Regulatory Filings • Dec 31, 2019
Regulatory Filings
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THIS DOCUMENT IS IMPORTANT AND REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. IF YOU ARE IN ANY DOUBT ABOUT WHAT ACTION YOU SHOULD TAKE, YOU ARE RECOMMENDED TO SEEK YOUR OWN FINANCIAL ADVICE IMMEDIATELY FROM YOUR STOCKBROKER, BANK MANAGER, SOLICITOR, ACCOUNTANT OR OTHER INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVISER AUTHORISED UNDER THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000 ("FSMA").
This document is a registration document (the "Registration Document") issued by Foresight Solar & Technology VCT plc (the "Company") dated 20 December 2019 and has been prepared in compliance with Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (the "Prospectus Regulation"). The Company has also published additional information in a securities note (the "Securities Note") and a separate summary (the "Summary") written in non-technical language briefly setting out the essential characteristics and risks associated with the Company and the Foresight Williams Technology Shares of 1p each in the capital of the Company (the "FWT Shares") which are being offered for subscription and which, together with this Registration Document, comprise a prospectus (the "Prospectus").
The Company and the Directors (whose names are set out on page 6) accept responsibility for the information contained in this Registration Document. To the best of the knowledge of the Company and the Directors, the information contained in this Registration Document is in accordance with the facts and makes no omission likely to affect its import.
(formerly Foresight Solar & Infrastructure VCT plc)
Registered in England and Wales under company number 07289280
to raise up to £20 million (with an over-allotment facility to raise up to a further £10 million) by way of issues of Foresight Williams Technology Shares of 1p each in the capital of the Company
In connection with the Prospectus, BDO LLP ("BDO") is acting as sponsor to the Company and for no-one else and (subject to the responsibilities and liabilities imposed by FSMA and the regulatory regime established thereunder) will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to customers of BDO nor for providing advice in relation to the Offer. BDO is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the FCA with registered number 229378.
In connection with the Prospectus, Foresight Group Promoter LLP (the "Promoter"), which is an appointed representative of Foresight Group LLP and is registered with the FCA, is acting for the Company as the promoter of the Offer and no-one else and (subject to the responsibilities and liabilities imposed by FSMA and the regulatory regime established thereunder) will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company in relation to the Offer. The Promoter is an appointed representative of Foresight Group LLP registered with the FCA with registered number 806061.
Copies of this Registration Document, the Securities Note and the Summary are available (and any supplementary prospectus published by the Company will be available) free of charge from the offices of the Company's investment manager, Foresight, The Shard, 32 London Bridge Street, London SE1 9SG and the sponsor, BDO, 55 Baker Street, London W1U 7EU and from the Foresight website at www.foresightgroup.eu.
Your attention is drawn to the Risk Factors on pages 3–5. An investment in the Company is only suitable for investors who are capable of evaluating the risks and merits of such investment and who have sufficient resources to bear any loss that might result from such investment.
This Prospectus has been approved by the Financial Conduct Authority, as competent authority under the Prospectus Regulation (EU) 2017/1129. The Financial Conduct Authority only approves this Prospectus as meeting the standards of completeness, comprehensibility and consistency imposed by Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 and such approval should not be considered as an endorsement of the Company or the quality of the securities that are the subject of this Prospectus. Investors should make their own assessment as to the suitability of investing in the securities.
| Page | |
|---|---|
| PART ONE | |
| RISK FACTORS | 4 |
| CORPORATE INFORMATION | 7 |
| DEFINITIONS | 8 |
| THE DIRECTORS AND FORESIGHT GROUP | 11 |
| MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION | 13 |
| PART TWO | |
| FORESIGHT SOLAR & TECHNOLOGY VCT PLC | |
| (A) GENERAL INFORMATION | 19 |
| (B) ANALYSIS OF THE INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO | 31 |
| (C) FINANCIAL INFORMATION | 34 |
| PART THREE | |
| DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION | 36 |
Although the tax benefits available to investors in FWT Shares are significant, there are a number of risks which investors should consider carefully in addition to the other information presented in the Prospectus as a whole. The risks related specifically to the FWT Shares, as opposed to the Company more generally, are set out in the Securities Note.
If any of the risks described below were to occur, it could have a material effect on the Company's business, financial condition or results of operations. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones the Company, the Board or investors in the Company will face. Additional risks not currently known to the Company or the Board, or that the Company or the Board currently believe are not material, may also adversely affect the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. The value of Shares could decline due to any of these risk factors, and investors could lose part or all of their investment. Investors who are in doubt should consult their independent financial adviser. The attention of prospective investors is drawn to the following risks.
which meet the above noted "risk to capital" test tend not to be able to provide significant assets against which to secure loans in any case, the Board does not consider that this restriction further materially increases the risk profile of new investments made by the Company.
aid, though the Board does not believe that post-Brexit the amending of VCT legislation will be a priority for the UK Government.
Ernie Richardson (Chairman) Tim Dowlen Mike Liston
Foresight Group LLP The Shard 32 London Bridge Street London SE1 9SG
Foresight Group CI Limited Ground Floor, Dorey Court Admiral Park St Peter Port Guernsey GY1 4EU
RW Blears LLP 29 Lincoln's Inn Fields London WC2A 3EG
Sponsor BDO LLP 55 Baker Street London W1U 8EW
Barclays Bank plc 54 Lombard Street London EC3P 3AH
Foresight Group LLP The Shard 32 London Bridge Street London SE1 9SG
Website www.foresightgroup.eu
020 3667 8100
Computershare Investor Services PLC The Pavilions Bridgwater Road Bristol BS99 6ZY
Foresight Group Promoter LLP The Shard 32 London Bridge Street London SE1 9SG
Panmure Gordon (UK) Limited One New Change London EC4M 9AF
Woodside Corporate Services Limited 4th Floor, 50 Mark Lane London EC3R 7QR
KPMG LLP 15 Canada Square London E14 5GL
The following definitions apply throughout this document unless the context otherwise requires:
| Admission | the date on which FWT Shares allotted pursuant to the Offer are listed on the Official List of the FCA and admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange's market for listed securities |
|---|---|
| AIM | the Alternative Investment Market |
| Articles | the current articles of association of the Company as proposed to be amended pursuant to a resolution to be proposed at the General Meeting |
| BDO | BDO LLP, which is authorised and regulated by the FCA |
| Board or Directors | the board of directors of the Company |
| Business Days | any day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which clearing banks are open for normal banking business in sterling |
| CA 2006 or the Act | the Companies Act 2006 (as amended) |
| Circular | the circular to Shareholders of the Company dated 20 December 2019 |
| Closing Date | 3 April 2020 in respect of the tax year 2019/2020 and 18 December 2020 in respect of the tax year 2020/2021, or as soon as full subscription is reached (unless closed earlier at the Board's discretion) |
| Company | Foresight Solar & Technology VCT plc (formerly Foresight Solar & Infrastructure VCT plc) (company number 07289280) |
| Companies Acts | the Companies Act 1985 and CA 2006 |
