RNS Number : 1234G
Tavistock Investments PLC
30 September 2024
 

Prior to publication, the information contained within this announcement was deemed by the Company to constitute inside information for the purposes of Regulation 11 of the Market Abuse (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019/310. With the publication of this announcement, this information is now considered to be in the public domain.

 

Tavistock Investments Plc

("Tavistock" or the "Company")

 

Final results for the year ended 31 March 2024

 

30 September 2024

 

Tavistock (AIM:TAVI) is pleased to announce its financial results for the year ended 31 March 2024 (the "2024 Accounts").

 

Financial summary

 

·    Fifteenfold increase in EBITDA to £2.23 million (2023: £0.14 million)

○     demonstrates strong performance during the year

○     includes a significant contribution from the Group's recently acquired protection business, Tavistock Protect Limited (formerly Precise Protect Limited)

·    16% increase in gross revenues to £39.5 million (31 March 2023: £34.0 million)

·    75% of gross revenues generated by the Company's advisory business, where the level of recurring income exceeds 80%

·    Halving of operating loss to £0.41 million (31 March 2023: £0.94 million)

·    Cash and cash equivalents at 31 March 2024 of £4.12 million (31 March 2023: £9.73 million)

 

Brian Raven, Group Chief Executive, said:

 

"Our 2024 Accounts reflect the solid progress made during the year as the Board maintains its focus on optimising the balance between regulatory risk and potential commercial reward. In that context further work will be done in 2025 to position the company for growth."

 

Posting of Annual Report and Accounts

 

A copy of the 2024 Accounts is being sent to shareholders today and will shortly be made available on the Company's website at: www.tavistockinvestments.com.

 

For further information:

 

Tavistock Investments Plc

Oliver Cooke

Brian Raven                                                                                                        Tel: 01753 867000

 

Allenby Capital Limited                                                                                  Tel: 020 3328 5656

(Nominated adviser and broker)

Corporate Finance:

Nick Naylor, Liz Kirchner, Daniel Dearden-Williams

Sales and Corporate Broking:

Tony Quirke

 

 

TAVISTOCK INVESTMENTS PLC

 

CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT

 

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

 

I am pleased to report that the Company has continued to make solid progress in the year under review.

 

Underlying financial performance in the period, as measured by the reported level of adjusted EBITDA (Earnings before Interest Taxation Depreciation and Amortisation adjusted to remove the impact of one-off exceptional items), has improved fifteenfold over that of the previous year.

 

This includes a significant contribution achieved through the successful integration of the Group's recently acquired protection business, Tavistock Protect Limited (formerly Precise Protect Limited).

 

 

FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

 

Revenue

 

The Company has reported 16% growth in gross revenues for the year under review to £39.5 million (2023: £34 million). 75% of these revenues (£29.4 million) were generated by the Group's financial advice business, where the level of recurring income exceeds 80%. 23% of these revenues (£9 million) were generated by the Group's protection business and the balance by its model portfolio service.

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

Adjusted EBITDA is more fully defined as being Earnings before Interest Taxation Depreciation and Amortisation as adjusted to remove the distorting effect of one-off gains and losses arising on acquisitions/disposals as well as other non-cash items. The Board considers adjusted EBITDA, rather than Operating Profit, to be the best measure of the Company's underlying performance.

 

The Company has reported a significant growth in the level of adjusted EBITDA in the year under review to £2.2 million (2023: £0.14 million). This is the highest level of adjusted EBITDA reported by the Company to date. 

 

£6.69 million of the adjusted EBITDA was generated by the Group's financial advisory and protection business and the balance represents the adjusted EBITDA generated by the Group's other businesses less the cost of its centralised management and support functions.

 

Operating Loss

 

The Company is reporting an Operating profit for the year to 31 March 2024, before exceptional items, of £0.48 million, which is in marked contrast to the Operating loss before exceptional items reported in the year to 31 March 2023, of (£1.2) million.

 

Exceptional items include a £1.3 million contribution from the release of past provisions and a provision of £2.163 million against the carrying value of the Titan receivable. Further details relating to the termination of the relationship with Titan can be found below. 

 

After these exceptional items, the Company is reporting an Operational Loss of (£0.41) million (31 March 2023: loss (£0.94) million).

 

The Group's financial performance during the year under review is summarised below:

 


31 Mar 2024

£'000

31 Mar 2023

£'000

    Movement

Revenues

39,489

33,954

16% increase

Adjusted EBITDA

2,226

141

1479% increase

Depreciation & Amortisation

(1,548)

(1,244)

24% increase

Share Based Payments

(198)

(107)

85% increase

Profit/(Loss) from Operations- before exceptional items

480

(1,210)


Release of past provisions

1,306

342

282% increase

Exceptional costs

(31)

(69)

55% decrease

Titan Provision

(2,163)

-


Reported Loss from Operations - after exceptional items

(408)

(937)

56% decrease

Loss per share

(0.23)p

(0.25)p

 

Net Assets at year end

40,448

41,771

3% decrease

Cash Resources at year end

4,118

9,733

58% decrease





 

Unfortunately, not all developments during the period have been positive and the Board has been greatly disappointed by the poor behaviour of one of its former business partners, Titan Wealth Services Limited ("Titan").

 

Titan

 

During the year the Board uncovered multiple breaches of the strategic partnership agreement entered with Titan in June 2021. Titan's failure to honour the undertakings that it gave regarding the management of the ACUMEN Funds led to a collapse in the performance of those funds. At one stage, whilst under Titan's management, they became the worst performing suite of funds in the UK over a 16-month period. Tavistock gave Titan a six-month period in which to restore the performance of these funds to an acceptable standard, which it failed to do.

 

In the best interests of investors in the funds Tavistock terminated the strategic partnership agreement with Titan. In the best interests of the Company and its shareholders, the Board has initiated legal proceedings against Titan and has intimated a multimillion-pound claim for the substantial commercial damage caused to the Company by Titan's disregard of its contractual obligations.

 

Having obtained advice from legal Counsel and an independent industry expert, the Board considers Tavistock's claim to be robust and conservative in nature. Given this, the Board considers it prudent at this stage to provide for the difference between the amount being claimed from Titan and the full outstanding balance of the deferred consideration, some £2.16 million.

 

As required by legal protocol, Tavistock has offered Titan the opportunity to settle this claim via mediation. However, so far Titan has rejected mediation and instead filed a claim against Tavistock in the High Court alleging wrongful termination of the agreement and a variety of other offences. This claim has been reviewed by Tavistock's legal team, including legal Counsel. Much of the claim has been characterised as being misconceived, based on inference and assumption and failing not only in terms of legal tests but also for a complete lack of evidence. The entirety of the claim will be robustly defended by Tavistock.

 

Investment in LEBC

 

In April 2022, Tavistock acquired a 21% stake in LEBC Holdings Limited ("LEBC") at a cost of £10 million.  This investment had been intended to be part of the acquisition of the whole of the LEBC Group. However, for various reasons that transaction did not complete and, in April 2024, LEBC instead sold its trading subsidiaries to Titan for a cash consideration of up to £45 million.

 

This consideration is payable in several instalments each of which is linked to the achievement of certain agreed performance targets.

 

In the current financial year, the Company will be able to report its share of the substantial gain realised by LEBC because of the transaction. Several factors prevent the ultimate value of the Company's investment in LEBC being determined at the present time, but should it seem likely that this will fall short of the original cost, a suitable impairment provision would be made in due course.

 

OTHER SIGNIFICANT MATTERS

 

Board Changes

 

On 1 June 2024, after 11 years in office, I stepped down as an executive director of the Company and took on a new role as the Company's Non-Executive Chairman. In this capacity I have joined the Company's independent Remuneration Committee, which is chaired by another Non-Executive Director, Peter Dornan.

 

On 30 June 2024, after 10 years in the role, Roderic Rennison stepped down as a Non-Executive Director of the Company to pursue other business interests and the Board would like to thank Roderic for his past support and to wish him the very best for the future.

 

Industry Recognition

 

I am pleased to advise that the Group's model portfolio service provider, Tavistock Asset Management, was short listed for several industry awards during the year and was Highly Commended/Commended in two categories, Best Investment Service and Best Ethical Investment Provider, at the MoneyFacts Awards in September 2023.

 

Our congratulations go to the management and staff within that business.

 

PII Renewal

 

The high standard of the Group's operational and compliance procedures has once again been recognised by the insurance industry. In an increasingly expensive insurance market, the Group has secured the renewal of its professional indemnity insurance policy, with the same insurer and the same scope of cover but with both a lower claims excess levels and at a lower premium than in the previous year. This is a particular tribute to the Group's risk management and compliance team.

 

Regulatory Regime

 

Two, industry wide, regulatory obligations impacted the Group's ordinary course of business during the year under review.

 

The first, was the introduction of the new wide-ranging Consumer Duty regime. This seeks to ensure that all clients are treated both fairly and equally, that the charges levied for services provided are transparent and that recommended products both provide value for money and are appropriate for each client's individual needs and circumstances. I am pleased to confirm that Tavistock is close to having fully completed the implementation of its new Consumer Duty obligations.

 

The second obligation was a sector-wide requirement for firms to conduct a review of all British Steel Defined Benefit Pension Transfer cases. Tavistock had fewer than fifty such cases and the Company's pension transfer processes are of a high standard. This review has now been completed with minimal cost being incurred by the Company. As a consequence, the precautionary provision made in previous accounts for the potential cost of this exercise is no longer required and has been released.

 

Dividends

 

In 2023, the Company paid an interim dividend of 0.07p per share and it remains the Board's intention to pay further interim dividends when considered appropriate. The timing and quantum of the next dividend payment will be assessed in due course.

 

OUTLOOK

 

The hard work and dedication of our excellent staff has enabled a great deal to be accomplished over the last year. I would like to acknowledge their support and thank them for their considerable contribution to the Company's progress.

 

The Company's prospects are excellent, and the Board looks forward to the coming year with confidence. I will update you in due course.

 

 

 

Oliver Cooke

Chairman

28 September 2024

 

 

 

TAVISTOCK INVESTMENTS PLC

 

STRATEGIC REPORT

 

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

 

 

Introduction

S172 of the Companies Act 2006, places an obligation on the Board, both individually and collectively, to act in a manner which they consider, in good faith, to be most likely to promote the ongoing success of the Company for the benefit of its members.

In keeping with this obligation the Directors have, amongst other matters, given regard to the following:

·    the likely long-term consequences of their decisions,

·    the interests of the Company's employees,

·    the need to foster the Company's relationships with its external partners,

·    the impact of the Company's operations on both the community and the environment,

·    the desirability of maintaining the Company's reputation for high standards of business conduct, and

·    the need to act fairly between members of the Company.

Against this background, the Board's continued focus has been on the medium to long term optimisation of the balance between regulatory risk and potential commercial gain.

In the short-term the Board has also focused on replacing the profit contribution generated by Titan Asset Management Ltd (previously name Tavistock Wealth Limited), prior to its sale in August 2021.  

Short Term

In April 2023 the Company acquired Precise Protect Ltd which it subsequently renamed and rebranded as Tavistock Protect Limited.

 

Tavistock Protect Limited is a profitable and fast-growing UK wide protection business based in Bangor, Northern Ireland. The company has a network of over 200 advisers working with more than 30,000 UK clients. Tavistock Protect offers clients a wide range of products including life and critical illness cover, personal injury and income protection and private medical insurance, several of which have been developed in-house and are unique to the firm.

 

Tavistock Protect Limited was a significant contributor to the Group during the year under review and on a consolidated basis the Company has been able to report adjusted EBITDA of £2.5 million, its highest to date.

 

Longer Term

The Board considers that a predominantly restricted advice business model, in which advisers are able to offer clients products and services that have previously been identified, researched and approved by the Company, offers the optimum balance that it is seeking between regulatory risk and potential commercial reward.

Other matters of Significance

 

Titan

 

The ten-year strategic partnership entered with Titan in June 2021 has been terminated following multiple breaches of contract by Titan and a sustained period of unacceptable investment performance. The Board has been greatly disappointed by the poor behaviour of its former business partner and details of the events leading up to, and the consequences of, the termination of the agreement with Titan are covered in the Chairman's Statement.

 

LEBC

 

In April 2022, Tavistock acquired a 21% stake in LEBC Holdings Limited ("LEBC").  In April 2024, LEBC sold its trading subsidiaries to Titan for a cash consideration of up to £45 million. This consideration is payable in several instalments each of which is linked to the achievement of certain agreed performance targets.

 

In the current financial year, the Company will be able to report its share of the substantial gain realised by LEBC because of the transaction. Several factors prevent the ultimate value of the Company's investment in LEBC being determined at the present time, but should it seem likely that this will fall short of the original cost, a suitable impairment provision will be made.

 

Board Changes

 

On 1 June 2024, after 11 years in office, I stepped down as an executive director of the Company and took on a new role as the Company's Non-Executive Chairman. In this capacity I have joined the Company's independent Remuneration Committee, which is chaired by another Non-Executive Director, Peter Dornan.

 

On 30 June 2024, after 10 years in the role, Roderic Rennison stepped down as a Non-Executive Director of the Company to pursue other business interests and the Board would like to thank Roderic most sincerely for his past support and to wish him the very best for the future.

