Acceler8 Ventures PLC Full Year Results for the period ended 31 Dec 2023

RNS Number : 7748L

Acceler8 Ventures PLC

24 April 2024

 

24 April 2024

ACCELER8 VENTURES PLC

 ("AC8" or the "Company")

Full Year Results for the period ended 31 December 2023

Acceler8 Ventures Plc (LSE: AC8) has today published its Annual Report and Financial Statements for the period ended 31 December 2023 (the "Annual Report").

In accordance with Listing Rule 9.6.1 copies of the Annual Report have been submitted to the FCA and will shortly be available to view on the Company's website at https://acceler8.ventures and for inspection from the National Storage Mechanism at: https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism

LEI: 2138004B1HKZP1OR2C72

 

Enquiries

Tessera Investment Management Limited Tony Morris

[phone]

 

Chairman's Statement

I am pleased to present the financial results for Acceler8 Ventures Plc ("AC8", the "Company") and its subsidiary (together the "Group") for the year ended 31 December 2023.

Since establishing the Company we have reviewed a number of opportunities. We like to spend time getting to know the key people within our target companies as well as spending time understanding the business in order that we can make a proper contribution to its development going forward. We prefer to take our time to be thorough rather than rush into a deal for the sake of getting one done and this might be frustrating for investors expecting action.

Markets in the last few years have been shocking for smaller companies but there are signs that things are stirring, and we have definitely seen an uptick in opportunities to consider these past few months.

I thank our shareholders for their support and patience and very much hope that during the course of this year that we will be in a position to present a good opportunity for investors to consider.

David Williams

Chairman

23 April 2024

 

Report of the Directors

The Directors of the Company present their report for the year ended 31 December 2023.

PRINCIPAL ACTIVITY AND BUSINESS REVIEW

For the financial year ended 31 December 2023, the Group and Company's principal activities were that of a holding group and company, respectively. The Group and Company have actively pursued their strategy through the sourcing and assessment of acquisition and investment opportunities across gaming, media and entertainment, software and technology, industrials and business services sectors.

RESULTS

During the year, AC8 recorded a loss of £55,236 (2022: loss of £185,117) and the loss per share was £0.07 (2022: loss per share of £0.25), reflecting moderate monthly operating expenses of the Group. The Group and Company had cash reserves at the end of the year of £160,441 (2022: £244,948), and net assets of £113,802 (2022: £168,725) and £113,735 (2022: £168,658) respectively.

DIVIDENDS

At this point in the Company's development, it does not anticipate declaring any dividends in the foreseeable future. As such, the Directors do not recommend the payment of a dividend for the year.

FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS

The Directors expect to continue to execute the Group's strategy in sourcing and assessing acquisition and investment opportunities across its stated sectors of focus.

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

The Board continues to focus on maximising shareholder value through pursuing its acquisition strategy.

As such, the Board will identify and develop appropriate key performance indicators after an acquisition has been completed.

GOING CONCERN

The Directors, having made due and careful enquiry, are of the opinion that the Group and Company have adequate working capital to execute their operations over the next 12 months (the "going concern period"). The Group and Company's unaudited cash balance as at 12 April 2024 was £112,117. Excluding the consummation of any investment or acquisition which will likely require specific funding, the Group and Company have adequate resources available to fund the on-going forecast operating expenses during the going concern period as a result of the Group and the Company's current unaudited cash balance, as well as the provision of a letter of financial support provided by the Directors to the Group. Having also performed additional stress testing on the forecasts, the Directors are comfortable there are also sufficient mitigating actions on the incurring of expenditure within the business that could be taken, to ensure the business can meet its ongoing liabilities as they fall due. The Directors, therefore, have made an informed judgement at the time of approving the financial statements, that there is a reasonable expectation that the Group and Company have adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. As a result, the Directors have adopted the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the annual financial statements (see Note 2).

RISK MANAGEMENT

In order to execute the Group's strategy, the Company and its subsidiaries will be exposed to both financial and non-financial risks. The Board has overall responsibility for the Group's risk management and it is the Board's role to consider whether those risks identified by management are acceptable within the Group's strategy and risk appetite. The Board therefore periodically reviews the principal risks and considers how effective and appropriate the controls that management has in place to mitigate the risk exposure are and will make recommendations to management accordingly.

As the Company had not completed an investment or acquisition in the year, it has limited financial statements and/or historical financial data, and limited trading history. As such, the Company during the year was subject to the risks and uncertainties associated with an early-stage acquisition company, including the risk that the Company will not achieve its investment objectives and that the value of any investment or acquisition could decline and may result in the partial or complete loss of capital invested. The past performance of investee companies or assets managed by the Directors will not necessarily be a guide to future business, results of operations, financial condition or prospects of the Company.

In order to mitigate against these risks, the Directors continue to undertake thorough due diligence on investment opportunities and acquisition targets, to a level considered reasonable and appropriate by the Company on a case-by-case basis, including the potential commissioning of third-party specialist reports as appropriate. Following completion of any investment or acquisition, it is intended that any investments or assets will be overseen by the Directors and assisted by the Company's professional advisers.

Financial Risk Management

The Directors consider the Group to be exposed to the following financial risks:

a.      Price risk: the price paid for securities is subject to market movement that may have an impact on the operations of the Group when raising finance;

b.      Cash flow interest rate risk: the Group has cash balances which exposed it to movement in the market interest rates; and

c.      Liquidity risk: the Group manages its cash requirements through detailed forecasting and planning for the amount and timing of payments and receipts of interest income, to ensure cash resources are available when required.