| Deferred Shares | means the separate class of shares of 1p each in the capital of the Company entitled "Deferred Shares" which have the rights and are subject to the restrictions attributed to Deferred Shares in the New Articles |
| Distributions | amounts paid by way of dividends, tender offers, share buy-backs, proceeds on a sale or liquidation of the Company and any other proceeds or value received, or deemed to be received, by Shareholders in the Company in respect of Shares, excluding any income tax relief on subscription |
| Eligible Shares | in relation to a company which is a Qualifying Company, means shares which may carry a non-cumulative and non-discretionary preferential right to dividends but not to the assets of the company on its winding up, and which may carry no present or future right to be redeemed |
| FCA | the Financial Conduct Authority |
| Foresight | references to "Foresight" in this document refer to the Manager and include Foresight Group LLP when acting as the Manager's investment adviser and administrative delegate and the historical activities of Foresight Group more generally |
| Foresight Entities | Foresight Group CI Limited and/or Foresight Group LLP and/or the Promoter (as the context dictates) (and each a "Foresight Entity") |
| Foresight Funds | funds managed or advised by a Foresight Entity |
| Foresight Group | a collective term for all of the entities owned by Foresight Group Holdings Limited, Foresight Group CI Limited and/ or Foresight Group LLP, indirectly and indirectly |
|---|---|
| Foresight Group LLP | Foresight Group LLP, a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC300878 which is authorised and regulated by the FCA with reference number 198020 |
| FSMA | the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended) |
| FWT Shares or Offer Shares | the Foresight Williams Technology shares of 1p each in the capital of the Company proposed to be issued pursuant to the Prospectus |
| FWT Shares fund | the aggregate of the capital raised by subscriptions for FWT Shares issued by the Company under the Offer, all income and assets derived therefrom and all expenses and liabilities attributable thereto |
| General Meeting | the meeting of the members of the Company to be held on 27 January 2020 to be convened in accordance with the notice set out in the Circular |
| Group | the Company and its subsidiaries from time to time |
| Initial NAV | NAV as at the date of first admission of FWT Shares to the FCA's Official List |
| Inside Information | as defined in section 118C of FSMA |
| Investment Manager or Manager |
Foresight Group CI Limited, a Guernsey company with registered number 51471, licensed by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission with reference number 2006518 |
| Listing Rules | the listing rules of the FCA |
| London Stock Exchange | London Stock Exchange plc |
| Memorandum | the memorandum of association of the Company |
| Minimum Gross Proceeds | the sum of £1 million (before expenses) to be raised by the issue of FWT Shares in order for the Offer to become unconditional |
| NAV or Net Asset Value | the net asset value attributable to the FWT Shares calculated in accordance with the Company's normal accounting policies in force at the date of calculation |
| Offer or FWT Share Offer | the offer for subscription to raise in aggregate up to £20 million (with an over-allotment facility for up to an additional £10 million) by issues of FWT Shares by the Company pursuant to the Prospectus |
| Official List | the official list of the FCA maintained in accordance with section 74(1) of FSMA |
| Old C Shares | the C ordinary shares of 1p each in the capital of the Company, subsequently re-designated as Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Share Class Merger |
| Old D Shares | the D ordinary shares of 1p each in the capital of the Company, subsequently re-designated as Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Share Class Merger |
| Ordinary Shares fund | the aggregate of the capital raised by subscriptions for Ordinary Shares issued by the Company (and for Old C Shares and Old D Shares converted into Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Share Class Merger), all income and assets derived therefrom and all expenses and liabilities attributable thereto |
|---|---|
| Ordinary Share Offer | the offer for subscription of Ordinary Shares described in a prospectus dated 31 August 2010 |
| Ordinary Shares | ordinary shares of 1p each in the capital of the Company |
| Promoter | Foresight Group Promoter LLP, a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC421343 which is an appointed representative of Foresight Group LLP with FCA reference number 806061 |
| Prospectus | together this Registration Document, the Securities Note and the Summary |
| Prospectus Regulation | Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (as amended) |
| Qualifying Company | an unquoted (including an AIM-listed) company which satisfies the requirements of Part 4 of Chapter 6 of the Tax Act |
| Qualifying Investments | shares in, or securities of, a Qualifying Company held by a venture capital trust which meets the requirements described in Parts 3 and 4 of Chapter 6 of the Tax Act |
| Receiving Agent | Woodside Corporate Services Limited |
| Registrar | Computershare Investor Services plc |
| Registration Document | this document |
| Securities Note | the securities note issued by the Company dated 20 December 2019 in connection with the Offer |
| Share Class Merger | the merger of the Ordinary Shares with the Old C Shares and Old D Shares that was completed on 29 June 2018 by way of the re designation of the Old C Shares and Old D Shares as Ordinary Shares with a conversion ratio of 0.9057 and 0.9917 respectively |
| Shareholder | a holder of Shares in the Company |
| Shares | FWT Shares and/or Ordinary Shares as the context dictates |
| Summary | the summary issued by the Company dated 20 December 2019 in connection with the Offer |
| Tax Act | the Income Tax Act 2007 (as amended) |
| UK | the United Kingdom |
| VCT Rules | the legislation, rules and HMRC interpretation and practice regulating the establishment and operation of venture capital trusts |
| VCT Value | the value of an investment calculated in accordance with Section 278 of the Tax Act |
Venture Capital Trust or VCT a venture capital trust as defined in Section 259 of the Tax Act
As required by the Listing Rules, the Directors are independent of Foresight except for Mike Liston who is considered non-independent by virtue of the fact that he is a director of another fund managed by Foresight.
Ernie Richardson has over 30 years' experience in the venture capital sector and was until 2009 chief executive of venture capital investment firm MTI. He is a graduate chemical engineer and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and has served as a member of the Council of the British Venture Capital Association and also served as Chair of the investment committee of the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts. He also has over 20 years' operational management experience gained within businesses including British Steel Chemicals Division and chemicals company Laporte Industries and is chairman of several smaller companies. He has also served as Financial Controller of the European Division of the Royal Bank of Canada.
A director of insurance broking companies from 1973 to 2016, Tim was most recently a divisional director of City-based Lloyd's broking firm Tasker & Partners where he was responsible for developing the retail insurance broking activities of the firm. Tim was for many years Senior Examiner in liability insurance for the Chartered Insurance Institute. A practising expert witness since 1998, he has given independent evidence to the Courts in over 130 disputes in the insurance sector and is director, insurance, of GBRW Expert Witness Limited. Tim has specialised in the venture capital sector since starting his own insurance firm in 1974. He acted as insurance broker to a number of fund managers and other financial institutions.
A Chartered Engineer, Mike's relevant experience in leading technology related, public businesses includes as Chief Executive of an electricity utility and Non-Executive Chairman of renewable energy developers in the wind, solar and biofuels sectors in Europe and an Asian energy infrastructure fund. He is a director of the General Partner of Foresight's first solar power fund. Mike is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering.
