TIDM57MC
RNS Number : 8978Z
Wellcome Trust Finance plc
17 January 2024
Wellcome Trust and Wellcome Trust Finance plc (a wholly owned
subsidiary of The Wellcome Trust Limited as trustee of the Wellcome
Trust) announce that they have each published their Annual Report
and Financial Statements for the year to 30 September 2023 today. A
copy of each document is available on the Wellcome Trust website
.
Wellcome Trust has today issued the following press release in
connection with the publication of its Annual Report and Financial
Statements:
Wellcome's charitable expenditure on our mission supporting
science to solve the urgent health challenges facing everyone was
GBP1.7 billion in 2022/23, up from GBP1.4 billion in 2021/22. This
expenditure is funded by our investment portfolio, which delivered
a total return of 0.9 per cent (-8.1 per cent after inflation) for
the year to 30 September 2023. Because charitable expenditure was
greater than the return, the value of the investment portfolio fell
slightly to GBP36.8 billion(1) . This led to a decrease in total
funds (the value of the investment portfolio less all liabilities)
to GBP33.5 billion, down from GBP34.6 billion in 2021/22.
Strong public equity markets enabled us to deliver a small
positive return, although private asset values fell. The currency
was a powerful headwind, reversing last year's picture. The
endowment remains very healthy despite a more difficult economic
and market backdrop over the past two years. We have returned 220
per cent cumulative (12.3 per cent annualised) in the decade since
September 2013, recording positive returns in each of these years.
Returns have been 709 per cent cumulative (11.0 per cent
annualised) over 20 years. Since the inception of our investment
portfolio in 1985, it has provided a total return averaging 13.5
per cent a year.
We maintain a AAA/Aaa (stable) credit rating. Leverage stood at
7.3 per cent(1) on 30(th) September. We issued no new bonds during
the year. We have no impending bond expiries until 2027.
Given our long-term investment performance, we remain confident
Wellcome will be able to meet our planned spend of GBP16 billion on
our charitable activities over the ten years to 2032. This compares
to around GBP10 billion over the ten years to 2022. While higher
inflation will mean that our money can't fund as much work as it
otherwise would have done, this funding will increase our
commitments to combat the three key worldwide health challenges of
mental health, infectious disease and climate and health as well as
maintaining high levels of support for discovery research.
We saw mixed returns across the asset classes in which we invest
(cash and bonds, public equity, private equity, venture capital,
hedge funds and property). Public equities, cash and bonds, and
absolute return hedge funds delivered positive returns while other
assets classes delivered negative returns, against a backdrop of
rapidly rising interest rates. The exchange rate impact of sterling
strengthening was a major headwind, reversing the position of last
year. As sterling strengthened, we unwound some of the currency
hedges implemented on weakness last year, realising cash gains. At
the end of the financial year, sterling exposure stood at 19.8 per
cent. We have maintained higher than usual levels of cash because
of the difficult environment. On 30(th) September, our cash
position was 8.6 per cent of gross investment portfolio assets.
Our strategy to achieve a net zero portfolio by 2050 at the
latest was published in July 2021. Our annual report includes the
third update on our net zero tracking data, which shows a positive
trajectory. The target and strategy are and will continue to be an
integral part of our investment decision-making and engagement.
Julia Gillard, Chair of the Wellcome Trust, said:
" We start 2024 with our new CEO John-Arne Røttingen joining to
lead our mission to support science. We do so knowing last year
(2022/23), the first year of the decade in which Wellcome plans to
spend GBP16 billion on our mission, Wellcome's charitable spend
grew to GBP1.7 billion, and our global relationships with
researchers and partners continued to flourish. We've been able to
provide support at scale for trials of what could be the first new
TB vaccine in a century. We've seen our long-term commitment to
discovery play a part in two incredible global child health success
stories - against malaria and mitochondrial disease.
