Category: Asia Pacific

  • MIL-Evening Report: NZ Māori Council, PSNA appeal for urgent action over Gaza starvation

    Asia Pacific Report

    The New Zealand Māori Council and Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa made a high profile appeal to Foreign Minister Winston Peters over Gaza today, calling for urgent action over humanitarian supplies for the besieged Palestinian enclave.

    “Starving a civilian population is a clear breach of international humanitarian law and a war crime under the Rome Statute to the International Criminal Court,” said the open letter published by the two organisations as full page advertisements in three leading daily newspapers.

    Noting that New Zealand has not joined the International Court of Justice for standing up to “condemn the use of starvation as a weapon of war”, the groups still called on the government to use its “internationally respected voice” to express solidarity for humanitarian aid.

    The plea comes amid Israel’s increased attacks on Gaza which have killed at least 61 people since dawn, targeting civilians in crowded places and a Gaza City market.

    The more than two-month blockade by the the enclave by Israel has caused acute food shortages, accelerating the starvation of the Palestinian population.

    Israel has blocked all aid into Gaza — food, water, fuel and medical supplies — while more than 3000 trucks laden with supplies are stranded on the Egyptian border blocked from entry into Gaza.

    At least 57 Palestinians have starved to death in Gaza as a result of Israel’s punishing blockade. The overall death toll, revised in view of bodies buried under the rubble, stands at 62,614 Palestinians and 1139 people killed in Israel.

    The open letter, publlshed by three Stuff-owned titles — Waikato Times in Hamilton, The Post in the capital Wellington, and The Press in Christchurch, said:

    Rt Hon Winston Peters
    Minister of Foreign Affairs
    Winston.Peters@parliament.govt.nz

    Open letter requesting government action on the future of Gaza

    Kia ora Mr Peters,

    The situation in Occupied Gaza has reached another crisis point.

    We urge our country to speak out and join other nations demanding humanitarian supplies into Gaza.

    For more than two months, Israel has blocked all aid into Gaza — food, water, fuel and medical supplies. The World Food Programme says food stocks in Gaza are fully depleted. UNICEF says children face “growing risk of starvation, illness and death”. The International Committee of the Red Cross says “the humanitarian response in Gaza is on the verge of total collapse”.

    Meanwhile, 3000 trucks laden with desperately needed aid are lined up at the Occupied Gaza border. Israeli occupation forces are refusing to allow them in.

    Starving a civilian population is a clear breach of International Humanitarian Law and a War Crime under the Rome Statute to the International Criminal Court.

    At the International Court of Justice many countries have stood up to condemn the use of starvation as a weapon of war and to demand accountability for Israel to end its industrial-scale killing of Palestinians in Gaza.

    New Zealand has not joined that group. Our government has been silent to date.

    After 18 months facing what the International Court of Justice has described as a “plausible genocide”, it is grievous that New Zealand does not speak out and act clearly against this ongoing humanitarian outrage.

    Minister Peters, as Minister of Foreign Affairs you are in a position of leadership to carry New Zealand’s collective voice in support of humanitarian aid to Gaza to the world. We are asking you to speak on behalf of New Zealand to support the urgent international plea for humanitarian aid to be allowed into Gaza and to initiate calls for a no-fly zone to be established over the region to prevent further mass killing of civilians.

    We believe the way forward for peace and security for everyone in the region is for all parties to follow international law and United Nations resolutions, going back to UNGA 194 in 1948, so that a lasting peace can be established based on justice and equal rights for everyone.

    New Zealand has an internationally respected voice — please use it to express solidarity for humanitarian aid to Gaza, today.

    Ann Kendall QSM, Co-chair
    Tā Taihākurei Durie, Pou [cultural leader]
    NZ Māori Council

    Maher Nazzal and John Minto, National Co-chairs
    Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA)

    The NZ Māori Council and Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa advertisement in New Zealand media today. Image: PSNA

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China is becoming an increasingly attractive and reliable partner

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    The abuse of customs duties by the US government has exacerbated the tense situation in world trade and seriously damaged the international trade and economic order. These unilateral and protectionist methods of the US have provoked opposition and sharp criticism from the international community. Many countries believe that China has been steadily promoting high-level opening up to the outside world, seeking mutually beneficial cooperation with other countries, and is willing to share opportunities for joint development with the world, demonstrating the role of a responsible power.

    JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon recently warned in an interview with the Financial Times that the trade war unleashed by Donald Trump could damage the United States’ international reputation and that its economic leadership is facing serious challenges. The current trade uncertainty is undermining confidence in the United States abroad.

    Singapore’s Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong recently noted that the “America First” doctrine is essentially a zero-sum game. The withdrawal of the United States, the world’s largest economy, from the international rules system would have a significant impact on the rest of the world. Singapore will continue to strongly support free trade, multilateralism, and the WTO.

    The New York Times article says that the actions of the Trump administration are undermining the country’s international image and have increased the risk of a recession in the global economy, while China is becoming an increasingly stable and reliable economic partner.

    A report in the Swiss newspaper NZZ am Sonntag says that amid the tariff standoff, more attention should be paid to China, “whose policies are more stable than those of the United States. China also complies well with WTO rules.”

    German Channel 2 quoted Isabella M. Weber, professor of economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, as saying: “The US has become an unpredictable partner, while China is becoming an increasingly attractive reliable partner.”

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi urges safeguarding legacy of WWII victory

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    MOSCOW, May 8 — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday called for concerted efforts to defend the legacy of World War II (WWII) victory as the world is once again reeling from the specter of hegemonism and power politics.

    Xi made the call as he arrived in Moscow for a state visit to Russia and celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Soviet Union’s Great Patriotic War.

    In a written statement issued upon arrival, Xi said China and Russia will work together to safeguard the victorious outcome of WWII, and resolutely oppose hegemonism and power politics.

    China and Russia, both major countries of the world and permanent members of the UN Security Council, will join hands to firmly safeguard the UN-centered international system and the international order underpinned by international law, practice true multilateralism, and promote the building of a more just and equitable global governance system, he said.

    Xi’s visit comes at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin. This marks his 11th visit to Russia since he became the president of China.

    During his stay, Xi is expected to have in-depth communication with Putin on bilateral relations and cooperation, as well as major international and regional issues of common concern.

    According to China’s Foreign Ministry, Xi’s attendance at the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Soviet Union’s Great Patriotic War is an important part of his visit. It will be Xi’s second time attending Russia’s May 9 Victory Day commemorations as Chinese president.

    A massive military parade will take place in Moscow’s Red Square on Friday. Flags with the word “Victory” fluttered in the wind along the streets of Moscow, and the roads were lined with billboards and decorative windows depicting the history of the Great Patriotic War of the Soviet Union.

    On the night of May 8, 1945, Germany signed the surrender document in Karlshorst, Berlin, marking the end of WWII in Europe. However, due to the time difference, Moscow had already entered May 9 — the date the Soviet Union, and later Russia, commemorates as “Victory Day.”

    Meanwhile in Asia, China’s final major campaign against Japan — the Battle of Western Hunan — reached its decisive phase. Japan’s surrender aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on Sept. 2, 1945, brought WWII to an end.

    In a signed article published in the Russian Gazette newspaper ahead of his arrival, Xi urged the international community to uphold a correct historical perspective on WWII.

    “China and the Soviet Union were the principal theaters of that war in Asia and Europe respectively,” Xi wrote. “The two countries served as the mainstay of resistance against Japanese militarism and German Nazism, making pivotal contribution to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War.”

    “Any attempt to distort the historical truth of WWII, deny its victorious outcome, or defame the historic contribution of China and the Soviet Union is doomed to fail,” Xi wrote.

    The year of 2025 also marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. The world body arose from the ashes of WWII. The UN Charter begins with a solemn pledge: “to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.”

    As the world is facing stiff headwinds from unilateralism, hegemonism, bullying and coercive practices, Xi emphasized the importance of multilateralism.

    “The more turbulent and complex the international situation becomes, the more we must uphold and defend the authority of the UN,” Xi wrote in his signed article.

    “The establishment of an international system with the United Nations at its core is not easy at all, and must be firmly maintained by all countries of the world,” said Ekaterina Zaklyazminskaya, leading researcher at the Institute of China and Modern Asia at the Russian Academy of Sciences.

    “Russia and China support genuine multilateralism, which is very important at this time,” said the researcher.

    The world is shifting irreversibly toward a multipolar order, with Russia and China playing essential roles in this transformation, said Alexey Rodionov, a professor of Chinese studies at St. Petersburg State University.

    China maintains a balanced stance on international issues, and that is why more countries now regard it as a key reference point in diplomacy and global policy, Rodionov said.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: 31 civilians killed, 57 injured in Indian attack, border clash with Pakistan: Official

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Thirty-one people were killed and 57 others injured in an Indian attack on Pakistani territory and subsequent exchange of fire between Pakistani and Indian troops along the Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border that divides the disputed region of Kashmir, a spokesperson for the Pakistani army’s media wing said on Wednesday.

    India carried out large-scale “ceasefire violations” in border areas throughout the day on Wednesday, following attacks on houses and mosques that targeted civilians in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir and the eastern Punjab province during Tuesday night and the early hours of Wednesday morning, Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, told the media during a briefing.

    He stated that Pakistan responded effectively by targeting an Indian brigade headquarters, a battalion headquarters, and multiple military posts across the LoC in the Kashmir region, and along the working boundary between Pakistan’s Punjab and India-controlled Kashmir during the day-long exchange of fire.

    The ISPR chief said that Indian jet fighters struck six locations within Pakistani territory, but the Pakistani Air Force responded by shooting down five Indian fighter jets with precision.

    In addition, the Pakistani army shot down seven Indian spy and combat drones and captured two more using advanced technology, he added.

    “We were well-prepared. Pakistan did not suffer any combat casualties during the exchange of fire, and the Air Force did not lose any aircraft or assets in the strikes,” he said.

    India had accused Pakistan of hosting terrorist camps, but after Pakistan invited both local and foreign media to inspect the alleged sites, India launched a surprise night-time attack on those locations, he added.

    Pakistan reserves the right to respond in self-defense at a time of its choosing, he said, adding that the country’s commitment to peace should not be mistaken for weakness.

    While Pakistan seeks regional stability, it will not hesitate to act decisively if provoked, Chaudhry said.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Greenpeace vows to keep pressing antagonistic, evasive Woodside to protect climate and nature

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    PERTH Thursday, 8 May 2025 — Following Woodside’s 2025 AGM, David Ritter, CEO at Greenpeace Australia, said: 

    “Woodside Chairman Richard Goyder treated Greenpeace representatives at the AGM with unnecessary antagonism and evasiveness, but we will not relent on rigorous democratic scrutiny to hold Woodside accountable for its plans to wreck WA’s pristine oceans, Scott Reef, and our climate. 

    “From the proceedings at recent Woodside AGMs, it is abundantly clear that many Western Australians and Woodside shareholders are deeply concerned about the devastating potential impact of Woodside’s plans on our oceans, climate, health, and cultural heritage—and that Woodside is feeling the heat. 

    “Instead of responding to valid concern and scrutiny with antagonism, Woodside should focus on ensuring its plans align with what the science demands on nature protection and emissions reduction. We know that we must stop the extraction and burning of new fossil fuels, and transition to renewable energy at emergency speed and scale if we are to secure a safer climate in the future. 

    “Woodside’s proposed extension of the North West Shelf facility, and its plans to drill for gas near Scott Reef, pose an unacceptable risk to our oceans, and our climate. 

    “The hundreds of thousands of Australians who are deeply concerned about the future of our oceans, environment and climate, will continue to speak up against Woodside’s risky plans. Greenpeace calls on the Albanese government, which has just been elected with a strong climate mandate, to heed the evidence and reject Woodside’s planned North West Shelf extension and Browse gas field. 

    For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact Vai Shah on 0452 290 082 or [email protected].

    Photos from the protest and file photos for editorial use will be available here after the protest: Google Drive folder.

    MIL OSI NGO

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s 12th batch of aid supplies handed over to quake-hit Myanmar

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    The 12th batch of emergency humanitarian in-kind assistance dispatched by the Chinese government was handed over to Myanmar on Thursday in Yangon, Myanmar.

    The aid supplies included 17,000 tons of gasoline, which were accepted by Yangon Region Chief Minister U Soe Thein.

    A 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on March 28. As of May 7, the earthquake has claimed around 3,800 lives and injured over 5,100 people, with around 100 others remaining unaccounted for, according to Myanmar’s official data.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-Evening Report: 100 years of boom and bust: a potted history of Hollywood’s long relationship with Australia

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew James Couzens, Lecturer in Digital Media, CQUniversity Australia

    Donald Trump has said the United States should be applying tariffs to movies “produced in foreign lands”. This has the potential to deeply impact the Australian film industry.

    Local crews are currently celebrating a boom in big budget production at studios on the Gold Coast, Sydney and Melbourne. Over the last five years, foreign production has represented almost half of all drama production expenditure in Australia.

    But the history of Hollywood making movies in Australia warns us not to get complacent.

    When times are good for Australian film crews they can be very good indeed. But global events can leave studios empty and film crew without work.




    Read more:
    How do you put a tariff on movies? Here’s what Trump’s plan could mean for Australia


    How Hollywood influenced Australian cinema

    Hollywood’s influence was felt in Australian production from the silent era.

    For its 1927 adaptation of Marcus Clarke’s literary classic For the Term of His Natural Life, local production and distribution company Australasian Films hired Hollywood director Norman Dawn. They felt this was necessary to appeal to American audiences.

    For most of the 20th century, Hollywood production used Australia for its exotic setting. Films like On the Beach (1959), Kangaroo (1952) and The Sundowners (1960) brought their crews from America, rather than using Australians.

    By the late 1960s, Hollywood’s cultural dominance was seen as a serious problem.

    The Australian federal government established new grant and investment schemes for local films, intended to establish Australian culture in response to American influence.

    The local industry’s independence was fervently protected, and we saw the release of films like Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975) and Newsfront (1978), aimed at establishing a distinct Australian film culture.

    The international box office success of George Miller’s 1979 film Mad Max motivated a shift to more commercial, Hollywood-aligned filmmaking in Australia. Many in the industry argued the film illustrated the value of pursuing a popular cinema modelled on American production practices.

    This laid the groundwork for Hollywood to become even more integrated with the local production industry.

    Studios and infrastructure

    The 1988 opening of Village Roadshow Studios and the filming of the 1988 Mission Impossible television series on the Gold Coast ignited the relationship between the Australian film industry and Hollywood that exists today.

    These studios were followed by Fox Studios Australia (now Disney Studios Australia) in Sydney, home to productions including The Matrix and Star Wars: Episodes I–III.

    These studios acquired international investment from Hollywood studios and received significant state government support. They supported new collaborations between Hollywood and the Australian film industry, though some criticised this direction for Australian cinema.

    Throughout the 1990s, there was a rapid increase in the quantity of footloose production – a term referring to films originating from Hollywood but shooting elsewhere to reduce costs.

    The comparatively weak Australian dollar, low labour and construction costs, and strong state government incentives meant that blockbusters like The Matrix could cut their budgets by as much as a third by shooting in Australia rather than Hollywood.

    The local industry grew as big budget Hollywood films created jobs for Australian production crews. These crews depended on a steady supply of foreign production, because local productions were not big enough to support local crews.

    Bust

    The Australian film production industry was thrust into crisis in the second half of the 2000s, when a strong Australian dollar coupled with the global financial crisis wiped out the supply of footloose productions.

    In 2008–09, foreign production brought just A$31 million into the country, from a high in 2003–04 of $519 million, adjusted for inflation.

    This saw screen employment drop and some production facilities close.

    Industry lobbying encouraged the federal government to introduce a 16.5% location tax offset for foreign films shooting in Australia, and a 30% tax offset for post, digital and visual effects.

    Combined with the weakening Australian dollar, this brought Hollywood production back with a vengeance by 2014–15.

    But the impact that a dry spell of blockbuster production could have on the Australian industry gave Hollywood producers significant negotiating power. In response, state and federal governments offered heavy hitters like Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017) and Thor: Ragnarok (2017) tens of millions of dollars on top of existing offsets.

    Boom

    In 2020–21, the expenditure of foreign films shooting in Australia more than doubled compared to previous years. This was due to Australia, and especially Queensland, being one of the few places in the world where production could take place during COVID lockdowns.

    Foreign production, especially on the Gold Coast, exploded.

    Studio infrastructure was stretched to breaking point, with some films using makeshift studio spaces like the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.

    Due to stretched infrastructure, parts of the film Spiderhead were shot in the Gold Coast convention centre.
    Netflix

    Growing capacity became a policy priority, and significant investment was directed towards training crew and expanding studio facilities.

    The boom in Hollywood expenditure in Australia has resulted in an expansion of local production capability through crew training and investment in facilities.

    But, as the global financial crisis bust shows, growth can be a double edged sword. It requires a consistent supply of footloose production to sustain itself.

    The anxiety around Trump’s recently proposed tariffs demonstrates the Australian film industry remains dependent on footloose production.

    Policy must now address how to exploit boom periods to support sustainability during the inevitable bust.

    Andrew James Couzens has received funding from The Gold Coast Film Commission.

    ref. 100 years of boom and bust: a potted history of Hollywood’s long relationship with Australia – https://theconversation.com/100-years-of-boom-and-bust-a-potted-history-of-hollywoods-long-relationship-with-australia-256079

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-Evening Report: Even as emissions level off, carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is growing faster than ever. Here’s why

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Issy Borley, Research Technician, CSIRO

    Quality Stock Arts/Shutterstock

    Over the last decade, humanity’s emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) have stabilised after a period of huge growth. Average growth is now down to just 0.6% per year, compared to 2% per year in the previous decade. But levelling off isn’t the same as declining – and we’ve levelled off at a very high rate of emissions. The Global Carbon Project estimates human activities released a record high of 10.2 gigatonnes of carbon (GtC) in 2024.

    Last year, the atmosphere’s concentration of CO₂ rose at the fastest rate on record. Over the last decade, atmospheric CO₂ increased an average of 2.4 parts per million (ppm) a year. But last year, concentrations jumped by 3.5 ppm, reaching 424 ppm in the atmosphere. These concentrations are more than 50% higher than the pre-industrial period.

    While we’re burning more fossil fuels than ever, recent emissions growth has been offset by falling rates of deforestation and other land use emissions.

    Why are CO₂ concentrations still rapidly increasing? We’re still pumping massive amounts of long-buried CO₂ into our atmosphere. The only way for this carbon to leave the atmosphere is through natural carbon sinks – and they’re struggling to keep up.

    How do we know the amount of CO₂ in the atmosphere?

    Perched on a remote and windy clifftop on Tasmania’s northwest tip lies the Kennaook/Cape Grim Baseline Air Pollution Station. This station has an important job: monitoring baseline changes in atmospheric gases. The location was chosen because air here has travelled hundreds of kilometres over the ocean in an area unaffected by local pollution.

    CSIRO’s Kennaook/Cape Grim monitoring station on Tasmania’s northwestern tip was chosen because of the clean ocean air.
    Issy Borley, CC BY-NC-ND

    For decades, Australian scientists have directly measured the changes to the atmosphere here. Alongside other monitoring stations worldwide, this gives us an accurate and precise record of changes in greenhouse gases and ozone depleting chemicals in the atmosphere.

    Filling the bathtub

    Carbon dioxide is very good at trapping heat. Over the Earth’s 4.5 billion years, pulses of CO₂ have created hothouse worlds, very different to the pleasant climate humans have enjoyed since the last ice age, about 11,000 years ago. The last time CO₂ went past 400 ppm was likely more than two million years ago.

    It’s easy to confuse CO₂ emissions and concentrations of CO₂ in the atmosphere. Emissions influence atmospheric concentrations, but they are not the same.

    Releasing long-buried carbon back into the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels and producing CO₂ emissions is like turning on the tap in a bathtub and the amount of water in the tub is the atmospheric concentration.

    The Earth has natural ways of dealing with carbon dioxide. Plants, soils and oceans are carbon “sinks” – they all draw down carbon from the atmosphere and store it. Think of them as the bath’s plughole.

    If we think of the atmosphere as a bathtub, our emissions are the tap turned on, natural carbon sinks are the plughole and the water in the bath are the atmospheric CO₂ levels.
    Issy Borley, CC BY-NC-ND

    The problem is, we’re filling up the tub with CO₂ much faster than the Earth’s carbon sinks can pull them out. As a result, CO₂ concentration in the atmosphere rises. Atmospheric CO₂ matters because it is what actually influences climate.

    If we apply current global emissions and scenarios where emissions decrease either steadily or rapidly to the CSIRO Simple Carbon-Climate Model, we can estimate how much our bathtub is likely to fill. These graphs show emissions must be significantly cut before we can start to see a fall in atmospheric concentration.

    Why did CO₂ concentration jump last year?

    The single largest influence in last year’s spike in CO₂ concentration is likely to be changes to carbon sinks.

    Every year, oceans, forests and soils absorb about half the emissions humans produce. But this figure isn’t set – it changes as the Earth’s systems change.

    For instance, plants grow more in wetter years and store more carbon in their structures through photosynthesis and growth.

    But climate change is making fires more intense and more frequent. As trees burn, they release stored carbon back to the atmosphere. Emissions from enormous wildfires in Canada in 2023 and South America in 2024 likely contributed to the atmospheric CO₂ jump.

    Recent research suggests a weakened biosphere has strongly contributed. Severe droughts across the northern hemisphere in 2024 cut the ability of the planet’s soils and plant life to soak up and store CO₂.

    The speed at which carbon sinks soak up CO₂ depends on environmental conditions, which are largely out of our control. As climate change worsens, the capacity of natural carbon sinks to draw down our emissions will likely reduce.

    In the bathtub analogy, water leaves the tub through the plughole. If the plughole narrows, less water can escape and our tub will fill up even faster.

    The main lever we can control is the tap on the bathtub – the emissions we produce. Many nations are now cutting their emissions, but not enough to begin the sharp decline in concentration we need.

    In the 1980s, the Earth’s thin, protective layer of ozone – just 10 parts per million – was being eaten away by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other chemicals in fridges, air conditioners and aerosol cans. Nations replaced these chemicals and the ozone hole began to close. Fossil fuels are far more important to our current way of life than CFCs were. But we now have good options to replace them across many industries.

    This is a crucial moment. Our current rate of emissions will only cause CO₂ concentrations and global temperatures to rise. Natural carbon sinks will not pull out enough carbon to stabilise our climate on a time frame meaningful to humans. The earlier the action and decrease in emissions, the better our future.

    Issy Borley receives funding from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology.

    Cathy Trudinger does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    Ray Langenfelds receives funding from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology.

    ref. Even as emissions level off, carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is growing faster than ever. Here’s why – https://theconversation.com/even-as-emissions-level-off-carbon-dioxide-in-the-atmosphere-is-growing-faster-than-ever-heres-why-254072

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Underwriting Auction for sale of Government Securities for ₹32,000 crore on May 09, 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    Government of India has announced the sale (re-issue) of Government Securities, as detailed below, through auctions to be held on May 09, 2025 (Friday).

    As per the extant scheme of underwriting commitment notified on November 14, 2007, the amounts of Minimum Underwriting Commitment (MUC) and the minimum bidding commitment under Additional Competitive Underwriting (ACU) auction, applicable to each Primary Dealer (PD), are as under:

    (₹ crore)
    Security Notified Amount MUC amount per PD Minimum bidding commitment per PD under ACU auction
    6.92% GS 2039 16,000 381 381
    6.90% GS 2065 16,000 381 381

    The underwriting auction will be conducted through multiple price-based method on May 09, 2025 (Friday). PDs may submit their bids for ACU auction electronically through Core Banking Solution (E-Kuber) System between 09:00 A.M. and 09:30 A.M. on the day of underwriting auction.

    The underwriting commission will be credited to the current account of the respective PDs with RBI on the day of issue of securities.

    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    

    Press Release: 2025-2026/281

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Criminal ‘largest buyers’ of gold bullion stripped of $8.7 million

    Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

    Two Sydney-based leaders of an Australian criminal syndicate have been stripped of more than $8.7 million in assets for their roles in an elaborate gold bullion GST fraud. 

    Orders made by the Supreme Court of New South Wales resulted in those assets being forfeited to the Commonwealth.