Given the relatively small size and operation of the Group in the year, the Directors have not delegated the responsibility of risk monitoring to a sub-committee of the Board, but closely monitor the risks on a periodic basis. The Directors consider their exposure in the financial year to have been low. Refer to Note 15 for assessment of the risks arising from financial instruments.

Non-financial Risk Management

The non-financial risk factors for the year ended 31 December 2023 did not materially change from those set out in AC8's Prospectus dated 14 July 2021.

GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, ENERGY CONSUMPTION AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY

As the Company has not completed its first acquisition and has only two Directors, limited travel and no premises, the Directors do not consider any disclosure under the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures is required at this juncture, however the Company will continue to review this position as it executes its investment and acquisition strategy.

POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS

The Company has made no political contributions during the year.

CHARITABLE DONATIONS

The Company has made no charitable donations during the year.

POST BALANCE SHEET EVENTS

There have been no post balance sheet events. See Note 21.

SHARE CAPITAL

Details of the Company's share capital is set out in Note 16. The Company's share capital consists of one class of ordinary share, which does not carry rights to fixed income. As at 31 December 2023, there were 750,000 ordinary shares of 1p par value each in issue.

SIGNIFICANT SHAREHOLDERS

As at 12 April 2024, the Company had been advised of the following notifiable interests (whether directly or indirectly held) in voting rights:

Name	Shareholding	Percentage
David Williams	275,000	36.7%
Giles Willits	100,000	13.3%
Hargreaves Lansdown (Nominees) Limited	69,778	9.3%
Bank of New York Nominees Limited	65,900	8.8%
Helen Johnson	37,500	5.0%
Transact Nominees Limited	30,000	4.0%
David Morris	25,000	3.3%
Tessera Investment Management Limited	25,000	3.3%

As at 12 April 2024, the Directors in aggregate held 375,000 ordinary shares, which represents 50.0 per cent. of the Company's issued share capital.

 

COMPANY DIRECTORS

The Directors during the year and summaries of their experience are set out below.

David Williams Non-Executive Chairman (aged 71)

David has over 39 years' experience in investment markets, serving as Chairman in executive and non-executive capacities for a number of public and private companies. He has overseen the development of these companies, raising in excess of £1 billion of capital to support both organic and acquisitive growth initiatives.

David was the original founder of Marwyn Capital LLP, the award-winning investment management company. David was also formerly Chairman of Entertainment One Ltd. (LSE: ETO), Zetar plc, and Oxford BioDynamics Plc (AIM: OBD), and Non-Executive Director of Breedon Group plc (LSE: BREE). He currently serves as Non-Executive Chairman of the AIM-quoted cyber security business, Shearwater Group plc (AIM: SWG) and Main Market listed Red Capital Plc (LSE: REDC) and is a Non-Executive Director of Bay Capital Plc (LSE: BAY).

Giles Willits Non-Executive Director (age 57)

Giles has more than 21 years' experience in senior leadership and financial roles in multiple household name businesses. He was recently appointed Chief Investment Officer of Intuitive Investments Group plc (LSE: IIG), an investment company concentrating on fast growing and/or high potential technology and life sciences businesses. Prior to this, Giles was Chief Financial Officer and board director of IG Design Group plc (AIM: IGR), the world's largest consumer gift packaging organisation.

Previously Giles was Chief Financial Officer of Entertainment One Ltd. (LSE: ETO), having joined prior to its admission to trading on AIM in 2007, during which time the business grew organically and through acquisitions to a market capitalisation of over £1 billion, becoming a FTSE250 premium listed organisation. He was also formerly Director of Group Finance at J Sainsbury plc and qualified as a chartered accountant at PricewaterhouseCoopers.

During his extensive career, Giles has completed numerous corporate acquisitions as part of buy-and-build strategies, acquiring private and publicly listed companies, stepping companies up from AIM to the Main Market, as well as leading on equity and debt financings in support of organic growth and acquisition activity.

The Directors who held office during the year and their beneficial interest in the share capital of the Company at 31 December 2023 were as follows:

	31 December 2023
David Williams	275,000
Giles Willits	100,000
	375,000

DIRECTORS REMUNERATION

The Chairman and Non-Executive Director are each entitled to fees of £20,000 each per annum for their respective roles within the Company, as per their service agreements entered into on 13 July 2021. There are no other benefits paid to Directors outside of their service fees, save for ordinary course reimbursable expenses properly incurred in the performing of their duties as Directors. The Company does not operate a pension scheme.

			31 December
		Benefits	2023
	Salary	in kind	Total
Director	£	£	£
David Williams	20,000	-	20,000
Giles Willits	20,000	-	20,000
Giles Willits - additional salary cost in relation to prior periods	3,464	-	3,464
	43,464	-	43,464

In addition to the Directors' fee entitlements outlined above, the Directors are also participants in the Subco Incentive Scheme as detailed below.

SUBCO INCENTIVE SCHEME

The Directors believe that the success of the Company will depend to a high degree on the future performance of key employees and advisers in executing and supporting the Company's growth strategy. The Company has therefore established equity-based incentive arrangements which are, and will continue to be, an important means of retaining, attracting and motivating key employees, consultants and advisers, and also for aligning the interests of the Directors with those of shareholders.