While the economic and financial market backdrop has been
volatile and difficult in the past couple of years, our investment
team's strategy means the portfolio has held up well. Thanks to the
exceptional long-term performance of the investment portfolio, the
Board remains confident in our plan. We look ahead with great
expectation at what will be achieved through the power of science
to transform understanding of life, health, and wellbeing and
address the urgent health challenges we face."
Nick Moakes, Chief Investment Officer at Wellcome, added: "It
has been a challenging environment in which to run a multi-asset
portfolio recently, with dramatic swings in many asset prices and
powerful currency moves. Our returns this year were slightly
positive in nominal sterling terms, but inflation has again eroded
the real value of our assets. Interest rates have finally risen to
more realistic levels, which has started to bring inflation down
and in the long run, should be positive for efficient resource
allocation. However, we expect more economic fallout as a near
fifteen-year global monetary experiment is rolled back, and
therefore do not expect things to get any easier in the near term.
Our primary focus remains on maintaining ample liquidity to fund
the mission, especially given the uncertain outlook for private
equity distributions. We aim to use market volatility to continue
to enhance the quality of our portfolio."
(1) Investment portfolio value and Leverage are Alternative
Performance Measures, defined and reconciled in Note 15(g) of the
Wellcome Trust Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year
to 30 September 2023
Wellcome Trust Finance plc further announces that a copy of its
Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 30
September 2023 has been submitted to the National Storage Mechanism
and will shortly be available for inspection at
https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism .
In accordance with the Disclosure and Transparency Rules, the
following information is taken from the Annual Report and Financial
Statements for Wellcome Trust Finance plc for the year ended 30
September 2023:
Wellcome Trust Finance plc
Annual Report and Financial Statements
Year ended 30 September 2023
Strategic Report
The directors of Wellcome Trust Finance plc (the "Company" and
the "Directors") present their strategic report for the year ended
30 September 2023 (the "Strategic Report").
Strategy and objectives
The principal activity of the Company is to meet its obligations
relating to the bonds that it has previously issued and admitted to
trading on the London Stock Exchange and to continue to lend the
proceeds to other group entities.
Review of the business and future developments
The Company has one tranche of bonds outstanding: GBP550 million
issued on 25 July 2006 of 4.625% Guaranteed Bonds due July 2036.
The Company loaned the proceeds from the Bonds to its parent
company, the Wellcome Trust. The Company continues to receive
interest on loans to the Wellcome Trust and to pay interest on the
July 2036 Bond liabilities.
The Company has not issued any bonds during the year and does
not expect to issue any bonds in the foreseeable future. Income of
GBP 29,102,488 (2022: GBP29,072,237) and cost of sales of GBP
25,788,678 (2022: GBP25,772,755) are in line with prior year.
The Bonds are admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange.
The obligations of the Company in relation to the Bonds are
governed by Trust Deeds between the Company, The Wellcome Trust
Limited, as trustee of the Wellcome Trust, and Citicorp Trustee
Company Limited, as the trustee for the holders of the Bonds. The
payment of all amounts due in respect of the Bonds is
unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed pursuant to the terms of
a guarantee given by The Wellcome Trust Limited, as corporate
trustee of the Wellcome Trust; the guarantee is part of the Trust
Deeds.
Results for the year
The Company made an operating profit of GBP3,261,229 (2022:
GBP3,251,574 ) during the year ended 30 September 2023. As at 30
September 2023 the Company had net assets of GBP135,550,291 (2022:
GBP137,500,000) and cash of GBP3,664,988 (2022: GBP1,146). The
Company has a policy to donate its taxable profits as Gift Aid to
the Wellcome Trust. During the year the Board identified that there
had been a failure to meet certain requirements under the Companies
Act 2006 in respect of the interim Gift Aid donations paid in
previous years, further details of this are included in the
Directors' Report on page 3.
Key performance indicators
Due to the nature of the Company's operations, the key
performance measures are that the Company meets all its legal
obligations to the Bond holders and that the Company achieves
sufficient return on its assets to be profitable before any Gift
Aid donations to the Wellcome Trust. During the year the Company
met all its legal obligations to the Bond holders and made a net
profit before Gift Aid donations to Wellcome Trust.
