AQUILA ENERGY EFFICIENCY TRUST PLC
LEI: 213800AJ3TY3OJCQQC53
HALF-YEARLY FINANCIAL REPORT ANNOUNCEMENT
FOR
THE SIX MONTHS TO 30 JUNE 2024
Consolidated Financial Highlights
Financial information
|
At 30 June
2024
|
At 31 Dec
2023
|
Net asset value ("NAV") per Ordinary
Share (pence)
|
95.08
|
94.28
|
Ordinary Share price
(pence)
|
59.00
|
57.25
|
Ordinary Share price discount to
NAV1
|
(37.9%)
|
(39.3%)
|
Net assets (in £ million)
|
77.43
|
94.28
|
Dividend declared for the
Period
|
6.139p
|
-
|
Ongoing
charges1
|
3.2%
|
3.5%
|
Performance summary
|
%
change
|
%
change
|
NAV total return per Ordinary
Share1
|
0.9
|
0.3
|
Share price total return per
Ordinary Share1
|
3.1
|
(17.6)
|
1 These
are Alternative Performance Measures ("APMs") for the period ended
30 June 2024. Definitions of these APMs and other performance
measures used by the Company, together with how these measures have
been calculated, can be found further below in this Interim
Report.
STRATEGIC REPORT
CHAIR'S STATEMENT
ON
BEHALF OF THE BOARD I HEREBY ENCLOSE THE INTERIM REPORT ("INTERIM
REPORT") FOR AQUILA ENERGY EFFICIENCY TRUST PLC FOR THE 6 MONTH
PERIOD TO 30 JUNE 2024.
My Chair's statement for the
Company's Interim Report covers the six month period to 30 June
2024 (the "Period"). The Company's Annual Report and Accounts was
published on 30 April 2024 and, therefore, there is some
duplication with the content of the 2023 Chair's Statement and this
Statement.
I would like to preface my Statement
by saying this has been a busy and challenging period for the
Board, as work on maximising value for shareholders under the
Managed Run-Off continues. We will provide further updates and
announcements in a timely manner and as soon as
permitted.
Investment Performance
As we continue to make progress, the
Company's unaudited NAV as at 30 June 2024 on a cum-income basis
was 95.08 pence per ordinary share (94.28p at 31 December 2023)
representing an increase of 0.9%. However, the Company's shares
continued to trade at a significant discount to NAV over the
period, following the failure of the February 2023 Continuation
Vote, which was then followed by a successful combined Continuation
Managed Run-Off Resolution in June 2023.
As discussed in previous Statements,
the focus has been on maximising value for the return of capital to
shareholders. This has meant focusing on withdrawing from
pre-existing commitments where legally possible, negotiating exits
to achieve acceptable realisations and only advancing commitments
of further capital where legally committed to do so. This activity
is set out in the Investment Adviser's Report.
The Company's investments continue
to produce income. In the Period, total investment income was £3.27
million, an increase of £0.69 million over the comparable period
the previous year and net revenue profit was £1.32 million. In the
Period, investment income was £2.75 million compared to £2.19
million in the same period the previous year, an increase of £0.57
million due, principally, to the higher level of capital deployed,
on average, over the Period. In the Period, interest income from
cash deposits was £0.52 million compared to £0.40 million in the
same period the previous year, an increase of £0.12 million because
of the higher level of interest rates prevailing in the Period
prior to the return of capital referred to below.
In line with the Company's
investment policy, on 30 June 2024, £61.0 million of the Company's
investments of £64.8 million were denominated in Euros. Information
on the Company's continued use of forward foreign exchange
agreements to hedge the value of the Euro-denominated investments
can be found in the Investment Adviser's report.
Following the extensive asset sale
process run on behalf of the Company, by its financial advisors,
and which ended in February 2024, the Board
continues to seek and assess opportunities to realise capital
through the sale of assets. This remains challenging as the
portfolio consists of assets that are geographically diverse, small
in size, contractually complex and many have lengthy maturities of
between ten to eighteen years.
In addition, due to the Managed
Run-Off status of the Company, further complexities have arisen
around the realisation of and protection of value in the Company's
assets. Our counterparties on some of these investments are aware
of the Managed Run-Off position of the Company, and it appears that
this may potentially be placing us at a disadvantage in
negotiations. The Board remains actively involved in negotiating
terms to protect the value in the portfolio and continues to work
actively with its financial and legal advisers on seeking
alternative ways to deliver value-enhancing solutions for our
shareholders.
Return of Capital
On 6 March 2024, the Company
announced that it intended to return capital to shareholders by way
of a Tender Offer to ordinary shareholders of up to 18,561,732
ordinary shares for a maximum aggregate cash consideration of £17.5
million. This entitlement to tender was undertaken at a price of
94.28p, the Company's NAV per share at 31 December 2023. The
Tender Offer was launched on 19 April 2024 and the result of the
Tender Offer was announced on 13 May 2024; 90,231,121 shares were
validly tendered, and the requisite Special Resolution was passed,
resulting in the purchase by the Company of 18,561,732 shares,
following a scaling back.
The Board intends to continue with
future Tender Offers as soon as sufficient realisation proceeds are
received. We have engaged with some of our major shareholders
who have expressed a preference for returns of capital to occur in
sizeable tranches, and we will continue with that strategy.
However, if realisations are either delayed or it takes longer to
make sizeable returns of capital, the Board will consider the
payment of dividends and we intend to implement this immediately by
declaring a dividend of 6.139p per share.
The next significant return of
capital to shareholders is, based on information provided by the
Investment Adviser, expected to arise from the repayment of
Superbonus investment capital. These investments, originally
intended to be short term, have taken substantially longer to
complete and be repaid than originally expected. This was discussed
in the Investment Adviser's Report in the 2023 Annual Report. It is
important to note that under the terms of the Superbonus
investments, interest is accruing for the period of delay in
receiving the receipts at the statutory late payment interest rate
in Italy of 8% p.a. over the refinancing rate of the European
Central Bank, an effective rate of 12.5% p.a. in the first half of
2024 and 12.25% p.a in the second half of 2024.
Following the 2023 year-end audit
and the continuing delays in repayment of many Superbonus
investments, the Board asked the Investment Adviser to carry out a
detailed investigation of the position in relation to those
investments. After further work and discussions with the Superbonus
ESCOs, the Investment Adviser has confirmed that, of the balance of
£28.8 million relating to Superbonus at 30 June 2024, £25.1 million
will be met by the contractual obligation between the ESCO and the
end purchaser of the tax credits, in many cases an Italian bank.
However, the remaining balance of £3.7 million represents an amount
for which the ESCOs are the contractual counterparty, where there
is no related bank tax credit. Accordingly, the credit risk
associated with this element of the Superbonus receivables, is the
credit risk of the ESCOs. Of this £3.7 million, £2.9 million
represents the accrual of delay payment interest and £0.8 million
the amount calculated as ESCO credit risk for construction and tax
credit exposure.
The ESCOs have confirmed to the
Investment Adviser that they expect to receive repayment from the
end purchasers of the tax credits for all projects by early 2025,
which will enable all amounts due to the Company to be repaid
including delay payment interest. As highlighted in previous
reports, in the view of the Board, there remains a high degree of
uncertainty around the timing of these Superbonus payments. More
information on the mechanics of these contracts and the associated
credit risk provisions can be found in the Investment Adviser's
Report.
Costs
The Board continues to be very
mindful of the costs incurred in the running of the Company whilst
it is in Managed Run-Off. The unintended and unhelpful consequences
of the Managed Run-Off are numerous. In particular, some investment
counterparties and service providers no longer have the same
incentives and motivation to cooperate with the Company and this
is, in some cases, leading to additional costs being incurred. We
will remain focused on cost recovery and reduction, in particular,
where additional costs have been incurred as a consequence of
underperformance of particular services provision.
Dividends
In my Chair's Statement in the 2023
Annual Report, I stated future dividends will only be paid from net
income in respect of six month periods and after reviewing cash
flow forecasts. However, having reviewed the position and as a
consequence of the delays to a significant and anticipated return
of the Superbonus receipts, such that there is not a sufficiently
material amount of cash available now to warrant a return of
capital to shareholders via a Tender Offer, we have decided to pay
an Interim Dividend of 6.139p per share on 1 November 2024 to all
shareholders on the record as at 11 October 2024, a total
distribution of just under £5.0 million.
Miriam Greenwood OBE DL
Chair of the Board
26 September
2024
INVESTMENT ADVISER'S REPORT
In the Period the Investment Adviser
continued to support the Managed Run-Off of the Company's
Portfolio, (i) focusing new investment activity on the completion
of existing projects, (ii) the withdrawal from pre-existing legally
binding commitments, (iii) negotiations to achieve the realisation
of individual investments before their contracted maturity date,
and (iv) the monitoring of performance and addressing where
necessary operating performance and/or payment issues in the
Company's Portfolio.
In the Period, the Company invested
the second and final tranches of two investments, a rooftop Solar
PV project in Italy with an investment of £0.4 million and a biogas
investment in Germany with an investment of £3.7 million. During
this Period, the Company was able to negotiate the withdrawal from
an existing commitment to invest £0.5 million in a solar PV project
in Spain which was part of a transaction, completed in July 2024;
this also resulted in a realisation of £0.1 million of a small
solar PV project developed by the same ESCO. As at 30 June 2024,
the Company has outstanding commitments to invest £0.8 million
which principally relate to the completion of a building
refurbishment project in Spain. This project is scheduled to
complete in October 2024 and will involve a second tranche
investment of £0.6 million. In September 2024 the Company realised
another Solar PV project in Spain. This transaction resulted in
cash proceeds of £1.0 million, which were at a small discount in
local currency to the valuations as at 30 June 2024.
In the Period, the Company received
£3 million of cash from the Superbonus investments in Italy as a
result of which the capital balance of these projects, net of
expected credit loss ("ECL") provisions, was £28.8 million, as at
30 June 2024. The cash received was later than expected; this was
caused by a combination of factors including (i) the construction
works of six projects with a value of £9.2 million being largely
but not yet wholly completed; (ii) tax credit certification being
outstanding for the six projects in (i) and a further £1 million
value of projects where construction is complete but, that
notwithstanding, tax credit certification remains outstanding;
(iii) payments for the purchase of certified tax credits remaining
outstanding because of continued administrative delays processing
the tax credits. The position was further impacted by the
uncertainty about potential implications of changes to the
Superbonus tax credit regime introduced in May 2024 by the Italian
Government. These changes do not have a significant impact on the
Company as most of the tax credits were accredited before the
effective date of the change in regulations and the effects are
expected to ease in the second half of 2024.
While there are delays in receiving
payment for the tax credits, the Company continues to earn interest
for the period following the contractually agreed expected date of
repayment until the actual date of repayment. The interest rate is
the statutory rate of interest in Italy, which as from 1 January
2024 until 30 June 2024 was 12.5% p.a. and from 1 July 2024 is
12.25% p.a. The obligation on the ESCOs to pay interest is a
contractual term of the Superbonus agreements, designed to protect
the Company's returns. There is, though, a higher credit risk
associated with this delay payment interest accrual, which is due
to be paid to the Company by the ESCOs, compared to the credit risk
associated with the purchasers of the tax credits. As at 30 June
2024, the ECL provisions were increased by £0.1 million from the
position at 31 December 2023. This increase is due to the increased
exposure to ESCO credit risk. This has been calculated by
considering the proportion of the investments,
ranging from 10% to 12%, having credit risk exposure to the ESCOs
for the delay payment interest element of the Superbonus investment
values. In absolute terms, the delay payment interest accrual
represents £2.9 million of the total Superbonus investment values
of £28.8m as at 30 June 2024. A further £0.8 million exposure to
the ESCOs has been included in the ECL provisions to reflect the
ESCO credit risk associated with the exposure to repayments for as
yet uncompleted projects from a construction and tax credit
certification perspective. The Investment Adviser believes that the
Superbonus investments are likely to be substantially redeemed by
the 2024 year end with full redemption in early 2025 although
timing remains uncertain.
The Investment Adviser continues to
closely monitor the performance of all of the Company's investments
and, in particular, the receipt of cash payments, which are due on
a monthly, quarterly and annual basis. In the Period, the large
majority of the Company's other (i.e. non-Superbonus) investments
and, in particular, all of the larger investments, performed in
accordance with their contractual terms.
However, there are investments in
the portfolio which are problematic:
·
Three Solar PV investments in Spain, which had a
value of £1.5 million as at 31 December 2023, have been written
down as at 30 June 2024 to £1 million because of operational
difficulties with individual projects and the failure of the ESCOs
which developed the projects to remedy these difficulties. As
referred to in the second paragraph of this report above, one of
these investments was realised for £0.1
million in July 2024. This also enabled the Company to exit from a
pre-existing commitment to invest £0.5 million in another project
with the same ESCO.
·
The two wind investments in the UK, which had a
value of £1.9 million as at 31 December 2023, have been written
down to a value of £1.5 million as at 30 June 2024, principally
because of operational problems at individual sites, which have
resulted in lower than expected electricity production and higher
operational and maintenance costs.
