Marechale Capital Plc (AIM: MAC), an established City of London based corporate finance house with a long-term track record and a strong reputation for advising and financing high growth consumer brands, leisure, clean energy, mineral extraction and technology companies, is pleased to announce its audited final results for the year ended 30 April 2025 (the "Period").
Chairman's StatementAs reported in the interim results statement in December 2024, it has been a challenging year generally and in the hospitality sector in particular, as a number of businesses negotiated a continuing period of market uncertainty, with increased inflation driven overheads, compounded by a squeeze in discretionary spending. However, against this challenging backdrop, there are significant market opportunities for Marechale's clients.
The Company entered the Period with good levels of business activity and funded clients in both the hospitality sector, as well as clients in other high growth sectors. Completed fund raising projects include further equity funding for the Chestnut Group, the leading East Anglian Inn Group, loan refinancing and growth equity funding for Brewhouse & Kitchen, the UK's largest brew pub chain, and equity funding was raised for Stubben Edge Capital Ltd, the Insurance industry platform. Also, additional funding has been raised for Weardale Lithium at a premium valuation.
Marechale continues to generate professional services income by providing advice to its clients. In the last year this included strategic and funding advice for the Chestnut Group and Brewhouse & Kitchen. In addition, as announced to the market in March Marechale acted as exclusive adviser on the sale of Randalls, Guernsey's largest hospitality businesses as well as providing advice to the shareholder in the UK's leading resort business and the owner of Rileys, the national snooker business.
Significant progress continues to be made with the lithium extraction business, Weardale Lithium Ltd, and our pipeline of new and increasingly diversified projects remains robust.
Weardale Lithium Ltd is Marechale's largest investment, comprising 467,000 founder shares and 20,800 options with a combined value of £2.85 million which has been recorded in the Balance Sheet. Weardale has proved lithium reserves in its secured mineral rights in Co. Durham and as announced to the Market in February became the UK's first 100% direct lithium extraction plant to receive planning permission to build a pilot plant to use its existing boreholes. Marechale remains optimistic for a positive future outcome on this investment.
The total value of the Company's net assets has reduced to £3,037,000 in 2025 (2024: £3,346,000) equivalent to 2.9p/share (2024: 3.1p/share), due to a combination of Operating Losses and Investment Losses, the latter by taking advantage of an opportunity to sell some Weardale shares for cash, acquired as founder shares, albeit at a discount to their current value. This is in line with Marechale's stated strategy of using its balance sheet to co-invest in its client companies. Cash at bank at 30th April was £212,150.
Please note that, within the rules of the Accounting Standards, the Board took the decision in 2024 to declare separately as 'Exceptional Costs' various impairment provisions for bad debts and loan notes owed by two Investee Companies. Please be advised that at the time of writing, one of these companies remains trading but is under severe financial distress; the other is now in Administration: however, we managed to recover £10,300 from the latter which has been credited back to this year's P&L.
It is also worth noting that the Company has £770,000 of unused capital tax losses to offset against any possible future tax liability on realisation of gains.
Marechale's revenue for the year saw a substantial reduction to £409,500 compared to £668,800, in the previous financial year. In spite of this, gross profit increased to £274,000 compared to £197,000 in 2024 mainly due to lower commissions paid to 3rd parties on fundraising income.
Whilst we continue to navigate through various market challenges, I am pleased to report a significant reduction in Marechale's operating loss for the year, from £296,000 in 2024 to £226,000 this year, mainly due to an improved gross margin of £275,000 (67%) compared to £197,000 (29%) in 2024. Marechale's net loss before tax for the year stands at £337,000, a notable deterioration from the net loss of £183,000 reported in 2024. The major year-on-year swing was caused by a significant uplift on the value of investments in 2024 - principally Weardale - offset by Exceptional Costs, versus in 2025, the sale of investments at a discount - to raise cash as mentioned above. It is worth noting that we expect to record an uplift in the value of investments based on an equity fundraising already in progress but not yet closed. Administrative expenses remained steady at £500,000 (2024: £494,000).
The Company's focus is to use its reputation and deal flow as a corporate finance adviser to build shareholder value in Marechale's balance sheet. This has been achieved by negotiating equity and warrant positions, and joint venture arrangements as part of its terms of engagement with growth company clients. Marechale's historical investment performance has been excellent in this regard, having achieved double digit internal rates of return across the total of all the companies that it has funded since 2010. The Board is confident that the investment in Weardale Lithium will deliver an uplift in value in due course.
Since Chris Kenning acquired his shareholding in Marechale and joined the Board, we have been working together on a number of corporate finance transactions with him and his business Stubben Edge Capital Ltd. We are pleased to report that the first transaction has been achieved, earning commission fees and warrants for Marechale. And we continue to explore how we can digitize our transaction processes for our early-stage corporate finance projects.
