Half-year Report

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF ARTICLE 7 OF EU REGULATION 596/2014 (WHICH FORMS PART OF DOMESTIC UK LAW PURSUANT TO THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018) ("UK MAR")).

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Embargoed until 0700 hours, Thursday 21 November 2024

LIONTRUST ASSET MANAGEMENT PLC

HALF YEAR REPORT FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED

30 SEPTEMBER 2024       

Liontrust Asset Management Plc ("Liontrust", the "Company", or the "Group"), the independent fund management group, today announces its Half Year Report for the six months ended 30 September 2024.

·    Gross Profit of £81.1 million (2023: £98.6 million, and £92.5 million excluding performance fees).

·    Adjusted profit before tax¹ of £25.8 million (2023: £36.0 million).

·    Statutory profit before tax of £12.5 million (2023: loss £10.1 million). See note 6 below for further details and a reconciliation to Adjusted profit before tax¹.

·    First Interim dividend per share maintained at 22.0 pence.

·    The Directors intend to target a dividend of at least 72 pence per share for the year ending 31 March 2025.

·    A share buyback programme of up to £5 million, phased over the period to 31 March 2025.

·    Cost savings of around £4.5 million on an annualised basis to be implemented by the end of the current financial year.

·    On 30 September 2024, assets under management and advice ("AuMA") were £26.0 billion.

·    AuMA as at 14 November 2024 were £25.2 billion.

¹ This is an Alternative Performance Measure, see note 2 below.

Commenting, John Ions, Chief Executive Officer, said:

"The last six months have continued the challenging period for active managers including Liontrust. There are a number of reasons, however, why we are confident that we are moving into a more positive environment and the outlook is improving. 

We are steadfast in our commitment to active management and to our partnership with clients through complementing their other strategies including passive investments. The headwinds facing many of our investment strategies are now being replaced by tailwinds including lower inflation and interest rates. We are seeing improved performance across our funds and we continue to have a strong brand and client engagement.

The strategic changes we have made to the Group over the past year to drive the business forward, through diversifying our product range, broadening distribution, strengthening our technological, data and digital capability, and enhancing the client experience, are having a noticeable impact. This is all underpinned by our continued robust financial position.

Our confidence is reflected in the fact that we are targeting the same dividends as last year and have announced a share buyback programme.

Performance

Some of the investment strategies at Liontrust have gone through a difficult period for performance. This was notably the case in 2022 for quality growth and UK small and mid-cap equities and that year's performance is still impacting three-year numbers. Shorter term performance for Liontrust's funds, however, has been stronger. As at the end of October, 68% of Liontrust funds were in the first or second quartile of their respective sectors over one year². All bar one of the Sustainable Investment team's UK-domiciled funds were in the first or second quartile of their respective IA sectors over one year to the end of October².

Active management

Global equity markets have been driven by the momentum of disruption and passive investing over the past few years, creating a new dynamic that we have not experienced previously in our lifetime.  We believe this is setting up a favourable environment for active managers going forward. The proportion of global markets accounted for by just a few stocks has reached extreme levels. Excitement around AI has further magnified this concentration, which has been reinforced by passive vehicles attracting an ever-higher proportion of fund flows. Positive performance from passive funds has largely been driven by this small number of mega cap stocks. This has created significant concentration risk, to which passive vehicles are particularly exposed.

This trend may peak. Goldman Sachs recently cited this market concentration, together with record margins and valuations as key reasons why index returns going forward will be harder to achieve, forecasting that the S&P 500 index will only return a compound rate of 3% over the next 10 years. This will create good opportunities for active managers to add value and take advantage of the broadening of the market returns, particularly among small and mid-cap stocks.

Client experience

Liontrust's investment managers have presented at more than 100 of our events and those organised by third parties during 2024. Our strong client engagement, brand and the ability to deliver on the strategic objectives of enhancing the client experience and broadening distribution was shown by our investment conference at the Science Museum on 6 November. This was attended by 300 intermediary clients, where they saw presentations by five Liontrust investment teams making the case for active management.