It has also been necessary to
increase provisions against the German sub-metering investment and
the EGA Energy investments:
·
There is now a full provision against the German
sub-metering investment, which had been written down to a value of
£0.3 million as at 31 December 2023. It now appears that any
proceeds from the sale of the sub‑metering contracts are unlikely
to exceed tax and other liabilities of the SPV into which the
original investment was made.
·
EGA Energy has made limited progress with
completing its CHP project or securing a new customer for the CHP
equipment and, therefore, it has been
deemed necessary to make a further provision of £0.2 million
against this investment, which had a value of £0.5 million as at 31
December 2023.
As at 30 June 2024 £61.0 million of
the Company's total investments of £64.8 million were denominated
in Euros. During the Period, the Company continued to use
forward foreign exchange agreements to hedge the
value of the Euro denominated investments. In the six months ended
30 June 2024 the Company reported realised foreign exchange gains
of £1.9 million and an unrealised foreign loss of £0.03 million,
receiving £2.1 million in cash upon settlement of these forward
foreign exchange agreements. The Company continues to seek to hedge
approximately 100% of the value of the Company's Euro denominated
investments. The quantum of the forward foreign exchange agreements
is modified upon the rollover of the contracts, which have
maturities of between one and three months, to reflect additional
deployment and returns of capital and changes in valuation. £2.5
million of the Company's cash balances continue to be held as
security by the bank providing the forward foreign exchange
contracts.
As at 30 June 2024, the Company's
cash position, including cash held as collateral for foreign
exchange hedging, was £13.7 million. The cash position is forecast
to increase significantly because of the expected realisations of
Superbonus investments, which were valued at £28.8 million as at 30
June 2024. However, there remain significant timing uncertainties
as to actual receipt of Superbonus returns.
PORTFOLIO OVERVIEW
As at 30 June 2024, the Company's
portfolio of 34 Energy Efficiency Investments was diversified
across geographies (Italy, Spain, Germany and the United Kingdom),
technologies, counterparties and ESCO partnerships. The Company's
portfolio is characterised by projects with (i) a low technology risk through the use of proven
technologies; (ii) medium to long-term contracts providing for
predictable cash flows; and (iii) counterparties with good
creditworthiness.
Approximately 72% of the Company's
investments by value as at 30 June 2024 had investment grade
counterparties, as assessed using either the Investment Adviser's
credit analysis or external agencies. For projects which are
non‑investment grade, there are typically additional protections.
These protections include the ability to export power to the grid,
and to extend the maturity of a contract with the ESCO and the
underlying counterparty to recover missed payments. The latter is
possible because the Company's financing agreements are of a
shorter duration than the useful life of equipment installed and,
in many cases, of a shorter duration than the contract between the
ESCO and the counterparty. The credit quality and performance of
the Company's portfolio is discussed further below in respect of
valuations and ECL provisions.
The Company's portfolio also
comprises a combination of fixed and variable return cash flows.
Whilst approximately 80% of the total investment value provides a
fixed rate of return from contracted cash flows, approximately 20%
by investment value has variable cash flows linked to power
production and power prices, or inflation indexation. In many
cases, these variable return investments have significant fixed
income elements, for example feed-in tariffs or fixed power prices
in Power Purchase Agreements. In addition, certain investments have
downside protections, for example, minimum contractual returns in
order to reduce the risk of lower than forecast cash flows. The
Company's portfolio of investments is expected to achieve an
unlevered average return of 8.1% per annum, an increase from the
yield of 8.0% per annum reported in the audited Annual Report and
Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023.
Investments in Italy (£32.9 million value as at 30 June
2024)
In the Period, the Company invested
£0.4 million to complete a rooftop Solar PV project developed by
Noleggio Energia, with which the Company has made seven
investments. As at 30 June 2024, total investment value in Italy
was £32.9 million across a total of 13 investments and there were
no outstanding investment commitments.
1)
Investments in Italian "Superbonus" projects (£28.8 million value
as at 30 June 2024)
In the Period the Company received
£3.0 million from the Superbonus investments while no further
capital was required to be deployed. As at 30 June 2024, there
remained works outstanding on a small number of individual
projects. Tax credits need to be certified on these and a small
number of other projects. The ESCOs continued to experience delays
with final payments from the buyers of the tax credits. Given the
delays, and as discussed above and in the Chair's statement, the
Investment Adviser has increased the ECL provisions on these
investments by £0.1 million to reflect an increased level of
risk on the ESCOs as opposed to the buyers of the tax
credits.
"Superbonus" is an incentive measure
introduced by the Italian Government through Decree "Rilancio Nr.
34" on 19 May 2020, which aimed to make residential buildings
(condominiums and single houses) more energy efficient through
improvements to thermal insulation and heating systems. When
qualifying measures were completed, ESCOs delivering the measures
were awarded a tax credit equal to 110%1 of the cost of the measures.
These tax credits can then be sold to banks, insurance companies
and other corporations and, thus, projects can be financed without
the need for a financial contribution from landlords. The projects
which the Company committed to finance are being managed by three
ESCOs: Enerstreet, Enerqos Energy Solutions and Sol Lucet. The
projects involve a range of energy efficiency measures including
insulation, the replacement of heating systems with more efficient
solutions and energy efficient windows.
2)
Solar PV investments for self-consumption in Italy (£4.1 million
value as at 30 June 2024)
As at 30 June 2024, the Company had
invested £4.6 million in eight rooftop Solar PV projects with an
aggregate capacity of 5.1 MWp. Following completion of the final
project in January 2024 with an investment of £0.4 million, all of
these projects are operational and cash generative and at 30 June
2024, £0.6 million of capital had been redeemed. These projects
enable companies to reduce their energy costs and
CO2 emissions and avoid grid losses through the self-consumption
of the electricity produced.
2.i) Projects with Noleggio Energia
Of the eight Solar PV projects which
the Company has committed to finance, seven projects have been
developed by the ESCO Noleggio Energia, which was established in
2017 and is an Italian company that specialises in providing
operating leases for energy efficiency and renewable energy
projects for commercial and industrial clients in Italy. These
projects are all structured as the purchase of receivables from
operating leases with maturities of seven or ten years, with a
weighted average maturity of seven years and ten months
outstanding, and all use very similar documentation. Noleggio
Energia has paid the SPV the monthly receivables from these
operating lease agreements, which provide for fixed rates of return
with a weighted average return of 7.8% per annum.
The projects with Noleggio Energia
as at 30 June 2024 are summarised below:
|
|
Investment
Value
|
Capacity
|
Credit
|
Initial
Term
|
Counterparty
|
Description
|
£k
|
kWp
|
Rating
|
Yrs
|
Acetificio Galletti
|
Producer of vinegars, dressings,
pickles, and other food products
|
191
|
238
|
BB-
|
7
|
Enofrigo
|
Manufacturer of wine cabinets and
hot and cold food display units
|
80
|
127
|
BBB+ -
BBB-
|
7
|
Tecnocryo
|
Manufacturer of machines for
handling cryogenic fluids
|
1,072
|
1,000
|
BB+ -
BB
|
10
|
Ali
Group
|
Manufacturer of food service
equipment
|
268
|
443
|
BBB+ -
BBB-
|
7
|
Orlandi
|
Manufacturer of non-woven products
for a range of applications
|
745
|
876
|
BB+ -
BB
|
10
|
Marangoni
|
Manufacturer of tyre retreading
systems & products
|
766
|
1,000
|
BB+ -
BB
|
10
|
Carpigiani
|
Manufacturer of machinery to produce
ice cream
|
368
|
479
|
BBB+ -
BBB-
|
5
|
Total
|
|
3,490
|
4,163
|
|
|
1 The
Italian Government has made various modifications to Superbonus,
including the value of tax credits awarded and how these tax
credits can be utilised.
2.ii) Project with CO-VER Power Technologies
In January 2022, the Company
refinanced the acquisition of an existing rooftop Solar PV plant in
Ascoli Piceno (Central Italy) with a generating capacity of 902
kWp. The investment, with an original cost of £0.7 million, is
based on the purchase of receivables generated by an energy service
contract between the leading Italian engineering firm CO‑VER Power
Technologies ("CO-VER") and its subsidiary Futura APV S.r.l.
("Futura"). The contract governs the management of an operating
roof-mounted Solar PV plant until April 2028. Thereafter, the
investment is based on a feed-in tariff for an additional six
years, aggregating to a twelve-year tenor. The investment, which
generated total cash receipts of £0.2 million in the period from
inception of the investment until 30 June 2024, is forecast to
generate a return of 7.5% per annum based on the valuation as at 30
June 2024 of £0.6 million.
CO-VER has a successful 20-year
history in developing industrial projects in the areas of energy
storage systems, co/tri-generation plants and renewable energies.
Futura is the owner of the PV plant which benefits from feed-in
tariffs payable by Gestore dei Servizi Energetici ("GSE"). GSE is a
joint stock company managed by the Italian Government which is
responsible for promoting and developing the growth of renewable
assets in Italy. GSE currently has a credit rating of BBB+ from the
Italian Government.
Investments in Spain (£8.0 million value as at 30 June
2024)
In the Period the Company deployed
no further capital into investments in Spain, other than a small
amount for investment costs. As at 30 June 2024, there remained a
commitment to invest £0.6 million in order to complete a building
energy efficiency investment programme, which received investment
of £2.1 million in the year ended 31 December 2023. This
investment is expected to be completed in October 2024.
1)
Solar PV investments in Spain (£5.7 million value as at 30 June
2024)
As at 30 June 2024, the Company had
capital invested in eight Solar PV installation projects throughout
Spain with eight project developers. Two of the projects have been
structured to provide fixed rates of return, including the single
largest project with a value of £3.0 million as at 30 June 2024.
The other six projects have been structured under Power Purchase
Agreements ("PPAs") with maturities of up to eighteen years and
have variable revenues, often subject to a combination of
production fluctuations, power price changes and inflation. In
addition, excess production beyond the on-site demand may be
injected into the grid. These variable revenue risks are mitigated
by conducting technical due diligence prior to making commitments
and by contracted prices within the PPAs.
In July 2024, the Company completed
the sale of a small Solar PV project for £0.1 million to the ESCO
which developed the project as part of the negotiation to withdraw
from a commitment of £0.5 million to complete the financing of
additional Solar PV projects with the same ESCO. In September 2024,
the Company realised another Solar PV project. This transition
resulted in cash proceeds of £1.0 million, which were at a small
discount in local currency to the valuation as at 30 June
2024.
There are operational issues with
three of the Solar PV projects, two of which were developed by
ESCOs which have entered into administration. These issues resulted
in negative fair value adjustments of £0.4 million as at 30 June
2024. In all these cases, the Investment Adviser is seeking to
exercise its legal rights including its step in rights to procure a
new ESCO to manage the projects so that the PPAs can be maintained
with the counterparties.
2)
Building Energy Efficiency Investments in Spain (£2.3 million value
as at 30 June 2024)
The Spanish Government has
established incentive schemes to promote energy efficiency measures
in buildings, including the "Programa de Rehabilitacion Energetica
de Edificios" ("PREE"). PREE is a €402.5 million incentive scheme
in Spain which is designed to promote and reward energy efficiency
improvements for condominiums and other buildings, improving their
energy rating by at least one energy class. Under this scheme, the
Company has committed £2.8 million to fund the refurbishment of
condominiums, which is being managed by a leading ESCO specialised
in designing and implementing energy efficiency and renewable
energy projects in Spain. The investment cash flows are based on
the purchase of receivables generated by the underlying energy
saving contracts between the ESCO and the "Comunidad de
Proprietarios"; the legal entities which represent each of the
owners of the apartments in a residential building. The receivables
have been rated with the S&P equivalent of A+/A. £2.2 million
has been deployed as at 30 June 2024 and the balance is forecast to
be deployed in full by the end of October 2024, which is four
months later than expected at the date of publication of the 2023
Annual Report.
Investments in Germany (£20.0 million value as at 30 June
2024)
In the Period the Company invested
£3.7 million to complete the financing of the installation of
liquefaction equipment at a biogas plant in Northern Germany. There
are no further investment commitments outstanding to investments in
Germany where the Company has four investments, across four
distinct technologies including water management solutions,
Bio-LNG, heat pumps and sub-metering technologies.
Three of the investments in Germany
provide for fixed rates of return while the other, a Bio-LNG
investment, has a variable return above a fixed rate of 5% per
annum. The variable element of the return has the right to receive
8% of revenue generated by the project, capped at £1.1 million
across eight years. This arrangement results in an overall forecast
return, from this Bio-LNG project of 8.4% per annum based on the
valuation as at 30 June 2024 of £8.3 million. Three of the
investments are performing in line with their contracts. However,
the sub-metering investment, which had a book value of £0.2 million
as at 31 December 2023, incurred a significant provision of
£1.1 million following the insolvency of the service provider
in October 2023, and has required a further impairment provision so
that its carrying value was zero as at 30 June 2024. It now appears
that any sale proceeds from selling the sub-metering contracts are
unlikely to exceed tax and other liabilities of the SPV into which
the original investment was made.
Investments in the United Kingdom (£3.9 million value as at 30
June 2024)
In the Period, the Company deployed
no further capital into investments in the United Kingdom. There
remains, however, a small commitment outstanding of £0.1 million
for lighting investments. In May 2024 one of the CHP investments
was realised through a refinancing arranged by the ESCO which
developed the project. The realisation resulted in proceeds of £0.1
million, which was equal to the book value at the date of
realisation. Eight investments remain in the United Kingdom of
which four are lighting, two are CHP and two are wind
investments.