 

External Recognition

 

I am pleased to advise that the Group's model portfolio service provider, Tavistock Asset Management, was short listed for several industry awards during the year and was Highly Commended/Commended in two categories, Best Investment Service and Best Ethical Investment Provider, at the MoneyFacts Awards in September 2023.

 

The high standard of the Group's operational and compliance procedures has also been recognised by the insurance industry. I am pleased to advise that the Group has secured the renewal of its professional indemnity insurance cover, with the same insurer and the same scope of cover but with both lower claims excesses and at a lower premium level than in the previous year. This is a commendable achievement in an increasingly expensive insurance market and is a particular tribute to the Group's risk management and compliance team.

 

Regulatory Regime

 

The Company faces the usual risks associated with operating in a highly regulated environment. However, during the year, two industry wide, regulatory obligations have impacted the Company's ordinary course of business.

 

These are the introduction of the new wide-ranging Consumer Duty regime, and the requirement for firms to conduct a review of British Steel Defined Benefit Pension Transfer cases.

 

I am pleased to advise that both obligations have been fully addressed and more details concerning each can be found in the Chairman's Statement.

 

Current Objective

 

In the current year the Board's objective is to continue to develop the Group through the completion of further acquisitions. In doing so, it will aim to further improve the risk to reward balance.

 

Financial Performance

 

The Company's financial performance is addressed in more detail in the Chairman's Statement.

 

Corporate Governance

 

Corporate Governance activities are set out separately within the Corporate Governance Report on pages 9 to 14.

 

Future Prospects

 

The Board continues to have ambitious growth plans and a number of potential acquisitions are already under active consideration.

 

The Board considers the Company's prospects to be excellent.

 

Approved by the Board of Directors and signed on its behalf by

 

Oliver Cooke

Chairman

28 September 2024

 

 

TAVISTOCK INVESTMENTS PLC

 

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT

 

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

 

 

Introduction

 

It is the Board's view that good corporate governance reduces risk within the business, can promote confidence and trust amongst its stakeholders and underpins the effectiveness of the Company's management framework.

 

The Directors continue to reference the Quoted Companies Alliance Corporate Governance Code (the "QCA Code"), as being the basis of the Company's governance framework. The Board believes that the Company complies with the QCA Code so far as is practicable having regard to the size, nature and current stage of the Company's development.

 

The QCA Code includes ten broad principles that the Board holds in mind as it seeks to deliver growth to the Company's shareholders in the medium and long-term. These principles and the manner in which the Company seeks to comply with them can be summarised as follows:

 

Principle 1:

Establish a strategy and business model which promote long-term value for shareholders

·    The Board is aware of the ongoing interest in private equity funded consolidation activity within the financial services sector.

·    The Board's strategy is to build a profitable financial advisory and wealth management business, in which due consideration is paid to the balance between regulatory risk and potential commercial reward. By so doing, the Board will increase the Company's value to potential consolidators and will thereby create the potential for shareholders to achieve significant value from their investment in the Company.

·    The Board is also focused on further improving the efficiency and profitability of the Company's operations.

·    The Board remains willing to consider the profitable disposal of parts of the Company's operations in circumstances where the proceeds can be redeployed in a manner that is more beneficial for shareholders.

·    With shareholder support, the Board will continue to arrange for the Company to make market purchases of its own shares. Any shares purchased in this manner may be cancelled which will reduce the number of shares that the Company has in issue and will further increase the earnings per share of those shares remaining in issue.

·    The combination of an increase in the commercial value of the business and a reduction in the number of shares in issue, will lead to a long-term improvement in shareholder value.

·    Key risks have been addressed in the Strategic Report on pages 6 to 8.

Principle 2:

Seek to understand and meet shareholder needs and expectations

·    The Board welcomes constructive engagement with shareholders.

·    The Company believes that shareholder expectations are most effectively managed through discussion with shareholders at the Company's Annual General Meeting and through the release of regulatory announcements.

·    Board members make themselves available to meet with shareholders and with potential investors as and when required.

·    The Executive Directors regularly engage with the Company's major shareholders and ensure that the views expressed by them are communicated fully to the Board.

Principle 3:

Take into account wider stakeholder and social responsibilities and their implications for long-term success

·      The Board recognises the importance of every member of the Tavistock team. Communication has been improved through the enhancement of the Company's intranet site. Maternity pay arrangements have been improved and staff have access to support helplines as well as death in service insurance cover.

·      The Board places great emphasis on the safety, wellbeing and mental health of all of the Company's employees and has engaged in a number of initiatives to improve each of these.

·      The Company also recognises the importance of engagement with all stakeholder groups, which, in addition to its employees, include investors, clients, strategic partners and the relevant authorities. The Board seeks to treat each of these groups in a fair and open manner.

·      The Company endeavours to take account of, and to respond to, feedback received from any of these stakeholder groups.

·      Environmental responsibility and sustainability are important to the Company, and a number of initiatives are being pursued to improve the recycling of paper, to reduce the use of plastics and to reduce the Company's carbon footprint through home working, the greater use of online meeting technology and a reduction in the number of office premises.

·      In pursuit of a net zero economy, the Company continues to offer both a subsidised cycle to work scheme, and a subsidised electric vehicle purchase scheme, both of which have been well received. The Company has also installed a number of charging points for use by staff driving hybrid or fully electric vehicles.

·      The Company continues to support a national charity, the Clock Tower Foundation, and to encourage the involvement of staff in various local and national fund-raising events.

Principle 4:

Embed effective risk management throughout the organisation, considering both opportunities and threats

·  Efficient and effective regulatory oversight reduces risk and creates an opportunity to deliver better service to the Group's end clients.

 

·  The Company has designed and introduced a market-leading approach to the on-going management of compliance risk via the use of scorecards which are tailored for each adviser. These scorecards assess the performance of each adviser based on their experience, track record, business processed by product type and risk ratings by product type. The updating of these scorecards is fully automated, and they can be provided in real time to each adviser, manager, and business leader.

 

·  Business leaders are able to risk manage the levels of pre-sale and post-sale file checking by reference both to the adviser and to the product type. Certain higher risk products such as pension transfers, VCTs and equity release will always require pre-sale checking. However, for most products, the level and frequency of oversight can be adjusted in real-time by reference to the individual adviser's perceived performance risk.

 

·  The Company employs a dedicated Risk Manager who reports to a separate Risk Committee. The Risk Manager's role is to identify, monitor and report on all aspects of risk faced by the business. This enables the Board to determine the level of the Company's risk appetite and to take steps in mitigation where appropriate.

 

·  Commercial risks and opportunities are considered by the Board and by the Group's Leadership Board, which is comprised of the Executive Directors and the heads of all major Group functions. The Leadership Board meets formally on a monthly basis.

 

Principle 5:

 Maintain the board as a well-functioning, balanced team led by the chair

·      The composition, roles and responsibilities of the Board and of the various Committees are set out on pages 13 and 14 of the Report and Accounts. The number of meetings held and Directors' attendance are also detailed.

·      To enable the Board to discharge its duties in an effective manner, all Directors receive appropriate and timely information. The agenda for each meeting is determined by the Chairman who arranges for briefing papers to be distributed to all participants for consideration ahead of meetings. All meetings are minuted and the accuracy of the minutes is confirmed at the subsequent meeting before approval and signature by the Chairman.

·      The Company's Non-Executive Chairman, Oliver Cooke, the Chief Executive, Brian Raven, and the Group Finance & Operations Director, Johanna Rager, have considerable experience of operating at board level in public and in private companies. The Non-Executive Chairman is a qualified Chartered Accountant and has served as finance director on the boards of various public companies. The Chief Executive has held a number of sales, operational and leadership roles at board level within public companies. The Group Finance & Operations Director has held senior positions within a number of international companies. The Company's second Non-Executive Director, Peter Dornan, has extensive sector knowledge and experience and comes from a strong regulatory background.

·      The Non-Executive Chairman devotes a minimum of two days per week and the other Executive Directors devote the whole of their time to the business of the Group. The other Non-Executive Director devotes one to two days per month to his duties.

·      Under the terms of their contracts, the Non-Executive Directors are required to obtain the prior written consent of the Board before accepting additional commitments that might conflict with the interests of the Group or impact the time that they are able to devote to their role as a Non-Executive Director of the Company.

·      The Company does not currently have a separate Nominations Committee as this is considered unnecessary given the Company's size and stage of development.  The need for such a committee will be kept under review by the Board as the Company develops.

Principle 6:

Ensure that between them the directors have the necessary up-to-date experience, skills and capabilities

·      The Executive Directors, in conjunction with other members of the executive team, ensure that their knowledge is kept up to date on key issues and developments pertaining to the Company, its operational environment and to the Directors' responsibilities as members of the Board. During the course of the year, Directors have consulted and received advice as well as updates from the Company's nominated advisor, company secretary, legal counsel and various other external advisers on a number of matters, including corporate governance. From time to time, each member of the Board is required to complete on-line training courses and may also participate in industry forums.

 

·      The Non-Executive Chairman complies with the continuing professional development requirements of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, of which he is a long-standing member.

 

·      Biographies for each of the Directors can be found in the Directors' Report.

 

Principle 7:

Evaluate board performance based on clear and relevant objectives, seeking continuous improvement

·      The Group has established separate, independent Remuneration and Audit Committees through which the Non-Executive Directors are able to monitor and assess the performance of the Executive Directors and to hold them to account.

·      The respective Board members periodically review and cross-evaluate the Board's performance and effectiveness in the Company. Each member of the Board is subject to an annual fitness and suitability assessment overseen by the Group's Human Resources department.

·      Directors' performance is open to assessment by shareholders and all Directors are subject to re-election.

Principle 8:

Promote a corporate culture that is based on ethical values and behaviours

·      The Company's ethos is, to act at all times with honour, dependability and vigilance. The Board also actively promotes a culture in which the client is placed at the centre of everything that the Company does. 

·      The Board places great emphasis on the wellbeing of the Company's employees and on providing a safe and secure environment for them. The Company's Employee Handbook provides a guideline for employees on the day-to-day operations of the Company.

·      The Company is similarly committed to a transparent, flexible and open culture promoting family values and avoiding discrimination on the basis of gender, religious belief, age, ethnicity or sexual orientation.

·      The Company is mindful of the need for, and is committed to, environmental responsibility and sustainability.

Principle 9:

 

Maintain governance structures and processes that are fit for purpose and support good decision-making by the Board

 

·      Good decision making requires information, consideration, discussion, and challenge followed by action, communication and the acceptance of collective responsibility.

·      This is accomplished through the employment of Directors who have the confidence to express their views, and through the prior circulation of briefing papers allowing adequate time for their proper consideration ahead of meetings. Board meetings are openly conducted, with the accurate minuting of outcomes and the wider communication of those outcomes as appropriate. 

·      The maintenance of a data warehouse collating data from the Company's numerous systems, logs and spreadsheets to facilitate the automated production of management information, continues to improve operational effectiveness and decision making.

·      The avoidance of conflicts of interest, through the delegation of responsibility for certain areas to specialist committees, such as audit and remuneration, has strengthened the governance structure within the Company.

·      The Company's auditors are rotated on a periodic basis to ensure that the Company and the Board are subjected to an appropriate level of independent scrutiny and challenge. This is RPG Crouch Chapman LLP's second year auditing the Company and its subsidiaries.

 

Principle 10:

Communicate how the Company is governed and is performing by maintaining a dialogue with shareholders and other relevant stakeholders

·      Information on the Company's commercial progress and its financial performance is disseminated to shareholders and to the market through the announcement of its full-year and half-year results, the posting of such announcements onto the Company's website in a timely manner and by mailing copies of the Annual Report and Accounts to shareholders. These are also made available for discussion with shareholders at the Company's AGM.

·      Departmental heads liaise regularly and meet formally on a monthly basis to share and review information on the Company's progress and to discuss progress within their specific areas of responsibility.

·      Other members of staff are briefed informally on an ad-hoc basis via the Tavistock intranet and more formally through emails from the Chief Executive and other senior management as appropriate. In addition, a series of presentations are delivered at the Annual Company Day. On-line meetings are used whenever practical to replace physical ones thereby reducing the level of unnecessary business travel.

 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND BOARD COMMITTEES

The Board is responsible for formulating, reviewing and approving the Group's strategy, budgets and corporate actions. The Board is also responsible for ensuring a healthy corporate culture. The Board currently comprises two Executive Directors and two Non-Executive Directors.

The Executive Directors are:

Brian Raven                             

Chief Executive Officer

Johanna Rager                         

Group Finance & Operations Director                                                                       

 

The Non-Executive Directors are:

 

Oliver Cooke                         Non-Executive Chairman

Peter Dornan

 

All members of the Board are equally responsible for the management and proper stewardship of the Group and each Director is required to stand for re-election at least once in every three years.

Peter Dornan has a strong compliance background and is considered to be fully independent of management and free from any business or other relationship with the Company or Group and is thus able to bring independent judgement to issues brought before the Board.

The Board meets at least ten times per year and more frequently where necessary to approve specific decisions. In the year under review the Board met 15 times with no apologies for absence being recorded. Directors are free to take independent professional advice as they consider appropriate at the Company's expense.

