REG - Syncona Limited - Strategy update

SynconaAnnouncement

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RNS Number : 1155E  Syncona Limited  21 October 2025

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THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION

 

21 October 2025

Syncona Limited

 

("Syncona" or the "Company")

 

Strategy update

 

 

Further to its strategy update on 19 June, the Company today announces a set
of proposals which seek to maximise value for shareholders and to create a
sustainable longer-term structure for all key stakeholders. These refined
proposals come against a background of continued good progress across
Syncona's portfolio, which is funded to deliver 10 key value inflection points
over the next three years, with the potential to drive significant NAV growth.

 

Following further extensive consultation with shareholders, whose range of
perspectives have guided the proposals, the Company's board of directors (the
"Board") is proposing:

 

·     To focus on the return of £250 million of net proceeds to
shareholders, from any potential sales of mature private portfolio companies

 

o  The Board will determine the structure of future capital returns at the
time of any realisations, which may include a tender offer, share buyback
programme or special dividend

 

o  In so doing, it expects to have regard to the quantum of proceeds to be
returned, the Company's share price and trading dynamics at the time and the
wider outlook across the portfolio, as well as any perspectives from
shareholders

 

·     A new investment objective and policy and capital allocation
policy with an initial focus on realising maximum value from Syncona's mature
portfolio companies in a timely manner and then to return cash to
shareholders, which will mean:

 

o  Syncona Investment Management Limited's ("SIML") team working closely with
portfolio companies to deliver key value inflection points and ensure capital
is available to maximise value

 

o  Syncona selling portfolio assets only when it is in the best interests of
shareholders, driven by the balance of risk and reward, to maximise value

 

o  Syncona continuing to make selective new investments in early-stage
companies developing exceptional academic science, up to an aggregate of 5% of
the Company's last-reported NAV

 

·     Once £250 million has been returned to shareholders, Syncona will
return to focusing on achieving long-term capital appreciation by funding new
life science investments and existing portfolio companies

 

·     The Board intends to consult shareholders regarding a new capital
allocation policy in advance of satisfaction of the £250 million return

·     Shareholders will also be consulted on new long-term incentive
arrangements for SIML employees to align SIML's interests with the proposed
investment objective and policy

 

·     A change to the composition of the Board in light of the proposed
investment objective and policy

 

·     An intention to optimise the cost base across the group to align
with the proposed investment objective and policy

 

·     To support SIML in seeking to establish a new private fund,
independent from Syncona, to diversify its funding sources

 

The Board has concluded that there is currently limited appetite amongst
shareholders for immediate capital returns from realisations at a significant
discount to NAV.

 

Following the consultation on the new long-term incentive arrangements, the
Company will seek shareholder approvals to implement the new investment
objective and policy, and incentive scheme.

 

Melanie Gee, Chair of Syncona, commented: "Today's set of proposals provides
the Company and SIML with a clear initial focus to maximise value in the
portfolio and return cash to shareholders from the realisation of mature
portfolio assets. We are very grateful to our shareholders who have engaged
extensively with the process and whose views have guided these refined
proposals. The Board is confident in the SIML team's ability to work with our
portfolio companies to deliver the key value inflection points and
realisations, which would have the potential to generate significant proceeds
for shareholders, and we look forward to returning £250m in a timely
manner.  We also recognise the importance of the SIML team's ongoing
contribution to a thriving life science sector here in the UK. We believe the
proposals outlined today are in the best interests of our key stakeholders."

 

Chris Hollowood, Chief Executive Officer of SIML, added: "The portfolio is
well positioned to deliver NAV growth over the medium term, and we are
committed to ensuring shareholders benefit from the potential returns
available as markets stabilise. We believe the revised investment policy,
which we are firmly supportive of and aligned with, will deliver value for all
stakeholders. Moreover, we remain confident in the long-term potential in the
sector and believe there remains a significant opportunity to build late-stage
life science companies that can deliver attractive returns for our
shareholders, after £250 million has been returned from realisations. During
this initial period, where our investment focus is predominantly on realising
maximum value from portfolio assets, we will seek to raise a private fund,
which would create a sustainable long-term platform to match the development
cycle in life science and support us in maximising value for Syncona's
shareholders."