The lighting and CHP investments are
fixed return investments although one of the lighting investments
benefits from annual inflation adjustments to the income. The wind
investments are variable return investments due to the variability
of operation and maintenance costs, power production and export
tariffs, which are renewed each year, although a significant
percentage of revenue is based on feed-in tariffs which benefit
from annual inflation adjustments.
The fixed return investments, with
the exception of the CHP investment with EGA Energy, performed in
line with expectations. However, the wind investments, which had a
value of £1.9 million as at 31 December 2023, have been written
down to a value of £1.5 million as at 30 June 2024 due primarily to
operational problems at individual sites, which have resulted in
lower than expected electricity production and higher operation and
maintenance costs.
The CHP investment for the former
food producer, Vale of Mowbray, to which £0.9 million had been
deployed, remains on hold as Vale of Mowbray was placed into
administration. Discussions continue between Ega Energy, the
developer of the original project, and the new owner of the site, a
cold store logistics business. However, the new owner of the site
has not yet decided whether or how to proceed with the CHP
investment. Due to the continued delays in finding a solution for
this project the Company has increased the provision against this
investment from £0.5 million as at 31 December 2023 to £0.7
million as at 30 June 2024.
Valuations and Expected Credit Loss Provisions as at 30 June
2024
As at 30 June 2024, the Company's
investments had a book value of £64.8 million, with investments
held at amortised cost valued at £51.8 million and investments held
at fair value through profit or loss valued at £13.0 million (see
Note 3 to the Accounts). The investments held at amortised cost are
net of ECL provisions of £2.4 million, which increased by £0.5
million from £1.9 million as at 31 December 2023. The principal
reasons for the increase were the additional provisions of £0.4
million made against the sub-metering investment in Germany and the
CHP investment in the United Kingdom and an increase of £0.1
million in the ECL provisions of the Superbonus investments due to
part of the credit risk exposure being attributed to the ESCOs
developing the projects.
Apart from these projects, the
Company has not experienced payment issues of material significance
on the receivables from amortised cost investments due to be paid
to it in the Period.
As at 30 June 2024, the Company's
ten fair value investments comprised:
·
the Bio-LNG investment in Germany with a value of
£8.3 million;
·
six Solar PV projects in Spain with an aggregate
value of £2.6 million;
·
two wind projects in the United Kingdom with an
aggregate value of £1.5 million; and
·
a Solar PV project in Italy with a value of £0.6
million.
The performance of these ten fair
value investments with a value as at year end of £13.0 million
resulted in a decrease in fair value of 6.0%.
The change in valuation of the
investments held at fair value through profit or loss, as reported
above, was impacted primarily by operational issues with the wind
investments in the United Kingdom and Solar PV investments in
Spain:
·
The two wind investments in the UK, which had a
value of £1.9 million as at 31 December 2023, have been marked down
to a value of £1.5 million as at 30 June 2024 due primarily to
operational problems at individual sites, which have resulted in
lower than expected electricity production and higher operation and
maintenance costs.
·
Three Solar PV investments
in Spain, which had a value of £1.5 million as at 31 December 2023,
have been marked down to a value of £1.0 million as at 30 June 2024
due to operational difficulties with individual projects and the
failure of the ESCOs who developed the projects to remedy these
difficulties.
As referred to in the section above
regarding the investments in Spain, one of these investments was
realised for £0.1 million in July 2024
and this transaction also enabled the Company to exit from a
pre-existing commitment to invest £0.5 million in another project
with this ESCO.
These operational issues have
resulted in negative changes to the forecast cash flows and
resulted in a negative change of -3.2%. Other negative impacts on
valuation were:
·
An overall increase in the discount rates applied
to the valuations, which had a negative effect of -2.4%
·
FX effects, -1.9%;
·
Distributions from these investments, -2.1%;
and
·
Changes to forecast power price and inflation
assumptions, -0.1%.
These impacts were offset by
valuation timing, that is the time value of money effect between
the two valuation dates, which had a positive effect of
+3.6%.
Summary of Investments as at 30 June 2024
Description
|
Receivables Weighted
Avg. Credit Rating
|
Term Years
|
Technology
|
Status
|
Country
|
Value £k
|
Commitment o/s £k
|
Receivables (fixed) from a 238 kWp
rooftop Solar PV project installed on the production facilities of
a food manufacturer in Lombardy.
|
BB-
|
7.0
|
Solar
PV
|
Operational
|
Italy
|
191
|
-
|
Receivables (fixed) from a 127 kWp
Solar PV project installed on the production facilities of a
manufacturer in Veneto.
|
BBB+ -
BBB-
|
7.0
|
Solar
PV
|
Operational
|
Italy
|
80
|
-
|
Receivables (fixed) from sales of
tax credits generated under the Italian Superbonus, which supports
energy efficiency retrofits (insulation, more efficient heating
etc) of residential buildings.
|
BB+ -
BB
|
1.5
|
Building
Retrofit
|
Construction
|
Italy
|
4,977
|
-
|
Receivables (fixed) from sales of
tax credits generated under the Italian Superbonus, which supports
energy efficiency retrofits (insulation, more efficient heating
etc) of residential buildings.
|
BBB+ -
BBB-
|
1.5
|
Building
Retrofit
|
Construction
|
Italy
|
8,317
|
-
|
Receivables (fixed with RPI) from
lighting as a service contracts with six UK companies.
|
BBB+ -
BBB-
|
5.0
|
Lighting
|
Operational
|
United
Kingdom
|
217
|
-
|
Receivables (fixed/variable) from a
901.6 kWp rooftop Solar PV project at a site in Ascoli Piceno
(Central Italy).
|
BBB+ -
BBB-
|
12.0
|
Solar
PV
|
Operational
|
Italy
|
639
|
-
|
Receivables (fixed) from sales of
tax credits generated under the Italian Superbonus, which supports
energy efficiency retrofits (insulation, more efficient heating
etc) of residential buildings.
|
A+ -
A
|
1.5
|
Building
Retrofit
|
Construction
|
Italy
|
1,175
|
-
|
Receivables (fixed) from a 1,000 kWp
rooftop Solar PV project to be installed at a production facility
In Lombardy.
|
BB+ -
BB
|
10.0
|
Solar
PV
|
Operational
|
Italy
|
1,072
|
-
|
Receivables (fixed) from
sub-metering hardware and services contracts with landlords of
multi-occupancy buildings.
|
Default
|
9.0
|
Sub-meters
|
Default
|
Germany
|
-
|
102
|
Receivables (fixed) from CHP Energy
Services Agreement with a food manufacturer in North East
England.
|
Default
|
7.0
|
CHP
|
Default
|
United
Kingdom
|
238
|
-
|
Receivables (fixed) from sales of
tax credits generated under the Italian Superbonus, which supports
energy efficiency retrofits (insulation, more efficient heating
etc) of residential buildings.
|
BB+ -
BB
|
1.5
|
Building
Retrofit
|
Construction
|
Italy
|
7,670
|
-
|
Receivables from a PPA with a
poultry producer for three Solar PV Plants around Zaragoza,
Northern Spain, with a total capacity of c. 400 kWp.
|
BB+ -
BB
|
15.0
|
Solar
PV
|
Operational
|
Spain
|
306
|
5
|
Receivables (fixed) from CHP Energy
Services Agreement with a hotel near Birmingham.
|
BB+ -
BB
|
8.0
|
CHP
|
Operational
|
United
Kingdom
|
420
|
-
|
Receivables (fixed) from sales of
tax credits generated under the Italian Superbonus, which supports
energy efficiency retrofits (insulation, more efficient heating
etc) of residential buildings.
|
BBB+ -
BBB-
|
1.5
|
Building
Retrofit
|
Construction
|
Italy
|
6,647
|
-
|
Receivables from PPAs with a
manufacturer of irrigation products and a manufacturer of doors and
kitchen cabinets for 3 solar PV plants with a total capacity of
c.950 kWp in Valladolid and Toledo.
|
BBB+ -
BBB-
|
18.0
|
Solar
PV
|
Operational
|
Spain
|
359
|
-
|
Receivables (fixed) from two solar
PV plants around Barcelona, Spain, with a total capacity of c.210
kWp, between a Spanish developer and a manufacturer of bread and
pastry products and a provider of IT services to
universities.
|
B
|
12.0
|
Solar
PV
|
Operational
|
Spain
|
129
|
-
|
Receivables (fixed) from a 443 kWp
rooftop Solar PV project installed on the production facilities of
a food service equipment manufacturer in Veneto, Northern
Italy.
|
BBB+ -
BBB-
|
7.0
|
Solar
PV
|
Operational
|
Italy
|
268
|
-
|
Purchase of receivables generated by
PPA form a Solar PV plant with a capacity of c.1,600 kWp between a
Spanish developer and a Spanish ceramic tiles manufacturer near
Valencia.
|
BBB+ -
BBB-
|
15.0
|
Solar
PV
|
Operational
|
Spain
|
959
|
-
|
Receivables of FiTs and export
tariffs generated from three operating wind turbines in the UK with
a total capacity of 166 kWp, of which the generated energy is used
for self-consumption and for export to the grid.
|
BBB+ -
BBB-
|
11.9
|
Wind
|
Operational
|
United
Kingdom
|
304
|
-
|
Subscription for a Note for the
refinancing of an operating biogas plant in north-eastern Germany
and an upgrade to a Bio-LNG facility. The Note provides for a fixed
return plus an agreed share of revenues from the
facility.
|
A-
|
8.3
|
Biogas /
BioLNG
|
Operational
|
Germany
|
8,246
|
-
|
Receivables (PPA with fixed price)
from a rooftop Solar PV project with a capacity of c.350 kWp for an
agricultural cooperative specialised in the production and
marketing of extra virgin olive oils in Granada.
|
BB-
|
15.0
|
Solar
PV
|
Operational
|
Spain
|
321
|
-
|
Receivables (fixed) from Solar PV
plant in self-consumption for a total installed capacity of 875.6
kWp located at the site of a non-wovens manufacturer in Lombardy,
Northern Italy.
|
BB+ -
BB
|
10.0
|
Solar
PV
|
Operational
|
Italy
|
745
|
-
|
Receivables from service agreements
related to the water management between the developer and
condominiums and multi-family homes, mainly managed by large
property managers via a Note structure.
|
BBB+ -
BBB-
|
10.0
|
Water
management
|
Operational
|
Germany
|
9,777
|
-
|
Receivables generated by two energy
saving contracts between the developer and five Spanish
condominiums located in the proximity of Madrid, Guadalajara and
Gerona, as well as subsidies generated under the incentive
scheme.
|
A+ -
A
|
15.0
|
Building
Retrofit
|
Construction
|
Spain
|
2,352
|
563
|
Acquisition of receivables of FiTs
and export tariffs generated from 4 operating wind turbines in
Scotland, with a total capacity of c.250 kWp.
|
A-
|
14.0
|
Wind
|
Operational
|
United
Kingdom
|
1,234
|
-
|
Subscription for a Junior Note
issued by the largest heating installer in Germany, entitling the
Note holder to receivables generated through service and
maintenance contracts for heat pump systems for the residential
sector throughout Germany.
|
AAA -
AA-
|
15.0
|
Heating
|
Operational
|
Germany
|
2,020
|
26
|
Receivables (fixed) from Solar PV
installations for a leading agricultural business engaged in the
cultivation of grapevines, cereals, onions, olives, almonds and
peas with a total capacity of c.4,000 kWp near Valencia.
|
BBB+ -
BBB-
|
10.0
|
Solar
PV
|
Operational
|
Spain
|
2,973
|
-
|
Receivables from PPAs with a
manufacturer of acoustical insulation products and a manufacturer
of textiles for two Solar PV plants in self-consumption for a total
installed capacity of c.870 kWp located around Alicante.
|
BB+ -
BB
|
15.0
|
Solar
PV
|
Operational
|
Spain
|
529
|
-
|
Purchase of receivables generated
from PPA and grid sales agreement for a Solar PV plant with a
capacity of c.200 kWp for a perfume retailer in Malaga.
|
BB+ -
BB
|
18.0
|
Solar
PV
|
Operational
|
Spain
|
76
|
-
|
Receivables (fixed) generated from
the installation and operation of metering and LED projects with
eleven different counterparties in the UK.
|
BB+ -
BB
|
7.0
|
Lighting
|
Operational
|
United
Kingdom
|
685
|
41
|
Receivables (fixed payments indexed
to CPI) from a roof-mounted Solar PV plant with a total capacity of
c.1,000 kWp for a developer and distributor of materials and
technologies for tyre re-treading in Central Italy.
|
BB+ -
BB
|
10.0
|
Solar
PV
|
Operational
|
Italy
|
766
|
7
|
Receivables (fixed) from a roof
mounted Solar PV plant with a total capacity of c.480 kWp for an
ice cream machine manufacturer in Northern Italy.
|
BBB+ -
BBB-
|
5.0
|
Solar
PV
|
Operational
|
Italy
|
368
|
7
|
Receivables (fixed) generated from
refinancing the installation of LED lighting projects for 17
different clients in the UK. The various operating lease agreements
range from five to ten years.
|
BBB+ -
BBB-
|
10.0
|
Lighting
|
Operational
|
United
Kingdom
|
390
|
-
|
Receivables (fixed) generated from
refinancing the installation of a LED lighting project for a UK
logistics business. The lease agreement has a five-year
maturity.
|
BBB+ -
BBB-
|
5.0
|
Lighting
|
Operational
|
United
Kingdom
|
374
|
-
|
Notes:
The term is the original maturity of
the investment.
ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE ("ESG")
Introduction
The Company's goal is to generate
attractive returns for investors by reducing Primary Energy
Consumption ("PEC"). The Company seeks to achieve this through
investing principally in a diversified portfolio of energy
efficiency projects with high-quality counterparties. The Company's
investments positively impact the environment by reducing the
amount of carbon dioxide produced, by decreasing PEC and by
increasing the amount of renewable energy used. The
synergies1 generated by the reduction of PEC and simultaneously using
renewable energy sources further decrease
CO2 emissions.
This is reflected across the
investment philosophy and approach of both the Company and its
Investment Adviser, Aquila Capital, who are dedicated to the green
energy transition. The Company is committed to being a responsible
investor, ensuring that environmental, social and governance
criteria are incorporated into day-to-day investment decisions as
well as generating a positive impact for society. By reducing PEC,
the Company often improves life standards for end users; for
example, better lights, easier maintenance, reduced danger,
security of supply and, very importantly, the reduction of
emissions like Nitrogen Oxides.
In the Period, the portfolio
performed as follows:
· 2,505 tonnes of avoided CO2 emissions
("tCO2e"); and
· 9,439 MWh of energy saved,
· for total emission savings equivalent to 1,096 passenger
flights around the world2.
Method of Calculation for Energy Savings (kWh) and Avoided
CO2 Emissions
(tCO2e)
The energy savings (in kWh) and
avoided CO2 emissions (in tCO2e) are reported to Aquila
Capital by third parties, including the development companies,
ESCOs and other third parties. These reports are supported by
asset-level documentation of individual methodologies. Aquila
Capital has reviewed the individual methodologies for technical
consistency and reconciled the reported values for plausibility.
Where quantification of likely energy savings and avoided
CO2 emissions is not clear, for example, with the Superbonus
projects in Italy and the Bio-LNG, water metering and heat pump
projects in Germany, no estimations are included in the avoided
CO2 emissions and energy savings statistics above.
Only energy savings and avoided
CO2 emissions for operational projects are considered on a
pro-rata basis for the time of operation during the reporting
period. Avoided CO2
emissions are estimated in gross terms and derived
from energy savings in kWh using a conversion factor (except CHP,
see below) which measures the grid's emission intensity. Emissions
incurred during the life cycle of light bulbs such as materials
sourcing, manufacturing, installation, maintenance etc. are not
available. The reported metrics are estimations based on
assumptions. For technical reasons, it is not possible or feasible
to observe or measure actual energy or emission avoidance in
real-time.
·
LED/Lighting: Savings estimates are derived based
on technical, product-specific attributes provided by the product
manufacturer. Lighting assets are typically not connected to a
distinct circuit. These solutions are designed according to the
requirements of a given functional unit, i.e. office, street or
space, which varies on asset level. Changes in the number of light
bulbs or lumen are not considered.
·
Solar PV: Electricity production is translated
into emissions avoidance with a conversion factor (see above).
Production estimates for Solar PV assets are evaluated during
technical due diligence processes.
·
CHP: Avoided CO2 emissions are
calculated directly by comparing the asset's emissions based on the
feedstock used for a specific plant with a reference co-generation
unit's emission factor.
·
Metering: Metering solutions are being applied to
a large portfolio of individual households. Annual average
household consumption is estimated, and a developer's specific
savings estimate is applied to the average household
consumption.
1
International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena), "Synergies between
renewable energy and energy efficiency" (2017), available at:
https://www.irena.org/publications/2017/
Aug/Synergies-between-renewable-energy-and-energy-efficiency#:~:text=Renewables%20would%20account%20for%20about,country%2C%20sector%20and%20
technology%20levels
2
Passenger flights around the world: This number is derived from
passenger flight emissions data retrieved on 4 April 2023 from the
International Civil Aviation Organization;
https://applications.icao.int/icec/Home/Index. The total emissions
associated with a passenger flight around the world based on a
standard itinerary from New York to Dubai, Bangkok, Sydney, Los
Angeles and back to New York in the economy class is 2,285.80 kg
CO2.
ESG
Approach
The Company has adopted Aquila
Capital's ESG Integration Policy3, ensuring that environmental,
social and governance criteria have been incorporated into
day-to-day investment decisions as well as generating a positive
contribution for society. The Company investment approach is
focused on investments in energy efficiency projects located
primarily in Europe. These investments are predominantly into
proven technologies that deliver energy savings for commercial,
industrial and public sector buildings. Prior to the adoption of
the New Investment Policy (as defined in the Interim Management
Report), the Company sought to invest in projects for the long term
with a focus on optimising and improving the assets' PEC (and, of
course, the Company's investments continue to meet this initial
objective). Technologies include:
·
LED Lighting Systems;
·
Solar PV;
·
HVAC/Buildings;
·
Smart Metering/Sub-metering; and
·
Bio LNG.
Environmental Contribution
The Company's investments are
focused on reducing PEC, which should lead to significant
reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, local
production of energy (CHP, biomass boilers, Solar PV) reduces
transportation energy losses and grid over-utilisation. Smart
meters and other control technologies enable a better visibility
and management of energy and therefore represent a basis for energy
savings.
Social Contribution
Energy efficiency measures not only
reduce PEC, but typically also have a positive impact on health and
quality of life for different stakeholders, such as employees and
users of public facilities. This is largely achieved through the
installation of advanced solutions for lighting, heating, cooling,
ventilation and the associated control units. All project
developers are required to adhere to local, regional and national
health and safety laws, to train and educate employees accordingly,
to make sure casualties and injuries are avoided. Aquila Capital's
ESG Integration Policy, as adopted by the Company, has sought to
exclude suppliers and manufacturers that do not meet Aquila
Capital's criteria (exclusion of certain sectors/subsectors, or
companies that, for example, use unfavourable labour conditions).
For all counterparties, a rating has been performed (in
collaboration with a third-party rating agency) assessing the
creditworthiness of the relevant counterparty as well as a "Know
Your Client" check for the relevant parties involved to increase
transparency of the counterparties' activities.
Governmental Contribution
The Company's business partners are
required to adhere to the requirements of the relevant social
security and tax authorities. The Company's business partners are
required to provide evidence that they adhere to anti-bribery and
corruption laws.
Due
Diligence
The Investment Adviser performed
detailed ESG due diligence for each asset prior to investment. The
investment management team followed a structured screening, due
diligence and investment process designed to ensure that
investments are reviewed and compared on a consistent basis.
Execution of this process is facilitated by the team's deep
experience in energy efficiency project investing. As part of this
process, the Investment Adviser, as relevant for each investment,
considered:
·
total PEC reduction, and implied CO2
emissions reduced and/or avoided; and/or
·
total energy production from renewable and
non-renewable sources.
Governance Framework
The Company has an independent Board
of Directors, with FundRock Management Company (Guernsey) Limited
(formerly Sanne Fund Management (Guernsey) Limited) as the AIFM.
The Board of Directors supervises the AIFM, which is responsible
for making recommendations in relation to any investment proposals
put forward by the Investment Adviser. The Investment Adviser is
fully regulated and supervised by BaFin in Germany. The Company
maintains a comprehensive risk register which is regularly updated
and reviewed by the AIFM and the Board of Directors. The Company
has established procedures to deal with any potential conflicts of
interest in circumstances where Aquila Capital (or any affiliate)
is advising both the AIFM (for the Company) and other Aquila
Capital managed funds. In the context of an investment decision,
these procedures may include a fairness opinion in relation to the
valuation of an investment, which is obtained from an independent
expert.
3 For
details please refer to:
https://www.aquila-capital.de/fileadmin/user_upload/ESG_report/Aquila_Group_ESG_Integration_Policy.pdf
Monitoring of ESG
The Company's commitment to and
compliance with the Company's established ESG approach is monitored
on a continuous basis throughout the lifecycle of investments, as
they become operational. This includes:
·
ongoing monitoring of the PEC based on the energy
consumption and deriving from that the CO2 savings,
where appropriate, monitoring additional environment and ESG
relevant developments both at the portfolio and asset level;
and
·
annual reporting, including ESG aspects, to
relevant stakeholders including ad-hoc reporting of any material
and urgent issues identified in the monitoring process.
The Company has been awarded the
Green Economy Mark from the London Stock Exchange. The Green
Economy Mark identifies London-listed companies and funds that
generate between 50% and 100% of total annual revenues from
products and services that contribute to the global green
economy.
Aquila Capital Investmentgesellschaft mbH
26 September 2024
INTERIM MANAGEMENT REPORT
The Directors are required to
provide an Interim Management Report in accordance with the
Financial Conduct Authority's ("FCA") Disclosure Guidance and
Transparency Rules ("DTR"). The Directors consider that the Chair's
Statement and the Investment Adviser's Report provide details of
the important events which have occurred during the six months
ended 30 June 2024 (the "Period") and their impact on the financial
statements. The statement on related party transactions and the
Directors' Statement of Responsibility (below), the Chair's
Statement and the Investment Adviser's Report together constitute
the Interim Management Report of the Company for the Period. The
outlook for the Company for the remaining six months of the year
ending 31 December 2024 is discussed in the Chair's Statement and
the Investment Adviser's Report.
A breakdown of the investments held
at the Period end can be found in the Investment Adviser's
Report.
Principal Risks and Uncertainties
The principal risks and
uncertainties facing the Company are summarised below:
(i)
Service provider risk
(ii)
Counterparty / credit risk
(iii)
Concentration risk
(iv) Discount
management
(v)
Portfolio valuation
(vi) Interest
rates / inflation
(vii) Liquidity /
discount risk
(viii) Political
risk
(ix) IT
security
(x) Act of
war / sanctions
(xi)
ESG
There has been no change in the
reporting period to the emerging risks (Capital Preservation and
Relationship with ESCOs during the run-off period).
Since the decision by shareholders
on 28 February 2023 not to continue the Company and the subsequent
approval at the Annual General Meeting on 14 June 2023 of the
Continuation and Managed Run-Off Resolution, the Board has paid and
continues to pay particular attention on a regular basis to the
performance of its service providers, specifically in terms of
level of resource deployed in delivering services to the Company
and the standard of performance of those services.
The Company's Annual Report for the
period ended 31 December 2023 contains more detail on the Company's
principal risks and uncertainties and emerging risks, including the
Board's ongoing process to identify, and
where possible mitigate, the risks (pages 25 to 29). The Annual
Report can be found on the Company's website.
Related Party Transactions
Details of the investment advisory
arrangements were provided in the Annual Report. There have been no
changes to the related party transactions described in the Annual
Report that could have a material effect on the financial position
or performance of the Company. Amounts payable to the Investment
Adviser in the Period are detailed in the unaudited Statement of
Profit or Loss and Comprehensive Income.
Going Concern
The Directors have adopted the going
concern basis in preparing the financial statements. The following
is a summary of the Directors' assessment of the going concern
status of the Group and Company.
The Group and Company continue to
meet day-to-day liquidity needs through their cash resources. The
Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Group and Company
have adequate resources to continue in operational existence for at
least twelve months from the date of this document.
In reaching this conclusion, the
Directors have considered the Group's investment commitments, cash
position, income and expense flows. As at 31 August 2024, the
latest practicable date before publication of this report, the
total commitments were £0.8 million. The value of investments at 30
June 2024 was £64.8 million and has not changed materially since
that date. The investments are mostly fully operational and income
producing. As at 31 August 2024, the Group had cash of £14.9
million (including the £2.5 million held as collateral for FX
hedging). The Directors reviewed downside scenarios which assumed
some delay in cash receipts and are satisfied that the Group and
the Company would continue to meet its obligations as they fall
due. They are also satisfied that the Group and Company would
continue to remain viable under downside scenarios. Total expenses
for the Period were £1.43 million (excluding impairment losses) (30
June 2023: £1.65 million), which, when annualised, represented
approximately 3.2% of average net assets during the Period (30 June
2023: 3.5%). At the date of approval of this document, based on the
aggregate of investments and cash held, the Group and Company have
substantial operating expenses cover.
At the Annual General Meeting of the
Company (the "AGM") held on 14 June 2023, Shareholders voted in
favour of the Company's change of investment policy (the "New
Investment Policy"). Following the AGM, and in accordance with the
New Investment Policy, the Company entered a continuation and
managed run-off of its portfolio ("Managed Run-Off"), meaning that
it is not making any new investments (save for the limited
circumstances as set out in the New Investment Policy) and its
investing activity is solely in respect of funding legal
commitments to existing investments.
The continuation and managed run-off
resolution was put forward as a resolution to Shareholders in
response to the outcome of the Company's Continuation Vote held in
February 2023, which did not pass.