Our excellent client experience is also demonstrated by the fact that research shows Liontrust is regarded as the 4th best out of all the asset managers in the UK for communications, 6th best for client services and the 7th best asset manager overall among UK intermediaries (Source: UK Advisory Study conducted by Research in Finance August 2024).

We will be adding to the Irish-domiciled fund range over the next few months as part of the strategic objective to diversify the product range and investment offering. These funds will provide European clients with broader access to the Global Innovation and Global Equities teams. 

Business transformation

We have made progress in achieving our objective of strengthening Liontrust's technological, data and digital capability. Our data management, delivery and analysis has been enhanced through a new single, integrated front-office solution. This is an important investment that will benefit the business and our clients through the quality and consistency of data going forward.

We have previously highlighted our investment in the new target operating model. This investment is enabling us to manage the business as efficiently as possible, including a proposed reduction in staff numbers of around 25 roles. These roles represent around 12% of the Group across the business and across levels of seniority, which will save, if implemented in full, around £4.5 million and be implemented over the next few months. As part of this, we are also closing four funds that are sub-scale and for which there is insufficient demand.

Conclusion

We believe in active management and the long-term power of our investment processes. We have seen improving fund performance, developed very strong client relationships, broadened our client base and have a high-profile brand. We have invested in the business to support growth while also managing our current cost base. This gives me great confidence that we are well positioned for the future."

² Source: Financial Express, bid-to-bid basis, net of fees, and Liontrust.

For further information please contact:

Teneo (Tel: 020 7353 4200, Email: [email protected])

Tom Murray, Colette Cahill, Jessica Pine

Liontrust Asset Management Plc (Tel: 020 7412 1700, Website: liontrust.co.uk)

Stephen Corbett: Head of Investor Relations

Simon Hildrey: Chief Marketing Officer

Singer Capital Markets (Tel: 020 7496 3000)

Corporate Broking: Charles Leigh-Pemberton

Corporate Finance: James Moat

Panmure Liberum (Tel: 020 7886 2500)

Corporate Broking: David Watkins

Corporate Advisory: Atholl Tweedie

HSBC Bank plc (Tel: 020 7991 8888)

Corporate Broking: Simon Alexander, James Hopton

Corporate Advisory: Alexander Paul

Chair's Statement

I am delighted to have joined as the new Non-executive Chair of your Company and I am excited by the challenge and the opportunities in front of Liontrust, a company that I believe has an exciting future.

Having met many people across the Group, I have been impressed by their quality and passion for the business, attributes that underpin the highly respected business and strong brand. The Group's agility and entrepreneurial culture means that it is possible for the business to make significant progress over a relatively short period of time.

There are clearly challenges for active managers at the moment, particularly from the growing demand for passive vehicles. This has not shaken the commitment at Liontrust to active management and the value this can add to client portfolios.

All active managers experience periods of volatile performance, and it is important always to understand what is driving this and the reasons for any underperformance. There is a real belief and trust in the investment processes at Liontrust and a recognition that the fund management teams stay true to them even during difficult times, especially when their investment approach is out of favour.

The Board believes in the four strategic objectives that Liontrust has set for itself - Continue to enhance the client experience and outcomes; Diversify the product range and investment offering; Further broaden distribution and the client base; and strengthen our technological, data and digital capability - and is ensuring the business has the support and the means to execute these in the best way possible. There are a number of options, for example, for broadening the Group's distribution and fund range, and we will support what we see as the most effective means to expedite this.

The Board has supported the investment in the business, the action to manage costs and other changes over the past year in the belief that these will help drive Liontrust forward. The confidence of the Board in the long-term outlook for the business and its financial strength is demonstrated by our intention to targeting the same dividends for the financial year ending 31 March 2025 as last year and the announcement of a share buyback programme.

Results

Gross Profit of £81.1 million (2023: £98.6 million and £92.5 million excluding performance fees), with a Revenue Margin¹ of 0.603% (2023: 0.627%) on Average AuMA of £26,860 million (2023: £29,495 million).

Adjusted profit before tax¹ is £25.8 million (2023: £36.0 million), with an Adjusted Operating Margin² of 30.5% (2023: 35.9%).

