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IPO Ip Group Plc

46.80
-0.85 (-1.78%)
Last Updated: 08:31:03
Delayed by 15 minutes
Share Name Share Symbol Market Type Share ISIN Share Description
Ip Group Plc LSE:IPO London Ordinary Share GB00B128J450 ORD 2P
  Price Change % Change Share Price Bid Price Offer Price High Price Low Price Open Price Shares Traded Last Trade
  -0.85 -1.78% 46.80 46.70 47.25 47.05 46.80 47.00 31,977 08:31:03
Industry Sector Turnover Profit EPS - Basic PE Ratio Market Cap
Finance Services -140.1M -174.4M -0.1682 -2.78 485.28M

IP Group PLC Half-year Report for IP Group (6003G)

09/08/2016 7:00am

UK Regulatory


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RNS Number : 6003G

IP Group PLC

09 August 2016

 
  FOR RELEASE ON   9 August 2016 
 

("IP Group" or "the Group" or "the Company")

Half-yearly results

IP Group plc (LSE: IPO), the developer of intellectual property-based businesses, today announces its half-yearly results for the six months ended 30 June 2016.

HALF YEAR HIGHLIGHTS

Financial and operational update

   -       Net assets excluding intangibles of GBP683.5m (HY15: GBP700.6m; FY15: GBP714.3m) 

- Adjusted loss before tax of GBP31.1m (HY15: profit of GBP70.1m; FY15: profit of GBP82.4m), excluding amortisation of intangible assets

   -       Portfolio realisations: GBP14.5m (HY15: GBP0.4m; FY15: GBP0.6m) 
   -       Net cash and deposits at 30 June 2016: GBP174.7m (HY15: GBP219.6m; FY15: GBP178.8m). 

Portfolio update

   -       Fair value of portfolio: GBP525.7m (HY15: GBP478.2m; FY15: GBP552.2m) 

- Capital provided to portfolio companies and projects: GBP12.8m (HY15: GBP15.1m; FY15: GBP75.9m)

   -       Group's portfolio companies raised approximately GBP38m of new capital during the half year 

- Oxford Nanopore Technologies Limited announces significant technical and commercial progress, including the launch of a number of new products and services, and delivers its first PromethION instrument

Post-period end update

   -       Diurnal reports positive headline data from European Infacort(R) Phase III pivotal study. 

Commenting on the Group's half-yearly results, Alan Aubrey, Chief Executive Officer of IP Group, said: "It is pleasing to report that a number of our portfolio companies have made excellent commercial progress during the period across all four of our sectors - Healthcare, Technology, Cleantech and Biotech - although broader economic conditions have had an impact on the value of some of our AIM-quoted holdings. The Group's US business continues to develop, with the Group having signed agreements with the University of Washington and The Johns Hopkins University to explore opportunities to commercialise the universities' intellectual property.

It is clear that the UK is facing a period of uncertainty following the EU referendum and ahead of the conclusion of subsequent negotiations. While in the shorter term there may be some impact on specific portfolio company financing rounds, the Board believes that the fundamentals of the business are strong and that the case for the commercialisation of science remains compelling. IP Group has partnerships with 14 of the UK's and 5 of the US's leading research universities, a portfolio worth GBP525.7m, a strong cash balance of GBP174.7m, an experienced management team and a healthy pipeline of new opportunities. This leaves the Group well positioned to respond effectively to, and capitalise on, opportunities in the second half of the year."

For more information, please contact:

 
 IP Group plc           www.ipgroupplc.com 
 Alan Aubrey, Chief 
  Executive Officer 
  Greg Smith, Chief 
  Financial Officer 
  Liz Vaughan-Adams, 
  Communications        +44 (0) 20 7444 0050 
 Charlotte Street Partners 
 Andrew Wilson          +44 (0) 7810 636995 
 

Further information on IP Group is available on our website: www.ipgroupplc.com

This half-yearly results release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements reflect the Board's current view, are subject to a number of material risks and uncertainties and could change in the future. Factors that could cause or contribute to such changes include, but are not limited to, the general economic climate and market conditions, as well as specific factors relating to the financial or commercial prospects or performance of individual portfolio companies within the Group's portfolio of investments. Throughout this half-yearly results release the Group's holdings in portfolio companies reflect the undiluted beneficial equity interest excluding debt, unless otherwise explicitly stated.

Interim management report

Summary

IP Group's aim is to evolve great ideas into world-changing businesses to provide attractive returns over the long term for all of our stakeholders. While market conditions have had an impact on the value of some of our AIM-quoted holdings, it is pleasing to report that the commercial performance of many of our portfolio companies has been outstanding in the period.

Further, total realisations in the first half of the year were GBP14.5m (HY15: GBP0.4m; FY15: GBP0.6m). The most significant contribution came from the sale of the Group's holding in Tracsis plc, which generated GBP13.1m of cash proceeds. Including dividends, the Group's total proceeds from Tracsis were GBP14.3m, representing a multiple of approximately 38 times the Group's total cost of GBP0.4m.

At 30 June 2016, the fair value of the Group's portfolio was GBP525.7m (HY15: GBP478.2m; FY15: GBP552.2m). This reflects a net fair value decrease of GBP24.5m during the period largely as a result of a reduction in the value of the Group's holdings in three AIM-listed portfolio companies - Avacta Group plc (GBP7.1m), Xeros Technology Group plc (GBP7.1m) and hVIVO plc (GBP4.4m). These were partly offset by positive contributions from other companies in the portfolio including, notably, Ceres Power Holdings plc (GBP4.2m).

In the first six months of the year, the Group provided incubation, seed and further capital totalling GBP12.8m to 29 distinct portfolio companies and opportunities (HY15: GBP15.1m, 31 opportunities; FY15: GBP75.9m, 53 opportunities) and had gross cash and deposits of GBP174.7m (HY15: GBP219.6m; FY15: GBP178.8m).

The Group's portfolio now comprises holdings in 83 companies in addition to strategic stakes in three multi-sector platform businesses and 16 de minimis holdings (HY15: 77, 3, 17; FY15: 82, 3, 15).

The first half of the year has been characterised by major commercial developments in our key assets with strong progress across all four of our sectors - Healthcare, Technology, Cleantech and Biotech. Notable highlights are as follows:

In Healthcare, Oxford Nanopore Technologies Limited hosted its flagship 'London Calling' conference in May and made a number of key announcements including announcing a new pipeline product, SmidgION, the smallest ever sequencing device that can be plugged into a smartphone and is expected in 2017, project Zumbador, a project to create a disposable device that includes both sample prep and library prep and noting that VolTRAX, the automated, programmable library prep device, will go into early access in the second half of the year. Oxford Nanopore also introduced a new nanopore, R9, into all its products which is superior to the now obsolete R7 nanopore and announced it had delivered its first PromethION instrument to a customer.

hVIVO plc announced favourable results from PrEP Biopharm's PrEP-001 Phase IIa influenza disease prevention study. PrEP Biopharm is a UK biotech company for respiratory infectious disease products in which hVIVO acquired a significant equity stake in November 2015.

In Technology, the division's most valuable company holding, Actual Experience plc, announced a five-year framework agreement with Vodafone, adding to the contract wins announced during 2015 which included a major three-year partnership with Verizon. Mirriad Advertising Limited, which has developed an innovative, patented computer vision technology that can retrospectively insert advertising and branded products into existing video content, announced that its most recent $15m financing round, led by IP Group had included participation from Unilever Ventures, the venture capital and private equity arm of Unilever, one of the world's largest spenders on advertising.

In Cleantech, Ceres Power Holdings plc had an exceptional start to the year announcing a two-year joint development agreement with Honda for power equipment applications in January. This was followed in June by the announcement of a project with Nissan aimed at developing a compact, on-board solid oxide fuel cell stack for range extension of electric vehicles. These new programmes in power equipment and automotive complement its existing work on prime power and domestic combined heat and power with Cummins and KD Navien respectively. The Nissan development is particularly encouraging, as it will be the first significant work for the company in automotive applications.

In Biotech, our drug discovery subsidiary, Modern Biosciences plc, continued to make good progress in its development of MBS2320, a novel agent for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. MBS2320 is partnered with Janssen Biotech Inc. and is currently in Phase 1 clinical studies. Elsewhere, in July the division's most valuable holding, Diurnal Group plc, announced positive headline data from its European Phase 3 study for Infacort(R) in the treatment of paediatric Adrenal Insufficiency (AI), several months ahead of schedule. Since floating on AIM in December 2015, Diurnal has continued to hit all developmental milestones, with the European Phase 3 study for its largest potential product, Chronocort, initiated in January.

More detail on the performance of the sectors is contained in the portfolio review below.

US

During the period, the Group continued to deepen its foundational partnerships with the University of Pennsylvania (two new opportunities), Princeton University (one new opportunity) and Columbia University (one new opportunity). Two recent opportunities from this group of partners, Uniformity Labs, Inc. (Princeton University) and Lumiode, Inc. (Columbia University) were presented at the Group's recent capital markets day in London. In addition, the Group signed agreements with the University of Washington and The Johns Hopkins University. Both universities have consistently ranked in the top ten of all US universities with regards to the quantum of their annual R&D budgets (2016: $2.1bn and $1.1bn respectively) and are known for the quality and breadth of their technical output.

Outlook

While it is clear that the UK and its economy are facing a period of uncertainty following the outcome of the UK's referendum on its membership of the EU, which may impact on specific funding rounds for companies, it is important to stress that IP Group is seeing excellent progress across the portfolio, has a strong balance sheet and operations in both the UK and the US.

IP Group was founded on the belief that modern economies need to support innovation in science and technology and to commercially leverage such innovation, and we believe that this remains the case. Further, the Board believes that the fundamentals of our business are strong and that the need for the commercialisation of science remains key.

IP Group has partnerships with 14 of the UK's and 5 of the US's leading research universities, a portfolio valued at GBP525.7m, gross cash and deposits of GBP174.7m, an experienced management team and a healthy pipeline of new opportunities. This leaves the Group well positioned to respond effectively to, and capitalise on, opportunities in the second half of the year.

Portfolio review

Overview

During the six months ended 30 June 2016, the value of the Group's portfolio decreased to GBP525.7m (HY15: GBP478.2m; FY15: GBP552.2m), reflecting a net unrealised fair value loss of GBP24.5m, excluding the investments and realisations set out below. The portfolio consists of interests in 83 companies, strategic stakes in three multi-sector platform businesses as well as a further 16 de minimis holdings (HY15: 77, 3, 17; FY15: 82,3,15). During the period, the Group provided capital to portfolio companies totalling GBP12.8m (HY15: GBP15.1m; FY15: GBP75.9m) and made total cash realisations of GBP14.5m (HY15: GBP0.4m; FY15: GBP0.6m).