Financial risk management objectives and policies
The Directors of the Company implement policies to manage the
inherent risks relating to the financial assets and liabilities of
the Company.
The Directors have assessed for each financial asset and
liability: the market risk, currency risk, interest rate risk,
liquidity risk, and credit risk exposure. The Company is not
exposed to significant market risk or interest rate risk because
the Company's main financial assets have fixed redemption values,
fixed interest rates and fixed maturity dates, which match those of
its financial liabilities. The currency risk exposure is limited to
the payment of one administrative expense amount per annum. The
liquidity risk of the Company is mitigated by the matching of the
cash flows from the Company's financial assets and liabilities.
Credit risk exposure of the Company's loans is reduced by the
Company only advancing loans to entities within the Group. Credit
risk exposure of the Company's remaining financial assets is
reduced by stringent selection procedures for any external
counterparties with which the Company transacts.
The Company's internal control and risk management, which
includes consideration of the impact of inflation, higher interest
rates and climate change are considered at a group level and
documented within the Wellcome Trust Annual Report and Financial
Statements 2023 which are available from Wellcome's website at (
wellcome.org/news-and-reports/reports ) .
The Company's internal control and risk management is undertaken
as part of the Wellcome Trust's processes, which are detailed in
the Wellcome Trust Annual Report and Financial Statements,
available at wellcome.org/news-and-reports/reports . The key
elements of this specifically applicable to the Company are:
-- delegation: there is a clear organisational structure with
documented lines of authority and responsibility for control and
documented procedures for reporting decisions, actions and issues;
and
-- review: the Group Audit and Risk Committee reviews the
effectiveness of the Company's internal control, its financial
reporting process, the independence of its statutory auditors and
its compliance with relevant statutory and finance regulations and
advises the Directors of the Company of any relevant matters.
Section 172 statement
The Board of Directors, in line with their duties under s172 of
the Companies Act 2006, act in a way they consider, in good faith,
would be most likely to promote the success of the Company for the
benefit of its members as a whole, and in doing so have regard to a
range of matters when making decisions for the long term.
The key stakeholders of the Company are considered to be
Wellcome Trust (as the sole member), the other Wellcome Trust Group
entities and the holders of the Bonds. We ensure that the
requirements of s172(1) Companies Act 2006 are met and the
interests of our stakeholder groups are considered through a
combination of the following:
-- The Board sets the Company's purpose and strategy which
considers the long-term sustainable success of the Company and our
impact on key stakeholders. The key purpose is discussed under Key
performance indicators above.
-- The Board's risks management procedures identify the
principal risks facing the Company, and the mitigations in place to
manage the impact of these risks. This is discussed under Financial
risk management objectives and policies above.
-- The Company has no employees and no carbon generating assets.
The Wellcome Trust group's consideration of Social Responsibility,
including climate change and energy transition is discussed in
their Annual Report and Financial Statements.
Corporate and social responsibility
Due to the nature of its activities the Company has a minimal
environmental impact. The Group's approach to social responsibility
is detailed in the Wellcome Trust Annual Report and Financial
Statements, which are available at
wellcome.org/news-and-reports/reports
This report was approved by the Board of Directors and signed on
16 January 2024 on its behalf by:
Karen Chadwick
Director
16 January 2024
Directors' Report
The Directors of Wellcome Trust Finance plc p resent their
report and the audited Financial Statements for the year ended 30
September 2023.
Future developments
These are discussed in the Strategic Report on page 1.
Going Concern and Viability
The Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Company has
adequate resources to continue in operational existence and to meet
any commitments as they fall due for the foreseeable future, being
at least 12 months from the date of signing the Financial
Statements. The maturities of the loans to Parent undertaking will
match the maturity of the July 2036 Bond liabilities, which will
allow the Bonds to be repaid to investors on maturity. The interest
from the loans with Wellcome Trust is sufficient to meet the fixed
rate interest payment to bond holders. Accordingly, they continue
to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the Financial
Statements. The Directors have considered the impact of inflation
and high interest rates on the Company and have concluded there are
no material uncertainties related to these events or conditions
that may cast doubt upon the Company's ability to continue as a
going concern.