Statutory Profit before tax of £12.5 million (2023: Statutory Loss before tax of £10.1 million). This includes charges of £13.3 million (2023: £46.2 million) relating to acquisitions and non-recurring costs; the non-cash amortisation and impairment of the acquisition-related intangible assets and goodwill.

Adjusted profit before tax¹ is disclosed in order to give shareholders an indication of the profitability of the Group excluding non-cash (intangible asset amortisation) expenses and non-recurring (professional fees relating to acquisition, cost reduction, restructuring and severance compensation related) expenses. See note 6 below for a reconciliation of Adjusted profit before tax¹.

¹ This is an Alternative Performance Measure, see note 2 below.

First Interim Dividend

In accordance with the Company's longstanding progressive dividend policy, which remains unchanged, the Board is declaring a first Interim dividend of 22.0 pence per share (2023: 22.0 pence) which will be payable on 8 January 2025 to shareholders who are on the register as at 29 November 2024, with the shares going ex-dividend on 28 November 2024. The last day for Dividend Reinvestment Plan elections is 13 December 2024.

Business transformation programme

In late 2023, Liontrust started a transformation of our business, with the initial focus on strengthening data management, delivery and analysis across the business through the implementation of an enterprise portfolio management system. The enhancements have been achieved by implementing BlackRock's Aladdin platform; a Middle-Office operating model with BNY; BNY Front Office Services; and a new enterprise data platform-BNY Data Vault.

Liontrust is reorganising the fund ranges: the closure of four smaller funds in our Irish domiciled fund range, which was completed in October 2024; the merger (subject to investor approval) of the GAM Star Alpha Technology Fund into our newly launching Liontrust GF Global Alpha Long/Short Fund to be managed by Mark Hawtin and the Global Equities team; and further fund rationalisation. We expect all this reorganisation to be completed by the end of March 2025.

We will integrate the Global Fixed Income investment team into the Multi-Asset investment team under John Husselbee and then insource the fixed income exposure that is currently with external fund managers for our Multi-Asset funds and portfolios by the end of 2025. This comes at a time when both teams believe there will be greater diversity in interest rate policies around the world and there is scope for greater impact from the fixed income exposure in the Multi-Asset investment team's asset allocation. The integration will provide the Multi-Asset investment team with greater control over managing duration and will enhance its expertise across rates and credit. The insourcing of the fixed income allocation should reduce costs for clients of the Multi-Asset funds and portfolios while the funds managed by the Global Fixed Income team will benefit from being provided with permanent capital by the Multi-Asset investment team.

We are cutting our cost base, including through the proposed reduction of approximately 25 roles (12% of staff headcount) across our business for an annualised saving, if implemented in full, of employee-related, member-related and non-staff-related expenses of around £4.5 million. This is expected to be completed by the end of March 2025, and implementation costs for the role reductions are anticipated to be around £4.0 million, which will be incurred in the second half of the current financial year and the first half of the next.

Capital Management

As at 30 September 2024 the Company had surplus capital after foreseeable dividends of over £45 million (as set out in note 1d below). In light of this, the Directors intend to target a dividend of at least 72 pence per share for the year ending 31 March 2025. In addition, the Company is initiating a share buyback programme with an aggregate value of up to £5 million, to be phased over the period to 31 March 2025. The shares purchased by the Company will be cancelled.

Assets under management and advice

On 30 September 2024, our AuMA stood at £25,956 million and were broken down by type and investment process as follows:

AuMA as at 14 November 2024 were £25,219 million.

² Includes AuMA of the Global Fixed Income investment team which is being integrated into the Multi-Asset investment team.

Flows

The net outflows over the Period were £2,067 million (2023: £3,213 million). A reconciliation of fund flows and AuMA over the six-month period to 30 September 2024 is as follows:

Key Fund Performance (Quartile ranking)

UK domiciled funds-

Irish domiciled funds-

Source: Financial Express to 30 September 2024 as at 7 October 2024, bid-bid, total return, net of fees, based on primary share class.

Past performance is not a guide to future performance, investments can result in total loss of capital. The above funds are all UK authorised unit trusts, OEICs, Irish authorised OEICs (primary share class) or UK listed investment trusts. Onshore funds use the Financial Express Investment Association sectors. Offshore funds use the FCA Recognised offshore sectors. Edinburgh Investment Trust Plc uses the AIC Investment Trust UK Equity Income sector.