A summary of the gains and losses across the portfolio is as follows:

 
                                           Six months  Six months 
                                                ended       ended    Year ended 
                                              30 June     30 June   31 December 
                                                 2016        2015          2015 
                                                 GBPm        GBPm          GBPm 
-----------------------------------------  ----------  ----------  ------------ 
Unrealised increases in fair 
 value of equity and debt investments             6.8        84.2         115.3 
Unrealised decreases in fair 
 value of equity and debt investments          (31.5)      (10.5)        (29.0) 
-----------------------------------------  ----------  ----------  ------------ 
Net unrealised fair value (losses)/gains       (24.7)        73.7          86.3 
Effects of movement in exchange 
 rates                                            0.2           -           0.1 
Loss on disposals of equity 
 investments                                    (0.4)       (0.1)         (0.2) 
Change in fair value of limited 
 and limited liability partnership 
 interests                                      (0.2)         0.9           0.4 
-----------------------------------------  ----------  ----------  ------------ 
Total                                          (25.1)        74.5          86.6 
-----------------------------------------  ----------  ----------  ------------ 
 

Unrealised decreases in the fair value of equity and debt investments principally arose from the decreases in the share prices of Avacta Group plc (GBP7.1m), Xeros Technology Group plc (GBP7.1m), and hVivo plc (GBP4.4m). Further unrealised fair value decreases arose from the decreases in the share prices of Cronin Group (GBP1.9m), and Revolymer (GBP1.7m). These unrealised losses were partially offset by increases in the share prices of Ceres Power Holdings plc and Tissue Regenix Group plc, which increased the fair value of the Group's holdings by GBP4.2m and GBP1.0m respectively.

Investments and realisations

During the first half of 2016, the Group deployed GBP12.8m of capital into 29 portfolio companies and projects (HY15: GBP15.1m, 31; FY15: GBP75.9m, 53). The Group provided initial seed or incubation capital to eight opportunities (HY15: six; FY15: 13). The Group exited its interest in four companies (HY15: two; FY15: three) and realised total cash proceeds during the period of GBP14.5m (HY15: GBP0.4m; FY15: GBP0.6m). The majority of these proceeds arose from the disposal of Group's holding in Tracsis plc, for which the Group received net cash proceeds of GBP13.1m from the sale, bringing total proceeds to date, including dividends, to GBP14.3m. This represented an Internal Rate of Return of approximately 58% and a multiple of approximately 38 times the Group's investment of GBP0.4m.

Portfolio analysis - by sector

The Group's portfolio consists of companies operating in four key sectors, being Healthcare, Technology, Cleantech and Biotech, strategic stakes in multi-sector platform businesses, as well as a number of de minimis holdings. An analysis of the portfolio by sector is as follows:

 
                  As at 30 June 2016          As at 31 December 
                                                     2015 
------------- 
                 Fair value     Number      Fair Value     Number 
Sector             GBPm     %          %      GBPm     %          % 
-------------  --------  ----  ---  ----  --------  ----  ---  ---- 
Healthcare        274.0   57%   26   31%     277.6   55%   27   33% 
Technology         79.7   17%   28   34%      91.6   18%   27   33% 
Cleantech          65.7   13%   19   23%      69.0   14%   19   23% 
Biotech            61.7   13%   10   12%      68.4   13%    9   11% 
-------------  --------  ----  ---  ----  --------  ----  ---  ---- 
Total          481.1(1)  100%   83  100%  506.6(1)  100%   82  100% 
-------------  --------  ----  ---  ----  --------  ----  ---  ---- 
Multi-sector 
 platforms         44.2     -    3     -      45.2     -    3     - 
De minimis 
 holdings           0.4     -   16     -       0.4     -   15     - 
-------------  --------  ----  ---  ----  --------  ----  ---  ---- 
                  525.7     -  102     -     552.2     -  100     - 
-------------  --------  ----  ---  ----  --------  ----  ---  ---- 
 

(1) Total fair value includes GBP8.7m (FY15: GBP8.5m) not attributable to equity holders represented by third party limited partners in the consolidated fund, IPVFII.

Healthcare

 
                                                                                Six months to 
                                                                                 30 June 2016 
---------------  --------------------  ----------  --------  ------------                            --------- 
                                                                     Fair                                 Fair 
                                                                    value                                value 
                                                      Group      of Group                             of Group 
                                                      stake       holding                              holding 
                                                         at            at            Net                    at 
                                                         30 
                                                       June   31 December    investment/               30 June 
                                                                                               Fair 
                                                                                              value 
                                        Quoted/     2016(i)          2015   (divestment)   movement       2016 
Company 
 name            Description            Unquoted          %          GBPm           GBPm       GBPm       GBPm 
---------------  --------------------  ----------  --------  ------------  -------------  ---------  --------- 
                 Single-molecule 
                  detection. 
Oxford            1st application 
 Nanopore         in 3rd generation 
 Technologies     DNA sequencing 
 Limited          ("$1000 genome")      Unquoted      19.6%         193.0              -          -      193.0 
---------------  --------------------  ----------  --------  ------------  -------------  ---------  --------- 
                 Viral challenge 
                  and "virometrics" 
                  specialist 
                  ("conquering 
hVIVO plc         viral disease")        Quoted       16.7%          29.0              -      (4.4)       24.6 
---------------  --------------------  ----------  --------  ------------  -------------  ---------  --------- 
                 Regenerative 
Tissue            dCELL(R) soft 
 Regenix          tissue body 
 Group plc        parts                  Quoted       13.6%          15.5              -        1.0       16.5 
---------------  --------------------  ----------  --------  ------------  -------------  ---------  --------- 
Quantum 
 Imaging         Quantum cardiac 
 Limited          imaging technology    Unquoted      47.4%           6.5              -          -        6.5 
---------------  --------------------  ----------  --------  ------------  -------------  ---------  --------- 
                 Medical devices 
                  to improve 
                  the safety 
                  and efficiency 
Alesi Surgical    of laparoscopic 
 Limited          surgery               Unquoted      58.8%           6.5              -          -        6.5 
---------------  --------------------  ----------  --------  ------------  -------------  ---------  --------- 
                 Platform for 
                  analysis and 
                  interpretation 
Genomics          of genomic 
 plc              sequence data         Unquoted      18.7%           4.8              -          -        4.8 
---------------  --------------------  ----------  --------  ------------  -------------  ---------  --------- 
                 Ultrasound 
                  simulation, 
Medaphor          education 
 Group plc        and training           Quoted       37.2%           4.2            0.8      (0.8)        4.2 
---------------  --------------------  ----------  --------  ------------  -------------  ---------  --------- 
Other companies (19 
 companies)                                                          13.2            0.9      (1.0)       13.1 
-------------------------------------  ----------  --------  ------------  -------------  ---------  --------- 
Value not attributable 
 to equity holders                                                    4.9            0.4      (0.5)        4.8 
-------------------------------------  ----------  --------  ------------  -------------  ---------  --------- 
Total                                                               277.6            2.1      (5.7)      274.0 
-------------------------------------------------  --------  ------------  -------------  ---------  --------- 
 

(i) Represents the Group's undiluted beneficial economic equity interest (excluding debt) including the relevant share of any IPVFII holdings attributable to the Group

The first half of 2016 saw a series of exciting announcements and material news from the IP Healthcare portfolio. Oxford Nanopore Technologies Limited hosted its flagship 'London Calling' conference in May where speakers convened to discuss research carried out using nanopore sequencing technology. Arguably, the highlight was the announcement of the new pipeline product SmidgION, the smallest ever sequencing device which can be plugged into a smartphone and is expected in 2017. Other headlines included the delivery of the first PromethION instrument to a customer, the introduction of a superior nanopore, R9, into all its products which provides performance enhancements to the now obsolete R7 nanopore and a building body of evidence around the utility of the MinION portable DNA sequencer. During the period, Oxford Nanopore also responded robustly to a patent lawsuit filed against them by Illumina, Inc., strongly asserting that it did not anticipate any disruption to ongoing commercial progress as a result of Illumina's action, which it stated was without merit. Since the period end, public court filings confirm that the parties have entered into a settlement agreement.

Moving onto quoted companies, hVIVO plc announced favourable results from PrEP Biopharm's PrEP-001 Phase IIa influenza disease prevention study. PrEP Biopharm is a UK biotech company for respiratory infectious disease products in which hVIVO acquired a significant equity stake in November 2015. hVIVO also announced a joint venture investment with the SEEK Group to develop clinical phase vaccines against flu and Zika infections. Despite this, the fair value of the Group's holding reduced by GBP4.4m.

Two other quoted companies, Tissue Regenix Group plc and Medaphor Group plc, demonstrated commercial traction in the US. Tissue Regenix confirmed sales of $1.2m in 2016 for its DermaPure wound-care product, that it had been granted clearance by the FDA for its hernia implant and that it completed clinical trial enrolment for its porcine meniscus product. Meanwhile, Medaphor entered into a deal with the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynaecology to use its ScanTrainer platform within its certification exams; a de facto kite mark for the technology. Medaphor went on to complete a GBP3.2m placing during the period, that will allow it to develop its US-based direct sales team and fund the continued growth of the existing business. The immediate gloss was taken off these announcements when a competitor alleged patent infringement in the US, a claim vigorously denied by Medaphor.

The most significant private company transaction was the follow-on GBP2.5m equity financing of Oxford University digital healthcare spin-out Oxehealth Limited which followed news of a global technology partnership with Hanwha Techwin for health monitoring cameras.

Genomics plc, which has a unique platform for genomic data analysis and interpretation, further demonstrated commercial progress through deals with Vertex and DNAnexus, while Ubiquigent Limited announced a partnership with Horizon Discovery in the Ubiquitin space, an emerging biological pathway for disease intervention which has generated a lot of attention following the significant funding of Mission Therapeutics in February 2016.

We remain confident that there will be a continued need for healthcare technology to allow increased access to care and to respond to cost reduction pressure. Growing populations and consumer wealth are increasing demand for healthcare services but ageing societies and chronic diseases are forcing healthcare payers to make difficult decisions on benefit levels. We believe some historic business models and approaches will no longer suffice and so continue to focus on major trends that could impact stakeholders along the global healthcare value chain as we assess which portfolio companies to form and support.

Technology

 
                                                                                      Six months to 
                                                                                       30 June 2016 
-------------  ----------------------------  ----------  --------  ------------                            --------- 
                                                                           Fair                                 Fair 
                                                                          value                                value 
                                                            Group      of Group                             of Group 
                                                            stake       holding                              holding 
                                                               at            at            Net                    at 
                                                               30 
                                                             June   31 December    investment/               30 June 
                                                                                                     Fair 
                                                                                                    value 
                                              Quoted/     2016(i)          2015   (divestment)   movement       2016 
Company 
 name          Description                    Unquoted          %          GBPm           GBPm       GBPm       GBPm 
-------------  ----------------------------  ----------  --------  ------------  -------------  ---------  --------- 
               Optimising 
                the human 
Actual          experience 
 Experience     of networked 
 plc            applications                   Quoted       25.0%          23.8              -        0.5       24.3 
               Resource optimisation 
                software for 
Tracsis         the transport 
 plc            industry                       Quoted           -          14.6         (14.6)          -          - 
               Contactless 
                haptic technology 
Ultrahaptics    "feeling without 
 Limited        touching"                     Unquoted      33.3%           7.9              -          -        7.9 
Applied 
 Graphene      Producer of 
 Materials      speciality 
 plc            graphene materials             Quoted       21.0%           6.0            2.0      (1.3)        6.7 
               Native in-video 
Mirriad         advertising 
 Advertising    allowing post-production 
 Limited        ad placement                  Unquoted      40.0%           4.5              -          -        4.5 
               Micro-Electrical-Mechanical 
                systems to 
                generate power 
Perpetuum       from vibrational 
 Limited        energy                        Unquoted      29.3%           3.4            0.7          -        4.1 
Other companies (23 
 companies)                                                                29.0            3.7      (2.9)       29.8 
-------------------------------------------  ----------  --------  ------------  -------------  ---------  --------- 
Value not attributable 
 to equity holders                                                          2.4              -          -        2.4 
-------------------------------------------  ----------  --------  ------------  -------------  ---------  --------- 
Total                                                                      91.6          (8.2)      (3.7)       79.7 
-------------------------------------------------------  --------  ------------  -------------  ---------  --------- 
 

(i) Represents the Group's undiluted beneficial economic equity interest (excluding debt) including the relevant share of any IPVFII holdings attributable to the Group

The sale of the Group's stake in Tracsis plc yielded net cash proceeds of GBP13.1m, bringing total proceeds to date, including dividends, to GBP14.3m, a multiple of approximately 38 times the Group's investment. IP Group was instrumental in establishing Tracsis as a business from its origins in the University of Leeds and supported the company throughout its early stages of growth. We are sad to end our involvement with Tracsis but proud of all that has been achieved in building a profitable company that we believe will continue to generate value for shareholders.