 

 

Background to the refined proposals

 

In June, following shareholder engagement, the Board announced it had
undertaken a comprehensive review of strategic options to maximise value for
shareholders. The Company outlined that a potential new investment objective
and policy, to focus on returning proceeds of realisations to its
shareholders, would be reviewed by the Board after significant proceeds had
been returned to shareholders or, at the latest, after three years. Any
material amendment to the Company's investment objective and policy at that
time would have required further FCA and shareholder approval. The Board also
announced it was looking at options to accelerate realisations, which may have
included a sale of a small portion of its interests in certain of its
portfolio companies at a discount to NAV.

 

This initial set of proposals have been subject to further consultation with
shareholders by the Company and SIML. The Board has concluded there is
currently limited appetite amongst shareholders for immediate capital returns
from realisations at a significant discount to NAV, whilst a number of the
Company's shareholders and other market participants, particularly in the life
sciences sector, considered the proposals as putting the Company into
inevitable run-off.

 

The Board wishes to make clear its intention to return to a policy of
investing in new portfolio companies to achieve long-term capital appreciation
once £250 million has been returned to shareholders. The decision to continue
to pursue small selective investments into new companies also means that the
Company will preserve a pipeline of early portfolio assets, which have the
potential to underpin future growth. These refinements will  enable SIML to
remain active market participants, and to help avoid any undue negative impact
on the value of the portfolio companies through impaired realisations and
unduly dilutive syndications.

 

New investment objective and policy with an initial focus on realising maximum
value from portfolio assets in a timely manner and then returning cash to
shareholders

 

Syncona's proposed investment objective is to achieve superior long-term
capital appreciation by selectively investing in growth opportunities in the
life sciences sector, with an initial focus on realising maximum value from
its mature portfolio assets in a timely manner.

 

The Company's initial priority is to maximise value from its mature portfolio
companies in a managed and considerate manner to return £250 million in
aggregate to its shareholders.  The Board will determine the structure of
future capital returns at the time of any sales of private portfolio
companies, which may include a tender offer, share buyback programme or
special dividend. In choosing the appropriate structure, the Board expects to
have regard for the quantum of proceeds to be returned, the Company's share
price and trading dynamics at the time, the wider outlook across the
portfolio, as well as any perspectives from shareholders.

 

In order to achieve its initial objective of returning cash to shareholders,
the Company will make further investments to provide additional funding to its
existing portfolio companies.

 

The SIML team will continue to drive the value of the life science portfolio
by focusing on the delivery of key value inflection points. Syncona's c.£250
million capital pool1 (#_ftn1) ensures that the portfolio is funded to deliver
on 10 key value inflection points over the next three years, which have the
potential to drive significant NAV growth. The SIML team will maintain a
proactive portfolio management approach and ensure capital is available to
maximise value, whilst avoiding quick, value destructive exit options. The
Company will only divest interests in portfolio companies when it is in the
best interests of shareholders.

 

The Company will, during this time, also make selective investments into new
pre-clinical therapeutic programmes from world-leading academic institutions.
These investments will be limited, in aggregate and at the time of such
investments, to an amount equal to 5% of the Company's last-reported NAV prior
to approval of the new investment objective and policy. These investments will
provide a pipeline of early portfolio assets, which have the potential to
underpin future growth.

 

Returning to focus on long-term capital appreciation

 

Once £250 million of proceeds has been return to shareholders, Syncona will
return to focusing on achieving long-term capital appreciation by funding new
life science businesses and existing portfolio companies, seeking to build a
diversified portfolio of 20-25 companies. As a consequence of the proposed new
investment objective and policy, the Board will, following guidance from SIML,
no longer seek to achieve its previously published 2032 targets, including the
ambition to grow assets to £5 billion by 2032 and create three new companies
per annum.