    It followed a complex, decade-long AFP-led Criminal Assets Confiscation Taskforce (CACT) investigation, codenamed Operation Nosean. The CACT brings together the resources and expertise of the AFP, Australian Border Force (ABF), Australian Taxation Office (ATO), Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) and AUSTRAC.

    The CACT investigation began in 2012 after intelligence highlighted the apparent purchase of notably high quantities of pure gold bullion – known as PAMP gold – from a broker in Sydney. This intelligence suggested the gold was being used for large-scale GST fraud.

    At the same time, the ATO advised the CACT they had identified an unusual pattern of large GST refunds being paid to several gold refiners in Sydney and Melbourne.

    Both the CACT and ATO continued their investigations in parallel. 

    What subsequently emerged was the picture of an incredibly complex criminal operation that fit the definition of ‘missing trader fraud’. This involves the fictitious transaction of traded goods between companies within a chain to evade tax obligations.

    In this case, the backdrop for the offending was Australia’s then gold bullion arrangements, which provided an exemption on the payment of GST for ‘investment-grade’ gold bullion – as distinct from ‘scrap’ gold, which was subject to GST.

    Here’s a simplified description of how it worked:

    1. The criminal syndicate used the identities of foreign students and associates as mules to buy gold bullion from a broker, GST-free. In reality, the syndicate was making the purchases. 
    2. Each time the gold was purchased, it was melted down or defaced by the syndicate and refashioned into ‘scrap gold’. 
    3. Shell companies controlled by the syndicate then ‘purchased’ the ‘scrap’ gold, masquerading as legitimate buyers that supposedly paid tax on the gold.
    4. Those shell companies then on-sold the gold to a gold dealer, adding 10 per cent GST, with the syndicate claiming GST input credits. 
    5. Once this cycle was complete, it restarted.

    In total, the criminal syndicate was found to have fraudulently claimed tax refunds between 2012-2013, before the CACT investigation led to the restraint of their assets.

    In February 2025, after forensically piecing together the full story of the fraud’s operation and financials as well as the outcome of the ATO’s investigation, the AFP-led CACT obtained court orders which resulted in the assets of the two Sydney-based syndicate members being forfeited to the Commonwealth.

    The items included:

    • Four luxury Sydney homes worth almost $7 million
    • Four bank accounts containing more than $2 million
    • Five ounces of gold worth about $23,000, and 
    • Almost $250,000 in cash. 

    This followed the jailing in December, 2023, of the two Sydney-based syndicate members – a Neutral Bay man, 49, and an Ashfield man, 57. They were both sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment, with a non-parole period of four years and six months, after being found guilty of two counts each of conspiring to dishonestly cause a loss to the Commonwealth, contrary to section 135.4(3) of the Criminal Code (Cth) (Tax Fraud Offending).

    Speaking to the forfeiture of the assets, head of the CACT, National Manager Criminal Assets Confiscation Stefan Jerga said it was a direct result of law enforcement cooperation and the tenacity of investigators.

    “The nature of this crime was extremely intricate and took a significant amount of effort, time and commitment to untangle the web and identify the complex ownership structures set up to hide the true beneficiaries and wealth of these criminals,” National Manager Jerga said.

    “With the persistent work of all involved including the ATO, all partner agencies and the CACT’s forensic accountants, lawyers, financial experts and investigators, we were able to deconstruct and dismantle this illegal operation.

    “Our message to criminals is clear – no matter how complex or elaborate your systems or network, the AFP and its law enforcement partners will work to no end and no set time limit to find you, bring you before the courts and confiscate any proceeds of crime.”

    ATO Deputy Commissioner John Ford welcomed the result from the CACT investigation.

    “This result shows that the consequences do not end at the conviction and should serve as a strong deterrent to those in the community considering similar behaviour,” Mr Ford said.

    “The ATO will continue to work with, and support, our partner agencies by sharing resources and capabilities to ensure those who break the law are held to account.”

    In 2017, an amendment was introduced to the Goods and Services Tax Act 1999 (Cth), which shut down the loophole on the ability to claim GST input tax credits on second-hand precious metals.*

    The AFP-led CACT, which brings together the resources and expertise of the AFP, Australian Border Force, Australian Taxation Office, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and AUSTRAC, was permanently established in 2012 as a proactive and innovative approach to trace, restrain and ultimately confiscate criminal assets.

    The highly skilled members of CACT are located Australia-wide and comprise police, financial investigators, forensic accountants, litigation lawyers and partner agency specialists.

    The Commonwealth’s proceeds of crime laws provide tools for the restraint and forfeiture of proceeds and instruments of crime, as well as financial penalty and unexplained wealth orders. While the CACT litigates matters in the courts, restrained assets are managed on behalf of the Commonwealth by the Australian Financial Security Authority (AFSA). 

    At the conclusion of successful legal proceedings, confiscated assets are then liquidated by AFSA, with the proceeds placed in the Commonwealth Confiscated Assets Account (CAA). These funds can then be distributed by the Attorney-General to benefit the community through crime prevention, intervention or diversion programs relating to the illegal use of drugs or other law enforcement initiatives across Australia.

    Since July 2019, CACT has restrained more than $1.2 billion in criminal assets, including houses, cars, yachts, cryptocurrency, fine art and luxury goods. 

    *Background

    When the New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 was enacted, it provided an exemption on the payment of Goods and Services Tax (GST) applicable to ‘investment-grade’ gold bullion (gold that had been stamped into bars and coins) on the basis it was considered a form of currency.

    Investment-grade gold bullion was made distinct from ‘scrap’ gold or gold that had changed its form by either being damaged, melted down or because it came in the form of jewellery, which was subject to GST.

    This distinction created a loophole which was exploited by criminals who would purchase GST-free bullion and change its form into scrap gold. They would then sell it to precious metals dealers and jewellers, adding 10 per cent GST. Instead of remitting the GST owed to the ATO from the sale of the scrap gold, offenders would claim input tax credit (ITC) exemptions applicable to the sale of second-hand goods and keep the profit.

    In 2017, an amendment to the Goods and Services Tax Act 1999 (Cth) was introduced to ensure entities engaged in transforming the form of a precious metal they acquire, can no longer exploit the special GST treatment on second-hand goods by claiming net input tax credits.

    CDPP case report *External Link

    Images

    Images available via HightailExternal Link 

    MIL OSI News

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Starting a small business and getting it right with the ATO

    Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

    Starting a small business is an exciting journey, but it comes with important tax and super obligations. The ATO is here to help you get ready for business and stay on the right track. 

    Are you in business?

    A business involves continuous and repeated activities aimed at making a profit. Even a one-off transaction can be considered a business if it’s intended to be repeated or is the first step in starting a business. 

    When you’re not in business

    Not all money-making activities qualify as a business. Activities done as an employee, hobbies, or simple investments like holding shares or renting out property through an agent, are not considered businesses. 

    Ready for business: a focus area of the Getting it right campaign

    Will Day, the Deputy Commissioner of Small Business, supports small businesses in meeting their tax obligations. Small businesses are vital to the Australian economy. They drive innovation, creating jobs and fostering community spirit. 

    The Getting it right campaign supports small businesses in getting their tax obligations right. Ready for business is a key focus area within this campaign. It provides small businesses with resources and guidance to start their journey on the right foot, including: 

    • talking to people with similar businesses or a trusted business adviser  
    • consulting with a registered tax professional 
    • using digital tools to assist with cash flow management 
    • deciding on the right business structure, as this affects your tax obligations 
    • knowing what accurate records you need to keep and what registrations are required. 

    For more information, visit Ready for business.

    MIL OSI News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Comment: Chinese-Russian relations are developing steadily despite changes in the international situation

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, May 8 (Xinhua) — At the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in Moscow on a state visit to Russia. He will also attend celebrations to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

    Under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, China-Russia relations, characterized by eternal good-neighborliness and friendship, comprehensive strategic coordination, mutually beneficial cooperation and win-win results, have been steadily gaining new strength. The comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination in the new era has continuously reached a high level and covered a wide range of areas, and will also steadily move forward, promoting the development of both countries and contributing to the stability of the international community despite the changes in the international situation.

    The leadership of the heads of state is the most important political advantage and the fundamental guarantee for the stable development of high-level China-Russia relations. Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin have maintained close communication through exchanges of visits, bilateral meetings, video conferences, telephone conversations and message exchanges, providing a solid foundation for promoting state-to-state relations in the new era. Under their strategic guidance and care, the relations between the two countries have become increasingly mature, sustainable and stable, with continuously deepening political mutual trust, closer strategic coordination and continuous expansion of practical cooperation between China and Russia, thus ensuring their own rise and common interests in international and regional affairs.

    The friendship between Beijing and Moscow has stood the test of time. China and the Soviet Union, which were the main fronts of World War II in Asia and Europe, made great sacrifices and made important contributions to winning the war, saving their peoples and all mankind. The profound friendship between the two countries that developed during World War II gave a powerful impetus to the comprehensive development of Sino-Russian relations. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the war. A series of commemorative events will be held in both countries to preserve and strengthen the friendship between the peoples and promote the sustainable development of relations between the countries. History and reality show that China and Russia are good neighbors that cannot be separated, and true friends who support each other and develop together. Now that the relations between the two countries have stood the test of time, the importance of the joint efforts of Beijing and Moscow is even more obvious. “I believe in the future of Russian-Chinese relations, because history has shown that we need to be together,” noted Galina Kulikova, holder of the Order of Friendship of the People’s Republic of China and First Deputy Chairperson of the Russian-Chinese Friendship Society.

    The cooperation between China and Russia brings benefits to the peoples of both countries. The two countries have complementary advantages, great potential and broad cooperation space, and regard each other as priority partners. Over the years, they have been seeking common ground and achieving mutual success. The principle of mutual benefit and win-win has become the basis for pragmatic cooperation in various fields. From the 156 key projects supported by the Soviet Union in China to the current trade turnover of 244.8 billion US dollars, from the popularity of Russian agricultural products, food and beverages among Chinese consumers to the successful sales of Chinese mobile phones in the Russian market, etc., the scale of cooperation has increased, the scope has expanded, the foundation has been strengthened, which has benefited the peoples of both countries.

    China-Russia relations have a strong internal driving force and unique strategic value. Based on the correct strategic perception of each other, China and Russia have found a path of interaction characterized by the two sides not forming alliances, not engaging in confrontation, and not targeting third parties. In this way, the two countries stand at the forefront of a new type of major power relations and set an example for relations between neighboring countries. China-Russia relations will not change due to temporary circumstances and are not subject to the influence of third parties, remaining a constant in an unstable world, not a variable in geopolitical games. This choice is in line with the interests of both countries, meets the trend of forming a multipolar world and democratizing international relations, and is of great significance to maintaining global strategic stability, promoting positive interactions between major powers, and advancing cooperation among developing countries.

    China and Russia have continuously sent strong signals to the world on the need to strengthen strategic coordination, bringing certainty, stability and positive energy to a volatile world, which is extremely valuable. At present, there is a fierce struggle between unilateralism and multilateralism, and between seeking and resisting hegemony. As founding states of the UN and permanent members of the UN Security Council, China and Russia bear a special responsibility for upholding the international system with the UN at the center. The two sides will further strengthen close cooperation in multilateral platforms such as the UN, SCO and BRICS, bring together the efforts of the Global South, guide global governance in the right direction, firmly oppose unilateralism and bullying, and jointly promote the formation of an equitable and orderly multipolar world and an inclusive and accessible economic globalization.

    The national development strategies and foreign policies of China and Russia are long-term. Under the strategic guidance of their leaders, the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination will continue to develop at a higher level in the new era, giving strong impetus to the progress of both countries, promoting the well-being of their peoples, and making new contributions to upholding international fairness and justice. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Trip will explore tech opportunities

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Legislative Councillor for the Technology & Innovation Functional Constituency Duncan Chiu believes the Middle East can be a fertile market for Hong Kong tech companies looking to expand overseas.

    Mr Chiu will be part of Chief Executive John Lee’s delegation on a visit to Qatar and Kuwait from Saturday and hopes the trip can provide insights into the two countries’ technology needs. Noting that both countries are reliant on imported technology, he stressed that Hong Kong companies’ strengths in areas such as artificial intelligence, life sciences and chip design mean they have much to offer the Middle Eastern market.

    “I know that some Hong Kong people, especially people I know in the tech sector, they have moved to Qatar and were involved in the operation of the Tech Park (Qatar Science & Technology Park) and other university involvements,” he said. “Qatar is quite keen to have collaboration with Hong Kong and Mainland China in tech collaborations, not just in the purchasing of technology, but also collaboration in research and development.”

    With the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government setting up a $10 billion Innovation & Technology Industry-Oriented Fund, Mr Chiu anticipates such funds can open the door to new investment in Hong Kong’s innovation and technology sector from the sizeable sovereign wealth funds in Qatar and Kuwait.

    Mr Chiu also plans to invite stakeholders from Qatar and Kuwait to visit Hong Kong.

    “We have put in a lot of resources and efforts in Hong Kong in building up the tech ecosystem. So, I want to first let them know what has been happening in Hong Kong. And second, I would like to invite them to join our conferences and exhibitions in Hong Kong in August.”

    In the past two years, Mr Chiu has organised return visits to Hong Kong after accompanying the Chief Executive on trips to ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) member states.

    He said Hong Kong companies have successfully recruited talent and expanded their operations in Singapore and Indonesia as a result of these exchanges, adding that he hopes to replicate this approach in relation to the Middle East.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI: PwC and FloQast and PwC Belgium Announce Strategic Partnership to Transform Financial Close

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LONDON, May 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FloQast, an Accounting Transformation Platform created by accountants for accountants, today unveiled a strategic partnership with PwC Belgium focused on revolutionizing accounting close automation solutions. This collaboration seeks to combine FloQast’s AI-powered workflows with PwC Belgium’s expertise in closing processes to boost efficiency, increase accuracy, and provide deeper insights for businesses in various industries.

    “Our partnership with PwC Belgium reinforces our commitment to helping accounting teams across EMEA adapt to the evolving demands of the profession,” said John Phillips, General Manager, FloQast EMEA. “With increasing regulatory complexity and a shrinking talent pool, finance teams need smarter, more efficient ways to work. By combining FloQast’s AI-powered technology with PwC Belgium’s deep industry expertise, we’re enabling organizations to improve accuracy, enhance compliance, and drive greater operational agility.”

    “PwC Belgium is excited to announce a partnership with FloQast,” said Matthias Reyntjens, PwC Partner. “This collaboration combines PwC’s industry expertise with FloQast’s innovative technology to modernize financial close operations and tackle the challenges posed by inefficient processes.”

    FloQast offers solutions designed to streamline financial processes, including, but not limited to: Close Management, Account Reconciliations, and Compliance Management. These solutions empower accounting teams by improving communication and transparency, automating labour-intensive tasks, and ensuring financial accuracy. As a result, teams are empowered to collaborate more effectively, reduce errors, accelerate record-to-report and compliance management processes, and better leverage data and insights to help drive organizational strategy.

    Additionally, integration with existing systems facilitates a smooth transition to technology tailored to organizational needs, minimizing disruption and fostering scalability. FloQast’s cloud-native platform allows for rapid deployment, enabling teams to adopt solutions that fit their workflows with minimal IT involvement. This platform includes FloQast AI Agents, a groundbreaking, auditable AI capability that, for the first time ever, enables accountants to automate complex, recurring workflows across close management, compliance, and reporting functions using natural language, not extensive code.

    The relationship with PwC Belgium builds upon FloQast’s ongoing global collaborations with PwC member firms. Earlier this month, FloQast announced a collaboration with PwC in North America. In 2024, it announced strategic consulting relationships with PwC UK, PwC Germany, and PwC Australia, expanding the company’s ability to support finance transformation initiatives worldwide.

    About FloQast
    FloQast, an Accounting Transformation Platform created by accountants for accountants, enables organizations to automate a variety of accounting operations. Trusted by more than 3,000 accounting teams—including Twilio, Los Angeles Lakers, and Zoom—FloQast enhances the way accounting teams work. With FloQast, teams utilize the latest advancements in AI technology to manage aspects of the close, reduce compliance burdens, stay audit-ready, and improve accuracy, visibility, and collaboration. FloQast is consistently rated #1 across all user review sites. Learn more at FloQast.com.

    About PwC
    At PwC, our purpose is to build trust in society and solve important problems. We’re a network of firms in 152 countries with over 327,000 people who are committed to delivering quality in assurance, advisory and tax services.

    The term PwC refers to the PwC network and/or one or more of the legally independent network companies. Further details at www.pwc.com/structure.

    Contacts:
    John Siegel
    Senior Content Marketing Manager
    john.siegel@FloQast.com

    Matthias Reyntjens
    Partner, Clients and Industries, PwC Belgium,
    +32 476 44 53 92

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Preliminary Results for the twelve months ended 31 January 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

      ICG Enterprise Trust plc
    Preliminary Results for the twelve months ended 31 January 2025
    8 May 2025
     
         
         
      Highlights

    • Actively-managed Portfolio focused on global mid-market private companies generating resilient growth
    • NAV per Share reaches 2,073p; NAV per Share Total Return* of 10.5% during the year and five-year annualised return of 14.5%
    • Portfolio Return* on a Sterling basis of 10.6%; portfolio companies reporting ~15% LTM earnings growth1
    • 40 Full Exits executed at a weighted-average Uplift to Carrying Value of 19.0%
    • Shareholder-focused capital allocation policy: £59m (5% of opening NAV) returned to shareholders in FY252 (FY24: £35m), of which £36m through buybacks (FY24: £13m) and £23m through dividends of 36p per share (FY24: £22m, 33p per share)
    • Wide range of potential outcomes to market transaction activity; secondaries market could present compelling opportunities
    • Sector positioning, strong origination network and robust balance sheet position us well in current environment
    • Post period-end, announced an additional £107m proceeds from a secondary sale and the realisation of Minimax (largest portfolio company, 3.1% of Portfolio at 31 January 2025)

    1 EBITDA, based on Enlarged Perimeter covering 67% of the Portfolio
    2 Based on dividends declared or proposed for Q1 FY25 – Q4 FY25 inclusive, and buybacks up to and including 31 January 2025

    *This is an Alternative Performance Measure. Please refer to the Glossary for the definition.

     
         
      Jane Tufnell   Oliver Gardey    
      Chair of ICG Enterprise Trust   Portfolio Manager for ICG Enterprise Trust    
        Today’s results demonstrate that our investment strategy can deliver long-term value. Our portfolio companies grew earnings by 15% in the year1, and ICGT generated NAV per Share Total Return of 10.5%, ending the year with NAV per Share of 2,073p.

    During the year, the Board and Manager have been careful in allocating our shareholders’ capital. New investments continued, deploying £181m and making commitments of £83m. Alongside this, we returned £59m of cash to shareholders (5% of our opening NAV) through buybacks and dividends.

    As we enter another period of uncertainty, I am confident our long-term approach can generate value for our shareholders, and I thank you for your continued support.

        Our portfolio companies are delivering solid operational performance (15% earnings growth LTM1). Our resilient Portfolio and robust balance sheet position us well for the current market environment.

    Our active approach to portfolio management is a differentiator for ICGT. As well as making a number of new commitments and investments during the year, we executed a secondary sale post period-end at a 5.5% discount that generated net cash proceeds of £62m for ICGT.

    The investment trust structure enables shareholders to invest efficiently in privately-owned companies. With our track record and network, ICGT is an attractive proposition for those seeking exposure to mature, profitable, cash-generative businesses.

       

    PERFORMANCE OVERVIEW

            Annualised
    Performance to 31 January 2025 3 months 6 months 1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
    Portfolio Return on a Local Currency Basis 2.9% 6.2% 10.2% 8.9% 15.8% 15.3%
    NAV per Share Total Return 4.3% 7.4% 10.5% 8.9% 14.5% 13.8%
    Share Price Total Return 9.7% 1.5% 12.5% 6.6% 9.6% 11.8%
    FTSE All-Share Index Total Return 6.9% 4.3% 17.1% 7.9% 6.6% 6.5%
    Financial year ended: Jan 2021 Jan 2022 Jan 2023 Jan 2024 Jan 2025
    Fund performance Portfolio return (local currency) 24.9% 24.4% 10.5% 5.9% 10.2%
    Portfolio return (sterling) 26.4% 27.6% 17.0% 3.2% 10.6%
    NAV £952m £1,158m £1,301m £1,283m £1,332m
    NAV per Share Total Return (%) 22.5% 24.4% 14.5% 2.1% 10.5%
                 
    Investment activity New Investments £139m £304m £287m £137m £181m
    As % opening Portfolio 17% 32% 24% 10% 13%
    Realisation Proceeds £137m £334m £252m £171m £151m
    As % opening Portfolio 17% 35% 21% 12% 11%
                 
    Shareholder experience Closing share price 966p 1,200p 1,150p 1,226p 1,342p
    Total dividends per share 24p 27p 30p 33p 36p
    Share Price Total Return 2.8% 27.1% (2.3)% 9.6% 12.5%
    Total shareholder distributions £17m £21m £22m £35m £59m
    As % Realisation Proceeds 12% 6% 9% 20% 39%
               
    – o/w distributions dividends (%) 94% 86% 91% 63% 38%
    – o/w distributions buybacks (%) 6% 14% 9% 37% 62%
    Portfolio activity overview for FY25 Primary Direct Secondary Total ICG-managed
    Local Currency return 8.2% 16.3% 6.4% 10.2% 8.4%
    Sterling return 8.2% 17.0% 7.3% 10.6% 8.8%
    New Investments £115m £58m £8m £181m £21m
    Total Proceeds £101m £13m £37m £151m £60m
    New Fund Commitments £64m £20m £83m £20m
    Closing Portfolio value £789m £507m £228m £1,523m £433m
    % Total Portfolio 52% 33% 15% 100% 28%

    COMPANY TIMETABLE
    A presentation for investors and analysts will be held at 11:00 BST today. A link to the presentation can be found on the Results & Reports page of the Company website. A recording of the presentation will be made available on the Company website after the event.

        FY25 Final Dividend
    Ex-dividend date   3 July 2025
    Record date   4 July 2025
    Dividend payment date   18 July 2025
    Annual General Meeting
    The Annual General Meeting will be held on Tuesday 24 June 2025. The Board will be communicating the format of the meeting separately in the Notice of Meeting. This will include details of how shareholders may register their interest in attending the Annual General Meeting.
    Shareholder Seminar
    We will be holding a Shareholder Seminar for institutional shareholders and research analysts at 3:30pm BST on Wednesday 18 June 2025, with registration starting at 3:15pm BST.

    Shareholders should contact icg-enterprise@icgam.com should they wish to attend.

    Please note that for regulatory reasons this event is only open to institutional investors and research analysts.

    ENQUIRIES

    Institutional investors and analysts:  
    Martin Li, Shareholder Relations, ICG +44 (0) 20 3545 1816
    Nathan Brown, Deutsche Numis +44 (0) 20 7260 1426
    David Harris, Cadarn Capital +44 (0) 20 7019 9042
       
    Media:  
    Clare Glynn, Corporate Communications, ICG +44 (0) 20 3545 1395

    ABOUT ICG ENTERPRISE TRUST

    ICG Enterprise Trust is a leading listed private equity investor focused on creating long-term growth by delivering consistently strong returns through selectively investing in profitable, cash-generative private companies, primarily in Europe and the US, while offering the added benefit to shareholders of daily liquidity.

    We invest in companies directly as well as through funds managed by ICG plc and other leading private equity managers who focus on creating long-term value and building sustainable growth through active management and strategic change.

    NOTES

    Included in this document are Alternative Performance Measures (“APMs”). APMs have been used if considered by the Board and the Manager to be the most relevant basis for shareholders in assessing the overall performance of the Company, and for comparing the performance of the Company to its peers and its previously reported results. The Glossary includes further details of APMs and reconciliations to International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) measures, where appropriate.

    In the Manager’s Review and Supplementary Information, all performance figures are stated on a Total Return basis (i.e. including the effect of re-invested dividends). ICG Alternative Investment Limited, a regulated subsidiary of Intermediate Capital Group plc, acts as the Manager of the Company.