MA Explorer funds had an objective change on 05/04/2023 and rankings are shown from then.

MA Dynamic Passive fund range, MA Blended fund range, Diversified Real Assets Fund and Russia Funds (suspended) are not included as are in an IA sector that is not rankable, GF Pan European Dynamic Fund is excluded because was recently launched. GF UK Equity, International Equity, US Equity and GF Tortoise are excluded as these funds are closing.

Looking forward

Everyone at Liontrust is focused on returning the business to positive net flows and are confident that Liontrust has the right strategy, investment teams, brand, client relationships and strength of marketing to achieve this. Over the long term, the investment teams and processes have proved they add value to our clients and the fact that Liontrust is so highly regarded for communications and client service and engagement shows how well positioned we are to take advantage of improving fund performance.

As the new Non-executive Chair, I am looking forward to being part of the development of Liontrust over the coming years.

Luke Savage

Non-executive Chair

20 November 2024

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

Six months ended 30 September 2024

Consolidated Balance Sheet

As at 30 September 2024

Consolidated Cash Flow Statement (unaudited)

Six months ended 30 September 2024

Cash and cash equivalents consist only of cash balances.

Restated presentation of Consolidated Cash Flow Statement

The directors have restated the Consolidated Cash Flow Statement for the 6 month period to 30 September 2023 and the year to 31 March 2024 to reflect the requirements set out in IAS 7 when adopting the indirect method of presentation for cash generated from operating activities. These changes involve adjusting net profit for non-cash items, changes in working capital, and other adjustments to reconcile to the net cash flow from operating activities, instead of presenting cash receipts and payments as three aggregated lines. There is no change to net cash generated from operating activities for these periods.

Cash flows from investing and financing activities remain consistent with the previous presentation, detailing cash flows from acquisitions, disposals, non-operating investments and financing activities.

Consolidated Statement of Change in Equity (unaudited)

Six months ended 30 September 2024

Consolidated Statement of Change in Equity (unaudited)

Six months ended 30 September 2023

Consolidated Statement of Change in Equity

For the year ended 31 March 2024

Notes to the Financial Statements

1 Principal accounting policies

a)    Basis of preparation

The Group financial information for the six months ended 30 September 2024 has been prepared in accordance with the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules of the Financial Conduct Authority and with IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting. The condensed interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Group's annual financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024, which were prepared in accordance with UK-adopted international financial reporting standards (IFRS) and with the requirements of the Companies Act as applicable to companies reporting under those standards.

The condensed financial statements do not comprise statutory accounts within the meaning of section 434 of the Companies Act 2006. The financial information for the half years ended 30 September 2024 and 2023 has not been audited by the auditors pursuant to the Auditing Practices Board guidance on Review of Interim Financial Information. KPMG reported on the 31 March 2024 financial statements, and their report was unmodified and did not contain a statement under Section 498(2) or (3) of the Companies Act 2006 in the UK.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with IFRS requires the Directors of the Company to make significant estimates and judgements that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingencies at the date of the financial information and the reported income and expense during the reporting periods. Although these judgements and assumptions are based on the Directors' best knowledge of the amount, events or actions, actual results may differ from these estimates. The accounting policies set out below have been used to prepare the financial information. All accounting policies have been consistently applied.

b)    Going concern

The financial information presented within these financial statements has been prepared on a going concern basis under the historical cost convention (except for the measurement of financial assets at fair value through profit and loss and Deferred Bonus and Variable Allocation Plan ('DBVAP') liability which are held at their fair value). The Group is reliant on cash generated by the business to fund its working capital. The Directors have assessed the prospects of the Group and parent company over the forthcoming 12 months, including an assessment of current trading; budgets, plans and forecasts; the adequacy of current financing arrangements; liquidity, cash reserves and regulatory capital; and potential material risks to these forecasts and the Group strategy. This assessment includes consideration of a severe but plausible downside scenario in which AuMA falls by 20%. The Directors confirm that as a result of this assessment they have a reasonable expectation that the Group and parent company will continue to operate and meet its liabilities as they fall due for at least 12 months from the date of signing these accounts.

c)    Accounting estimates and judgements

The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with IFRS requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates.  It also requires management to exercise its judgement in the process of applying the Group's accounting policies. Estimates and judgements used in preparing the financial statements are periodically evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable. The resulting accounting estimates may not equal the related actual results. There are no significant judgements. The Directors make a number of estimates, these include leases (note 1k in the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024) and share based payments (see note 1p in the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024), neither of which are considered to be significant. In addition, the Directors make estimates to support the carrying value of goodwill and intangibles that arise on acquisition.