On 27 May 2021, the Group created a new Subco Incentive Scheme within its wholly owned subsidiary Acceler8 Ventures Subco Limited. Under the terms of the Subco Incentive Scheme, scheme participants are only rewarded if a predetermined level of shareholder value is created over a three to five year period or upon a change of control of the Company or Subco (whichever occurs first), calculated on a formula basis by reference to the growth in market capitalisation of the Company, following adjustments for the issue of any new ordinary shares and taking into account dividends and capital returns ("Shareholder Value"), realised by the exercise by the beneficiaries of a put option in respect of their shares in Subco and satisfied either in cash or by the issue of new ordinary shares at the election of the Company.

Under these arrangements in place, participants are entitled up to 15 per cent. of the Shareholder Value created, subject to such Shareholder Value having increased by at least 12.5 per cent. per annum compounded over a period of between three and five years from Admission, or following a change of control of the Company or Subco.

In order to implement the Subco Incentive Scheme, the Company as sole shareholder of Subco, approved the creation of a new share class in Subco (the "B Shares"). At the same time the Subco's existing ordinary shares were redesignated A Shares. The B Shares do not have voting or dividend rights.

On 27 May 2021, David Williams, Chairman of the Company, Giles Willits, a Non-Executive Director of the Company, and Kathleen Long and Anthony Morris, Directors of Tessera Investment Management Limited ("Tessera"), became the first participants in the Subco Incentive Scheme ("Founder Participants"), and as such, the proportion of Shareholder Value attaching to the Subco Incentive Scheme is 2.9 per cent. of a total cap of 15 per cent.

The Founder Participants and their respective holdings are outlined below.

	Subco
Participant	B shares held
David Williams	1,667
Giles Willits	24,000
Kathleen Long	1,667
Anthony Morris	1,666
	29,000

There were no new incentives granted under the Subco Incentive Scheme during 2023.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

As a Jersey company and a company with a Standard Listing on the London Stock Exchange, the Company is not required to comply with the provisions of the UK Corporate Governance Code 2018. Furthermore, there is no applicable regime of corporate governance to which the directors of a Jersey company must adhere over and above the general fiduciary duties and duties of care, skill and diligence imposed on such directors under Jersey law. Notwithstanding this, the Directors are committed to maintaining high standards of corporate governance and will be responsible for carrying out the Company's objectives and implementing its business strategy.

All investment, acquisition, divestment and other strategic decisions are considered and determined by the Board. At present, the Board reviews investment and acquisition opportunities on an as required basis, and meets regularly with its Strategic Advisor to discuss possible inorganic growth opportunities, as well as monitor deal flow and investment and acquisitions in progress, and review the Company's strategy to ensure that it remains aligned to the delivery of shareholder value. Those investment and acquisition opportunities that are assessed by the Board (with support from its Strategic Advisor) are considered in light of the investment and acquisition criteria as detailed in the Company's Admission Document. In addition, as part of the investment and acquisition screening process, the Company will augment Board and Strategic Advisor capability on a case by case basis as required with industry and operating partner input, where deep domain expertise can be accessed. The Board provides leadership within a framework of prudent and effective controls. The Board has established the corporate governance values of the Company and has overall responsibility for setting the Company's strategic aims, defining the business plan and strategy and managing the financial and operational resources of the Company.

In this regard, the Board, so far as is practicable given the Company's size and stage of its development, has voluntarily adopted the QCA Code as its chosen corporate governance framework. There are certain provisions of the QCA Code which the Company will not adhere to currently, and their adoption will be delayed until such time as the Directors believe it is appropriate to do so. It is anticipated that this will occur concurrently with the Company's first material investment or acquisition.

Following such an acquisition, the Company will seek to develop its corporate governance position, and will address key differences to the QCA Code. Specifically, it is anticipated this will include:

i.       the augmentation of the Board with suitably qualified additional executive and non-executive directors including independents;

ii.      the implementation of audit, remuneration and nomination committees with appropriate terms of reference;

iii.     a formalised annual evaluation and review process covering the Board and Committees, including succession planning;

iv.     the publication of KPIs;

v.      the development of a corporate and social responsibility policy; and

vi.     an enhanced risk management and governance framework tailored to the operating assets and strategic direction of the enlarged entity.

ROLE OF THE BOARD

The Board is responsible for the management of the business of the Group, setting the strategic direction of the Group and establishing the policies of the Group. It is the Directors' responsibility to oversee the financial position of the Group and monitor the business and affairs of the Group, on behalf of the shareholders, to whom they are accountable. The primary duty of the Directors is to act in the best interests of the Group and Company at all times. The Board also addresses issues relating to internal control and the Group's approach to risk management and has formally adopted an anti-corruption and bribery policy.

The Group does not have a separate investing committee and therefore the Board as a whole will be responsible for sourcing acquisitions and ensuring that opportunities are in conformity with the Group's strategy.

The Group holds four formal Board meetings a year, with unscheduled meetings as matters arise which require the attention of the Board. Formal Board meetings are timed to link to key events in the Group's corporate calendar. Outside the scheduled and unscheduled meetings of the Board, the Directors maintain frequent contact with each other to keep them fully briefed on the Group's operations.

INTERNAL CONTROLS

The Board acknowledges its responsibility for establishing and monitoring the Group's systems of internal control. Although no system of internal control can provide absolute assurance against material misstatement or loss, the Group's systems are designed to provide the Directors with reasonable assurance that problems can be identified on a timely basis and dealt with appropriately.

The Group maintains an appropriate process for financial reporting. The annual budget is reviewed and approved by the Board before being formally adopted.