Elsewhere in the portfolio, March saw the announcement of more promising news from the division's most valuable asset, Actual Experience plc, in the form of a five-year framework agreement with Vodafone, adding to the contract wins announced during 2015 which included a major three-year partnership with Verizon. Whilst it takes time to gather momentum with multinational organisations, the agreements announced so far represent major milestones and we believe that they have the potential to yield significant financial benefit in the medium term.

The first half of the year also brought news of further commercial developments at Mirriad Advertising Limited, an exciting company with an innovative, patented computer vision technology that can retrospectively insert advertising and branded products into existing video content. An expansion of the company's partnership with Havas Media Group and an implementation with Vice Media complemented similar progress elsewhere, including a blossoming partnership with YouKu in China. In February, the company announced that its most recent funding round, led by the Group, had included the participation of Unilever Ventures, the venture capital and private equity arm of Unilever. Unilever is one of the world's largest spenders on advertising and so we see their investment as a significant endorsement of the Mirriad value proposition.

Positive developments continue apace at remote haptic feedback pioneer Ultrahaptics Limited. The University of Bristol spin-out is increasingly being seen as one of the UK's most promising early-stage technology start-ups. Revenue is growing as customers pay for technology customisation work and we are optimistic that early royalty revenue will follow by 2017.

The end of the half-year period brought news that speciality chemicals business Revolymer plc had agreed to acquire US company Itaconix Corporation, in parallel with a GBP4m placing and a potential transfer of its nicotine gum business. We view all three announcements as positive developments for the business.

Cleantech

 
                                                                                 Six months to 
                                                                                  30 June 2016 
-----------------  -------------------  ----------  --------  ------------                            --------- 
                                                                      Fair                                 Fair 
                                                                     value                                value 
                                                       Group      of Group                             of Group 
                                                       stake       holding                              holding 
                                                          at            at            Net                    at 
                                                          30 
                                                        June   31 December    investment/               30 June 
                                                                                                Fair 
                                                                                               value 
                                                     2016(i)          2015   (divestment)   movement       2016 
Company                                  Quoted/ 
 name              Description           Unquoted          %          GBPm           GBPm       GBPm       GBPm 
-----------------  -------------------  ----------  --------  ------------  -------------  ---------  --------- 
                   Ceramic fuel 
Ceres Power         cell technology 
 Holdings           for distributed 
 plc                generation            Quoted       23.4%          12.2              -        4.2       16.4 
Xeros Technology   Polymer bead 
 Group plc          cleaning systems      Quoted       11.5%          23.4              -      (7.1)       16.3 
                   New methodology 
First Light         for achieving 
 Fusion             extreme intensity 
 Limited            cavity collapse      Unquoted      34.9%          13.9              -          -       13.9 
Other companies (16 
 companies)                                                           18.2            2.1      (2.7)       17.6 
--------------------------------------  ----------  --------  ------------  -------------  ---------  --------- 
Value not attributable 
 to equity holders                                                     1.3            0.2          -        1.5 
--------------------------------------  ----------  --------  ------------  -------------  ---------  --------- 
Total                                                                 69.0            2.3      (5.6)       65.7 
--------------------------------------------------  --------  ------------  -------------  ---------  --------- 
 

(i) Represents the Group's undiluted beneficial economic equity interest (excluding debt) including the relevant share of any IPVFII holdings attributable to the Group

There have been a number of highly encouraging commercial developments in the Cleantech division's companies. Ceres Power Holdings plc announced a two-year joint development agreement with Honda R & D Co Limited ("Honda") to jointly develop Solid Oxide Fuel Cell stacks using its unique metal supported Steel Cell technology for a range of potential power equipment applications. This represents a deepening of the relationship between Honda and Ceres Power and is a huge endorsement of its technology. Further, Ceres announced it had finalised all agreements to begin its new relationship with Nissan Motor Manufacturing (UK) Limited ("Nissan") and M-Solv, as part of the funding arrangement from Innovate UK and The Office for Low Emission Vehicles. The consortium's aim is to develop a compact, on-board solid oxide fuel cell stack for range extension of electric vehicles. These new programmes in power equipment and automotive complement the company's existing work on prime power and domestic combined heat and power with Cummins and KD Navien respectively.

Xeros Technology Group plc also made significant commercial progress. The company is accelerating the roll-out of its commercial washing machines with the total fleet numbering 200 at end of February 2016. The company's proprietary technology platform, from the University of Leeds, has a number of potential applications including leather processing, currently a very water-intensive process using toxic chemicals. Full-scale leather processing trials have taken place in a European leather tannery, as part of Xeros' joint development agreement with LANXESS. Having raised GBP40m in December 2015, the company is well capitalised to capture these opportunities and additional applications are currently being investigated.

The most valuable company in the private portfolio, Oxford spin-out First Light Fusion Limited, has continued its impressive scientific process following the GBP23m fund raise last year. The company has moved to new facilities and significantly strengthened its numerical and experimental science teams, drawing in world-class talent from the Rutherford Appleton laboratory, Imperial College and Formula 1. The company has launched a collaboration programme with leading inertial confinement fusion scientists around the UK and has brought Nobel Prize winner and former US Secretary of Energy Professor Steven Chu onto its advisory board.

Elsewhere in the private portfolio, Azuri Technologies Limited, which markets home solar energy systems in Africa, is making excellent commercial progress. The company has now sold over 70,000 units principally in Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Ghana. Its off-grid customers are able to finance modern solar and storage technology for lighting, phone-charging and radio through weekly payments, saving money and displacing polluting current solutions like kerosene.

The outlook for the Cleantech sector remains very positive. IP Cleantech companies are developing products for global markets and have seen significant commercial traction in the US and Asia, which are currently seeing the greatest levels of investment in alternative energy.

Biotech

 
                                                                            Six months to 
                                                                             30 June 2016 
-----------  --------------------  ----------  --------  ------------                            --------- 
                                                                 Fair                                 Fair 
                                                                value                                value 
                                                  Group      of Group                             of Group 
                                                  stake       holding                              holding 
                                                     at            at            Net                    at 
                                                     30 
                                                   June   31 December    investment/               30 June 
                                                                                           Fair 
                                                                                          value 
                                                2016(i)          2015   (divestment)   movement       2016 
Company                             Quoted/ 
 name        Description            Unquoted          %          GBPm           GBPm       GBPm       GBPm 
-----------  --------------------  ----------  --------  ------------  -------------  ---------  --------- 
             Novel treatments 
Diurnal       of hormone 
 Group plc    deficiency             Quoted       45.0%          39.6              -      (1.4)       38.2 
Avacta       Bio-therapeutic 
 Group plc    affimer technology     Quoted       23.1%          21.1              -      (7.1)       14.0 
Other companies(ii) 
 (8 companies)                                                    7.7            1.8          -        9.5 
---------------------------------  ----------  --------  ------------  -------------  ---------  --------- 
Value not attributable 
 to equity holders                                                  -              -          -          - 
---------------------------------  ----------  --------  ------------  -------------  ---------  --------- 
Total                                                            68.4            1.8      (8.5)       61.7 
---------------------------------------------  --------  ------------  -------------  ---------  --------- 
 

(i) Represents the Group's undiluted beneficial economic equity interest (excluding debt) including the relevant share of any IPVFII holdings attributable to the Group

(ii) Simm Investments Limited has been reclassified from Multi-sector platforms to Biotech; 2015 comparatives have been restated.

The Biotech division supports the discovery and development of breakthrough therapeutics via the in-house development of proprietary programmes and the financing and support of portfolio companies. Diurnal Group plc, is an example of the latter, with two products in Phase 3 trials. Since floating on AIM in December 2015, Diurnal has continued to hit all developmental milestones, with the European Phase 3 study for its largest potential product, Chronocort(R), initiated in January. In early July, Diurnal announced positive headline data from its European Phase III study for Infacort(R) in the treatment of paediatric Adrenal Insufficiency (AI), several months ahead of schedule.

A spin-out company from the University of Sheffield, Diurnal reported that initial analysis of the results confirms the trial met its primary endpoint, demonstrating a statistically significant (p<0.0001) increase in cortisol values following administration of Infacort(R) compared to the pre-dose values. No serious adverse events were reported.

Elsewhere, Avacta Group plc, the division's other listed asset, has met significant commercial and developmental milestones in its transition from services business to therapeutics development, with the appointment of Philippe Cotrel, previously of Affymetrix and Abcam, as Chief Commercial Officer, and continued demonstration of the speed and robustness of the Affimer platform in generating potential drug leads. Despite this, share price weakness led to a GBP7.1m reduction in the fair value of the Group's shareholding.

Lastly, Glythera Limited's body of data demonstrating the advantages of its PermaLink technology in the field of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and oncology is growing rapidly. In July, Avacta and Glythera announced a collaboration to develop a novel, potentially highly potent drug class using a combination of Avacta's Affimers and Glythera's PermaLink conjugation chemistry. The Group's 32.2% holding in Glythera is valued at GBP2.3m at 30 June 2016.

As an example of in-house drug discovery, the Group's subsidiary Modern Biosciences plc ("MBS") continues to make good progress in its development of MBS2320, a novel agent for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. MBS2320 is partnered with Janssen Biotech Inc. and is currently in Phase 1 clinical studies. IP Group holds an undiluted beneficial interest of 61.1% in Modern Biosciences and, as a result, its income and expenses are consolidated into those of the Group.

Similarly, Asterion Limited, the Group's second majority-controlled drug discovery asset, is moving its recombinant growth-hormone fusion for the treatment of acromegaly-related growth disorder towards clinical trials, supported by a GBP2.4m Medical Research Council grant.

During the course of the second half of the year, the Biotech division will seek several new exciting single-asset discovery programmes and spin-out companies addressing significant unmet medical needs.

Portfolio analysis - by investment stage

At 30 June 2016, the Group's portfolio fair value of GBP525.7m comprises holdings in businesses that are distributed across stages of maturity as follows:

 
                  As at 30 June 2016         As at 31 December 2015 
------------- 
                 Fair value     Number       Fair Value       Number 
Stage              GBPm     %          %        GBPm      %          % 
-------------  --------  ----  ---  ----  ----------  -----  ---  ---- 
Focus             411.8   85%   18   22%       435.8    86%   18   22% 
Development        50.8   11%   31   37%        57.6    11%   34   41% 
Early-stage        18.5    4%   34   41%        13.2     3%   30   37% 
Total          481.1(1)  100%   83  100%    506.6(1)   100%   82  100% 
-------------  --------  ----  ---  ----  ----------  -----  ---  ---- 
Multi-sector 
 platforms         44.2     -    3     -        45.2      -    3     - 
De minimis 
 holdings           0.4     -   16     -         0.4      -   15     - 
-------------  --------  ----  ---  ----  ----------  -----  ---  ---- 
                  525.7     -  102     -       552.2      -  100     - 
-------------  --------  ----  ---  ----  ----------  -----  ---  ---- 
 

(1) Total fair value includes GBP8.7m (FY15: GBP8.5m) not attributable to equity holders represented by third party limited partners in the consolidated fund, IPVFII.