 

Ensuring Syncona is well positioned for successful delivery of its new
strategy

 

Proposed long-term incentive arrangements

 

The Company will undertake a consultation with shareholders on the
implementation of new long-term incentive arrangements for SIML employees to
align SIML's interests with the proposed new investment objective and policy.

 

The period for making awards under the existing long term incentive plan
("LTIP") is coming to an end and the scheme is closed to further issuances.
Awards made under any new scheme would exist concurrently with awards
previously granted under the current LTIP, and are anticipated to be based on
the realised value of current portfolio assets in excess of the Company's NAV
as at 30 September 2025. It is the Board's intention to ensure that this
combination appropriately incentivises the SIML team while maintaining a cap
on SIML's aggregate potential profit share.

 

Potential private fund to be managed by SIML, independent of the Company

 

The Board supports the SIML team in seeking to raise a new private fund to
deliver its UK based life sciences model, which will invest on the basis of
the SIML team's create, build, and scale model.  The additional fund, managed
by the SIML team, will diversify funding sources, and seek to attract funding
from investors who are unable to invested in a listed company, also
diversifying the financial risk across the group. The Board believes this will
be beneficial to the Company's portfolio and should drive superior returns for
its shareholders.

 

Discussions between the SIML team and third parties regarding a new private
fund have commenced. If a new fund is established, it is the intention of the
Board to establish protections for the Company's shareholders in relation to
any potential conflicts that may arise from the SIML team managing two funds.
Furthermore, it is the intention of the Board to facilitate the separation of
SIML, on suitable terms, to enable the SIML team to manage both the Company's
portfolio and that of the new fund; the Board intends to work to enable the
separation of SIML efficiently. Should a new private fund be raised, the Board
intends to explore the possibility for shareholders to roll their interests in
the Company into the new private fund.

 

Rigorous focus on costs across the group

 

Changes to the composition of the Board

 

In light of the proposed investment objective and policy and following the
departure of one non-executive director earlier in the year, the Board intends
to further reduce the overall number of non-executive Directors on the Board
to five, which will in due course include a new non-executive director with
investment company expertise and experience.

 

Optimising the cost base

 

More broadly, the Board is focused on optimising the cost base across both the
Company and SIML to align with the proposed investment objective and policy.
As part of this, SIML will continue to prudently manage its annual budget and
seek opportunities to drive cost efficiencies across the business.

 

Donations to the Syncona Foundation

 

The Board has also agreed, given the proposed change of strategy, that
donations to the Syncona Foundation should be reduced to 0.25% of NAV
(calculated on a monthly basis) for the next three financial years, effective
after the current financial year.

 

Share buyback arrangements

 

In light of the strategy update, the Board has decided not to renew the prior
share buyback arrangements with Deutsche Numis, which came to an end on 18
June 2025, and will not pursue any further buybacks at this time. The
remaining £5.4 million that had previously been allocated to buybacks will be
deployed in line with the proposed investment objective and policy outlined
above.

 

Timing for next steps

 

The proposed new investment objective and policy has been approved by the
Financial Conduct Authority but will require shareholder approval before being
implemented. The full text of the proposed new investment objective and policy
and accompanying capital allocation policy is set out in the appendix to this
announcement.

 

The Company intends to make a further announcement on the proposals set out
above once it has completed the shareholder consultation on the new long-term
incentive arrangements for the SIML team, and shortly thereafter will convene
a General Meeting at which the change of investment objective and policy, and
the new long-term incentive arrangements package, will be proposed.

 

The person responsible for making this announcement on behalf of the Company
is Marc Perkins, General Counsel of SIML.

 

Enquiries

 

Syncona

Annabel Clark

Tel: +44 (0) 20 3981 7912

 

FTI Consulting

Ben Atwell / Natalie Garland-Collins / Tim Stamper

Tel: +44 (0) 20 3727 1000

 

IMPORTANT NOTICES

 

 

This announcement or any part of it does not constitute or form part of any
offer to issue or sell, or the solicitation of an offer to acquire, purchase
or subscribe for, any securities.