Other key procedures that have been established and which are designed to provide effective control are as follows:

Management structure - The Board meets regularly on a formal and informal basis to discuss all issues affecting the Group.

Investment appraisal - The Group has a robust framework for investment appraisal and approval is required by the Board, where appropriate.

Share dealing and inside information - the Company has adopted a share dealing code regulating trading and confidentiality of inside information for the Directors and other persons discharging managerial responsibilities (and their persons closely associated) which contains provisions appropriate for a company whose shares are admitted to trading on the Official List (particularly relating to dealing during closed periods which will be in line with the Market Abuse Regulation). The Company takes all reasonable steps to ensure compliance by the Directors and any relevant employees with the terms of that share dealing code.

The Board reviews the effectiveness of the systems of internal control and considers the major business risks and the control environment. No significant deficiencies have come to light during the year and no weaknesses in internal financial control have resulted in any material losses, or contingencies which would require disclosure, as recommended by the guidance for Directors on reporting on internal financial control.

The Directors are focused on careful management of the Group's cash and financial resources through Board level approvals. At such time that the Group completes an acquisition, the Directors anticipate that the Group's financial position and prospects procedures regime will be updated and expanded as necessary to cater for the nature of the Group's business following completion of its inaugural investment or acquisition.

BOARD EVALUATION

In the year, the Board evaluation process was limited to an ongoing informal evaluation of the performance of the Board by each Director. This will be replaced by a formal, annual evaluation process once the Group has completed its first acquisition.

EXTERNAL ADVISERS

The Board accessed the following external advisers during the year and post the year end:

Mayer Brown International LLP and Ogier (Jersey) LLP - legal

Tessera Investment Management Limited - capital markets and M&A

JTC Plc - company secretarial, governance and regulatory filings

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

A Director has a duty to avoid a situation in which he or she has, or can have, a direct or indirect interest that conflicts, or possibly may conflict, with the interests of the Company. The Board has satisfied itself that there are no conflicts of interest where the Directors have appointments on the Boards of, or relationships with, companies outside the Company. Furthermore, the Board requires Directors to declare all appointments and other situations which could result in a possible conflict of interest, and therefore believes it has a robust framework to deal with any conflict of interest should it arise.

RELATIONS WITH SHAREHOLDERS

The Chairman is the Group's principal spokesperson with investors, fund managers, the press and other interested parties. As well as the Annual General Meeting with shareholders, the other Director may give formal presentations at investor road shows following the announcement of interim and full year results.

Notice of this year's Annual General Meeting will shortly be sent to shareholders.

DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION TO THE AUDITOR

So far as the Directors are aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the Group and Company's independent auditor is unaware, and each Director has taken all the steps that he ought to have taken as a Director in order to make himself aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the Group and Company's independent auditor is aware of that information.

The Directors confirm to the best of their knowledge that:

·         the financial statements, prepared in accordance with the relevant financial reporting framework, give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of the Group and Company and the undertakings included in the consolidation taken as a whole;

·         the Chairman's Statement and Report of the Directors includes a fair review of the development and performance of the business and the position of the Group and Company and the undertakings included in the consolidation taken as a whole, together with a description of the principal risks and uncertainties that they face; and

·         the annual report and accounts, taken as a whole, are fair, balanced and understandable and provide the information necessary for shareholders to assess the Group and Company's position and performance, business model and strategy.

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR

The independent auditor, MHA, will be proposed for re-appointment at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

David Williams

Chairman

23 April 2024

 

Statement of Directors' Responsibilities

The Directors are responsible for preparing the Directors' report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

Jersey Company law requires the directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the Directors have elected to prepare the consolidated financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the United Kingdom ("IFRS") and the Company financial statements in accordance with FRS 101 "Reduced disclosure Framework", the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK. Under company law, the Directors must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Group and Company and of the profit or loss of the Group for that year.

In preparing these financial statements, the Directors are required to:

·         select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

·         make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

·         state whether the Group financial statements have been prepared in accordance with IFRS as adopted by the United Kingdom;

·         state whether the Company financial statements have been prepared in accordance with FRS 101 "Reduced disclosure framework"; and

·         prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Company will continue in business.

The Directors are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Group and Company's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Group and Company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies (Jersey) Law 1991. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Group and Company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The maintenance and integrity of the Group's website is the responsibility of the Directors. The work carried out by the independent auditors does not involve the consideration of these matters and, accordingly, the independent auditors accept no responsibility for any changes that may have occurred in the accounts since they were initially presented on the website. Legislation in Jersey governing the preparation and dissemination of the accounts and the other information included in annual reports may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

 

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

For the year ended 31 December 2023

		2023	2022
	Note	£	£
Administrative expenses		(156,347)	(185,232)
Other operating income	6	99,980	-
Operating loss	6	(56,367)	(185,232)
Interest receivable	8	1,131	115
Loss on ordinary activities before taxation		(55,236)	(185,117)
Taxation charge	9	-	-
Loss and total comprehensive loss for the year		(55,236)	(185,117)
Loss per share
Basic and diluted	10	(£0.07)	(£0.25)
Loss attributable to:
Owners of the parent company		(55,236)	(185,117)
Non-controlling interests		-	-

All activities in both the current and the prior period relate to continuing operations.

