FORESIGHT 4 VCT PLC
Final Results
18 July 2018

Foresight 4 VCT plc, managed by Foresight Group CI Limited, today announces the final results for the year ended 31 March 2018.

These results were approved by the Board of Directors on 18 July 2018.

You may, in due course, view the Annual Report in full at www.foresightgroup.eu. All other statutory information can also be found there.

Financial Summary

·Diversified portfolio of 27 actively managed companies

·Total net assets £77.9 million.

·Net Asset Value per Share increased by 0.1p to 73.6p as at 31 March 2018 after adding back the 4p dividend paid during the year. The portfolio has seen an uplift in valuation of £1.6 million over the year.

·One follow-on investment of £0.7 million was made during the year.

·£9.8 million was realised from sales and loan redemptions from eight portfolio companies.

·On 22 June 2017 Foresight 4 VCT plc acquired the assets and liabilities of Foresight 3 VCT plc.

·Following the merger, there has been a reduction in the management fee, from 2.25% to 2.0% of net assets, and the annual expenses cap has reduced from 3.5% to 2.95% of net assets.

·A special dividend of 4.0p per Share was paid on 17 July 2017 based on an ex-dividend date of 29 June 2017 and a record date 30 June 2017.

·£12 million raised during the year through the issue of Shares.

·A further £17 million raised through the issue of shares post year end bringing the total raised under the offer to £29 million.

·Since the end of the reporting period, the Company has completed three new investments, totalling £2.4 million and exited one investment, realising £1.1 million. £2 million of funds have been raised under the new offer, dated 14 June 2018. Further details are provided in the Manager’s Review on page 6 of the Annual Report and Accounts.

Chairman’s statement

I am pleased to present the audited Annual Report for Foresight 4 VCT plc for the year ended 31 March 2018. I would also like to welcome our new shareholders to the Company following a successful share issue.

The Company has transformed over the last year with a number of significant events which are detailed below. This has enabled the Board to recommence dividend payments, share buy­backs and investment into new opportunities. All of these are beneficial to shareholder value and long term performance.

SUCCESSFUL MERGER WITH FORESIGHT 3 VCT PLC
The merger of Foresight 4 VCT plc and Foresight 3 VCT plc became effective on 22 June 2017 following approval from the shareholders of both companies. The merger has created a larger portfolio facilitating cost savings and administrative efficiencies. The annual management fee has reduced from 2.25% to 2.0% of net assets and the annual expenses cap has reduced from 3.5% to 2.95% of net assets from 22 June 2017.

In support of the new fundraising referred to below, the Company and Manager 1. have agreed, subject to raising at least £30 million under the offer, to the annual expenses cap on the normal expenses of the Company being reduced to 2.5% of the Company’s net assets.

The increased scale of the Company also gives it the critical mass to better generate sufficient income and realisations to meet the Board’s expectations of achieving its dividend target of 5% of net asset value per annum, as well as maintaining a regular programme of share buybacks aimed at maintaining an initial discount to NAV in the region of 10%.

DIVIDEND
On 12 July 2017 a 4.0p per share dividend, which was conditional on the merger becoming effective, was paid to all shareholders of the enlarged entity as at 30 June 2017. Having completed the merger and paid the dividend, the Company now has net assets of nearly £78 million.

SHARE BUY-BACKS
On 21 July 2017, a Tender Offer of up to £5 million was launched, providing investors with an opportunity to sell their shares back to the Company at a discount to NAV of 7.5%. This took place on 22 September for 7,813,537 shares at 63.99p.

Further share buybacks took place which have enabled the enlarged VCT to achieve its target discount to NAV.

  • 16 August 2017 (500,000 shares at 62.0p)
  • 28 September 2017 (187,600 shares at 62.25p)
  • 29 September 2017 (365,564 shares at 62.25p)
  • 23 October 2017 (750,000 shares at 62.25p)
  • 19 December 2017 (475,000 shares at 62.0p)
  • 22 December 2017 (125,000 shares at 62.0p) and
  • 29 March 2018 (500,000 shares at 62.25p)

The Board has provided a potential exit event via an additional Tender Offer that was launched on 16 July 2018. The Board has targeted a discount to NAV of 7.5% for up to £5 million of shares. Further details can be found in the circular on Computershare’s website.