Employees
There are no employees of the Company (2022: nil).
The administration of the Company is undertaken by staff from
the Wellcome Trust. The Wellcome Trust has not incurred any
incremental staff costs due to the administration of this
Company.
Dividends and Gift Aid donations
The Directors do not propose the payment of a dividend (2022:
GBPnil). The Company has a policy to donate its taxable profits as
Gift Aid to the Wellcome Trust. During the year the Board
identified that the interim Gift Aid donations made by the Company
to the Wellcome Trust during the financial years ending 30
September 2007 until 30 September 2022 had not been made in
accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006, because
interim accounts had not been approved and filed at Companies House
prior to each payment. The Board has provided for a tax liability
related to these interim Gift Aid donations. The Board proposes to
undertake rectification to return all parties so far as possible to
the position they would have been in had the interim Gift Aid
donations been made in full compliance with the Companies Act.
Financial risk management objectives and policies
These are discussed in the Strategic Report on page 1.
Corporate Governance
The Company is limited by shares. Its governing documents are
its articles of association. The shareholder of the Company is The
Wellcome Trust Limited, as trustee of the Wellcome Trust. The
Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Wellcome Trust through
its corporate trustee, The Wellcome Trust Limited. The Company is
not subject to the requirements of the UK Corporate Governance
Code. The governance policies of the Group and of the Wellcome
Trust are included in the Wellcome Trust's Annual Report and
Financial Statements for the year ended 30 September 2023.
The Group Audit and Risk Committee, the Investment Committee and
the internal audit function of the Wellcome Trust oversee all group
entities. The Company complies with all applicable filing and
information requirements of the Financial Conduct Authority.
Directors and their interests
The Directors of the Company who were in office during the year
and up to the date of signing the Financial Statements were:
Karen Chadwick
Nicholas Moakes
Fabian Thehos
None of the Directors held any beneficial interest in the shares
of the Company or any interest in its Parent undertaking the
Wellcome Trust through its corporate trustee, The Wellcome Trust
Limited.
Each of the Directors is an employee of the Group and receives
remuneration from the Group as an employee. No remuneration is paid
to any Director for their services as a Director.
Directors' indemnity policy
The Company is party to a Group-wide directors' and officers'
liability insurance policy which provides cover to all the current
Directors. There are no qualifying indemnity provisions (as defined
in the Companies Act 2006) that benefit the Directors of the
Company.
Statement of disclosure of information to auditor
Each Director in office at the date of approving this report
confirms that:
-- so far as the Director is aware, there is no relevant audit
information of which the Company's auditor is unaware; and
-- each Director has taken all the steps that ought to have been
taken as a Director in order to make themselves aware of any
relevant audit information and to establish that the Company's
auditors is aware of that information.
Independent auditors
In accordance with Section 485 of the Companies Act 2006, a
resolution dated 16 January 2024 was passed by the members
re-appointing Deloitte LLP as auditors of the Company.
Events after the end of the reporting period
There have been no subsequent events requiring disclosure.
This report was approved by the Board of Directors and signed on
its behalf on 16 January 2024 by:
Karen Chadwick
Director
Statement of Directors' Responsibilities
The Directors are responsible for preparing the Strategic
Report, Directors' Report and the Financial Statements in
accordance with applicable law and regulations.
Company law requires the Directors to prepare Financial
Statements for each financial year. Under that law the Directors
have prepared the Financial Statements in accordance with United
Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom
Accounting Standards and applicable law), including FRS 102 the
Financial Reporting Standards applicable in U.K. and Republic of
Ireland. Under company law the Directors must not approve the
Financial Statements unless they are satisfied that they give a
true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Company and of
the profit or loss of the Company for that period. In preparing
these Financial Statements, the Directors are required to:
-- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
-- make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
-- state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been
followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and
explained in the Financial Statements; and
-- prepare the Financial Statements on the going concern basis
unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Company will
continue in business.
The Directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting
records that are sufficient to show and explain the Company's
transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the
financial position of the Company and enable them to ensure that
the Financial Statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They
are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Company and
hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection
of fraud and other irregularities.
The Directors are responsible for the maintenance and integrity
of the corporate and financial information included on its Parent
undertaking's (Wellcome Trust's) website. Legislation in the United
Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of Financial
Statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
The Directors consider that the Annual Report and Financial
Statements, taken as a whole, is fair, balanced and understandable
and provides the information necessary for shareholders to assess
the Company's performance, business model and strategy.
Each of the Directors, whose names are listed in the Directors'
Report confirm that, to the best of their knowledge:
-- the Financial Statements, which have been prepared in
accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting
Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law),
including FRS 102 the Financial Reporting Standards applicable in
U.K. and Republic of Ireland, give a true and fair view of the
assets, liabilities, financial position and result of the Company;
and
-- the Directors' Report contained in this section of the Annual
Report includes a fair review of the development and performance of
the business and the position of the Company, together with a
description of the principal risks and uncertainties that it
faces.
INDEPENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF WELLCOME TRUST
FINANCE PLC
Report on the audit of the financial statements
1. Opinion
In our opinion the financial statements of Wellcome Trust
Finance plc (the 'company'):
-- give a true and fair view of the state of the company's
affairs as at 30 September 2023 and of its profit for the year then
ended;
-- have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom
Generally Accepted Accounting Practice, including Financial
Reporting Standard 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable
in the UK and Republic of Ireland"; and
-- have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.
We have audited the financial statements which comprise:
-- the statement of income and retained earnings;
-- the statement of financial position; and
-- the related notes 1 to 17.
The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their
preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting
Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 "The
Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of
Ireland" (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting
Practice).
2. Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International
Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our
responsibilities under those standards are further described in the
auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial
statements section of our report.
We are independent of the company in accordance with the ethical
requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial
statements in the UK, including the Financial Reporting Council's
(the 'FRC's') Ethical Standard as applied to listed public interest
entities, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities
in accordance with these requirements. We confirm that we have not
provided any non-audit services prohibited by the FRC's Ethical
Standard to the company.
We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is
sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
3. Summary of our audit approach
Key audit matters The key audit matters that we identified in the current
year were:
* The amortisation of bond liabilities; and
* The collectability of intercompany loans.
Within this report, key audit matters are identified
as follows: Similar level of risk
------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
Materiality The materiality that we used in the current year
was GBP13.64m (2022: GBP13.73m) which was determined
on the basis of 2% of total assets (2022: 2% of total
assets).
------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
Scoping Audit work to respond to the risks of material misstatement
was performed directly by the audit engagement team.
------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
Significant changes There are no significant changes in our approach.
in our approach
------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
4. Conclusions relating to going concern
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the
directors' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the
preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Our evaluation of the directors' assessment of the company's
ability to continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting
included:
-- We evaluated management's going concern assessment by
reference to the company's current year performance and year-end
position;
-- We performed a subsequent events review up until the date of
this audit report to assess whether any events have been identified
that are relevant to company's going concern assessment; and
-- Assessing the appropriateness of the going concern disclosures in the financial statements.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any
material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that,
individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the
company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at
least twelve months from when the financial statements are
authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the directors
with respect to going concern are described in the relevant
sections of this report.
5. Key audit matters
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional
judgement, were of most significance in our audit of the financial
statements of the current period and include the most significant
assessed risks of material misstatement (whether or not due to
fraud) that we identified. These matters included those which had
the greatest effect on: the overall audit strategy, the allocation
of resources in the audit; and directing the efforts of the
engagement team.
These matters were addressed in the context of our audit of the
financial statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion
thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these
matters.