Early-stage companies include both incubation and seed opportunities. Incubation opportunities comprise businesses or pre-incorporation projects that are generally at a very early stage of development, at most within three years since the Group's first financing, and have received at least one stage of funding. Opportunities at this stage usually involve capital of less than GBP0.2m from IP Group, predominantly allowing for proof of concept work to be carried out. Seed businesses are those that have typically received financing of up to GBP1m in total, primarily from the Group, in order to continue to progress towards agreed commercial and technology milestones and to enable the recruitment of management teams and early commercial engagement.

Portfolio companies which are classed as being in the Focus stage are those portfolio companies (excluding multi-sector platform companies) in which the Group's holdings have a fair value in excess of GBP4.0m.

The Development stage group includes other businesses to which the Group has provided in excess of GBP0.5m as principal investor, or in excess of GBP1.0m of funding in conjunction with other significant investors. Although each business can vary significantly in its rate and manner of development, such additional funding is generally used to progress towards key milestones and commercial validation, to build senior level capability in the business and to attract experienced non-executive directors to their boards.

The multi-sector platform companies in which the Group has taken a strategic stake operate a similar business model of sourcing and developing university spin-outs, typically from a single institution.

Those companies which either do not progress beyond the incubation stage within three years of the Group's initial funding and/or whose value has subsequently fallen to below GBP0.1m but remain as an operating business are classed as de minimis holdings.

 
                           Six months  Six months 
                                ended       ended      Year ended 
                              30 June     30 June     31 December 
Cash investment analysis         2016        2015            2015 
 by company stage                GBPm        GBPm            GBPm 
-------------------------  ----------  ----------  -------------- 
Focus                             3.7         7.4            60.0 
Development                       4.1         4.3            10.7 
Early Stage                       5.0         3.4             5.2 
Total                            12.8        15.1            75.9 
-------------------------  ----------  ----------  -------------- 
Multi-sector platforms              -        40.0            40.0 
-------------------------  ----------  ----------  -------------- 
Total purchase of equity 
 and debt investments            12.8        55.1           115.9 
-------------------------  ----------  ----------  -------------- 
 
Cash proceeds from sales 
 of equity investments           14.5         0.4             0.6 
-------------------------  ----------  ----------  -------------- 
 

Financial and operational review

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income

Overall, the Group recorded a loss for the period of GBP33.9m (HY15: GBP66.4m profit; FY15: GBP75.1m profit) and a negative return on Hard NAV, i.e. the Group's net assets excluding goodwill and intangible assets, of GBP31.1m (HY15: GBP70.1m positive; FY15: GBP82.4m positive).

A summary analysis of the Group's performance is provided below:

 
                                        Six months   Six months     Year ended 
                                             ended        ended    31 December 
                                           30 June      30 June           2015 
                                              2016         2015           GBPm 
                                              GBPm         GBPm 
-------------------------------------  -----------  -----------  ------------- 
 Net portfolio (losses)/gains               (25.1)         74.5           86.6 
 Licensing income                              0.1          3.1            8.1 
 Other income                                  0.9          1.3            3.6 
 Amortisation of intangible 
  assets (1)                                 (2.8)        (3.7)          (7.3) 
 Administrative expenses - 
  Modern Biosciences                         (0.7)        (1.8)          (2.5) 
 Administrative expenses - 
  other consolidated portfolio 
  companies                                  (0.4)        (0.1)          (0.3) 
 Administrative expenses - 
  performance-based staff incentives 
  and share-based payments charge            (0.4)        (2.0)          (3.4) 
 Administrative expenses - 
  central operations                         (5.9)        (5.5)         (11.0) 
 Net finance income                            0.4          0.6            1.3 
-------------------------------------  -----------  -----------  ------------- 
 (Loss)/profit for the period               (33.9)         66.4           75.1 
-------------------------------------  -----------  -----------  ------------- 
 

(1) 2015 comparatives include the change in fair value of the Group's Oxford Equity Rights contract, which has now expired.

Net portfolio gains consist primarily of realised and unrealised fair value gains and losses from the Group's equity and debt holdings in spin-out businesses, which are analysed in detail in the portfolio analysis above, as well as movements in the fair value of the Group's interests in limited and limited liability partnerships.

Other income totalled GBP0.9m; a decrease on the previous half year (HY15: GBP1.3m; FY15: GBP3.6m) largely due to the end of the investment period for North East Technology Fund ("NETF") in December 2015, resulting in a lower management fee being charged in the current period. Other income comprises fund management fees, as well as consulting and similar fees, typically chargeable to portfolio companies for services including executive search and selection as well as legal and administrative support. Fund management fees are received from the Group's three managed funds, two of which, IP Venture Fund ("IPVF") and NETF, also have the potential to generate performance fees from successful investment performance. The results of the Group's third managed fund, IP Venture Fund II ("IPVFII"), are consolidated into those of the Group and accordingly the fund management fees received are not reflected in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.

As described in the portfolio review, the results of the Group's drug-development subsidiary, MBS, are consolidated into those of the Group. MBS continues to make good progress in its lead MBS2320 programme, partnered with Janssen Biotech, Inc. The timing of payments under this partnership are linked to the development of the programme and none were scheduled or paid during the period.

Included within the Group's administrative expenses are costs in respect of a small number of other portfolio companies. Typically, the Group owns a non-controlling interest in its portfolio companies however, in certain circumstances the Group will take a controlling stake and hence consolidate the results of a portfolio company into the Group's financial statements. The administrative expenses included in the Group's results for such companies primarily comprise staff costs, R&D and other operating expenses.

Other central administrative expenses, excluding performance-based staff incentives and share-based payments charges, have increased to GBP5.9m during the period (HY15: GBP5.5m; FY15: GBP11.0m), primarily as a result of an increase in staffing costs as we continue to develop our teams in the US and UK.

Administrative expenses resulting from performance-based staff incentives and share-based payment charges decreased significantly to GBP0.4m during the period (HY15: GBP2.0m; FY15 GBP3.4m), primarily as the Group's return on Hard NAV during the period is below the minimum threshold for any payments to be made (or accrued) under the Group's Annual Incentive Scheme.

Consolidated statement of financial position

Net assets in the period decreased to GBP748.5m (HY15: GBP771.8m; FY15: GBP781.9m) largely as a result of the GBP24.5m net fair value decrease in the Group's holdings in portfolio companies, the Group's operating expenses, and the amortisation of intangible assets in the period.

The Group's diversified portfolio of holdings in private and publicly listed companies is valued at GBP525.7m (HY15: GBP478.2m; FY15: GBP552.2m). "Hard" net assets, i.e. total net assets less intangibles (and the Oxford Equity Rights asset in 2015), totalled GBP683.5m at 30 June 2016 (HY15: GBP700.6m; FY15: GBP714.3m).

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term deposits ("Cash")

The principal constituents of the movement in Cash during the period are as follows:

 
                               Six months   Six months     Year ended 
                                 ended 30     ended 30    31 December 
                                June 2016    June 2015           2015 
                                     GBPm         GBPm           GBPm 
----------------------------  -----------  -----------  ------------- 
 Net Cash used in operating 
  activities                        (5.8)        (2.4)            2.3 
 Net Cash used in investing 
  activities                          1.6       (54.1)        (114.6) 
 Net Cash from financing 
  activities                            -        178.8          193.7 
 Effect of foreign 
  exchange rate changes               0.1            -            0.1 
----------------------------  -----------  -----------  ------------- 
 Movement during period             (4.1)        122.3           81.5 
----------------------------  -----------  -----------  ------------- 
 

At 30 June 2016, the Group's Cash totalled GBP174.7m, a decrease of GBP4.1m from a total of GBP178.8m at 31 December 2015, reflecting a net inflow from the Group's investing activities as disposal proceeds were higher than capital invested in the period.

Cash used in operations has increased from the comparable period in 2015, largely due to the receipt in early 2015 of the initial GBP3.0m payment under MBS's agreement with Janssen Biotech which had been recognised in debtors as at 31 December 2014.

As described in the Portfolio review, the Group saw cash realisations of GBP14.5m (HY15: GBP0.4m; FY15: GBP0.6m) and distributions from investments in limited partnerships of GBPnil (HY15: GBP0.6m; FY15: GBP0.6m) offset by the provision of GBP12.8m of capital to new and existing portfolio companies (HY15: GBP55.1m; FY15: GBP115.9m).

Taxation

Since the Group's activities are predominantly trading in nature, the Directors continue to believe that the Group qualifies for the Substantial Shareholdings Exemption on chargeable gains arising on the disposal of qualifying holdings and, as such, the Group has continued not to recognise a provision for deferred taxation in respect of uplifts in value on those equity holdings in portfolio businesses that meet the qualifying criteria.

Principal risks and uncertainties

A detailed explanation of the principal risks and uncertainties faced by the Group, and the steps taken to manage them, is set out in the Corporate Governance section of the Group's 2015 Annual Report and Accounts. The principal risks and uncertainties are summarised as follows:

   --      it may be difficult for the Group and its early-stage companies to attract capital; 
   --      the returns and cash proceeds from the Group's early-stage companies can be very uncertain; 

-- universities or other research-intensive institutions may terminate their partnerships or other

collaborative relationships with the Group;

   --      the Group may lose key personnel or fail to attract and integrate new personnel; 

-- macroeconomic conditions may negatively impact the Group's ability to achieve its strategic objectives; and

-- there may be changes to, impacts from, or failure to comply with, legislation, government policy and regulation.

There have been no significant changes in the nature of these risks that will affect the next six months of the financial year, and thus the risks noted above are applicable to the forthcoming six months.

