activity continues to be heavily depressed, and both share price performance and trading volumes for many AIM companies remains weak.

 

Portfolio Developments

During the period under review there were several significant realisations from the AIM portfolio. The previously announced bids for Learning Technologies, Intelligent Ultrasound and Equals completed generating total cash proceeds of £11.7 million. Furthermore, Kinovo received a bid that resulted in cash proceeds of £1.9 million and the takeover of Science in Sport also completed generating cash proceeds of £1.0 million, with gains of 41% and 31% recorded respectively in the period. These proceeds underpinned the payment of the special dividend at the end of May, and the intention remains to ensure that proceeds from AIM realisations are generally redistributed to Shareholders by way of dividends.

 

In the AIM portfolio, the largest positive contributor during the six month period was Aurrigo, the designer and manufacturer of smart airside solutions for the aviation industry, which recorded a 61% share price rise. The company announced a narrowed loss for 2024 and a strong level of commercial interest including a strategic partnership with Swissport, the world's largest ground handler, for a pilot of its autonomous airport solutions. Disappointingly, this gain reversed post the period end as Aurrigo announced tariff related weakness in its automotive division and slower revenue growth in its autonomous division with initial testing phases extended and tender processes delayed. In August, the company announced a £14 million fundraise to accelerate growth, largely sponsored by non VCT investors; though dilutive, we regard this as a positive de-risking given the company's early stage.

 

Followings its merger with Belvoir, The Property Franchise Group, the UK's largest multi-brand property franchisor, reported positive results for the full year to 30 April 2025. The larger scale of the business continued to attract investor demand, and its share price increased by a further 29% during the period.

 

In June, healthcare financial performance solutions provider, Craneware rejected a proposed takeover from Bain Capital at £26.50 per share, on the basis that the bid fundamentally undervalued the company. The business reported positive trading in the year to 30 June 2025 and anticipates accelerating revenue growth in 2026; the share price rose 16% during the period.

 

Maritime electronics specialist SRT Marine provided a detailed trading update for the year ended 30 June 2025, reporting revenue up 426%, across five separate sovereign customers, and a maiden profit before tax of £4.4 million. Whilst the Maritime Domain Awareness deployments, and end markets, are at an early stage, this was a transformation year for the company and SRT has a validated sales pipeline of up to £1.4 billion.

 

In June, MaxCyte delisted from AIM, retaining a sole NASDAQ listing. The delisting resulted in selling by UK investors and a 59% share price decline during the reporting period, coupled with weak demand for biotech in the US. Though MaxCyte has numerous strategic licences for its technology, which have the potential to deliver meaningful long term royalties, current biotech spending is weak and the 2025 outlook disappointed investors. Following the delisting, your Company's holding remains VCT qualifying until July 2026.

 

Following its April trading update, the earnings forecasts for identity and location verification software provider GB Group were reduced, and the shares declined by 33% during the period. The business maintains a high level of repeatable and subscription revenues, but the latest update on the turnaround of its Americas identity verification business was disappointing, and growth is currently limited.

 

During the period, Northcoders' share price declined by 75% after the technology training provider announced that its key UK contract with the Department for Education would not be extended. Management anticipate they can win replacement regionally devolved funding, but this rollout has been slower than expected.

 

Within the unlisted portfolio, a key positive performer was carbon reduction software specialist Manufacture 2030 (M2030). In March 2023, your Company co-invested in M2030, following a direct introduction from Maven, investing alongside the other Maven managed VCTs. Since investment, M2030 has consistently delivered strong revenue growth, with Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) more than doubling in two years and projected to increase further throughout the current year. M2030 operates in a rapidly growing sector, where it provides a disruptive software solution that allows large corporates and multinationals to achieve Scope 3 carbon reduction targets by measuring, managing and reducing carbon emissions across their supply chain, with the objective of achieving the targets set out in the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. The business continues to expand its blue chip client base and has added six new large corporate customers to the platform so far this year. M2030 maintains a strong pipeline of opportunities and a near term objective is to expand its presence in North America, which is an identified growth market. In light of the positive performance, and specifically the growth in ARR, and consistent with IPEV Guidelines, the value of this holding has been uplifted to reflect the progress that has been achieved.