 

Certain statements contained in this announcement constitute "forward-looking
statements" with respect to the results, financial condition, performance,
developments or achievements of Syncona and its subsidiaries. Words such as
"believes", "anticipates", "estimates", "expects", "intends", "plans", "aims",
"potential", "will", "would", "could", "considered", "likely", "estimate" and
variations of these words and similar future or conditional expressions, are
intended to identify forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive
means of identifying such statements. These statements and forecasts are
inherently predictive, speculative and involve risks and uncertainties and
assumptions that could cause actual results, financial condition, performance,
developments or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or
implied by these forward-looking statements and forecasts. Many of these
risks, uncertainties and assumptions relate to factors that are beyond
Syncona's ability to control, predict or estimate precisely. No representation
or warranty is made, and no responsibility or liability is accepted, as to the
achievement or reasonableness of, and no reliance should be placed on, such
forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this
announcement speak only as of the date of this announcement. Syncona expressly
disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise publicly any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise, unless required to do so by applicable law or regulation,
the Financial Conduct Authority or London Stock Exchange plc.

 

No statement in this announcement is intended to be a profit forecast or
profit estimate for any period, and no statement in this announcement should
be interpreted to mean that earnings, earnings per share or income, cash flow
from operations or free cash flow for Syncona for the current or future
financial years would necessarily match or exceed the historical published
earnings, earnings per share or income, cash flow from operations or free cash
flow for Syncona.

 

Neither the content of Syncona's website (or any other website) nor the
content of any website accessible from hyperlinks on Syncona's website (or any
other website) is incorporated into or forms part of this announcement.

 

This announcement has been prepared for the purposes of complying with
applicable law and regulation in the United Kingdom and the information
disclosed may not be the same as that which would have been disclosed if this
announcement had been prepared in accordance with the laws and regulations of
any jurisdiction outside the United Kingdom.

 

 

 

Appendix

 

Proposed Investment Objective and Policy (Subject to Shareholder Approval)

 

1.   Investment Objective

 

Syncona Limited's (the "Company") objective is to achieve superior long-term
capital appreciation by selectively investing in growth opportunities in the
life sciences sector, with an initial focus on realising maximum value from
its mature portfolio assets in a timely manner.

 

2.   Investment Policy

 

The Company's initial priority is to maximise value from its mature portfolio
companies in a managed and considerate manner to return a minimum of £250
million in aggregate to its shareholders (the "Capital Return Threshold").

 

Until the Company has achieved the Capital Return Threshold, the Company will
only make investments to provide further funding to its portfolio companies
(or their successors) and make selective small investments into new
early-stage companies. Investments into new early-stage companies will be into
pre-clinical therapeutic programmes identified from world-leading academic
institutions in the United Kingdom and, to a lesser extent, continental
Europe, although some may be elsewhere in the world. The quantum of cash
financing deployed by the Company in respect of such investments will be
limited, in aggregate, to no more than an amount equal to 5% of the Company's
last-reported NAV prior to approval of this Investment Objective and Policy by
shareholders.

 

Once the Capital Return Threshold has been achieved, the Company will continue
to invest in its existing portfolio companies and also seek to invest in new
life science businesses (including private and quoted businesses) and single
or multi-asset projects ("Life Science Investments"). New Life Science
Investments will primarily be headquartered in the United Kingdom and, to a
lesser extent, continental Europe, although some may be elsewhere in the world
and all will likely market and commercialise their products on a global basis.

 

Investments will be made with a view to long-term ownership, to support the
building of companies that are capable of taking their products to market on
an independent basis and therefore to build sustainable, revenue-generating
businesses. However, the Company will give active consideration to divestment
of companies in part or in full where it is in the interest of the Company to
do so.