The notes below form part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position

As at 31 December 2023

		31 December	31 December	31 December	31 December
		2023	2023	2022	2022
	Note	£	£	£	£
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	12	160,441		244,948
Other receivables	13	169		-
Prepayments	13	6,886		6,866
Total current assets			167,496		251,814
Total assets			167,496		251,814
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables	14	53,694		83,089
Total current liabilities			53,694		83,089
Total liabilities			53,694		83,089
Total net assets			113,802		168,725
Equity
Issued share capital	16		7,500		7,500
Share premium	17		729,598		729,598
Capital redemption reserve	17		2		2
Share-based payment reserve	19		772		459
Non-controlling interest	17		67		67
Retained deficit	17		(624,137)		(568,901)
Total equity			113,802		168,725

The consolidated financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board on 23 April 2024 and were signed on its behalf by:

David Williams

Chairman

The notes below form part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

For the year ended 31 December 2023

					Share-
				Capital	based	Non-
		Share	Share	redemption	payment	controlling	Retained
		capital	premium	reserve	reserve	interest	deficit	Total
	Note	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
At 31 December 2021		7,500	729,598	2	146	67	(383,784)	353,529
Loss for the year		-	-	-	-	-	(185,117)	(185,117)
Transactions with owners in their capacity as owners:
Share-based payment charge	19	-	-	-	313	-	-	313
At 31 December 2022		7,500	729,598	2	459	67	(568,901)	168,725
Loss for the year		-	-	-	-	-	(55,236)	(55,236)
Transactions with
owners in their
capacity as owners:
Share-based payment charge	19	-	-	-	313	-	-	313
At 31 December 2023		7,500	729,598	2	772	67	(624,137)	113,802

The notes below form part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

For the year ended 31 December 2023

	2023	2022
	£	£
Operating activities
Loss before taxation	(55,236)	(185,117)
Adjustments for:
Share-based payment charge	313	313
Operating cash flows before changes in working capital	(54,923)	(184,804)
Increase in trade and other receivables	(189)	(5,697)
(Decrease)/increase in trade and other payables	(29,395)	3,009
Net cash outflows from operating activities	(84,507)	(187,492)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(84,507)	(187,492)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year	244,948	432,440
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year	160,441	244,948

As the Group does not have any financing liabilities outside of working capital and has no cashflows from financing activities in both periods presented, no separate net debt reconciliation has been presented within these consolidated financial statements.

The notes below form part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

Notes forming part of the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2023

1 General information

The Company is a public limited company incorporated and domiciled in Jersey, whose shares are publicly traded on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange. The Company is the parent company of Acceler8 Ventures Subco Limited (a private company under the laws of Jersey with registered number 134587), and together form the "Group".

 

The address of its registered office is 28 Esplanade, St. Helier, Channel Islands, JE2 3QA, Jersey.

 

The Group has been incorporated for the purpose of identifying suitable acquisition opportunities in accordance with the Group's investment and acquisition strategy with a view to creating shareholder value. The Group will retain a flexible investment and acquisition strategy which will, subject to appropriate levels of due diligence, enable it to deploy capital in target companies by way of minority or majority investments, or full acquisitions where it is in the interests of shareholders to do so. This will include transactions with target companies located in the UK and internationally.

 

2 Material accounting policies

 

The accounting policies set out below have, unless otherwise stated, been applied consistently to all periods presented in theses consolidated financial statements.

The principal policies adopted in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements are as follows:

(a) Basis of preparation

While the financial information included in this preliminary announcement has been prepared in accordance with the recognition and measurement criteria of International Financial Reporting Standards, this announcement does not itself contain sufficient information to comply with those standards. The Company expects to publish full financial statements that comply with International Financial Reporting Standards in April 2024.

The consolidated financial statements are prepared on the historical cost basis.

The comparative figures presented cover the year ended to 31 December 2022.

(b) Basis of consolidation

The consolidated financial statements present the results of the Company and its subsidiaries (the "Group") as if they formed a single entity. Intercompany transactions and balances between Group companies are therefore eliminated in full.

Where the Group has control over a Company, it is classified as a subsidiary. The Group controls a Company if all three of the following elements are present: power over the Company, exposure to variable returns from the Company, and the ability of the Group to use its power to affect those variable returns. Control is reassessed whenever facts and circumstances indicate that there may be a change in any of these elements of control.

The consolidated financial statements incorporate the results of business combinations using the acquisition method. In the consolidated statement of financial position, the acquiree's identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities are initially recognised at their fair values at the acquisition date. The acquisition related costs are included in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income on an accruals basis. The results of acquired operations are included in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income from the date on which control is obtained.

(c) Functional and presentational currency

The Group's functional and presentational currency for these financial statements is the pound sterling.

(d) Going concern

The Directors, having made due and careful enquiry, are of the opinion that the Group and Company have adequate working capital to execute their operations over the next 12 months (the "going concern period"). The Group and Company's unaudited cash balance as at 12 April 2024 was £112,117. Excluding the consummation of any investment or acquisition, which will likely require specific funding, the Group and Company have adequate resources available to fund the on-going forecast operating expenses during the going concern period as a result of the Group and the Company's current unaudited cash balance, as well as the provision of a letter of financial support provided by the Directors to the Group. Having also performed additional stress testing on the forecasts, the Directors are comfortable there are also sufficient mitigating actions on the incurring of expenditure within the business that could be taken, to ensure the business can meet its ongoing liabilities as they fall due. The Directors, therefore, have made an informed judgement at the time of approving the financial statements, that there is a reasonable expectation that the Group and Company have adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. As a result, the Directors have adopted the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the annual financial statements.

(e) Interest receivable

Interest receivable is recognised on a time-proportion basis using the effective interest rate method.