 

Treasury Management

At 31 July 2025, the Company held treasury management holdings comprising £8.0 million in cash, £12.8 million in three money market funds, and a £9.5 million investment in the WS Amati UK Listed Smaller Companies Fund. The latter was reduced by £2.5 million through a partial redemption in May.

 

As previously outlined,  Maven will maintain a proactive approach to treasury management, where the objective remains to optimise the income generated from cash held prior to investment in VCT qualifying companies, whilst meeting the requirements of the Nature of Income condition.

 

During the second half of the financial year, we intend to reposition your Company's treasury management portfolio in line with Maven's preferred approach and the revised strategy approved by the Board.

 

New Investments

Your Company's current Investment Policy permits investment in qualifying private companies that are likely to seek a quotation on AIM or AQSE. During the first half of the financial year, two new private companies, sourced through Maven's regional network of offices, were added to the portfolio. These companies operate in dynamic or emerging markets and have the potential to achieve scale over the medium term. In both cases, your Company has invested alongside the other four Maven managed VCTs.

 

•    Digilytics is a provider of an AI enabled solution that automates loan application processing. The platform uses machine learning and large language models to read and extract data from key documents such as payslips, bank statements and utility bills, ensuring both consistency and completeness. It then evaluates the application against eligibility criteria and affordability metrics, while also screening for potential fraud. Digilytics helps lenders to reduce costs and error rates, whilst improving the response time for applicants. The VCT funding is being used to support the sales and marketing function and invest in product development. The company has a near term objective of launching in the US, where there is an identified market opportunity.

 

•    Liftango is a provider of a demand responsive transport (DRT) solution, which enables users to plan, launch and scale shared mobility projects that reduce costs by optimising routes, whilst simultaneously addressing sustainability goals such as reducing carbon emissions and combating localised congestion. Having achieved success in Australia and the UK, Liftango is now focused on expanding the Middle East and the Americas, which are identified as key growth territories. Liftango works with many Fortune 500 companies, as well as large global bus operators and government transport agencies, and is well positioned to deliver further growth as it secures new contracts and expands its market position. The Maven VCTs first invested in Liftango in 2021, and since investment the business has increased revenues fivefold with the Maven VCTs providing follow-on funding to support growth. The VCT investment is being used to support international expansion and further product development.

 

 

The following investments were completed during the reporting period:

 

Investments

Date

Sector

£'000

New unlisted

Arimon Limited

(trading as Digilytics)1

July 2025

Software & technology

500

Liftango Group Limited2

May 2025

Software & technology

250

Total new unlisted                                                                                                                                                750

 

 

 

 

 

Total unlisted                                                                                                                                                        750

 

Money market funds3

 

 

 

Goldman Sachs Sterling Government

Liquid Reserves (Institutional)

February 2025

Money market fund

9,436

Northern Trust Global Funds PLC

- The Sterling Fund Class D

February 2025

Money market fund

9,437

Total money market funds                                                                                                                             18,873

 

 

 

 

 

Total investments completed                                                                                                                         19,623

during the period

 

 

1 The Maven VCTs first invested in Arimon Limited (trading as Digilytics) in March 2025.

2 The Maven VCTs first invested in Liftango Group Limited in December 2021,and have subsequently provided follow-on funding.

3 Investments completed as part of the treasury management strategy.

 

At the period end, the portfolio comprised of 61 unlisted and quoted investments, at a total cost of £111.2 million.