The Directors are currently or have been within the last 5 years, a member of the administrative, management or supervisory bodies or partners of the companies and partnerships mentioned below:
| Tim Dowlen | Current | Past 5 Years |
|---|---|---|
| The Company Woking Street Angels |
- | |
| Mike Liston | Current | Past 5 Years |
| The Company Renewable Energy Generation Ltd Jersey Post International Ltd Jersey Electricity plc JTG Group Holdings plc Foresight European Solar Fund GP Limited |
| Ernie Richardson | Current | Past 5 Years |
|---|---|---|
| The Company Thermentum Limited Thomas Swan Holdings Limited Thomas Swan & Co. Limited Eastwood Langley Limited |
Boundary Capital Partners LLP |
Foresight Group CI Limited is a private company registered in Guernsey with registered number 51471 and whose registered office is PO Box 156, Dorey Court, St Peter Port, Guernsey GY1 4EU. Foresight Group CI Limited is licensed by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission with reference number 2006518 to undertake controlled investment business as defined in The Protection of Investors (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law 1987. Foresight Group CI Limited is the investment manager to the Company.
Foresight Group LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales under number OC300878 pursuant to the Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2000 and was formed on 25 October 2001 (telephone number: 020 3667 8100, registered office: The Shard, 32 London Bridge Street, London SE1 9SG). Foresight Group LLP is authorised and regulated by the FCA to advise on investments, arrange deals in investments and to make arrangements with a view to transactions in investments. Foresight Group CI Limited has appointed Foresight Group LLP to provide investment advisory and administration services.
Foresight Group Promoter LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales under number OC421343 pursuant to the Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2000 and was formed on 7 March 2018 (telephone number: 020 3667 8100, registered office: The Shard, 32 London Bridge Street, London SE1 9SG). Foresight Group Promoter LLP is an appointed representative of Foresight Group LLP with FCA reference number 806061. Foresight Group Promoter LLP is the promoter of the Offer.
The Companies Act 2006 ("CA 2006") significantly reduced the constitutional significance of a company's memorandum, providing that a memorandum will record only the names of subscribers and the number of shares each subscriber agreed to take in the company.
The material provisions of the Articles are as detailed below, including those amendments it is proposed be made in order to make provision for the issue of the FWT Shares the subject of the Offer, subject to Shareholder approval at the General Meeting.
"FWT Share Surplus" means the net assets of the Company attributable to the FWT Shares (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any income and/or revenue arising from or relating to such assets) less such proportion of the Company's liabilities including the fees and expenses of liquidation or return of capital (as the case may be) as the Directors or the liquidator (as the case may be) shall reasonably allocate to the assets of the Company attributable to the holders of FWT Shares;
"Manager" means the investment adviser or manager appointed by the Company from time to time;
"Ordinary Share Surplus" means the net assets of the Company attributable to the Ordinary Shares (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any income and/or revenue arising from or relating to such assets) less such proportion of the Company's liabilities including the fees and expenses of liquidation or return of capital (as the case may be) as the Directors or the liquidator (as the case may be) shall reasonably allocate to the assets of the Company attributable to the holders of Ordinary Shares; and
"Set Aside Fund" means the sum of £2 attributed to the Deferred Shares in order to create a set aside pool in which all holders of Deferred Shares in common will hold an interest corresponding to the proportionate value of their respective holdings of Deferred Shares which set aside pool shall be described as the 'Set Aside Fund' in accordance with a special resolution contained in a notice of general meeting of the Company dated 5 June 2018.
"Statutes" means the Act as amended and supplemented by the Companies Act 2006 and every other statute for the time being in force affecting the Company.
Subject to any special rights which are or may be attached to any other class of shares (i) 1% of the cumulative profits of the Company within and derived solely from the assets attributable to the Set Aside Fund which are available (if any) to be paid as a dividend amongst the holders of the Deferred Shares (but no other profits of the Company) and (ii) on a winding up or liquidation, voluntary or otherwise, the assets of the Company within and attributable to the Set Aside Fund shall belong, in each case, to the holders of the Deferred Shares and shall be divided amongst them in proportion to the amounts paid up or credited as paid up on the Deferred Shares held by them respectively.
The Deferred Shares may be repurchased by the Company for an aggregate purchase price of 1p at any time after the date falling five years from the date of their issue or the date of issue of any Share which has been converted into such a Deferred Shares and the Company shall not be obliged in any circumstances to account to any holder of Deferred Shares for such repurchase monies in respect of those Deferred Shares nor to issue shares certificates in respect of the Deferred Shares.
The Company shall, without prejudice to its obligations under the Statutes (i) procure that the Company's records and bank accounts shall be operated so that the assets attributable to the holders of Ordinary Shares and FWT Shares can, at all times, be separately identified and, in particular but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, the Company shall procure that a separate income and expenditure account (or if applicable, profit and loss account) balance sheet and cash flow account and such other separate accounts as may, in the opinion of the Directors, be desirable to ensure compliance by the Company with the provisions of section 259 of Part 6 of the Income Tax Act 2007 as amended, shall be created and maintained in the books of the Company for the assets attributable to the holders of Ordinary Shares and FWT Shares, (ii) allocate to the assets attributable to the holders of Ordinary Shares and FWT Shares such proportion of the expenses and liabilities of the Company incurred or accrued as the Directors fairly consider to be allocable to the Ordinary Shares and FWT Shares and (iii) give appropriate instructions to the Company's investment managers and advisers to manage the Company's assets so that such undertakings can be complied with by the Company.
The Ordinary Shares and the FWT Shares shall rank pari passu as to rights to attend and vote at any general meeting of the Company. The Deferred Shares shall carry no rights to attend and vote at any general meeting of the Company.
The rights of the Company's members to receive dividends are as follows:
The capital and assets of the Company (less any assets attributable to the Set Aside Fund) shall on a winding up or on a return of capital shall be applied as follows:
The holders of Ordinary Shares, as a class, the holders of the FWT Shares, as a class, shall be required to approve any variation or derogation of the rights attaching to those Shares
i. The Board has general and unconditional authority to exercise all the powers of the Company to allot relevant securities up to an aggregate nominal amount equal to the section 551 amount, for each prescribed period. The prescribed period means any period for which the authority conferred by the Articles is given by ordinary or special resolution stating the section 551 amount and/or the power conferred by the Articles is given by special resolution stating the section 561 amount. The section 551 amount means, for any prescribed period, the amount stated in the relevant special resolution. Under the CA 2006, the section 561 amount means, for any prescribed period, the amount stated in the relevant special resolution. The authority so given may at any time (subject to the said section 551) be renewed or further renewed for a further period not exceeding five years, revoked or varied by ordinary resolution of the Company in general meeting.
ii. The Board is empowered for each prescribed period to allot equity securities for cash pursuant to an authority conferred under the Articles as if section 561(1) of the CA 2006 did not apply to any such allotment provided that its power is limited to the allotment or deemed allotment of equity securities in connection with a preemptive issue and otherwise, the allotment of equity securities up to the section 561 amount.
