Trading update and notice of results

Mercia Asset Management PLC

("Mercia", the "Company" or the "Group")

Year end trading summary, notice of full year results and directorate change

Mercia Asset Management PLC (AIM: MERC), the regionally focused, specialist alternative asset manager with over £1.8billion of assets under management, is pleased to provide a trading summary for the financial year ended 31 March 2025 ("FY25").

The benefits of Mercia's increasing scale are now beginning to feed their way into the Group's overall financial performance. Together with a continuing focus on efficiency, Mercia now expects its EBITDA for FY25 to be materially ahead of current market expectations.

In the last three months existing fund mandate increases, new fund management contracts awarded and successful VCT and EIS fund raises, have totalled c.£250million, which represents a very strong performance. There were no redemptions during FY25.

Mercia's direct investment portfolio continues to make good overall technical and commercial progress, despite a continuing challenging market backdrop for venture investing, reflecting the strong fundamentals of the portfolio.

Mercia's closing cash and cash equivalents position as at 31 March 2025 was c.£40million, and the Group remains debt free.

Notice of full year results

Mercia will announce its full year results for FY25 on Tuesday 1 July 2025.

An analyst webcast will be given at 9.30am on the day of results. Analysts wishing to register are asked to contact [email protected]

In addition, as part of its continuing commitment to open communication with all shareholders, Mercia is pleased to announce that it will also provide a live presentation and Q&A via the Investor Meet Company platform, at 3.00pm on the same day. Registration details will be provided nearer the announcement date.

Directorate change

After seven years as Chief Investment Officer, Julian Viggars has today stepped down from Mercia's Board, to enable him to concentrate all of his time on the Group's equity portfolios' investment performance. 

Dr Mark Payton, CEO of Mercia Asset Management PLC, commented: "We are pleased to update that Mercia has had an excellent finish to the financial year. Our second successive year of significant fourth quarter organic fund inflows, coupled with a strong trading performance, is testament to our clear strategy of focusing on growing our profitable specialist asset management capabilities. It also reflects Mercia's increasing ability to effectively deploy equity and debt funding across the UK, through our established regional footprint of 11 offices and our extensive deal flow networks, to generate attractive returns over time for our investors.

"Our debt free cash position as at 31 March 2025 of c.£40million, means that Mercia has entered the new financial year in a very healthy position. We look forward to announcing our FY25 full year results on Tuesday 1 July 2025."

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014 as it forms part of domestic law in the United Kingdom by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 and as amended by regulation 11 of the Market Abuse (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019/310. With the publication of this announcement, this information is now considered to be in the public domain.

- Ends -

For further information, please contact:

About Mercia Asset Management PLC

Mercia is a proactive, specialist alternative asset manager focused on supporting regional SMEs to achieve their growth aspirations. Mercia provides capital across its four asset classes of venture, debt, private equity and proprietary capital: the Group's 'Complete Connected Capital'.

The Group has a strong UK footprint through its regional offices, university partnerships and extensive personal networks, providing it with access to high-quality deal flow.

Mercia Asset Management PLC is quoted on AIM with the EPIC "MERC".