Condensed consolidated statement of comprehensive income

For the six months ended 30 June 2016

 
                                                 Unaudited    Unaudited       Audited 
                                                six months   six months          year 
                                                     ended        ended         ended 
                                                   30 June      30 June   31 December 
                                                      2016         2015          2015 
                                         Note         GBPm         GBPm          GBPm 
---------------------------------------  ----  -----------  -----------  ------------ 
Portfolio return and revenue 
Change in fair value of equity 
 and debt investments                               (24.5)         73.7          86.4 
Loss on disposal of equity investments               (0.4)        (0.1)         (0.2) 
Change in fair value of limited 
 and limited liability partnership 
 interests                                           (0.2)          0.9           0.4 
Other portfolio income                                   -            -           0.2 
Licensing income                                       0.1          3.1           8.1 
Revenue from services and other 
 income                                                0.9          1.3           3.4 
---------------------------------------  ----  -----------  -----------  ------------ 
                                                    (24.1)         78.9          98.3 
---------------------------------------  ----  -----------  -----------  ------------ 
Administrative expenses 
Research and development                             (0.4)        (1.4)         (2.0) 
Share-based payment charge                           (0.4)        (0.4)         (1.5) 
Change in fair value of Oxford 
 Equity Rights asset                                     -        (0.7)         (1.3) 
Amortisation of intangible assets           5        (2.8)        (3.0)         (6.0) 
Other administrative expenses                        (6.6)        (7.6)        (13.7) 
---------------------------------------  ----  -----------  -----------  ------------ 
                                                    (10.2)       (13.1)        (24.5) 
---------------------------------------  ----  -----------  -----------  ------------ 
Operating profit                                    (34.3)         65.8          73.8 
Net finance income                                     0.4          0.6           1.3 
---------------------------------------  ----  -----------  -----------  ------------ 
Profit before taxation                              (33.9)         66.4          75.1 
Taxation                                                 -            -             - 
---------------------------------------  ----  -----------  -----------  ------------ 
(Loss)/profit for the period                        (33.9)         66.4          75.1 
---------------------------------------  ----  -----------  -----------  ------------ 
 
Other comprehensive income 
Exchange differences on translating 
 foreign operations                                    0.1            -           0.1 
---------------------------------------  ----  -----------  -----------  ------------ 
Total comprehensive income for 
 the period                                         (33.8)         66.4          75.2 
---------------------------------------  ----  -----------  -----------  ------------ 
 
Attributable to: 
Equity holders of the parent                        (33.4)         66.7          73.9 
Non-controlling interest                             (0.4)        (0.3)           1.3 
---------------------------------------  ----  -----------  -----------  ------------ 
                                                    (33.8)         66.4          75.2 
---------------------------------------  ----  -----------  -----------  ------------ 
Earnings per share 
Basic (p)                                   2       (5.92)        12.92         13.66 
Diluted (p)                                 2       (5.92)        12.89         13.63 
---------------------------------------  ----  -----------  -----------  ------------ 
 

Condensed consolidated statement of financial position

As at 30 June 2016

 
                                         Unaudited  Unaudited       Audited 
                                           30 June    30 June   31 December 
                                              2016       2015          2015 
                                   Note       GBPm       GBPm          GBPm 
---------------------------------  ----  ---------  ---------  ------------ 
ASSETS 
Non-current assets 
Intangible assets: 
    Goodwill                          6       57.1       57.1          57.1 
    Acquired intangible asset         5        7.9       13.5          10.5 
Property, plant and equipment                  0.2        0.2           0.2 
Oxford Equity Rights asset 
 and related contract costs                      -        0.6             - 
Portfolio: 
    Equity investments                3      516.6      473.0         543.1 
    Debt investments                  3        9.1        5.2           9.1 
Limited and limited liability 
 partnership interests                         4.3        4.9           4.4 
Contingent value rights                        1.4        1.4           1.4 
---------------------------------  ----  ---------  ---------  ------------ 
Total non-current assets                     596.6      555.9         625.8 
---------------------------------  ----  ---------  ---------  ------------ 
Current assets 
Trade and other receivables                    2.2        5.6           3.2 
Deposits                                      25.0       50.0          70.0 
Cash and cash equivalents                    149.7      169.6         108.8 
---------------------------------  ----  ---------  ---------  ------------ 
Total current assets                         177.6      225.2         182.0 
---------------------------------  ----  ---------  ---------  ------------ 
Total assets                                 773.5      781.1         807.8 
---------------------------------  ----  ---------  ---------  ------------ 
EQUITY AND LIABILITIES 
Equity attributable to owners 
 of the parent 
Called up share capital                       11.3       11.3          11.3 
Share premium account                        504.7      504.7         504.7 
Merger reserve                                12.8       12.8          12.8 
Retained earnings                            218.6      243.3         251.6 
---------------------------------  ----  ---------  ---------  ------------ 
Total equity attributable 
 to equity holders                           747.4      772.1         780.4 
---------------------------------  ----  ---------  ---------  ------------ 
Non-controlling interest                       1.1      (0.3)           1.5 
---------------------------------  ----  ---------  ---------  ------------ 
Total equity                                 748.5      771.8         781.9 
---------------------------------  ----  ---------  ---------  ------------ 
Current liabilities 
Trade and other payables                       2.5        4.0           3.9 
---------------------------------  ----  ---------  ---------  ------------ 
Non-current liabilities 
EIB debt facility                             14.9          -          14.9 
Loans from limited partners 
 of consolidated funds                         7.6        5.1           7.1 
Contingent loans from university 
 partners                                        -        0.2             - 
---------------------------------  ----  ---------  ---------  ------------ 
Total equity and liabilities                 773.5      781.1         807.8 
---------------------------------  ----  ---------  ---------  ------------ 
 

Condensed consolidated statement of cash flows

For the six months ended 30 June 2016

 
                                              Unaudited    Unaudited       Audited 
                                             six months   six months          year 
                                                  ended        ended         ended 
                                                30 June      30 June   31 December 
                                                   2016         2015          2015 
                                                   GBPm         GBPm          GBPm 
------------------------------------------  -----------  -----------  ------------ 
Operating activities 
Operating (loss)/profit                          (34.3)         65.8          73.8 
Adjusted for: 
Change in fair value of equity 
 and debt investments                              24.5       (73.7)        (86.4) 
Change in fair value of limited 
 and limited liability partnership 
 interests                                          0.2        (0.9)         (0.4) 
Loss on disposal of equity investments              0.4          0.1           0.2 
Depreciation of property, plant 
 and equipment                                        -            -           0.1 
Amortisation of intangible non-current 
 assets                                             2.8          3.0           6.0 
Change in fair value of Oxford 
 Equity Rights asset                                  -          0.7           1.3 
Fees settled in the form of equity                    -            -         (0.7) 
Share-based payment charge                          0.4          0.4           1.5 
Other portfolio income classified 
 as investing activities cash flows                   -            -         (0.1) 
Changes in working capital: 
Decrease/(increase) in trade and 
 other receivables                                  0.7        (0.5)           2.2 
Increase/(decrease) in trade and 
 other payables                                   (1.6)          1.9           1.9 
Increase in non-current liabilities                 0.5          0.5           2.2 
Net cash flow from/(to) deposits                   45.0       (20.0)        (40.0) 
Other operating cash flows: 
Net interest received                               0.6          0.3           0.7 
------------------------------------------  -----------  -----------  ------------ 
Net cash inflow/(outflow) from 
 operating activities                              39.2       (22.4)        (37.7) 
------------------------------------------  -----------  -----------  ------------ 
Investing activities 
Purchase of property, plant and                       -            -             - 
 equipment 
Purchase of equity and debt investments          (12.8)       (55.1)       (115.9) 
Investment in limited and limited 
 liability partnerships                           (0.1)            -             - 
Proceeds from sale of equity investments           14.5          0.4           0.6 
Distributions from limited and 
 limited liability partnerships                       -          0.6           0.6 
Other portfolio income received                       -            -           0.1 
------------------------------------------  -----------  -----------  ------------ 
Net cash inflow/(outflow) from 
 investing activities                               1.6       (54.1)       (114.6) 
------------------------------------------  -----------  -----------  ------------ 
Financing activities 
Proceeds from the issue of share 
 capital                                              -        178.8         178.8 
Proceeds from drawdown of EIB facility                -            -          14.9 
------------------------------------------  -----------  -----------  ------------ 
Net cash inflow from financing 
 activities                                           -        178.8         193.7 
------------------------------------------  -----------  -----------  ------------ 
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents          40.8        102.3          41.4 
Cash and cash equivalents at the 
 beginning of the period                          108.8         67.3          67.3 
Effect of foreign exchange rate 
 changes                                            0.1            -           0.1 
Cash and cash equivalents at the 
 end of the period                                149.7        169.6         108.8 
------------------------------------------  -----------  -----------  ------------ 
 

Condensed consolidated statement of changes in equity

For the six months ended 30 June 2016

 
                                        Attributable to equity holders 
                                                 of the parent 
                                   Share     Share    Merger   Retained          Non-controlling    Total 
                                 capital   premium   reserve   earnings   Total         interest   equity 
                                    GBPm      GBPm      GBPm       GBPm    GBPm             GBPm     GBPm 
------------------------------  --------  --------  --------  ---------  ------  ---------------  ------- 
At 31 December 2014 (audited)        9.6     327.6      12.8      176.2   526.2                -    526.2 
Equity-settled share-based 
 payments                              -         -         -        0.4     0.4                -      0.4 
Issue of equity                      1.7     177.1         -          -   178.8                -    178.8 
Comprehensive income                   -         -         -       66.7    66.7            (0.3)     66.4 
At 30 June 2015 (unaudited)         11.3     504.7      12.8      243.3   772.1            (0.3)    771.8 
Equity-settled share-based 
 payments                              -         -         -        1.1     1.1                -      1.1 
Issue of equity                        -         -         -          -       -              0.2      0.2 
Comprehensive income                   -         -         -        7.2     7.2              1.6      8.8 
At 31 December 2015 (audited)       11.3     504.7      12.8      251.6   780.4              1.5    781.9 
Share-based payment charge             -         -         -        0.4     0.4                -      0.4 
Comprehensive income                   -         -         -     (33.4)  (33.4)            (0.4)   (33.8) 
------------------------------  --------  --------  --------  ---------  ------  ---------------  ------- 
At 30 June 2016 (unaudited)         11.3     504.7      12.8      218.6   747.4              1.1    748.5 
------------------------------  --------  --------  --------  ---------  ------  ---------------  ------- 
 

Notes to the half-yearly condensed set of financial statements

1. Operating segments

For each of the periods referenced below, the Group's revenue and profit/loss before taxation were derived almost entirely from its principal activities within the UK. Though the Group has initiated operations in the US, the associated revenues and costs are currently immaterial and accordingly, no additional geographical disclosures are given. For management reporting purposes, the Group is currently organised into three operating segments: (i) the commercialisation of intellectual property via the formation of long-term partner relationships with universities; (ii) the management of venture funds focusing on early-stage UK technology companies; and (iii) the in-licensing of drugable intellectual property from research intensive institutions.