As previously disclosed, the Board’s long term target is to reduce the discount to NAV for buybacks to 5%.

FUNDRAISING
The offer for subscription dated 19 May 2017, which raised £29 million, closed on 18 May 2018. The Company is currently seeking to raise up to £50 million (with a £30 million over-allotment facility) through the issue of new shares, through another offer for subscription, which will close on 30 April 2019. This will provide existing Shareholders and new investors with the opportunity to invest in the Company and benefit from the tax reliefs available to qualifying investors. As at 18 July 2018, £2 million had been raised.

Funds raised under the offer dated 19 May 2017 have allowed the Company to take advantage of further attractive investment opportunities and increase portfolio diversification in line with the ongoing strategy of the Company. The issue of the new offer will result in further opportunities for the Company. Full details of the new offer can be found in the Prospectus issued by the Company on 14 June 2018, which is also available on Foresight’s website.

DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT SCHEME
The Company has recently implemented a dividend reinvestment scheme whereby shareholders can elect to have their dividends reinvested in further shares. Under the scheme, dividends are reinvested at the last published NAV per share prior to allotment (adjusted to take into account the relevant dividend to be paid unless the last published NAV already reflects the dividend to be paid). The scheme will be available in respect of dividends declared after 30 September 2018.

Full terms and conditions of the scheme can be found in the terms and mandate form on Computershare’s website.

BOARD COMPOSITION
With effect from 22 June 2017, I was appointed Chairman of Foresight 4 VCT plc. My appointment was made following the approval of the merger and at the same time Peter Dicks retired from the Board. There were no other changes to Board composition during the year.

PERFORMANCE AND PORTFOLIO ACTIVITY

During the period, the net asset value total return per Ordinary Share decreased by 6% to 69.6p from 73.5p, but this is after paying a 4p dividend during the year. At the year end the Company held 27 investments in UK based businesses across a wide range of sectors. The performance of the portfolio has been steady during the year, with a small increase of £1.6 million in value. Positive progress made by companies including Ixaris, Aerospace Tooling and TFC Europe has been offset by lower valuations for CoGen, Procam and Datapath, as detailed in the Manager’s Review and Top Ten Investment sections of this report.

No new investments were completed during the year. One follow-on investment of £674,168 was made in molecular diagnostics business Biofortuna. The Manager, Foresight Group CI Limited, continues to see a strong pipeline of potential investments sourced through its regional networks and well-developed relationships with advisors and the SME community. Following the successful fundraise launched in May 2017, the Company is in a position to fully exploit these attractive investment opportunities.

Post year end the Company invested £600,000 in Luminet Networks Limited, a provider of fixed wireless access across central London, £1,059,000 into Mologic Ltd, a health diagnostics company based in Bedford and completed a £750,000 growth capital investment into The Naked Deli, a Newcastle-based group of ‘clean-eating’ restaurants.

In the year to 31 March 2018, eight realisations took place, generating total proceeds of £9.8 million. Notably, Blackstar Amplification and The Bunker Secure Hosting were sold, realising a combined total of £6.0 million.

Post year end the Company exited its investment in Thermotech realising £1.1 million.

SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATION

As part of its ongoing commitment to high quality investor relations, the Manager, will continue to host the popular investor Forums. In addition to the annual event in London, the Manager will be holding several regional Investor Forums around the country over the next twelve months. Details will be sent to investors living close to each location later in the year.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Company’s Annual General Meeting will take place on 11 October 2018 at 1.00pm. I look forward to welcoming you to the Meeting, which will be held at the offices of Foresight Group in London.

Prior to the formal business of the Annual General Meeting, Foresight Group, the Manager, will give a presentation.