    DISCLAIMER

    The information contained herein and on the pages that follow does not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to acquire or subscribe for, any securities in any jurisdiction where such an offer or solicitation is unlawful or would impose any unfulfilled registration, qualification, publication or approval requirements on ICG Enterprise Trust PLC (the “Company”) or its affiliates or agents. Equity securities in the Company have not been and will not be registered under the applicable securities laws of the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa (each an “Excluded Jurisdiction”). The equity securities in the Company referred to herein and on the pages that follow may not be offered or sold within an Excluded Jurisdiction, or to any U.S. person (“U.S. Person”) as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act”), or to any national, resident or citizen of an Excluded Jurisdiction.

    The information on the pages that follow may contain forward looking statements. Any statement other than a statement of historical fact is a forward looking statement. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by any forward looking statement. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on any forward looking statement, which speaks only as of the date of its issuance.

    CHAIR’S STATEMENT

    Dear fellow shareholders,

    For the 12 months to 31 January 2025 ICG Enterprise Trust delivered a NAV per Share Total Return of 10.5% and a Share Price Total Return of 12.5%. Over the last five years, the annualised returns have been 14.5% and 9.6% respectively.

    The Board has declared dividends for the year of 36p (+9% compared to FY24) and reduced ICGT’s share count by 4.3% during the year by returning £36m to shareholders through share buybacks at a weighted average discount of 36.6%.

    INVESTMENT STRATEGY

    The Company’s Portfolio grew 10.2% on a Local Currency Basis during the year (last five years annualised: 15.8%).

    We invest in resilient private companies and are geographically balanced between North America and Europe. During the year we evolved our target portfolio mix towards having more Direct and Secondary Investments, which will help to optimise Portfolio concentration and liquidity.

    COST BASE

    ICGT’s ongoing charges for FY25 were 1.38% (FY24: 1.37%). As a Board, we are committed to providing value for our shareholders and transparent disclosure around our cost. The change in fees and cost savings instigated by the Board in FY24 continued to enhance the net return of our investment strategy delivering £2.0m savings in FY25. We publish a Statement of Expenses that sets out the impact of ICGT’s expenses on the financial returns to shareholders (available at www.icg-enterprise.co.uk/soe) and which has been updated for our FY25 expenses.

    CAPITAL ALLOCATION

    The Board has continued its proactive approach to capital allocation. We balance the potential long-term compounding returns of investments into new portfolio companies with cash returns to shareholders at par via dividends and the value accretion of buying back shares at a discount to NAV. ICGT was the first in our sector to introduce a long-term share buyback programme in FY23, and in FY25 we supplemented this with an opportunistic buyback that has been renewed for FY26.

    Over the last five years, ICGT’s dividend per share has grown at an annualised rate of 9.4% (including the proposed 10.5p final dividend being declared for FY25). The ICGT ordinary dividend per share has now increased for the twelfth consecutive year.

    Since October 2022 our share buybacks have returned £51m to shareholders and acquired shares at a weighted-average discount of 37.5%, increasing NAV per Share by 54p (2.7%). We believe the share buybacks have also increased the liquidity and reduced the volatility of our shares.

    BALANCE SHEET

    We continue to implement our objective of being fully invested through cycles alongside maintaining a robust balance sheet. This allows us to manage our resources in line with our capital allocation policy.

    Having increased our credit facility during the year from €240m to €300m, at 31 January 2025 ICG Enterprise Trust had total available liquidity of £125m and net gearing of 10%. We have announced two transactions post period-end that in aggregate generated Total Proceeds to ICGT of over £100m.

    SALES AND MARKETING

    In aggregate across the Board and Manager we own in excess of 270,000 shares, and are aligned to the success of an investment in ICG Enterprise Trust shares.

    ICGT’s discount remains at levels that the Board feels do not reflect the fundamental value of the shares. The discount is currently 41%. We continue to be challenged by the share price trading at such a discount to NAV and the Board is active in its pursuit of ways to improve the Company’s rating.

    I had a year of strong shareholder engagement, welcomed several new holders to our register and received valuable feedback that has been shared with the Board and Manager. In conjunction with our Manager, our Corporate Broker and our distribution partner we will continue the programme to help the market understand ICGT’s shareholder proposition and its role within investment portfolios.

    OUTLOOK

    Our focus on investing in private equity-owned companies that have resilient growth characteristics gives shareholders access to investments that they cannot reach through public market strategies. ICGT plays a valuable role in our shareholders’ portfolios.

    I believe there is substantial value in our Portfolio and in the new investments the Manager is making on our shareholders’ behalf. Our Portfolio is performing well, and I thank all shareholders for your continued support.

    Jane Tufnell
    Chair
    7 May 2025

    MANAGER’S REVIEW

    Alternative Performance Measures

    The Board and the Manager monitor the financial performance of the Company on the basis of Alternative Performance Measures (‘APM’), which are non-UK-adopted IAS (‘IAS’) measures. The APM predominantly form the basis of the financial measures discussed in this review, which the Board believes assists shareholders in assessing their investment and the delivery of the investment strategy.

    The Company holds certain investments in subsidiary entities. The substantive difference between APM and IAS is the treatment of the assets and liabilities of these subsidiaries. The APM basis ‘looks through’ these subsidiaries to the underlying assets and liabilities they hold, and it reports the investments as the Portfolio APM, gross of the liability in respect of the Co-investment Incentive Scheme. Under IAS, the Company and its subsidiaries are reported separately. The assets and liabilities of the subsidiaries, which include the liability in respect of the Co-investment Incentive Scheme, are presented on the face of the IAS balance sheet as a single carrying value. The same is true for the IAS and APM basis of the cash flow statement.

    The following table sets out IAS metrics and the APM equivalents:

    IFRS (£m) 31 January 2025 31 January 2024 APM (£m) 31 January 2025 31 January 2024
    Investments 1,470 1,296 Portfolio 1,523 1,349
    NAV 1,332 1,283 Realisation Proceeds 151 171
    Cash flows from the sale of portfolio investments 20 41 Total Proceeds 151 239
    Cash flows related to the purchase of portfolio investments 34 25 Total New Investment 181 137

    The Glossary includes definitions for all APM and, where appropriate, a reconciliation between APM and IAS.

    Why private equity

    Every day the lives of those living and working in the US and Western Europe are touched by companies owned by private equity: retailers, payments processors, home security, pet food, health services – the list is long. What typically unites these businesses is that they are profitable and cash generative. These businesses are actively managed by their shareholders, with management teams heavily incentivised to generate returns. Increasingly companies with these characteristics are choosing to grow under private equity ownership and to stay private for longer. Within that, ICGT focuses on a subset of those companies that we expect will generate resilient growth. As more businesses are owned by private equity, we believe it is a structurally attractive allocation within an investment portfolio, with a track record of attractive returns, and significant opportunity to continue that trajectory.

    A share in ICGT gives you access to a unique portfolio of private companies.

    Our investment strategy

    Within developed markets, we focus on investing in buyouts of profitable, cash-generative businesses that exhibit resilient growth characteristics, which we believe will generate strong long-term compounding returns across economic cycles.

    We take an active approach to Portfolio construction, with a flexible mandate that enables us to deploy capital in Primary, Secondary and Direct Investments. Geographically, we focus on the developed markets of North America and Europe which have deep and mature private equity markets.

      Medium-term target Five-year average 31 January 2025
    1. Target Portfolio composition 1      
    Investment category      
    Primary ~40-50% 57% 52%
    Direct ~30-35% 28% 33%
    Secondary ~25-30% 15% 15%
    Geography2      
    North America ~50% 40% 46%
    Europe (inc. UK) ~50% 52% 48%
    Other 8% 6%
           
    2. Balance sheet      
    Net cash/(Net Debt)3 ~0% (1)% (10)%
    1. Five-year average is the linear average of FY exposures for FY21-FY25.
    2. As a percentage of Portfolio.
    3. (Net cash)/debt as a percentage of NAV. Post period-end, we announced Total Proceeds of over £100m from a secondary sale and the realisation of Minimax, see page 14

    ICG Enterprise Trust benefits from access to ICG-managed funds and Direct Investments, which represented 28% of the Portfolio value at period end and generated a 8.4% return on a Local Currency Basis.

    Performance overview

    At 31 January 2025, our Portfolio was valued at £1,523m, and the Portfolio Return on a Local Currency Basis for the financial year was 10.2% (FY24: 5.9%).

    Due to the geographic diversification of our Portfolio, the reported value is impacted by changes in foreign exchange rates. During the period, FX movements affected the Portfolio positively by £5.4m, driven by US dollar appreciation. In sterling terms, Portfolio growth during the period was 10.6%.

    The net result for shareholders was that ICG Enterprise Trust generated a NAV per Share Total Return of 10.5% during FY25, ending the period with a NAV per Share of 2,073p.

    Movement in the Portfolio
    £m
    Twelve months to 31 January 2025 Twelve months to 31 January 2024
    Opening Portfolio1 1,349 1,406
    Total New Investments 181 137
    Total Proceeds (151) (239)
    Portfolio net cashflow 30 (102)
    Valuation movement2 138 83
    Currency movement 6 (39)
    Closing Portfolio 1,523 1,349
    1. Refer to the Glossary. 

    2. 97% of the Portfolio is valued using 31 December 2024 (or later) valuations (FY24: 94%). 

       
    NAV per Share Total Return Twelve months to 31 January 2025 Twelve months to 31 January 2024
    % Portfolio growth (local currency) 10.2% 5.9%
    % currency movement 0.4% (2.7%)
    % Portfolio growth (Sterling) 10.6% 3.2%
    Impact of gearing 0.7% (0.3)%
    Finance costs and other expenses (0.6)% (0.2)%
    Management fee (1.3)% (1.2)%
    Co-investment Incentive Scheme Accrual (0.7)% (0.1)%
    Impact of share buybacks 1.8% 0.7%
    NAV per Share Total Return 10.5% 2.1%

    For Q4 the Portfolio Return on a Local Currency Basis was 2.9% and the NAV per Share Total Return was 4.3%

    Executing our investment strategy

    Commitments
    in the financial year
    Total New Investments
    in the financial year
    Growth
    in the financial year
    Total Proceeds
    in the financial year
    Making commitments to funds, which expect to be drawn over 3 to 5 years Cash deployments into portfolio companies, either through funds or directly Driving growth and value creation of our portfolio companies Cash realisations of investments in Portfolio companies, plus Fund Disposals
    £83m
    (FY24: £153m)
    £181m
    (FY24: £137m)
    £138m
    (FY24: £83m)
    £151m
    (FY24: £239m)

    Commitments

    Our evergreen structure and flexible investment mandate enable us to commit through the cycle, maintaining vintage diversification for our Portfolio and sowing the seeds for future growth.

    During the year we made 7 new Fund Commitments totalling £83.4m, including £19.8m to funds managed by ICG plc, as detailed below:

    Fund Manager Commitment during the period
        Local currency £m
    ICG Strategic Equity V ICG $25.0 m £19.8 m
    Leeds VIII Leeds Equity $20.0 m £15.7 m
    Investindustrial VIII Investindustrial €15.0 m £12.9 m
    Oak Hill VI Oak Hill $15.0 m £11.9 m
    Thoma Bravo XVI Thoma Bravo $15.0 m £11.7 m
    Valeas I Valeas $10.0 m £7.5 m
    American Securities IX American Securities $5.0 m £4.0 m

    At 31 January 2025, ICG Enterprise Trust had outstanding Undrawn Commitments of £553.2m

    Movement in outstanding Commitments Year to 31 January 2025
    £m
    Undrawn Commitments as at 1 February 2024 552.0
    New Fund Commitments 83.4
    New Commitments relating to Direct Investments 65.3
    Total New Investments (181.4)
    Currency and other movements 33.9
    Undrawn commitments as at 31 January 2025 553.2

    Total Undrawn Commitments at 31 January 2025 comprised £419.1m of Undrawn Commitments to funds within their Investment Period, and a further £134.1m was to funds outside their Investment Period.

      31 January 2025
    £m
    31 January 2024
    £m
    Undrawn Commitments – funds in Investment Period 419.1 434.2
    Undrawn Commitments – funds outside Investment Period 134.1 117.7
    Total Undrawn Commitments 553.2 552.0
    Total available liquidity (including debt facility) (124.6) (195.9)
    Overcommitment net of total available liquidity 428.6 356.1
    Overcommitment % of net asset value 31.1% 27.7%

    Commitments are made in the funds’ underlying currencies. The currency split of the Undrawn Commitments at 31 January 2025 was as follows:

      31 January 2025 31 January 2024
    Undrawn Commitments £m % £m %
    US Dollar 310.3 56.1% 290 52.5%
    Euro 213.1 38.5% 236 42.7%
    Sterling 29.8 5.4% 26 4.8%
    Total 553.2 100.0% 552.0 100.0%

    Investments

    Total new investments of £181.4m during the period, of which 12% (£21.1m) were alongside ICG. New investment by category detailed in the table below:

    Investment Category

    Cost (£m)

    % of New Investments
    Primary 115.5 63.6%
    Direct 58.4 32.2%
    Secondary 7.6 4.2%
    Total 181.4 100.0%

    The five largest new investments in the period were as follows:

    Investment Description Manager Country Cost £m1
    Datasite Provider of software focused on virtual data rooms ICG United States 18.4
    Visma Provider of business management software and outsourcing services Hg Norway 14.5
    Audiotonix Manufacturer of audio mixing consoles PAI United Kingdom 14.0
    Multiversity Provider of online higher education courses. ICG/CVC Italy 9.4
    Avid Bioservices Provider of biologics development and manufacturing services GHO United States 7.3
    Top 5 largest underlying new investments 63.6

    1 Represents ICG Enterprise Trust’s indirect investment (share of fund cost) plus any Direct Investments in the period.

    Occasionally ICGT simultaneously has both a realisation from and an investment into the same company in the same period. This typically occurs when an underlying fund sells a company that is purchased by another fund within ICGT’s portfolio. During FY25 shareholders will note that Datasite and Visma appear both in the top 5 realisations and top 5 new investments, which is a result of this situation.

    GROWTH

    The Portfolio grew by £138.0m (+10.2%) on a Local Currency Basis in the 12 months to 31 January 2025.

    Growth across the Portfolio was split as follows:

    • By investment type: growth was spread across Primary (8.2%), Secondary (6.4%) and Direct (16.3%)
    • By geography: North America and Europe experienced growth of 12.1% and 8.4% respectively

    The growth in the Portfolio is underpinned by the performance of our portfolio companies, which delivered robust financial performance during the period:

      Top 30 Enlarged Perimeter
    Portfolio coverage 41% 67%
    Last Twelve Months (‘LTM’) revenue growth 9.0% 11.2%
    LTM EBITDA growth 15.5% 15.3%
    Net Debt / EBITDA 4.0x 4.4x
    Enterprise Value / EBITDA 15.4x 15.2x
    Note: values are weighted averages for the respective portfolio segment; see Glossary for definition and calculation methodology

    QUOTED COMPANY EXPOSURE

    We do not actively invest in publicly quoted companies but gain listed investment exposure when IPOs are used as a route to exit an investment. In these cases, exit timing typically lies with the manager with whom we have invested.

    At 31 January 2025, ICG Enterprise Trust’s exposure to quoted companies was valued at £73.1m, equivalent to 4.8% of the Portfolio value (31 January 2024: 4.8%). Across the Portfolio, quoted positions resulted in a £4.3m increase in Portfolio NAV during the period. The share price of our largest listed exposure, Chewy, increased by 119% in local currency (USD) during the period. This positively impacted the Portfolio Return on a Local Currency Basis by approximately 0.8%.

    At 31 January 2025 Chewy was the only quoted investment that individually accounted for 0.5% or more of the Portfolio value:

    Company Ticker 31 January 2025
    % of Portfolio value
    Chewy CHWY-US 2.0%
    Other companies   2.8%
    Total   4.8%

    REALISATIONS

    During FY25, the ICG Enterprise Trust Portfolio generated Total Proceeds of £150.8m.

    Realisation activity during the period included 40 Full Exits generating proceeds of £73.7m. These were completed at a weighted average Uplift to Carrying Value of 19% and represent a weighted average Multiple to Cost of 2.9x for those investments.

    Realisation Manager Description Country Proceeds £m
    VettaFi ICG Provider of master limited partnerships (“MLP”) indices United States 10.2
    Visma ICG Provider of business management software and outsourcing services Norway 8.2
    Datasite ICG Provider of software focused on virtual data rooms United States 7.8
    Compass Community Graphite Provider of fostering services and children residential care United Kingdom 7.4
    IRIS ICG Provider of software and services for the accountancy and payroll sectors United Kingdom 7.0
    Total of 5 largest underlying realisations   40.7

    Balance sheet and liquidity

    Net assets at 31 January 2025 were £1,332m, equal to 2,073p
    per share.

    The Company had net debt of £128m and at 31 January 2025, the Portfolio represented 114% of net assets (31 January 2024: 105%).

      £m % of net assets
    Portfolio 1,523.1 114.3%
    Cash 3.9 0.3%
    Drawn debt (131.9) (9.9)%
    Co-investment Incentive Scheme Accrual (53.9) (4.0)%
    Other net current liabilities (8.8) (0.7)%
    Net assets 1,332.4 100.0%

    Our objective is to be fully invested through the cycle, while ensuring that we have sufficient financial resources to be able to take advantage of attractive investment opportunities as they arise.

    During the year, our balance sheet flexibility was enhanced through an increase in the credit facility size from €240m to €300m. This change was effective from 20 December 2024.

    At 31 January 2025, ICG Enterprise Trust had a cash balance
    of £3.9m (31 January 2024: £11.2m) and total available liquidity of £124.6m (31 January 2024: £195.9m).

      £m
    Cash at 31 January 2024 11.2
    Total Proceeds 150.8
    New investments (181.4)
    Debt drawn down 111.9
    Shareholder returns (58.2)
    Management fees (16.0)
    FX and other expenses (13.5)
    Cash at 31 January 2025 3.9
    Available undrawn debt facilities 120.7
    Total available liquidity 124.6

    Dividend and share buyback

    ICG Enterprise Trust has a progressive dividend policy alongside two share buyback programmes to return capital to shareholders.

    DIVIDENDS

    The Board has declared a dividend of 10.5p per share in respect of the fourth quarter, taking total dividends for the year to 36p (FY24: 33p). It is the twelfth consecutive year of ordinary dividend per share increases.

    SHARE BUYBACKS

    The following purchases have been made under the Company’s share buyback programmes:

      Long-term Opportunistic Total
      FY253 Since inception1 FY253 Since inception2 FY253 Since
    inception
    Number of shares purchased 1,420,500 2,752,688 1,492,175 1,492,175 2,912,675 4,244,863
    % of opening shares since buyback started         4.3% 6.2%
    Capital returned to shareholders £17.3m £32.6m £18.3m £18.3m £35.6m £50.8m
    Number of days shares have been acquired 87 183 11 11 98 194
    Weighted average discount to last reported NAV 37.0% 38.3% 36.2% 36.2% 36.6% 37.5%
    NAV per Share accretion (p)         36.5 54.1
    NAV per Share accretion (% of NAV)         1.8% 2.7%

    1.Since October 2022 (which was when the long-term share buyback programme was launched) up to and including 31 January 2025.

    2. Since May 2024 (which was when the opportunistic buyback programme was launched) up to and including 31 January 2025.

    3. Based on company-issued announcements / date of purchase, rather than date of settlement.

    Note: aggregate consideration excludes commission, PTM and SDRT.

    The Board believes the long-term buyback programme demonstrates the Manager’s discipline around capital allocation; underlines the Board’s confidence in the long-term prospects of the Company, its cash flows and NAV; will enhance the NAV per Share; and, over time, may positively influence the volatility of the Company’s discount and its trading liquidity.

    During the period, the Board announced an opportunistic share buyback programme for FY25 of up to £25m. This is intended to enable us to take advantage of current trading levels, when the ability to purchase shares in meaningful size at a significant discount presents itself. It was renewed for FY26 for an additional year up to £25m.

    Foreign exchange rates

    The details of relevant foreign exchange rates applied in this report are provided in the table below:

      Average rate for FY25 Average rate for FY24 31 January 2025 year end 31 January 2024 year end
    GBP:EUR 1.18 1.15 1.20 1.17
    GBP:USD 1.28 1.25 1.24 1.27
    EUR:USD 1.08 1.08 1.04 1.08

    Activity since the period end

    Notable activity between 1 February 2025 and 31 March 2025 has included:

    • Four new Fund Commitments for a combined value of £64m
    • New investments of £39m
    • Realisation Proceeds of £26m

    From 1 February 2025 up to and including 30 April 2025, 718,000 shares (£8.9m) were bought back at a weighted-average discount to NAV of 37.9%.

    In addition, during the month of April 2025, we announced that proceeds of £107m were received as a result of two transactions:

    • Secondary sale (£62m net proceeds), executed at a discount of 5.5% to 30 September 2024 valuation and realising a 1.6x return on invested cost (15% IRR)
    • Realisation of Minimax (€53m (£45m) proceeds), ICGT’s largest portfolio company at 31 January 2025 (3.1% of Portfolio value). ICG Enterprise Trust is reinvesting €10m in the next stage of Minimax’s growth alongside Management and other investors including certain ICG funds.

    ICG Private Equity Funds Investment Team

    7 May 2025

    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

    This section presents supplementary information regarding the Portfolio (see Manager’s Review and the Glossary for further details and definitions).

    Portfolio composition

    Portfolio by calendar year of investment % of value of underlying investments
    31 January 2025
    % of value of underlying investments
    31 January 2024
    2025 0.5% —%
    2024 10.1% —%
    2023 7.6% 6.9%
    2022 18.5% 18.7%
    2021 25.7% 27.9%
    2020 8.6% 11.4%
    2019 10.3% 12.4%
    2018 7.3% 10.5%
    2017 2.2% 4.2%
    2016 and older 9.2% 8.0%
    Total 100.0% 100.0%
    Portfolio by sector % of value of underlying investments
    31 January 2025
    % of value of underlying investments
    31 January 2024
    TMT 29.9% 25.3%
    Consumer goods and services 18.1% 17.5%
    Healthcare 11.5% 11.3%
    Business services 12.4% 13.1%
    Industrials 7.8% 7.9%
    Education 5.0% 7.4%
    Financials 7.6% 5.7%
    Leisure 4.0% 7.3%
    Other 3.7% 4.5%
    Total 100.0% 100.0%
    Portfolio by fund currency1 31 January 2025
    £m
    31 January 2025
    %
    31 January 2024
    £m
    31 January 2024
    %
    US Dollar 796 52.3% 674 49.9%
    Euro 584 38.4% 555 41.2%
    Sterling 140 9.2% 120 8.9%
    Total 1,523   1,349 100.0%
    1 Currency exposure by reference to the reporting currency of each fund .

    Portfolio Dashboard

    The tables below provide disclosure on the composition and dispersion of financial and operational performance for the Top 30 and the Enlarged Perimeter. At 31 January 2025, the Top 30 Companies represented 40.2% of the Portfolio by value and the Enlarged Perimeter represented 66.9% of total Portfolio value. This information is prepared on a value-weighted basis, based on contribution to Portfolio value at 31 January 2025. Datasets for Top 30 companies and ‘Enlarged perimeter’ are not distinct and will have some overlap.

