NAV Growth and Total Return
Delivered a NAV total return of 5.4% for the year; NAV increased to GBP 3.0 billion. Long-term performance: 10-year NAV total return of 9.2% p.a., at the top end of target (inflation +3% to 6%).
Private Capital Strong Performance and Major Realisation
Private capital pool returned 13.1% for the year. Agreed sale of Stonehage Fleming with expected proceeds ~GBP 290 million (3.2x money multiple on cost; invested GBP 90 million originally) and ~30% uplift to March 2025 carrying value; completion expected mid-2026.
Funds Pool Resilience and Improvement in Asia
Funds pool NAV of GBP 941 million across 82 funds (46 managers, ~600 underlying businesses). Annual return of 7.1% in local currency (4.9% in sterling); 5- and 10-year returns of 11.4% and 13.1% respectively. Asia funds performance improved to 7.7% in local currency; 6 IPOs during the year, 2 more since year-end and 5 in process.
Selective Public Equity Wins and Disciplined Risk Management
Public (capital) pool deployed GBP 24 million into Charles Schwab and initiated positions in Cintas and Paychex. Disciplined realisation in Oracle produced a 96.3% return in the year (vs. stock 2.4%); overall Oracle investment: GBP 35m invested (2014), GBP 112m received via top-slicing/dividends, GBP 42m remaining in NAV — ~4.4x MOIC and 19% annualized return.
Strong Balance Sheet and Liquidity
Cash on balance sheet GBP 90 million and undrawn revolving credit facility of GBP 325 million (GBP 150m with 5-year maturity, GBP 175m with 3-year maturity). No structural leverage — ability to deploy capital selectively.
Progressive Dividend Policy and Share Buybacks
Proposed final dividend 4p, total annual dividend 7.68p (up 4.4% year-on-year), marking 59 consecutive years of dividend growth (approx. 5% annualized). Allocated GBP 34.6 million to share buybacks in the year and GBP 100 million since March 2024, delivering c.9.72p NAV per share accretion (1.8%).
Long-Term Realisations Track Record
Since 2012 generated GBP 1.4 billion of proceeds with around GBP 700 million net cash returned; realized investments delivered a 17% IRR and ~2x multiple on cost, demonstrating ability to realise value over time.