iii. Subject to such of the restrictions of the Companies Acts as may be applicable, any member may transfer all or any of his Shares by an instrument of transfer in writing in any usual form or in any other form approved by the Board. Such instruments shall be signed by or on behalf of the transferor and (except in the case of a fully paid share) the transferee.
iv. The Board may decline to register any transfer unless the instrument of transfer, duly stamped, is lodged with the Company accompanied by the certificate for the Shares to which it relates together with such other evidence as the Board may reasonably require, and the transfer is in respect of only one class of share and, in the case of a transfer to joint holders, the number of joint holders does not exceed four.
v. The Shares of the Company are in registered form. All transfers of Shares in certificated form may be effected by a transfer in writing in any usual form or any other form approved by the Board. The instrument of transfer of any such certificated Shares shall be executed by or on behalf of the transferor and, in the case of partly paid Shares, by or on behalf of the transferee. The Board may refuse to register any transfer of a partly paid Share, provided that such refusal does not prevent dealings taking place on an open and proper basis. The Board may also refuse to register the transfer of a certificated share unless the instrument of transfer: (a) is lodged, duly stamped (if stampable), at the office or at another place appointed by the Board accompanied by the certificate for the share to which it relates and such other evidence as the Board may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer; (b) is in respect of only one class of shares; and (c) is in favour of not more than four transferees. The Board may refuse to register the transfer of an uncertified share in the circumstances set out in the uncertificated securities rules or in the event that the proposed transfer is in favour of more than four joint holders.
i. Unless and until otherwise determined by ordinary resolution of the Company, the Directors of the Company (disregarding alternate Directors) shall be not more than seven nor less than three in number.
ii. Subject to the Articles and to any directions given by special resolution, the business of the Company shall be managed by the Board which may exercise all the powers of the Company, including, without limitation, the power to dispose of all or any part of the undertaking of the Company.
iii. The Board may authorise any matter which would otherwise involve a director breaching his duty under the Companies Acts to avoid conflicts of interest ("Conflict").
iv. A director seeking authorisation in respect of a Conflict shall declare to the Board the nature and extent of his interest in a Conflict as soon as is reasonably practicable. The director shall provide the Board with such details of the relevant matter as is necessary for the Board to decide how to address the Conflict together with such additional information as may be requested by the Board. Any director (including the relevant director) may propose that the relevant director be authorised in relation to any matter the subject of a Conflict. Such proposal may be proposed to and resolved upon by the Board save that: the relevant director and any other director with a similar interest shall not count towards the quorum nor vote on any resolution giving such authority; and the relevant director and any other director with a similar interest may, if the other members of the Board so decide, be excluded from any Board meeting while the Conflict is under consideration.
v. Where the Board gives authority in relation to a Conflict: the Board may (whether at the time of giving the authority or subsequently): (A) require that the relevant director is excluded from the receipt of information, participation in discussion and/or the making of decisions (whether at meetings of the Board or otherwise) related to the Conflict; and (B) impose upon the relevant director such other terms for the purpose of dealing with the Conflict as it may determine; the relevant director will be obliged to conduct himself in accordance with any terms imposed by the Board in relation to the Conflict; the Board may provide that where the relevant director obtains (otherwise than through his position as a director of the Company) information that is confidential to a third party, the director will not be obliged to disclose that information to the Company, or to use or apply the information in relation to the Company's affairs, where to do so would amount to a breach of that confidence; the terms of the authority shall be recorded in writing (but the authority shall be effective whether or not the terms are so recorded); and the Board may revoke or vary such authority at any time but this will not affect anything done by the relevant director prior to such revocation in accordance with the terms of such authority.
vi. Where a director is or becomes a director of one or more other venture capital trust(s) managed by the same manager appointed by the Company and seeks Board approval for his other office(s) and a general authorisation in respect of the Conflict which might arise, if the Board gives its approval and authority, the Board may not subsequently require that the relevant director is excluded from the receipt of information, participation in discussion and/or the making of decisions (whether at meetings of the Board or otherwise) related to such Conflicts, nor impose upon the relevant director other terms for the purpose of dealing with the Conflicts.
vii. If a director is in any way directly or indirectly interested in a proposed contract with the Company or a contract that has been entered into by the Company, he must declare the nature and extent of that interest to the directors in accordance with the Companies Acts.
Provided he has declared his interest, a director may: be party to, or otherwise interested in, any contract with the Company or in which the Company has a direct or indirect interest; hold any other office or place of profit with the Company (except that of auditor) in conjunction with his office of director for such period and upon such terms, including as to remuneration, as the Board may decide; act by himself or through a firm with which he is associated in a professional capacity for the Company or any other company in which the Company may be interested (otherwise than as an auditor); be or become a director or other officer of, or employed by or otherwise be interested in any subsidiary company of the Company or any other company in which the Company may be interested; and be or become a director of any other company in which the Company does not have an interest and which cannot reasonably be regarded as giving rise to a Conflict at the time of his appointment as a director of that other company.
viii. A director shall not, by reason of his office or of the fiduciary relationship thereby established, be liable to account to the Company for any remuneration, profit or other benefit: which he derives from any matter which involves a Conflict if that Conflict has been authorised by the Board; or realised by reason of his having any type of interest authorised or permitted and no contract shall be liable to be avoided on the grounds of a director having any type of interest authorised or permitted.
ix. The ordinary remuneration of the directors who do not hold executive office for their services shall be such amount as the Board may from time to time determine and shall be divided among the non-executive directors in such proportion or manner as the Board may determine. The directors may be paid all travelling, hotel, and other expenses properly incurred by them in connection with their attendance at meetings of the Board or committees of the Board, general meetings or separate meetings of the holders of any class of shares or of debentures of the Company or otherwise in connection with the discharge of their duties.
x. The Board may exercise all the powers of the Company to purchase and maintain insurance for or for the benefit of any person who is or was: a director, officer, or employee of the Company, or anybody which is or was the holding company or subsidiary undertaking of the Company, or in which the Company or such holding company or subsidiary undertaking has or had any interest (whether direct or indirect) or with which the Company or such holding company or subsidiary undertaking is or was in any way allied or associated; including without limitation insurance against any liability incurred by such person in respect of any act or omission in the actual or purported execution or discharge of his duties or in the exercise or purported exercise of his powers or otherwise in relation to his duties, powers or offices in relation to the relevant body or fund.
xi. The Company may indemnify any director, officer or employee of the Company or of any associated company against any liability and may purchase and maintain for any director, officer or employee of the Company or of any associated company insurance against any liability. No director of the Company or of any associated company shall be accountable to the Company or the members for any such benefit and the receipt of any such benefit shall not disqualify any person from being or becoming a director of the Company.