      % of value at 31 January 2025
    Sector exposure Top 30 Enlarged Perimeter
    TMT 17.3% 30.2%
    Business services 16.9% 13.9%
    Consumer goods and services 14.0% 17.3%
    Industrials 27.3% 8.7%
    Healthcare 8.4% 10.0%
    Education 6.9% 6.5%
    Leisure 6.8% 5.1%
    Financials 2.4% 5.1%
    Other —% 3.2%
    Total 100.0% 100.0%
      % of value at 31 January 2025
    Geographic exposure1 Top 30 Enlarged Perimeter
    North America 43.6% 45.0%
    Europe 50.3% 50.5%
    Other 6.1% 4.5%
    Total 100.0% 100.0%
    1 Geographic exposure is calculated by reference to the location of the headquarters of the underlying Portfolio companies
        % of value at 31 January 2025
    LTM revenue growth Top 30 Enlarged Perimeter
    <-10% 3.2% 4.0%
    `-10-0% 9.0% 10.2%
    0-10% 59.4% 47.0%
    10-20% 15.2% 20.6%
    20-30% 3.6% 5.6%
    >30% 9.6% 10.0%
    n.a.1 —% 2.7%
    Weighted average 9.0% 11.2%
    Note: for consistency, any excluded investments are excluded for all dispersion analysis.
        % of value at 31 January 2025
    LTM EBITDA growth Top 30 Enlarged Perimeter
    <-10% 5.8% 7.2%
    `-10-0% 9.7% 10.3%
    0-10% 31.4% 27.5%
    10-20% 21.9% 23.0%
    20-30% 7.2% 8.9%
    >30% 24.0% 19.9%
    n.a1 —% 3.2%
    Weighted average 15.5% 15.3%
    Note: for consistency, any excluded investments are excluded for all dispersion analysis.
        % of value at 31 January 2025
    EV/EBITDA multiple Top 30 Enlarged Perimeter
    0-10x 8.5% 10.4%
    10-12x 17.2% 16.4%
    12-13x 8.1% 7.8%
    13-15x 18.6% 18.0%
    15-17x 25.9% 21.7%
    17-20x 6.5% 7.7%
    >20x 15.2% 15.4%
    n.a.1 —% 2.6%
    Weighted average 15.4x 15.2x
    Note: for consistency, any excluded investments are excluded for all dispersion analysis.
        % of value at 31 January 2025
    Net Debt / EBITDA Top 30 Enlarged Perimeter
    <2x 27.2% 17.3%
    2-4x 17.3% 19.9%
    4-5x 14.1% 15.7%
    5-6x 6.7% 13.2%
    6-7x 26.0% 17.8%
    >7x 8.7% 11.2%
    n.a.1 —% 5.1%
    Weighted average 4.0x 4.4x
    Note: for consistency, any excluded investments are excluded for all dispersion analysis.

    Top 30 companies
    The table below presents the 30 companies in which ICG Enterprise Trust had the largest investments by value at 31 January 2025. The valuations are gross of underlying managers fees and carried interest.

      Company Manager Year of investment Country Value as a % of Portfolio
    1 Minimax        
      Supplier of fire protection systems and services ICG 2018 Germany 3.1%
    2 Froneri        
      Manufacturer and distributor of ice cream products PAI 2013 / 2019 United Kingdom 2.5%
    3 Chewy        
      Online retailer of premium pet food and products BC Partners 2022 United States 2.0%
    4 Datasite        
      Provider of software focused on virtual data rooms ICG 2024 United States 1.9%
    5 Leaf Home Solutions        
      Provider of home maintenance services Gridiron 2016 United States 1.6%
    6 Visma        
      Provider of business management software and outsourcing services Hg/ICG 2024 Norway 1.6%
    7 Circana        
      Provider of mission-critical data and predictive analytics to consumer goods manufacturers New Mountain 2022 United States 1.6%
    8 European Camping Group        
      Operator of premium campsites and holiday parks PAI 2021 / 2023 France 1.5%
    9 Davies Group        
      Provider of speciality business process outsourcing services BC Partners 2021 United Kingdom 1.5%
    10 Ambassador Theatre Group        
      Operator of theatres and ticketing platforms ICG 2021 United Kingdom 1.4%
    11 Precisely        
      Provider of enterprise software Clearlake/ICG 2021 / 2022 United States 1.3%
    12 Newton        
      Provider of management consulting services ICG 2021 / 2022 United Kingdom 1.3%
    13 David Lloyd Leisure        
      Operator of premium health clubs TDR 2013 / 2020 United Kingdom 1.3%
    14 Curium Pharma        
      Supplier of nuclear medicine diagnostic pharmaceuticals ICG 2020 United Kingdom 1.3%
    15 PSB Academy        
      Provider of private tertiary education ICG 2018 Singapore 1.3%
    16 Crucial Learning        
      Provider of corporate training courses focused on communication skills and leadership development Leeds Equity 2019 United States 1.3%
    17 Class Valuation        
      Provider of residential mortgage appraisal management services Gridiron 2021 United States 1.3%
    18 Domus        
      Operator of retirement homes ICG 2017 / 2021 France 1.2%
    19 Yudo        
      Designer and manufacturer of hot runner systems ICG 2017 / 2018 South Korea 1.2%
    20 ECA Group        
      Provider of autonomous systems for the aerospace and maritime sectors ICG 2022 France 1.1%
    21 Brooks Automation        
      Provider of semiconductor manufacturing solutions THL 2021 / 2022 United States 1.0%
    22 Planet Payment        
      Provider of integrated payments services focused on hospitality and luxury retail Advent/Eurazeo/ICG 2021 Ireland 1.0%
    23 Ivanti        
      Provider of IT management solutions Charlesbank/ICG 2021 United States 1.0%
    24 Vistage        
      Provider of CEO leadership and coaching for small and mid-size businesses in the US Gridiron 2022 United States 1.0%
    25 Audiotonix        
      Manufacturer of audio mixing consoles PAI 2024 United Kingdom 0.9%
    26 DigiCert        
      Provider of enterprise security solutions ICG 2021 United States 0.9%
    27 Ping Identity        
      Provider of intelligent access management solutions Thoma Bravo 2022 / 2023 United States 0.9%
    28 KronosNet        
      Provider of tech-enabled customer engagement and business solutions ICG 2022 Spain 0.8%
    29 Archer Technologies        
      Provider of governance, risk and compliance software Cinven 2023 United States 0.7%
    30 Silvus Technologies        
      Developer of mobile communications datalinks used in law enforcement, unmanned systems and other commercial/industrial applications TJC 2019 United States 0.7%
      Total of the 30 largest underlying investments       40.2%

    The 30 largest fund investments
    The table below presents the 30 largest fund investments by value at 31 January 2025. The valuations are net of underlying managers’ fees and carried interest.

      Fund Year of commitment Value £m Outstanding commitment £m
    1 PAI Strategic Partnerships **      
      Mid-market and large buyouts 2019 34.6 0.2
    2 ICG Strategic Equities Fund IV      
      GP-led secondary transactions 2021 32.9 7.1
    3 ICG Strategic Equities Fund III      
      GP-led secondary transactions 2018 31.0 11.2
    4 ICG Europe VII      
      Mezzanine and equity in mid-market buyouts 2018 30.7 6.1
    5 CVC European Equity Partners VII      
      Large buyouts 2017 25.7 2.9
    6 PAI Europe VII      
      Mid-market and large buyouts 2017 24.6 2.4
    7 ICG Ludgate Hill (Feeder B) SCSp      
      Secondary portfolio 2021 23.8 13.6
    8 ICG Europe VIII      
      Mezzanine and equity in mid-market buy-outs 2021 23.6 14.3
    9 Gridiron Capital Fund III      
      Mid-market buyouts 2016 23.4 1.3
    10 Resolute IV      
      Mid-market buyouts 2018 23.0 0.9
    11 Gridiron Capital Fund IV      
      Mid-market buyouts 2019 21.5 0.5
    12 ICG Augusta Partners Co-Investor **      
      Secondary fund restructurings 2018 20.5 17.8
    13 Oak Hill V      
      Mid-market buyouts 2019 19.9 0.6
    14 Seventh Cinven      
      Large buyouts 2019 19.8 1.8
    15 Graphite Capital Partners VIII *      
      Mid-market buyouts 2013 19.3 4.1
    16 Graphite Capital Partners IX      
      Mid-market buyouts 2018 18.4 2.3
    17 ICG Ludgate Hill III      
      Secondary portfolio 2022 18.0 5.7
    18 Resolute V      
      Mid-market buyouts 2021 17.1 1.4
    19 Advent Global Private Equity IX      
      Large buyouts 2019 16.4 0.5
    20 ICG Ludgate Hill (Feeder) II Boston SCSp      
      Secondary portfolio 2022 16.0 5.4
    21 New Mountain Partners VI      
      Mid-market buy-outs 2020 14.9 0.5
    22 Investindustrial VII      
      Mid-market buyouts 2019 14.0 4.9
    23 ICG Europe Mid-Market Fund      
      Mezzanine and equity in mid-market buyouts 2019 13.5 5.5
    24 CVC Capital Partners VIII      
      Large buyouts 2020 13.4 0.5
    25 Bowmark Capital Partners VI      
      Mid-market buyouts 2018 13.1 3.4
    26 Tailwind Capital Partners III      
      Mid-market buyouts 2018 13.1 2.2
    27 BC European Capital X      
      Large buyouts 2016 13.1 1.4
    28 Thomas H Lee Equity Fund IX      
      Mid-market and large buyouts 2021 12.9 4.0
    29 Permira VII      
      Large buyouts 2019 12.6 1.6
    30 ICG LP Secondaries Fund I LP      
      LP-led secondary transactions 2022 12.2 41.1
      Total of the largest 30 fund investments   593.0 165.3
      Percentage of total investment Portfolio   39.1%  

    *All or part of interest acquired through a secondary sale.

    **Includes the associated Top Up funds.

    HOW WE MANAGE RISK

    Identifying and evaluating the strategic, financial and operational impact of our key risks

    The execution of the Company’s investment strategy is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, and the Board and Manager have identified several principal risks to the Company’s business. As part of this process, the Board has put in place an ongoing process to identify, assess and monitor the principal and emerging risks facing the Company, including those that would threaten its business model, future performance, solvency or liquidity.

    RISK MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK

    The Board is responsible for risk management and determining the Company’s overall risk appetite. The Audit Committee assesses and monitors the risk management framework and specifically reviews the controls and assurance programmes in place.

    PRINCIPAL RISKS

    The Company’s principal risks are individual risks, or a combination of risks, that could threaten the Company’s business model, future performance, solvency or liquidity.

    Details of the Company’s principal risks, potential impact, controls and mitigating factors are set out on pages 23 to 27.

    OTHER RISKS

    Other risks, including reputational risk, are potential outcomes of the principal risks materialising. These risks are actively managed and mitigated as part of the wider risk management framework of the Company and the Manager.

    EMERGING RISKS

    Emerging risks are considered by the Board and are regularly assessed to identify any potential impact on the Company and to determine whether any actions are required. Emerging risks often include those related to regulatory/legislative change and macro-economic and political change.

    The Company depends upon the experience, skill and reputation of the employees of the Manager. The Manager’s ability to retain the service of these individuals, who are not obligated to remain employed by the Manager, and recruit successfully, is a significant factor in the success of the Company.

    PRINCIPAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES

    The Company considers its principal risks (as well as several underlying risks comprising each principal risk) in four categories:

    1. Investment risks: the risk to performance resulting from ineffective or inappropriate investment selection, execution or monitoring.
    2. External risks: the risk of failing to deliver the Company’s investment objective and strategic goals due to external factors beyond the Company’s control.
    3. Operational risks: the risk of loss resulting from inadequate or failed internal processes, people or systems and external events, including regulatory risk.
    4. Financial risks: the risk of adverse impact on the Company due to having insufficient resources to meet its obligations or counterparty failure and the impact any material movement in foreign exchange rates may have on underlying valuations.

    RISK ASSESSMENT PROCESS

    A comprehensive risk assessment process is undertaken regularly to re-evaluate the impact and probability of each risk materialising and the strategic, financial and operational impact of the risk. Where the residual risk is determined to be outside appetite, appropriate action is taken. Further information on risk factors is set out within the financial statements.

    Risk appetite and tolerance

    The Board acknowledges and recognises that in the normal course of business, the Company is exposed to risk and it is willing to accept a certain level of risk in managing the business to achieve its targeted returns. The Board’s risk appetite framework provides a basis for the ongoing monitoring of risks and enables dialogue with respect to the Company’s current and evolving risk profile, allowing strategic and financial decisions to be made on an informed basis.

    The Board considers several factors to determine its acceptance for each principal risk and categorises acceptance for each risk as low, moderate and high. Where a risk is approaching or is outside the tolerance set, the Board will consider the appropriateness of actions being taken to manage the risk. In particular, the Board has a lower tolerance for financing risk with the aim to ensure that even under a stress scenario, the Company is likely to meet its funding requirements and financial obligations. Similarly, the Board has a low risk tolerance concerning operational risks including legal, tax and regulatory compliance and business process and continuity risk.

    How we manage and mitigate our key risks

    RISK IMPACT MITIGATION CHANGE IN THE YEAR
    INVESTMENT RISKS      
    INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE

    The Manager selects the fund investments and Direct Investments for the Company’s Portfolio, executing the investment strategy approved by the Board. The underlying managers of those funds in turn select individual investee companies. The origination, investment selection and management capabilities of both the Manager and the third-party managers are key to the performance of the Company.

    Poor origination, investment selection and monitoring by the Manager and/or third-party managers which may have a negative impact on Portfolio performance. The Manager has a strong track record of investing in private equity through multiple economic cycles. The Manager has a highly selective investment approach and disciplined process, which is overseen by ICG Enterprise Trust’s Investment Committee within the Manager, which comprises a balance of skills and perspectives.

    Further, the Company’s Portfolio is diversified, reducing the likelihood of a single investment decision impacting Portfolio performance.

    Stable

    The Board is responsible for ensuring that the investment policy is met. The day-to-day management of the Company’s assets is delegated to the Manager under investment guidelines determined by the Board. The Board regularly reviews these guidelines to ensure they remain appropriate and monitors compliance with the guidelines through regular reports from the Manager, including performance reporting. The Board also reviews the investment strategy at least annually.

    Following this assessment and other considerations, the Board concluded that investment performance risk has remained stable.

    VALUATION

    In valuing its investments in private equity funds and unquoted companies and publishing its NAV, the Company relies to a significant extent on the accuracy of financial and other information provided by the underlying managers to the Manager. There is the potential for inconsistency in the valuation methods adopted by the managers of these funds and companies and for valuations to be misstated.

    Incorrect valuations being provided would lead to an incorrect overall NAV. The Manager carries out a formal valuation process quarterly including a review of third-party valuations.

    This process includes a comparison of unaudited valuations to latest audited reports, as well as a review of any potential adjustments that are required to ensure the valuations of the underlying investments are in accordance with the fair market value principles required under UK-adopted International Accounting Standards (‘IAS’).

    Stable

    The Board regularly reviews and discusses the valuation process in detail with the Manager, including the sources of valuation information and methodologies used.

    Following this assessment and other considerations, the Board concluded that there was no material change in valuation risk.

    EXTERNAL RISKS      
    POLITICAL AND MACRO-ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY
    Political and macro-economic uncertainty and other global events, such as pandemics, that are outside the Company’s control could adversely impact the environment in which the Company and its investment portfolio companies operate.
    Changes in the political or macro-economic environment could significantly affect the performance of existing investments (and valuations) and prospects for realisations. In addition, they could impact the number of credible investment opportunities the Company can originate. The Manager uses a range of complementary approaches to inform strategic planning and risk mitigation, including active investment management, profitability and balance sheet scenario planning and stress testing to ensure resilience across a range of outcomes.
    The process is supported by a dedicated in-house economist and professional advisers where appropriate.
    Increasing
    The Board monitors and reviews the potential impact on the Company from political and economic developments on an ongoing basis, including input and discussions with the Manager.
    Incorporating these views and other considerations, the Board concluded that this risk had increased.
    CLIMATE CHANGE
    The underlying managers of the fund investments and Direct Investments in the Company’s Portfolio fail to ensure that their portfolio companies respond to the emerging threats from climate change.
    Climate-related transition risks, driven in particular by abrupt shifts in the political and technological landscape, impact the value of the Company’s Portfolio. The Manager has a well-defined, firm-wide Responsible Investing Policy and sustainable investing framework in place.
    A tailored sustainable investing framework applies across all stages of the Company’s investment process.
    Stable

    The Board monitors and reviews the potential impact to the Company from failures by underlying managers to mitigate the impact of climate change on portfolio company valuation.

    THE LISTED PRIVATE
    EQUITY SECTOR
    The listed private equity sector could fall out of favour with investors leading to a reduction in demand for the Company’s shares.
    A change in sentiment to the sector has the potential to damage the Company’s reputation and impact the performance of the Company’s share price and widen the discount the shares trade at relative to NAV per Share, causing shareholder dissatisfaction. Private equity continues to outperform public markets over the long term and has proved to be an attractive asset class through various cycles. The Manager is active in marketing the Company’s shares to a wide variety of investors to ensure the market is informed about the Company’s performance and investment proposition.
    In setting the capital allocation policy, including the allocations to dividends and share buybacks, the Board monitors the discount to NAV and considers appropriate solutions to address any ongoing or substantial discount to NAV.
    Increasing
    The persistence of the discount to NAV, together with other sector uncertainties, indicates an increase in risk.
    The Board receives regular updates from the Company’s broker and is kept informed of all material discussions with investors and analysts.
    FOREIGN EXCHANGE
    The Company has continued to expand its geographic diversity by making investments in different countries. Accordingly, most investments are denominated in US dollars and euros.
    The Company does not hedge its foreign exchange exposure. Therefore, movements in exchange rates between these currencies may have a material effect on the underlying sterling valuations of the investments and performance of the Company. The Board regularly reviews the Company’s exposure to currency risk and reconsiders possible hedging strategies on at least an annual basis.
    Furthermore, the Company’s multicurrency bank facility permits the borrowings to be drawn in euros and US dollars, if required.
    Stable
    The Board reviewed the Company’s exposure to currency risk and possible hedging strategies and concluded that there was no material change in foreign exchange risk during the year and that it remains appropriate for the Company not to hedge its foreign exchange exposure.
    OPERATIONAL RISKS      
    REGULATORY, LEGAL
    AND TAX COMPLIANCE
    Failure by the Manager to comply with relevant regulation and legislation could have an adverse impact on the Company. Additionally, adherence to changes in the legal, regulatory and tax framework applicable to the Manager could become onerous, lessening competitive or market opportunities.
    The failure of the Manager and the Company to comply with the rules of professional conduct and relevant laws and regulations could expose the Company to regulatory sanction and penalties as well as significant damage to its reputation. The Board is responsible for ensuring the Company’s compliance with all applicable regulatory, legal and tax requirements. Monitoring of this compliance has been delegated to the Manager, of which the in-house Legal, Compliance and Risk functions provide regular updates to the Board covering relevant changes to regulation and legislation.
    The Board and the Manager continually monitor regulatory, legislative and tax developments to ensure early engagement in any areas of potential change.
    Stable
    The Company remains responsive to a wide range of developing regulatory areas; and will continue to enhance its processes and controls in order to remain compliant with current and expected legislation.
    KEY PROFESSIONALS
    Loss of key professionals at the Manager could impair the Company’s ability to deliver its investment strategy and meet its external obligations if replacements are not found in a timely manner.
    If the Manager’s team is not able to deliver its objectives, investment opportunities could be missed or misevaluated, while existing investment performance may suffer. The Manager regularly updates the Board on team developments and succession planning. The Manager places significant focus on:
    Developing key individuals to ensure that there is a pipeline of potential succession candidates internally. External appointments are considered if that best satisfies the business needs.
    A team-based approach to investment decision-making, i.e. no one investment professional has sole responsibility for an investment or fund manager relationship.
    Sharing insights and knowledge widely across the investment team, including discussing all potential new investments and the overall performance of the Portfolio.
    Designing and implementing a compensation policy that helps to minimise turnover of key people.
    Stable
    The Board reviewed the Company’s exposure to people risk and concluded that the Manager continues to operate sustainable succession, competitive remuneration and retention plans.
    The Board believes that the risk in respect of people remains stable.
    THE MANAGER AND THIRD-PARTY PROVIDERS (INCLUDING BUSINESS PROCESSES, BUSINESS CONTINUITY AND CYBER)
    The Company is dependent on third parties for the provision of services and systems, especially those of the Manager, the Administrator and the Depositary.
    Failure by a third-party provider to deliver services in accordance with its contractual obligations could disrupt or compromise the functioning of the Company. A material loss of service could result in, among other things, an inability to perform business critical functions, financial loss, legal liability, regulatory censure and reputational damage.
    The failure of the Manager and Administrator to deliver an appropriate cyber security platform for critical technology systems could result in unauthorised access by malicious third parties, breaching the confidentiality, integrity and availability of Company data, negatively impacting the Company’s reputation.
    The performance of the Manager, the Administrator, the Depositary and other third-party providers is subject to regular review and reported to the Board.
    The Manager, the Administrator and the Depositary produce internal control reports to provide assurance regarding the effective operation of internal controls. These reports are provided to the Audit Committee for review. The Committee would seek further representations from service providers if not satisfied with the effectiveness of their control environment.
    The Audit Committee formally assesses the internal controls of the Manager, the Administrator and Depositary on an annual basis to ensure adequate controls are in place.
    The assessment in respect of the current year is discussed in the Report of the Audit Committee.
    The Management Agreement and agreements with other third-party service providers are subject to notice periods that are designed to provide the Board with adequate time to put in place alternative arrangements.
    Stable
    The Board carries out a formal annual assessment (supported by the Manager’s internal audit function) of the Manager’s internal controls and risk management systems.
    The Board also received regular reporting from the Manager and other third parties.
    Following this review and other considerations, the Board concluded that there was no material change in the Manager and other third-party suppliers risk.
    FINANCIAL RISKS      
    FINANCING
    The Company has outstanding commitments to private equity funds in excess of total liquidity that may be drawn down at any time. The ability to fund this difference is dependent on receiving cash proceeds from investments (the timing of which are unpredictable) and the availability of financing facilities.
    If the Company encountered difficulties in meeting its outstanding commitments, there would be significant reputational damage as well as risk of damages being claimed from managers and other counterparties. The Manager monitors the Company’s liquidity, overcommitment ratio and covenants on a frequent basis, and undertakes cash flow monitoring, and provides regular updates on these activities to the Board. Stable
    The Board reviewed the Company’s exposure to financing risk, noting the Net Debt position, the increase in available facility and the short-term realisation forecast and concluded that this risk was stable.

    Audited Financial Statements for the year ended 31 January 2025

    INCOME STATEMENT

    Year to 31 January 2025 Year to 31 January 2024
      Notes Revenue
    return
    £’000
    Capital return
    £’000
    Total
    £’000
    Revenue
    return
    £’000
    Capital return
    £’000
    Total
    £’000
    Investment returns              
    Income, gains and losses on investments 2,10 1,060 134,156 135,216 2,365 39,369 41,734
    Deposit interest 2 48 48 405 405
    Other income 2 5 5 104 104
    Foreign exchange gains and losses   (729) (729) 1,193 1,193
        1,113 133,427 134,540 2,874 40,562 43,436
    Expenses              
    Investment management charges 3 (1,618) (14,558) (16,175) (1,615) (14,533) (16,148)
    Other expenses including finance costs 4 (2,439) (8,417) (10,855) (2,520) (7,402) (9,922)
        (4,057) (22,974) (27,031) (4,135) (21,935) (26,070)
                   
    Profit/(loss) before tax   (2,943) 110,453 107,510 (1,261) 18,627 17,366
    Taxation 6    
    Profit/(loss) for the period   (2,943) 110,453 107,510 (1,261) 18,627 17,366
    Attributable to:              
    Equity shareholders   (2,943) 110,453 107,510 (1,261) 18,627 17,366
    Basic and diluted earnings per share 7     163.95p     25.63p
                   

    The columns headed ‘Total’ represent the income statement for the relevant financial years and the columns headed ‘Revenue return’ and ‘Capital return’ are supplementary information in line with guidance published by the AIC. There is no Other Comprehensive Income.

    All profits are from continuing operations.

    The notes on pages 34 to 59 form an integral part of the financial statements.

    BALANCE SHEET

     

    Notes

    31 January
    2025
    £’000

    31 January
    2024
    £’000

    Non-current assets      
    Investments held at fair value 9,10,17 1,469,549 1,296,382
           
    Current assets      
    Cash and cash equivalents 11 3,927 9,722
    Prepayments and receivables 12 2,018 2,258
        5,945 11,980
    Current liabilities      
    Borrowings   (131,931) (20,000)
    Payables 13 (11,171) (5,139)
           
    Net current assets / (liabilities)   (137,157) (13,159)
    Total assets less current liabilities   1,332,392 1,283,223
           
    Capital and reserves      
    Share capital 14 7,292 7,292
    Capital redemption reserve   2,112 2,112
    Share premium   12,936 12,936
    Capital reserve   1,315,727 1,279,751
    Revenue reserve   (5,675) (2,733)
    Total equity   1,332,392 1,283,223
           
    Net Asset Value per Share (basic and diluted) 15 2072.9p 1909.4p

    The notes on pages 34 to 59 form an integral part of the financial statements.

