FY25 Interim Results presentation

Mercia has delivered another strong first half performance and I am pleased to say that none of the tax changes announced in the Government’s Autumn Budget, will curtail Mercia’s growth ambitions.

– Dr Mark Payton, Chief Executive Officer, Mercia Asset Management PLC

CEO's Review

Mercia has delivered another strong first half performance and I am pleased to say that none of the tax changes announced in the Government’s Autumn Budget, will curtail Mercia’s growth ambitions.

Since our IPO 10 years ago, Mercia’s networks, liquidity and overall regional presence have grown significantly, positioning us for another decade of growth with the current opportunities that exist across the UK.

CIO's Review

During the six months to 30 September 2024, we invested c.£133million into 86 businesses across our funds and balance sheet, including 46 new companies. AuM increased 1% to c.£1.8billion with no redemptions, and the Group had c.£663million of liquidity at the end of the period to support our future investment activities.

Following the c.£360million of new regional BBB fund mandates won earlier this year, we have made an encouraging start, deploying c.£20million across 24 new businesses during the first half of this year from these new Funds.

CFO's Review

With record fund inflows of c.£562million during the year to 31 March 2024, revenues, EBITDA and EBITDA margin all increased during the six months to 30 September 2024, as the Group continues to profitably scale its business model.

Wobble Genomics

RNA and DNA sequencing specialists

In March of this year, Mercia Ventures led a £8.5million fundraise into Edinburgh-based Wobble Genomics Ltd.

Wobble has found a way to detect previously invisible ‘full length’ RNA, and the technology could have wide-ranging applications, from drug development and research to agriculture and ecology.

To find out a bit more, Mercia TV travelled to Scotland in July to speak to CEO and Founder Dr Richard Kuo.

Kirsty’s

Thoughtful Food

Mercia TV sat down with Kirsty Henshaw to speak about the humble beginnings in her kitchen to producing 25,000 free-from meals a day in her factory in Harrogate, investment from Mercia Ventures, and the future of the UK’s leading free-from food manufacturer.

Mercia Ventures £2million investment into Kirsty’s is the first NPIF II equity investment in the Yorkshire and Humber region since the launch of the new £660m fund in March this year.

Thornton Park Farm

Luxury Yorkshirte Glamping

Managing Director of Thornton Park Farm, Richard Dunnett, explains how Mercia Debt’s £100,000 loan secured a further £50,000 rural grant to support the construction of five luxury glamping pods and diversify their income from farming activities.

Heidi

Flexible ski holidays, made easy

Co-founders and brothers of the Bristol-based, Heidi – Marcus and Alexander Blunt – tell the story of how a ‘spreadsheet holiday’ turned into one of the fastest-growing online tour operator specialising in flexible ski holidays.

Mercia Ventures led a £5.6milllon round into Heidi in March of this year to enable the business to further enhance its platform