Goodwill and Intangible assets

Goodwill arising on acquisitions is capitalised in the consolidated balance sheet. Goodwill is carried at cost less provision for impairment. The carrying value of goodwill is not amortised but is tested annually for impairment or more frequently if any indicators of impairment arise. Goodwill is allocated to a cash generating unit (CGU) for the purpose of impairment testing, with the allocation to those CGUs that are expected to benefit from the business combination in which the goodwill arose (see note 14 of the Financial Statements to 31 March 2024).

The costs of acquiring intangible assets such as fund management contracts are capitalised where it is probable that future economic benefits that are attributable to the assets will flow to the Group and the cost of the assets can be measured reliably. The assets are held at cost less accumulated amortisation and impairment. An assessment is made at each reporting date, on a standalone basis for each intangible asset, as to whether there is any indication that the asset in use may be impaired. If any such indication exists and the carrying value exceeds the estimated recoverable amount at the time, the assets are written down to their recoverable amount. The recoverable amount is measured as the greater of fair value less costs to sell and value in use.

Further information on the impairment testing and estimates used are contained in note 10.

The fund management contracts and segregated clients' contracts relating to the assets acquired as part of the acquisitions of Alliance Trust Investments Limited; Neptune Investment Management Limited; Architas Multi-Manager Limited and Architas Advisory Services Limited (together "Architas") and Majedie Investment Management Limited are recorded initially at fair value and recorded in the consolidated financial statements as intangible assets, they are then amortised over their useful lives on a straight-line basis. Management have determined that the useful life of these assets is between 5 and 10 years owing to the nature of the acquired products. Impairment is tested through measuring the recoverable amount against the carrying value of the related intangible asset. The recoverable amount is the higher of the fair value less costs to sell and its value in use. The Directors assess the value in use using a multi-period excess earnings model which requires a number of inputs requiring management estimates, the most significant of which include: future AuMA growth and discount rate. In the current period, significant estimates were only required for the intangible assets in relation to Architas and Majedie (see notes 9 and 10 for further detail).

Impairment losses on goodwill, where these are identified, are not reversed. Impairment is tested through measuring the recoverable amount against the carrying value of the related goodwill. The recoverable amount is the higher of the fair value less costs to sell the CGU and its value in use. Value in use is assessed using a multi-period excess earnings model which requires a number of inputs requiring management estimates and judgements, the most significant of which are: AuMA growth and discount rate.

d)    Regulatory capital position (unaudited)

Following the approval of the Group's Internal Capital and Risk Assessment ("ICARA") process in September 2024, the updated capital position for the Group is shown below:

¹ Group Capital minus own shares, intangibles and goodwill adjusted for deferred tax liabilities.

² Group Capital requirement calculated per MiFIDPRU as part of the Internal Capital and Risk Assessment (ICARA) process.

³ For 30 September 2024, first interim dividend of 22.0 pence per share paid in January following the half year end.

⁴ For 31 March 2024, second interim dividend of 50.0 pence per share paid in August following financial year end.

2 Adjusted performance measures ("APMs")

ADJUSTED PROFIT BEFORE TAX

Definition: Profit before taxation, amortisation, impairment, and non-recurring items (which include: IT restructuring costs; severance compensation related costs and other one-off costs including lease payments and share based payments.

Reconciliation: Note 6.