5.1. Amortisation of bond liabilities
Key audit matter The company has external debt (bonds listed on the
description London Stock Exchange) of GBP550m (2022: GBP550m)
as at 30 September 2023, which is repayable on 24
July 2036 at an interest rate of 4.625% per annum.
These bonds are highly material to the company as
they account for 99.9% of total liabilities of the
company (2022: 99.7%).
The bond liabilities are stated at amortised cost
using the effective interest method and requires
the calculation of the effective interest rate for
their measurement on the balance sheet as at 30 September
2023. This is performed in an amortisation schedule
prepared by management. This calculation has a material
impact on the carrying value of the bond liabilities.
Amortisation of bond liabilities has been identified
as the Key Audit Matter, as this had the largest
impact on the overall audit strategy, the allocation
of resources in the audit and directing the efforts
of the engagement team.
Bond liabilities are disclosed in note 10, as well
as the accounting policies in note 1.
----------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------
How the scope With regards to the bond liabilities, we:
of our audit responded * obtained the original bond prospectuses to assess
to the key audit whether the terms of the bonds agree to the inputs
matter used by management to calculate the effective
interest rate;
* recalculated the period to period effective interest
and the carried forward balance of the bond
liabilities until maturity;
* assessed the disclosures in the financial statements
relating to bond liabilities as at 30 September 2023.
----------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------
Key observations As a result of our procedures, we concluded that
the amortisation of bond liabilities was appropriately
stated and their related disclosures are appropriately
reported.
----------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------
5.2. Collectability of intercompany loans
Key audit matter The company has loans to Group undertakings relating
description to intercompany loans totalling GBP676m (2022: GBP676m)
due from its Parent, the Wellcome Trust.
These intercompany loans are highly material to the
company as they account 99.4% of total assets of
the company (2022: 98.5%).
The ability of the company to repay the external
debt when it matures and pay the interest to the
bond holders is dependent on the future financial
performance of the Parent and their ability to repay
the intercompany loans to the company. The basis
for this collectability relies on accurate assumptions
in the future forecasts of the Parent and a liquidity
position which does not indicate the need for impairment.
Collectability of intercompany loans has been identified
as the Key Audit Matter, as this had the largest
impact on the overall audit strategy, the allocation
of resources in the audit and directing the efforts
of the engagement team.
Loans to group undertakings are disclosed in note
9, as well as the accounting policies in note 1.
----------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------
How the scope With regards to the collectability of the loans given
of our audit responded to the Parent, we:
to the key audit * performed a credit risk analysis by assessing the
matter current net asset and liquidity position of the
Parent;
* obtained the cash flow forecast of the Parent and
assessed whether the assumptions in the forecast were
reasonable;
* assessed whether the cash flow forecast and the
liquidity position of the Parent suggested any
indicators of impairment;
* assessed the disclosures in the financial statements
relating to intercompany loans as at 30 September
2023.
----------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------
Key observations As a result of our procedures, we concluded that
the collectability of intercompany loans was appropriately
stated and their related disclosures are appropriately
reported.
----------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------
6. Our application of materiality
6.1. Materiality
We define materiality as the magnitude of misstatement in the
financial statements that makes it probable that the economic
decisions of a reasonably knowledgeable person would be changed or
influenced. We use materiality both in planning the scope of our
audit work and in evaluating the results of our work.
Based on our professional judgement, we determined materiality
for the financial statements as a whole as follows:
Materiality GBP13.64m (2022: GBP13.73m)
----------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Basis for determining materiality 2% of total assets (2022: 2% of total assets)
----------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rationale for the benchmark applied Total assets is considered as an appropriate benchmark, as the principal activity
of the entity
is to issue bonds on the London Stock Exchange to provide financing to the
Wellcome Trust
Group, and therefore it is the key area of interest for the users of the
financial statements.
----------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6.2. Performance materiality
We set performance materiality at a level lower than materiality
to reduce the probability that, in aggregate, uncorrected and
undetected misstatements exceed the materiality for the financial
statements as a whole. Performance materiality was set at 70% of
materiality for the 2023 audit (2022: 70%). In determining
performance materiality, we considered the following factors:
-- our risk assessment, including our assessment of the overall control environment; and
-- our past experience of the audit, which has indicated a low
number of corrected and uncorrected misstatements identified in
prior periods.