OUTLOOK

Over the last year, the Board believes that the Company has demonstrated the benefits of the Manager’s portfolio management actions, with improving performance providing a platform to fundraise and make new investments, which in turn should contribute to driving future net asset value growth (after adding back the dividend paid). We believe the Company is well positioned to build on this momentum.

During the year the discount to NAV has reduced from 20% to 11%.

Facilitated by the merger with Foresight 3 VCT plc and the liquidity provided by the issue of new shares, the Company will be able to capitalise on the strong pipeline of attractive investment opportunities that the Manager continues to see in smaller, growth businesses across the UK.

Raymond Abbott
Chairman
18 July 2018

1. References to the “Manager” or “Investment Manager” are to Foresight Group CI Limited and shall, where the context requires, also include its investment advisor, Foresight Group LLP.

Manager’s Review

As at 31 March 2018 the Company’s portfolio comprised 27 actively managed investments with a total cost of £44.7 million and a valuation of £64.1 million. The portfolio is diversified by sector, transaction type, and maturity profile. Details of the top ten largest investments by valuation, including an update on their performance, are provided on page 10 of the Annual Report and Accounts.

NEW INVESTMENTS AND FOLLOW-ON FUNDING

Excluding the purchase of Foresight 3 VCT’s holdings, no investments in new companies were made during the year due to the lack of liquidity prior to the fundraising.

One follow-on investment of £674,168 was made in July 2017, in molecular diagnostics business Biofortuna, bringing the Company’s total investment to £2,729,216. This additional capital was provided to support the development of blood typing products.

Since the end of the reporting period, the Company has completed three new investments, totalling £2.4 million.

LUMINET NETWORKS LIMITED

The Company made a £600,000 development capital investment in Luminet, an award-winning provider of connectivity and managed IT services to businesses. Founded in 2005, Luminet was one of the first companies to offer commercial wireless broadband solutions to businesses and has grown its client base to more than 550. The investment will be used to scale up the company’s marketing and sales functions, grow the client base and to expand the business’s footprint as well as improve network density by adding additional base stations to the existing infrastructure.

MOLOGIC LTD

The Company committed £1,059,000 to a Foresight-led £4.0 million growth capital investment round in Bedford-based Mologic. The business is a Point of Care diagnostics company that provides contract research and manufacturing services. Mologic is also developing a broad and promising portfolio of proprietary products, including diagnostics for infectious diseases, respiratory disease exacerbations and sepsis, which affect hundreds of millions of people around the world every year. The investment will enable the management team to focus on expanding the contract research activities and revenues while driving its own products through to commercialisation.

THE NAKED DELI LTD

In May 2018, the Company completed a £750,000 growth capital investment in The Naked Deli, a Newcastle-based group of ‘clean eating’ restaurants offering eat-in casual dining and grab-and-go options. Established in 2014, The Naked Deli serves a tasty range of healthy gluten and dairy-free, vegan and paleo dishes. The group uses unprocessed whole and natural state foods, with a clear pathway from origin to plate. This ‘clean eating’ concept has demonstrated attractive growth in recent years, driven by increased health concerns around processed foods. The investment will be used to bolster systems and infrastructure, and continue the rollout of additional sites around the UK.

PIPELINE

Through the offer of subscription launched on 19 May 2017, which raised a total of £28.8 million, the Company is now well positioned to continue pursuing the potential investment opportunities in the manager’s pipeline.

Foresight continues to work hard generating high quality SME deal flow across the UK. Foresight’s strategy is focused on building relationships with advisors and professional service firms, attending and organising networking events as well as approaching businesses directly. This has been bolstered through the recent recruitment of Matthew Evans-Young, previously at Synova Capital and KPMG, as an Origination Manager. Matthew will lead on the establishment of a dedicated direct origination practice within Foresight’s private equity team. The aim of this initiative is to deliver proprietary, off-market deals, through a proactive and structured approach, which will complement the existing intermediary network of the wider team.