i. The Board may exercise all the powers of the Company to borrow money, to guarantee, to indemnify, to mortgage or charge its undertaking, property, assets (present and future) and uncalled capital, and to issue debentures and other securities whether outright or as collateral security for any debt, liability or obligation of the Company or of any third party.
ii. The Board shall restrict the borrowings of the Company and exercise all voting and other rights or powers of control exercisable by the Company in relation to its subsidiary undertakings (if any) so as to secure (but as regards subsidiary undertakings, only so far as by the exercise of such rights or powers of control the Board can secure) that, save with the previous sanction of an ordinary resolution and subject as provided below, no money shall be borrowed if the principal amount outstanding of all borrowings by the Company and its subsidiary undertakings (if any), then exceeds, or would as a result of such borrowing exceed, a principal amount equal to the aggregate of the share capital and consolidated reserves of the Company and each of its subsidiary undertakings as shown in the audited consolidated balance sheet provided that prior to their publication such aggregate principal amount shall be limited to 90% of the amount paid up or credited as paid up (whether in respect of nominal value or premium) on the allotted or issued share capital of the Company.
i. The members of the Company may declare a final dividend in accordance with the respective rights of the members by passing an ordinary resolution at a general meeting of the Company. No such dividend may exceed the amount recommended by the directors.
The directors may at any time and in accordance with the Companies Acts:
(i) recommend to the shareholders that a final dividend be declared and recommend the amount of any such dividend; and
(ii) pay a distribution by way of an interim dividend out of the profits of the Company.
However, no such recommendation shall be made or interim dividend paid unless it appears to the directors to be justified by the position of the Company in accordance with the respective rights of the members.
ii. The Company shall be entitled to cease sending dividend warrants and cheques by post or otherwise to a member if those instruments have been returned undelivered to, or left uncashed by, that member on at least two consecutive occasions, or, following one such occasion, reasonable enquiries have failed to establish the member's new address. Any dividend which has remained unclaimed for 12 years from the date when it became due for payment shall, if the Board so resolves and directs, be paid by the Company into an account separate from the Company's own account where it will be held on trust for and from time to time donated to such charitable causes as the Board may, in its absolute discretion, determine having regard, in particular, to the duties of directors under section 172(1) of the CA 2006. Alternatively, the Board may resolve that any dividend which has remained unclaimed for 12 years from the date when it became due for payment may be forfeited, shall cease to remain due for payment by the Company and shall constitute a windfall appropriated for the benefit of the Company.
At any time when the Company has given notice in the prescribed form (which has not been revoked) to the Registrar of Companies of its intention to carry on business as an investment company under section 833 of the CA 2006 (a "Relevant Period") distribution of the Company's capital profits shall be prohibited otherwise than by way of the redemption or purchase of any of the Company's own shares in accordance with Chapter 3 or 4 of Part 18 of the CA 2006. The directors shall establish a reserve to be called the capital reserve. During a Relevant Period, all surpluses arising from the realisation or revaluation of investments and all other monies realised on or derived from the realisation, payment off of or other dealing with any capital asset in excess of the book value thereof and all other monies which are considered by the directors to be in the nature of accretion to capital shall be credited to the capital reserve. Subject to the provisions of the CA 2006, the directors may determine whether any amount received by the Company is to be dealt with as income or capital or partly one way and partly the other. During a Relevant Period, any loss realised on the realisation or payment off of or other dealing with any investments or other capital assets and, subject to the provisions of the CA 2006, any expenses, loss, liability (or provision therefor) which the directors consider to relate to a capital item or which the directors otherwise consider appropriate to be debited to the capital reserve, shall be carried to the debit of the capital reserve.
During a Relevant Period, all sums carried and standing to the credit of the capital reserve may be applied for any of the purposes for which sums standing to the credit of any revenue reserves are applicable except and provided that notwithstanding any other provision of these Articles, during a Relevant Period no part of the capital reserve or any other money in the nature of accretion to capital shall be transferred to the revenue reserves of the Company or be regarded or treated as profits of the Company available for distribution (as defined by section 830 (2) of the CA 2006) or be applied in paying dividends on any shares of the Company. In any other period other than a Relevant Period any amount standing to the credit of the capital reserve may be transferred to the revenue reserves of the Company or be regarded or treated as profits of the Company available for distribution (subject to and as defined in section 830 (2) of the CA 2006) or be applied in paying dividends on any shares of the Company.
In order for the term of the Ordinary Share class to be determined by the holders of the Ordinary Shares the directors shall, provided they believe it is in the best interests of the Company, at a class meeting of the Ordinary Shareholders which shall be convened on the same day as the annual general meeting of the Company falling after the fifth anniversary of the last allotment (from time to time) of Ordinary Shares and thereafter at three yearly intervals, propose a resolution that the Ordinary Share class should be wound up and, if such a resolution is not passed by the Ordinary Shareholders, invite those members to consider and debate the future of the Ordinary Share class and as soon as practicable following that meeting shall convene a further class meeting of the Ordinary Shareholders to propose such resolution as the members attending the earlier class meeting may by ordinary resolution require.
Under the CA 2006 the Company may by special resolution confirmed by the court reduce the amount standing to the credit of the share premium account at the time of such application.
i. Subject to the provisions of the Companies Acts, annual general meetings shall be held at such time and place as the Board may determine. General meetings may be convened by the Board whenever it thinks fit and by Shareholders in accordance with section 303 of the CA 2006.
ii. An annual general meeting shall be convened by not less than 21 clear days' notice in writing. All other general meetings shall also be convened by not less than 21 days' notice in writing unless conditions A to C of section 307A of the CA 2006 are complied with.
i. There are no provisions in the Articles that would have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control of the Company.
ii. Failure by any Shareholder to provide the Company with the information as requested by any notice served in accordance with section 793 of the CA 2006 (notice by company requiring information about interests in its shares) may result in that Shareholder being disenfranchised in respect of his shareholdings and, inter alia, the withholding of any dividends payable to him.
| Class | Number | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary Shares | 15,000 | 30 September 2015 |
| Ordinary Shares | 26,094 | 21 December 2015 |
| Ordinary Shares | 10,570,589 | 19 May 2017 |
| Ordinary Shares | 395,435 | 27 June 2017 |
| Ordinary Shares | 80,900 | 28 September 2017 |
| Old C Shares | 37,677 | 29 December 2017 |
| Ordinary Shares | 217,722 | 29 December 2017 |
| Ordinary Shares | 320,237 | 2 July 2018 |
| Ordinary Shares | 115,981 | 19 July 2018 |
| Ordinary Shares | 227,379 | 21 December 2018 |
| Ordinary Shares | 112,462 | 5 April 2019 |
| Number | Nominal value (£) | |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary Shares | 32,215,361 | 32,215.37 |
| FWT Shares | 18,900,000 | 18,900.00 |
| Deferred Shares | 1,222,778 | 12,227.78 |
Other than as disclosed in this document, there have been no changes in the share capital of the Company during the period.
2.10 The following resolutions, inter alia, are proposed to be passed at a general meeting of the Company to be held on 27 January 2020 as ordinary and special resolutions as indicated.