 
                                        University        Venture 
                                       partnership   capital fund  In-licensing 
Six months ended 30 June 2016             business     management      activity  Consolidated 
 (unaudited)                                  GBPm           GBPm          GBPm          GBPm 
------------------------------------  ------------  -------------  ------------  ------------ 
STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE 
 INCOME 
Portfolio return and revenue 
Change in fair value of equity 
 and debt investments                       (24.5)              -             -        (24.5) 
Loss on disposal of equity 
 investments                                 (0.4)              -             -         (0.4) 
Change in fair value of limited 
 and limited liability partnership 
 investments                                 (0.2)              -             -         (0.2) 
Other portfolio income                           -              -             -             - 
Licensing income                               0.1              -             -           0.1 
Revenue from services and 
 other income                                  0.4              -             -           0.4 
Revenue from fund management 
 services                                        -            0.5             -           0.5 
Change in fair value of Oxford 
 Equity Rights asset                             -              -             -             - 
Amortisation of intangible 
 assets                                      (2.8)              -             -         (2.8) 
Administrative expenses                      (5.7)          (1.0)         (0.7)         (7.4) 
------------------------------------  ------------  -------------  ------------  ------------ 
Operating profit                            (33.1)          (0.5)         (0.7)        (34.3) 
Net finance income                             0.4              -             -           0.4 
------------------------------------  ------------  -------------  ------------  ------------ 
Profit before taxation                      (32.7)          (0.5)         (0.7)        (33.9) 
Taxation                                         -              -             -             - 
------------------------------------  ------------  -------------  ------------  ------------ 
Loss for the period                         (32.7)          (0.5)         (0.7)        (33.9) 
------------------------------------  ------------  -------------  ------------  ------------ 
Exchange differences on translating 
 foreign operations                            0.1              -             -           0.1 
------------------------------------  ------------  -------------  ------------  ------------ 
Total comprehensive income 
 for the period                             (32.6)          (0.5)         (0.7)        (33.8) 
------------------------------------  ------------  -------------  ------------  ------------ 
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION 
Assets                                       755.3           11.5           6.7         773.5 
Liabilities                                 (24.9)          (0.1)             -        (25.0) 
------------------------------------  ------------  -------------  ------------  ------------ 
Net assets                                   730.4           11.4           6.7         748.5 
------------------------------------  ------------  -------------  ------------  ------------ 
Other segment items 
Capital expenditure                              -              -             -             - 
Depreciation                                     -              -             -             - 
------------------------------------  ------------  -------------  ------------  ------------ 
 
 
                                       University        Venture 
                                      partnership   capital fund  In-licensing 
Six months ended 30 June 2015            business     management      activity  Consolidated 
 (unaudited)                                 GBPm           GBPm          GBPm          GBPm 
-----------------------------------  ------------  -------------  ------------  ------------ 
STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE 
 INCOME 
Portfolio return and revenue 
Change in fair value of equity 
 and debt investments                        73.7              -             -          73.7 
Loss on disposal of equity 
 investments                                (0.1)              -             -         (0.1) 
Change in fair value of limited 
 and limited liability partnership 
 investments                                  0.9              -             -           0.9 
Other portfolio income                          -              -             -             - 
Licensing income                              0.1              -           3.0           3.1 
Revenue from services and 
 other income                                 0.5            0.1             -           0.6 
Revenue from fund management 
 services                                       -            0.7             -           0.7 
Change in fair value of Oxford 
 Equity Rights asset                        (0.7)              -             -         (0.7) 
Amortisation of intangible 
 assets                                     (3.0)              -             -         (3.0) 
Administrative expenses                     (7.2)          (0.4)         (1.8)         (9.4) 
-----------------------------------  ------------  -------------  ------------  ------------ 
Operating profit                             64.2            0.4           1.2          65.8 
Net finance income                            0.6              -             -           0.6 
-----------------------------------  ------------  -------------  ------------  ------------ 
Profit before taxation                       64.8            0.4           1.2          66.4 
Taxation                                        -              -             -             - 
-----------------------------------  ------------  -------------  ------------  ------------ 
Profit and comprehensive income 
 for the period                              64.8            0.4           1.2          66.4 
-----------------------------------  ------------  -------------  ------------  ------------ 
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION 
Assets                                      767.2            9.8           4.1         781.1 
Liabilities                                 (9.2)              -         (0.1)         (9.3) 
-----------------------------------  ------------  -------------  ------------  ------------ 
Net assets                                  758.0            9.8           4.0         771.8 
-----------------------------------  ------------  -------------  ------------  ------------ 
Other segment items 
Capital expenditure                             -              -             -             - 
Depreciation                                    -              -             -             - 
-----------------------------------  ------------  -------------  ------------  ------------ 
 
 
                                        University        Venture 
                                       partnership   capital fund  In-licensing 
Year ended 31 December 2015               business     management      activity  Consolidated 
 (audited)                                    GBPm           GBPm          GBPm          GBPm 
------------------------------------  ------------  -------------  ------------  ------------ 
STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE 
 INCOME 
Portfolio return and revenue 
Change in fair value of equity 
 and debt investments                         86.4              -             -          86.4 
Loss on disposal of equity 
 investments                                 (0.2)              -             -         (0.2) 
Change in fair value of limited 
 and limited liability partnership 
 interests                                     0.4              -             -           0.4 
Other portfolio income                         0.2              -             -           0.2 
Licensing income                               0.1              -           8.0           8.1 
Revenue from services and 
 other income                                  0.9            1.1             -           2.0 
Revenue from fund management 
 services                                        -            1.4             -           1.4 
Change in fair value of Oxford 
 Equity Rights asset                         (1.3)              -             -         (1.3) 
Amortisation of intangible 
 assets                                      (6.0)              -             -         (6.0) 
Administrative expenses                     (13.9)          (0.8)         (2.5)        (17.2) 
------------------------------------  ------------  -------------  ------------  ------------ 
Operating profit                              66.6            1.7           5.5          73.8 
Net finance income                             1.3              -             -           1.3 
------------------------------------  ------------  -------------  ------------  ------------ 
Profit before taxation                        67.9            1.7           5.5          75.1 
Taxation                                         -              -             -             - 
------------------------------------  ------------  -------------  ------------  ------------ 
Profit for the year                           67.9            1.7           5.5          75.1 
------------------------------------  ------------  -------------  ------------  ------------ 
Exchange differences on translating 
 foreign operations                            0.1              -             -           0.1 
------------------------------------  ------------  -------------  ------------  ------------ 
Total comprehensive income 
 for the period                               68.0            1.7           5.5          75.2 
------------------------------------  ------------  -------------  ------------  ------------ 
 
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION 
Assets                                       788.8           11.3           7.7         807.8 
Liabilities                                 (25.5)          (0.1)         (0.3)        (25.9) 
------------------------------------  ------------  -------------  ------------  ------------ 
Net assets                                   763.3           11.2           7.4         781.9 
------------------------------------  ------------  -------------  ------------  ------------ 
Other segment items 
Capital expenditure                              -              -             -             - 
Depreciation                                 (0.1)              -             -         (0.1) 
------------------------------------  ------------  -------------  ------------  ------------ 
 

2. Earnings per share

 
                                                Unaudited 
                                     Unaudited        six 
                                    six months     months       Audited 
                                         ended      ended    year ended 
                                       30 June    30 June   31 December 
                                          2016       2015          2015 
Earnings                                  GBPm       GBPm          GBPm 
---------------------------------  -----------  ---------  ------------ 
Earnings for the purposes of 
 basic and dilutive earnings per 
 share                                  (33.4)       66.7          73.9 
---------------------------------  -----------  ---------  ------------ 
 
 
                                                      Unaudited 
                                                            six 
                                         Unaudited       months       Audited 
                                        six months        ended    year ended 
                                             ended      30 June   31 December 
                                           30 June         2015          2015 
                                       2016 Number       Number        Number 
Number of shares                         of shares    of shares     of shares 
------------------------------------  ------------  -----------  ------------ 
Weighted average number of ordinary 
 shares for 
 the purposes of basic earnings 
 per share                             564,897,747  516,340,803   540,681,647 
Effect of dilutive potential 
 ordinary shares: 
 Options or contingently issuable 
 shares                                          -    1,188,606     1,237,274 
------------------------------------  ------------  -----------  ------------ 
Weighted average number of ordinary 
 shares for 
 the purposes of diluted earnings 
 per share                             564,897,747  517,529,409   541,918,921 
------------------------------------  ------------  -----------  ------------ 
 

Potentially dilutive ordinary shares include contingently issuable shares arising under the Group's LTIP arrangements, and options issued as part of the Group's Share-Save Scheme and Deferred Bonus Share Plan (for annual bonuses deferred under the terms of the Group's annual incentive scheme). As the Group made a loss for the period the potentially dilutive shares outstanding at the period end are not considered when calculating the diluted earnings per share.

3. Investment portfolio

The accounting policies in regards to valuations in these half-yearly results are the same as those applied by the Group in its audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2015 and which will form the basis of the 2016 Annual Report and Accounts. Investments are designated as fair value through profit or loss and are initially recognised at fair value and any gains or losses arising from subsequent changes in fair value are presented in profit or loss in the statement of comprehensive income in the period in which they arise.

The Group classifies financial assets using a fair value hierarchy that reflects the significance of the inputs used in making the related fair value measurements. The level in the fair value hierarchy within which a financial asset is classified is determined on the basis of the lowest level input that is significant to that asset's fair value measurement. The fair value hierarchy has the following levels:

 
Level  Quoted prices in active markets. 
 1 - 
Level  Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable, 
 2 -    such as prices from market transactions. These 
        are mainly based on prices determined from 
        recent investments in the last twelve months. 
Level  One or more inputs that are not based on observable 
 3 -    market data. 
 
 
                                         Level                                     Level 
                                            1                Level 2                  3 
                                      ------------  -------------------------- 
                                            Equity        Equity      Unquoted        Equity 
                                       investments   investments          debt   investments 
                                         in quoted   in unquoted   investments   in unquoted 
                                          spin-out      spin-out   in spin-out      spin-out 
                                         companies     companies     companies     companies   Total 
                                              GBPm          GBPm          GBPm          GBPm    GBPm 
------------------------------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------ 
At 31 December 2014                          138.2         193.2           4.0          14.5   349.9 
Investments during the period                  4.0          48.7           2.3           0.1    55.1 
Transaction-based reclassifications 
 during 
 the period                                      -           0.2         (0.2)             -       - 
Other transfers between 
 hierarchy levels during 
 the period                                      -        (13.3)             -          13.3      -- 
Disposals during the period                      -             -         (0.2)         (0.3)   (0.5) 
Change in fair value in 
 the period                                   27.2          50.9         (0.7)         (3.7)    73.7 
------------------------------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------ 
At 30 June 2015 (unaudited)                  169.4         279.7           5.2          23.9   478.2 
Investments during the period                 22.2          33.6           4.8           0.2    60.8 
Transaction-based reclassifications 
 during 
 the period                                    2.3         (1.6)         (0.7)             -       - 
Other transfers between 
 hierarchy levels during 
 the period                                   24.6        (37.6)           0.1          12.9       - 
Disposals during the period                      -             -         (0.1)         (0.2)   (0.3) 
Fees settled via equity                          -           0.7             -             -     0.7 
Change in fair value in 
 the period                                 (17.2)          33.7         (0.2)         (3.6)    12.7 
Exchange differences on 
 translating foreign currency 
 investments                                     -           0.1             -             -     0.1 
------------------------------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------ 
At 31 December 2015                          201.3         308.6           9.1          33.2   552.2 
Investments during the period                  3.0          7. 2           2.6             -    12.8 
Transaction-based reclassifications 
 during 
 the period                                      -           0.6         (0.6)             -       - 
Other transfers between 
 hierarchy levels during 
 the period                                      -         (3.6)             -           3.6       - 
Disposals during the period                 (14.6)         (0.1)         (0.1)             -  (14.8) 
Change in fair value in 
 the period                                 (21.8)         (0.7)           0.1         (2.3)  (24.7) 
Exchange differences on 
 translating foreign currency 
 investments                                     -           0.2             -             -     0.2 
------------------------------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------ 
At 30 June 2016 (unaudited)                  167.9         312.2          11.1          34.5   525.7 
------------------------------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------ 
 

Fair values of unquoted spin-out companies classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy have been determined in part or in full by valuation techniques that are not supported by observable market prices or rates. Investments in 30 companies have been classified as Level 3 and the individual valuations for each of these have been arrived at using the following valuation method:

Where fair values are based upon the most recent market transaction, but that transaction occurred more than twelve months prior to the balance sheet date, the investments are classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. The fair values of investments categorised as Level 3 are analysed on a monthly basis to consider indicators which may make the most recent investment no longer a representation of fair value. Due to the nature of the investments, observable market inputs are not commonly available, therefore consideration of indicators of a change in fair value focus on the companies' performance and achievement of technical and commercial milestones.