(f) Employee benefits

Short-term employee benefit obligations are measured on an undiscounted basis and are expensed as the related service is provided. A liability is recognised for the amount expected to be paid under short-term cash bonus or profit-sharing plans if the Group has a present legal or constructive obligation to pay this amount as a result of past service provided by the employee and the obligation can be estimated reliably.

(g) Taxation

Tax on the profit or loss for the year comprises current and deferred tax. Tax is recognised in the income statement except to the extent that it relates to items recognised in other comprehensive income or directly in equity, in which case it is recognised in other comprehensive income or equity respectively.

Current tax is the expected tax payable or receivable on the taxable income or loss for the year, using tax rates and laws enacted or substantively enacted at the statement of financial position date.

Deferred tax is provided on temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for taxation purposes. The following temporary differences are not provided for: the initial recognition of goodwill; the initial recognition of assets or liabilities that affect neither accounting nor taxable profit other than in a business combination, and differences relating to investments in subsidiaries to the extent that they will probably not reverse in the foreseeable future. The amount of deferred tax provided is based on the expected manner of realisation or settlement of the carrying amount of assets and liabilities, using tax rates and laws enacted or substantively enacted at the statement of financial position date.

A deferred tax asset is recognised only to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profits will be available against which the temporary difference can be utilised.

(h) Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash balances and short-term deposits with an original maturity of three months or less from inception, held for meeting short term commitments.

(i) Equity

Equity comprises of share capital, share premium, capital redemption reserve, share-based payment reserve, non-controlling interest and retained deficit.

Share capital is measured at the par value.

Share premium and retained deficit represent balances conventionally attributed to those descriptions. The transaction costs relating to the issue of shares was deducted from share premium.

The Capital redemption reserve is made up on amounts arising from the cancellation of the deferred shares.

Share-based payment reserve includes the cumulative share-based payment charged to equity.

Non-controlling interest reserve arises out of amounts due to holders of the B shares in Acceler8 Ventures Subco Limited.

(j) Financial assets and liabilities

The Group's financial assets and liabilities comprise cash and cash equivalents and accruals. Financial assets are stated at amortised cost less provision for expected credit losses. Financial liabilities are stated at amortised cost.

(k) Share-based payments

The Group operates an equity-settled share-based payment plan. The fair value of the employee services received in exchange for the grant of options is recognised as an expense over the vesting period, based on the Group's estimate of awards that will eventually vest, with a corresponding increase in equity as a share-based payment reserve.

This plan includes market-based vesting conditions for which the fair value at grant date reflects and are therefore not subsequently revisited. The fair value is determined using a binomial model.

(l) Related party transactions

The Group discloses transactions with related parties which are not wholly owned with the same group. It does not disclose transactions with members of the same group that are wholly owned.

(m) Accounting standards issued

The following amendments to standards were issued and adopted in the year, with no material impact on the financial statements (all effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2023):

●     IFRS 17 - Insurance Contracts

●     Amendments to IAS 1 - Presentation of Financial Statements and IFRS Practice Statement 2 - Making Materiality Judgements: Disclosure of material accounting policies

●     Amendment to IAS 8 - Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors: Definition of accounting estimates

●     Amendment to IAS 12 - Income Taxes: Deferred tax assets and liabilities arising from a single transaction

●     Amendment to IAS 12 - Income Taxes: International tax reform and temporary exception for deferred tax assets and liabilities related to the OECD pillar two income taxes

There were no other new accounting standards issued that have been adopted in the year.

(n) Standards in issue but not yet effective

At the date of authorisation of these financial statements there were amendments to standards which were in issue, but which were not yet effective, and which have not been applied. The principal ones are detailed below. The Directors do not expect the adoption of these amendments to standards to have a material impact on the financial statements.

Effective for periods beginning on or after 1 January 2024:

●     Amendment to IFRS 16 - Leases: Leases on sale and leaseback

●     Amendment to IAS 1 - Presentation of Financial Statements: Non-current liabilities with covenants

●     Amendments to IAS 7 - Statement of Cash Flows and IFRS 7 - Financial Instruments: Supplier finance

Effective for periods beginning on or after 1 January 2025:

●     Amendments to IAS 21 - The Effects of Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates: Lack of exchangeability

3 Accounting estimates and judgements

In preparing the consolidated financial statements, the Directors have to make judgments on how to apply the Group's accounting policies and make estimates about the future. The Directors do not consider there to be any critical judgments that have been made in arriving at the amounts recognised in the consolidated financial statements with the exception of the valuation of share-based payments. Please see Note 19 for further details.

4 Employees

Staff costs, including Directors, consist of:

	2023 £	2022 £
Wages and salaries	43,464	40,000
	43,464	40,000
	2023 Number	2022 Number
The average number of employees, including Directors, during the year was:	2	2

5 Directors' remuneration

The Company Directors are considered the only key management personnel and their remuneration was as follows:

	2023 £	2022 £
Directors' emoluments	43,464	40,000
	43,464	40,000

Of the Directors' emoluments recognised in the current year, £40,000 relates to remuneration for qualifying services in the current year and £3,464 relates to remuneration for qualifying services in prior periods that have been recognised in the current year.