The Board has established two Committees with clearly defined terms of reference and detailed below are the members of the Committees and their duties and responsibilities.

 

Audit Committee

 

The Audit Committee has primary responsibility for monitoring the quality of internal controls and ensuring that the financial performance of the Group is properly measured and reported. It receives reports from the Group's management, the Company's Risk Committee and the Company's auditors relating to the interim and annual accounts and the accounting and internal control systems in use throughout the Group.

 

The members of the Audit Committee are as follows:

Peter Dornan                                     (Non-Executive Director)             Committee Chairman

Oliver Cooke                                      (Non-Executive Chairman)         

 

Oliver Cooke is a Chartered Accountant and used to be a partner in a firm in public practice.

The Committee approves the appointment and determines the terms of engagement of the Company's auditors and, in consultation with the auditors, the scope of the audit. The Audit Committee has unrestricted access to the Company's auditors.

During the year under review the Audit Committee met twice and all members of the Committee were in attendance.

Remuneration Committee

The Remuneration Committee is comprised of the two Non-Executive Directors, Peter Dornan and Oliver Cooke, and is chaired by Peter Dornan.

During the year the Committee formally adopted the Company's new MIFIDPRU Remuneration Code Policy Statement (SYSC19G).

Consistent with this Policy Statement, the Committee then divided its oversight function into two separate areas, with new terms of reference for each, as follows.

 

1)    The main Committee reviews the performance of those members of the senior management team, including the Executive Directors, who are deemed to be 'Risk Takers' within the business, and will approve any proposed changes to their remuneration packages, terms of employment and participation in share option schemes and other incentive schemes.

2)    A separate sub-committee has been formed to review the performance and oversee the remuneration of all other Group employees.

The remuneration of the Non-Executive Directors is determined by the Board.

No Director may vote in connection with any discussions regarding their own remuneration.

For the year under review, three Remuneration Committee meeting were held, and both members of the Committee were in attendance.

Nomination Committee

The Directors do not consider it necessary, or appropriate, at present to establish a Nomination Committee given the size of the Company. This will be kept under review as the Company develops.

 

TAVISTOCK INVESTMENTS PLC

 

DIRECTORS' REPORT

 

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

 

 

Principal Activities, Review of the Business and Future Developments

The principal activities of the Group during the year were the provision of support services to a network of financial advisers and the sale of term-life and other protection policies to retail clients. The key performance indicators recognised by management are gross revenues and operating profit, as represented by adjusted EBITDA.

An overall review of the Group's performance during the year and its future prospects is given in the Chairman's Statement and in the Strategic Report.

 

Substantial shareholdings

 

The Company has been advised of the following interests in more than 3% of its ordinary share capital as at 26 September 2024:

Name

Number of

Shares

% of

Ordinary Shares

 

Brian Raven

  70,812,932

12.64%

Andrew Staley

  55,950,204

9.98%

Oliver Cooke

  30,600,000

5.46%

Lighthouse Group

  30,487,805

5.44%

Hugh Simon

  30,000,000

5.35%

Paul Millott

  28,884,207

5.15%

Kevin Mee

  27,410,101

4.89%


 

Directors

Details of the Directors of the Company who served during the period are as follows:

 

Oliver Cooke

Non-Executive Chairman, aged 69

 

Oliver has over 40 years of financial and business development experience gained in a range of quoted and private companies including over thirty years' experience as a public company director. He has considerable experience in the fields of corporate finance, strategic transformation, acquisitions, disposals and fundraisings. Oliver is a Chartered Accountant and a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. On 1 June 2024 Oliver stepped down as an Executive Director of the Company and took up a new role as the Company's Non-Executive Chairman.

 

Brian Raven

Group Chief Executive, aged 68

 

Brian has been involved in the financial services sector since 2010. He has a wide range of business experience, having held many sales and general management posts at senior management and board level, including running public companies on both AIM and the Official List. Most notably, in 1991 Brian founded Card Clear Plc, subsequently renamed Retail Decisions plc, a business engaged in combating the fraudulent use of plastic payment cards. He led the company until 1998 by which time it was an international Group, listed on AIM, with a market capitalisation of some £100 million. As a principal, Brian has been responsible for identifying, negotiating and integrating numerous acquisitions, as well as for delivering organic growth.

 

Johanna Rager

Group Finance & Operations Director, aged 55

 

Johanna is an accomplished Finance Director with over 20 years of professional achievement in multinational companies. She has a track record of delivering strategic, commercial and operational solutions across global organisations, including the implementation of complex Mergers and Acquisitions. Johanna has proven ability to deliver top and bottom lines and adapt to ever-changing business environments while focusing on talent development and lean processes.

 

Roderic Rennison

Non-Executive Director, aged 69 - resigned 30 June 2024

Roderic has more than 40 years of experience in financial services encompassing a variety of roles including sales, strategy, product development, proposition, operations and latterly acquisitions, mergers, and integrations together with corporate affairs, risk and regulatory matters. He provides consultancy services in the sector to a range of providers, fund managers and intermediaries and particularly specialises on the Retail Distribution Review, for which he chaired the professionalism and reputation work stream.

 

Peter Dornan

Non-Executive Director, Chairman of Audit and Remuneration Committees, aged 68

 

Peter has spent more than 40 years in the financial services industry. Having joined AEGON in 1981 as a sales consultant he progressed through a series of sales and general management positions to being appointed to the executive management board in 1999. He had executive responsibility for post-acquisition integration of a number of businesses including Guardian Assurance, Positive Solutions and Origen. Peter was also responsible for Scottish Equitable International in Luxembourg from 1996 until 2002 and was appointed chairman of AEGON Ireland when it was launched in 2002. Since 2012, Peter has acted as a consultant to a number of businesses within the financial services sector with a particular emphasis on governance, risk management and financial controls.

 

Diversity

 

Tavistock is an equal opportunities employer and does not discriminate against staff on the basis of disability, age, religious belief, gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation.

 

Greenhouse gas emissions

 

The Group currently has minimal greenhouse gas emissions to report from its operations and does not have responsibility for any other emission producing sources, as defined by the Companies Act 2006 (Miscellaneous Reporting) Regulations 2018. As a consequence, it has not published a GHG Emissions Statement.

 

Communication with shareholders

 

The Board continues to welcome constructive engagement with shareholders. Each shareholder receives a copy of the annual report, which contains the Chairman's Statement. The annual and interim reports, together with other corporate press releases are made available on the Company's website www.tavistockinvestments.com. The Annual General Meeting provides a forum for shareholders to raise issues with the Directors. The Notice convening the meeting is issued with 21 clear days' notice. Separate resolutions are proposed on each substantially separate issue.

 

Going concern

 

The Board remains confident that the business has sufficient cash resources to meet its working capital requirements for the foreseeable future, being at least twelve months from the date of approval of financial statements, and to justify use of the going concern assumption as the appropriate basis on which to prepare the Group's accounts.

 

Financial instruments

 

Details of the use of financial instruments by the Group are contained in Note 16 of the financial statements.

 

Share Capital

 

Full details of the Company's share capital can be found in Note 17 to the accounts.

 

Charitable and Political Donations

 

The Group made £9,782 in charitable donations in the year (2023: £3,790).

 

Dividends

 

In 2023, the Company paid an interim dividend of 0.07p per share and it remains the Board's intention to pay further interim dividends when considered appropriate. The timing and quantum of the next dividend payment will be assessed in due course.

 

Auditors

 

A resolution reappointing RPG Crouch Chapman LLP will be proposed at the Annual General Meeting in accordance with S489 of the Companies Act 2006.

 

Supplier payment policy

 

The Group's policy is to agree terms of payment with suppliers when entering into a transaction, ensure that those suppliers are aware of the terms of payment by including them in the terms and conditions of the contract and pay in accordance with contractual obligations. Trade creditors at 31 March 2024 represented 24 days' purchases (2023: 28 days).

 

Internal control

 

The Group has adopted the QCA's Corporate Governance Code. The key elements of the internal control systems, which have regard to the size of the Group, are that the Board meets regularly and takes the decisions on all material matters, the organisational structure ensures that responsibilities are defined, and authority only delegated where appropriate, and that regular management accounts are presented to the Board to enable the financial performance of the Group to be analysed.

 

The Directors acknowledge that they are responsible for the system of internal control, which is established in order to safeguard the assets, maintain proper accounting records and ensure that financial information used within the business or published is reliable. Any such system of control can, however, only provide reasonable, not absolute, assurance against material misstatement or loss.

 

Directors' responsibilities

 

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

 

Company law requires the Directors to prepare financial statements for each financial period.  Under that law the Directors have elected to prepare the Group financial statements in accordance with international accounting standards in conformity with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and in accordance with UK adopted international accounting standards including Financial Reporting Standard 101, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland and applicable law. 

 

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 period. 

 

The Directors are also required to prepare financial statements in accordance with the rules of the London Stock Exchange for companies trading securities on the Alternative Investment Market. 

 

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,

·   for the Group financial statements, state whether they have been prepared in accordance with international accounting standards in conformity with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006,

·   for the parent Company financial statements, state whether applicable UK adopted international accounting standards including Financial Reporting Standard 101 have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and

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

 

The Directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Company's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.  They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Company and for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

 

Website publication

 

The Directors are responsible for ensuring the annual report and the financial statements are made available on a website.  Financial statements are published on the Company's website in accordance with legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements, which may vary from legislation in other jurisdictions.  The maintenance and integrity of the Company's website is the responsibility of the Directors.  The Directors' responsibility also extends to the ongoing integrity of the financial statements contained therein.

 

Directors' interests

 

The Directors' beneficial interests in the Ordinary Share Capital and options to purchase such shares are as follows:

 


          Ordinary shares of 1p each


31 March 2024

31 March 2023


Share options

Shares

Share options

Shares

Executive Directors:





Brian Raven

Johanna Rager

40,000,000

5,000,000

70,812,932

 3,350,000

40,000,000

5,000,000

   70,007,932

 2,276,000

Non-Executive Directors:

Roderic Rennison - resigned 30 June 2024

Peter Dornan

 

-

-

 

705,398

250,000

 

-

-

 

705,398

250,000

Oliver Cooke

30,000,000

30,600,000

30,000,000

30,600,000

 

 

Executive Directors

Date of Grant

Weighted Average Exercise Price

No. as at 31st March 2023

No. granted during the year

No. as at 31st March 2024

Brian Raven

14/06/2021

5.25p

40,000,000

-

40,000,000

Johanna Rager

04/01/2023

6.65p

5,000,000

-

5,000,000

Non-Executive Director






Oliver Cooke

14/06/2021

5.25p

30,000,000

-

30,000,000







 

Directors' statements as to disclosure of information to auditors

 

The Directors have taken all of the steps required to make themselves aware of any information needed by the Group's auditors for the purposes of their audit and to establish that the auditors are aware of that information.

 

The Directors are not aware of any audit information of which the auditors are unaware.

 

Approved by the Board of Directors and signed on its behalf by

 

 

 

Oliver Cooke

Chairman

28 September 2024

 

 

TAVISTOCK INVESTMENTS PLC

 

AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

 

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

 

 

On behalf of the Board, I am pleased to present the Audit Committee report for the financial year ended 31 March 2024.

Principal Responsibilities of the Committee

·    Ensuring the financial performance of the Group is properly reviewed, measured and reported;

·    Monitoring the quality and adequacy of internal controls and internal control systems implemented across the Group;

·    Receiving and reviewing reports from the Group's management and auditors relating to the interim and annual accounts;

·    Reviewing reports from the Company's Risk Committee and considering risk management policies and systems;

·    Advising on the selection, appointment, re-appointment and remuneration of independent external auditors and scheduling meetings with external auditors, independent of management where appropriate, for discussions and reviews; and,

·    Reviewing and monitoring the extent and independence of non-audit services provided by external auditors.

 

Members of the Committee

The Committee members during the year were the Non-Executive Directors, Peter Dornan (Committee Chairman), Roderic Rennison, and Oliver Cooke who is a Chartered Accountant and has previously served as a partner in public practice.

On 1 June 2024, after 11 years in office, Oliver Cooke stepped down as an Executive Director of the Company and took up a new role as the Company's Non-Executive Chairman. On 30 June 2024, Roderic Rennison stepped down from the Company and from the Audit Committee to pursue other business interests.

The Committee met twice during the year, with all members in attendance on each occasion.

Audit Process

The audit process commenced with the preparation by the auditors of an audit plan, which contained information regarding the proposed audit process, timetable, targeted areas and the general scope of work and considered any pertinent matters or areas for special inclusion. This plan was presented to the Committee and following due consideration was approved.

Following the audit, an Audit Findings Report was prepared by the auditors and submitted to the Audit Committee, and this was followed by a conference call with the Committee to review and discuss the contents of the Report. The Audit Committee then provided a report to the Board together with its recommendations. For the year ended 31 March 2024, no major areas of concern were highlighted.

Risk Management and Internal Control

As referred to under Principle 4 of the Corporate Governance Report, the Group has established a separate Risk Committee, whose role is to identify, monitor and report on the risks faced by the Company. The Audit Committee reviews reports produced by the Risk Committee from time to time and considers that the framework is operating effectively.