THAT, conditionally upon the passing of Resolutions below, the Directors be generally and unconditionally authorised pursuant to section 551 of the CA 2006 to allot FWT Shares having the rights and being subject to the restrictions set out in the articles of association of the Company as proposed to be amended pursuant to Resolution 6 below and to grant rights to subscribe for
or to convert any security into FWT Shares in the Company up to an aggregate nominal amount of £350,000 provided that this authority shall expire on the fifth anniversary of the date of the passing of this resolution save that the Company may before such expiry make an offer or agreement which would or might require FWT Shares to be allotted or rights to subscribe for or to convert securities into FWT Shares to be granted after such expiry and the Directors may allot shares or grant rights to subscribe for or to convert securities into FWT Shares in pursuance of such an offer or agreement as if the authority conferred hereby had not expired.
THAT, conditionally upon the passing of Resolutions above and below, the Directors be and hereby are given the general power to allot equity securities (as defined by section 560 of the Act) for cash pursuant to the authority conferred by Resolution 1 as if section 561(1) of the Act did not apply to any such allotment, provided that this power shall:
The power granted by this resolution will expire on the fifth anniversary of the date of the passing of this resolution save that the Company may, before such expiry, make offers or agreements which would or might require equity securities to be allotted after such expiry and the Directors may allot equity securities in pursuance of any such offer or agreement notwithstanding that the power conferred by this resolution has expired.
This resolution is additional to and does not revoke or replace existing and unexercised powers previously granted to the Directors to allot equity securities as if section 561(1) of the Act did not apply.
THAT, conditionally upon the passing of Resolutions above and below, the Company generally and unconditionally be authorised to make market purchases (within the meaning of section 693(4) of the Act) of FWT Shares of 1p each provided that:
The authority conferred by this resolution shall expire on the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company unless such authority is renewed prior to such time save that the Company may make a contract to purchase FWT Shares under the authority conferred by this resolution prior to the expiry of such authority which will or may be executed wholly or partly after the expiration of such authority and may make a purchase of FWT Shares pursuant to such contract.
| Director | Ordinary Shares |
|---|---|
| Tim Dowlen | 29,558 |
| Mike Liston | - |
| Ernie Richardson | - |
None of the Directors has a service contract and may resign at any time by giving six months' notice in writing to the Board or by mutual consent. All Directors are subject to retirement by rotation. Their appointment does not confer any right to hold office for any period nor any right to compensation if they cease to be directors. The total annual remuneration receivable by Ernie Richardson as chairman of the Company is £28,250. The total annual remuneration receivable by each of Tim Dowlen and Mike Liston is £22,500. The office of non-executive director of the Company is not pensionable. Directors' emoluments in respect of qualifying services for the nine month period ended 31 March 2019 amounted to £60,563 (plus applicable VAT). The Directors estimate that the total amount payable to them by the Company for the year ended 31 March 2020 will be £83,850 (plus applicable VAT).
(i) at least 70% (rising to 80% for accounting periods commencing on or after 6 April 2019) by value of the Company's investments (including any uninvested funds held) must be represented by shares or securities in Qualifying Holdings, of which at least 70% by value must be represented by holdings of ordinary shares; additionally at least 10% by value of investments in single companies or groups must be in ordinary shares which carry no preferential rights on a return of capital but may carry preferential rights to dividends which are neither cumulative nor discretionary; and
(ii) not more than 15% by value of the Company's investments can (at the time of investment) be held in a single company or group (other than a VCT) and the Company must not control the VCT-qualifying Investee Companies in which it invests in such a way as to render them subsidiary undertakings.
4.13 At the date of this document the Company complies with the principles of the UK Code of Corporate Governance (the "Code") save that:
the Company's 2018 annual general meeting was convened on at least 24 days' notice but not 20 business days' notice as recommended in the Code;
The following contracts, not being contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business, are all of the contracts which have been entered into by the Company since its incorporation and which are, or may be, material, or have been entered into by the Company and contain provisions under which the Company has obligations or entitlements which are material to it at the date of this document.
5.6 An investment management agreement between the Company (1) Foresight Group LLP ("Foresight") (2) and Foresight Group CI Limited (3) whereby Foresight Group CI Limited will act as the investment manager in respect of the FWT Shares fund on a discretionary basis for an initial five-year period and thereafter on 12 months' notice by either side in return for an annual management fee (payable quarterly in advance) of 2.0% (plus VAT, if any, at the applicable rate) of the net assets of the FWT Shares fund. The Company will agree to indemnify Foresight against all or any actions, proceedings, losses, claims, demands and liabilities whatsoever arising out of the proper performance of the investment manager's duties. There are no value or time limits attached to the indemnity other than the statutory time limit of twelve years which applies to agreements signed as deeds. Foresight retains the right to charge arrangement, exit and syndication fees to investee companies, and will be responsible for all costs of an investment that does not proceed. Foresight will receive an annual fee of 0.3% of net funds raised under the Offer (subject to a minimum of £60,000 per annum) index-linked for undertaking the secretarial and accounting requirements of the Company, attributable to the FWT Shares fund.
It is proposed that the Company's investment policy be extended subject to the authority of Shareholders to be sought at the General Meeting. The Company's existing investment policy, which was most recently approved by Shareholders when the Company launched its D share fund and subsequently revised when the D shares ceased to exist following the merger of the Company's share classes in 2018, is shown below. The proposed amendments are shown as additions to the policy are underlined and proposed deletions struck through.
The Company will target unquoted companies which it believes will achieve the objective of producing attractive returns for Shareholders.
The Company invests in a range of securities including, but not limited to, ordinary and preference shares, loan stock, convertible securities, and fixed-interest securities as well as cash. Unquoted investments are usually structured as a combination of ordinary shares, preference shares and loan stock. Pending investment in unquoted and AIM listed securities, cash will be primarily held in a range of interest-bearing accounts as well as a range of permitted non-qualifying investments may include holdings in money-market instruments, short-dated bonds, unit trusts, OEICs, structured products, guarantees to banks or third parties providing loans or other investment into investee companies and other assets where Foresight believes that the risk/return portfolio is consistent with the overall investment objectives of the portfolio including alternative investment funds and listed shares. The Company may invest in other funds managed by Foresight (or its associates).
The companies in which investments are made must satisfy a number of tests set out in Part 6 of the Income Tax Act 2007 to be classed as VCT qualifying holdings, including that they have a permanent establishment in the UK.
The Company hasThe Ordinary Share class is fully invested in unquoted companies that seek to generate solar electricity and, in most cases, benefit from long-term government-backed price guarantees.
Investments may be made in companies seeking to generate renewable energy from other sources provided that these benefit from similar long-term government-backed price guarantees. No investments of this nature have been made to date. The Board has always ensured that at least 70% of net share capital raised has been invested in Qualifying Companies whose primary business is the generation of solar electricity. Any uninvested funds are held in cash, interest bearing securities or other investments.
