Financial Highlights - The company reported a Net Asset Value Total Return of 0.4% for the period ended 30 June 2025, with a dividend yield of 6.4% [2][9] - The Net Asset Value per share decreased by 5.3% from 54.5p as at 31 December 2024 to 51.6p as at 30 June 2025 [9][67] - A special dividend of 3.1p per share was paid on 16 May 2025, returning £9.8 million to shareholders [6][15] Economic Context - The UK economy grew by 0.7% in the first quarter of 2025, but faced two consecutive monthly contractions in April and May, leading to flat overall growth [3] - Inflation rose from around 3.0% in January to 3.8% in August, driven by higher food and clothing prices, which may slow further interest rate cuts by the Bank of England [3][4] - The domestic economic landscape is challenging due to slow growth and tax increases affecting small businesses and the labor market [4] Investment Activity - The company fully exited its investment in Hospital Services Group Limited, realizing gains of £7.6 million, with total proceeds of £9.3 million [6][11] - One new investment of £1.5 million and six follow-on investments totaling £4.8 million were made during the period [6][28] - The investment portfolio's value fell by £1.5 million, primarily due to an investment sale and loan repayment totaling £8.9 million, partially offset by new investments and an increase in valuations [6][25] Portfolio Overview - As of 30 June 2025, the company's portfolio comprised 45 investments with a total cost of £79.5 million and a valuation of £107.7 million [24] - The company has a strong pipeline of potential investments sourced through regional networks and relationships with advisers and the SME community [13][45] - The company maintains a balanced strategy, targeting companies from various sectors and stages of maturity to mitigate market volatility [48] Dividends and Share Buybacks - An interim dividend of 2.8p per share was paid on 18 July 2025, returning £8.8 million to shareholders [6][15] - The company achieved an average discount of 5.0% across all buybacks during the period [17] Outlook - The business environment remains challenging with slow growth, persistent inflation, and geopolitical uncertainties [21][52] - The company is confident in its diverse portfolio and the ability of its manager to navigate the current economic climate [23][54] - Future volatility is expected, but lower tariffs and falling interest rates may enhance the UK's attractiveness for business [53]

Group 1: AI Stock Overview - Many top AI stocks have seen significant gains, leading to high valuations that may deter risk-averse investors [1] - Not all AI stocks are valued solely on future potential; some companies are currently profitable and leveraging AI effectively [2] Group 2: Deere & Company - Deere is involved in industrial AI, developing autonomous vehicle technology to address labor shortages in agriculture and construction [3][4] - The company has introduced several autonomous machines, including tractors and dump trucks, managed through its cloud-based platform [4] - Deere's domestic revenue is primarily generated from U.S.-manufactured equipment, which may protect it from trade conflicts [5][6] - Despite a dip in earnings and sales, Deere's P/E ratio is reasonable at 20.9, and it offers a growing dividend yield of 1.4% [7][9] Group 3: GE Healthcare Technologies - GE Healthcare is transitioning from an imaging company to a healthcare solutions provider by integrating AI into its products [10][11] - The company has increased its AI-enabled FDA authorizations significantly, enhancing its diagnostic capabilities [12] - AI is central to GE Healthcare's precision healthcare strategy, allowing for personalized medical solutions [13] - The stock trades at 18 times estimated earnings for 2025, indicating good value given its growth prospects [14] Group 4: Samsara - Samsara, while not widely recognized in AI discussions, is leveraging AI to enhance operational safety and efficiency [15][16] - The company is innovating with AI tools for dynamic monitoring and proactive maintenance, addressing labor shortages [17] - Despite being unprofitable with a net loss per share of $0.28, Samsara has shown growth with $1.46 billion in annual recurring revenue, a 32% increase year-over-year [17]