At the General Meeting of the
Company held on 13 May 2024, Shareholders voted in favour of a
return of capital to Shareholders by way of a tender offer of up to
£17.5 million. Funds were returned in May 2024 to Shareholders who
applied to take part in the tender offer.
As referred to above, the Group is
operating currently under a Managed Run-Off with the term of some
of the Group's assets being several years. While the Company is
continuing to explore other strategic options, such as an asset
sale or structural solution, there remains no certainty that any of
these options will materialize and be put to Shareholders for
consideration, or on the potential timing of other strategic
options.
Accordingly, the Directors recognise
that these conditions indicate the existence of material
uncertainty which may cast significant doubt about the Group and
Company's ability to continue as a going concern.
Based on the assessment and
considerations above, the Directors have concluded that the
financial statements of the Group and the Company should be
prepared on a going concern basis. The financial statements do not
include the adjustments that would result if the Group and the
Company were unable to continue on a going concern
basis.
Directors' Statement of Responsibility
The Directors confirm to the best of
their knowledge that:
·
the condensed set of financial statements
contained within the Interim Financial Report has been prepared in
accordance with IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting and gives a true
and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and
return of the Company;
·
the Interim Management Report includes a fair
review of the information required by Disclosure and Transparency
Rule 4.2.7R; and
·
the Interim Financial Report includes a fair
review of the information required by Disclosure and Transparency
Rule 4.2.8R.
Miriam Greenwood OBE DL
Chair of the Board of
Directors
26 September
2024
David Fletcher
Chair of the Audit & Risk
Committee
26 September
2024
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF PROFIT OR LOSS AND COMPREHENSIVE
INCOME
FOR
THE SIX MONTHS TO 30 JUNE 2024
|
|
For the
six months to 30 June 2024
|
For the
six months to 30 June 2023
|
|
|
Revenue
|
Capital
|
Total
|
Revenue
|
Capital
|
Total
|
|
Notes
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
Unrealised loss on
investments
|
|
-
|
(2,176)
|
(2,176)
|
-
|
(3,277)
|
(3,277)
|
Unrealised loss on
derivatives
|
|
-
|
(29)
|
(29)
|
-
|
(300)
|
(300)
|
Realised gains on
derivatives
|
|
-
|
1,932
|
1,932
|
-
|
2,515
|
2,515
|
Net foreign exchange loss
|
|
-
|
(237)
|
(237)
|
-
|
(87)
|
(87)
|
Investment Income
|
4
|
3,270
|
-
|
3,270
|
2,584
|
-
|
2,584
|
Investment Advisory fees
|
5
|
(328)
|
-
|
(328)
|
(447)
|
-
|
(447)
|
Impairment loss
|
3
|
(515)
|
-
|
(515)
|
(224)
|
-
|
(224)
|
Other expenses
|
|
(1,103)
|
-
|
(1,103)
|
(1,202)
|
-
|
(1,202)
|
Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities before
taxation
|
|
1,324
|
(510)
|
814
|
711
|
(1,149)
|
(438)
|
Taxation
|
6
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities after
taxation
|
|
1,324
|
(510)
|
814
|
711
|
(1,149)
|
(438)
|
Return per Ordinary Share
|
7
|
1.39p
|
(0.54p)
|
0.85p
|
0.71p
|
(1.15p)
|
(0.44p)
|
The total column of the Consolidated
Statement of Profit or Loss and Comprehensive Income is the profit
and loss account of the Group.
All revenue and capital items in the
above consolidated statement derive from continuing operations. No
operations were discontinued during the Period.
Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities
after taxation is also the "Total comprehensive income/(expense)
for the Period".
The accompanying notes form part of
these financial statements.
COMPANY STATEMENT OF PROFIT OR LOSS AND COMPREHENSIVE
INCOME
FOR
THE SIX MONTHS TO 30 JUNE 2024
|
|
For the
six months to 30 June 2024
|
For the
six months to 30 June 2023
|
|
|
Revenue
|
Capital
|
Total
|
Revenue
|
Capital
|
Total
|
|
Notes
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
Unrealised loss on
investments
|
|
-
|
(15)
|
(15)
|
-
|
(800)
|
(800)
|
Net foreign exchange
losses
|
|
-
|
(81)
|
(81)
|
-
|
(549)
|
(549)
|
Investment income
|
4
|
2,368
|
-
|
2,368
|
2,082
|
-
|
2,082
|
Investment Advisory fees
|
5
|
(328)
|
-
|
(328)
|
(447)
|
-
|
(447)
|
Other expenses
|
|
(829)
|
-
|
(829)
|
(953)
|
-
|
(953)
|
Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities before
taxation
|
|
1,211
|
(96)
|
1,115
|
682
|
(1,349)
|
(667)
|
Taxation
|
6
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities after
taxation
|
|
1,211
|
(96)
|
1,115
|
682
|
(1,349)
|
(667)
|
Return per Ordinary Share
|
7
|
1.27p
|
(0.10p)
|
1.17p
|
0.68p
|
(1.35p)
|
(0.67p)
|
The total column of the Company
Statement of Profit or Loss and Comprehensive Income is the profit
and loss account of the Company.
All revenue and capital items in the
above statement derive from continuing operations. No operations
were acquired or discontinued during the Period.
Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities
after taxation is also the "Total comprehensive (expense)/income
for the Period".
The accompanying notes form part of
these financial statements.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
AS
AT 30 JUNE 2024
|
|
As
at
|
As
at
|
|
|
30
June
|
31
December
|
|
|
2024
|
2023
|
|
Notes
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
Fixed assets
|
|
|
|
Investments at fair value through
profit or loss
|
3
|
12,974
|
10,492
|
Investments at amortised
cost
|
3
|
51,852
|
54,990
|
|
|
64,826
|
65,482
|
Current assets
|
|
|
|
Trade and other
receivables
|
|
37
|
652
|
Derivative financial
instrument
|
|
-
|
122
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
13,663
|
29,082
|
|
|
13,700
|
29,856
|
Creditors: amounts falling due within one
year
|
|
(1,069)
|
(1,057)
|
Derivative financial instrument
|
3
|
(28)
|
-
|
Net
current assets
|
|
12,603
|
28,799
|
Net
assets
|
|
77,429
|
94,281
|
Capital and reserves: equity
|
|
|
|
Share capital
|
8
|
814
|
1,000
|
Special reserve
|
9
|
76,020
|
93,500
|
Capital reserve
|
|
(688)
|
(178)
|
Revenue reserve
|
|
1,283
|
(41)
|
Shareholders' funds
|
|
77,429
|
94,281
|
Net assets per Ordinary
Share
|
10
|
95.08
|
94.28
|
No. of ordinary shares in
issue
|
|
81,438,268
|
100,000,000
|
Approved by the Board of directors
and authorised for issue on 26
September 2024.
Signed on behalf of the Board of
Directors
Miriam Greenwood OBE DL
David
Fletcher
Chair of the Board of
Directors
Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee
Aquila Energy Efficiency Trust Plc
is incorporated in England and Wales with Company number
13324616.
The accompanying notes form part of
these financial statements.
COMPANY STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
AS
AT 30 JUNE 2024
|
|
As
at
|
As
at
|
|
|
30
June
|
31
December
|
|
|
2024
|
2023
|
|
Notes
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
Fixed assets
|
|
|
|
Investment in
subsidiaries
|
3
|
44,060
|
45,654
|
Current assets
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
3,899
|
22,548
|
Intercompany receivable
|
|
2,705
|
-
|
Shareholder loan
receivable
|
|
27,293
|
27,293
|
Trade and other
receivables
|
|
1,225
|
255
|
|
|
35,122
|
50,096
|
Creditors: amounts falling due within one
year
|
|
(857)
|
(874)
|
Net
current assets
|
|
34,265
|
49,222
|
Net
assets
|
|
78,325
|
94,876
|
Capital and reserves: equity
|
|
|
|
Share capital
|
8
|
814
|
1,000
|
Special reserve
|
9
|
76,020
|
93,500
|
Capital reserve
|
|
2,827
|
2,923
|
Revenue reserve
|
|
(1,336)
|
(2,547)
|
Shareholders' funds
|
|
78,325
|
94,876
|
Approved by the Board of directors
and authorised for issue on 26 September 2024.
Signed on behalf of the Board of
Directors
Miriam Greenwood OBE DL
David
Fletcher
Chair of the Board of
Directors
Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee
Aquila Energy Efficiency Trust Plc
is incorporated in England and Wales with Company number
13324616.
The accompanying notes form part of
these financial statements.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
FOR
THE SIX MONTHS TO 30 JUNE 2024
|
|
Share
|
Special
|
Capital
|
Revenue
|
|
|
|
capital
|
reserve
|
reserve
|
reserve
|
Total
|
For the six months to 30 June
2024
|
Notes
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
Opening equity as at 1 January 2024
|
|
1,000
|
93,500
|
(178)
|
(41)
|
94,281
|
Tender offer return of
capital
|
8
|
(186)
|
(17,314)
|
-
|
-
|
(17,500)
|
Tender offer cost
|
8
|
-
|
(166)
|
-
|
-
|
(166)
|
Profit for the Period
|
|
-
|
-
|
(510)
|
1,324
|
814
|
Closing equity as at 30 June 2024
|
|
814
|
76,020
|
(688)
|
1,283
|
77,429
|
|
|
Share
|
Special
|
Capital
|
Revenue
|
|
|
|
capital
|
reserve
|
reserve
|
reserve
|
Total
|
For the six months to 30 June
2023
|
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
Opening equity as at 1 January 2023
|
|
1,000
|
94,750
|
431
|
(954)
|
95,227
|
Dividends paid
|
11
|
-
|
(1,250)
|
-
|
-
|
(1,250)
|
Loss for the Period
|
|
-
|
-
|
(1,149)
|
711
|
(438)
|
Closing equity as at 30 June 2023
|
|
1,000
|
93,500
|
(718)
|
(243)
|
93,539
|
The accompanying notes form part of
these financial statements.
COMPANY STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
FOR
THE SIX MONTHS TO 30 JUNE 2024
|
|
Share
|
Special
|
Capital
|
Revenue
|
|
|
|
capital
|
reserve
|
reserve
|
reserve
|
Total
|
For the six months to 30 June
2024
|
Notes
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
Opening equity as at 1 January 2024
|
|
1,000
|
93,500
|
2,923
|
(2,547)
|
94,876
|
Tender offer return of
capital
|
8
|
(186)
|
(17,314)
|
-
|
-
|
(17,500)
|
Tender offer cost
|
8
|
-
|
(166)
|
-
|
-
|
(166)
|
Profit for the Period
|
|
-
|
-
|
(96)
|
1,211
|
1,115
|
Closing equity as at 30 June 2024
|
|
814
|
76,020
|
2,827
|
(1,336)
|
78,325
|
|
|
Share
|
Special
|
Capital
|
Revenue
|
|
|
|
capital
|
reserve
|
reserve
|
reserve
|
Total
|
For the six months to 30 June
2023
|
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
Opening equity as at 1 January 2023
|
|
1,000
|
94,750
|
1,999
|
(1,866)
|
95,883
|
Dividends paid
|
11
|
-
|
(1,250)
|
-
|
-
|
(1,250)
|
Loss for the Period
|
|
-
|
-
|
(1,349)
|
682
|
(667)
|
Closing equity as at 30 June 2023
|
|
1,000
|
93,500
|
650
|
(1,184)
|
93,966
|
The accompanying notes form part of
these financial statements.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
FOR
THE SIX MONTHS TO 30 JUNE 2024
|
|
For
the
|
For
the
|
|
|
six months
to
|
six months
to
|
|
|
30 June
2024
|
30 June
2023
|
|
Notes
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
Operating activities
|
|
|
|
Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities
before taxation
|
|
814
|
(438)
|
Adjustments for:
|
|
|
|
Unrealised loss on
investments
|
|
2,176
|
3,277
|
Unrealised loss on derivative
instruments
|
|
29
|
300
|
Impairment loss
|
|
515
|
224
|
Net foreign exchange
loss/(gain)
|
|
87
|
(718)
|
Decrease/(increase) in trade and
other receivables
|
|
615
|
(536)
|
Increase in creditors: amounts
falling due within one year
|
|
12
|
223
|
Movement in interest receivable from
amortised cost investments
|
|
(529)
|
-
|
Net
cash flow from operating activities
|
|
3,719
|
2,332
|
Investing activities
|
|
|
|
Purchase of investments
|
|
(4,202)
|
(19,658)
|
Repayment of investments
|
|
2,579
|
638
|
Net
cash flow used in investing activities
|
|
(1,623)
|
(19,020)
|
Financing activities
|
|
|
|
Dividends paid
|
11
|
-
|
(1,250)
|
Tender offer return of
capital
|
8
|
(17,666)
|
-
|
Net
cash flow used in financing activities
|
|
(17,666)
|
(1,250)
|
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents
|
|
(15,570)
|
(17,938)
|
Cash and cash equivalents at start
of Period
|
|
29,082
|
46,625
|
Effect of foreign currency exchange
translation
|
|
151
|
-
|
Cash and Cash equivalents at end of Period
|
|
13,663
|
28,687
|
The accompanying notes form part of
these financial statements.