The FWT Share class intends to invest principally in early stage UK technology companies and funds raised by the inaugural FWT Share offer will, no later than three years following the end of the accounting period in which those shares are issued, be invested as to at least 80% in unquoted disruptive UK technology companies with 30% of such funds so invested within the first 12 months. The remainder of such funds raised will be held in cash or other permitted non-qualifying investments. Funds raised in the future will be invested in accordance with prevailing VCT rules at the time of investment.
Risk in the Ordinary Share portfolio has been spread by investing in a number of different companies which have targeted a variety of separate locations for their solar power assets. The value of an investment is expected to increase over time as a result of trading progress and a continuous assessment is made of its suitability for sale. Although risk is spread across different portfolio companies, concentration risk is fairly high given that a number of these companies trade on the same UK solar parks. a significant portion are UK Solar projects owned by Qualifying Companies, in which Qualifying Investments were made by the Ordinary Shares fund and the C Shares fund, which have been merged to form larger trading groups.
Risk in the FWT Share class will be spread by investing in a number of different companies developing different technologies which are applicable to different target markets and at different levels of the value chains within those markets and with a targeted minimum of five investments.
The maximum amount invested by the Company in any one company is limited to 15% of the portfolio at the time of investment.
The Company's Articles permit borrowing, to give a degree of investment flexibility. Under the Company's Articles no money may be borrowed without the sanction of an ordinary resolution if the principal amount outstanding of all borrowings by the Company and its subsidiary undertakings (if any), then exceeds, or would as a result of such borrowing exceed, a principal amount equal to the aggregate of the share capital and consolidated reserves of the Company and each of its subsidiary undertakings as shown in the latest available audited consolidated balance sheet. The underlying portfolio companies in which the Company invests may utilise bank borrowing or other debt arrangements to finance asset purchases but such borrowing would be non-recourse to the Company.
vi Foresight Group personnel have and will have sufficient and satisfactory relevant experience in advising on investments of the size and type in which the Company proposes to make. The Directors will also ensure that the board of the Company and any additional or replacement investment advisers have and will have sufficient and satisfactory experience in advising on such investments.
vii In the event of a breach of the investment restrictions which apply to the Company as described in paragraph 6.1 above, shareholders will be informed by means of the interim and/or the annual report or through a public announcement.
The following paragraphs, which are intended as a general guide only and are based on current legislation and HMRC practice, summarise advice received by the Directors as to the position of the Company's Shareholders who hold Ordinary Shares or FWT Shares other than for trading purposes. Any person who is in any doubt as to his taxation position or is subject to taxation in any jurisdiction other than the United Kingdom should consult his professional advisers.
9.3 Close company - the Directors believe that the Company is not and expect that following completion of the Offer will not be a close company within the meaning of the Tax Act. If the Company were a close company in any accounting period, approval as a venture capital trust would be withdrawn.
Information on the current Ordinary Shares portfolio as at the date of this document is detailed below. Information on investments held and valuation have been extracted from the Company's accounting records and unaudited financial information as at 30 September 2019. There have been no material changes to the below analysis, which is extracted from the unaudited half year financial report of the Company for the six months ended on 30 September 2019, to the date of this document.
The portfolio relates entirely to the Ordinary Shares fund which holds interests in a range of solar projects described below as no funds have yet been raised or invested for the FWT Shares.
In respect of the financial information regarding the solar projects below, the interests in which are held by Investee Companies of the Ordinary Shares fund have been taken from the latest financial year end accounts published by those Investee Companies and such information is, for the purpose of this section (B), "Third Party Information". The Third Party Information has been accurately reproduced and, as far as the Company is aware and is able to ascertain from information published by those third parties, no facts have been omitted which would render the reproduced information inaccurate or misleading.
| Capacity (MW) | 16.4 |
|---|---|
| Investment date | December 2014 |
| Voting rights in the relevant portfolio companies | 49% |
| Current cost | £19,771,001 |
| Income | £3,482,010 |
| EBITDA | £1,176,974 |
| Net assets/(liabilities) | £60,594 |
| Valuation | £23,333,840 |
| Capacity (MW) | 14.2 |
|---|---|
| Investment date | September 2017 |
| Voting rights in the relevant portfolio companies | 49% |
| Current cost | £5,332,478 |
| Income | £1,613,866 |
| EBITDA | £98,831 |
| Net assets/(liabilities) | (£90,987) |
| Valuation | £8,050,492 |
| Capacity (MW) | 5 |
|---|---|
| Investment date | August 2017 |
| Voting rights in the relevant portfolio companies | 49% |
| Current cost | £5,087,340 |
| Income | £630,244 |
| EBITDA | £492,718 |
| Net assets/(liabilities) | £143,533 |
| Valuation | £6,984,953 |
| Capacity (MW) | 10 |
|---|---|
| Investment date | November 2018 |
| Voting rights in the relevant portfolio companies | 49% |
| Current cost | £4,149,938 |
| Income | £1,836,480 |
| EBITDA | £484,429 |
| Net assets/(liabilities) | £79,932 |
| Valuation | £4,471,255 |
| Capacity (MW) | 6.3 |
|---|---|
| Investment date | March 2015 |
| Voting rights in the relevant portfolio companies | 49% |
| Current cost | £3,412,909 |
| Income | £770,550 |
| EBITDA | £478,848 |
| Net assets/(liabilities) | (£1,069,306) |
| Valuation | £3,329,919 |
| Capacity (MW) | 5.0 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Investment date | July 2016 | ||
| Voting rights in the relevant portfolio companies | 49% | ||
| Current cost | £1,031,975 | ||
| Income | £583,523 | ||
| EBITDA | £215,004 | ||
| Net assets/(liabilities) | (£473,672) | ||
| Valuation | £2,271,974 |
| Capacity (MW) | 5.0 | |
|---|---|---|
| Investment date | August 2018 | |
| Voting rights in the relevant portfolio companies | 49% | |
| Current cost | £1,707,972 | |
| Income | £813,314 | |
| EBITDA | £590,239 | |
| Net assets/(liabilities) | (£579,085) | |
| Valuation | £2,372,672 |
| Capacity (MW) | 4.5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Investment date | August 2018 | |
| Voting rights in the relevant portfolio companies | 49% | |
| Current cost | £1,673,880 | |
| Income | £854,486 | |
| EBITDA | (£469,636) | |
| Net assets/(liabilities) | (£284,938) | |
| Valuation | £1,988,380 |
| Capacity (MW) | 4.3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Investment date | August 2018 | |
| Voting rights in the relevant portfolio companies | 49% | |
| Current cost | £1,421,984 | |
| Income | £596,733 | |
| EBITDA | £328,392 | |
| Net assets/(liabilities) | (£790,174) | |
| Valuation | £1,269,501 |
| Capacity (MW) | 1.9 |
|---|---|
| Investment date | July 2018 |
| Voting rights in the relevant portfolio companies | 25.7% |
| Current cost | £2,863,530 |
| Valuation | £3,527,185 |
* Now sold
| Capacity (MW) | 2.0 |
|---|---|
| Investment date | August 2018 |
| Voting rights in the relevant portfolio companies | 49% |
| Current cost | £711,206 |
| Income | £226,878 |
| EBITDA | £380,401 |
| Net assets/(liabilities) | (£518,299) |
| Valuation | £792,745 |
| Capacity (MW) | 1.9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Investment date | March 2015 | |
| Voting rights in the relevant portfolio companies | 49% | |
| Current cost | £673,363 | |
| Income | £251,063 | |
| EBITDA | £105,568 | |
| Net assets/(liabilities) | (£303,483) | |
| Valuation | £633,099 |
| Capacity (MW) | 0.4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Investment date | November 2017 | |
| Voting rights in the relevant portfolio companies | 49% | |
| Current cost | £407,797 | |
| Valuation | £492,095 |
| Capacity (MW) | 0.1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Investment date | March 2013 | |
| Voting rights in the relevant portfolio companies | 100% | |
| Current cost | £325,878 | |
| Income | £30,656 | |
| EBITDA | £170 | |
| Net assets/(liabilities) | £256,751 | |
| Valuation | £358,071 |
The valuations of the above projects result in an aggregate gross asset value of the Company's holdings of £54.0 million. The Company's NAV, being chiefly the NAV of the Ordinary Shares fund, of £39.8 million reflects a debt of £15 million owed by the Company to its wholly owned subsidiary, Youtan Limited, following an intra-group loan made to fund the tender offer undertaken by the Company in May 2017.