    The financial statements on pages 30 to 59 were approved by the Board of Directors on 7 May 2025 and signed on its behalf by:

    Jane Tufnell        Alastair Bruce
    Director                Director

    CASH FLOW STATEMENT

      Notes Year to 31 January 2025
    £’000
    Year to 31st January 2024
    £’000
    Operating activities      
    Sale of portfolio investments   19,966 40,611
    Purchase of portfolio investments   (34,144) (25,162)
    Cash flow to subsidiaries’ investments   (152,174) (116,084)
    Cash flow from subsidiaries’ investments   125,769 195,300
    Interest income received from portfolio investments   494 1,695
    Dividend income received from portfolio investments   547 779
    Other income received   53 509
    Investment management charges paid   (16,021) (15,647)
    Other expenses paid   (1,881) (2,596)
    Net cash inflow/(outflow) from operating activities   (57,391) 79,405
           
    Financing activities      
    Bank facility fee paid   (2,011) (3,970)
    Interest paid   (545) (5,571)
    Credit Facility utilised   139,762 128,109
    Credit Facility repaid   (27,831) (174,954)
    Purchase of shares into treasury   (35,851) (13,068)
    Equity dividends paid 8 (22,308) (21,694)
    Net cash (outflow)/inflow from financing activities   51,215 (91,148)
    Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents   (6,176) (11,743)
           
    Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 11 9,722 20,694
    Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents   (6,176) (11,743)
    Effect of changes in foreign exchange rates   381 771
    Cash and cash equivalents at end of period 11 3,927 9,722
    1. Includes settlement of unbilled management fees relating to the prior year (see note 13).

    The notes on pages 34 to 59 form an integral part of the financial statements.

    STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

     

    Share capital
    £’000

    Capital
    redemption
    reserve
    £’000

    Share premium
    £’000

    Realised
    capital
    reserve1
    £’000
    Unrealised
    capital
    reserve
    £’000
    Revenue
    reserve1
    £’000
    Total
    shareholders’
    equity
    £’000
           
    Opening balance at 1 February 2024 7,292 2,112 12,936 473,015 790,602 (2,733) 1,283,223
    Profit for the period and total comprehensive income (6,033) 116,485 (2,942) 107,510
    Capital distribution by subsidiary2
    Dividends paid (22,308) (22,308)
    Purchase of shares into treasury (36,033) (36,033)
    Closing balance at 31 January 2025 7,292 2,112 12,936 408,641 907,087 (5,675) 1,332,392
                   
     

    Share capital
    £’000

    Capital redemption
    reserve
    £’000

    Share premium
    £’000

    Realised
    capital
    reserve1
    £’000
    Unrealised
    capital
    reserve
    £’000
    Revenue
    reserve1
    £’000
    Total
    shareholders’
    equity
    £’000
           
    Opening balance at 1 February 2023 7,292 2,112 12,936 468,054 811,698 (1,473) 1,300,619
    Profit for the period and total comprehensive income 31,032 (12,405) (1,261) 17,366
    Capital distribution by subsidiary2 8,691 (8,691)
    Dividends paid (21,694) (21,694)
    Purchase of shares into treasury (13,068) (13,068)
    Closing balance at 31 January 24 7,292 2,112 12,936 473,015 790,602 (2,734) 1,283,223
    1. Distributable reserves.
    2. During the prior reporting period ICG Enterprise Trust Limited Partnership made a distribution of realised profits totalling £8.6m to the Company.

    The notes on pages 34 to 59 form an integral part of the financial statements.

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

    1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES

    General information

    These financial statements relate to ICG Enterprise Trust Plc (‘the Company’). ICG Enterprise Trust Plc is registered in England and Wales and is incorporated in the United Kingdom. The Company is domiciled in the United Kingdom and its registered office is Procession House, 55 Ludgate Hill, London EC4M 7JW. The Company’s objective is to provide long-term growth by investing in private companies managed by leading private equity managers.

    (a) Basis of preparation

    The financial information for the year ended 31 January 2025 has been prepared in accordance with UK-adopted International Accounting Standards (‘UK-IAS’) and the Statement of Recommended Practice (‘SORP’) for investment trusts issued by the Association of Investment Companies in July 2022.

    UK-IAS comprises standards and interpretations approved by the International Accounting Standards Board (‘IASB’) and the IFRS Interpretations Committee.

    These financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis and on the historical cost basis of accounting, modified for the revaluation of certain assets at fair value. The directors have concluded that the preparation of the financial statements on a going concern basis continues to be appropriate.

    Going concern

    In assessing the appropriateness of continuing to adopt the going concern basis of accounting, the Board has assessed the financial position and prospects of the Company. The Company’s business activities, together with factors likely to affect its future development, performance, position and cash flows, are set out in the Chair’s statement on page 5, and the Manager’s review on page 7.

    As part of this review, the Board assessed the potential impact of principal risks on the Company’s business activities, the Company’s cash position, the availability of the Company’s credit facility and compliance with its covenants, and the Company’s cash flow projections.

    Based on this assessment, the Board expects that the Company will be able to continue in operation and meet its liabilities as they fall due until, at least, 31 May 2026, a period of more than 12 months from the signing of the financial statements. Therefore it is appropriate to continue to adopt the going concern basis of preparation of the Company’s financial statements.

    Climate change

    In preparing the financial statements, the directors have considered the impact of climate change, particularly in the context of the climate change risks identified in the Principal risks and uncertainties section of this Report, and the impact of climate change risk on the valuation of investments.

    These considerations did not have a material impact on the financial reporting judgements and estimates in the current year, nor were they expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s going concern or viability.

    Accounting policies

    The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below. These policies have been applied consistently throughout the current and prior year. In order to reflect the activities of an investment trust company, supplementary information which analyses the income statement between items of revenue and capital nature has been presented alongside the income statement. In analysing total income between capital and revenue returns, the directors have followed the guidance contained in the SORP as follows:

    Capital gains and losses on investments sold and on investments held arising on the revaluation or disposal of investments classified as held at fair value through profit or loss should be shown in the capital column of the income statement.

    Returns on any share or debt security for a fixed amount (whether in respect of dividends, interest or otherwise) should be shown in the revenue column of the income statement.

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

    The Board should determine whether the indirect costs of generating capital gains should also be shown in the capital column of the income statement. If the Board decides that this should be so, the management fee should be allocated between revenue and capital in accordance with the Board’s expected long-term split of returns, and other expenses should be charged to capital only to the extent that a clear connection with the maintenance or enhancement of the value of investments can be demonstrated.

    The accounting policy regarding the allocation of expenses is set out in note 1(i).

    In accordance with IFRS 10 (amended), the Company is deemed to be an investment entity on the basis that:

    (a) it obtains funds from one or more investors for the purpose of providing investors with investment management services;

    (b) it commits to its investors that its business purpose is to invest funds for both returns from capital appreciation and investment income; and

    (c) it measures and evaluates the performance of substantially all of its investments on a fair value basis.

    As a result, the Company’s controlled structured entities (‘subsidiaries’) are deemed to be investments and are classified as held at fair value through profit and loss.

    (b) Financial assets

    The Company classifies its financial assets in the following categories: at fair value through profit or loss; and at amortised cost. The classification depends on the purpose for which the financial assets were acquired. The classification of financial assets is determined at initial recognition.

    Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

    The Company classifies its quoted and unquoted investments as financial assets at fair value through profit or loss. These assets are measured at subsequent reporting dates at fair value and further details of the accounting policy are disclosed in note 1(c).

    Financial assets at amortised cost

    Financial assets at amortised cost are non-derivative financial assets which pass the contractual cash flow test and are held to receive contractual cash flows. These are classified as current assets and measured at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method. The Company’s financial assets at amortised cost comprise cash and cash equivalents and trade and other receivables in the balance sheet.

    (c) Investments

    Investments comprise fund investments and portfolio company investments held by the Company directly, together with the fair value of the Company’s interest in controlled structured entities (see note 9) which themselves invest in fund investments and portfolio company investments.

    All investments are classified upon initial recognition as held at fair value through profit or loss (described in these financial statements as investments held at fair value) and are measured at subsequent reporting dates at fair value. All investments are fair valued in line with IFRS 13 ‘Fair Value Measurement’, using industry standard valuation guidelines such as the International Private Equity and Venture Capital (‘IPEV’) valuation guidelines. Changes in the value of all investments held at fair value, which include returns on those investments such as dividends and interest, are recognised in the income statement and are allocated to the revenue column or the capital column in accordance with the SORP (see note 1(a)). More detail on certain categories of investment is set out below. Given that the subsidiaries and associates are held at fair value and are exposed to materially similar risks as the Company, we do not expect the risks to materially differ from those disclosed in note 17.

    Unquoted Investments

    Fund investments and Co-investments (collectively ‘unquoted investments’) are fair valued using the net asset value of those unquoted investments as determined by the third-party investment manager of those funds. The third-party investment manager performs periodic valuations of the underlying investments in their funds, typically using earnings multiple or discounted cash flow methodologies to determine enterprise value in line with IPEV Guidelines. In the absence of contrary information, these net asset valuations received from the third-party investment managers are deemed to be

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

    appropriate by the Manager, for the purposes of the Manager’s determination of the fair values of the unquoted investments. A robust assessment is performed by the Manager’s experienced Investment Committee to determine the capability and track record of the investment manager. All investment managers are scrutinised by the Investment Committee and an approval process is recorded before any new investment manager is approved and an investment made. This level of scrutiny provides reasonable comfort that the investment manager’s valuation will be consistent with the requirement to use fair value.

    Adjustments may be made to the net asset values provided or an alternative valuation method may be adopted if deemed to be more appropriate. The most common reason for adjustments to the value provided by an underlying manager is to take account of events occurring between the date of the manager’s valuation and the reporting date, for example, subsequent cash flows or notification of an agreed sale.

    Subsidiary undertakings

    The investments in the controlled structured entities (‘subsidiaries’) are recognised at fair value through profit and loss.

    The valuation of the subsidiaries takes into account an accrual for the estimated value of interests in the Co-investment Incentive Scheme. Under these arrangements, ICG (the ‘Manager’) and certain of its executives and, in respect of certain historic investments, the executives and connected parties of Graphite Capital Management LLP (the ‘Former Manager’) (together ‘the Co-investors’), are required to co-invest alongside the Company, for which they are entitled to a share of investment profits if certain performance hurdles are met. At 31 January 2024, the accrual was estimated as the theoretical value of the interests if the Portfolio had been sold at the carrying value at that date.

    Associates

    The Company holds an interest (including indirectly through its subsidiaries) of more than 20% in a small number of investments that may normally be classified as subsidiaries or associates. These investments are not considered subsidiaries or associates as the Company does not exert control or significant influence over the activities of these companies/structured entities as they are managed by other third parties.

    (d) Prepayments and receivables

    Receivables include unamortised fees which were incurred directly in relation to the agreement of a financing facility. These fees will be amortised over the life of the facility on a straight-line basis.

    (e) Payables

    Other payables are non-interest bearing and are stated at their amortised cost, which is not materially different from fair value.

    (f) Cash and cash equivalents

    Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash and short-term bank deposits with an original maturity of three months or less.

    (g) Dividend distributions

    Dividend distributions to shareholders are recognised in the period in which they are paid.

    (h) Income

    When it is probable that economic benefits will flow to the Company and the amount can be measured reliably, interest is recognised on a time apportionment basis.

    Dividends receivable on quoted equity shares are brought into account on the ex-dividend date. Dividends receivable on equity shares where no ex-dividend date is applicable are brought into account when the Company’s right to receive payment is established.

    UK dividend income is recorded at the amount receivable. Overseas dividend income is shown net of withholding tax. Income distributions from funds are recognised when the right to distributions is established.

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

    (i) Expenses

    All expenses are accounted for on an accruals basis. Expenses are allocated to the revenue column in the income statement, consistent with the SORP, with the following exceptions:

    • Expenses which are incidental to the acquisition or disposal of investments (transaction costs) are allocated to the capital column
    • The Board expects the majority of long-term returns from the Portfolio to be generated from capital gains. Expenses are allocated 90% to the capital column and 10% to the revenue column, reflecting the Company’s current and future return profile. Other expenses are allocated to the capital column where a clear connection with the maintenance or enhancement of the value of investments can be demonstrated.
    • All expenses allocated to the capital column are treated as realised capital losses (see note 1(l)).

    (j) Taxation

    Investment trusts which have approval as such under Section 1158 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 are not liable for taxation on capital gains.
    Tax recognised in the income statement represents the sum of current tax and deferred tax charged or credited in the year. The tax effect of different items of expenditure is allocated between capital and revenue on the same basis as the particular item to which it relates.

    Deferred tax is the tax expected to be payable or recoverable on the difference between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities in the financial statements and the corresponding tax bases used in the computation of taxable profit, and is accounted for using the balance sheet liability method.

    Deferred tax liabilities are recognised for all taxable temporary differences and deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that taxable profits will be available against which deductible temporary differences can be utilised. Deferred tax assets are not recognised in respect of tax losses carried forward to future periods.

    Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the period when the liability is settled or the assets are realised. Deferred tax is charged or credited in the income statement, except when it relates to items charged or credited directly to equity, in which case the deferred tax is also dealt with in equity.

    (k) Foreign currency translation

    The functional and presentation currency of the Company is sterling, reflecting the primary economic environment in which the Company operates.

    Transactions in currencies other than sterling are recorded at the rates of exchange prevailing on the dates of the transactions. At each balance sheet date, financial assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated at the rates prevailing on the balance sheet date.

    Gains and losses arising on the translation of investments held at fair value are included within gains and losses on investments held at fair value in the income statement. Gains and losses arising on the translation of other financial assets and liabilities are included within foreign exchange gains and losses in the income statement.

    (l) Revenue and capital reserves

    The revenue return component of total income is taken to the revenue reserve within the statement of changes in equity. The capital return component of total income is taken to the capital reserve within the statement of changes in equity.

    Gains and losses on the realisation of investments including realised exchange gains and losses and expenses of a capital nature are taken to the realised capital reserve (see note 1(i)). Changes in the valuations of investments which are held at the year end and unrealised exchange differences are accounted for in the unrealised capital reserve.

    Net gains on the realisation of investments in the controlled structured entities (see note 9) are transferred to the Company by way of profit distributions.

    The revenue reserve is distributable by way of dividends to shareholders. The realised capital reserve is distributable by way of dividends and share buybacks. The capital redemption reserve is not distributable and represents the nominal value of shares bought back for cancellation.

    (m) Treasury shares

    Shares that have been repurchased into treasury remain included in the share capital balance, unless they are cancelled.

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

    (n) Critical estimates and assumptions

    Estimates and judgements used in preparing the financial information are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable. The resulting estimates will, by definition, seldom equal the related actual results.

    In preparing the financial statements, the directors have considered the impact of climate change on the key estimates within the financial statements.

    The only estimates and assumptions that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying values of assets and liabilities in the next financial year relate to the valuation of unquoted investments. Unquoted investments are primarily the Company’s investments in unlisted funds, managed by third-party investment fund managers and ICG. As such there is significant estimation in the valuation of the unlisted fund at a point in time. Note 1(c) sets out the accounting policy for unquoted investments. The carrying amount of unquoted investments at the year end is disclosed within note 10.

    (o) Segmental reporting

    Operating segments are reported in a manner consistent with the internal reporting provided to the chief operating decision maker. The chief operating decision maker who is responsible for allocating resources and assessing performance of the segments has been identified as the Board. It is considered that the Company’s operations comprise a single operating segment.

    2 INVESTMENT RETURNS

      Year ended Year ended  
      31 January 2025 31 January 2024  
      £’000 £’000  
    Income from investments      
    Overseas interest and dividends 1,060 2,365  
      1,060 2,365  
    Deposit interest on cash 48 405  
    Other 5 104  
      53 509  
    Total income 1,113 2,874  
    Analysis of income from investments      
    Unquoted 1,060 2,365  
      1,060 2,365  

    3 INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT CHARGES

    Management fees paid to ICG for managing ICG Enterprise Trust amounted to 1.25% (2024: 1.25%) of the average net assets in the year. The reduction in the fee is due to the application of the cap.

    From 1 February 2023 the management fee is subject to a cap of 1.25% of net asset value.

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

    3 INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT CHARGES CONTINUED

    The amounts charged during the year are set out below:

      Year ended 31 January 2025 Year ended 31 January 2024
      Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total
      £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
    Investment management charge 1,617 14,558 16,175 1,615 14,533 16,148

    The Company and its subsidiaries also incur management fees in respect of its investment in funds managed by members of ICG on an arms-length basis.

      Year ended Year ended
      31 January 2025 31 January 2024
      £’000 £’000
    ICG Europe VIII 434 467
    ICG Strategic Equity V 353 131
    ICG Strategic Equity IV 340 593
    ICG LP Secondaries Fund I LP 325 55
    ICG Europe VII 238 257
    ICG Strategic Equity III 238 183
    ICG Europe Mid-Market II 95 87
    ICG Augusta Partners Co-Investor II 89 91
    ICG Europe Mid-Market 87 120
    ICG North American Private Debt II 68 74
    ICG Strategic Secondaries II 36 74
    ICG Europe VI 23 41
    ICG Asia Pacific III 15 30
    ICG Recovery Fund 2008B 3 31
    ICG Europe V 2 1
      2,346 2,235

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

    4 OTHER EXPENSES

    The Company did not employ any staff in the year to 31 January 2025 (2024: none).

      Year ended Year ended
      31 January 2025 31 January 2024
      £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
    Directors’ fees (see note 5)   340   316
    Fees payable to the Company’s auditor for the audit of the Company’s annual accounts 170   239  
    Fees payable to the Company’s auditor and its associates for other services:        
    – Audit of the accounts of the subsidiaries 108   139  
    – Audit-related assurance services 71   53  
    Total auditors’ remuneration   349   431
    Administrative expenses   811   1,021
        1,500   1,768
    Bank facility costs allocated to revenue   277   258
    Interest costs allocated to revenue   661   493
    Expenses allocated to revenue   2,438   2,519
    Bank facility costs allocated to capital   8,417   7,403
    Total other expenses   10,855   9,922
             

    1. The auditors of the Company have additionally provided £16k (2024: £14k) of non-audit related services permitted under the Financial Reporting Council’s (‘FRC’) Revised Ethical Standards. The service related to agreed upon procedures over the Company’s carried interest scheme. These expenses have been charged to the Manager of the Company.

    Included within Total other expenses above are £9.4m (2024: £8.2m) of costs related to financing and £(0.2)m (credit) (2024: £0.1m) of other expenses which are non-recurring and are excluded from the Ongoing Charges as detailed in the glossary on page 58.

    Professional fees of £0.2m (2024: £0.2m) incidental to the acquisition or disposal of investments are included within gains/(losses) on investments held at fair value.

    5 DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION AND INTERESTS

    No income was received or receivable by the directors from any other subsidiary of the Company.

    6 TAXATION

    In both the current and prior years the tax charge was lower than the standard rate of corporation tax of 19%, principally due to the Company’s status as an investment trust, which means that capital gains are not subject to corporation tax. The effect of this and other items affecting the tax charge are shown in note 6(b) below.

    The UK’s main rate of corporation tax increased from 19% to 25% with effect from 1 April 2023. A blended rate of 24% was applied for the year ended 31 January 2024, calculated by the number of days within the accounting period spanning the rate change. A corporation tax rate of 25% was applied for the year ended 31 January 2025.

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

      Year ended Year ended  
      31 January 2025 31 January 2024  
      £’000 £’000  
    a) Analysis of charge in the year      
    Tax credit on items allocated to revenue  
    Tax charge on items relating to prior years  
    Corporation tax  
    b) Factors affecting tax charge for the year      
    Profit on ordinary activities before tax 107,510 17,367  
    Profit before tax multiplied by rate of corporation tax in the UK of 25% (2024: 24%) 26,790 4,168  
    Effect of:      
    – net investment returns not subject to corporation tax (33,357) (9,735)  
    – dividends not subject to corporation tax (52) (187)  
    – expenses not deductible for tax purposes 1,353  
    – current year management expenses not utilised/(utilised) 489 5,754  
    – other deductions 4,777  
    Total tax charge  

    The Company has £70.0m excess management expenses carried forward (2024: £53.5m). No deferred tax assets or liabilities (2024: nil) have been recognised in respect of the carried forward management expenses due to the uncertainty that future taxable profit will be generated that these losses can be offset against. For all investments the tax base is equal to the carrying amount. There was no deferred tax expense relating to the origination and reversal of timing differences in the year (2024: nil).

    7 EARNINGS PER SHARE

      Year ended Year ended  
      31 January 2025 31 January 2024  
    Revenue return per ordinary share (4.49p) (1.86p)  
    Capital return per ordinary share 168.38p 27.49p  
    Earnings per ordinary share (basic and diluted) 163.95p 25.63p  

    Revenue return per ordinary share is calculated by dividing the revenue return attributable to equity shareholders of £(2.9)m (2024: £(1.3)m) by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year.

    Capital return per ordinary share is calculated by dividing the capital return attributable to equity shareholders of £102.4m (2024: £18.6m) by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year.

    Basic and diluted earnings per ordinary share are calculated by dividing the earnings attributable to equity shareholders of £99.5m (2024: £17.4m) by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year.

    The weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding (excluding those held in treasury) during the year was 65,569,285 (2024: 67,761,359). There were no potentially dilutive shares, such as options or warrants, in either year.

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

    8 DIVIDENDS

      Year ended Year ended
      31 January 2025 31 January 2024
      £’000 £’000
    Third quarterly dividend in respect of year ended 31 January 2024: 8p per share (2023: 6.0p) 5,345 4,781
    Final dividend in respect of year ended 31 January 2024: 9p per share (2023: 9.0p) 5,894 6,105
    First quarterly dividend in respect of year ended 31 January 2025: 8.5p per share (2024: 8.0p) 5,557 5,415
    Second quarterly dividend in respect of year ended 31 January 2025: 8.5p per share (2024: 8.0p) 5,512 5,393
    Total 22,308 21,694

    The Company paid a third quarterly dividend of 8.5p per share in February 2025. The Board has proposed a final dividend of 10.5p per share (estimated cost £6.7m) in respect of the year ended 31 January 2025 which, if approved by shareholders, will be paid on 18 July 2025 to shareholders on the Register of Members at the close of business on 04 July 2025.

    9 SUBSIDIARY UNDERTAKINGS AND UNCONSOLIDATED STRUCTURED ENTITIES
    Subsidiary undertakings (controlled structured entities)

    Subsidiaries of the Company as at 31 January 2025 comprise the following controlled structured entities, which are registered in England and Wales. Subsidiaries of the Company’s direct subsidiaries are reported as indirect subsidiaries.

    Direct subsidiaries   Ownership interest 2025 Ownership interest 2024
    ICG Enterprise Trust Limited Partnership   97.5% 97.5%
    ICG Enterprise Trust (2) Limited Partnership   97.5% 97.5%
    ICG Enterprise Trust Co-investment Limited Partnership   99.0% 99.0%
    Indirect subsidiaries   Ownership interest 2025 Ownership interest 2024
    ICG Enterprise Holdings LP   99.5% 99.5%
    ICG Morse Partnership LP   99.5% 99.5%
    ICG Lewis Partnership LP   99.5% 99.5%

    In accordance with IFRS 10 (amended), the subsidiaries are not consolidated and are instead included in unquoted investments at fair value.

    The value of the subsidiaries is shown net of an accrual for the interests of the Co-investors (ICG and certain of its executives and in respect of certain historical investments, the executives and connected parties of Graphite Capital, the Former Manager) in the Co-investment Incentive Scheme. As at 31 January 2025 a total of £53.9m (2024: £54.4m) was accrued in respect of these interests. During the year the Co-investors invested £1.0m (2024: £0.7m) into ICG Enterprise Trust Co-investment Limited Partnership. Payments received by the Co-investors amounted to £10.8m or 7.1% of £150.8m of Total Proceeds received in the year (2024: £5.4m or 2.3% of £238.6m proceeds received).

