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Half-year report

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Foresight Enterprise VCT plc.
Foresight Enterprise VCT plc.

FORESIGHT ENTERPRISE VCT PLC
LEI: 213800MWJNR3WZZ3ZP42

UNAUDITED HALF-YEARLY FINANCIAL REPORT
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2024

Financial Highlights

  • Total net assets £171.1 million

  • A special dividend of 5.0p per share was paid on 19 January 2024, returning £13.2 million to Shareholders

  • Post period end, an interim dividend of 3.3p per share was paid on 12 July 2024, returning £8.7 million to Shareholders

  • The value of the investment portfolio has increased by £8.7 million in the last six months

  • Net Asset Value per share decreased by 1.7% in the period from 65.6p at 31 December 2023 to 64.5p at 30 June 2024

  • Including the payment of a 5.0p dividend on 19 January 2024, NAV Total Return per share at 30 June 2024 was 69.5p (being NAV at the end of the period plus dividends paid in the period), representing a positive NAV Total Return of 5.9% in the period

Chair’s Statement

I am pleased to present the unaudited Half-Yearly Financial Report for Foresight Enterprise VCT plc for the period ended 30 June 2024 and to report a Net Asset Value Total Return of 5.9% for the period, including a dividend yield of 8.6%.

The business environment is slowly improving with interest rates looking like they have peaked and inflationary pressures more stable, as are energy costs. All of these factors are key to a more stable business environment which is a prerequisite to building business confidence and, from this, hopefully growth. However, the spectre of a worsening geopolitical landscape continues to cause concern for citizens and investors alike. The threat of recession is receding, but markets remain uncertain with forthcoming US elections and a new UK Government and what that might mean for us all. The continuing issues in Ukraine and the Middle East only goes to add to the uncertainty and these matters influence the Manager’s investment thinking too. Against that backdrop, I am delighted to say our portfolio is performing well with some good exits and a positive pipeline of new investment opportunities being considered. The Board is soon to embark upon our annual strategy review with the Manager. I believe the strong and growing team of investment professionals serves us well. The Manager’s regional presence across core commercial centres in the UK further adds to the diversity of opportunities they can review and invest in. We will continue to have great focus to ensure the Company and sector selections are considered, well researched and suggest good value prior to investment.

In the six months ended 30 June 2024, 22 companies in the portfolio recorded a combined increase in valuation of £13.7 million, offset by 19 companies recording an aggregate fall in valuation of £5.0 million.