Audited financial information on the Company is published in its annual report and accounts for the last four financial years as set out below.
The annual report and accounts were all prepared in accordance with UK generally accepted accounting practice (GAAP) including FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland", the fair value rules of the CA 2006 and in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) "Financial Statements of Investment Trust Companies and Venture Capital Trusts" issued in November 2014 and updated in February 2018. KPMG LLP, registered auditor of 15 Canada Square, London E14 5GL have reported without qualification and without statements under section 498 of the CA 2006 In respect of the statutory accounts for the years ended 30 June 2016, 2017 and 2018 and the period ended 31 March 2019.
The annual report and accounts include the information set out below on the pages specified in the tables below, which are being incorporated into the document by reference can be accessed at the Foresight website (www.foresightgroup.eu) and are also available for inspection at the National Storage Mechanism accessed at www.morningstar.co.uk/uk/NSM. It should be noted that other sections of such documents that are not incorporated herein by reference are either not relevant to investors and others or are covered elsewhere in the Prospectus.
Where these documents make reference to other documents, such other documents are not incorporated into and do not form part of the Prospectus.
| Description | 2016 Annual Report (page |
2017 Annual Report (page |
2018 Annual Report (page |
Unaudited 2018 Half Yearly Report |
Audited report for the period ended 31 March 2019 |
Unaudited report for the period ended 30 September 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| number) | number) | number) | (page number) | (page number) | (page number) | |
| Balance Sheet | 37 | 52 | 46 | 21 | 50 | 21 |
| Income Statement (or equivalent) |
35 | 50 | 44 | 20 | 48 | 20 |
| Statement showing all changes in equity (or equivalent) |
36 | 51 | 45 | 21 | 49 | 21 |
| Cash Flow Statement | 38 | 53 | 47 | 22 | 51 | 22 |
| Accounting Policies and Notes |
39 | 48 | 48 | 23 | 52 | 23 |
| Auditor's Report | 33 | 45 | 39 | n/a | 43 | n/a |
This information has been prepared in a form consistent with that which will be adopted in the Company's next published annual financial statements having regard to accounting standards and policies and legislation applicable to those financial statements.
Such information also includes operating/financial reviews as follows:
| Description | 2016 Annual Report (page number) |
2017 Annual Report (page number) |
2018 Annual Report (page number) |
2018 Half-Yearly Report (page number) |
Audited report for the period ended 31 March 2019 (page number) |
Unaudited report for the period ended 30 September 2019 (page number) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Financial Highlights | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Results & Dividend | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Portfolio review | 10 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Valuation Policy | 9 | 26 | 22 | 18 | 26 | 18 |
| Outlook | 4 | 7, 11 | 5, 9 | 5 | 5, 9 | 5 |
| Investment Summary | 14 | 8 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
Certain financial information on the Company is also set out below:
| 2016 Annual Report (page |
2017 Annual Report |
2018 Annual Report |
2018 Half Yearly Report |
Audited report for the period ended 31 March |
Unaudited report for the period ended 30 September |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| number) | 2019 | 2019 | ||||
| Investment income | £973,000 | £871,000 | £1,543,000 | £368,000 | £546,000 | £341,000 |
| Profit / (loss) before taxation |
£(1,786,000) | £3,051,000 | £538,000 | £3,213,000 | £2,809,000 | £(348,000) |
| Revenue return/ (loss) per Ordinary Share |
0.7p | 0.3p | 0.8p | (0.3)p | (0.6)p | (0.4)p |
| Capital return / (loss) per Ordinary Share |
(3.4)p | 3.2p | 0.4p | 7.7p | 7.1p | (0.4)p |
| Revenue return/ (loss) per Old C Share |
(0.3)p | 0.0p | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Capital return / (loss) per Old C Share |
(5.7)p | 14.9p | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Revenue return/ (loss) per Old D Share |
(0.3)p | (1.7)p | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Capital return / (loss) per Old D Share |
(0.3)p | (1.4)p | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Dividends per Ordinary Share |
6.0p | 6.0p | 6.0p | 3.0p | 3.0p | 3.0p |
| Dividends per Old C Share |
5.0p | 5.0p | 5.0p | - | - | - |
| Dividends per Old D Share |
- | - | - | - | - | - |
| Total net assets | £50,606,000 | £42,919,000 | £40,818,000 | £42,101,000 | £41,686,000 | £39,765,000 |
| NAV per Ordinary Share |
100.7p | 95.9p | 93.0p | 97.3p | 96.4p | 92.6p |
| NAV per Old C Share |
80.5p | 90.1p | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| NAV per Old D Share |
99.4p | 96.8p | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
As at 30 September 2019 the unaudited net asset value per Ordinary Shares was 92.6p
As at 30 September 2019, the date to which the most recent unaudited half-yearly report and accounts of the Company have been drawn up, the Company had net assets of £39.8 million. The Company is now seeking to raise up to £20 million (with an over-allotment facility of up to an additional £10 million) through the Offer for which the associated expenses will not exceed 5.5% of the gross proceeds. The impact of the Offer on the Company's earnings should be accretive in the medium term. The net assets of the Company will be increased by the net proceeds of the Offer.
Copies of the following documents will be available for inspection during usual business hours on weekdays (Saturdays and public holidays excepted), at the offices of Foresight Group LLP, The Shard, 32 London Bridge Street, London SE1 9SG whilst the Offer is open:
20 December 2019
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