EXITS AND REALISATIONS

During the year, total proceeds of £9.8 million were generated from the disposal of eight investments. Of this, the realisation of Blackstar and The Bunker, both in July 2017, returned a total of £6.0 million.

BLACKSTAR AMPLIFICATION

The Company successfully exited its investment in Northampton-based designer and manufacturer of innovative guitar amplifiers Blackstar Amplification generating a return of 1.6x cost. Under the Company’s ownership Blackstar expanded internationally, more than doubled turnover, established itself as the number two amplifier brand in the UK and USA and broadened its product catalogue.

THE BUNKER SECURE HOSTING

The Bunker Secure Hosting, provider of IT infrastructure platforms, was sold to Palatine Private Equity for a return of 1.7x cost. The Company first invested in May 2006, growing annual revenues from £1.8 million to in excess of £9 million. During this time The Bunker scaled its data storage facilities and built an expert reputation in the specialist FinTech space.

MPL SYSTEMS

In August 2017, the Company also exited its investment in leading provider of customer and field service technology mplsystems (previously The Message Pad), generating proceeds of £1.9 million.

AUTOLOGIC
In September 2017, the sale of Autologic’s operating subsidiaries was agreed with Opus Group AB, a Swedish company which provides vehicle environmental and safety testing services globally. Although the value of this realisation was in line with the reduced valuation, the sale took total overall returns on this investment to 4.6x initial cost, including the partial sale of the investment to a mid-market private equity firm in 2012.

ICA LIMITED

In the second half of the year, ICA Limited, which provides document management solutions to businesses in London and the South East, was acquired by Automated Systems Ltd, a large independent reprographics print solution supplier, generating proceeds of £1.1 million.

THERMOTECH

Post year end, the Company completed the successful sale of facilities management provider Thermotech to Servest Group, a global facilities management group headquartered in South Africa, generating a return of 1.3x. Thermotech provides customised air conditioning and fire sprinkler systems for retail, commercial and residential properties, with clients including M&S, John Lewis and Selfridges & Co. Under the Company’s ownership Thermotech was able to expand its high-quality customer base and develop further recurring maintenance revenue streams.

Foresight continues to engage with a range of potential acquirers of several portfolio companies, with demand for these high growth businesses demonstrated by both private equity and trade buyers.

DISPOSALS IN THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2018

Company Detail Original Cost/ Proceeds Gain/(loss) Valuation at
    Take-On Value £’000 £’000 31 March 2017
    £’000**     £’000**
The Bunker Secure Hosting Full disposal 2,567 4,431 1,864   4,422
Limited          
The Message Pad Limited Full disposal 1,889 1,922 33   1,743
Blackstar Amplification Full disposal 1,000 1,567 567   1,536
Holdings Limited          
ICA Limited Full disposal 970 1,118 148   970
Autologic Diagnostics Group Partial disposal 626 626   626
Limited          
Zoo Digital Group plc Full disposal 451 139 (312 ) 143
Evance Wind Turbines Partial disposal 23 23  
Global Immersion Limited Dissolved 532 13 (519 )
Quantel Holdings (2010) Full disposal 235 4 (231 ) 4
Limited          
Abacus Wood Limited Dissolved 656 (656 )
Total disposals     8,949 9,843* 894   9,444

*In addition to the above, deferred consideration of £156,000 was received by the fund from the sale of Provesica Limited, Trilogy Communications Limited and Alaric Systems Limited. A further £9,000 was also received by the fund from the administration of Closed Loop Recycling Limited.

**Based on Foresight 3 VCT plc and Foresight 4 VCT merged figures.

POST PERIOD END DISPOSALS

Company Detail Original Cost/ Take-On Value £’000* Proceeds on exit £’000 Gain/ (loss)
£000**
Valuation at 31 March 2017 £’000
Thermotech Solutions Limited Full disposal 200 1,267 1,067 1,285

* Based on Foresight 3 VCT plc and Foresight 4 VCT plc merged figures.
** Compares original cost to proceeds on exit. Excludes interest income, loan repayments and recapitalisations in previous periods.