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

    Unconsolidated structured entities

    The Company’s principal activity is investing in private equity funds and directly into private companies. Such investments may be made and held via a subsidiary. The majority of these investments are unconsolidated structured entities as defined in IFRS 12.
    The Company holds interests in closed-ended limited partnerships which invest in underlying companies for the purposes of capital appreciation. The Company and the other limited partners make commitments to finance the investment programme of the relevant manager, who will typically draw down the amount committed by the limited partners over a period of four to six years (see note 16).

    The table below disaggregates the Company’s interests in unconsolidated structured entities. The table presents for each category the related balances and the maximum exposure to loss.

      Unquoted investments
    £’000
    Co-investment Incentive Scheme accrual
    £’000
    Maximum loss exposure
    £’000
    As at 31 January 2025 1,523,459 (53,910) 1,469,549
    As at 31 January 2024 1,350,821 (54,439) 1,296,382

    Further details of the Company’s investment Portfolio are included in the Portfolio dashboard on page 16.

    10 INVESTMENTS

    The tables below analyse the movement in the carrying value of the Company’s investment assets in the year. In accordance with accounting standards, subsidiary undertakings of the Company are reported at fair value rather than on a ‘look-through’ basis.

    An investee fund is considered to generate realised gains or losses if it is more than 85% drawn and has returned at least the amount invested by the Company. All gains and losses arising from the underlying investments of such funds are presented as realised. All gains and losses in respect of fund investments that have not satisfied the above criteria are presented as unrealised.

    Direct Investments are considered to generate realised gains or losses when they are sold.

    Investments are held by both the Company and through its subsidiaries.

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

      Quoted Unquoted Subsidiary undertakings Total
      £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
    Cost at 1 February 2024 179,528 300,114 479,642
    Unrealised appreciation at 1 February 2024 80,768 735,972 816,740
    Valuation at 1 February 2024 260,296 1,036,086 1,296,382
    Movements in the year:        
    Purchases 34,144 151,292 185,436
    Sales        
    – capital proceeds   (20,214) (125,769) (145,983)
    – realised gains/(losses) based on carrying value at previous balance sheet date   1,530   1,530
    Movement in unrealised appreciation   29,473 102,711 132,184
    Valuation at 31 January 2025 305,229 1,164,320 1,469,549
    Cost at 31 January 2025 193,458 325,637 519,095
    Unrealised appreciation/ (depreciation) at 31 January 2025 111,771 838,683 950,454
    Valuation at 31 January 2025 305,229 1,164,320 1,469,549
     
      Quoted Unquoted Subsidiary undertakings Total
      £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
    Cost at 1 February 2023 195,104 378,426 573,530
    Unrealised appreciation at 1 February 2023 74,074 701,471 775,545
    Valuation at 1 February 2023 269,178 1,079,897 1,349,075
    Movements in the year:        
    Purchases 25,181 116,988 142,169
    Sales        
    – capital proceeds   (40,757) (195,300) (236,057)
    – realised gains/(losses) based on carrying value at previous balance sheet date   (1,044)   (1,044)
    Movement in unrealised appreciation   7,739 34,500 42,239
    Valuation at 31 January 2023 260,296 1,036,086 1,296,382
    Cost at 31 January 2024 179,528 300,114 479,642
    Unrealised appreciation/ (depreciation) at 31 January 2024 80,768 735,972 816,740
    Valuation at 31 January 2024 260,296 1,036,086 1,296,382

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

      31 January 2025 31 January 2024
      £’000 £’000
    Realised gains/loss based on cost 1,530 (1,044)
    Amounts recognised as unrealised in previous years
    Realised gains based on carrying values at previous balance sheet date 1,530 (1,044)
    Increase in unrealised appreciation 132,184 42,239
    Gains on investments 133,714 41,195

    ‘Realised gains based on cost’ represents the total increase in value, compared to cost, of those funds which meet the criteria set out in page 42. These gains are adjusted for amounts previously reported as unrealised (and included within the fair value at the previous balance sheet date) to determine the ‘Realised gains based on carrying values at previous balance sheet date’.

    Gains on investments includes the ‘Realised gains based on carrying values at previous balance sheet date’ together with the net fair value movement on the balance of the investee funds.

    Related undertakings

    At 31 January 2025, the Company held direct and indirect interests in six limited partnership subsidiaries. These interests, net of the incentive accrual as described in note 9, were:

    Investment 31 January 2025
    %
    31 January 2024
    %
    ICG Enterprise Trust Limited Partnership 99.9% 99.9%
    ICG Enterprise Trust (2) Limited Partnership 66.5% 66.5%
    ICG Enterprise Trust Co-investment Limited Partnership 66.0% 66.0%
    ICG Enterprise Holdings LP 99.5% 99.5%
    ICG Morse Partnership LP 99.5% 99.5%
    ICG Lewis Partnership LP 99.5% 99.5%

    The registered address and principal place of business of the subsidiary partnerships is Procession House, 55 Ludgate Hill, London EC4M 7JW.

    In addition the Company held an interest (including indirectly through its subsidiaries) of more than 20% in the following entities. These investments are not considered subsidiaries or associates as the Company does not exert control or have significant influence over the activities of these companies/partnerships.

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

    As at 31 January 2025        
    Investment Instrument % interest1    
    Graphite Capital Partners VII Top Up Plus Limited partnership interests 20.0%    
    Graphite Capital Partners VIII Top Up Limited partnership interests 41.1%    
    ICG Velocity3 Limited partnership interests 32.5%    
             
    As at 31 January 2024        
    Investment Instrument % interest1    
    Graphite Capital Partners VII Top Up Plus2 Limited partnership interests 20.0%    
    Graphite Capital Partners VIII Top Up2 Limited partnership interests 41.1%    
    ICG Velocity3 Limited partnership interests 32.5%    
    1. The percentage shown for limited partnership interests represents the proportion of total commitments to the relevant fund. The percentage shown for shares represents the proportion of total shares in issue.
    2. Address of principal place of business is 7 Air Street, Soho, London W1B 5AD.
    3. Address of principal place of business is Procession House, 55 Ludgate Hill, London, EC4M 7JW.

    11 CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

      31 January 2025 31 January 2024
      £’000 £’000
    Cash at bank and in hand 3,927 9,722

    12 PREPAYMENTS AND RECEIVABLES

      31 January 2025 31 January 2024
      £’000 £’000
    Prepayments and accrued income 2,018 2,258

    As at 31 January 2025, prepayments and accrued income included £2.0m (2024: £2.3m) of unamortised costs in relation to the bank facility. Of this amount £0.8m (2024: £0.5m) is expected to be amortised in less than one year.

    13 PAYABLES – CURRENT

      31 January 2025 31 January 2024
      £’000 £’000
    Accruals, including facility interest 11,171 5,139
    Bank facility drawn 131,931 20,000
    Payables 143,102 25,139

    Bank facility details are shown in the liquidity section of note 17 on page 52.

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

    14 SHARE CAPITAL

      Authorised Issued and fully paid
        Nominal   Nominal
    Equity share capital Number £’000 Number £’000
    Balance at 31 January 2025 120,000,000 12,000 72,913,000 7,292
    Balance at 31 January 2024 120,000,000 12,000 72,913,000 7,292

    All ordinary shares have a nominal value of 10.0p. At 31 January 2025 and 31 January 2024, 72,913,000 shares had been allocated, called up and fully paid. During the year 2,932,675 shares were bought back in the market and held in treasury (2024: 1,130,708 shares). At 31 January 2025, the Company held 8,640,808 shares in treasury (2024: 5,708,133) and had 64,272,192 (2024: 67,204,867) shares outstanding, all of which have equal voting rights.

      31 January 2025 31 January 2024
    Shares held in treasury 8,640,808 5,708,133
    Shares not held in treasury 64,272,192 67,204,867
    Total 72,913,000 72,913,000

    15 NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE

    The net asset value per share is calculated on equity attributable to equity holders of £1,332.4m (2024: £1,283.2m) and on 67,272,192 (2024: 67,204,867) ordinary shares in issue at the year end. There were no potentially dilutive shares, such as options or warrants, at either year end. Calculated on both the basic and diluted basis the net asset value per share was 2,072.9p (2024: 1,909.4p).

    16 CAPITAL COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

    The Company and its subsidiaries had uncalled commitments in relation to the following Portfolio investments:

      31 January
    2025
    £’000
    31 January
    2024
    £’000
    ICG LP Secondaries Fund I LP 41,146 34,811
    ICG Strategic Equity V2 36,868 19,704
    ICG Europe Mid-Market Fund II1 19,245 21,316
    ICG Augusta Partners Co-Investor2 17,775 17,365
    ICG Strategic Secondaries Fund II2 16,938 16,547
    ICG Europe VIII1 14,339 25,901
    ICG Ludgate Hill (Feeder B) SCSp1 13,591 13,860
    ICG Strategic Equity Fund III2 11,201 10,942
    ICG MXV Co-Investment 8,361
    ICG Strategic Equity IV2 7,055 10,385
    ICG Europe VII1 6,082 6,541
    ICG Ludgate Hill (Feeder) IIIA Porsche SCSp2 5,691 4,652
    ICG Europe Mid-Market Fund1 5,524 5,476
    ICG Ludgate Hill (Feeder) II Boston SCSp2 5,392 5,267
    ICG Asia Pacific Fund III2 2,523 2,634
    ICG Europe VI1 4,013 4,311
    ICG North American Private Debt Fund II2 2,097 1,682
    ICG Colombe Co-investment1 1,811 2,378
    ICG Dallas Co-Investment2 1,240 1,280
    Commitments of less than £1,000,000 at 31 January 2025 5,746 5,991
    Total ICG 226,638 211,043
    Graphite Capital Partners IX 2,281 4,525
    Graphite Capital Partners VIII1 4,124 2,194
    Graphite Capital Partners VII1,2 456 456
    Total Graphite funds 6,861 7,175

    1.Includes interest acquired through a secondary fund purchase.

    2.Includes the associated Top Up funds.

      31 January
    2025
    £’000
    31 January
    2024
    £’000
    Leeds VIII-A 16,135
    Bowmark VII 15,000 15,000
    New Mountain VII 14,299 15,763
    PAI Europe VIII 12,356 20,900
    Thoma Bravo XVI-A 12,101
    Investindustrial VIII 12,009
    Cinven VIII 11,748 12,789
    CVC IX A 10,546 12,789
    Bain VI 9,939 11,319
    CDR XII 8,908 11,822
    The Resolute Fund VI 8,577 11,822
    Hellman Friedman XI (Parallel) 8,067 7,881
    Advent International X-A 8,039 10,849
    Bregal Unternehmerkapital IV-A 7,762 8,526
    Green Equity Investors Side IX 7,618 15,611
    Permira VIII 7,618 9,356
    Genstar Capital Partners XI (EU) 7,455 7,850
    Apax XI EUR 6,860 8,383
    Gridiron V 6,578 9,008
    Oak Hill VI (Offshore) 5,034
    Investindustrial VII 4,895 4,219
    Audax Private Equity VII-B 4,546 5,830
    Integrum I 4,052 5,715
    American Securities IX 4,034
    Thomas H Lee Equity Fund IX 3,998 6,762
    PAI Mid-Market Fund 3,764 4,963
    BC XI 3,710 4,900
    Bowmark VI 3,357 1,357
    Hg Genesis X 3,326 3,469
    Ivanti 2,979 2,910
    Valeas Capital Partners I A 2,973
    CVC VII 2,944
    PAI VII 2,430 2,872
    GHO Capital III 2,257 2,617
    Bain XIII 2,247 2,739
    Audiotonix 2,243
    Bain Tech Opportunities II 2,239 2,276
    Tailwind III 2,203 1,517
    Ambassador Theatre Group 2,056 2,049
    Thomas H Lee Equity Fund VIII 1,940 2,011
    Thoma Bravo XV 1,901 2,648
    Hg Saturn III 1,840 2,714
    Seventh Cinven Fund 1,812 2,929
    GI Partners VI-A 1,789 2,168
    Charlesbank X 1,685 3,543
    Apax X 1,677 1,442
    Hellman Friedman X 1,631 2,194
    Bregal Unternehmerkapital III 1,575 2,113
    Carlyle Europe Partners V 1,553 2,243
    Resolute V 1,363 855
    FSN VI 1,303 2,946
    Gridiron III 1,289 4,080
    AEA VII 1,243 464
    Resolute 02 Continuation (SEC 1) 1,145 9,893
    CVC European Equity Partners VIII 512 3,402
    New Mountain VI 498 2,276
    European Camping Group 2 399 1,474
    Leeds VII 317 3,581
    Commitments of less than £2,000,000 at 31 January 2025 62,785 36,908
    Total third party 319,687 333,747
    Total commitments 553,186 551,965

    The Company and its subsidiaries had no other unfunded commitments to investment funds. Commitments made by the Company and its subsidiaries are irrevocable.

    As at 31 January 2025, the Company (excluding its subsidiaries) had uncalled commitments in relation to the above Portfolio of £114.3m (2024: £98.1m). The Company did not have any contingent liabilities at 31 January 2025 (2024: None).

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

    The Company’s subsidiaries, which are not consolidated, had the balance of uncalled commitments in relation to the above Portfolio of £438.9m (2024: £453.9m). The Company is responsible for financing its pro-rata share of those uncalled commitments (see note 9).

    17 FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND RISK MANAGEMENT

    The Company is an investment company as defined by Section 833 of the Companies Act 2006 and conducts its affairs so as to qualify as an investment trust under the provisions of Section 1158 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 (‘Section 1158’). The Company’s objective is to provide long-term growth by investing in private companies managed by leading private equity managers.

    Investments in funds have anticipated lives of approximately 10 years. Direct Investments are made with an anticipated holding period of between three and five years.

    Financial risk management

    The Company’s activities expose it to a variety of financial risks: market risk (comprising currency risk, interest rate risk and price risk), investment risk, credit risk and liquidity risk. The Company’s overall risk management programme focuses on the unpredictability of financial markets and seeks to minimise potential adverse effects on the Company’s financial performance. The Board has overall responsibility for managing the risks and the framework for monitoring and coordinating these risks. The Audit Committee regularly reviews, identifies and evaluates the risks taken by the Company to allow them to be appropriately managed. All of the Company’s management functions are delegated to the Manager which has its own internal control and risk monitoring arrangements. The Committee makes a regular assessment of these arrangements, with reference to the Company’s risk matrix. The Company’s financial risk management objectives and processes used to manage these risks have not changed from the previous period and the policies are set out below:

    Market risk
    (i) Currency risk

    The Company’s investments are principally in continental Europe, the US and the UK, and are primarily denominated in euro, US dollars and sterling. There are also smaller amounts in other European currencies. The Company’s investments in controlled structured entities are reported in Sterling. The Company is exposed to currency risk in that movements in the value of sterling against these foreign currencies will affect the net asset value and the cash required to fund undrawn commitments. The Board regularly reviews the level of foreign currency denominated assets and outstanding commitments in the context of current market conditions and may decide to buy or sell currency or put in place currency hedging arrangements. No hedging arrangements were in place during the financial year.

    The composition of the net assets of the Company by reporting currency at the year end is set out below:

      Sterling Euro USD Other Total
    31 January 2025 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
    Investments 1,201,166 81,755 186,623 5 1,469,549
    Cash and cash equivalents and other net current assets (139,168) 1,385 618 8 (137,157)
      1,061,998 83,140 187,241 13 1,332,392
               
      Sterling Euro USD Other Total
    31 January 2024 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
    Investments 1,068,115 81,164 146,881 222 1,296,382
    Cash and cash equivalents and other net current assets (21,553) 4,504 3,878 12 (13,159)
      1,046,562 85,668 150,759 234 1,283,223

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

    On a look-through basis to the currency of the portfolio company, the effect of a 25% increase or decrease in the sterling value of the euro would be a fall of £71.3m and a rise of £65.1m in the value of shareholders’equity and on profit after tax at 31 January 2025 respectively (2024: a fall of £74m and a rise of £56.1m based on 25% increase or decrease).The effect of a 25% increase or decrease in the sterling value of the US dollar would be a fall of £158m and a rise of £152.1m in the value of shareholders’ equity and on profit after tax at 31 January 2025 respectively (2024: a fall of £141.9m and a rise of £124.4m based on 25% movement). The percentages applied are based on market volatility in exchange rates observed in prior periods.

    (ii) Interest rate risk

    The Company’s assets primarily comprise non-interest bearing investments in funds and non-interest bearing investments in portfolio companies. The fair values of these investments are not significantly directly affected by changes in interest rates. The Company’s net debt balance is exposed to interest rate risk; the financial impact of this risk is currently immaterial.

    The Company is indirectly exposed to interest rate risk through the impact of interest rates on the performance of investments in funds and portfolio companies as a result of interest rate changes impacting the underlying manager valuation. This performance impact as a result of interest rate risk is recognised through the valuation of those investments, which will be affected by the impact of any change in interest rates on the financial performance of the underlying portfolio companies and also on any valuation of those investments for sale. The Company is not able to quantify how a change in interest rates would impact valuations.

    (iii) Price risk

    The risk that the value of a financial instrument will change as a result of changes to market prices is one that is fundamental to the Company’s objective, which is to provide long-term capital growth through investment in unquoted companies. The investment Portfolio is continually monitored to ensure an appropriate balance of risk and reward in order to achieve the Company’s objective.

    The Company is exposed to the risk of change in value of its private equity investments. For all investments the market variable is deemed to be the price itself. The table below shows the impact of a 30% increase or decrease in the valuation of the investment Portfolio. The percentages applied are reasonable based on the Manager’s view of the potential for volatility in the Portfolio valuations under stressed conditions.

      31 January 2025 31 January 2024
      Increase in variable Decrease in variable Increase in variable Decrease in variable
      £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
    30% (2024: 30%) movement in the price of investments        
    Impact on profit after tax 423,339 (370,568) 374,044 (320,217)

    A reasonably possible percentage change in relation to the earnings estimates or Enterprise Value/EBITDA multiples used by the underlying managers to value the private equity fund investments and co-investments may result in a significant change in the fair value of unquoted investments.

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

    Investment and credit risk

    (i) Investment risk

    Investment risk is the risk that the financial performance of the companies in which the Company invests either improves or deteriorates, thereby affecting the value of that investment. Investments in unquoted companies whether indirectly or directly are, by their nature, subject to potential investment losses. The investment Portfolio is highly diversified in order to mitigate this risk.

    (ii) Credit risk

    The Company’s exposure to credit risk arises principally from its investment in cash deposits. The Company aims to invest the majority of its liquid portfolio in assets which have low credit risk. The Company’s policy is to limit exposure to any one investment to 15% of gross assets. This is regularly monitored by the Manager as a part of its cash management process.

    Cash is held on deposit with Royal Bank of Scotland (‘RBS’) and totalled £3.9m (2024: £9.7m). RBS currently has a credit rating of A1 from Moody’s. This represented the maximum exposure to credit risk at the balance sheet date. No collateral is held by the Company in respect of these amounts. None of the Company’s cash deposits or money market fund balances were past due or impaired at 31 January 2025 (2024: nil) and as a result of this, no ECL provision has been recorded.

    Liquidity risk

    The Company makes commitments to private equity funds in advance of that capital being invested, typically in illiquid, unquoted companies. These commitments are in excess of the Company’s total liquidity, therefore resulting in an overcommitment. When determining the appropriate level of overcommitment, the Board considers the rate at which commitments might be drawn down, typically over four to six years, versus the rate at which existing investments are sold and cash realised. The Company has an established liquidity management policy, which involves active monitoring and assessment of the Company’s liquidity position and its overcommitment risk. This is regularly reviewed by the Board and incorporated into the Board’s assessment of the viability of the Company. This process incorporates balance sheet and cash flow projections, including scenarios with varying levels of Portfolio gains and losses, fund drawdowns and realisations, availability of the credit facility, exchange rates, and possible remedial action that the Company could undertake if required in the event of significant Portfolio declines.

    At the year end, the Company had cash and cash equivalents totalling £3.9m and had access to committed bank facilities of €300m maturing in May 2028, which is a multi-currency revolving credit facility provided by SMBC and Lloyds. The key terms of the facility are:

    • Upfront cost: 120bps.
    • Non-utilisation fees: 115bps per annum.
    • Margin on drawn amounts: 300bps per annum.

    As at 31 January 2025 the Company’s total financial liabilities amounted to £143.1m (2024: £25.1m) of payables which were due in less than one year, which includes accrued balances payable in respect of the credit facility above.

    Movement in financial liabilities arising from financing activities

    The following tables sets out the movements in total liabilities held at amortised cost arising from financing activities undertaken during the year.

      2025 2024
      £’000 £’000
    At 1 February 2024 22,062 67,700
    Proceeds from borrowings 139,762 128,109
    Repayment of long term borrowings (27,831) (174,954)
    Change in capitalisation of bank facility fees 782 1,206
    At 31 January 2025 134,775 22,061
         

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

    Capital risk management

    The Company’s capital is represented by its net assets, which are managed to achieve the Company’s investment objective. As at the year end, the Company had net debt of £135.9m (2024: £10.3m).

    The Board can manage the capital structure directly since it has taken the powers, which it is seeking to renew, to issue and buy back shares and it also determines dividend payments. The Company is subject to externally imposed capital requirements with respect to the obligation and ability to pay dividends by Section 1159 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 and by the Companies Act 2006, respectively. Total equity at 31 January 2025, the composition of which is shown on the balance sheet, was £1,332.4m (2024: £1,283.2m).

    Fair values estimation
    IFRS 13 requires disclosure of fair value measurements of financial instruments categorised according to the following fair value measurement hierarchy:

    • Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1).
    • Inputs other than quoted prices included within level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly (that is, as prices) or indirectly (that is, derived from prices) (Level 2).
    • Inputs for the asset or liability that are not based on observable market data (that is, unobservable inputs) (Level 3).

    The valuation techniques applied to level 3 assets are described in note 1(c) of the financial statements. No investments were categorised as level 1 or level 2.

    The Company’s policy is to recognise transfers into and transfers out of fair value hierarchy levels at the end of the reporting year when they are deemed to occur.

    The sensitivity of the Company’s investments to a change in value is discussed on page 51.

    The following table presents the assets that are measured at fair value at 31 January 2025 and 31 January 2024:

    31 January 2025        
    Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total
    £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
    Investments held at fair value        
    Unquoted investments – indirect 150,987 150,987
    Unquoted investments – direct 154,242 154,242
    Quoted investments – direct
    Subsidiary undertakings 1,164,320 1,164,320
    Total investments held at fair value 1,469,549 1,469,549
    31 January 2024        
    Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total
    £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
    Investments held at fair value        
    Unquoted investments – indirect 136,473 136,473
    Unquoted investments – direct 123,823 123,823
    Quoted investments – direct
    Subsidiary undertakings 1,036,085 1,036,085
    Total investments held at fair value 1,296,381 1,296,381

    All unquoted and quoted investments are valued at fair value in accordance with IFRS 13. The Company has no quoted investments as at 31 January 2025; quoted investments held by subsidiary undertakings are reported within Level 3.

    Investments in Level 3 securities are in respect of private equity fund investments and co-investments. These are held at fair value and are calculated using valuations provided by the underlying manager of the investment, with adjustments made to the statements to take account of cash flow events occurring after the date of the manager’s valuation, such as realisations or liquidity adjustments.

    The following tables present the changes in Level 3 instruments for the year to 31 January 2025 and 31 January 2024.

