We’re one of the most active investors in university and other research-based companies in the world, with a proven track-record in backing and nurturing science and technology-based businesses to deliver impact alongside returns.
2021 financial highlights
As at 31 December 2021
NAV (167.0 pence per share)
Portfolio value
2020: £1,331.9m (125.3pps)
Total value of portfolio companies
Impact
Impact is in our DNA: we’ve always been committed to backing and growing businesses that transform ideas into impact, at scale, for a healthier, tech-enriched, regenerative future. Our portfolio delivers positive social and environmental benefits and aligns well with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, concentrating on six in particular.
The companies we’ve backed have created more than 10,000 jobs.
Portfolio
We provide differentiated access to impactful dealflow and the best IP and ideas from our networks, universities and research institutions. This in turn offers investors exposure to an exciting portfolio of high-growth companies operating within the areas of life sciences, deeptech and cleantech.
Over 400 companies formed and supported
Expertise
Our investment teams are experts in their fields with a deep understanding of science and technology, as well as decades of experience identifying, nurturing and exiting unique high-growth companies.
Track record
We have a track record built over more than 20 years of turning great ideas into world-changing businesses and creating value.
invested in science-based businesses
realisations
cumulative returns to shareholders since 2021
Permanent capital structure
Investing from our balance sheet offers significant advantage when compared to fixed-life funds, as it means we can co-found companies, ‘follow our money’ through subsequent funding rounds and don’t need to sell our holdings on an artificial timescale due to a specific fund closing date. We know from experience that supporting early-stage science takes time and our structure allows us to be patient.
We’re the most active investor in the UK in our sector and the second most active in Europe.
Our network of relationships with advisers, investors, co-investors and partners has been built up over many years, with assets under management more than doubling in the last five years alone.