Annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024

Core Viewpoint - Octopus Titan VCT plc reported a disappointing total return of -14.1% for the year ending December 31, 2024, with net assets decreasing to £831 million, primarily due to company-specific performance issues and challenging market conditions [3][4][27]. Financial Summary - Net assets decreased from £993.74 million in 2023 to £831.358 million in 2024 [2]. - Loss after tax for the year was £147.649 million, slightly improved from £149.499 million in the previous year [2]. - NAV per share fell from 62.4p in 2023 to 50.5p in 2024, reflecting a decrease of 8.8p per share [2][3]. - Total value per share decreased from 164.4p in 2023 to 155.6p in 2024 [2][7]. - Total return per share was -8.8p, translating to a total return percentage of -14.1% for the year [2][7]. - Dividends paid in 2024 totaled 3.1p, down from 5.0p in 2023, resulting in a dividend yield of 5.0% [2][13]. Performance Analysis - The decline in NAV was attributed to underperformance of portfolio companies, particularly Pelago, Many Pets, and Big Health, which collectively accounted for about one-third of the total NAV decline [4][48][49]. - The five-year tax-free annual compound return for shareholders is now -3.5%, and since the high watermark at December 31, 2021, the total return per share has decreased by 39.8% [5][27]. - The company utilized £137 million of cash resources during the year, with £30 million allocated to new and follow-on investments [6]. Strategic Review - A strategic review was initiated in September 2024 to address performance challenges and develop a plan for future sustainability and improved performance [10][30]. - The review includes an analysis of historical investment performance, sustainability, future investment strategy, and team structure [10][34]. - The Board is considering feedback from a shareholder survey indicating significant dissatisfaction with past performance and capital growth opportunities [10][71]. Portfolio Management - The portfolio consists of over 135 companies, with 42% not expecting further funding needs, increasing to 67% when including those with more than 12 months' cash runway [29]. - In 2024, Titan completed 8 new investments and 14 follow-on investments totaling £30 million [68]. - The company returned £29 million in cash proceeds from exits during the year, which was below the level achieved in 2023 [28][56]. Governance and Management Changes - Erin Platts was appointed as the new CEO of Octopus Ventures in January 2025, bringing extensive experience from her previous role at HSBC Innovation Banking UK [41][42]. - The Board has acknowledged the turnover in the Octopus Ventures team and is assessing the team structure and culture as part of the ongoing strategic review [23][30].