6 Operating loss

	2023 £	2022 £
This has been arrived at after charging/ (crediting):
Professional services	(24,737)	112,229
Fees payable to the Company's independent auditor for the audit of the parent and consolidated accounts	20,000	22,000

An amount of £99,980 recognised within the operating loss for the year relates to a payment received by the Company under a cost indemnity arrangement (the "Cost Indemnity") in place with a counterparty, over which a director of the Company has significant influence due to common directorships. Pursuant to the Cost Indemnity, the counterparty agreed to repay certain transaction expenses incurred by the Company in the event that an acquisition of the counterparty by the Company was not successfully concluded. This has resulted in an overall credit within the "professional services" category of administrative expenses in the year.

7 Adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Adjusted EBITDA)

	2023 £	2022 £
Loss before tax	(55,236)	(185,117)
Interest receivable	(1,131)	(115)
EBITDA loss	(56,367)	(185,232)
Share-based payment charge	313	313
Adjusted EBITDA loss	(56,054)	(184,919)

8 Interest receivable

	2023 £	2022 £
Bank interest receivable	1,131	115

9 Taxation

	2023 £	2022 £
Jersey corporation tax
Corporation tax on loss for the year	-	-
Total taxation on loss on ordinary activities	-	-
	2023 £	2022 £
Loss before tax	(55,236)	(185,117)
Tax for financial service companies at 10% (2022: 10%)	(5,524)	(18,512)
Effect of:
Tax losses on which a deferred tax asset has not been recognised	5,524	18,512
Total taxation on loss on ordinary activities	-	-

Deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that taxable profits will be available against which the deductible temporary differences and carry forward tax losses/credits can be utilised. Accordingly, the Group has not recognised deferred tax assets in respect of deductible temporary differences and carry forward tax losses as at 31 December 2023 and 31 December 2022 respectively, as it is not probable at year end that relevant taxable profits will be available in future based on the current activities of the Group as a holding group. There are no expiry dates on these tax losses as at the year end. The unrecognised deferred tax asset is summarised below:

Tax losses and unrecognised deferred tax asset carried forward

	2023 £	2022 £
Cumulative temporary differences and carry forward tax losses	624,137	568,901
Unrecognised deferred tax asset on above at 10% (based on the enacted tax rate at the date of signing the financial statements)	62,414	56,890

10 Earnings per share

Earnings per share ("EPS") is calculated by dividing the loss after tax for the year by the weighted average number of shares in issue for the year, these figures being as follows:

	2023 £	2022 £
Loss used in basic and diluted EPS, being loss after tax	(55,236)	(185,117)
Adjustments:
Share-based payment charge	313	313
Adjusted earnings used in adjusted EPS	(54,923)	(184,804)

The Subco Incentive Scheme share options (Note 19) have not been included in the diluted EPS on the basis that they are anti-dilutive, however they may become dilutive in future periods.

	2023 Number	2022 Number
Weighted average number of ordinary shares of 1p each used as the denominator in calculating basic and diluted EPS	750,000	750,000
Earnings/(loss) per share
Basic and diluted	(£0.07)	(£0.25)
Adjusted - basic and diluted	(£0.07)	(£0.25)

11 Subsidiaries

The Company directly owns the ordinary share capital of its subsidiary undertakings as set out below:

Subsidiary	Nature of business	Country of incorporation	Proportion of A ordinary shares held by Company	Proportion of B ordinary shares held by Company
Acceler8 Ventures Subco Limited	Intermediate holding company	Jersey, Channel Islands	100 per cent.	0 per cent.

The address of the registered office of Acceler8 Ventures Subco Limited (the "Subco") is 28 Esplanade, St. Helier, Channel Islands, JE2 3QA, Jersey. The Subco was incorporated on 25 March 2021.

The A ordinary shares have full voting rights, full rights to participate in a dividend and full rights to participate in a distribution of capital. The B ordinary shares have been issued pursuant to the Company's Subco Incentive Scheme.

12 Cash and cash equivalents

	2023 £	2022 £
Cash and cash equivalents	160,441	244,948
	160,441	244,948

13 Trade and other receivables

	2023 £	2022 £
Other receivables	169	-
Prepayments	6,886	6,866
	7,055	6,866

14 Trade and other payables

Current trade and other payables	2023 £	2022 £
Accruals	53,694	83,089
	53,694	83,089

15 Financial instruments

The Group's financial assets and liabilities comprise cash and cash equivalents, other receivables and accruals. The carrying value of all financial assets and liabilities equals fair value given their short-term nature.

	Financial assets measured at amortised cost
	2023	2022
	£	£
Current financial assets
Cash and cash equivalents	160,441	244,948
Other receivables	169	-
	160,610	244,948
	Financial liabilities measured at amortised cost
	2023	2022
	£	£
Current financial liabilities
Accruals	53,694	83,089
	53,694	83,089

Credit risk

The Group's credit risk is wholly attributable to its cash balance. All cash balances are held at a reputable bank in Jersey. The credit risk from its cash and cash equivalents is deemed to be low due to the nature and size of the balances held.

Liquidity risk

Liquidity risk is the risk that the Group will not be able to meet its financial obligations as they fall due.

The Group's approach to liquidity risk is to ensure that sufficient liquidity is available to meet foreseeable requirements and to invest funds securely and profitably.

The following table details the contractual maturity of financial liabilities based on the dates the liabilities are due to be settled:

Financial liabilities:

	Less than 1 year £	2 to 5 Years £	More than 5 years £	Total £
Accruals	53,694	-	-	53,694
At 31 December 2023	53,694	-	-	53,694
Accruals	83,089	-	-	83,089
At 31 December 2022	83,089	-	-	83,089

16 Share capital

	Allotted, called up and fully paid
	2023 Number	2022 Number	2023 £	2022 £
Ordinary shares of 1p each:	750,000	750,000	7,500	7,500
At 31 December 2023	750,000	750,000	7,500	7,500

All shares are equally eligible to receive dividends and the repayment of capital and represent one vote at the shareholders' meeting of the Company.