The Audit Committee reviewed the non-audit services provided by the Company's auditors and considered that there was no threat to their independence in the provision of these services and that satisfactory controls were in place to ensure this independence.

Internal Audit

At present, the Group does not have a designated internal audit function. However, the Committee believes that despite this, management is able to derive assurances as to the adequacy and effectiveness of internal controls and risk management procedures.

Approved by the Committee and signed on its behalf by

 

 

Peter Dornan

Committee Chairman

28 September 2024

 

 

TAVISTOCK INVESTMENTS PLC

REMUNERATION COMMITTEE REPORT

 

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

 

 

Compliance

Described below are the principles that the Group has applied in relation to Directors' remuneration.

The Remuneration Committee

For reasons of independence the only members of the Remuneration Committee are the Company's Non-Executive Directors. 

On 1 June 2024, after 11 years in office, Oliver Cooke stepped down as an Executive Director of the Company and took up a new role as the Company's Non-Executive Chairman. In this role he was invited to join the Committee. On 30 June 2024, Roderic Rennison stepped down from the Company and as Chairman of the Audit Committee to pursue other business interests. Peter Dornan took over as Chairman of the Committee.

The Committee is mindful of the need to attract, retain and reward key staff. It reviews the scale and structure of the Executive Directors' and senior employees' remuneration, the terms of their service agreements and the extent of their participation in share option schemes and any other bonus arrangements.

 

The remuneration of, and the terms and conditions applying to, the Non-Executive Directors are determined by the entire Board.

During the year under review, the Remuneration Committee met three times with both members in attendance.

Service contracts            

Non-executive Directors



 

Roderic Rennison

Start Date: 22 August 2014

Resigned 30 June 2024

 

Peter Dornan

Start Date: 22 August 2017

Initial term 2 years, terminable at any time on three months' notice

 

Oliver Cooke

Start Date: 3 May 2013

Terminable on six months' notice

 




 

The term of the Directors' service contracts can be summarised as follows:

Brian Raven

Start Date: 12 May 2014

To 31 March 2024, terminable thereafter    on twelve months' notice.

 

Johanna Rager

Start Date: 11 January 2023

To 31 December 2024, terminable thereafter on twelve months' notice.

 

Directors' remuneration

Details of each Director's remuneration are provided in Note 6 to the financial statements entitled Staff Costs.

Directors' interest in shares

Details of the Directors beneficial shareholdings as at 31 March 2024 can be found in the Directors Report.

Approved by the Committee and signed on its behalf by

 

 

Peter Dornan

Committee Chairman

28 September 2024

 

 

TAVISTOCK INVESTMENTS PLC

 

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF TAVISTOCK INVESTMENTS PLC

 

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

 

 

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Tavistock Investments Plc (the 'Company') and its subsidiaries (the 'Group') for the year ended 31 March 2024 which comprise the Consolidated statement of comprehensive income, the Consolidated statement of financial position, the Consolidated statement of changes in equity, the Consolidated statement of cash flows, the Company statement of financial position, the Company statement of changes in equity and the related notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies.

The financial reporting framework that has been applied in the preparation of the Group financial statements is applicable law and International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted in the United Kingdom (IFRS). The Company financial statements have been prepared in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including FRS 101 Reduced Disclosure Framework (UK GAAP).

In our opinion:

·    the financial statements give a true and fair view of the state of the Group's and of the Company's affairs as at 31 March 2024 and of the Group's profit for the year then ended;

·    the Group financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with IFRS;

·    the Company financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with UK GAAP; and

·    the financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the group and the parent company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC's Ethical Standard as applied to listed entities, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the director's use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate. Our evaluation of the directors' assessment of the entity's ability to continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting included:

·    Review budgets and cash flows projections up to 31 March 2026;

·    Comparison of budget to past performance;

·    Sensitise cash flows for variations in trading performance and working capital requirements;

·    Consider if there is any other information brought to light during the audit that would impact on the going concern assessment; and

·    Review of working capital facilities and assess headroom available in the projections.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the Tavistock Investments Plc's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the directors with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Our approach to the audit

In planning our audit, we determined materiality and assessed the risks of material misstatement in the financial statements. In particular, we looked at where the directors made subjective judgements, for example in respect of significant accounting estimates. As in all of our audits, we also addressed the risk of management override of internal controls, including evaluating whether there was evidence of bias by the directors that represented a risk of material misstatement due to fraud.

We tailored the scope of our audit to ensure that we performed sufficient work to be able to issue an opinion on the financial statements as a whole, taking into account the structure of the Group and the Company, the accounting processes and controls, and the industry in which they operate. We performed full-scope audits of the material components of the Group.

Key audit matters

Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgment, were of most significance in our audit of the financial statements of the current period and include the most significant assessed risks of material misstatement we identified (whether or not due to fraud), including those which had the greatest effect on: the overall audit strategy; the allocation of resources in the audit; and directing the efforts of the engagement team. Each matter identified was addressed in the context of our audit of the financial statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters. The key audit matters identified are listed below.

Carrying value of intangible assets

At the year-end, the Group held £29.1m (2023: £19.6m) of intangible assets, of which £20.9m relates to goodwill, £6.1m to client lists, and £2.1m to internally generated assets.

 

In accordance with IAS36 Impairment of Assets, entities are required to conduct annual impairment tests for certain intangible assets.

 

Given the subjectivity of estimates involved, we consider the carrying value of goodwill to be a key audit matter, particularly with the acquisition of Precise Protect - now known as Tavistock Protect and the position of the clawback provision.

 

Our work included:

•     Reviewing the initial goodwill calculation, agreeing consideration paid to the purchase agreement and the net assets acquired to the company balance sheet at the date of acquisition;

•     Reviewing management's goodwill impairment review and considering this for reasonableness, including challenging key assumptions in the model and using sensitivity analysis where relevant; and

•     Reviewing the individual books of business across the companies and the impairment review prepared by management, flexing these accordingly to review for any indicators of impairment.

Revenue recognition

Revenue recognition has a presumed risk of fraud under International Auditing Standards. The majority of fees are in relation to initial and ongoing services in terms of revenue recognised.

Given the significant judgements in the estimated outcomes of open contractual positions at the period end and unsettled at the date of approval of the financial statements, we consider revenue recognition to be a key audit matter.

 

Our audit work included:

•     Performing detailed walkthroughs to verify the operation of controls in place;

•     Testing a sample of transactions throughout the year to agree to external supporting documents;

•     Performing analytical procedures by month and between each business unit, investigating significant fluctuations;

•     Performing cut off testing to ensure revenue has been recorded in the correct period and reviewed the accuracy of accrued income at the year-end; and

•     Understanding the systems in place for Tavistock Protect Limited and testing this as a new income stream.

 

Legal and provisions

As the Group operates in the regulated area of financial services, it is exposed to the risk of claims with respect to current and historic work performed for clients. At the year-end, the Group recognised provisions of £3.6m (2023: £6.0m) with respect to such claims.

Under IAS 37, provisions must be recognised when it is probably that an outflow of cash or other economic resource will be required to settle the provision.

Given the subjective nature of the estimates involved, we consider the carrying value of legal provisions to be a key audit matter.

Our audit work included:

•     Reviewing reasonableness of the provisions brought forward;

•     Vouching expected claims/workings through to documentation;

•     Tracing claims completed in the year through to bank statements;

•     Discussions with management about any open cases and claims;

•     Reviewing and considering the adequacy of the disclosure within the financial statements.

Our application of materiality

We apply the concept of materiality both in planning and performing our audit, and in evaluating the effect of misstatements. We consider materiality to be the magnitude by which misstatements, including omissions, could influence the economic decisions of reasonable users that are taken on the basis of the financial statements.

In order to reduce to an appropriately low level the probability that any misstatements exceed materiality, we use a lower materiality level, performance materiality, to determine the extent of testing needed. Importantly, misstatements below these levels will not necessarily be evaluated as immaterial as we also take account of the nature of identified misstatements, and the particular circumstances of their occurrence, when evaluating their effect on the financial statements as a whole.

We have based materiality on 1.75% of revenue for the operating components. This benchmark is considered to be the most significant determinant of the group's financial performance used by the users of the financial statements. Overall materiality for the Group as a whole was set at £0.7m. For each component, the materiality was set at a lower level. The Company materiality was set at £0.5m, based on 1.75% of gross assets, capped at 75% of group materiality as that is deemed the considered the most appropriate measure for a holding company.

We agreed with the Audit Committee that we would report on all differences in excess of 5% of materiality relating to the group financial statements. We also report to the Audit Committee on financial statement disclosure matters identified when assessing the overall consistency and presentation of the consolidated financial statements.

Other information

The directors are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard.

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

·    the information given in the strategic report and the directors' report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and

·    the strategic report and the directors' report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the group and the parent company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the strategic report or the directors' report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

·    adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or

·    the parent company financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or

·    certain disclosures of directors' remuneration specified by law are not made; or

·    we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.

Responsibilities of directors

As explained more fully in the statement of directors' responsibilities on pages 17 to 19, the directors are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the directors are responsible for assessing the group's and the parent company's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the directors either intend to liquidate the group or the parent company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue our opinion in an auditor's report. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but does not guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of the financial statements.

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is detailed below:

·    We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks within which the Company/Group operates focusing on those laws and regulations that have a direct effect on the determination of material amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The laws and regulations we considered in this context were the Companies Act 2006 and relevant taxation legislation.

·    We identified the greatest risk of material impact on the financial statements from irregularities, including fraud, to be the override of controls by management. Our audit procedures to respond to these risks included enquiries of management about their own identification and assessment of the risks of irregularities, sample testing on the posting of journals and reviewing accounting estimates for biases.

 

Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council's website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our Auditor's Report.

 

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the company's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the company's members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor's 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 and the company's members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Mark Wilson MA, FCA

Senior Statutory Auditor

for and on behalf of RPG Crouch Chapman LLP

Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditors

40 Gracechurch Street

London

EC3V 0BT

    

28 September 2024

 

 

RPG Crouch Chapman LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC375705.

 

 

 

TAVISTOCK INVESTMENTS PLC

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

 

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

 

 


 

 

Year

ended

 

Year ended


 

 

31 March

 

31 March


 

 

2024

 

2023


Note

 

£'000

 

£'000

 



 

 

 

Revenue 

3


39,489        


     33,954

 






Cost of sales

3


(25,000)     


   (22,717)







Gross profit



14,489  

 

11,237






 

Administrative expenses

3


(14,897)     


   (12,174)







Loss from Total Operations

4


(408)          

 

     (937)







MEMORANDUM  ONLY- Adjusted EBITDA

 

 

2,226             

 

       141

 

Depreciation & Amortisation

9 & 10


(1,548)       


     (1,244)

Share Based Payments



(198)          


     (107)

Regulatory provisions

14


(857)                 


     342

Exceptional costs



(31)             


(69)                  

Loss from Operations

 

 

(408)          

 

     (937)







Finance income



234             


        139

LLP members remuneration charged as an expense



(1,241)          


        (551)

Share of profit/(loss) in associate



109          


 (219)







Loss before taxation



(1,306)

 

 

 

(1,568)

 

 

Taxation

7


32   


        173







Loss after taxation and attributable to equity holders of the parent and total comprehensive income for the year



(1,274)        


        (1,395)







Loss per share






Basic

8


(0.23)p


(0.25)p







Diluted

8


(0.23)p


(0.25)p

 

 

No other comprehensive income during the year (2023 - £Nil)

 

 

 

 

 

 

The notes form part of the Group financial statements.

 

TAVISTOCK INVESTMENTS PLC                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Company number: 05066489

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

 

AS AT 31 MARCH 2024

 

 


 

 

31 March 2024

 

31 March 2023


Note

 

£'000

£'000

 

£'000

£'000

ASSETS








 








Non-current assets








Intangible assets

9


   

29,141     



19,560 

Tangible fixed assets

10



1,514 



1,971 

Investment in associates

11


   

10,179



10,035 

Trade and other receivables

12


     

-



   8,740

Total non-current assets




40,834  



  40,306

 








Current assets








Trade and other receivables

12


10,251 



  10,473


Cash and cash equivalents



4,118    



  9,733


Total current assets




   14,369



  20,206









Total assets




55,203 



  60,512









LIABILITIES








 








Current liabilities

13


(7,520)



 (10,726)










Non-current liabilities








Loan & Lease Liability

13


(2,829)               



   (999)


Payments due regarding purchase of client lists

13


 (779)      



(923)


Provisions

14


 (3,571)    



(6,004)


Deferred taxation

15


(56)          



   (89)


 








Total liabilities




(14,755)



(18,741)

 








Total net assets




40,448 

 

 

  41,771









Capital and Reserves








Share Capital

17



5,602    



    5,567

Share Premium

17



1,828    



    1,614

Capital Redemption Reserve

17



534       



       534

Retained Earnings




32,484  



  34,056









Total equity




40,448 

 

 

 41,771

 

 

The financial statements were approved by the Board and authorised for issue on 28 September 2024.

 

 

   

Oliver Cooke

Chairman

 

 

The notes form part of the Group financial statements.