Reason for use: This is used to present a measure of profitability of the Group which is aligned to the requirements of shareholders, potential shareholders and financial analysts, and which removes the effects of non-cash and non-recurring items, which eases the comparison with the Group's competitors who may use different accounting policies and financing methods. Specifically, calculation of Adjusted profit before tax excludes amortisation and impairment expenses, and costs associated with acquisitions, restructuring and severance compensation related costs. It provides shareholders, potential shareholders and financial analysts a consistent year on year basis of comparison of a "profit before tax number", when comparing the current year to the previous year and also when comparing multiple historical years to the current year, of how the underlying ongoing business is performing.

ADJUSTED OPERATING PROFIT

Definition: Operating profit before:

1.    Interest received/paid;

2.    Taxation;

3.    Amortisation of acquisition related intangible assets;

4.    Impairment of acquisition related intangible assets and goodwill;

5.    Expenses, including professional and other fees relating to acquisitions and potential acquisitions;

6.    All employee and member severance compensation related costs;

7.    Significant reorganisation expenses related to systems and outsourced services that enhance our target operating model; and

8.    Other cash, and non-cash expenses which are non-recurring in nature.

Reconciliation: Note 6.

Reason for use: This is used to present a measure of operating profitability of the Group which is aligned to the requirements of shareholders, potential shareholders and financial analysts, and which removes the effects of significant acquisitions, financing and capital investment, which eases the comparison with the Group's competitors who may use different accounting policies and financing methods.

ADJUSTED OPERATING MARGIN

Definition: Adjusted operating profit divided by Gross profit.

Reconciliation: Note 6.

Reason for use: This is used to present a consistent year on year measure of Adjusted Operating Profit compared to Gross Profit, identifying the operating gearing within the business.

ADJUSTED DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE

Definition: Adjusted profit before tax divided by the diluted weighted average number of shares in issue.

Reconciliation: Note 6. Reason for use: This is used to present a measure of profitability per share in line with the adjusted profit as detailed above.

PERFORMANCE FEE REVENUES

Definition: Revenue attributable to performance related fees.

Reconciliation: Note 4.

Reason for use: This is used to identify distinguish management fee revenues from performance related fees from other revenues.

GROSS PROFIT EXCLUDING PERFORMANCE FEES

Definition: Gross Profit less any revenue attributable to performance related fees.

Reconciliation: Note 4.

Reason for use: This is used to present a consistent year on year measure of gross profits within the business, removing the element of revenue that may fluctuate significantly year-on-year.

REVENUE MARGIN

Definition: Gross Profit excluding performance fees, less cost of sales divided by the average AuMA.

Reconciliation: Note 4.

Reason for use: This is used to present a measure of profitability over average AuMA.

3 Segmental reporting

The Group operates only in one business segment - Investment management.

The Group offers different fund products through different distribution channels. All financial, business and strategic decisions are made centrally by the Board, which determines the key performance indicators of the Group. The Group reviews financial information presented at a Group level. The Board, is therefore, the chief operating decision-maker for the Group. The information used to allocate resources and assess performance is reviewed for the Group as a whole. On this basis, the Group considers itself to be a single-segment investment management business.

4 Revenue

5 Administration expenses

Analysis of staff costs is set out below:

Analysis of Professional and other services is set out below:

¹ GAM Holding AG related acquisition costs, primarily corporate finance, sponsor, due diligence, target operating model design, Class 1 circular and Swiss public offer; and legal expenses.

² Other acquisition related costs includes one-off cost of £396k in the period relating to disposal of lease.

³ Cost related to the implementation of the Business Transformation Programme as set out above in the Chair's statement.

⁴ Costs related to the broadening of our international distribution and product range (recruitment of the Global Equity team from GAM Holding AG) which relates to £3m share based payment charge spread across three years in line with service conditions.

6 Adjusted profit before tax

Adjusted profit before tax is reconciled in the table below:

¹ for further details see note 5 above.

7 Taxation

The half yearly tax charge has been calculated at the estimated full year effective UK corporation tax rate of 25% (30 September 2023: 25%).

8 Earnings per share

The calculation of basic earnings per share is based on profit after taxation and the weighted average number of Ordinary Shares in issue for each period as shown in the table below. Shares held by the Liontrust Asset Management Employee Trust are not eligible for dividends and are treated as cancelled for the purposes of calculating earnings per share.