Where indicators of a change in fair value against the most recent market transaction are identified, any adjustment to arrive at fair value is based on objective data from the company and the experience and judgement of the Group.

If the fair value of all Level 3 investments were to decrease by 10%, the net assets figure would decrease by GBP3.5m, with a corresponding increase if the unobservable inputs were to increase by 10%.

For assets and liabilities that are recognised at fair value on a recurring basis, the Group determines whether transfers have occurred between levels in the hierarchy by reassessing categorisation (based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement as a whole) at the end of each reporting period. Transfers between tiers are then made as if the transfer took place on the first day of the period in question.

If the assumptions used in the valuation techniques for the Group's holding in each company are varied by using a range of possible alternatives, there is no material difference to the carrying value of the respective spin-out company. The effect on the consolidated statement of comprehensive income for the period is also not expected to be material.

Transfers between Level 2 and 1 occur when a previously unquoted investment undertakes an initial public offering, resulting in its equity becoming quoted on an active market. In the current period there were no transfers of this nature.

Transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 would occur when a quoted investment's market becomes inactive. There have been no such instances in the current period.

Transfers between Level 3 and Level 2 occur when an investment, for which the penultimate funding round occurred more than twelve months before the prior period end, undertakes an investment round during the period that results in an observable market price. In the current period, transfers of this nature amounted to GBP6.4m.

Transfers between Level 2 and Level 3 occur when the balance sheet date becomes more than twelve months after an investment's most recent funding round, at which point the price is deemed to be unobservable. In the current period, transfers of this nature amounted to GBP10.0m.

The fair value changes in Level 3 investments have amounted to a loss of GBP2.3m in the period, recognised as change in fair value of equity and debt investments in the condensed consolidated statement of comprehensive income.

4. Share capital

 
                                  Unaudited  Unaudited       Audited 
                                    30 June    30 June   31 December 
                                       2016       2015          2015 
                                       GBPm       GBPm          GBPm 
--------------------------------  ---------  ---------  ------------ 
Issued and fully paid: 
565,207,667 ordinary shares 
 of 2p each (HY15: 564,619,369; 
 FY15: 564,648,168)                    11.3       11.3          11.3 
--------------------------------  ---------  ---------  ------------ 
 

In April 2016, the Company issued 457,877 new ordinary shares in order to settle conditional awards made under the Group's 2013 LTIP that achieved their vesting conditions and consequently became issuable to the Group's employees.

Additionally, in May 2016, the Company issued 101,622 new ordinary shares following the exercise of nil-cost options awarded under the Group's Deferred Bonus Share Plan by certain of the Group's employees.

The Company has one class of ordinary shares, each with a par value of 2p and carrying equal voting rights, equal rights to income and distributions of assets on liquidation, or otherwise, and no right to fixed income.

5. Intangible assets

 
                                    Total 
                                     GBPm 
----------------------------------  ----- 
Cost 
At 30 June 2015, 31 December 2015    21.4 
----------------------------------  ----- 
Additions                             0.2 
At 30 June 2016                      21.6 
----------------------------------  ----- 
 
 
Accumulated amortisation 
At 1 January 2015           4.9 
Charge for the period       3.0 
-------------------------  ---- 
At 30 June 2015             7.9 
Charge for the period       3.0 
-------------------------  ---- 
At 31 December 2015        10.9 
Charge for the period       2.8 
-------------------------  ---- 
At 30 June 2016            13.7 
-------------------------  ---- 
 
Net book value 
-------------------------  ---- 
At 30 June 2015            13.5 
-------------------------  ---- 
At 31 December 2015        10.5 
-------------------------  ---- 
At 30 June 2016             7.9 
-------------------------  ---- 
 

The intangible assets represent contractual arrangements and memorandums of understanding with four UK universities acquired through acquisition of a subsidiary. The contractual arrangements have fixed terms and, consequently, the intangible assets have finite lives that align with the remaining terms which, at the end of the period, range from 17 months to 38 months. The individual contractual arrangements are amortised in a straight line over the remainder of their terms with the expense being presented directly on the primary statements.

6. Goodwill

 
                                                GBPm 
----------------------------------------------  ---- 
At 30 June 2015, 31 December 2015 and 30 June 
 2016                                           57.1 
----------------------------------------------  ---- 
 

Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of an acquisition over the fair value of the net identifiable assets of acquired subsidiaries at the date of acquisition. Included in the balance sheet of the Group, at 30 June 2016, is goodwill of GBP57.1m. This arose from the Group's acquisition of Top Technology Ventures Limited in June 2004 (GBP2.1m), Techtran Group Limited in January 2005 (GBP16.3m) and the acquisition of Fusion IP plc in March 2014 (GBP38.7m). Goodwill is allocated from the acquisition date to each of the Group's cash-generating units ("CGUs") that are expected to benefit from the business combination. Goodwill may be allocated to CGUs in both the acquired business and in the existing business.

The Group conducts annual impairment tests on the carrying value of goodwill, based on the recoverable amount of the CGUs to which the goodwill has been allocated. The goodwill allocated to each CGU is summarised in the table below. A number of both value-in-use and fair-value-less-costs-to-sale calculations are used to assess the recoverable values of the CGUs, details of which are specified in the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2015.

 
                             Unaudited  Unaudited            Audited 
                               30 June    30 June   31 December 2015 
                                  2016       2015               GBPm 
                                  GBPm       GBPm 
---------------------------  ---------  ---------  ----------------- 
University partnership CGU        55.0       55.0               55.0 
Fund management CGU                2.1        2.1                2.1 
---------------------------  ---------  ---------  ----------------- 
                                  57.1       57.1               57.1 
---------------------------  ---------  ---------  ----------------- 
 

During the period to 30 June 2016, no factors indicating potential impairment of goodwill were noted and, as a result, no impairment review was deemed necessary.

7. Related party transactions

The Group has various related parties arising from its key management, subsidiaries, equity stakes in portfolio companies and management of certain Limited Partnership funds.

a) Limited partnerships

The Group manages a number of investment funds structured as Limited Partnerships. Group entities have a Limited Partnership interest (see note 1) and act as the general partners of these Limited Partnerships. The Group therefore has power to exert significant influence over these Limited Partnerships. The following amounts have been included in respect of these Limited Partnerships:

 
                          Unaudited    Unaudited 
                         six months   six months       Audited 
                              ended        ended    year ended 
                            30 June      30 June   31 December 
                               2016         2015          2015 
Income statement               GBPm         GBPm          GBPm 
----------------------  -----------  -----------  ------------ 
Revenue from services           0.5          0.7           1.3 
----------------------  -----------  -----------  ------------ 
 
 
                                     Unaudited  Unaudited       Audited 
                                       30 June    30 June   31 December 
                                          2016       2015          2015 
Statement of financial position           GBPm       GBPm          GBPm 
-----------------------------------  ---------  ---------  ------------ 
Investment in limited partnerships         2.9        3.6           3.1 
-----------------------------------  ---------  ---------  ------------ 
 

b) Key management transactions

The following key management held shares in the following spin-out companies as at 30 June 2016:

 
                                                                           Number     Number 
                                                                        of shares         of 
                                                                        acquired/     shares 
                                                           Number of   (disposed)       held 
                                                         shares held           in         at 
                                                        at 1 January          the    30 June 
Director        Company name                                    2016       period       2016      % 
--------------  -------------------------------------  -------------  -----------  ---------  ----- 
Alan Aubrey     Alesi Surgical Limited                            18            -         18   0.3% 
 Amaethon Limited - A Shares                                     104            -        104   3.1% 
 Amaethon Limited - B Shares                                  11,966            -     11,966   1.0% 
 Amaethon Limited - Ordinary shares                               21            -         21   0.3% 
 Avacta Group plc(i)                                         202,761            -    202,761   0.3% 
 Boxarr Limited                                                1,732            -      1,732   0.3% 
 Capsant Neurotechnologies Limited                            11,631            -     11,631   0.8% 
 Cloud Sustainability Limited                                     26            -         26   0.7% 
 Cronin Group plc                                          2,172,809            -  2,172,809   0.4% 
 Crysalin Limited                                              1,447            -      1,447   0.1% 
 Diurnal Group plc                                            15,000            -     15,000  <0.1% 
 EmDot Limited                                                    15            -         15   0.9% 
 Evocutis plc                                                767,310            -    767,310   0.1% 
 Getech Group plc                                             15,000            -     15,000  <0.1% 
 Green Chemicals plc                                         108,350            -    108,350   0.9% 
 hVivo plc                                                    37,160            -     37,160  <0.1% 
 Ilika plc                                                    69,290            -     69,290   0.1% 
 Karus Therapeutics Limited                                      223            -        223  <0.1% 
 Mirriad Advertising Limited                                  33,333            -     33,333  <0.1% 
 MDL 2016 Limited(ii) - Ordinary 
  shares                                                       3,226            -      3,226   0.4% 
 MDL 2016 Limited(ii) - A shares                                 229            -        229   0.5% 
 Modern Biosciences plc                                    1,185,150            -  1,185,150   1.7% 
 Modern Water plc                                            519,269            -    519,269   0.7% 
 Oxford Advanced Surfaces Limited                                  -        8,402      8,402   0.1% 
 Oxford Nanopore Technologies Limited                        101,208            -    101,208   0.4% 
 Oxtox Limited                                                25,363     (25,363)          -   0.0% 
 Revolymer plc                                                88,890            -     88,890   0.2% 
 Salunda Limited                                              53,639            -     53,639  <0.1% 
 Structure Vision Limited                                        212            -        212   1.0% 
 Surrey Nanosystems Limited                                      453            -        453   0.3% 
 Tissue Regenix Group plc                                  2,389,259            -  2,389,259   0.3% 
 Tracsis plc                                                 121,189            -    121,189   0.5% 
 Xeros Technology Group plc                                   40,166            -     40,166  <0.1% 
 Zeetta Networks Limited                                         212            -        212   0.2% 
 ----------------------------------------------------  -------------  -----------  ---------  ----- 
Mike Townend    Amaethon Limited - A Shares                      104            -        104   3.1% 
 Amaethon Limited - B Shares                                  11,966            -     11,966   1.0% 
 Amaethon Limited - Ordinary shares                               21            -         21   0.3% 
 Applied Graphene Materials plc                                    -        7,619      7,619  <0.1% 
 Avacta Group plc(i)                                           9,313            -      9,313  <0.1% 
 Capsant Neurotechnologies Limited                            11,282            -     11,282   0.8% 
 Cloud Sustainability Limited                                     25            9         34   0.6% 
 Cronin Group plc                                            932,944            -    932,944   0.2% 
 Crysalin Limited                                              1,286            -      1,286   0.1% 
 Diurnal Group plc                                            15,000            -     15,000  <0.1% 
 EmDot Limited                                                    14            -         14   0.8% 
 Getech Group plc                                             20,000            -     20,000  <0.1% 
 Green Chemicals plc                                         113,222            -    113,222   0.9% 
 hVivo plc                                                    37,160            -     37,160  <0.1% 
 Ilika plc                                                    10,000            -     10,000  <0.1% 
 Mirriad Advertising Limited                                  25,000            -     25,000  <0.1% 
 MDL 2016 Limited(ii)                                          1,756            -      1,756   0.1% 
 Modern Biosciences plc                                    1,185,150            -  1,185,150   1.7% 
 Modern Water plc                                            575,000            -    575,000   0.7% 
 Oxford Advanced Surfaces Limited                              5,000            -      5,009  <0.1% 
 Oxford Nanopore Technologies Limited                         30,967            -     30,967   0.1% 
 Oxtox Limited                                                25,363     (25,363)          -   0.0% 
 Quantum Imaging Limited                                         117            -        117  <0.1% 
 Revolymer plc                                                35,940            -     35,940  <0.1% 
 Structure Vision Limited                                        212            -        212   1.0% 
 Surrey Nanosystems Limited                                      404            -        404   0.2% 
 Tissue Regenix Group plc                                  1,950,862            -  1,950,862   0.3% 
 Tracsis plc                                                  25,430     (25,430)          -   0.0% 
 Ultrahaptics Limited                                             35            -         35  <0.1% 
 Xeros Technology Group plc                                   35,499            -     35,499  <0.1% 
 ----------------------------------------------------  -------------  -----------  ---------  ----- 
 Greg Smith     Alesi Surgical Limited                             2            -          2  <0.1% 
 Avacta Group plc(i)                                           3,904            -      3,904  <0.1% 
 Capsant Neurotechnologies Limited                               896            -        896  <0.1% 
 Cloud Sustainability Limited                                      8            -          8   0.2% 
 Crysalin Limited                                                149            -        149  <0.1% 
 Diurnal Group plc                                            15,000            -     15,000  <0.1% 
 EmDot Limited                                                     4            -          4   0.2% 
 Encos Limited                                                 5,671            -      5,671   0.4% 
 Getech Group plc                                              8,000            -      8,000  <0.1% 
 Green Chemicals plc                                           4,830            -      4,830  <0.1% 
 hVivo plc                                                    61,340            -     61,340  <0.1% 
 Mirriad Advertising Limited                                  16,667            -     16,667  <0.1% 
 MDL 2016 Limited(ii) - Ordinary 
  shares                                                         361            -        361  <0.1% 
 MDL 2016 Limited(ii) - A shares                                  28            -         28  <0.1% 
 Modern Biosciences plc                                      313,425            -    313,425   0.5% 
 Modern Water plc                                              7,250            -      7,250  <0.1% 
 Oxford Nanopore Technologies Limited                          1,581            -      1,581  <0.1% 
 Revolymer plc                                                 4,500            -      4,500  <0.1% 
 Summit Therapeutics plc                                         798            -        798  <0.1% 
 Surrey Nanosystems Limited                                       88            -         88  <0.1% 
 Tissue Regenix Group plc                                     50,000            -     50,000  <0.1% 
 Xeros Technology Group plc                                    1,392            -      1,392  <0.1% 
 ----------------------------------------------------  -------------  -----------  ---------  ----- 
 David Baynes   Alesi Surgical Limited                             4            -          4  <0.1% 
 Arkivum Limited                                                 377            -        377  <0.1% 
 Diurnal Group plc                                            73,000            -     73,000   0.1% 
 Mirriad Advertising Limited                                  16,667            -     16,667  <0.1% 
 Oxford Nanopore Technologies Limited                            144            -        144  <0.1% 
 Quantum Imaging Limited                                          46            -         46  <0.1% 
 Ultrahaptics Limited                                             26            -         26  <0.1% 
 Zeetta Networks Limited                                         212            -        212   0.2% 
 ----------------------------------------------------  -------------  -----------  ---------  ----- 
Angela Leach    Alesi Surgical Limited                             2            -          2  <0.1% 
 Avacta Group plc(i)                                           1,897            -      1,897  <0.1% 
 Boxarr Limited                                                  102            -        102  <0.1% 
 Capsant Neurotechnologies Limited                             1,858            -      1,858   0.1% 
 Cloud Sustainability Limited                                     10            -         10   0.3% 
 Cronin Group plc                                             68,101            -     68,101  <0.1% 
 Diurnal Group plc                                            11,500            -     11,500  <0.1% 
 Evocutis plc                                                  7,990            -      7,990  <0.1% 
 First Light Fusion Limited                                       17            -         17  <0.1% 
 hVivo plc                                                    25,903            -     25,903  <0.1% 
 Getech Group plc                                              2,083            -      2,083  <0.1% 
 Mirriad Advertising Limited                                  16,667            -     16,667  <0.1% 
 MDL 2016 Limited(ii) - Ordinary 
  Shares                                                         606            -        606  <0.1% 
 MDL 2016 Limited(ii) - A Shares                                 102            -        102  <0.1% 
 Modern Water plc                                             15,570            -     15,570  <0.1% 
 Modern Biosciences plc                                      322,923            -    322,923   0.5% 
 Oxford Nanopore Technologies Limited                          1,721            -      1,721  <0.1% 
 Quantum Imaging Limited                                          23            -         23  <0.1% 
 Revolymer plc                                                 4,500            -      4,500  <0.1% 
 Structure Vision Limited                                         21            -         21   0.1% 
 Surrey Nanosystems Limited                                       90            -         90  <0.1% 
 Tissue Regenix Group plc                                    329,172            -    329,172  <0.1% 
 Ultrahaptics Limited                                              5            -          5  <0.1% 
 Xeros Technology Group plc                                    5,666            -      5,666  <0.1% 
 ----------------------------------------------------  -------------  -----------  ---------  ----- 
 

(i) Avacta Group plc consolidated its outstanding shares by 100:1 during the period. The opening position has been restated.

   (ii)             Mode Diagnostics Limited was renamed MDL 2016 Limited on 19 July 2016 

c) Portfolio companies

The Group earns fees from the provision of business support services and corporate finance advisory to portfolio companies in which the Group has an equity stake. Through the lack of control over portfolio companies these fees are considered arm's length transactions. The following amounts have been included in respect of these fees:

 
                                      Unaudited    Unaudited 
                                     six months   six months       Audited 
                                          ended        ended    Year ended 
                                        30 June      30 June   31 December 
                                           2016         2015          2015 
Statement of comprehensive income          GBPm         GBPm          GBPm 
----------------------------------  -----------  -----------  ------------ 
Revenue from services                       0.4          0.5           2.0 
----------------------------------  -----------  -----------  ------------ 
 
 
                                  Unaudited  Unaudited       Audited 
                                    30 June    30 June   31 December 
                                       2016       2015          2015 
Statement of financial position        GBPm       GBPm          GBPm 
--------------------------------  ---------  ---------  ------------ 
Trade receivables                       1.3        1.3           1.5 
--------------------------------  ---------  ---------  ------------ 
 

d) Subsidiary companies

Subsidiary companies that are not 100% owned either directly or indirectly by the parent company have intercompany balances with other Group companies totalling as follows:

 
                                   Unaudited  Unaudited       Audited 
                                     30 June    30 June   31 December 
                                        2016       2015          2015 
                                        GBPm       GBPm          GBPm 
---------------------------------  ---------  ---------  ------------ 
Intercompany balances with other 
 Group companies                        10.5        8.4          10.5 
---------------------------------  ---------  ---------  ------------ 
 

These intercompany balances represent funding loans provided by Group companies that are interest free, repayable on demand and unsecured.

General information

The comparative financial information presented herein for the year ended 31 December 2015 does not constitute full statutory accounts within the meaning of the Companies Act 2006. The Group's Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2015 have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The Group's independent auditor's report on those accounts was unqualified, did not include references to any matters to which the auditor drew attention by way of emphasis without qualifying their report and did not contain a statement under Section 498(2) or 498(3) of the Companies Act 2006.

Accounting policies

Basis of preparation

The financial information presented in these half-yearly results constitutes the condensed consolidated financial statements of IP Group plc, a company incorporated in Great Britain and registered in England and Wales, and its subsidiaries (together, the "Group") for the six months ended 30 June 2016.

The condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting and should be read in conjunction with the Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2015, which have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted for use in the EU ("IFRS"). The financial information in these half-yearly results, which were approved by the Board and authorised for issue on 8 August 2016, is unaudited but has been subject to a review by the Group's independent auditor.

Accounting estimates and judgements

The preparation of the half-yearly results requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the application of accounting policies and the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, income and expenses. Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, such as expectations of future events, and are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates. In preparing these half-yearly results, the significant judgements made by management in applying the Group's accounting policies and the key sources of estimation uncertainty were the same as those applied to the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2015.

Going concern

After making enquiries, the Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Group has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the condensed consolidated half-year financial statements.

Accounting policies

The accounting policies applied by the Group in these half-yearly results are the same as those applied by the Group in its audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2015 and which will form the basis of the 2016 Annual Report and Accounts. No new standards that have become effective in the period have had a material effect on the Group's financial statements.

Statement of Directors' responsibilities

The Directors confirm to the best of their knowledge that:

a. the half-yearly results have been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 as adopted by the European Union; and

b. the interim management report includes a fair review of the information required by the FCA's Disclosure and Transparency Rules (4.2.7 R and 4.2.8 R).

The Directors of IP Group plc and their functions are listed below.

By order of the Board

   Mike Humphrey                                   Alan Aubrey 
   Chairman                                              Chief Executive Officer 

8 August 2016

Independent review report

To IP Group plc

Introduction

We have been engaged by the Company to review the condensed set of financial statements in the half-yearly financial report for the six months ended 30 June 2016 which comprises the condensed consolidated statement of comprehensive income, condensed consolidated statement of financial position, condensed consolidated statement of cash flows, condensed consolidated statement of changes in equity and the related explanatory notes. We have read the other information contained in the half-yearly financial report and considered whether it contains any apparent misstatements or material inconsistencies with the information in the condensed set of financial statements.

This report is made solely to the Company in accordance with the terms of our engagement to assist the Company in meeting the requirements of the Disclosure and Transparency Rules ("the DTR") of the UK's Financial Conduct Authority ("the UK FCA"). Our review has been undertaken so that we might state to the Company those matters we are required to state to it in this report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Company for our review work, for this report, or for the conclusions we have reached.

Directors' responsibilities

The half-yearly financial report is the responsibility of, and has been approved by, the Directors. The Directors are responsible for preparing the half-yearly financial report in accordance with the DTR of the UK FCA.

As disclosed in the accounting policies note, the annual financial statements of the Group are prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the EU. The condensed set of financial statements included in this half-yearly financial report has been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting as adopted by the EU.

Our responsibility

Our responsibility is to express to the Company a conclusion on the condensed set of financial statements in the half-yearly financial report based on our review.

Scope of review

We conducted our review in accordance with International Standard on Review Engagements (UK and Ireland) 2410 Review of Interim Financial Information Performed by the Independent Auditor of the Entity issued by the Auditing Practices Board for use in the UK. A review of interim financial information consists of making enquiries, primarily of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters, and applying analytical and other review procedures. A review is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland) and consequently does not enable us to obtain assurance that we would become aware of all significant matters that might be identified in an audit. Accordingly, we do not express an audit opinion.

Conclusion

Based on our review, nothing has come to our attention that causes us to believe that the condensed set of financial statements in the half-yearly financial report for the six months ended 30 June 2016 is not prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with IAS 34 as adopted by the EU and the DTR of the UK FCA.

Jonathan Mills

for and on behalf of KPMG LLP

Chartered Accountants

15 Canada Square

London

E14 5GL

8 August 2016

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

END

IR UWAKRNRAWRAR

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

August 09, 2016 02:00 ET (06:00 GMT)

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