KEY PORTFOLIO DEVELOPMENTS

Excluding the impact of the merger, the valuation of the portfolio has shown an increase of £1.6 million over the year. Material changes in valuation, defined as increasing or decreasing by £1 million or more since 31 March 2017, are detailed below. Updates on these companies are included in the Top Ten Investments section on the next page.

Company Valuation Methodology Valuation Change (£)
Ixaris Systems Limited Discounted earnings/revenue multiple 4,522,839  
TFC Europe Limited Discounted earnings multiple 2,075,744  
Aerospace Tooling Holdings Limited Discounted earnings multiple 1,329,859  
CoGen Limited Discounted cash flow (1,293,663 )
Procam Television Holdings Limited Discounted earnings multiple (1,379,050 )
Datapath Group Limited Discounted earnings multiple (3,886,817 )

OUTLOOK
Whilst there remains a significant amount of uncertainty as to how the UK will be affected by its exit from the European Union, Foresight Group continues to see a strong pipeline of interesting investment opportunities and inbound interest from potential acquirers for portfolio companies.

In the Autumn Budget 2017 the Government announced an action plan to unlock over £20 billion of patient capital investment in innovative companies with the opportunity for growth. The Government’s response to the Patient Capital Review recognises the positive role that VCTs play in providing long­ term patient capital. The proposed adjustments to the VCT scheme rules fall within the Fund’s existing investment strategy.

Foresight will continue to monitor and adapt to market and regulatory changes to ensure the Company and its portfolio is well-placed to deliver returns to its investors.

Russell Healey
Partner and Head of Private Equity
Foresight Group
18 July 2018

2. References to “Foresight Group”, “Group” and “Foresight” are to Foresight Group CI Limited and shall, where the context requires, also include its investment advisor, Foresight Group LLP.

Income Statement
for the year ended 31 March 2018

    Year ended Year ended
    31 March 2018 31 March 2017
    Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total
    £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
               
Investment holding gains       596     596     8,728   8,728  
Realised gains/(losses) on investments     1,059   1,059     (5,941 ) (5,941 )
Income   629     629   383     383  
Investment management fees   (344 ) (1,033 ) (1,377 )  (229 )  (686 ) (915 )
Other expenses   (792 )   (792 )  (424 )   (424 )
               
(Loss)/profit on ordinary activities before taxation   (507 ) 622   115   (270 ) 2,101   1,831  
               
Taxation   96   (96 )        
               
(Loss)/profit on ordinary activities after taxation   (411 ) 526   115   (270 ) 2,101   1,831  
               
               
(Loss)/profit per share:              
Ordinary Share   (0.4)p 0.5p 0.1p (0.6)p 3.7p 3.1p

The total column of this statement is the profit and loss account of the Company and the revenue and capital columns represent supplementary information.

All revenue and capital items in the above Income Statement are derived from continuing operations. No operations were acquired or discontinued in the year.

The Company has no recognised gains or losses other than those shown above, therefore no separate statement of total comprehensive income has been presented.

The notes on pages 50 to 65 of the Annual Report and Accounts form part of these financial statements.

Reconciliation of Movements in Shareholders’ Funds

 

 

Year ended 31 March 2018

Called-up share capital
£’000
Share premium account
£’000
Capital redemption reserve
£’000
Profit and loss account
£’000
Total
£’000
As at 1 April 2017 574   5,112   265 36,208   42,159  
Foresight 3 VCT plc merger 483   34,762     35,245  
Share issues in the year 171   11,760     11,931  
Expenses in relation to share issues   (317 )   (317 )
Repurchase of shares (107 )   107 (6,836 ) (6,836 )
Expenses in relation to tender offer   (131 )   (131 )
Dividends paid     (4,229 ) (4,229 )
Return for the year     115   115  
As at 31 March 2018 1,121   51,186   372 25,258* 77,937  

 

 