 

TAVISTOCK INVESTMENTS PLC

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

 

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

 

 


Share Capital

 

Share Premium

 

Capital Redemption Reserve

 

Retained Earnings

 

Total Equity


£'000

 

£'000

 

£'000

 

£'000

 

£'000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

31 March 2022

      5,578

 

       1,541

 

       

501   

 

         35,856

 

     43,477

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss after tax and total comprehensive income

 

-


-


-


(1,395)

 

(1,395)

Equity settled share-based payments

 

-


-


-


107

 

107

Buy-back of shares

 

(33)


73


33


(302)

 

(229)

Dividend Received

-


-


-


373

 

373

Closure of subsidiary

-


-


-


(192)

 

(192)

Dividend payment

-


-


-


(391)

 

(391)

Share options exercised

22


-


-


-

 

22






 



 

 

31 March 2023

5,567

 

1,614

 

534

 

34,056

 

41,771

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss after tax and total comprehensive income

-


-


-


(1,472)

 

(1,472)

Equity settled share-based payments

 

-


-


-


198

 

198

Issue of shares

 

35


214


-


-

 

249

Dividend payment

 

-


-


-


(392)

 

(392)

Closure of subsidiary

-


-

 


-

 


94

 

94

31 March 2024

 5,602

 

1,828

 

534

 

32,484

 

40,448

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The notes form part of the Group financial statements.

 

TAVISTOCK INVESTMENTS PLC

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

 

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

 



Year ended

 

Year ended



31 March 2024

 

31 March 2023



£'000s

 

£'000s

Cash flow from operating activities

 









Loss from normal Operations


(1,306)

 

 (1,568)






Adjustments for:

 




Share based payments


198              


           107

Depreciation of tangible fixed assets


730              


              681

Amortisation of intangible assets


818              


              563

Regulatory provisions


 857          


           (342)

Exceptional costs


31


69

Finance income


(234)           


              (139)

Minority Interest


(109)


           -






Cash flows from operating activities before changes in working capital

985        

 

(629)






Decrease in trade and other receivables


 5,159           


        111

Decrease in trade and other creditors


(8,776)        


           (1,274)






Cash used in Operations

 

(2,631)       

 

          (1,792)






Investing activities

 




Intangible assets- client lists and internally developed assets


 (476)        


           (732)

Purchase of tangible fixed assets


(317)        


        (1,176)

Purchase of associate


(4,000)        


(6,060)  

Deferred consideration payments


(1,432)      


        (1,621)

Cash received on sale of client list


-              


                 100  

Cash paid for subsidiary


(3,627)        


(1,515)  

Amount owed on acquisition of subsidiary


(580)


-

Cash received on acquisition of subsidiary


416


-

Cash received on sale of subsidiary entities


4,543           


         7,461






Net cashflow used from investing activities

 

(5,473)       

 

        (3,543)






Financing activities

 




Finance income


234              


           139

New leases


257              


              698

Lease repayments


(530)           


          (445)

Loan repayments


(583)


-

New Loans


3,254


-

Buy-back of shares


 -          


        (302)

Issue of Share Capital


250


-

Dividend payment


 (392)          


           (391)

Exercise of share options


-                


                 95  

Net cashflow from financing activities

 

 2,489            

 

       (206)

 

 




Net change in cash and cash equivalents

 

(5,615)       


        (5,541)

 

 




Cash and cash equivalents at start of the year

 

9,733         


           15,274

 

 




Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year

 

4,118         


        9,733

 

The notes form part of the Group financial statements.

 

TAVISTOCK INVESTMENTS PLC

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (continued)

 

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

 



Year ended

 

Year ended



31 March 2024

 

31 March 2023



£'000

 

£'000

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

(5,615)                  


         (5,541)

New loans liability


(3,254)


-

New lease liability


 (257)


            (698)

Lease repayment


530               


              445

Loan repayment


583                    


           -






Movement in net debt in the year


(8,012)         


         (5,794)

Net debt at 1 April 2023


8,265          


14,059






Net debt at 31 March 2024

 

253           

 

        8,265











The net debt comprises:







Year ended

 

Year ended



31 March 2024

 

31 March 2023



£'000

 

£'000

Cash


4,118                    


         9,733

Current loans


(503)


-

Current leases


(533)            


            (469)

Non-current loans


(2,180)


-

Non-current leases


(650)            


            (999)

Net debt at 31 March 2024

 

253           

 

        8,265

 

 

 

Reconciliation of net debt:

 










2023

 

Cashflows

 

New

 

2024

Lease liabilities


       1,463


(530)       


257                  


1,190       

Loan liabilities


-


(583)


3,254


2,671

Long term debt


       1,463

 

(1,113)        

 

3,511                 

 

3,861     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The notes form part of the Group financial statements.

 

TAVISTOCK INVESTMENTS PLC

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

 

 

1.            ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Principal accounting policies

Tavistock Investments Plc ("The Company") is a public company limited by share capital, incorporated in the United Kingdom with registered company number 05066489 and its registered office is at 1 Queen's Square, Ascot Business Park, Lyndhurst Road, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 9FE. The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these consolidated financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all the periods presented, unless otherwise stated.

 

Basis of preparation

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with UK adopted International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") in conformity with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

 

The financial statements are presented in pounds sterling and all values are rounded to the nearest thousandth (£'000), except when otherwise indicated.

Basis of Consolidation

The Group comprises a holding company and several individual subsidiaries and all of these have been included in the consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRS10 Consolidated Financial Statements and the principles of acquisition accounting as laid out by IFRS 3 Business Combinations. Subsidiaries are consolidated from the date of their acquisition, being the date on which the group obtains control and continue to consolidate until the date such control ceases. Control comprises the power to govern the financial and operating policies of the subsidiary so as to obtain benefit from its activities.

 

Two new subsidiaries, Tavistock Select LLP and Tavistock Protect LLP, have different accounting periods than the rest of the Group. For the purpose of these financial statements, the subsidiaries have been included for the 12-month period ending 31 March 2024 only.

 

Revenue recognition

Revenues within the advisory business are predominantly comprised of advisory support commissions. Income is recognised and accrued for when control has transferred, the resulting cash will then be received at the point the underlying transaction settles.

 

Revenues within the investment management business are calculated as a percentage of funds under management. Income is calculated daily and is received and recognised monthly. The charges are collected directly from the assets held and there are no significant payment terms. All revenues arise over time and are received in arrears, none are linked to subsequent performance obligations.

 

Intangible assets

Intangible assets include goodwill arising on the acquisition of subsidiaries and represents the difference between the fair value of the consideration payable and the fair value of the net assets that have been acquired. Acquisitions have been accounted for under acquisition method of accounting.

 

Also included within intangible assets are various assets separately identified in business combinations (such as FCA permissions, established systems and processes, adviser and client relationships and brand value) to which the Directors have ascribed a commercial value and a useful economic life. The ascribed value of these intangible assets is being amortised on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful economic life, which is generally considered to be between 5 and 10 years.

 

During the year the Group has invested in the development of a number of key initiatives designed to generate additional FUM inflows. Where appropriate, this expenditure has been capitalised as intangible assets.

 

Intangible assets (continued)

 

Intangible assets are initially recognised at cost.

 

Costs that are directly associated with the production of identifiable and unique products controlled by the Group and capable of producing future economic benefits are recognised as intangible assets. Direct costs include employee costs and directly attributable overheads. After recognition, under the cost model, intangible fixed assets are measured at cost less any accumulated amortisation and any accumulated impairment losses.

 

Development costs are recognised as assets only if all of the following conditions are met:

·           an asset is created that can be separately identified,

·           it is probable that the asset created will generate future economic benefits; and

·           the development cost of the asset can be measured reliably.

 

Client lists, regulatory approvals and systems and internally developed assets are considered to have a finite useful life and are only amortised once ready for use. If a reliable estimate of the useful life cannot be made, the useful life shall not exceed 10 years.

 

Financial assets

Deferred consideration received, accrued income and receivables: These assets are deemed to be non-derivative financial assets with fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an active market. They arise principally through the provision of goods and services to customers (trade receivables), but also incorporate other types of contractual monetary asset. They are carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

 

Financial liabilities

Payments made under leases (net of any incentives received from the lessor) have been recognised in accordance with IFRS 16 as follows:

 

The Group's leases primarily relate to properties. Lease terms are negotiated on an individual basis and contain a wide range of different terms and conditions. Property leases will often include extension and termination options, open market rent reviews, and uplifts.

 

The lease liability is initially measured at the present value of the lease payments that are not paid at the commencement date, discounted using the individual lessee company's incremental borrowing rate (5.75%) taking into account the duration of the lease. The weighted average lessee's incremental borrowing rate applied to lease liabilities recognised in the statement of financial position at the date of initial application.

 

The lease liability is subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method, with the finance cost charged to profit or loss over the lease period to produce a constant periodic rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability.

 

The right-of-use asset is initially measured at cost, which comprises the initial amount of the lease liability adjusted for any lease payments made at or before the commencement date, plus any initial direct costs incurred, less any lease incentives received. The right-of-use asset is typically depreciated on a straight-line basis over the lease terms. In addition, the right-of-use asset may be adjusted for certain remeasurements of the lease liability, such as market rent review uplifts. Please refer to Note 10 for further details.

 

Share based payments

Where share options are awarded to employees, the fair value of the options at the date of grant is charged to the statement of comprehensive income on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. Non-market vesting conditions are taken into account by adjusting the number of options expected to vest at each statement of financial position date so that, ultimately, the cumulative amount recognised over the vesting period is based on the number of options that eventually vest. Market vesting conditions are factored into the fair value of the options granted. The cumulative expense is not adjusted for failure to achieve a market vesting condition.

 

Fair value is calculated using the Black-Scholes model, details of which are given in Note 18.

 

Tangible fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost net of accumulated depreciation and provision for impairment. Depreciation is provided on all tangible fixed assets, at rates calculated to write off the cost less estimated residual value, of each asset on a straight-line basis over its expected useful life. The residual value is the estimated amount that would currently be obtained from disposal of the asset if the asset were already of the age and in the condition expected at the end of its useful economic life.

 

The method of depreciation for each class of depreciable asset is:

 

Computer equipment                                                        -     3 years straight line

Office fixtures, fittings & equipment                              -     5 years straight line

Motor Vehicles                                                                   -     5 years straight line

 

Impairment of Assets

Impairment tests on goodwill are undertaken annually at the reporting date. The recoverable value of goodwill is estimated on the basis of value in use, defined as the present value of the cash generating units with which the goodwill is associated. When value in use is less than the book value, an impairment is recorded and is irreversible.

 

In assessing the carrying value of Assets, the Directors have used 5-year forecasts and discounted the anticipated future cashflows by entity and assets class over 5 years and then in perpetuity using a discount rate of 15%. In all scenarios, the recoverable amount exceeded the carrying value.

 

Other non-financial assets are subject to impairment tests whenever circumstances indicate that their carrying amount may not be recoverable. Where the carrying value of an asset exceeds its estimated recoverable value (i.e.the higher of value in use and fair value less costs to sell), the asset is written down accordingly. Where it is not possible to estimate the recoverable value of an individual asset, the impairment test is carried out on the asset's cash-generating unit. The carrying value of tangible fixed assets is assessed in order to determine if there is an indication of impairment. Any impairment is charged to the statement of comprehensive income. Impairment charges are included under administrative expenses within the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.

 

Taxation and deferred taxation

Corporation tax payable is provided on taxable profits at prevailing rates.

 

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognised where the carrying amount of an asset or liability in the Statement of Financial Position differs from its tax base, except for differences arising on:

·           the initial recognition of goodwill; and

·           the initial recognition of an asset or liability in a transaction which is not a business combination and at the time of the transaction affects neither accounting nor taxable profit.

 

Recognition of deferred tax assets is restricted to those instances where it is probable that future taxable profit will be available against which the asset can be utilised. The amount of the asset or liability is determined using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting date and are expected to apply when the deferred tax liabilities/(assets) are settled/(recovered).

 

Taxation and deferred taxation (continued)

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when the Group has a legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets and liabilities and the deferred tax assets and liabilities relate to taxes levied by the same tax authority on either:

·           the same taxable Group company; or

·           different Group entities which intend either to settle current tax assets and liabilities on a net basis, or to realise the assets and settle the liabilities simultaneously, in each future period in which significant amounts of deferred tax assets or liabilities are expected to be settled or recovered.

 

Provisions

Provisions are recognised when the Group has a present legal or constructive obligation as a result of past events, it is probable that an outflow of resources will be required to settle the obligation, and the amount can be reliably estimated. Provisions are measured at the present value of management's best estimate of the expenditure required to settle the present obligation at the end of the reporting period.

 

Where some or all of the expenditure required to settle a provision is expected to be reimbursed by another party, the reimbursement is recognised when, and only when, it is virtually certain that reimbursement will be received if the Company settles the obligation. The reimbursement is treated as a separate asset. The amount recognised for the reimbursement cannot exceed the amount of the provision.

 

As referenced in Note 14, settlement in relation to the claims provision has been made on a case by case basis in respect of the cost of defending claims and, where appropriate, the estimated cost of settling claims. Where recovery of the cost of settlement is expected to be virtually certain, a corresponding asset is recognised. Any net provision expense is recognised in the Group's statement of comprehensive income.