 

Realisations

The table below gives details of the realisations completed during the reporting period:

 

Realisations

 

Year first

invested

 

Complete/

partial exit

Cost of shares

disposed

of

£'000

 

Value at 31 January 2025

£'000

Sales proceeds

£'000

 

Realised

gain/(loss)

£'000

Gain/(loss) over 31 January 2025 value

£'000

Unlisted

Tcom Limited

2014

Complete

-

-

4

4

4

Total unlisted

 

 

-

-

4

4

4

 

AIM quoted

Arecor Therapeutics PLC

2021

Partial

113

29

24

(89)

(5)

Equals Group PLC

2014

Complete

1,137

2,038

2,008

871

(30)

Intelligent Ultrasound

Group PLC

2019

Complete

2,194

2,808

2,863

669

55

Kinovo PLC

2014

Complete

1,681

1,336

1,886

205

550

Learning Technologies

Group PLC

2015

Complete

4,551

6,307

6,900

2,349

593

Science in Sport PLC

2015

Complete

1,940

773

1,011

(929)

238

Total AIM quoted

 

 

11,616

13,291

14,692

3,076

1,401

 

Open-ended investment company1

WS Amati UK Listed

Smaller Companies Fund

2014

Partial

2,163

2,384

2,507

344

123

Total open-ended investment company

 

 

2,163

2,384

2,507

344

123

 

Money market funds1

Goldman Sachs Sterling

Government Liquid

Reserves (Institutional)

2023

Partial

9,685

9,685

9,685

-

-

Northern Trust Global Funds

PLC - The Sterling Fund

Class D

2023

Partial

9,685

9,685

9,685

-

-

Total money market funds

 

 

19,370

19,370

19,370

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total realisations completed

during the period

 

 

33,149

35,045

36,573

3,424

1,528

 

1 Realisations were completed as part of the treasury management strategy.

 

Outlook

As the new Investment Manager, we are keen to move forward with an investment strategy that optimises access to VCT qualifying companies in order to return your Company to a steady growth path. To show our commitment, and alignment with Shareholders, Maven is waiving its management fee for the first two years following our appointment. Although it is early in the recovery plan, we have made good progress in our analysis and understanding of the portfolio and, working with the Board, we are formulating a strategy to help recover value for Shareholders.

 

 

Maven Capital Partners UK LLP

Manager

 

8 October 2025

 

 

Investment Portfolio Summary

 

As at 31 July 2025

 

Investment

Valuation

£'000

Cost

£'000

% of

total

assets

% of

equity

held

% of equity held by other clients1

Unlisted

2 Degrees Limited

(trading as Manufacture 2030)

6,194

2,702

6.4

15.1

22.6

Chorus Intelligence Limited

2,850

3,000

3.0

0.6

-

Zelim Limited

1,200

1,200

1.2

5.2

-

Rosslyn Data Technologies PLC

10% Loan Notes

731

800

0.8

-

-

Arimon Limited (trading as Digilytics)

500

500

0.5

3.6

14.3

Strip Tinning Holdings PLC 10% Unsecured Convertible Loan Notes

492

500

0.5

-

-

Byotrol PLC2

373

1,209

0.4

5.5

-

Liftango Group Limited

250

250

0.2

1.3

34.4

The Brighton Pier Group PLC3

30

489

-

1.0

-

Merit Group PLC3

14

596

-

0.3

0.2

Total unlisted

12,634

11,246

13.0

 

 

 