Whilst the current economic climate remains challenging, the Board remains positive about the investments that it holds in its client companies, and optimistic that the Company, with its sufficient cash reserves, will continue to generate further uplifts on its current and future equity and warrant investments, both in the short and longer term. The Company continues to develop further its proven track record as a corporate finance adviser by seeking further deal flow in the high growth £10-100 million Enterprise Value PE sector.
Hopefully there is now the beginning of a shift in sentiment towards investing in the SME space, driven by the Government's drive for growth, and we hope to see support and incentives towards realising this and encouraging investment in businesses that Marechale works with.
The Board is working on a number of initiatives to create further value for shareholders, and the plan is to continue to develop Marechale's strategic funding partnerships with the objective of enhancing shareholder value.
The Board believes, having had a number of approaches over the last few months, that the current disruption in the SME Advisory and Broking market presents an excellent opportunity to attract good quality people into Marechale's cost effective business structure that allows them to make good earnings and have a shared interest as shareholders in Marechale's balance sheet.
As we look to the future, the Board remains committed to building on positive momentum. The Company will continue to focus on enhancing revenue streams and delivering value to shareholders.
In closing, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to shareholders, employees, and clients for their continued support and confidence in the Company. The Board looks forward to another year of progress and achievement.
Mark Warde-Norbury Chairman 21 August 2025 This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of the UK Market Abuse Regulation. For further information please contact: Marechale Capital plcMark Warde-Norbury / Patrick Booth-Clibborn
Tel: +44 (0)20 7628 5582
Cairn Financial Advisers LLP (Nomad and Broker)Jo Turner / Sandy Jamieson
Tel: +44 (0)20 7213 0880
Statement of Comprehensive Income For year ended 30 April 2025 | |||
Notes | Year ended 30-Apr 2025 (£) | Year ended 30-Apr 2024 (£) | |
Revenue | 4 | 409,413 | 668,816 |
Cost of sales | (134,731) | (471,433) | |
Gross profit | 274,682 | 197,384 | |
Administrative expenses | (500,477) | (493,643) | |
Operating loss | 5 | (225,795) | (296,260) |
Net interest received/(paid) | 975 | (428) | |
Other gains/(losses) | 6 | (122,822) | 223,004 |
Exceptional items | 7 | 10,316 | (109,303) |
Loss before tax | (337,325) | (182,987) | |
Taxation | 8 | - | - | |
Loss for the year | (337,325) | (182,987) | ||
Earnings per share | (Pence) | (Pence) | ||
Continuing operations | - Basic | 10 | (0.32) | (0.18) |
- Diluted | 10 | (0.32) | (0.18) |
Loss for the year Total recognised comprehensive profit | (337,325) | (182,987) |
(all attributable to owners of the company) | (337,325) | (182,987) |
The notes form an integral part of the financial statements.
Statement of Financial Position As at 30 April 2025 | |||
Notes | Year ended 30-Apr 2025 (£) | Year ended 30-Apr 2024 (£) | |
Current assets Investment in subsidiary | 11 | 2 | 2 |
Equity investments at fair value through profit and loss | 12 | 2,807,827 | 3,039,659 |
Warrants at fair value through profit and loss | 13 | 58,800 | 108,482 |
Trade and other receivables | 14 | 104,426 | 34,590 |
Cash and cash equivalents | 15 | 212,150 | 248,196 |
Total current assets | 3,183,205 | 3,430,929 | |
Total assets | 3,183,205 | 3,430,929 | |
Current liabilities Trade and other payables | 16 | (133,489) | (62,035) |
Borrowings | 17 | (10,000) | (10,000) |
Total current liabilities | (143,489) | (72,035) | |
Net current assets | 3,039,716 | 3,358,895 | |
Long-term liabilities Borrowings | 17 | (2,500) | (12,500) |
Net assets | 3,037,216 | 3,346,395 | |
Equity Capital and reserves attributable to equity shareholders | |||
Share capital | 18 | 847,530 | 847,530 |
Share premium | 18 | 481,290 | 481,290 |
Reserve for own shares Reserve for share based payments | (50,254) 178,315 | (50,254) 150,168 | |
Retained earnings | 1,580,336 | 1,917,661 | |
3,037,216 | 3,346,395 |
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 21 August 2025.
They were signed on its behalf by:
Mark Warde-Norbury Director Company No: 03515836The notes form an integral part of the financial statements.
Statement of Changes in Equity For year ended 30 April 2025Share capital | Share premium | Reserve for own shares | Reserve for share based payments | Retained earnings | Total | |
Balance at 30 April 2023 | 763,690 | 329,330 | (50,254) | 83,988 | 2,100,648 | 3,227,401 |
Loss for the financial year | - | - | - | - | (182,987) | (182,987) |
Share based payments in the year | - | - | - | 66,180 | - | 66,180 |
Issued in year | 83,840 | 151,960 | - | - | - | 235,800 |