COMPANY STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
FOR
THE SIX MONTHS TO 30 JUNE 2024
|
|
For
the
|
For
the
|
|
|
six months
to
|
six months
to
|
|
|
30 June
2024
|
30 June
2023
|
|
Notes
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
Operating activities
|
|
|
|
Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities
before taxation
|
|
1,115
|
(667)
|
Adjustments for:
|
|
|
|
Unrealised loss on
investments
|
|
15
|
800
|
Net foreign exchange
loss/(gain)
|
|
81
|
(88)
|
(Increase)/decrease in intercompany
receivables
|
|
(2,705)
|
21,175
|
Increase in interest income
receivable from a subsidiary
|
|
(1,080)
|
(967)
|
Increase in trade and other
receivables
|
|
(970)
|
(77)
|
Increase in creditors: amounts
falling due within one year
|
|
17
|
44
|
Net
cash flow (used in)/from operating activities
|
|
(3,561)
|
20,220
|
Investing activities
|
|
|
|
Purchase of investments
|
|
(294)
|
(3,851)
|
Repayment of investments
|
|
1,843
|
611
|
Net
cash flow from/(used in) investing activities
|
|
1,549
|
(3,240)
|
Financing activities
|
|
|
|
Loan to subsidiary
|
|
-
|
(27,514)
|
Shareholder loan interest income
received
|
|
1,080
|
-
|
Tender offer return of
capital
|
8
|
(17,666)
|
-
|
Dividends paid
|
11
|
-
|
(1,250)
|
Net
cash flow used in financing activities
|
|
(16,586)
|
(28,764)
|
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents
|
|
(18,598)
|
(11,784)
|
Cash and cash equivalents at start
of Period
|
|
22,548
|
32,714
|
Effect of foreign currency exchange
translation
|
|
(51)
|
-
|
Cash and cash equivalents at end of Period
|
|
3,899
|
20,930
|
The accompanying notes form part of
these financial statements.
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR
THE SIX MONTHS TO 30 JUNE 2024
1.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Aquila Energy Efficiency Trust Plc
(the "Company") is a public Company limited by shares incorporated
in England and Wales on 9 April 2021 with registered number
13324616. The Company is domiciled in England and Wales. The
Company is a closed-ended investment company with an indefinite
life. The Company commenced its operations on 2 June 2021 when
the Company's Ordinary Shares were admitted to trading on the
London Stock Exchange. The Directors intend, at all times, to
conduct the affairs of the Company so as to enable it to qualify as
an investment trust for the purposes of section 1158 of the
Corporation Tax Act 2010, as amended.
The Company owns 100% of its
subsidiary, Attika Holdings Limited (the "HoldCo" or ''AHL'') and
100% of the notes issued by one compartment of SPV Project 2013
S.r.l. (the ''SPV'' or ''Italian SPV'') issued to the Company,
which entitles the Company to a 100% economic interest in the
receivables purchased through the proceeds of these notes, together
the ''Group''.
The registered office address of the
Company is 6th Floor, 125 London Wall, London, EC2Y 5AS.
The Company's New Investment Policy
objective is to realise all the remaining assets in the Portfolio
in a prudent manner consistent with the principles of good
investment management with a view to returning cash to Shareholders
in an orderly manner.
The Company will pursue its
investment objective by effecting an orderly realisation of its
assets in a manner that seeks to achieve the best balance for
Shareholders between maximising the value received from those
assets and making timely returns of capital to Shareholders. This
process might include sales of individual assets, mainly structured
as loans/receivables, or groups of assets, or running off the
Portfolio in accordance with the existing terms of the assets, or a
combination.
FundRock Management Company
(Guernsey) Limited acts as the Company's Alternative Investment
Fund Manager (the "AIFM") for the purposes of Directive 2011/61/EU
on alternative investment fund managers ("AIFMD").
The Group's Investment Adviser is
Aquila Capital Investmentgesellschaft mbH, authorised and regulated
by the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority.
Apex Listed Companies Services (UK)
Limited (the "Administrator") provides administrative and company
secretarial services to the Group under the terms of an
administration agreement between the Company and the Administrator.
The Italian SPV is administered by Zenith Service S.p.A.
2.
BASIS OF PREPARATION
Group Financial Statements
The consolidated financial
statements included in this Interim Report have been prepared in
accordance with IAS 34 "Interim Financial Reporting". The
accounting policies, critical accounting judgements, estimates and
assumptions are consistent with those used in the latest audited
consolidated financial statements to 31 December
2023 and should be read in conjunction with the
Group's annual audited consolidated financial statements for the
year ended 31 December 2023. The consolidated financial
statements are prepared on the historical cost basis, except for
the revaluation of certain financial instruments at fair value
through profit or loss. The consolidated financial statements for
the year ended 31 December 2023 have been prepared in accordance
with the UK adopted international accounting standards in
conformity with the requirements of the Companies Act
2006.
The interim consolidated financial
statements have also been prepared as far as is relevant and
applicable to the Group in accordance with the Statement of
Recommended Practice ("SORP") issued by the Association of
Investment Companies ("AIC") issued in July 2022.
These consolidated financial
statements do not include all information and disclosures required
in the annual consolidated financial statements and should be read
in conjunction with the Group's annual consolidated financial
statements as of 31 December 2023. The audited consolidated annual
accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023 have been delivered to
Companies House. The audit report thereon was
unmodified.
The financial statements are
presented in Sterling rounded to the nearest thousand.
Company Financial Statements
The financial statements included in
this Interim Report have been prepared in accordance with IAS 34
"Interim Financial Reporting". The accounting policies, critical
accounting judgements, estimates and assumptions are consistent
with those used in the latest audited financial statements to 31
December 2023 and should be read in conjunction with the Company's
annual audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December
2023. The financial statements are prepared on the historical
cost basis, except for the revaluation of certain financial
instruments at fair value through profit or loss. The financial
statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 have been prepared
in accordance with the UK adopted international accounting
standards in conformity with the requirements of the Companies Act
2006.
The interim financial statements
have also been prepared as far as is relevant and applicable to the
Company in accordance with the SORP issued by the AIC in July
2022.
These financial statements do not
include all information and disclosures required in the annual
financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the
Company's annual financial statements as of 31 December 2023.
The audited annual accounts for the year ended 31 December
2023 have been delivered to the Companies House. The audit report
thereon was unmodified.
The functional currency of the
Company is Sterling. The capital of the Company was raised in
Sterling and the majority of its expenses are in Sterling. The
liquidity of the Company is managed in Sterling as the Company's
performance is evaluated in that currency. Accordingly, the
financial statements are presented in Sterling rounded to the
nearest thousand.
Basis of consolidation
The Group's financial statements
consolidate those of the Company and of its subsidiaries at 30 June
2024. AHL's functional currency is Sterling. The Italian SPV's
functional currency is Euro. However, to align with the Group's
functional currency, the balances of the Italian SPV have been
converted to Sterling at a Period-end rate for the Statement of
Financial Position accounts and at an average rate during the
Period for the Statement of Profit or Loss and Comprehensive Income
accounts.
All transactions and balances
between Group companies are eliminated on consolidation. The
accounting policies adopted by the Group are consistent with those
adopted by the Company and the subsidiaries.
Accounting for wholly owned entities
AHL
The Company owns 100% of its
subsidiary, AHL. The registered office address of AHL is Leaf B,
20th Floor, Tower 42, Old Broad Street, London, England, EC2N 1HQ.
The Company has acquired Energy Efficiency Investments through its
investment in the subsidiary. The Company finances its subsidiary,
AHL, under the terms of an intercompany loan agreement effective as
of 1 January 2024 and AHL finances Energy Efficiency Investments
through a mix of equity and debt instruments. The Company
consolidates the subsidiary.
Italian SPV
The Italian SPV is a Company
established under the laws of Italy to hold securitised
receivables. The Company does not hold any equity in the SPV.
However, it does own 100% of the notes issued by one compartment of
the SPV which entitles the Company to a 100% economic interest in
the receivables purchased through the proceeds of the notes. The
Company does not have an economic interest in any of the other
securities receivables issuances by other compartments of the
Italian SPV. The notes subscribed by the Company, issued by the
Italian SPV, and the receivables purchased from the proceeds of
these notes, together with all associated assets and liabilities
and income and costs, are ring-fenced from other assets and
liabilities of the Italian SPV and thus the Company's holdings have
been deemed a silo under IFRS 10 paragraph b 77. The Company
consolidates the results of the Italian SPV in respect of the
performance of the receivables in the silo.
Going concern
The Directors have adopted the going
concern basis in preparing the financial statements. The Group and
Company continue to meet day-to-day liquidity needs through their
cash resources. The Directors have a reasonable expectation that
the Group and Company have adequate resources to continue in
operational existence for at least twelve months from the date of
this document.
Critical accounting judgements, estimates and
assumptions
The preparation of the consolidated
financial statements requires the application of estimates and
assumptions which may affect the results reported in the
consolidated financial statements. Estimates, by their nature, are
based on judgement and available information.
The estimates and assumptions that
have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the
carrying value of assets and liabilities are those used to
determine the fair value of the investments and expected credit
loss as disclosed in Note 3 to the consolidated financial
statements for the Period.
Investment fair value
The key assumptions that have a
significant impact on the value of the Group's investments are
discount rates, capital expenditure factors, the energy yield
expected to be produced and the price at which the power and
associated benefits can be sold. The impact of risks associated
with climate change is assessed on an investment by investment
basis and factored into the underlying cash flows where
relevant.
The discount factors are subjective
and therefore it is feasible that a reasonable alternative
assumption may be used resulting in a different value. The discount
factors applied to the cashflows are reviewed semi-annually by the
Investment Adviser to ensure they are at the appropriate level. The
Investment Adviser will take into consideration market
transactions, where they are of similar nature, when considering
changes to the discount factors used.
The operating costs of the operating
companies are frequently partly or wholly subject to indexation and
an assumption is made that inflation will increase at a long-term
rate.
The values of energy efficiency
investments are not significantly sensitive to fluctuations in
future revenues if a fixed indexation clause is applied to its cash
flow schedule.
Expected Credit Loss (''ECL'') allowance for financial assets
measured at amortised cost
The calculation of the Group's ECL
allowances and provisions against receivable purchase agreements
under IFRS 9 is complex and involves the use of significant
judgement and estimation. Fixed interest investment provisions
represent an estimate of the losses incurred in the loan portfolios
at the balance sheet date. Individual impairment losses are
determined as the difference between the carrying value and the
present value of estimated future cash flows, discounted at the
loans' original effective interest rate. The calculation involves
the formulation and incorporation of multiple conditions into ECL
to meet the measurement objective of IFRS 9. Refer to Note 3 to the
consolidated financial statements for the Period for more
details.
3.
INVESTMENTS
Investments at fair value through profit and
loss
Fair value measurements
IFRS 13 requires disclosure of fair
value measurement by level. The level of fair value hierarchy
within the financial assets or financial liabilities is determined
on the basis of the lowest level input that is significant to the
fair value measurement. Financial assets and financial liabilities
are classified in their entirety into only one of the following
3 levels:
Level 1
The unadjusted quoted price in an
active market for identical assets or liabilities that the entity
can access at the measurement date.
Level 2
Inputs other than quoted prices
included within Level 1 that are observable (i.e. developed using
market data) for the asset or liability, either directly or
indirectly.
Level 3
Inputs are unobservable (i.e. for
which market data is unavailable) for the asset or
liability.
The classification of the Group's
investments held is detailed in the table below:
|
30 June
2024
|
31
December 2023
|
|
Level
1
|
Level
2
|
Level
3
|
Total
|
Level
1
|
Level
2
|
Level
3
|
Total
|
Group
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
Investments at fair value through
profit and loss
|
-
|
-
|
12,974
|
12,974
|
-
|
-
|
10,492
|
10,492
|
Derivative financial
instrument
|
-
|
(28)
|
-
|
(28)
|
-
|
122
|
-
|
122
|
|
-
|
(28)
|
12,974
|
12,946
|
-
|
122
|
10,492
|
10,614
|
There are no transfers between
investment levels for the Group during the Period.
The classification of the Company's
investments held is detailed in the table below:
|
30 June
2024
|
31
December 2023
|
|
Level
1
|
Level
2
|
Level
3
|
Total
|
Level
1
|
Level
2
|
Level
3
|
Total
|
Company
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
Investments in SPV, at fair value
through profit or loss
|
-
|
-
|
34,089
|
34,089
|
-
|
-
|
35,683
|
35,683
|
|
-
|
-
|
34,089
|
34,089
|
-
|
-
|
35,683
|
35,683
|
There were no transfers between
investment levels for the Company during the Period.