    31 January 2025 Unquoted investments (indirect) at fair value through profit or loss
    £’000
    Unquoted investments (direct) at fair value through profit or loss
    £’000
    Subsidiary undertakings
    £’000
    Total
    £’000
    Opening balances 136,473 123,823 1,036,086 1,296,382
    Additions 18,124 16,020 151,292 185,436
    Disposals (16,076) (4,138) (125,769) (145,983)
    Gains and losses recognised in profit or loss 14,524 16,479 102,711 133,714
    Closing balance 153,045 152,184 1,164,320 1,469,549
    31 January 2024 Unquoted investments (indirect) at fair value through profit or loss
    £’000
    Unquoted investments (direct) at fair value through profit or loss
    £’000
    Subsidiary undertakings
    £’000
    Total
    £’000
    Opening balances 158,896 110,282 1,079,897 1,349,075
    Additions 14,933 10,248 116,988 142,169
    Disposals (37,167) (3,590) (195,300) (236,057)
    Gains and losses recognised in profit or loss (188) 6,883 34,500 41,194
    Closing balance 136,474 123,823 1,036,085 1,296,381

    18 RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

    Significant transactions between the Company and its subsidiaries are shown below:

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

    Subsidiary Nature of transaction Year ended
    31 January
    2025
    £’000
    Year ended
    31 January
    2024
    £’000
    ICG Enterprise Trust Limited Partnership Increase in amounts owed to subsidiaries
      (Decrease) in amounts owed by subsidiaries (8,689) (102)
      Income allocated
    ICG Enterprise Trust (2) Limited Partnership Increase in amounts owed to subsidiaries (2,956) 11,420
      (Decrease) in amounts owed by subsidiaries
      Income allocated (169) 151
    ICG Enterprise Trust Co-investment LP Increase in amounts owed by subsidiaries 33,229 (10,416)
      Income allocated 2,127 6,681
    ICG Enterprise Holdings LP Increase in amounts owed to subsidiaries (45,725)
      Income allocated 4,224 6,819
    ICG Morse Partnership LP Increase in amounts owed by subsidiaries (14,513)
      Decrease in amounts owed to subsidiaries
      Income allocated
    ICG Lewis Partnership LP (Decrease) in amounts owed by subsidiaries 687 1,820
      Increase in amounts owed by subsidiaries
      Income allocated

    ICG Enterprise Trust Limited Partnership transferred its remaining assets to ICG Enterprise Trust PLC during the year ended 31 January 2025. It will be dissolved during the year ended 31 January 2026 and will cease to be a subsidiary at that time.

    For the purpose of IAS 24 Related Party Disclosures, key management personnel comprised the Board of Directors.

    Remuneration in the year (audited) Fees Expenses Total
    Name 2025
    £’000
    2024
    £’000
    2025
    £’000
    2024
    £’000
    2025
    £’000
    2024
    £’000
    Jane Tufnell 74 71   74 71
    Alastair Bruce 60 58 60 58
    David Warnock 59 46   59 46
    Gerhard Fusenig 48 46 3 2 51 49
    Adiba Ighodaro 48 46 48 46
    Janine Nicholls 48 46 48 46
    Total 337 313 3 2 340 316

    Amounts owed by/to subsidiaries represent the Company’s loan account balances with those entities, to which the Company’s share of drawdowns and distributions in respect of those entities are credited and debited respectively.

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

      Amounts owed by subsidiaries Amounts owed to subsidiaries
    Subsidiary 31 January 2025 £’000 31 January 2024 £’000 31 January 2025 £’000 31 January 2024 £’000
    ICG Enterprise Trust Limited Partnership (492) 8,197
    ICG Enterprise Trust (2) Limited Partnership 31,372 34,328
    ICG Enterprise Trust Co-Investment LP 273,555 240,326
    ICG Enterprise Holdings LP
    ICG Morse Partnership LP
    ICG Lewis Partnership LP 8,569 7,881

    The Company and its subsidiaries’ total shares in funds and co-investments managed by the Company’s Manager are:

      Year ended 31 January 2025 Year ended 31 January 2024
    Fund/Co-investment Remaining
    commitment
    £’000
    Fair value investment
    £’000
    Remaining
    commitment
    £’000
    Fair value investment
    £’000
    ICG MXV Co-Investment 8,361 32,728 217 31,658
    ICG Strategic Equity Fund III 10,727 31,043 10,942 39,374
    ICG Europe VII 6,082 30,721 6,541 35,021
    ICG Ludgate Hill (Feeder B) SCSp 13,591 23,814 13,860 24,366
    ICG Europe VIII 14,339 23,640 25,901 10,746
    ICG Augusta Partners Co-Investor 17,775 20,469 17,365 15,533
    ICG Ludgate Hill (Feeder) III A Porsche SCSp 5,691 17,995 4,652 21,104
    ICG Newton Co-Investment 393 17,808 393 17,909
    ICG Progress Co-Investment 421 17,265 577 15,156
    ICG Vanadium Co-Investment 246 16,180 251 14,209
    ICG Ludgate Hill (Feeder) II Boston SCSp 5,392 16,030 5,267 14,721
    ICG Match Co-Investment 132 15,253 129 15,403
    ICG Colombe Co-investment 1,810 13,795 1,678 12,221
    ICG Europe Mid-Market Fund 5,524 13,494 5,476 13,819
    ICG LP Secondaries Fund I LP 41,146 12,175 34,811 21,980
    ICG Cheetah Co-Investment 635 11,123 669 11,570
    CX VIII Co-Investment 167 9,076 171 8,996
    ICG Asia Pacific Fund III 2,523 8,706 2,634 8,436
    ICG Dallas Co-Investment 1,240 8,172 1,280 8,245
    ICG Strategic Equity V 36,868 7,101 19,704 895
    ICG Strategic Equity IV 7,055 32,851 10,385 28,029
    ICG Sunrise Co-Investment 75 5,840 76 5,402
    ICG Crown Co-Investment 96 5,492 122 4,817
    ICG Recovery Fund 2008 B1 846 4,954 862 4,545
    ICG Strategic Secondaries Fund II 16,938 4,853 16,547 10,052
    ICG Holiday Co-Investor I 286 3,748 285 2,655
    ICG North American Private Debt Fund II 2,097 3,061 1,682 5,467
    ICG Europe VI 4,013 2,814 4,311 5,719
    ICG Holiday Co-Investor II 199 2,775 197 1,966
    ICG Europe Mid-Market II 19,245 1,534 21,316 (263)
    ICG Europe V 545 757 555 808
    ICG Cross Border 182 273 178 5,555
    ICG Diocle Co-Investment 145 81 148 98
    ICG Velocity Partners Co-Investor 650 18 635
    ICG European Fund 2006 B1 480 15 489 28
    ICG Topvita Co-Investment 687 700
    ICG Trio Co-Investment 36 37 7,988
    Ambassador Theatre Group 14,177
    Total 226,638 415,652 211,043 438,410

    At the balance sheet date the Company has fully funded its share of capital calls due to ICG-managed funds in which it is invested.

    19 Post balance sheet events

    On 2 April 2025, the Company announced the completion of a secondary sale of primary fund interests generating £62m net proceeds and releasing undrawn commitments of £10m. On 30 April 2025 the Company cancelled its Treasury shares (see note 14). 9,358,808 shares were cancelled.

    GLOSSARY

    Term Short form Definition
    Alternative Performance Measures APMs Alternative Performance Measures are a term defined by the European Securities and Markets Authority as “financial measures of historical or future performance, financial position, or cash flows, other than a financial measure defined or specified in the applicable financial reporting framework”.

    APMs are used in this report if considered by the Board and the Manager to be the most relevant basis for shareholders in assessing the overall performance of the Company and for comparing the performance of the Company to its peers, taking into account industry practice.

    Definitions and reconciliations to IFRS measures are provided in the main body of the report or in this Glossary, where appropriate.

    Buyback impact on NAV per Share   Buyback impact on NAV per Share is calculated by comparing the NAV per Share with an adjusted NAV per Share as follows:
      Year ended
    31 January 2025
    Since inception (Oct. 22)  
    Opening number of shares 67,190,867 68,523,055 A
    Number of shares bought back in period 2,912,675 4,244,863  
    Closing number of shares 64,278,192 64,278,192 B
    31 January 2025 NAV £1,332m £1,332m C
    Add back cash invested in buybacks £36m £51m  
    31 January 2025 NAV + cash invested in buybacks £1,368m £1,383m D
    31 January 2025 NAV per Share 2,072.9p 2,072.9p E (C/B)
    Pro forma NAV per share excluding buybacks 2,036.4p 2,018.8p F (D/A)
    Impact of buybacks 36.5p 54.1p G (E-F)
    NAV per Share accretion
    from buybacks
    1.8% 2.7% G/F
    Note: scenario excluding buyback does not include any cash impact of dividends that would have been paid to holders of those shares had the buyback not been undertaken
    Carried Interest   Carried interest is equivalent to a performance fee. This represents a share of the profits that will accrue to the underlying private equity managers, after achievement of an agreed Preferred Return.
    Cash drag   Cash drag is the negative impact on performance arising as a result of the allocation of a portion of the entity’s assets to cash.
    Co-investment   Co-investment is a Direct Investment in a company alongside a private equity fund.
    Co-investment Incentive Scheme Accrual   Co-investment Incentive Scheme Accrual represents the estimated value of interests in the Co-investment Incentive Scheme operated by the subsidiary partnerships of the Company.
    Commitment   Commitment represents the amount of capital that each investor agrees to contribute to a fund or a specific investment.
    Compound Annual Growth Rate CAGR The rate of return that would be required for an investment to grow from its beginning balance to its ending balance, assuming the profits were reinvested at the end of each period of the investment’s life span.
    Deployment   Please see ‘Total new investment’.
    Direct Investment   An investment in a portfolio company held directly, not through a private equity fund. Direct Investments are typically co-investments with a private equity fund.
    Discount   Discount arises when the Company’s shares trade at a price below the Company’s NAV per Share. In this circumstance, the price that an investor pays or receives for a share would be less than the value attributable to it by reference to the underlying assets. The Discount is the difference between the share price and the NAV, expressed as a percentage of the NAV. For example, if the NAV was 100p and the share price was 90p, the Discount would be 10%.
    Drawdowns   Drawdowns are amounts invested by the Company when called by underlying managers in respect of an existing Commitment.
    EBITDA   Stands for earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation, which is a widely used profitability measure in the private equity industry.
    Enlarged Perimeter   The aggregate Portfolio value of the Top 30 Companies and as many of the managers from within the Top 30 funds as practicable.
    Enterprise Value EV Enterprise Value is the aggregate value of a company’s entire issued share capital and Net Debt.
    Exclusion List   The Exclusion List defines the business activities which are excluded from investment.
    FTSE All-Share Index Total Return   The change in the level of the FTSE All-Share Index, assuming that dividends are re-invested on the day that they are paid.
    Full Exits   Full Exits are exit events (e.g., trade sale, sale by public offering, or sale to a financial buyer) following which the residual exposure to an underlying company is zero or immaterial; this does not include Fund Disposals. See ‘Fund Disposals’.
    Fund Disposals   Fund Disposals are where the Company receives sales proceeds from the full or partial sale of a fund position within the secondary market.
    General Partner GP The General Partner is the entity managing a private equity fund. This is commonly referred to as the manager.
    Hedging   Hedging is an investment technique designed to offset a potential loss on one investment by purchasing a second investment that is expected to perform in the opposite way.
    Initial Public Offering IPO An Initial Public Offering is an offering by a company of its share capital to the public with a view to seeking an admission of its shares to a recognised stock exchange.
    Internal Rate of Return IRR Internal Rate of Return is a measure of the rate of return received by an investor in a fund. It is calculated from cash drawn from and returned to the investor, together with the residual value of the investment.
    Investment Period   Investment Period is the period in which funds are able to make new investments under the terms of their fund agreements, typically up to five years after the initial Commitment.
    Last Twelve Months LTM Last Twelve Months refers to the timeframe of the immediately preceding 12 months in reference to financial metrics used to evaluate the Company’s performance.
    Limited Partner LP The Limited Partner is an institution or individual who commits capital to a private equity fund established as a Limited Partnership. These funds are generally protected from legal actions and any losses beyond the original investment.
    Limited Partnership   A Limited Partnership includes one or more General Partners, who have responsibility for managing the business of the partnership and have unlimited liability, and one or more Limited Partners, who do not participate in the operation of the partnership and whose liability is ordinarily capped at their capital and loan contribution to the partnership. In typical fund structures, the General Partner receives a priority share ahead of distributions to Limited Partners.
    Net Asset Value per Share NAV per Share Net Asset Value per Share is the value of the Company’s net assets attributable to one Ordinary share. It is calculated by dividing ‘shareholders’ funds’ by the total number of ordinary shares in issue. Shareholders’ funds are calculated by deducting current and long-term liabilities, and any provision for liabilities and charges, from the Company’s total assets.
    Net Debt   Net Debt is calculated as the total short-term and long-term debt in a business, less cash and cash equivalents.
    Ongoing charges   Ongoing Charges are calculated in line with guidance issued by the Association of Investment Companies (‘AIC’) and capture management fees and expenses, excluding finance costs, incurred at the Company level only. The calculation does not include the expenses and management fees incurred by any underlying funds.
        31 January 2025 Total per income statement
    £’000
    Amount excluded from AIC Ongoing Charges
    £’000
    Included Ongoing Charges
    £000
        Management fees 16,175 16,175
        General expenses 1,500 165 1,665
        Finance costs 9,354 (9,354)
        Total 27,029 (9,189) 17,840
        Total Ongoing Charges 17,840
        Average NAV 1,294,186
        Ongoing Charges as % of NAV 1.38%
               
        31 January 2024 Total per income statement
    £’000
    Amount excluded from AIC Ongoing Charges
    £’000
    Included Ongoing Charges
    £000
        Management fees 16,148 16,148
        General expenses 1,773 (209) 1,564
        Finance costs 8,152 (8,152)
        Total 26,073 (8,362) 17,712
        Total Ongoing Charges 17,712
        Average NAV 1,291,759
        Ongoing Charges as % of NAV 1.37%
        Included within General expenses above are £(0.2)m (credit) (2024: £0.2m) of other expenses which are non-recurring and are excluded from the Ongoing Charges.
    Other Net Liabilities   Other Net Liabilities at the aggregated Company level represent net other liabilities per the Company’s balance sheet. Net other liabilities per the balance sheet of the subsidiaries include amounts payable under the Co-investment Incentive Scheme Accrual.
    Overcommitment   Overcommitment refers to where private equity fund investors make Commitments exceeding the amount of liquidity immediately available for investment. When determining the appropriate level of Overcommitment, careful consideration needs to be given to the rate at which Commitments might be drawn down, and the rate at which realisations will generate cash from the existing Portfolio to fund new investment.
    Portfolio   Portfolio represents the aggregate of the investment Portfolios of the Company and of its subsidiary Limited Partnerships. This APM is consistent with the commentary in previous annual and interim reports. The Board and the Manager consider that disclosing our Portfolio assists shareholders in understanding the value and performance of the underlying investments selected by the Manager. It is shown before the Co-investment Incentive Scheme Accrual to avoid being distorted by certain funds and Direct Investments on which ICG Enterprise Trust Plc does not incur these costs (for example, on funds managed by ICG plc). Portfolio is related to the NAV, which is the value attributed to our shareholders, and which also incorporates the Co-investment Incentive Scheme Accrual as well as the value of cash and debt retained on our balance sheet.

    The value of the Portfolio at 31 January 2025 is £1,523.1m (31 January 2024: £1,349.0m).

        31 January 2025 £m IFRS Balance sheet fair value Net assets of subsidiary limited partnerships Co-investment Incentive Scheme Accrual Total Company and subsidiary Limited Partnership
        Investments1 1,469.5 (0.3) 53.9 1,523.1
        Cash 3.9 3.9
        Other Net Liabilities (141.0) 0.3 (53.9) (194.6)
        Net assets 1,332.4 1,332.4
                 
        31 January 2024 £m IFRS Balance sheet fair value Balances receivable from subsidiary Limited Partnerships Co-investment Incentive Scheme Accrual Total Company and subsidiary Limited Partnership
        Investments1 1,296.4 (1.9) 54.4 1,349.0
        Cash 9.7 9.7
        Other Net Liabilities (22.9) 1.9 (54.4) (75.5)
        Net assets 1,283.2 1,283.2
        1Investments as reported on the IFRS balance sheet at fair value comprise the total of assets held by the Company and the net asset value of the Company’s investments in the subsidiary Limited Partnerships.
    Portfolio Return on a Local Currency Basis   Portfolio Return on a Local Currency Basis represents the change in the valuation of the Company’s Portfolio before the impact of currency movements and Co-investment Incentive Scheme Accrual. The Portfolio return of 10.2% is calculated as follows:
          £m 31 January 2025 31 January 2024
        Income, gains and losses on Investments   142.0 125.3
        Foreign exchange gains and losses included in gains and losses on investments   5.4 (38.6)
        Incentive accrual valuation movement   (9.3) (3.7)
        Total gains on Portfolio investments excluding impact of foreign exchange   138.1 83.1
        Opening Portfolio valuation   1,349.0 1,406.4
        Portfolio Return on a Local Currency Basis   10.2% 5.9%
                 
    Term Short form Definition
    Portfolio Company   Portfolio Company refers to an individual company in an investment portfolio.
    Primary   A Primary Investment is a Commitment to a private equity fund.
    Quoted Company   A Quoted Company is any company whose shares are listed or traded on a recognised stock exchange.
    Realisation Proceeds   Realisation Proceeds are amounts received in respect of underlying realisation activity from the Portfolio and exclude any inflows from the sale of fund positions via the secondary market.
    Realisations – Multiple to Cost   Realisations – Multiple to Cost is the average return from Full Exits from the Portfolio in the period on a primary investment basis, weighted by cost.
        £m   31 January 2025 31 January 2024
        Realisation Proceeds from Full Exits in the year-to-date   73.7 100.8
        Cost   35.9 28.8
        Average return Multiple to Cost   2.9x 3.5x
    Realisations – Uplift To Carrying Value   Realisations – Uplift To Carrying Value is the aggregate uplift on Full exits from the Portfolio in the period excluding publicly listed companies that were exited via sell downs of their shares.
        £m   31 January 2025 31 January 2024
        Realisation Proceeds from Full Exits in the year-to-date   73.7 100.8
        Prior Carrying Value (at previous quarterly valuation prior to exit)   62.0 89.2
        Realisations – Uplift To Carrying Value   19.0% 29.5%
    Secondary Investments   Secondary Investments occur when existing private equity fund interests and Commitments are purchased from an investor seeking liquidity.
    Share Price Total Return   Share Price Total Return is the change in the Company’s share price, assuming that dividends are re-invested on the day that they are paid.
    Total New Investment   Total New Investment is the total of direct Co-investment and fund investment Drawdowns in respect of the Portfolio. In accordance with IFRS 10, the Company’s subsidiaries are deemed to be investment entities and are included in subsidiary investments within the financial statements.

    Movements in the cash flow statement within the financial statements reconcile to the movement in the Portfolio as follows:

          £m 31 January 2025 31 January 2024
        Purchase of Portfolio investments per cash flow statement   34.1 25.2
        Purchase of Portfolio investments within subsidiary investments   152.2 111.6
        Return of cost/expenses   (4.9) 0.0
        Total New Investment   181.4 136.7
    Term Short form Definition        
    Total Proceeds   Total Proceeds are amounts received by the Company in respect of the Portfolio, which may be in the form of capital proceeds or income such as interest or dividends. In accordance with IFRS 10, the Company’s subsidiaries are deemed to be investment entities and are included in subsidiary investments within the financial statements.
        £m     31 January 2025 31 January 2024
        Sale of Portfolio investments per cash flow statement     20.0 40.6
        Sale of Portfolio investments, interest received, and dividends received within subsidiary investments     125.8 195.3
        Interest income per cash flow statement     0.5 1.7
        Dividend income per cash flow statement     0.5 0.8
        Other income per cash flow statement     0.1
        Return of invested cost     4.0 0.0
        Total Proceeds     150.8 238.6
        Fund Disposals     (67.6)
        Realisation Proceeds     150.8 171.0
    Total Return   The change in the Company’s Net Asset Value per Share, assuming that dividends are re-invested at the end of the quarter in which the dividend was paid.
    Undrawn Commitments   Undrawn Commitments are Commitments that have not yet been drawn down (please see ‘Drawdowns’).
    Unquoted Company   An Unquoted Company is any company whose shares are not listed or traded on a recognised stock exchange.
    Valuation Date   The date of the valuation report issued by the underlying manager.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Saddle Road closed following crash

    Source: New Zealand Police

    Saddle Road between Ashurst and Woodville is closed due to a serious two vehicle collision.

    Emergency services received reports of the crash at 5:20pm, in which one person is believed to be critically injured.

    Motorists are advised to avoid travel if possible as the only diversion is through the Pahiatua Track.

    ENDS

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Algernon Yau heads to Beijing

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Algernon Yau will depart for a visit to Beijing today in the late afternoon to call on central ministries and meet representatives of Hong Kong enterprises there.

    Mr Yau will then proceed to Qatar on Saturday. Under Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Bernard Chan will be the Acting Secretary during Mr Yau’s absence.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Police acknowledge sentencing of fatal crash driver

    Source: New Zealand Police

    Please attribute to Senior Sergeant Fane Troy, Taupo Area Road Policing Manager:

    Police acknowledge the sentence handed down to Wookeun Kim in the Auckland District Court yesterday.

    Mr Kim was the driver of a vehicle involved in a fatal crash at Mangakino on 21 April which killed one person and seriously injured another.

    He was disqualified from driving for 15 months and ordered to pay $10,000 in reparations to the surviving victim, who remains in hospital.

    Police are glad that this matter was able to be resolved in a timely fashion. 

    These crashes are traumatic for all people involved.

    We would like to thank all those people who were involved in attending to the injured people at the crash scene – your efforts do not go unnoticed.

    Members of the public who call police around poor driving are to be commended. If you see dangerous driving or driving that causes concern please ring 111.

    ENDS

    Issued by the Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Result of the Daily Variable Rate Repo (VRR) auction held on May 08, 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    Tenor 1-day
    Notified Amount (in ₹ crore) 25,000
    Total amount of bids received (in ₹ crore) 8,074
    Amount allotted (in ₹ crore) 8,074
    Cut off Rate (%) 6.01
    Weighted Average Rate (%) 6.01
    Partial Allotment Percentage of bids received at cut off rate (%) NA

    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    

    Press Release: 2025-2026/280

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-Evening Report: In the age of the influencer, does the political backing of News Corp matter anymore?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Edward Hurcombe, Senior Lecturer in Media and Communication, RMIT University

    This year’s federal election demonstrated that Australia’s media landscape has changed. Big players are no longer “kingmakers” in politics.

    Influencers on TikTok and Instagram have seemingly become journalists. Politicians are going on podcasts, and campaign advertising has become memes.

    Australia’s news media has historically been concentrated in the hands of a few large companies. Now there are fresh new voices.

    But who are these new players? Are they even “journalists”? And to what extent are older media, such as News Corp, still influential?

    Too much attention?

    Labor’s stunning victory on Saturday night defied even the most optimistic predictions. But it was also evidence of the apparently declining influence of the largest commercial media company operating in Australia, News Corp.

    In the recent past, News Corp and its owner Rupert Murdoch were regarded by politicians as a major factor in deciding elections. Getting on Murdoch’s good side was an important goal for budding prime ministers.

    But despite its major papers supporting the Coalition at every state and federal election since 2010, the Labor Party still wins elections.

    In the aftermath of the Coalition’s smashing defeat, commentators were even openly considering whether the Liberal and National parties were providing Murdoch and its Sky News channel with too much attention.

    Analysts have suggested the Coalition’s fixation on “culture wars”, promoted by Sky News television hosts, left them out of touch with the issues ordinary Australians care about. The Coalition’s focus on Welcome to Country ceremonies in the final weeks of the campaign is an example of this tone-deaf misstep.




    Read more:
    In its soul-searching, the Coalition should examine its relationship with the media


    Shifts of influence

    The other major feature of this election was the rise of influencers. This started in December last year, when Peter Dutton appeared on Sam Fricker’s podcast. Fricker is a former diver with 168,000 Instagram followers.

    Anthony Albanese followed suit in early 2025, when he appeared on Abbie Chatfield’s podcast. Chatfield is a politically progressive Instagram star with more than 560,000 followers.

    Influencers weren’t just interviewing politicians, however. They were also reporting the news. In March, a dozen influencers were invited by the Labor Party to participate in the annual budget lock-up.

    The privilege of reading the budget ahead of its official launch is usually reserved for journalists, but financial and feminist influencers, among others, were also included.

    Some news outlets raised eyebrows at this development, while others expressed concern at reports the Labor Party had funded the travel costs for these influencers.

    But what was clear was the government felt it could no longer rely on traditional media to get the message out. Instead, it recognised that influencers are now a major source of news for many people – especially young people.




    Read more:
    Social media is the new election battleground. Is embracing influencers smart, risky or both?


    How do we make sense of this?

    Does this mean influencers have replaced journalists? Well, it’s more complicated than that.