 

2.        CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND JUDGEMENTS

 

The preparation of these financial statements has required management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. These judgements and estimates are based on management's best knowledge of the relevant facts and circumstances, having regard to prior experience, but actual results may differ from the amounts included in the financial statements. Information about such judgements and estimates is contained below, as well as in the accounting policies and accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

   Impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets

The Group is required to test, on an annual basis, whether goodwill has suffered any impairment. Other intangible assets are tested whenever circumstances indicate that their carrying value may not be recoverable. The recoverable amount is estimated based on value in use calculations.

 

In assessing the carrying value of Goodwill the Directors have used 5-year forecasts which have been discounted by entity over 5 years and then in perpetuity using a discount rate of 15%. The forecast assumes no annual growth in revenue after year one and a 2% annual increase in costs. Sensitivity analysis was also performed alongside this to create various scenarios, with different growth rates. In all scenarios, the recoverable amount exceeded the carrying value.

 

Internally Developed Intangible Assets

Included in the amount capitalised in respect of key initiatives are apportioned staff costs. Staff costs are capitalised where the relevant staff member is directly involved in the product development process. Management estimates the amount of time each employee has spent on each project during the reporting period and prorate the staff costs accordingly.

 

Share based payments

The share-based payment charge to the Profit or Loss account is estimated from the operation of the Black-Scholes Model in respect of share options granted by the Company as referred to in more detail in Note 18.

 

Amortisation of Development costs and other Intangibles

 

Product development costs are being amortised over 10 years. The estimated useful economic life of the intangible assets are based on management's judgement and experience. When management identifies that the actual useful economic life differ materially from the estimates used to calculate amortisation, that charge is adjusted accordingly.

 

 

3.

SEGMENTAL INFORMATION

 

 

A segmental analysis of revenue and expenditure for the year is:

 


Group (Plc)

 

Investment Management

 

Advisory Business

 

2024

 

Group (Plc)

 

Investment Management

 

Advisory Business

 

2023


 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

£'000

 

£'000

 

£'000

 

£'000


£'000

 

£'000

 

£'000

 

£'000

Revenue

115


731


38,643

 

39,489


245


965


32,744

 

33,954







 

 







 

 

Cost of sales

(592)


(376)


(24,032)

 

(25,000)


(336)


(276)


(22,105)

 

(22,717)








 








 

Gross profit

(477)


356


14,611

 

14,489


(91)


689


10,639

 

11,237








 








 

Attributed Expenses

(4,457)


(414)


(8,941)


(13,812)


(4,069)


(732)


(7,539)

 

(12,340)

 







 







 

 

Other Administrative expenses 







 







 

 

Share based payments







(198)








(107)

Regulatory provisions







(857)







 

342

Exceptional costs







(31)







 

(69)

Loss from operations







(408)







 

(937)

 







 







 

 

 

 

The segmental analysis above reflects the parameters applied by the Board when considering the Group's monthly management accounts. The Directors do not make reference to segmental analysis as part of the day-to-day assessment of the business therefore have not disclosed a segmental consolidated statement of financial position within the accounts.

 

During the year under review the Group's revenue was generated exclusively within the UK.

 

.

4.    LOSS FROM OPERATIONS

 



2024

 

2023



£'000

 

£'000

      This is arrived at after charging:





      Staff costs (see Note 6)


9,513        


      8,711

      Depreciation on tangible fixed assets


730           


722

      Amortisation of intangible fixed assets


818          


         563

    Regulatory provisions


857             


(342)

      Exceptional costs


31


69






      Auditor's remuneration in respect of the Company


9               


              8

      Audit of the Group and subsidiary undertakings


87             


            58

      Auditor's remuneration- non-audit services- Interim


9               


              8



105           


        74

5.     BUSINESS COMBINATIONS

 

On 6 April 2023, the Group acquired Precise Protect Limited (now named Tavistock Protect Limited), obtaining 100% ownership of the ordinary shares. The transaction has been accounted for as a business combination in accordance with IFRS 3. The fair value of the net liabilities at acquisition totalled £4,364k, made up of £41k Intangible assets, £784k Current Debtors, £416k of Cash, and £5,605 of liabilities.

 

Consideration paid totalled £3,957k. This consisted of £2,750k of Cash Consideration, a Share Capital issue of £250k, £377k of transaction costs and £580k of deferred consideration owed, as shown in Note X of the Company Accounts. Goodwill arising on acquisition amounted to £8,321k.

 

Since the acquisition date, Tavistock Protect Limited has generated revenue of £9,055,324 and profit before tax of £2,455,195.

 

 

6.      STAFF COSTS



2024

 

2023



£'000

 

£'000

Staff costs for all employees, including Directors and key management consist of:



Wages, fees and salaries


7,900               


        7,379

Social security costs


989                   


            827

Pensions


426                   


            398



9,315               


        8,604

Share based payment charge


198                   


        107



9,513               


        8,711








2024

 

2023

The average number of employees of the Group during the year was as follows:


Number

 

Number

Directors and key management


10            


12

Operations and administration


183          


149



193         


161

 

 

The remuneration of the highest paid director was £502,583 (2023: £474,769). The total remuneration of key management personnel was £2,198,631 (2023: £2,438,258). Included in this figure are pension costs amounting to £175,231 (2023: £242,535).

Outstanding pension commitments included in the balance sheet amounted to £49,538 (2023: £41,173).

 

All pension contributions represent payments into defined contribution schemes.

 

   Directors' Detailed Emoluments

  

Details of individual Directors' emoluments for the 2024 are as follows:


Salary & fees

 

Benefits in kind & allowances

 

Performance bonus

 

Pension contributions

 

Total


 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 


£

 

£

 

£

 

£

 

2024

B Raven

346,500


44,108


60,000


51,975


502,583

O Cooke

154,733


29,228


20,000


23,210


227,172

J Rager

192,500


15,509


10,000


19,250


237,259

P Dornan*

30,000


-


-


-


30,000

R Rennison*

30,000


-


-


-


30,000


753,732


88,844


90,000


94,434


1,027,013

        

 

 Details of individual Directors' emoluments for the 2023 are as follows:


Salary & fees

 

Benefits in kind & allowances

 

Performance bonus

 

Pension contributions

 

Total


 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 


£

 

£

 

£

 

£

 

2023

B Raven

322,000


44,469


60,000


48,300


474,769

O Cooke

211,369


35,349


24,000


31,680


302,398

J Rager**

31,075


2,194


1,828


2,970


38,067

P Dornan*

30,000


-


-


-


30,000

R Rennison*

30,000


-


-


-


30,000


624,444


82,012


85,828


82,950


875,234

 

* Denotes non-executive Director.

** Joined Board on 26th January 2023

 

Element

Purpose and link to strategy

Operation

Basic Salary

To attract, retain and reward Executive Directors of a suitable calibre.

Basic salaries are reviewed annually by the independent Remuneration Committee. Factors considered by the Committee include, intra alia, individual seniority/length of service, market comparisons, economic climate, wider staff reviews.

BIK and allowances

A package of benefits (car allowance, private health cover, death in service cover, defined pension contribution) is provided as part of a market competitive remuneration package.

 

Car allowances are paid to individuals via the PAYE system. Insurance cover is provided either through membership of Group Schemes or by payment of subscriptions on behalf of the individuals.

 

Element

Purpose and link to strategy

Operation

Performance Bonus

To maximise the benefit of the arrangements for the Company, half of the performance bonus is linked to the reported results of the Group and the other half is linked to the achievement of other strategic objectives.

The maximum potential bonus is set by the Remuneration Committee at the start of each year. Individual performance, and thus bonus entitlement, is assessed and determined by the Committee after the year end date.

Pension

Defined contributions are made to individual's nominated pension providers as part of a market competitive remuneration package.

The Company pays defined pension contributions directly to the nominated providers.

 

 

7.

TAXATION ON (LOSS)/PROFIT FROM ORDINARY ACTIVITIES

 

 

2024

 

2023


£'000

 

£'000

Deferred tax credit

(17)                  


           (35)

Deferred tax credit in respect of previous period

(15)        


        (138)

Tax credit for the year

(32)

 

(173)

 

  The tax assessed for the year differs from the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK applied to profit before tax.

 

   On 10 June 2021, The Finance Bill 2021 received Royal assent. The Bill confirms the increase in the corporation tax rate from 1 April 2023. From this date, the rate will tapper from 19% for businesses of less than £50,000 to 25% with profits of over £250,000. This does not amount to a significant impact on the deferred tax charge for the year. The closing deferred tax balance at 31 March 2024 has been calculated at 25% (2023: 25%) being the substantively enacted tax rate at the balance sheet date.

 

2024

 

2023


£'000

 

£'000

Total Loss on ordinary activities before tax

(1,306)      


       (1,568)

Loss on ordinary activities at the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK of 25% (2023: 19%)

(326)          


         (298)




Effects of:




Expenses not deductible for tax purposes

65


        52

Other timing differences

697


       (231)

Differences between capital allowances and depreciation

52             


       1

Adjustments to prior periods deferred tax

(3,513)  


     (2,445)

Adjustments to prior corporation tax

-              


         -

Non-taxable income

-                  


  -

Adjust closing deferred tax to average rate of tax

-      


     (137)

Deferred tax not recognised

3,718      


     2,885

Tax credit for the year

(32)          


            (173)

 

 

 

8.

LOSS PER SHARE

 

 

 


2024

 

2023

Loss per share has been calculated using the following:





Loss (£'000)


(1,274)    


      (1,395)

Weighted average number of shares ('000s)


560,321    


   

    556,601

Loss per ordinary share


(0.23)p 


 (0.25)p

Weighted average number of shares and share options that were exercisable at year end ('000s)


       657,721       


638,056



Diluted Loss per ordinary share


(0.23)p 


 (0.25)p

 

Basic earnings per ordinary share has been calculated using the weighted average number of share in issue during the relevant financial periods.

 

The Group has dilutive potential ordinary shares in the form of share options. The share options have been excluded from the calculation of diluted loss per share as the Group is loss making and they would be anti-dilutive. These instruments could potentially be dilutive in the future.

 

9.

 INTANGIBLE ASSETS

 


Client Lists

 

Goodwill Arising on Consolidation

 

Internally Developed Assets

 

Total


£'000

 

£'000

 

£'000

 

£'000

Cost

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at 1 April 2022

           11,778


            12,835


             2,813


     27,426

Additions

          1,331


                      -  


                583


       1,914

Disposals

(100)  


            -


                   -  


    (100)

Balance at 31 March 2023

        13,009


           12,835


             3,396


     29,240









Additions

2,022          


8,321                       


209


10,552

Transfers

(143)           


-                      


-                   


(143)        

Balance at 31 March 2024

14,888


21,156


3,605


39,650









Accumulated amortisation








Balance at 1 April 2022

           7,622


                235


             1,260


       9,117

Amortisation

             522


                      -  


                  41


           563

Balance at 31 March 2023

           8,144


                235


             1,301


9,680









Amortisation

661


-


167


828

Balance at 31 March 2024

8,805


235                


1,468


10,507









Net Book Value








At 31 March 2024

6,083          


20,921           


2,137


29,141

At 31 March 2023

           4,865


           12,600


             2,095


     19,560

 

Client Lists relate to identifiable relationships between acquired companies, their adviser network and the associated client bases.

 

Internally Developed Assets predominately represent costs associated with various initiatives.

 

The remaining amortisation period for Client Lists ranges from 4 to 10 years. The remaining amortisation period for Internally Developed assets ranges from 6 to 10 years.

 

9.

 INTANGIBLE ASSETS (continued)

 

GOODWILL

 

 

 

 

 

The carrying value of goodwill in respect of each cash generating unit is as follows:



 


 


Financial advisory business

 






 



 


 


 £'000

 

 Balance at 31 March 2023



 

 

 

         12,600

 

 Additions



 

 

 

8,321

 

 Balance at 31 March 2024



 

 

 

       20,921

 

 

In assessing the carrying value of Goodwill the Directors have used 5-year cashflow forecasts and discounted these anticipated future cashflows by entity over 5 years using a discount rate of 15%, and then discounted anticipated future cashflows to perpetuity using a discount rate of 15%. In all scenarios, the recoverable amount exceeded the carrying value.

 

 

10.

TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

 



*ROU Leasehold property

 

Motor Vehicles

 

Computer equipment

 

Office fixtures, fittings, and equipment

 

Total 



£'000

 

£'000

 

£'000

 

£'000

 

£'000

Cost











Balance at 1 April 2022


        1,710


       33  


   679


     639


 3,061

Additions


819   



80


50           


949 

Disposals


(353)  


-     


(113)


(231)      


(697) 

Transfers


-


-


(441)


441


-    

Balance at 31 March 2023


2,176


         33


205


899


3,313












Additions


257


-  


51          


9


317   

Disposals


(349)      


-             


(51)       


(232)


(631)

Transfers**


-                  


-              


92      


(92)                


-          

Balance at 31 March 2024


2,084        


33          


297           


584


2,998












Accumulated depreciation









Balance at 1 April 2022


       679


           5  


211


434


 1,329

Depreciation


          482


7


   76


              157


    722

Disposals


        (364)


           -  


       (113)


            (232)


 (709)

Transfers




        (45)


               45


      -

Balance at 31 March 2023


797


12


          129


404


1,342












Depreciation


540


7         


99


127


772

Disposals


(348)


-


(52)


(232)


(632)

Transfers**


-


-


-


2


2

Balance at 31 March 2024


989


19


176


300


1,484












Net Book Value











At 31 March 2024


1,095


14


121


284


1,514

At 31 March 2023


1,379


21


76


495


1,971

 

*Right of Use.