The movement on the Level 3 unquoted
investments of the Group during the Period is shown
below:
|
30
June
|
31
December
|
|
2024
|
2023
|
Group
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
Opening balance
|
10,492
|
11,742
|
Additions during the
Period
|
3,662
|
1,675
|
Disposals during the
Period
|
(127)
|
(1,551)
|
Unrealised loss on
investments
|
(1,053)
|
(1,374)
|
Closing balance
|
12,974
|
10,492
|
The movement on the Level 3 unquoted
investments of the Company during the Period is shown
below:
|
30
June
|
31
December
|
|
2024
|
2023
|
|
Company
|
Company
|
Company
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
Opening balance
|
35,683
|
31,220
|
Additions for investment in
subsidiaries during the Period
|
294
|
4,808
|
Disposals for investment in
subsidiaries during the Period
|
(1,873)
|
(1,306)
|
Unrealised (loss)/gain on
investments in subsidiaries
|
(15)
|
961
|
Closing balance
|
34,089
|
35,683
|
Assets and liabilities not carried at fair value but for which
fair value is disclosed
The following table presents the
fair value of the Group's assets and liabilities not measured at
fair value through profit and loss at 30 June 2024 but for which
fair value is disclosed:
|
30
June
|
30
June
|
31
December
|
31
December
|
|
2024
|
2024
|
2023
|
2023
|
|
Carrying
|
Fair
|
Carrying
|
Fair
|
|
Value
|
Market
Value
|
Value
|
Market
Value
|
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
Assets
|
|
|
|
|
Investments at amortised
cost
|
51,852
|
53,238
|
54,990
|
57,221
|
Total
|
51,852
|
53,238
|
54,990
|
57,221
|
For all other assets and liabilities
not carried at fair value, the carrying value is a reasonable
approximation of fair value.
Valuation Methodology
Debt instruments at fair value through profit or
loss
The Group through its subsidiary
(AHL) and its notes in the Italian SPV has continued to acquire
debt instruments at fair value through profit or loss. The
Investment Adviser has determined the fair value of debt
investments as at 30 June 2024. The Directors have satisfied
themselves as to the fair value of the debt instrument investments
as at 30 June 2024.
Valuation Assumptions
The Investment Adviser has carried
out fair market valuations on some of the debt instruments held by
the subsidiaries as at 30 June 2024 and the Directors have
satisfied themselves as to the methodology used, the discount rates
and key assumptions applied, and the valuation. Investments that
are valued at fair value through profit or loss are valued using
the IFRS 13 framework for fair value measurement. The following
economic assumptions were used in the valuation of the
investments.
Valuation Assumptions
Discount rates
|
The discount rate used in the
valuations is derived according to internationally recognised
methods. Typical components of the discount rate are risk free
rates, country-specific and asset-specific risk premia.
The latter comprise the risks
inherent to the respective asset class as well as specific premia
for other risks such as development and construction.
|
Power price
|
Power prices are based on power
price forecasts from leading market analysts. The forecasts are
independently sourced from a provider with coverage in almost all
European markets as well as providers with regional
expertise.
|
Energy yield
|
Estimated based on third party
energy yield assessments as well as operational performance data
(where applicable) by taking into account regional expertise of a
second analyst.
|
Inflation rates
|
Long-term inflation is based on
central bank targets for the respective jurisdiction.
|
Capital expenditure
|
Based on the contractual position
(e.g. engineering, procurement and construction agreement), where
applicable.
|
Valuation Sensitivities
For each of the sensitivities, it is
assumed that potential changes occur independently of each other
with no effect on any other base case assumption, and that the
number of investments remains static throughout the modelled
life.
The Net Asset Value impacts from
each sensitivity is shown below.
Discount rate:
|
30 June
2024
|
31
December 2023
|
|
-0.5%
|
+0.5%
|
-0.5%
|
+0.5%
|
|
Change
|
Change
|
Change
|
Change
|
Discount rate
|
(£'000)
|
(£'000)
|
(£'000)
|
(£'000)
|
Net Asset Value
|
(206)
|
213
|
(242)
|
250
|
The weighted average valuation
discount rate applied to calculate the investment valuation is
8.44% as at 30 June 2024 (31 December 2023: 7.7%).
Power price:
|
30 June
2024
|
31
December 2023
|
|
-10.0%
|
+10.0%
|
-10.0%
|
+10.0%
|
|
Change
|
Change
|
Change
|
Change
|
Power price
|
(£'000)
|
(£'000)
|
(£'000)
|
(£'000)
|
Valuation
|
(54)
|
54
|
(64)
|
66
|
Energy yield:
|
30 June
2024
|
31
December 2023
|
|
-10.0%
|
+10.0%
|
-10.0%
|
+10.0%
|
|
Change
|
Change
|
Change
|
Change
|
Energy yield
|
(£'000)
|
(£'000)
|
(£'000)
|
(£'000)
|
Valuation
|
(466)
|
465
|
(555)
|
533
|
Inflation rates
As most payments are fixed and not
linked to the inflation rate, a sensitivity of the inflation rate
has only a negligible impact on the NAV.
Capital expenditure
The Company has contractual
protections if capex is delayed (i.e. reduce the capex or increase
receivables due) and the Company is not obliged to fund the overrun
costs. Therefore, capex sensitivities are not appropriate for the
Company's type of investments.
Investments at Amortised Cost
a)
Investments at amortised cost
The disclosure below presents the
gross carrying value of financial instruments to which the
impairment requirements in IFRS 9 are applied and the associated
allowance for ECL.
The following table analyses loans
by Stages for the Group as at 30 June 2024:
|
30 June
2024
|
31
December 2023
|
|
Gross
|
|
|
Gross
|
|
|
|
Carrying
|
Allowance
|
Net
Carrying
|
Carrying
|
Allowance
|
Net
Carrying
|
|
Amount
|
for
ECL
|
Amount
|
Amount
|
for
ECL
|
Amount
|
Group
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
Fixed Value Investments at amortised
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
cost
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stage 1
|
51,805
|
(320)
|
51,484
|
54,399
|
(259)
|
54,140
|
Stage 2
|
153
|
(23)
|
130
|
156
|
(24)
|
132
|
Stage 3
|
2,276
|
(2,039)
|
238
|
2,306
|
(1,588)
|
718
|
Total Assets
|
54,234
|
(2,382)
|
51,852
|
56,861
|
(1,871)
|
54,990
|
b)
Expected Credit Loss allowance for IFRS 9
Impairment provisions are driven by
changes in the credit risk of instruments, with a provision for
lifetime expected credit losses recognised where the risk of
default of an instrument has increased significantly since initial
recognition.
The following table analyses Group
ECL by Stage.
|
30
June
|
31
December
|
|
2024
|
2023
|
Group
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
Opening Balance
|
1,871
|
136
|
Charge for the Period - Stage
1
|
58
|
182
|
Charge for the Period - Stage
2
|
-
|
(35)
|
Charge for the Period - Stage 3
|
453
|
1,588
|
Allowance for ECL, ending balance
|
2,382
|
1,871
|
Measurement uncertainty and sensitivity analysis of
ECL
The recognition and measurement of
ECL is complex and involves the use of judgement and estimation.
This includes the formulation and incorporation of multiple
forward-looking economic conditions into ECL to meet the
measurement objective of IFRS 9.
The ECL recognised in the financial
statements reflect the effect on expected credit losses of a range
of two possible outcomes, calculated on a probability-weighted
basis, based on the economic scenarios described in Note 4 of the
2023 annual financial statements, including management overlays
where required. The probability-weighted amount is typically a
higher number than would result from using only the Base (most
likely) economic scenario. ECLs typically have a non-linear
relationship to the many factors which influence credit losses,
such that more favourable macroeconomic factors do not reduce
defaults as much as less favourable macroeconomic factors increase
defaults. The ECL calculated for each of the scenarios represents
two outcomes that have been evaluated to estimate the ECL. As a
result, the ECL calculated for the upside and downside scenarios
should not be taken to represent the upper and lower limits of
possible actual ECL outcomes. There is a high degree of estimation
uncertainty in numbers representing tail risk scenarios when
assigned a 100% weight. A wider range of possible ECL outcomes
reflects uncertainty about the distribution of economic conditions
and does not necessarily mean that credit risk on the associated
loans is higher than for loans where the distribution of possible
future economic conditions is narrower.
In addition to the scenario analysis
outlined above, two further extreme downside scenarios were
provided as follows: the first scenario is LGD% assumed increased
to 100%, in which event we calculate that this would result in an
ECL of £2,705,000. A further second, harsher scenario would be to
assume that in addition to an LGD% of 100%, the PD% is also
increased by 50%. In this case the ECL would be
£3,062,000.
Investment in Subsidiaries (Company level)
The Company has two subsidiaries,
AHL and in the SPV. The Company's investment in its subsidiary,
AHL, is composed of equity shares. The Company's investments in AHL
is held at cost less impairment in the Company's Statement of
Financial Position. The Company's investment in its subsidiary,
SPV, is composed of loan notes receivables. The Company's
investments in the SPV is held at fair value through profit or
loss.
The composition of the Company's
investment in subsidiaries is as follows:
|
30
June
|
31
December
|
|
2024
|
2023
|
Company
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
Investment in SPV, at fair value
through profit or loss
|
34,089
|
35,683
|
Investment in AHL, held at cost less
impairment
|
9,971
|
9,971
|
Investment in subsidiaries
|
44,060
|
45,654
|
The movement of the Company's
investments in AHL are as follows:
|
30
June
|
31
December
|
|
2024
|
2023
|
Gross carrying amount
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
Opening balance
|
11,791
|
-
|
Additions during the
Period
|
-
|
11,791
|
Ending balance
|
11,791
|
11,791
|
Accumulated impairment
loss
|
|
|
Opening balance
|
9,971
|
-
|
Impairment loss
recognised
|
-
|
(1,820)
|
Ending balance
|
9,971
|
(1,820)
|
Carrying amount at Period end
|
9,971
|
9,971
|
4.
INVESTMENT INCOME
|
Six
months
|
Six
months
|
|
ended
|
ended
|
|
30 June
2024
|
30 June
2023
|
Group
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
Investment interest
income
|
2,755
|
2,186
|
Bank interest income
|
515
|
398
|
Total Investment Income
|
3,270
|
2,584
|
|
Six
months
|
Six
months
|
|
ended
|
ended
|
|
30 June
2024
|
30 June
2023
|
Company
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
Investment interest
income
|
939
|
851
|
Bank interest income
|
349
|
264
|
Loans to subsidiary interest
income
|
1,080
|
967
|
Total Investment Income
|
2,368
|
2,082
|
5.
INVESTMENT ADVISORY FEES
|
Six
months ended 30 June 2024
|
Six
months ended 30 June 2023
|
|
Revenue
|
Capital
|
Total
|
Revenue
|
Capital
|
Total
|
Group
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
Investment Advisory fees
|
328
|
-
|
328
|
447
|
-
|
447
|
|
Six
months ended 30 June 2024
|
Six
months ended 30 June 2023
|
|
Revenue
|
Capital
|
Total
|
Revenue
|
Capital
|
Total
|
Company
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
Investment Advisory fees
|
328
|
-
|
328
|
447
|
-
|
447
|
Under the Investment Advisory
Agreement, the following fee is payable to the Investment
Adviser:
(i) 0.95 per cent. per annum
of Committed Capital of the Company up to and including £500
million; and
(ii) 0.75 per cent. per annum of
Committed Capital of the Company above £500 million.
6.
TAXATION
|
Six
months ended 30 June 2024
|
Six
months ended 30 June 2023
|
|
Revenue
|
Capital
|
Total
|
Revenue
|
Capital
|
Total
|
Group
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
Corporation tax
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Taxation
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
Six
months ended 30 June 2024
|
Six
months ended 30 June 2023
|
|
Revenue
|
Capital
|
Total
|
Revenue
|
Capital
|
Total
|
Company
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
Corporation tax
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Taxation
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Investment companies which have been
approved by HM Revenue & Customs under section 1158 of the
Corporation Tax Act 2010 are exempt from tax on capital gains. Due
to the Company's status as an investment trust, and the intention
to continue meeting the conditions required to maintain such
approval for the foreseeable future, the Company has not provided
for deferred tax on any capital gains or losses arising on the
revaluation of investments.
7.
RETURN PER ORDINARY SHARE
Group
Return per share is based on the
consolidated profit for the Period of £814,000 attributable to the
weighted average number of Ordinary Shares in issue of 95,308,573
in the Period (30 June 2023: loss of £438,000; weighted average
number of Ordinary Shares in issue 100,000,000). Consolidated
revenue profit and capital loss are £1,324,000 (30 June 2023:
revenue profit of £711,000) and £510,000 (30 June 2023: capital
loss of £1,149,000) respectively.
Company
Return per share is based on the
loss for the Period of £1,115,000 attributable to the weighted
average number of Ordinary Shares in issue of 95,308,573 in the
Period (30 June 2023: loss of £667,000; weighted average number of
Ordinary Shares in issue of 100,000,000). Company revenue profit
and capital loss are £1,211,000 (30 June 2023: Company revenue
profit of £682,000) and £96,000 (2023: Company capital loss of
£1,349,000) respectively.
8.
SHARE CAPITAL
|
As at 30
June 2024
|
As at 31
December 2023
|
|
No. of
shares
|
£'000
|
No. of
shares
|
£'000
|
Allotted, issued and fully
paid:
|
|
|
|
|
Ordinary Shares of 1p each
('Ordinary Shares')
|
81,438,268
|
814
|
100,000,000
|
1,000
|
Total
|
81,438,268
|
814
|
100,000,000
|
1,000
|
On incorporation, the issued share
capital of the Company was 1 ordinary share of nominal value £0.01
and £50,000 represented by 50,000 Management Shares of nominal
value £1.00 each, which were subscribed for by the Investment
Adviser. Following admission, the Management Shares were redeemed
by the holder.