AIM quoted4

The Property Franchise Group PLC

4,965

1,135

5.1

1.5

-

Craneware PLC

4,812

3,899

5.0

0.4

-

Aurrigo International PLC

3,137

2,280

3.2

7.6

-

SRT Marine Systems PLC

3,003

1,174

3.1

1.5

-

Diaceutics PLC

2,705

1,557

2.8

2.4

0.5

GB Group PLC

2,637

3,203

2.7

0.5

-

Water Intelligence PLC

2,525

1,218

2.6

4.0

1.2

Windar Photonics PLC

2,292

1,530

2.4

4.2

-

EnSilica PLC

2,107

2,450

2.2

5.1

-

Solid State PLC

1,758

520

1.8

1.8

-

Brooks Macdonald Group PLC5

1,631

1,154

1.7

0.6

-

AB Dynamics PLC

1,588

631

1.6

0.5

-

MaxCyte Inc6

1,504

1,984

1.6

0.9

0.2

Tan Delta Systems PLC

1,442

1,875

1.5

9.8

-

Velocity Composites PLC

1,413

2,603

1.5

10.3

-

Frontier Developments PLC

1,328

2,706

1.4

0.9

-

Fadel Partners Inc

1,146

3,000

1.2

10.3

-

Nexteq PLC

1,133

4,196

1.2

2.6

-

Cordel Group PLC

1,068

992

1.1

7.6

-

Itaconix PLC

1,020

2,000

1.1

5.8

-

Accesso Technology Group PLC

991

221

1.0

0.6

-

Ixico PLC

990

1,670

1.0

9.3

-

Xeros Technology Group PLC

867

1,000

0.9

12.8

-

Netcall PLC

734

110

0.8

0.4

0.2

One Media IP Group PLC

709

1,240

0.7

7.4

1.1

Feedback PLC

700

1,000

0.7

26.9

1.2

Sosandar PLC

686

1,872

0.7

5.0

-

Eden Research PLC

536

1,057

0.6

3.0

1.5

PCI-Pal PLC

522

650

0.5

1.6

-

Fusion Antibodies PLC

472

2,449

0.5

4.2

-

Northcoders Group PLC

419

2,111

0.4

13.8

-

Block Energy PLC

409

3,000

0.4

6.6

-

Synectics PLC

396

342

0.4

0.8

0.8

Arecor Therapeutics PLC

373

1,537

0.4

2.2

0.5

Polarean Imaging PLC

372

1,055

0.4

2.9

0.1

Hardide PLC

339

2,361

0.4

5.4

0.4

Cambridge Cognition Holdings PLC

252

420

0.3

2.4

1.5

LifeSafe Holdings PLC

240

800

0.2

16.7

-

Creo Medical Group PLC

168

1,613

0.2

0.4

0.1

Strip Tinning Holdings PLC

154

1,054

0.2

3.0

-

MyCelx Technologies Corporation

97

645

0.1

1.7

-

Getech Group PLC

95

1,040

0.1

3.1

-

RUA Life Sciences

85

931

0.1

1.2

0.1

Verici Dx PLC

61

1,449

0.1

4.8

0.7

Rosslyn Data Technologies PLC

29

1,922

-

1.0

-

Zenova PLC

18

900

-

4.7

-

Aptamer Group PLC

11

3,672

-

0.1

-

Other quoted investments

8

2,654

-

 

 

Total AIM quoted

53,947

78,882

55.9

 

 

 

Open-ended investment company7

WS Amati UK Listed Smaller

Companies Fund

9,548

8,145

9.9

5.3

-

Total open-ended investment

company

9,548

8,145

9.9

 

 

Money market funds7

 

 

 

 

 

Royal London Short Term Money

Market Fund (Class Y Accumulation)

4,478

4,414

4.6

0.1

-

Northern Trust Global Funds PLC -

The Sterling Fund Class D

4,150

4,150

4.3

0.2

-

Goldman Sachs Sterling Liquid

Reserves (Institutional)

4,149

4,149

4.3

-

-

Total money market funds

12,777

12,713

13.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total investments

88,906

110,986

92.0

 

 

 

1 Other clients of Maven Capital Partners UK LLP.

2  This company delisted from AIM during a previous period.

3   This company delisted from AIM during the period.

4 Investments are quoted on AIM with the exception of Brooks Macdonald Group PLC, which is listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange.

5 This company is listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange.

6 This company delisted from AIM during the period and retains a NASDAQ listing.

7 Treasury management holdings.

 

Income Statement

 

For the Six Months Ended 31 July 2025

 

 

Six months ended

31 July 2025 (unaudited)

Six months ended

31 July 2024 (unaudited)

Year ended

31 January 2025 (audited)

Revenue

£'000

Capital

£'000

Total

£'000

Revenue

£'000

Capital

£'000

Total

£'000

Revenue

£'000

Capital

£'000

Total

£'000

Gain/(loss) on investments*

-

2,824

2,824

-

4,385

4,385

-

(3,051)

(3,051)

Income from investments**

680

-

680

1,447

-

1,447

2,488

-

2,488

Other income

121

-

121

270

-

270

       422

-

422

Investment management fees

(393)

(1,180)

(1,573)

(282)

(846)

(1,128)

(524)

(1,570)

(2,094)

Other expenses***

(999)