    Research from the University of Canberra has shown young audiences receive most of their news from social media, and video content is increasingly popular for this demographic. The video platform YouTube has also become a powerhouse for political content, and upstart digital outlets such as The Daily Aus on Instagram have cemented themselves as legitimate news sources.

    But we shouldn’t ignore traditional media. The ABC, along with SBS, is still the most trusted news source in Australia. The ABC’s recent election night coverage broke viewership records.

    Established media has also been experimenting in digital news. This includes Guardian Australia’s influencer-style TikTok content, and the “Politics Explained” videos produced by the ABC’s multiplatform journalism team.

    These developments in Australia reflect what’s been happening in the United States, where legacy outlets such as the LA Times and the Washington Post have become adept at creating fun, accessible and informative news content for digital audiences.

    The recent focus on influencers also neglects how Australian news has been facing digital disruption for decades. In the 2010s, BuzzFeed Australia was also producing accessible and millennial-friendly news, and faced similar controversy when its journalists joined the Canberra Press Gallery.

    Still, influencers present both opportunities and challenges for news. On the one hand, they can reach audiences who would otherwise be avoiding news. They can provide fresh new perspectives on issues, especially on topics relevant to young people, such as housing.

    However, their ambivalent status also can present ethical concerns. Not being bound by newsroom codes of conduct can be freeing, but it can result in the transparency issues we saw in the budget lock-up.

    Influencers’ emphasis on “authenticity” can also lead to partisan news coverage. Some influencers who call themselves “citizen journalists” have even been accused of spreading misinformation.

    Australia’s news landscape is much more diverse than it used to be. But it’s also more complex than simply a story of old versus new media.

    Edward Hurcombe receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    ref. In the age of the influencer, does the political backing of News Corp matter anymore? – https://theconversation.com/in-the-age-of-the-influencer-does-the-political-backing-of-news-corp-matter-anymore-255876

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Canberra on screen

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The ABC series Austin was filmed in Canberra.

    In brief:

      • Canberra has featured in Australian and international films and television series.
      • These are some of the iconic locations that have featured on screen.

    As a local, there’s nothing quite like seeing Canberra on screen.

    Whether it’s a spot in your neighbourhood, a cultural institution or our bushland, Canberra has been a backdrop to several films and television shows.

    Here are some of the locations that have been featured on screen:

    The Hyatt Hotel Canberra

    This is one of many Canberra locations used to film the ABC comedy series, Austin. The Hyatt is a regular feature and appears as the ‘Canberra Hotel’ in the show.

    Some of the other Canberra locations that were used for filming include:

    • Book Lore and The Front in Lyneham
    • The Marion
    • The National Library of Australia
    • Rebel Rebel.

    Constitution Avenue

    Blacklight is an action film starring Liam Neeson and set in Washington DC. During 2021, an action scene was filmed on the streets of Canberra. Despite being edited to look as though the scene took place in DC, Canberra residents will recognise some familiar scenery.

    Notable locations include:

    • the underground carpark at the National Gallery of Australia
    • Glebe Park and the surrounding area.

    The Parliamentary Triangle

    The political thriller television series Secret City was filmed inside of Parliament House. You’ll see the prime minister’s office, the Press Gallery, and the building’s exterior to name a few.

    Some other Canberra locations you’ll spot include:

    • Commonwealth Avenue Bridge
    • Lake Burley Griffin
    • Australian National University
    • Ovolo Canberra
    • The National Gallery of Australia.

    Other TV shows and films that feature Parliament House include:

    • Total Control
    • The Hollowmen.

    Kambah Inn

    Somersault is a 2004 drama film starring Abbie Cornish and Sam Worthington. Most of the film is set in Jindabyne, but some of it was filmed in Canberra. Kambah Inn is featured, and some Canberrans will recognise the old Belconnen Interchange.

    The High Court of Australia

    Mabo tells the life story of Eddie ‘Koiki’ Mabo and his part in the landmark case that overturned the doctrine of terra nullius. It starts Jimi Bani and Deborah Mailman and The High Court of Australia is visible in the film.

    The High Court of Australia also featured briefly in film The Castle. It is the setting for Darryl Kerrigan’s (played by Michael Caton) legal battle to protect his family home.

    Gungahlin Skate Park

    Skate parks and Kingsley’s Chicken are two of Canberra’s most popular locations for teenagers. It’s fitting that they are featured in the 2013 film Galore. The film is set in suburban Canberra and tells the story of a group of teenagers in the lead up to the 2003 bushfires. Scrivener Dam is also visible in part of the film.

    Black Mountain Tower

    Blue World Order is a 2017 film directed by Ché Baker and Dallas Bland. It’s set in a post-apocalyptic world and stars Titanic actor Billy Zane. There is even a cameo from ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr.

    The iconic Black Mountain Tower is visible in the film. Scenes were also shot at the Australian National University and Wee Jasper Caves.

    Read more like this


    Get ACT news and events delivered straight to your inbox, sign up to our email newsletter:


    MIL OSI News

  • MIL-OSI Banking: ASEAN and Canada reaffirm commitment to advancing Strategic Partnership

    Source: ASEAN – Association of SouthEast Asian Nations

    The 22nd ASEAN-Canada Dialogue, convened today in Vientiane, discussed progress of ASEAN-Canada relations, including the implementation of Plan of Action to Implement the Joint Declaration on ASEAN-Canada Enhanced Partnership (2021-2025), as well as possible areas of future cooperation to further advance ASEAN-Canada Strategic Partnership.
     
    Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lao PDR and SOM Leader of Lao PDR, Thongphane Savanphet, and Assistant Deputy Minister for the Indo-Pacific of Global Affairs Canada and SOM Leader of Canada, Weldon Epp, co-chaired the Meeting. Senior officials of ASEAN Member States or their representatives and the Deputy Secretary-General for ASEAN Political-Security Community were also in attendance. Timor-Leste attended the meeting as Observer.

    Photo credit: ASEAN Secretariat
    The post ASEAN and Canada reaffirm commitment to advancing Strategic Partnership appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Global Banks

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Secretary-General of ASEAN to conduct a Working Visit to New Zealand

    Source: ASEAN – Association of SouthEast Asian Nations

    At the invitation of the Government of New Zealand, Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, will lead the ASEAN Secretariat delegation for a Working Visit to New Zealand, on 12 to 14 May 2025, covering Auckland and Wellington. Throughout the entire programme of the visit, SG Dr. Kao is scheduled to meet with key stakeholders, including The Right Honourable Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister of New Zealand, as well as with Ministers of the New Zealand Government, parliamentarians, business community and private sectors, academia, youth and students. During his stay in Auckland, SG Dr. Kao will take the opportunity to give a lecture to a group of students and faculty members at the University of Auckland to convey ASEAN’s narratives as well as to promote ASEAN’s diplomacy and visibility. In addition, SG Dr. Kao will also engage with the ASEAN Committee in Wellington. The Working Visit is an undertaking aimed to further strengthening the ASEAN-New Zealand enduring partnership and cooperation, particularly as ASEAN and New Zealand would commemorate the 50th Anniversary of their Dialogue Relations this year.
    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN to conduct a Working Visit to New Zealand appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Global Banks

  • MIL-OSI USA: Crapo Joins Bipartisan Bill to Help House Disabled Veterans

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo

    Washington, D.C.–U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) joined U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-California), Dave McCormick (R-Pennsylvania), Ruben Gallego (D-Arizona) and Katie Britt (R-Alabama) to introduce bipartisan legislation to ensure veterans experiencing homelessness and receiving disability payments maintain access to crucial housing support.  The Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act (HUDVA) would permanently exclude disability payments received by veterans from annual income for housing assistance eligibility purposes under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program.

    “Veterans who placed their lives on the line and were disabled in active duty combat should not have to worry about whether or not they will have a home after they return from their service,” Senator Crapo said.  “The fact that many disabled veterans in this country are homeless because their income from disability payments was too high to qualify for housing assistance is unconscionable.”

    The HUD-VASH program plays a pivotal role in addressing homelessness among veterans by providing rental assistance from HUD along with supportive services from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).  Unfortunately, some of our country’s most disabled veterans receiving disability payments have historically been unable to access veterans housing programs like HUD-VASH because HUD included disability benefits as part of their total income.  Up until recently, the more severe a disability was, the more disability benefits a veteran received, and the less likely it was that they could access veterans housing assistance.

    Last year, HUD finally changed its policies to exclude VA disability benefits from income for purposes of eligibility for the HUD-VASH program.  Now that homeless veterans with disabilities can finally access this assistance, HUDVA would codify this important policy change to ensure that access continues permanently.

    In another effort to support disabled veterans, Crapo also co-led reintroduction of the Major Richard Star Act, which would provide combat-injured veteran retirees full VA disability and U.S. Department of Defense retirement benefits earned by their service.

    The Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act is also co-sponsored by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut), Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana) and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii). Representatives Brad Sherman (D-California) and Monica De La Cruz (R-Texas) are leading companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

    Full text of the bill is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-Evening Report: ‘Everyone lives in fear’: trapped between two warring nuclear giants, the people of Kashmir continue to suffer

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Leoni Connah, Lecturer in International Relations, Flinders University

    Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated this week after India launched missile strikes on its long-time rival, killing more than 30 people.

    India was retaliating for a terror attack on tourists in Indian-controlled Kashmir on April 22, which killed 26 civilians, most of them Indian. New Delhi has blamed a Pakistan-based militant group for the incident.

    Pakistan has vowed revenge for the airstrikes, calling them an “act of war”.

    If a full-scale war does break out between the two nuclear powers, it wouldn’t be the first time they have fought over the disputed region of Kashmir. In fact, the two sides have been in conflict over Kashmir since 1947.

    The people of Kashmir, meanwhile, are stuck in the middle of this geopolitical rivalry, trapped in a security state with little hope for the future.

    Life before the April 22 terror attack

    Before the attack on the tourists last month, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government had made repeated claims that “normalcy” was returning to the region.

    However, Kashmir remains one of the most heavily militarised zones in the world and the people have long suffered human rights abuses the Indian government has justified on the grounds of counter-terrorism.

    In 2019, the Modi government revoked Article 370 of the Indian constitution, which had granted a special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir, along with a high degree of autonomy.

    The revocation of this article brought Jammu and Kashmir, now a “union territory”, under the full control of the Modi government in New Delhi.

    This decision was made on behalf of Kashmiris, not in consultation with them. Speaking with Kashmiris in 2020 as part of my ongoing research on the region, there was a huge sense of betrayal at the move.

    One of my interview subjects claimed Indian security forces were “instilling fear and psychological warfare” in Kashmir. Another said “it’s no exaggeration to say after every three kilometres, there’s a checkpoint” manned by Indian security forces. The situation worsened during the COVID pandemic, with increased lockdowns and curfews.

    Some hope did return last September when Kashmiris were able to vote in regional assembly elections for the first time in a decade.

    The election meant the new local assembly would have the power to make and amend laws, debate local issues and approve decisions for the territory, particularly in education and culture.

    However, this doesn’t mean “normalcy” had returned, nor was Kashmir peaceful and tranquil.

    In February of this year, there were reports that Indian security forces had conducted operations against suspected militants, resulting in a lockdown and 500 people being detained.

    A young Kashmiri man died by suicide after allegedly being tortured by police in February. The next day, another man was shot dead by the army.

    These are just two incidents that are part of a wider cycle of violence that has become a part of everyday life in Kashmir.

    Life after April 22

    After the April 22 tourist attack, the central government has doubled down on its heavy-handed approach to Kashmir under the guise of counter-terrorism.

    Kashmiris have been subjected to an increased security presence, new lockdowns, “cordon and search operations”, social media surveillance, house demolitions and other draconian measures.

    Police say some 1,900 Kashmiris have been detained and questioned since the attack. This number will no doubt continue to rise.

    It is no wonder Kashmiris were saying “everyone lives in fear”, even before India launched missile strikes on its neighbour.

    Possible retaliation from Pakistan – or a wider war – now looms, with Kashmiris again on the front lines.

    Calls for India to follow Israel’s lead

    There is a very big concern that right-wing Indian media outlets and social media posts are now encouraging the Indian government to respond to the terror attack in the same way Israel has retaliated against Hamas in Gaza.

    Some commentators are portraying the April 22 attack as India’s version of the October 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel, which could become a dangerous precedent for what the future holds for Kashmir.

    Israel also recently announced its support for India’s right to “self-defence”.

    In addition, the rise in right-wing rhetoric increases the likelihood of Islamophobic attacks taking place against Kashmiris, as well as Muslims in India more broadly.

    Pathways to peace?

    Each war fought between India and Pakistan over Kashmir has ended with negotiations and treaties.

    Bilateral relations have been attempted numerous times over the years and would be a preferable option to increased escalation in the current conflict.

    Ultimately, it is the Kashmiris who suffer the most whenever tensions boil over between the two nuclear powers. As one young man recently said:

    My parents don’t allow me to step outside. Every time I get a call, I feel a wave of anxiety, fearing it might be the police.

    Kashmir might be a wonderland, a mini-Switzerland or a paradise for others, but for us, it is an open prison. Everyone lives in fear. What future do we have?

    Leoni Connah does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    ref. ‘Everyone lives in fear’: trapped between two warring nuclear giants, the people of Kashmir continue to suffer – https://theconversation.com/everyone-lives-in-fear-trapped-between-two-warring-nuclear-giants-the-people-of-kashmir-continue-to-suffer-256085

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-Evening Report: Greens’ election hubris – how the minor party lost its way and now its leader

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Josh Holloway, Lecturer in Government in the College of Business, Government and Law, Flinders University

    The Greens’ federal election result has been widely condemned as a “disaster”.

    The party has been all but wiped out in the House of Representatives. It has lost three of its four members, including leader Adam Bandt, who has just conceded his once safe seat of Melbourne. This leaves the Brisbane electorate of Ryan as the Greens’ only remaining seat in the lower house.

    Yet the tired explanations being rolled out – the party is too extreme, too obstructionist, too distant from a mythical single-issue environmentalist past – misidentify the party’s dilemmas.

    And they overlook the fact the Greens’ influence will be greater in the new parliament, at least in the Senate.

    Under-delivering

    The Greens share the blame for the tone of these election post-mortems.

    This is a party of campaign hubris, consistently over-promising and under-delivering.

    Bob Brown’s “green government” is yet to emerge. Christine Milne’s aspirations of gains in the bush barely materialised. And the “small-l liberals” chased by Richard Di Natale now prop up independents.

    Bandt’s list of new target seats appears to have stretched resources too thin and underscored the challenges of taking a Senate party into the House.

    The campaign narrative of “keeping Dutton out and getting Labor to act” may have suited a time when either a Labor or Coalition minority government was a possibility. But it did little to distinguish the Greens as Labor gained momentum.

    Many voters may have thought kicking Peter Dutton out was best done by voting for Labor, backed up by supporting the Greens in the Senate to encourage more ambitious Labor action.

    National vote holds up

    And yet – is the election result all that bad?

    Despite a small negative swing, the Greens’ nationwide primary vote was still above 12%. This election sits alongside 2010 and 2022 as among the party’s largest ever share of votes.

    Support ticked up in seats as divergent as Lalor, Fraser, Macarthur, Barton, Newcastle, Page, Spence, and Swan. Even in divisions lost to Labor, such as Griffith and Brisbane, voters did not abandon the party in large numbers.


    aec.gov.au, CC BY

    The Greens will also maintain their Senate numbers. This gives them sole balance of power, making them pivotal to Labor’s legislative success.

    Clearly, if the Greens are too “extreme”, it’s an extremism shared by a significant and relatively stable share of Australians.

    Lower house obstacles

    So, what explains this mix of loss and achievement?

    The Greens routinely highlight the barriers of the lower house electoral system. They have a point. Single member districts tend not to produce a chamber that reflects primary vote share.

    Preferential voting can be a boon to minor parties. But it also makes the outcomes of tight, multiparty electoral contests – the kind the Greens relied on to win in 2022 – susceptible to even slight shifts in voters’ preferences.

    Given the Nationals and a slew of independents held their seats, this may read like a cop out.

    But unlike the Nationals, the Greens lack a clear geographic cleavage that corrals large numbers of electors their way. And contrary to vaguely centrist independents, the Greens occupy ideological space where most voters don’t reside – even if many of the Greens’ “social democratic” policy positions have broad support when considered individually.

    This is hardly new. The party is no more stridently left-wing than in 2022. But even in the country’s most progressive seats, there is always a conservative rump. If the Liberal Party is knocked out of a race, most of their preferences will flow to Labor, which can be decisive.

    Senate obstruction

    Much has been made of the Greens’ legislative obstruction in the Senate. Delaying Labor’s housing agenda is one such example.

    Dabbling in opposition before ultimately capitulating for minor concessions may have dampened Greens support.

    The Greens reaped neither the benefits of opposition nor those of compromise, but instead the costs of both. It’s hard to see crucial segments of voters in lower house seats not being repulsed by this, even as the party finds sufficient support to meet Senate quotas.

    Way forward

    The future requires serious internal reflection on who the party appeals to, and how.

    A new parliamentary strategy is needed to leverage Senate balance of power for progressive outcomes and electoral growth. Greens also need to navigate a relationship with the government that is seemingly hostile to the very existence of the party (has anyone mentioned the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme yet?).

    With the loss of Bandt from parliament, the party’s leadership – spilled following an election, regardless of outcome – is now wide open.

    Who will lead the Greens now?

    Bandt’s replacement will need to balance electoral appeal with an ability to contain internal ructions that have diminished, not disappeared.

    Senator Larissa Waters ought to be a frontrunner. She has held leadership positions for 10 years and is popular, both electorally and internally. Crucially, she represents Queensland, a state where the Greens need to regain votes.

    Another option is Senator Nick McKim, who would return the party’s centre of gravity to Tasmania, and offer previous state party leadership experience.

    Another candidate could be Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, who has long held leadership aspirations.

    In a party where members are stridently advocating for greater say in leadership selection, the process could open up and be unpredictable.

    All is not lost

    The Greens do best when voters turn away from Labor.

    As the government advances an unambitious agenda of, at best, “thin labourism”, the number of disappointed and disaffected voters will grow.

    Even a modest swing against Labor at the next election puts several House seats back in play, alongside the Greens’ ongoing presence in the Senate.

    Josh Holloway does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    ref. Greens’ election hubris – how the minor party lost its way and now its leader – https://theconversation.com/greens-election-hubris-how-the-minor-party-lost-its-way-and-now-its-leader-255954

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Improving resilience on State Highway 6 Whangamoa Saddle

    Source: Argument for Lifting NZ Super Age

    People travelling on State Highway 6 between Hira and Rai Valley can expect to see contractors on site on the Whangamoa Saddle later this month.

    Further resilience improvements are planned for the route from Monday, 19 May, with Stage Two of an ongoing programme set to begin.

    Rob Service, System Manager Nelson/Tasman says this is a fragile section of State Highway 6 – a key corridor across the top of the South Island. 

    “This area is prone to washouts and underslips and stormwater is a major threat. This project will see  new drainage works designed to control and redirect water flows that occur during heavy rain. The aim is to prevent uncontrolled erosion and damage to the highway.”

    “Retaining and guiding stormwater flows to engineered discharge points helps reduce this risk,” Mr Service says.

    Underslip and flood damage. SH6 Whangamoa Hill, August 2022.

    This work will be undertaken at five separate sites over a nine-week period. 

    Work on these sites, between Hira and the top of the Whangamoa Saddle will be completed by the end of July, weather permitting. Work will be staggered with only two sites operating at the same time.

    Mr Service says the  project will affect traffic and travel times.

    “This is unavoidable. We cannot do this sort of work without affecting the road and drivers. However, we always try to minimise disruption as much as possible

    Drivers travelling between Nelson and Blenheim, while the work is underway from mid-May and the end of July must allow extra time for their journey with delays of up to 10 minutes at each site.

    “This is particularly important for people travelling to the ferries or for hospital appointments.”

    Mr Service appreciates this work will cause disruption but says it is essential for protecting and improving a critical transport link.

    “Since the 2022 floods, we have made a significant investment in improving and protecting this route. This continues that investment, and more work is planned later this year. Please bear with us while our contractors work hard to complete this project.”

    Contractors will return to the site in September to complete Stage Three of the project. This involves the construction and installation of concrete beams, which must be done when the weather conditions are warmer and drier.

    Works schedule

    • 24/7 stop/go traffic lights and a reduced temporary speed limit at each site.
    • Delays of up to 10 minutes at each site.
    • Work hours 7 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday. No work will be done during public holidays – King’s Birthday or Matariki.

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    More information

    • This work is funded by the Crown Resilience Programme – a $419 million investment package of resilience improvement activities that will reduce the impact of severe weather events on our national roading networks. The total crown resilience programme comprises $279 million for activities on State Highways, and $140 million for activities on Local Roads – Crown Resilience Programme (CRP)(external link)
    • Other resilience works recently completed in the top of the South Island include flood prevention works on State Highway 1 at Dashwood in Marlborough, State Highway 6 at Dellows Bluff and State Highway 63 near the Wash Bridge in the Wairau Valley. Rock scaling work on State Highway 65 at Higgins Bluff was completed earlier this month with rock scaling work on State Highway 63 at Howard Narrows also planned to begin in May.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI China: 15 killed, over 50 wounded in India, Pakistan Kashmir clashes

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Indian paramilitary troopers inquire a motorcyclist at a checkpoint on the outskirts of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir, May 7, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    At least 15 civilians were killed and over 50 others wounded Wednesday in clashes between Indian and Pakistani troops across the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir, local media reported.

    The clashes started shortly after the Indian military carried out airstrikes inside Pakistan and the Pakistan-controlled Kashmir during the early hours on Wednesday.

    According to state-run broadcaster All India Radio (AIR), 15 civilians were killed after Pakistani troops initiated artillery firing in frontier districts.

    Officials said all the deaths were reported from the worst-hit Poonch district, 185 km southwest of Srinagar city in Indian-controlled Kashmir. Forty people were also wounded and dozens of houses and vehicles were damaged.

    Apart from this, 10 people, including five minor children, were wounded in cross-border shelling in the Uri sector of Baramulla district, while three others were wounded in Rajouri district.

    Indian army officials said they were effectively responding to the shelling and firing from the Pakistani side.

    Wednesday marks the 13th straight day of ceasefire violations on the LoC, according to the Indian side.

    The Pakistani army said that 26 people, including women and children, were killed and 46 others injured when India attacked civilian settlements in six areas of Pakistan on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. In a retaliatory move, Pakistan Air Force shot down five Indian fighter jets, said an army official.

    Indian media reported that three unidentified aircraft, two in Indian-controlled Kashmir and one in Punjab, were found crashed. So far, there are no official comments on the crashes.

    Reports said over 200 flights were cancelled and 25 airports temporarily shut down across northern and western India on Wednesday due to the prevailing situation.

    Meanwhile, mock drill exercises were conducted in several parts of India to evaluate civil defence preparedness. This was the first nationwide exercise at such a scale in the past several decades, according to media reports.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Arrests made in closed facilities case

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Customs today arrested a director and a company secretary over alleged wrongful acceptance of payments, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).

    The arrests were made after Customs received reports that private healthcare facilities operated by the company concerned had closed and subsequently failed to provide customers with services that had already been paid for.

    Investigations revealed that before their suspected closure the facilities were still accepting payments for prepaid services.

    Under the TDO, it is considered an offence if at the time of accepting payment a trader intends not to supply a product or intends to supply a materially different product, or if there is no reasonable ground for believing that the trader will be able to supply the product within a specified or reasonable period.

    The arrests made were of a 61-year-old male director and a 31-year-old female company secretary.

    As of 5pm on Wednesday, Customs and Police had received 1,686 reports in relation to the matter. They will continue to investigate and will take appropriate enforcement actions.

    Meanwhile, the Consumer Council had received 844 complaints and said it will handle these in accordance with procedures.

    On May 3, the Department of Health set up a dedicated telephone hotline, email address and WhatsApp number to handle public enquiries, free of charge. As of Wednesday, 112 enquiries had been received, including 50 concerning vaccines for children and 56 relating to vaccines for patients in other age groups.

    The Government announced on May 2 that an inter-departmental team had been set up to look into the suspected closure of certain private healthcare facilities.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News