**Transfers have been made between categories to correct immaterial brought forward discrepancies.

 

Included in Office fixtures, fittings and equipment are assets acquired under lease agreements with a net book value of £3,857 (2023: £20,350).

 

Included in ROU Leasehold property are assets acquired under lease agreements with a net book value of £1,095,428 (2023: £1,380,387).

 

Included in Motor Vehicles are assets acquired under lease agreements with a net book value of £14,906 (2023: £21,506).

 

Depreciation charged on leased assets was £456,058 (2023: £472,986).

 

 

11.

 INVESTMENTS IN ASSOCIATES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Investments in associates



£'000

Cost



Balance at 31 March 2023


10,035

Additions


144

Balance at 31 March 2024


10,179




Net Book Value



At 31 March 2024


10,179

At 31 March 2023


10,035

 

In April 2022 the Company received regulatory approval from the FCA and completed the acquisition of a 21% stake in LEBC Holdings Limited ("LEBC"). Consideration of £10m had been agreed, with £6m paid on initial purchase and an additional £4m paid within this financial year.

 

12.

 TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES

 

Current


31 March


31 March

 


2024


2023

 


£'000


£'000

 





 

Trade receivables

68              

 

            393

 

Other prepayments and accrued income

3,216           


         2,228

 

Other receivables

6,967           


7,852

 


10,251        


       10,473

 

 

 

Included in other prepayments and accrued income is accrued income at year end of £2,128,011 (2023: £1,360,977).

 

Included within other receivables is the sum of £Nil (2023: £49k) in relation to Neil Bartlett cases which are now complete and the last payment was made this financial year..

 

Included within other receivables due within one year is the sum of £6,089,234 (2023: £4,056,333) being the amount due within one year as part of the consideration on the sale of Tavistock Wealth Limited.

 

Also, included within other receivables is the sum of £Nil (2023: £2.2m) being the estimated amount recoverable from insurers and £Nil (2023: £0.7m) being the estimated amount recoverable from advisers in connection with the British Steel provision detailed in Note 14.

 

 

Non-current


31 March


31 March

 


2024


2023

 


£'000


£'000

 





 

Deferred consideration due

-           

 

       8,740

 


-           


       8,740

 





 

 

 

Included within deferred consideration due in more than one year is the sum of £Nil (2023: £8,252,000) being the amount due after one year as part of the consideration on the sale of Tavistock Wealth Limited.

 

13.     

 LIABILITIES

 


31 March


31 March


2024


2023


£'000


Current liabilities




Trade payables

1,466         


       1,754

Accruals

1,035

 

       1,371

Commissions payable

729

 

          907

VAT and social security liabilities

294

 

          352

Other payables

811

 

          619

Payments due regarding purchase of client lists

1,569

 

       1,254

Deferred consideration owed

580

 

      4,000  

Loans

503

 

-

Leases

533

 

          469


7,520       

 

     10,726



 



31 March

 

31 March


2024

 

2023


£'000

 

£'000

Non-current liabilities


 


Payments due regarding purchase of client lists

779             

 

       923

Loans

2,180

 

-

Leases

650             

 

          999


3,609         

 

       1,922

 

The Group has obtained funding from the Bank of Ireland who hold a fixed and floating charge over all property and undertakings of a subsidiary of the Group.

 

 

14.

 PROVISIONS

 


 


Total

 


 


 £'000

 

 Balance at 1 April 2023

 


         6,004

 

 Additions



7,886            

 

 Payments to settle claims


 

(715)

 

 Provisions utilised


 

(3,336)          

 

 Provisions released


 

(6,268)      

 

 Balance at 31 March 2024


 

3,571         

 

 

The principal movements during the year can be summarised as follows:

 

Tavistock Protect

 

During the year provisions were made, to cover potential clawbacks, which in aggregate amounted to £7.8m and of this sum a total of £4.2m was either utilised or subsequently released. The balance carried forwarded at year end was £3.6m. The provisions were calculated using historic trends on both the likelihood of clawback and the value of the clawback in relation to the original revenue recognised.

 

Restructuring Reserve Provisions

 

The closing balance includes a provision of £85,254, made in the previous year, to cover additional costs associated with the disposal of offices no longer being used by the Company.

 

All other restructuring reserve provision have been released during the period.

 

British Steel

 

During the year ended 31 March 2023, a precautionary provision of £3.8 million (gross) was made in compliance with the FCA guidelines that were issued in anticipation of a mandatory, industry-wide review of past British Steel Pension Fund transfer cases.

 

During the year under review, a full assessment of the cases falling within the scope of the industry-wide review was completed and £583k (gross) of the reserve was utilised. The £3.22 million balance of the brought forward provision was no longer required and has been released to the Statement of Comprehensive Income as a one-off exceptional item.

 

Further information regarding the provisions can be found in the Chairmans Statement on page 2 to 5. 

 

 

 

15.

 

DEFERRED TAX


 


Total

 


 


 £'000

 

 

 


 

 

Balance at 1 April 2023



          (89)

 

Adjustment in respect of previous period


 

15

 

Deferred tax credit in the year


 

17

 



 


 

Balance at 31 March 2024


 

(56)            

 

The Directors anticipate that the Deferred tax asset relating to losses brought forward will be realised within the medium term.

The deferred tax provision comprises:

 


31 March


31 March


2024


2023

 

£'000


£'000





Deferred tax on intangibles

(56)            

 

          (89)


(56)            

 

          (89)

 

For taxation purposes, the parent company of the Group, Tavistock Investments Plc, has to date incurred losses amounting to £12.2m (31 March 2023 £10.75m), no deferred tax asset in connection with these losses has been recognised in the accounts.

 

16.

 FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT

 

The Group is exposed to risks that arise from its use of financial instruments. These financial instruments are within the current assets and current liabilities shown on the face of the statement of financial position and comprise the following:

 

Credit risk

The Group is exposed to the usual credit risks associated with use of a mainstream bank headquartered in the UK, NatWest Plc. However, the Board does not consider it to be necessary to carry a specific provision against this risk.

 

The Group is exposed to a credit risk associated with the deferred consideration due on the disposal of Tavistock Wealth to Titan. As per the Chairman's Statement the Board considers it to be prudent at this stage to provide for the difference between the amount being claimed from Titan and the full outstanding balance of the deferred consideration, some £2.16 million. 

 

The Group is exposed to a low level of credit risk primarily on its trade receivables, which are spread over a range of Investment platforms and advisers. Receivables are broken down as follows:

 


31 March


31 March


2024


2023

Deferred consideration due, accrued income and receivables

£'000


£'000

Trade receivables

68              


            393

Accrued income

2,128           

 

         1,361

Other receivables

6,968           

 

       16,591

 

 

The table below illustrates the due date of trade receivables:


31 March


31 March


2024


2023


£'000


£'000

Current

22


195

31-60 days

-               

 

            174

61-90 days

-                   

 

                3

91-120 days

 -                    

 

                -

121 and over

46                 

 

              21


68               

 

            393



 


 

Liquidity risk

Liquidity risk rises from the Group's management of working capital and the finance charges and repayments of its liabilities.

 

The Group's policy is to ensure that it will have sufficient cash to allow it to meet its liabilities when they become due.

 

The Group has no overdraft facilities. The Group have received bank loans for acquisition debt funding facility secured from the Bank of Ireland of £3.254m, with capacity to borrow up to £50m in the future. £194,170 (2023: £Nil) was charged as interest during the financial period.

 

The Group's policy in respect of cash and cash equivalents is to limit its exposure by reducing cash holding in the operating units and investing amounts that are not immediately required in funds that have low risk and are placed with a reputable bank.

 

Cash at bank and cash equivalents

 

At the year end the Group had the following cash balances:

31 March


31 March


2024


2023


£'000


£'000






4,118           

 

       9,733



 


 

 

Cash at bank comprises Sterling cash deposits held within a number of banks. There is no cash held on deposit in special interest bearing accounts.

 

All monetary assets and liabilities within the Group are denominated in the functional currency of the operating unit in which they are held. All amounts stated at carrying value equate to fair value.

 

 


 

31 March 2024

 

Due within 1 year

 

Due within 1-5 years


 

£'000

 

£'000

 

£'000

Financial liabilities at amortised cost

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trade payables


1,466


1,466


-

Accruals


1,035


1,035


-

Commissions payable


729


729


-

VAT and social security liabilities


294


294


-

Other payables


811


811


-

Payments due regarding purchase of client lists


2,348


1,569


779

Deferred consideration owed


580


580


-

Loans


2,683


503


2,180

Leases


1,183


533


650



11,129


7,520


3,609

















31 March 2023


Due within 1 year


Due within 1-5 years

 


£'000


£'000


£'000

Financial liabilities at amortised cost







Trade payables


1,754


1,754


                -  

Accruals


1,371


1,371


                -  

Commissions payable


907


907


                -  

VAT and social security liabilities


352


352


                -  

Other payables


619


619


                -  

Payments due regarding purchase of client lists


2,177


1,254


923

Deferred consideration owed


4,000


4,000


-

Leases


1,467


468


999



12,647


10,725


1,922








 

Capital Disclosures and Risk Management

The Group's management define capital as the Group's equity share capital and reserves.

 

The Group has a requirement to maintain a minimal level of regulatory capital, which in practice means the FCA requires the Group's core tier one capital, which is composed primarily of retained earnings and shares, to exceed the requirements as set out by the FCA. Compliance with minimum regulatory capital is assessed continually and reported to the FCA on a half yearly basis. Should additional capital be required management ensure that this is introduced in a timely manner.

 

The Group's objective when maintaining capital is to safeguard its ability to continue as a going concern, so that in due course it can provide returns for shareholders and benefits for other stakeholders.

 

The Group manages its capital structure and makes adjustments to it in the light of changes in the business and in economic conditions. In order to maintain or adjust the capital structure, the Group may from time to time issue new shares, based on working capital and product development requirements and current and future expectations of the Company's share price.

 

The Group monitors both its operating and overall working capital with reference to key ratios such as gearing and regulatory capital requirements.

 

Interest rate risk

Interest rate risk is the risk that the value of financial instruments will fluctuate due to changes in market interest rates. The Group considers the interest rates available when deciding where to place cash balances. The Group has no material exposure to interest rate risk.

 

17.

  SHARE CAPITAL AND SHARE PREMIUM

  


31 March 2024

 

31 March 2023




 £'000

 

 £'000

Called up share capital




Allotted, called up and fully paid




560,429,005 Ordinary shares of 1 pence each

5,602           


       5,567 

(2023: 556,857,576 shares of 1 pence each)




Capital Redemption Reserve

534  


534              


6,136           


       6,101

Share Premium

1,828  


       1,614           


7,964           


       7,715





Capital Redemption Reserve

 

In August 2022, in accordance with a mandate given by shareholders, the Board arranged the buy-back of 3,000,000 of the Company's ordinary shares of 1p each, representing 0.54% of the then issued share capital, at a price of 9.35 pence per share. Later in the financial year, in November 2022, the Board arranged the buy-back of a further 300,000 of the Company's ordinary shares of 1p each, representing 0.05% of the then issued share capital, at a price of 7 pence per share. These shares were subsequently cancelled, and the nominal value of the shares has been transferred to the Capital Redemption Reserve.

 

     The following describes the nature and purpose of each of the Company's reserves:

  Reserve

Description and purpose



  Share Capital

Amount subscribed for share capital at nominal value.

  Share Premium

Amount subscribed for share capital in excess of nominal value.

  Retained Earnings

Cumulative net gains and losses recognised in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.

  Capital Redemption Reserve

A statutory, non-distributable reserve into which amounts are transferred following the purchase, and cancellation of the company's own shares out of distributable profits.

 

 

 

 

18.

SHARE BASED PAYMENTS

 

During the year the Company issued options over 950,000 (2023: 8,100,000) Ordinary shares.

 

All options outstanding at the year-end date have been valued using the Black-Scholes pricing model. The weighted average of the assumptions used in the model are:


31 March


31 March


2024


2023

 


 


 

 





 

Share price at grant

5.50p


6.72p

 

Exercise price

5.25p


7.67p

 

Expected volatility

120%


117%

 

Expected life

10 years


3.8 years

 

Risk free rate

4.5%


3.4%

 





 

 

Expected volatility has been determined by reference to the fluctuations in the Company's share price between the formation of its current Group structure and the grant date of the share options.

 

         


 

 

31 March 2024

 

31 March 2023

 

Weighted average price (pence)

 

Number

 

 Weighted average price (pence)

 

 Number

Outstanding at the beginning of the year

 

1.85

 

121,124,567

 

1.45

 

  124,405,967

Granted during the year

5.26

 

950,000

 

6.22

 

  8,100,000

Exercised during the year

-


-


               2.50  


(2,480,000)  

Lapsed during the year

1.50


(3,324,734)


0.24


 (8,901,400)









Outstanding at the end of the year

1.88


118,749,833


1.85


121,124,567

 

 

The average exercise price of the 97,399,833 options that had vested and were exercisable at year end was 5.32p and their weighted contractual life was 2.7 years.