-

(999)

(308)

(9)

(317)

(693)

(14)

(707)

Net return on ordinary

activities before taxation

(591)

1,644

1,053

1,127

3,530

4,657

1,693

(4,635)

(2,942)

 

Tax on ordinary activities

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

Return attributable to Equity Shareholders

(591)

1,644

1,053

1,127

3,530

4,657

1,693

(4,635)

(2,942)

 

Earnings per share (pence)

 

(0.41)

 

1.14

 

0.73

 

0.75

 

2.36

 

3.11

 

1.14

 

(3.12)

 

(1.98)

 

*    Now included within the comparative periods are the net losses on current asset investments of £10,000 at 31 July 2024 and £162,000 at 31 January 2025.

**    Included within the comparative periods was interest from deposits of £270,000 at 31 July 2024 and £422,000 at 31 January 2025 that are now separately disclosed within other income.

*** Other expenses include non-recurring costs in relation to the requisition of a General Meeting held on 13 August 2025 of £397,000 and £242,000 in relation to the Strategic Review.

 

All gains and losses are recognised in the Income Statement.

 

The total column of this statement is the Profit & Loss Account of the Company.

 

The revenue and capital return columns are prepared in accordance with the AIC SORP. All items in the above statement derive from continuing operations. No operations were acquired or discontinued during the year.

 

There are no potentially dilutive capital instruments in issue and, therefore, no diluted earnings per share figures are relevant. The basic and diluted earnings per share are, therefore, identical.

 

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of the Financial Statements.

 

 

Statement of Changes in Equity

 

Six months ended 31 July 2025

 

Six months ended 31 July 2025 (unaudited)

 

Non-distributable reserves

Distributable reserves

 

Share capital

£'000

Share

premium

account

£'000

 

 

Merger Reserve

£'000

Capital redemption

reserve

£'000

Capital

reserve

unrealised

£'000

Capital

reserve

realised

£'000

Special

distributable

reserve

£'000

Revenue reserve

£'000

Total

£'000

At 31 January 2025

Transfer between non-distributable

and distributable reserves*

7,300

-

3,137

-

425

(320)

1,303

-

(21,251)

-

(14,158)

320

134,779

-

3

-

111,538

-

Net return

-

-

-

-

(600)

3,424

(1,180)**

(591)

1,053

Dividends paid

-

-

-

-

-

-

(14,417)

-

(14,417)

Repurchase and cancellation of shares

(118)

-

 

-

118

-

-

(1,584)

-

(1,584)

At 31 July 2025

7,182

3,137

105

1,421

(10,414)

117,598

(588)

96,590

 

 

 

Non-distributable reserves

Distributable reserves

 

Six months ended 31 July 2024 (unaudited)

 

Share capital

£'000

Share

premium

account

£'000

 

Merger Reserve

£'000

Capital redemption

reserve

£'000

Capital

reserve

unrealised

£'000

Capital

reserve

realised

£'000

Special

distributable

reserve

£'000

Revenue reserve

£'000

Total

£'000

At 31 January 2024

7,553

3,137

425

1,050

(24,643)

(6,131)

161,685

2

143,078

Net return

-

-

-

-

3,081

449

-

1,127

4,657

Dividends paid

-

-

-

-

-

-

(14,918)

-

(14,918)

Repurchase and cancellation of shares

(137)

-

-

137

-

-

(2,365)

-

(2,365)

At 31 July 2024

7,416

3,137

425

1,187

(21,562)

(5,682)

144,402

1,129

130,452

                                   

 

 

Non-distributable reserves

Distributable reserves

 

Year ended 31 January 2025 (audited)

Share capital

£'000

Share

premium

account

£'000

 

Merger Reserve

£'000

Capital redemption

reserve

£'000

Capital

reserve

unrealised

£'000

Capital

reserve

realised

£'000

Special

distributable

reserve

£'000

Revenue reserve

£'000

Total

£'000

At 31 January 2024

7,553

3,137

425

1,050

(24,643)

(6,131)

161,685

2

143,078

Net return

-

-

-

-

3,392

(8,027)

-

1,693

(2,942)

Dividends paid

-

-

-

-

-

-

(22,791)

(1,692)

(24,483)

Repurchase and cancellation of shares

(253)

-

-

253

-

-

(4,115)

-

(4,115)

At 31 January 2025

7,300

3,137

425

1,303

(21,251)

(14,158)

134,779

3

111,538

 

*    The Board approved the write-off of LeisureJobs.com (formerly Sportsweb), this reserve movement reflects this full asset impairment leaving one remaining asset (Synectics PLC) in the merger reserve.