Year ended 31 March 2017

Called-up share capital
£’000
Share premium account
£’000
Capital redemption reserve
£’000
Profit and loss account
£’000
Total
£’000
As at 1 April 2016 574 5,147   265 34,379   40,365  
Expenses in relation to previous years share issues (35 )   (35 )
Transaction costs   (2 ) (2 )
Return for the year   1,831   1,831  
As at 31 March 2017 574 5,112   265 36,208* 42,159  

The notes on pages 50 to 65 of the Annual Report and Accounts form part of these financial statements.
* Of this amount £5,852,000 (2017 restated: £17,490,000) is realised and distributable. Refer to note 21 for further detail on the restatement.   
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Balance Sheet
at 31 March 2018

    As at 31 March 2018 £’000 As at 31 March 2017 £’000
Fixed assets      
Investments held at fair value through profit or loss   64,092   40,463  
Current assets      
Debtors   3,790   151  
Money market securities and other deposits   9,822   838  
Cash   833   790  
    14,445   1,779  
Creditors      
Amounts falling due within one year   (600 ) (83 )
Net current assets   13,845   1,696  
Net assets   77,937   42,159  
Capital and reserves      
Called-up share capital   1,121   574  
Share premium account   51,186   5,112  
Capital redemption reserve   372   265  
Profit and loss account   25,258   36,208  
Equity shareholders’ funds   77,937   42,159  
Net asset value per share:      
Ordinary Share   69.6p 73.5p

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 18 July 2018 and were signed on its behalf by:

Raymond Abbott
Chairman

The notes on pages 50 to 65 of the Annual Report and Accounts form part of these financial statements.

Cash Flow Statement
for the year ended 31 March 2018

  Year ended Year ended
  31 March 2018 31 March 2017
  £’000 £’000
Cash flow from operating activities    
Investment income received 806* 553  
Dividends received from investments 46   10  
Deposit and similar interest received 4   4  
Investment management fees paid (1,315 ) (915 )
Secretarial fees paid (163 ) (157 )
Other cash payments outflow (837 ) (284 )
     
Net cash outflow from operating activities (1,459 ) (789 )
     
Returns on investing activities    
Purchase of investments (674 ) (189 )
Net proceeds on sale of investments 9,843   357  
Net proceeds on deferred consideration 165** 509  
Net cash inflow from investing activities 9,334   677  
     
Financing    
Proceeds of fund raising 8,318    
Expenses of fund raising (125 ) (35)***
Repurchase of own shares (6,525 ) (60)***
Expenses in relation to tender offer (131 )  
Equity dividends paid (4,229 )  
Movement in money market funds (8,984 ) 935  
Proceeds of Foresight 3 VCT plc allotments received after the merger 3,372    
Cash acquired on merger with Foresight 3 VCT plc 472    
Net cash (outflow)/inflow from financing activities (7,832 ) 840  
Net inflow of cash for the year 43   728  

Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net funds    
Increase in cash and cash equivalents for the year 43 728
Net cash and cash equivalents at start of year 790 62
Net cash at end of year 833 790

* £211,000 relates to investment income due to Foresight 3 VCT plc which was received after the merger.
** £148,000 relates to deferred consideration due to Foresight 3 VCT plc which was received after the merger.
*** Relates to transaction in prior year.

Analysis of changes in net debt  

At 1 April 2017
£’000

 

 

Cash flow
£’000

 

At 31 March 2018
£’000

Cash and cash equivalents 790 43 833

The notes on pages 50 to 65 of the Annual Report and Accounts form part of these financial statements.

Notes

1.     These are not statutory accounts in accordance with S436 of the Companies Act 2006. The full audited accounts for the year ended 31 March 2018, which were unqualified and did not contain statements under S498(2) of the Companies Act 2006 or S498(3) of the Companies Act 2006, will be lodged with the Registrar of Companies. Statutory accounts for the year ended 31 March 2018 including an unqualified audit report and containing no statements under the Companies Act 2006 will be delivered to the Registrar of Companies in due course. 