 

The weighted average fair value of each option granted during the current period was assessed as being 5.26p and their weighted average contractual life was 10 years.

 

The range in exercise prices of share options outstanding at the end of the year is 2.35p to 6.50p (2023: 2.35p to 7.25p) and their weighted average contractual life was 5.8 years (2023: 3.8 years)

 

The vesting conditions in relation to management are disclosed in the Remuneration Report on pages 21 to 22.

 

19.

 LEASING COMMITMENTS

 

The Group's future minimum lease payments fall due as follows:

 


31 March


31 March

 


2024


2023

 


£'000


£'000

 





 

Not later than 1 year

533


468

 

Later than 1 year and not later than 5 years

650


999

 


1,183         


         1,467

 

 

Included in the above is £526k of Right of Use leasing commitments due within 1 year, and £639k due later than 1 year and not later than 5 years.

 

The interest expense in relation to Right of Use leasing commitments during the financial year was £31k, £29k is then due within 1 year, and £31k is due later than 1 year and not later than 5 years.

 

The amount charged as an expense during the year for low value leased assets totalled £16k.

 

 

20.

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

£185k (2023: £225k) was received from LEBC Holdings Limited in which the Group has a 21% minority interest. No amount was outstanding at each year end date.

 

 

TAVISTOCK INVESTMENTS PLC                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Company number 05066489

 

COMPANY STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

 

AS AT 31 MARCH 2024

 


 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 


 

 

At 31 March 2024

 

At 31 March 2023


 

 

 

 

 

ASSETS

Note

 

£'000

 

£'000

 

£'000

 

£'000

Non-current assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Intangible assets

V

 

            639     

 

 

 

 

 

      555 

Tangible fixed assets

VI

 

962

 

 

 

 

 

   1,586

Investments

VII


31,350






27,249

Trade and other receivables

VIII


-






 8,740











Total non-current assets





32,951 




 38,130

 










Current assets










Trade and other receivables

VIII


11,671




10,875



Cash and cash equivalents

IX


 291 


   


3,038  



 










Total current assets





11,962




13,913  











Total assets





44,913 




  52,043











LIABILITIES










Current liabilities

X


(14,146)




(17,458)













Non-current liabilities










Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year

XI


(2,586)    




     (885)



 










Total liabilities





(16,732)




(18,343)











Total net assets





28,181  




  33,700











Capital and reserves










Share Capital

XII




5,602




    5,567

Share Premium





1,828




    1,614

Capital Redemption Reserve





534




       534

Retained Earnings





20,217




 25,985

Total equity





28,181

 

 

 

  33,700

 

 

These accounts do not include a Cashflow Statement, or a Financial Instruments note, as permitted by Section 1.8 of FRS 101.

 

The loss of the parent company for the year was £5,374,853 (2023: loss £7,442,147).

 

    The financial statements were approved by the Board and authorised for issue on 28 September 2024.

 

 

 

 

Oliver Cooke

Chairman

 

 

 

The notes form part of the Company financial statements.

 

 

TAVISTOCK INVESTMENTS PLC                                                                   

 

COMPANY STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

 

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

 

 

 


Share Capital

 

Share Premium

 

Capital

Redemption 

 

Retained

Earnings

 

Total

Equity


 

 

 

 

Reserve

 

 

 

 

 


£'000

 

£'000

 

£'000

 

£'000

 

£'000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 











At 31 March 2022

         5,578


       1,541


             501 


       34,012


          41,632











Buy-back of shares

         (33)


              73  


           33


     (303)


        (230)

Equity settled share-based payments

                 -  


              -  


               -  


         107


          107

Share options exercised

22


              -  


               -  


-


22

Dividend payment

                 -  


              -  


               -  


         (391)


            (391)

Dividend received

                 -  


              -  


               -  


         373


            373

Loss after tax

                 -  


            -  


                -  


(7,813)       


        (7,813)       











At 31 March 2023

         5,567


       1,614


           534


      25,985


        33,700


 


 


 


 


 

Share issue

           35


            214


              -   


     -


         249

Equity settled share-based payments

              -


              -  


               -  


198


198

Dividend payment

            -  


             -  


               -  


         (392)


            (392)

Loss after tax

                 -  


              -  


               -  


      (5,574)


        (5,574)











At 31 March 2024

5,602         


1,828       


534           


20,217      


28,181       

 

 

 

 

The notes on pages 54 to 58 form part of the Company Financial Statements.

 

 

TAVISTOCK INVESTMENTS PLC

 

NOTES FORMING PART OF THE COMPANY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

 

 

I.            ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

The principal accounting policies applied are summarised below.

 

             Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 101 Reduced Disclosure Framework, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland and the Companies Act 2006.

 

The preparation of financial statements in compliance with FRS 101 Reduced Disclosure Framework requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates. It also requires management to exercise judgement in applying the Company's accounting policies (see Note 2 in the Group financial statements).

 

Advantage has been taken by the Company of the exemptions provided by Section 5(c) of FRS101 not to disclose Group transactions in respect of wholly owned subsidiaries.            

 

All accounting policies that are not unique to the Company are listed on pages 33 to 36. All additional accounting policies have been applied as follows:

 

Going concern

The Directors are of the opinion that the Company has sufficient working capital for the foreseeable future, being at least twelve months from the date of approval of financial statements. On this basis, they consider it appropriate that the accounts have been prepared on a going concern basis.

 

   Valuation of investments

Investments held as fixed assets are stated at cost less any provision for impairment in value.

 

II.           CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND JUDGEMENTS

 

Impairment of Investments

The Company is required to test, when impairment indicators exist, whether the carrying value of its investment in its subsidiaries has suffered any impairment.

 

In assessing the carrying value of Investments the Directors have used 5-year forecasts and discounted the anticipated future cashflows by entity over 5 years and then in perpetuity using a discount rate of 15%. In all scenarios, the recoverable amount exceeded the carrying value.

 

Share based payments

The share based payment charge to the Profit or Loss account has been estimated using the Black-Scholes Model in respect of share options granted by the Company, as referred to in more detail in Note 18.

 

III.          LOSS FOR THE FINANCIAL PERIOD

 

The Company has taken advantage of the exemption allowed under s408 of the Companies Act 2006 and has not presented its own profit and loss account in these financial statements.  The Company's loss for the year was £5,374,853 (2023: loss £7,442,147).

 

Included within this loss are provisions totalling of £2.16 million (2023: £Nil) against the carrying value of the Titan receivable, as described in the Chairman Statement on pages 2 to 5.

 

In 2023, the Company paid an interim dividend of 0.07p per share and it remains the Board's intention to pay further interim dividends when considered appropriate .The timing and quantum of the next dividend payment will be assessed in due course.

 

All Group staff are employed by Tavistock Investments Plc and their costs are recharged to the relevant subsidiaries. Details of the Company's staff costs are shown in Note IV.

 

IV.

  STAFF COSTS

 


2024


2023


£'000


£'000

 

 


 

Staff costs for all employees, including Directors consist of:

2,449


2,348

Wages, fees and salaries

330


289

Social security costs

162


163

Pensions

2,941         


         2,800





The average number of employees of the Company during the year was as follows:

2024


2023

Number


Number

Directors and key management

7


7

Operations and administration

32


31


39


38

 

During the year the Company incurred an additional £6.4 million (2023: £8.6 million) of staff costs relating to 154 employees (2023: 161 employees) which were recharged to subsidiary companies within the Group.

 

 

  V.

INTANGIBLE ASSETS

 

 


 


Total


 


£'000

Software cost

 


 

Balance at 1 April 2023



572

Additions



119

Balance at 31 March 2024



691





Accumulated amortisation




Balance at 1 April 2023



17

Amortisation charge



35

Balance at 31 March 2024



52





Net book value




At 31 March 2024



639





At 31 March 2023



555





 

 

 

VI.

TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

 

 

 

 


*ROU Leasehold property

 

Computer equipment

 

Office fixtures, fittings and equipment

 

Total


£'000

 

£'000

 

£'000

 

£'000

Cost

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at 1 April 2023

1,868


321


443


2,632

Additions

-


2


3


5

Transfers between Group companies

(179)


-


46


(133)

Transfer

-


(267)


267


-

Disposals

(269)


(21)


(224)


(513)

Balance at 31 March 2024

1,421


35


535


1,992









Accumulated depreciation








Balance at 1 April 2023

650


45


351


1,046

Depreciation charge

398


14


109


523

Transfers between Group companies

(54)


-


29


(25)

Transfer

-


(16)


16


-

Disposals

(269)


(21)


(224)


(513)

Balance at 31 March 2024

724


23


282


1,030









Net book value








At 31 March 2024

697


12


253


962









At 31 March 2023

1,218


276


92


1,586









 

*Right of use

 

Included in ROU Leasehold property are assets acquired under lease agreements with a net book value of £696,743 (2023: £1,129,689).

 

Included in Computer equipment are assets acquired under lease agreements with a net book value of Nil (2023: Nil).

 

Included in Office fixtures, fittings and equipment are assets acquired under lease agreements with a net book value of £3,857 (2023: £20,350).

 

VII.

   INVESTMENTS

 


 

 

Associate

 

31 March


31 March


Subsidiaries

 

Undertakings

 

2024


2023

 

£'000

 

£'000

 

£'000


£'000









Cost







Balance at 1 April 2023

22,092


10,035


32,127       

20,667

Additions

3,957


-


3,957       


14,485

Release on disposal

-


-


-      


(3,025)

Balance at 31 March 2024

26,049


10,035


36,084      

32,127









Provisions for impairment








Balance at 1 April 2023

4,878


-


4,878      

4,659

Minority interest in associate

-


(144)


(144)         


219

Balance at 31 March 2024

4,878


(144)


4,734      

4,878









Carrying value of Investments

21,171


10,179


31,350       

27,249

 

 

VII.

 INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

 At the year end the Company had the following wholly owned subsidiaries:

Registered Office Address


Name


Holding

1 Queens Square, Lyndhurst Road, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 9FE


Tavistock Private Client Limited


Indirect


Tavistock Partners Limited


Direct



Tavistock Partners (UK) Ltd


Direct



The Tavistock Partnership Limited


Direct



Tavistock Estate Planning Services Limited


Direct



Tavistock Chater Allan LLP


Indirect



King Financial Planning LLP*


Direct



Tavistock Asset Management Limited


Direct



Tavistock Group Holdings Limited


Direct



Tavistock Services Limited


Direct



Tavistock Select LLP


Indirect



Duchy Independent Financial Advisers Limited**


Direct



Cornerstone Asset Holdings Limited**


Direct

Precise House, 15-21 Market Street, Bangor, Northern Ireland, BT20 4SP


Tavistock Protect Limited


Direct






*        The Company owns 50% of King Financial Planning LLP and the other member is entitled to 50% of the profit share.

**      Dormant subsidiary during the year that is exempt from preparing individual accounts by virtue of s394A of Companies Act 2006

 

 

VIII.

TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES

 

 

Current

31 March


31 March


2024


2023


£'000


£'000

Trade debtors

30


32

Prepayments and accrued income

249


237

Deferred consideration due

6,089


4,055

Other debtors

225


3,104

Amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings

5,078


3,447


11,671


10,875

 

      Non-current


31 March


31 March


2024


2023


£'000


£'000

Deferred consideration due

-


8,740


-


8,740

 

 

IX.     CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS


31 March


31 March


2024


2023


£'000


£'000

Cash at bank and in hand

291


3,038


291


3,038

X.

CREDITORS: amounts falling due within one year

 


31 March


31 March

 


2024


2023

 


£'000


£'000

 

Trade creditors

332


306

 

Accruals

242


460

 

Other tax and social security

294


353

 

Leases

361


386

 

Loans

606


-

 

Provisions

85


5,638

 

Deferred consideration owed

580


4,000

 

Amounts owed to subsidiary undertakings

11,646


6,315

 


14,146


17,458

 

 

XI.

CREDITORS: amounts falling due after one year

 

 


31 March

 

31 March

 


2024

 

2023

 


£'000

 

£'000

 





 

Leases

406


885

 

Loans

2,180


-

 


2,586


885

 

XII.

SHARE CAPITAL

 

 

Details of the Company's share capital and the movements in the year can be found in Note 17 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

XIII.

SHARE OPTIONS

 

EMI Share Option Scheme

Details of the share options outstanding at 31 March 2024 can be found in Note 18 in the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

XIV.

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

£185k (2023: £225k) was received from LEBC Holdings Limited in which the Company has a 21% minority interest. No amount was outstanding at each year end date.

 

TAVISTOCK INVESTMENTS PLC

 

ADVISERS

 

 

 

Registrars

Share Registrars Limited


3 The Millennium Centre


Crosby Way


Farnham


Surrey

GU9 7XX



Nominated Adviser

Allenby Capital

& Broker

5 St Helen's Place


London

EC3A 6AB



Independent Auditors

RPG Crouch Chapman LLP


40 Gracechurch Street

London

EC3V 0BT

 

 

 

 

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