** Refer to page 33 for allocation of costs through the special distributable reserve.

 

The capital reserve unrealised is generally non-distributable other than the part of the reserve relating to gains/(losses) attributable to readily realisable quoted investments which are distributable.

 

Where all, or an element of the proceeds of sales have not been received in cash or cash equivalent, and are not readily convertible to cash, they do not qualify as realised gains for the purposes of distributable reserves calculations and, therefore, do not form part of distributable reserves.

 

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of the Financial Statements.

 

 

Balance Sheet

 

As at 31 July 2025

 

 

31 July 2025

(unaudited)

£'000

31 July 2024

(unaudited)

£'000

31 January 2025

(audited)

£'000

Fixed assets

 

 

 

Investments at fair value through profit or loss 1

88,906

122,080

103,032

 

Current assets

 

 

 

Debtors

309

328

228

Cash

8,004

9,002

8,963

 

8,313

9,330

9,191

Creditors

 

 

 

Amounts falling due within one year

(629)

(958)

(685)

Net current assets

7,684

8,372

8,506

Net assets

96,590

130,452

111,538

 

Capital and reserves

 

 

 

Called up share capital

7,182

7,416

7,300

Share premium account

3,137

3,137

3,137

Merger reserve

105

425

425

Capital redemption reserve

1,421

1,187

1,303

Capital reserve - unrealised

(21,851)

(21,562)

(21,251)

Capital reserve - realised

(10,414)

(5,682)

(14,158)

Special distributable reserve

117,598

144,402

134,779

Revenue reserve

(588)

1,129

3

Net assets attributable to Ordinary Shareholders

96,590

130,452

111,538

Net asset value per Ordinary Share (pence)

67.24

88.00

76.40

 

1 Investments now include MMFs, which were previously reported in current assets. These were £20,751,000 at 31 July 2024 and £13,176,000 at 31 January 2025. Further details of the investment composition can be found in the Interim Report.

 

The Financial Statements of Maven Renovar VCT PLC, registered number 04138683, were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Directors and were signed on its behalf by:

 

 

Fiona Wollocombe

Director

 

8 October 2025

 

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of the Financial Statements.

 

 

Cash Flow Statement

 

For the Six Months Ended 31 July 2025

 

 

Six months ended

31 July 2025

(unaudited)

£'000

Six months ended 31 July 2024

(unaudited)

£'000

Year ended

31 January 2025

(audited)

£'000

Net cash flows from operating activities

(1,908)

(345)

(742)

 

Cash flows from investing activities

 

 

 

Purchase of investments

(19,623)

(16,255)

(33,310)

Sale of investments

36,573

27,812

56,840

Net cash flows from investing activities

16,950

11,557

23,530

 

Cash flows from financing activities

 

 

 

Equity dividends paid

(14,417)

(14,918)

(24,483)

Issue of Ordinary Shares

-

(19)

(19)

Repurchase of Ordinary Shares

(1,584)

(2,276)

(4,326)

Net cash flows from financing activities

(16,001)

(17,213)

(28,828)

 

 

 

 

Net decrease in cash

(959)

(6,001)

(6,040)

 

Cash at beginning of period

 

8,963

 

15,003

 

15,003

Cash at end of period

8,004

9,002

8,963

 

 

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of the Financial Statements.

 

Notes to the Financial Statements

 

1.  Accounting Policies

 

The financial information for the six months ended 31 July 2025 and the six months ended 31 July 2024 are unaudited and comprise non-statutory accounts within the meaning of S435 of the Companies Act 2006. The financial information contained in this report has been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies set out in the Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 January 2025, which have been filed at Companies House and which contained an Auditor's Report which was not qualified and did not contain a statement under S498(2) or S498(3) of the Companies Act 2006.