Diluted earnings per share is calculated on the same bases as set out above, after adjusting the weighted average number of Ordinary Shares for the effect of options to subscribe for new Ordinary Shares that were in existence during the six months ended 30 September 2024 as shown in the table below. This is reconciled to the actual weighted number of Ordinary Shares as follows:

9 Intangible assets

Intangible assets represent investment management contracts that have been capitalised upon acquisition and are amortised on a straight-line basis over their useful economic lives.

The intangible asset on the balance sheet represents investment management contracts as follows:

ATI and Neptune

There were no indicators of impairment for ATI and Neptune intangible asset as at 30 September 2024 based on the AuM and flow of funds being in line with management expectations (31 Mar 2024: no impairment) .

Architas

There were indicators of impairment for Architas intangible asset as at 30 September 2024 due to higher than expected fund outflows leading to actual revenue being lower than originally forecast. The value of the intangible asset have therefore been retested as at 30 September 2024 which has resulted in no impairment of the Architas investment management contract intangible (31 Mar 2024: impairment of £7.311 million due to higher than expected fund outflows and negative market returns leading to forecast revenues being lower than originally forecast).

Sensitivity analysis was carried out on the Architas model to assess the impact of reasonable plausible downside scenarios on both the discount rate, and the net AuMA growth rate assumptions. In relation to Architas sensitivity, changing the discount rate from 13% to 13.5% leads to £310k reduction in headroom but no impairment and changing the net AuMA growth rate from 1.0% to (2.0)% leads to £637k reduction in headroom but no impairment. The cumulative impact of the change in discount rate and decrease net AuMA growth rate leads to £922k reduction in headroom but no impairment.

Majedie

Indicators of impairment were identified for the Majedie investment management contracts and segregated clients intangible assets as at 30 September 2024 due to higher than expected fund outflows leading to actual revenues being lower than originally forecast. The value of the intangible assets have therefore been retested as at 30 September 2024 which has resulted in no material impairment of the Majedie investment management contract intangible (31 Mar 2024: impairment of £16.537 million on Majedie investment management contract and £6.828 million on Majedie Segregated Clients intangible due to higher than expected fund outflows leading to actual revenues being lower than originally forecast).

Sensitivity analysis was carried out on the Majedie model to assess the impact of reasonable plausible downside scenarios on both the discount rate, and the net AuMA growth rate assumptions. In relation to Majedie sensitivity, changing the discount rate from 13% to 13.5% leads to £29k reduction in headroom but no material impairment and changing the net AuMA growth rate from 0.3% to (2.0)% leads to £158k reduction in headroom but no material impairment. The cumulative impact of the change in discount rate and decrease net AuMA growth rate leads to £184k reduction in headroom but no material impairment.

The discount rate used in the intangible models was a market participant weighted average cost of capital, determined using the capital asset pricing model (post-tax) and calibrated using current assessments of market equity risk premium, company risk / beta, small company premium, tax rates and gearing; and specific risk premium for the relevant intangible asset. The appropriate discount rate is appraised at the date of the relevant transaction and then also at the reporting date to enable impairment reviews and testing. The same discount rate applies to all CGUs as they all have uniform risk profile that reflects risk of the business with the same internal company operations.

10 Goodwill

Goodwill is allocated to the CGU to which it relates as the underlying funds acquired in each business acquisition are clearly identifiable to the ongoing investment team that is managing them. For all four CGUs, an assessment was made in relation to impairment of the goodwill where the recoverable amount, based on a value in use, was calculated using an earnings model which used key assumptions such as discount rate and net AuMA growth rate. In addition, the model uses a terminal growth rate of 2%. The projected cash flows used within the goodwill model is based on a 5-year period where the terminal growth is used for years beyond that, and forecasts have been approved by senior management. The discount rate was derived from the Group's weighted average cost of capital and takes into account the weighted average cost of capital of other market participants. The net AuMA growth rate is a combination of three variables: AUM market growth rate, fund flows and fund attrition. The net AuMA growth rate is determined by using historical actual experience and external sources to estimate future growth based on historic equities/bonds performances. In addition, the terminal growth rate is also based on external sources too and based on long term inflation expectations. See tables below for details.