Following a sub-division and re-designation of share capital in 2021, the issued share capital of the Company included 198 deferred shares of a par value of £0.01 each. On 21 May 2021, in accordance with article 5B of the Articles, the Company redeemed for nil consideration the deferred shares. Any amounts standing to the credit of any nominal or share premium account relating to deferred shares that were redeemed were credited to a capital reserve of the Company (see Note 17) and are available for use in accordance with the Companies Law.

17 Reserves

Share premium and retained earnings represent balances conventionally attributed to those descriptions. The transaction costs relating to the issue of shares was deducted from share premium.

Capital redemption reserve includes amounts in relation to deferred shared capital.

The Group having no regulatory capital or similar requirements, its primary capital management focus is on maximising earnings per share and therefore shareholder return.

The non-controlling interests reserves arises out of amounts due to holders of the B shares in Acceler8 Ventures Subco Limited.

The Directors have proposed that there will be no final dividend in respect of 2023 (2022: £Nil).

18 Share Incentive Plan

On 14 July 2021, the Group created a Subco Incentive Scheme within its wholly owned subsidiary Acceler8 Ventures Subco Limited ("Subco"). Under the terms of the Subco Incentive Scheme, scheme participants are only rewarded if a predetermined level of shareholder value is created over a three to five year period or upon a change of control of the Company or Subco (whichever occurs first), calculated on a formula basis by reference to the growth in market capitalisation of the Company, following adjustments for the issue of any new Ordinary shares and taking into account dividends and capital returns ("Shareholder Value"), realised by the exercise by the beneficiaries of a put option in respect of their shares in Subco and satisfied either in cash or by the issue of new ordinary shares at the election of the Company.

Under these arrangements in place, participants are entitled to up to 15 per cent. of the Shareholder Value created, subject to such Shareholder Value having increased by at least 12.5 per cent. per annum compounded over a period of between three and five years from admission or following a change of control of the Company or Subco.

19 Share-based payments

The Subco Incentive Scheme detailed in Note 18 is an equity-settled share option plan which allows employees and advisors of the Group to sell their B shares to the company in exchange for a cash payment or for shares in the Company (at the Company's election) if certain conditions are met.

These conditions include good and bad leaver provisions and that growth in Shareholder Value of 12.5 percent compound per annum is delivered over a three to five year period for the scheme to vest. This second condition is therefore a market condition which has been taken into account in the measurement at grant date of the fair value of the options.

The weighted average exercise price of the outstanding B share options is £Nil which have a weighted average contractual life of 2 years 9 months. 29,000 B share options were issued in the nine-month period to 31 December 2021, all of which were outstanding at the current year end. No B share options were exercised in the current or prior period. No B share options have expired during the current or prior period.

The Group recognised £313 (2022: £313) of expenditure in the statement of total comprehensive income in relation to equity-settled share-based payments in the year.

The fair value of options granted is determined by applying a binominal model. The expense is apportioned over the vesting period of the option and is based on the number which are expected to vest and the fair value of these options at the date of grant.

The inputs into the binomial model in respect of options granted in 2021 are as follows:

Opening share price	£1
Expected volatility of share price	16.67%
Expected life of options	5 years
Risk-free rate	0.71%
Target increase in share price per annum	12.5%
Fair value of options	5.397p

Expected volatility was estimated by reference to the average 5-year volatility of the FTSE SmallCap Index.

The target increase in Shareholder Value is laid out in the Articles of Association of the Subco and represents the compounded target annual increase in market capitalisation (adjusted for capital raises and dividends) that needs to be met between the third and fifth anniversary of the Group's admission onto the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange in order for the scheme to vest.

The Group did not enter into any share-based payment transactions with parties other than employees and advisors during the current or prior period.

20 Related party transactions

Transactions with key management personnel

Key management personnel comprise the Directors and executive officers. The remuneration of the individual Directors is disclosed in the Report of the Directors.

An amount of £99,980 recognised within the operating loss for the year relates to a payment received by the Group under a cost indemnity arrangement (the "Cost Indemnity") in place with a counterparty, over which a director of the Group has significant influence due to common directorships. Pursuant to the Cost Indemnity, the counterparty agreed to repay certain transaction expenses incurred by the Group in the event that an acquisition of the counterparty by the Group was not successfully concluded. This has resulted in an overall credit within the "professional services" category of administrative expenses in the year.

Other transactions - Group

On 14 May 2021, the Group entered into an arm's length strategic advisory agreement with Tessera (a company which is a shareholder in the Company) pursuant to which Tessera has agreed to provide strategic and general corporate advice, and acquisition and capital raising transaction support services to the Group.

Tessera will be paid a success fee on completion on the first acquisition, at an amount to be agreed between Tessera and the Group. Following completion of the first acquisition, Tessera will provide services as requested by the Group and will charge a fixed daily rate or monthly retainer fee depending on the volume of such services. As at 31 December 2023, £Nil (2022: £1,011) was owed to Tessera by the Group.

21 Post balance sheet events

There are no events subsequent to the reporting date which would have a material impact on the financial statements.

22 Contingent liabilities

There are no contingent liabilities at the reporting date which would have a material impact on the financial statements.

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