 

2.  Reserves

 

Share premium account

The share premium account represents the premium above nominal value received by the Company on issuing shares net of issue costs. This reserve is non-distributable.

 

Capital redemption reserve

The nominal value of shares repurchased and cancelled is represented in the capital redemption reserve. This reserve is non-distributable.

 

Merger reserve

This reserve originally represented the share premium on shares issued when the Company merged with Singer & Friedlander AIM VCT and Singer & Friedlander AIM 2 VCT in February 2006. The merger reserve is released to the realised capital reserve as the assets acquired as a consequence of the merger are subsequently disposed of or permanently impaired. The impairment of LeisureJobs.com Limited was reflected during the period. This reserve is non-distributable.

 

Capital reserve - unrealised

Increases and decreases in the fair value of investments are recognised in the Income Statement and are then transferred to the capital reserve unrealised account. This reserve is generally non-distributable other than the part of the reserve relating to gains/(losses) attributable to readily realisable quoted investments which are distributable.

 

Capital reserve - realised

Gains or losses on investments realised in the year that have been recognised in the Income Statement are transferred to the capital reserve realised account on disposal. Furthermore, any prior unrealised gains or losses on such investments are transferred from the capital reserve unrealised account to the capital reserve realised account on disposal. This reserve is distributable.

 

Special distributable reserve

The special distributable reserve includes the total cost to the Company of the repurchase and cancellation of shares as well as capital dividends. In addition, from this period onwards, this reserve includes capital investment management fees and the tax effect of capital items that were previously reflected in the distributable capital reserve. This reserve is distributable.

 

Revenue reserve

The revenue reserve represents accumulated profits retained by the Company that have not been distributed to Shareholders as a dividend. This reserve is distributable.

 

3.  Return per Ordinary Share

 

 

Six months ended 31 July 2025

The returns per share have been based on the following figures:

 

Weighted average number of Ordinary Shares

 

Revenue return

Capital return

 

 

144,471,911

 

(£591,000)

£1,644,000

Total return

£1,053,000

 

 

4. Related Party Transactions

 

Amati Global Investors Limited (AGI) was the investment manager up to the date of termination of the fund management contract on 30 April 2025. During this period, the Company was charged £431,087 in management fees, £21,202 in administration fees and a termination fee of £1,192,473.

 

Following the termination of AGI, the Company appointed Maven Capital Partners UK LLP (Maven) as Investment Manager. The Company will not be charged a management fee for the initial two years post appointment of Maven.

 

From 1 April 2025, the Company appointed Maven as Company Administrator. The Company has been charged £34,500 as an administration fee for the period to 31 July 2025.

 

Directors' Responsibility Statement

The Directors will continue to adopt the going concern basis when preparing the Financial Statements and confirm that, to the best of their knowledge:

 

•     the condensed set of Financial Statements for the six months ended 31 July 2025 have been prepared in accordance with FRS 104, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland and give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit of the Company as required by DTR 4.2.4R;

 

•      the Interim Management Report includes a fair review of the information required by DTR 4.2.7R in relation to the indication of important events during the first six months, and of the principal and emerging risks and uncertainties facing the Company during the second six months, of the year ending 31 January 2026; and

 

•    the Interim Management Report includes adequate disclosure of the information required by DTR 4.2.8R in relation to related party transactions and any changes therein.

 

 

On behalf of the Board

Fiona Wollocombe

Director

 

8 October 2025

 

Neither the contents of the Company's website nor the contents of any website accessible from hyperlinks on this announcement (or any other website) is incorporated into, or forms part of, this announcement.

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact [email protected] or visit www.rns.com.

RNS may use your IP address to confirm compliance with the terms and conditions, to analyse how you engage with the information contained in this communication, and to share such analysis on an anonymised basis with others as part of our commercial services. For further information about how RNS and the London Stock Exchange use the personal data you provide us, please see our Privacy Policy.
 
END
 
 
IR FSWFIAEISEIS