2.    The audited Annual Financial Report has been prepared on the basis of accounting policies set out in the statutory accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 March 2018.  All investments held by the Company are classified as ‘fair value through the profit and loss’. Unquoted investments have been valued in accordance with IPEVC guidelines. Quoted investments are stated at bid prices in accordance with the IPEVC guidelines and Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.

3.   Copies of the Annual Report will be sent to shareholders and will be available for inspection at the Registered Office of the Company at The Shard, 32 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9SG and can be accessed on the following website: www.foresightgroup.eu.

  1. Net asset value per share

             
Net asset value per Ordinary Share is based on Net assets at the year end of £77,937,000 (2017: £42,159,000) and on 112,052,405 (2016: 57,375,499) Ordinary Shares, being the number of Ordinary Shares in issue at that date.

  1. Profit per share
  Year ended
31 March 2018
£’000
Year ended
31 March 2017
£’000
Total profit after taxation 115   1,831  
Total profit per share (note a) 0.1p 3.1p
Revenue loss from ordinary activities after taxation (411 ) (270 )
Revenue loss per share (note b) (0.4)p (0.6)p
Capital profit from ordinary activities after taxation 526   2,101  
Capital profit per share (note c) 0.5p 3.7p
Weighted average number of shares in issue in the year 94,123,649   57,375,499  

Notes:
a)  Total profit per share is total profit after taxation divided by the weighted average number of shares in issue during the year.
b) Revenue loss per share is revenue return after taxation divided by the weighted average number of shares in issue during the year.
c)  Capital return per share is capital return after taxation divided by the weighted average number of shares in issue during the year.

6.     Annual General Meeting
The Company’s Annual General Meeting will take place on 11 October 2018 at 1.00pm at the offices of Foresight Group in London. Details can be found on page 66 of the Annual Report and Accounts.

7.     Income

  Year ended
31 March 2018
£’000
Year ended
31 March 2017
£’000
Loan stock interest 544 368
Dividends receivable

 

81 11
Overseas based Open Ended Investment Companies (“OEI CS”)

 

4 4
  629 383

8.       Investments held at fair value through profit or loss

Company   2018

£’000

2017

£’000

Quoted investments   143
Unquoted investments   64,092 40,320
    64,092 40,463

  Quoted Unquoted Total
Company £’000 £’000 £’000
Book cost as at 1 April 2017 451   21,320   21,771  
Investment holding gains (308 ) 19,000   18,692  
Valuation at 1 April 2017 143   40,320   40,463  
Movements in the year:      
Acquired on Foresight 3 VCT plc merger   31,223   31,223  
Purchases at cost   674   674  
Disposal proceeds (139 ) (9,704 ) (9,843 )
Realised (losses)/gains* (312 ) 1,206   894  
Investment holding gains** 308   373   681  
Valuation at 31 March 2018   64,092   64,092  
Book cost at 31 March 2018   44,719   44,719  
Investment holding gains   19,373   19,373  
Valuation at 31 March 2018   64,092   64,092  

*Realised gains on investments in the income statement includes deferred consideration (£156,000) and final administration proceeds (£9,000) received in the year.
**Investment holding gains in the income statement includes a movement in the pre-merger deferred consideration debtor of £85,000.

9.    Related party transactions

No Director has an interest in any contract to which the Company is a party.

10.  Transactions with the manager

Foresight Group CI Limited, which acts as investment manager to the Company in respect of its investments, earned fees of £1,377,000 during the year (2017: £915,000).

Foresight Fund Managers Limited, Company Secretary until November 2017, received fees of £111,000 (2017: £157,000) during the year. Foresight Group LLP was appointed Company Secretary in November 2017 and received fees of £55,000 (2017: Nil) during the year. The annual secretarial fee (which is payable together with any applicable VAT) is adjusted annually in line with the UK Retail Prices Index.

At the balance sheet date there was £163,000 due to (2017: £3,000 due to) Foresight Group CI Limited and £nil (2017: £nil) due to Foresight Fund Managers Limited and £nil (2017: £nil) due to Foresight Group LLP. No amounts have been written off in the year in respect of debts due to or from related parties.

END

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