On admission of the Ordinary Shares
to trading on the London Stock Exchange on 2 June 2021, 99,999,999
Ordinary Shares were allotted and issued to Shareholders as part of
the placing and offer for subscription in accordance with the
Company's prospectus dated 10 May 2021.
On 6 March 2024, the Company
announced that it intended to return value to Shareholders by way
of a Tender Offer pursuant to which Qualifying Shareholders were
invited to tender some of their Ordinary Shares. The Company
published a circular in respect of proposals that up to 18,561,732
Ordinary Shares may be purchased under the Tender Offer for a
maximum aggregate cash consideration of £17.5 million and
Qualifying Shareholders who participate in the Tender Offer would
have a Basic Entitlement to tender approximately 18.6%. On 13 May
2024, the Company purchased, in aggregate, 18,561,732 Ordinary
Shares under the Tender Offer. All successfully tendered Ordinary
Shares have been acquired at the Tender Price of 94.28 pence per
Ordinary Share. The cost relating to the Tender Offer were
£166,000.
|
Shares
is
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
issue at
the
|
|
|
|
Shares
in
|
|
|
beginning
|
|
|
|
issue at
the
|
|
|
of
the
|
|
Shares
|
|
end of
the
|
|
For the period ended 30 June
2024
|
period
|
£'000
|
tendered
|
£'000
|
year
|
£'000
|
Ordinary shares
|
100,000,000
|
1,000
|
18,561,732
|
186
|
81,438,268
|
814
|
|
Shares
is
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
issue at
the
|
|
|
|
Shares
in
|
|
|
beginning
|
|
|
|
issue at
the
|
|
|
of
the
|
|
Shares
|
|
end of
the
|
|
For the period ended 31 December
2023
|
period
|
£'000
|
tendered
|
£'000
|
period
|
£'000
|
Ordinary shares
|
100,000,000
|
1,000
|
-
|
-
|
100,000,000
|
1,000
|
9.
SPECIAL RESERVE
As indicated in the Company's
prospectus dated 10 May 2021, following admission of the Company's
Ordinary Shares to trading on the London Stock Exchange, the
Directors applied to the Court and obtained a judgement on 12
August 2021 to cancel the amount standing to the credit of the
share premium account of the Company. The amount of the share
premium account cancelled and credited to a special reserve was
£97,000,000. As at 30 June 2024 the total special reserves were
£76,020,000 (31 December 2023: £93,500,000).
10.
NET ASSETS PER ORDINARY SHARE
The Group's net assets per ordinary
share as at 30 June 2024 is based on £77,429,000 (31 December 2023:
£93,539,000) of net assets of the Group attributable to the
81,438,268 Ordinary Shares in issue as at 30 June 2024 (31 December
2023: 100,000,000).
The Company's net assets per
ordinary share as at 30 June 2024 is based on £77,640,000 (31
December 2023: £93,966,000) of net assets of the Company
attributable to the 81,438,268 Ordinary Shares in issue as at 30
June 2024 (31 December 2023: 100,000,000).
11.
DIVIDEND
The Company has paid the following
interim dividends in respect of the periods under
review:
|
For the
period ended 30 June 2024
|
For the
period ended 30 June 2023
|
|
Pence
per
|
Total
|
Pence
per
|
Total
|
Total dividends paid in the
Period
|
Ordinary
Share
|
£'000
|
Ordinary
Share
|
£'000
|
Period end 30 June 2024 - Nil (31
December 2022 interim - Paid 20 March 2023)
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
1.25p
|
1,250
|
Total
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
1.25p
|
1,250
|
The dividend relating to the period
ended 30 June 2024, which is the basis on which the requirements of
section 1159 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 are considered, is
detailed below:
|
For the
period ended 30 June 2024
|
For the
period ended 30 June 2023
|
|
Pence
per
|
Total
|
Pence
per
|
Total
|
Total dividends declared in the
Period
|
Ordinary
Share
|
£'000
|
Ordinary
Share
|
£'000
|
30 June 2024: Payable on 1 November
2024 (30 June 2023 interim - Nil)
|
6.139p
|
5,000
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Total
|
6.139p
|
5,000
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
The Company declared an interim
dividend in respect of the period from 1 January 2024 to 30 June
2024 of 6.139 pence per Ordinary Share, to be paid on 1
November 2024 to Shareholders on the register at 11 October 2024.
The dividend has not been included as a liability at 30 June
2024.
12.
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Fees payable to the Investment
Adviser are shown in the Consolidated Statement of Profit or Loss
and Comprehensive Income. As at 30 June 2024, the fee outstanding
to the Investment Adviser was £328,028 (30 June 2023: £447,000; 31
December 2023: £361,000).
The Company owns 100% of AHL and
100% of the notes issued by one compartment of Italian SPV, as
disclosed in note 1. All intercompany transactions between the
subsidiaries and the Company are eliminated at the consolidation
level.
Fees payable to the Directors during
the Period were based on an annual rate of £70,318 to the Chair,
£54,973 to the Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee and Senior
Independent Director, £49,578 to the Chair of the Management
Engagement Committee and to the remaining Director. As set out in
the 2023 Annual Report, the decision by Shareholders to vote
against continuation of the Company at the end of February 2023
means that the duties of the Directors are beyond those normally
expected as part of their appointment. Therefore, in accordance
with the AIC Code, additional fees of £17,580 and £13,743 have been
paid in the period from 1 January 2024 to 30 June 2024 to the Chair
of the Board and the Chair of Audit and Risk respectively and
£7,437 in the same period to the Chair of the Management Engagement
Committee and the other Director. These additional fees are paid on
a monthly basis and subject to regular review.
Directors' holdings
At 30 June 2024 and at the date of
this report the Directors had the following holdings in the
Company. There is no requirement for Directors to hold shares in
the Company. All holdings were beneficially owned.
|
As at 30
June 2024
|
As at 31
December 2023
|
|
|
Connected
|
|
|
Connected
|
|
|
Shares
|
Person
|
Total
|
Shares
|
Person
|
Total
|
Miriam Greenwood
|
19,181
|
-
|
19,181
|
24,000
|
-
|
24,000
|
David Fletcher
|
34,534
|
11,544
|
46,078
|
42,425
|
14,181
|
56,606
|
Nicholas Bliss
|
16,280
|
-
|
16,280
|
20,000
|
-
|
20,000
|
Janine Freeman
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
The following table shows the
subsidiaries of the Company. Please refer to note 2; these
subsidiaries have been consolidated in the preparation of the
financial statements.
Subsidiary entity name and
registered address
|
Effective ownership
|
Investment
|
Country of incorporation
|
Attika Holdings Limited
Leaf B, 20th Floor, Tower 42, Old
Broad Street, London, England, EC2N 1HQ
|
100%
|
HoldCo subsidiary entity, owns
underlying investments
|
United Kingdom
|
SPV Project 2013 S.r.l.
Via Vittorio Betteloni, 2 20131,
Milan, Italy
|
100% of the notes of
one compartment
|
Special purpose vehicle, owns
underlying investments
|
Italy
|
Company related party transactions
As at 30 June 2024 the Company has
an intercompany receivable from AHL in the amount of £2,705,000
(31 December 2023: £nil). The amount is non-interest bearing
and payable on demand.
As at 30 June 2024, the Company has
a shareholder loan receivable from AHL in the amount of £27,293,000
(31 December 2023: £27,293,000). The initial interest rate was
7.90% per annum which is then being adjusted every fourth quarter
of the financial year in order for the Company not to have a gross
margin of less than 50bps from its financing activities. The loan
is repayable in full on 31 December 2046.
As at 30 June 2024, the Company has
a total of £33,404,000 (31 December 2023: £35,683,000) notes at
fair value through profit or loss in the Italian SPV.
As at 30 June 2024, the Company has
a total of £9,971,000 (31 December 2023: £9,971,000) equity
investment held at cost less impairment in AHL.
13.
DISTRIBUTABLE RESERVES
The Company's distributable reserves
consist of the special reserve and revenue reserve. Capital reserve
represents unrealised gains and losses on investments and as such
is not distributable.
The revenue reserve is
distributable. The amount of the revenue reserve that is
distributable is not necessarily the full amount of the reserve as
disclosed within these financial statements. As at 30 June 2024,
the Company has no distributable revenue reserves as the Company is
in a loss position of £1,336,000 (31 December 2023: loss of
£2,547,000).
The Company's special reserve, which
is also distributable, was £76,020,000 as at 30 June 2024 (31
December 2023: £93,500,000).
14.
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
There are no post balance sheet
events other than as disclosed in this Interim Report.
ALTERNATIVE PERFORMANCE MEASURES OF THE
GROUP
In reporting financial information,
the Company presents alternative performance measures, "APMs",
which are not defined or specified under the requirements of IFRS.
The Company believes that these APMs, which are not considered to
be a substitute for or superior to IFRS measures, provide
stakeholders with additional helpful information on the performance
of the Company. The APMs presented in this report are shown
below:
Discount
The amount, expressed as a
percentage, by which the share price is more than the Net Asset
Value per Ordinary Share.
|
|
|
As
at
|
|
|
|
30 June
2024
|
NAV per Ordinary Share
(pence)
|
a
|
|
95.08
|
Share price (pence)
|
b
|
|
59.00
|
Discount
|
(b÷a)-1
|
|
(37.9%)
|
Ongoing charges
A measure, expressed as a percentage
of average net assets, of the regular, recurring annual costs of
running an investment company.
|
|
|
As
at
|
|
|
|
30 June
2024
|
Average NAV
|
a
|
|
88,416,000
|
Annualised expenses
|
b
|
|
2,862,000
|
Ongoing charges
|
(b÷a)
|
|
3.2%
|
Total return
A measure of performance that
includes both income and capital returns. This takes into account
capital distributions of dividends paid out by the Company to the
Ordinary Shares of the Company on the ex-dividend date. It does not
take into account the effect, if any, of the tender offer in May
2024.
30 June 2024
|
|
|
Share
price
|
NAV
|
Opening at 1 January 2024
(pence)
|
a
|
|
57.25
|
94.28
|
Closing at 30 June 2024
(pence)
|
b
|
|
59.00
|
95.08
|
Total return
|
(b÷a)-1
|
|
3.1%
|
0.9%
|
n/a = not applicable
GLOSSARY
AIC
|
Association of Investment
Companies.
|
Alternative Investment Fund or "AIF"
|
An investment vehicle under AIFMD.
Under AIFMD (see below) Aquila Energy Efficiency Trust Plc is
classified as an AIF.
|
Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive or
"AIFMD"
|
A European Union directive which
came into force on 22 July 2013 and has been implemented in the
UK.
|
Annual General Meeting or "AGM"
|
A meeting held once a year which
Shareholders can attend and where they can vote on resolutions to
be put forward at the meeting and ask directors questions about the
company in which they are invested.
|
the
Company
|
Aquila Energy Efficiency Trust
Plc.
|
Discount
|
The amount, expressed as a
percentage, by which the share price is less than the net asset
value per share.
|
Dividend
|
Income receivable from an investment
in shares.
|
Ex-dividend date
|
The date from which you are not
entitled to receive a dividend which has been declared and is due
to be paid to Shareholders.
|
ESCO
|
Energy Service Company.
|
EU
|
European Union.
|
Financial Conduct Authority or "FCA"
|
The independent body that regulates
the financial services industry in the UK.
|
General Meeting ''GM''
|
A meeting which Shareholders can
attend and where they can vote on resolutions to be put forward at
the meeting and ask directors questions about the company in which
they are invested.
|
GWh
|
Gigawatt hour.
|
Group
|
The Company, Holdco and Italian
SPV.
|
the
HoldCo
|
Attika Holdings Limited ("AHL" or
"Attika").
|
Investment company
|
A company formed to invest in a
diversified portfolio of assets.
|
Investment Trust
|
An investment company which is based
in the UK and which meets certain tax conditions which enables it
to be exempt from UK corporation tax on its capital gains. The
Company is an investment trust.
|
IPO
|
Initial Public Offering.
|
Italian SPV or "SPV"
|
SPV Project 2013 S.r.l.
|
Liquidity
|
The extent to which investments can
be sold at short notice.
|
Net
assets or net asset value ('NAV')
|
An investment company's assets less
its liabilities.
|
NAV
per Ordinary Share
|
Net assets divided by the number of
Ordinary Shares in issue (excluding any shares held in
treasury).
|
Ongoing charges
|
A measure of the regular, recurring
annual costs of running an investment company, expressed as a
percentage of average net assets.
|
Ordinary Shares
|
The Company's ordinary shares in
issue.
|
Period
|
The six months to 30 June
2024.
|
Portfolio
|
A collection of different
investments held in order to deliver returns to Shareholders and to
spread risk.
|
Share price
|
The price of a share as determined
by a relevant stock market.
|
Tender offer
|
A bid or offer to buy back shares in
the Company and subsequently cancel them.
|
Total return
|
A measure of performance that takes
into account both income and capital returns. This may take into
account capital gains, dividends, interests and other realised
variables over a given period of time.
|