 

The Company anticipates that, over time, its Life Science Investments
portfolio will consist of around 20 to 25 life science opportunities. The
Company's portfolio will, at all times, be subject to the following
diversification requirements, each of which is measured only at the time of an
investment and with respect to the impact of that investment:

 

·      no more than 35% of the Company's gross assets may be invested in
any single Life Science Investment;

·      no more than 60% of the Company's gross assets may be invested in
the largest two Life Science Investments;

·      no more than 75% of the Company's gross assets may be invested in
the largest three Life Science Investments; and

·      no more than 15% of the Company's gross assets may be invested in
quoted companies, disregarding for these purposes any investments which have
become quoted companies during their ownership by the Company.

 

The Company will retain a portion of its assets as a capital pool to provide
access to liquidity to facilitate investments and fund operating costs (the
"Capital Pool"). There is no limit on the size of the Capital Pool and the
cash in the Capital Pool may be held in a combination of cash, short-term
deposits, other liquid and low volatility assets, and funds including credit,
fixed income and multistrategy funds managed by third party managers with
portfolio mandates to deliver a core CPI (consumer price index) return over
the mid-term. The use of such multi-strategy funds will be for cash management
purposes only, and not for investment purposes. In addition, parts of the
Capital Pool may be held in funds that were invested in accordance with any
prior investment policy of the Company, until those funds are realised. The
Capital Pool is subject to the requirement, measured at the time of
investment, that no more than 15% of the Company's gross assets may be held in
any single fund or managed account.

 

Investment restrictions

 

The Company may at any time utilise gearing for financing share repurchases,
satisfying working capital purposes or to assist in payment of the annual
charitable donation, up to a maximum of 10% NAV at the time of borrowing.
Accordingly, the use of gearing will be for short term cash management
purposes only, and not for investment purposes.

 

The Company does not propose to enter into any securities or derivative
hedging or other derivative arrangements other than those that may from time
to time be considered appropriate for the purposes of efficient portfolio
management and will not enter into such arrangements for investment purposes,
although there are no limitations on such arrangements being entered into at
the level of the Company's underlying investments.

 

The Company will continue to comply with the requirements of the UK Listing
Rules in force from time to time. Any material change to the Investment
Objective and Policy will be made only with the prior approval of the FCA and
of shareholders by ordinary resolution at a general meeting of the Company.

 

The Company will not make any direct investment in any tobacco company and has
agreed with (a) The Institute of Cancer Research (the ICR) not knowingly to
make any investment which contravenes the tobacco restriction contained in the
investment policy of the ICR and (b) Cancer Research UK not knowingly to make
or continue to hold any investments in the Capital Pool which would result in
exposure to tobacco companies exceeding 1 per cent of the aggregate value of
the Capital Pool from time to time.

 

 

Proposed Capital Allocation Policy

 

The Company's Investment Objective is to achieve superior long-term capital
appreciation by selectively investing in growth opportunities in the life
sciences sector, with an initial focus on realising maximum value from its
mature portfolio assets in a timely manner.

 

In line with the Company's initial objective, it is the Board's current policy
to direct SIML to focus capital allocation on:

 

·     continuing to actively manage those existing portfolio companies
where SIML believes the best value for the Company's shareholders can be
achieved;

·     investing to deliver Key Value Inflection Points (KVIPs) in those
companies in accordance with the Company's published framework where there is
the potential to realise return via M&A, the public markets or third-party
financings;

·     protecting portfolio company value in third-party financings;

·     making selective investments into new early-stage companies of no
more in value, in aggregate and measured at the time of each such investment,
than an amount equal to 5% of the Company's last-reported NAV prior to
approval of the Investment Objective and Policy by shareholders; and

·     conserving the Company's liquidity as required to achieve these
aims.

 

The Board intends to return all of the net proceeds from the disposal of
interests in private portfolio companies to shareholders, subject to retaining
a prudent reserve for operating costs, until a minimum of £250 million has
been distributed. The Board intends to consult shareholders regarding a new
Capital Allocation Policy in advance of satisfaction of the Capital Return
Threshold.

1 (#_ftnref1) As at 15 October

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