6.3 Error reporting threshold
We agreed with the Audit and Risk Committee of the Wellcome
Trust that we would report to the Committee all audit differences
in excess of GBP682k (2022: GBP686k), as well as differences below
that threshold that, in our view, warranted reporting on
qualitative grounds. We also report to the Audit and Risk Committee
on disclosure matters that we identified when assessing the overall
presentation of the financial statements.
7. An overview of the scope of our audit
7.1. Scoping
Our audit was scoped by obtaining an understanding of the entity
and its environment, including internal control, and assessing the
risks of material misstatement. The audit work to respond to the
risks of material misstatement was performed directly by the audit
engagement team.
8. Other information
The other information comprises the information included in the
annual report, other than the financial statements and our
auditor's report thereon. The directors are responsible for the
other information contained within the annual report.
Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other
information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated
in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion
thereon.
Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in
doing so, consider whether the other information is materially
inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge
obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be
materially misstated.
If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent
material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this
gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements
themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude
that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we
are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
9. Responsibilities of directors
As explained more fully in the directors' responsibilities
statement, the directors are responsible for the preparation of the
financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true
and fair view, and for such internal control as the directors
determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial
statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to
fraud or error.
In preparing the financial statements, the directors are
responsible for assessing the company's ability to continue as a
going concern, disclosing as applicable, matters related to going
concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the
directors either intend to liquidate the company or to cease
operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
10. Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether
the financial statements as a whole are free from material
misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an
auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is
a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit
conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a
material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from
fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in
the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the
economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial
statements.
A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of
the financial statements is located on the FRC's website at:
www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities . This description forms
part of our auditor's report.
11. Extent to which the audit was considered capable of
detecting irregularities, including fraud
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance
with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our
responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements
in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which
our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including
fraud is detailed below.
11.1. Identifying and assessing potential risks related to irregularities
In identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in
respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with
laws and regulations, we considered the following:
-- the nature of the industry and sector, control environment
and business performance including the design of the company's
remuneration policies, key drivers for directors' remuneration,
bonus levels and performance targets;
-- results of our enquiries of management, directors and the
Wellcome Trust's Audit and Risk Committee about their own
identification and assessment of the risks of irregularities,
including those that are specific to the company's sector;
-- any matters we identified having obtained and reviewed the
company's documentation of their policies and procedures relating
to:
o identifying, evaluating and complying with laws and
regulations and whether they were aware of any instances of
non-compliance;
o detecting and responding to the risks of fraud and whether
they have knowledge of any actual, suspected or alleged fraud;
o the internal controls established to mitigate risks of fraud
or non-compliance with laws and regulations;
-- the matters discussed among the audit engagement team and
relevant internal specialists, including IT specialists, regarding
how and where fraud might occur in the financial statements and any
potential indicators of fraud.
As a result of these procedures, we considered the opportunities
and incentives that may exist within the organisation for fraud. In
common with all audits under ISAs (UK), we are also required to
perform specific procedures to respond to the risk of management
override.
We also obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory
framework that the company operates in, focusing on provisions of
those laws and regulations that had a direct effect on the
determination of material amounts and disclosures in the financial
statements. The key laws and regulations we considered in this
context included the UK Companies Act and Listing Rules for the
company's listed bonds.
In addition, we considered provisions of other laws and
regulations that do not have a direct effect on the financial
statements but compliance with which may be fundamental to the
company's ability to operate or to avoid a material penalty. These
included the regulatory requirements of the Charities Act 2011 and
Gift Aid Rules, as the profit of the company for the year is paid
under Gift Aid to the Parent entity, the Wellcome Trust, a
registered charity.
11.2. Audit response to risks identified
As a result of performing the above, we did not identify any key
audit matters related to the potential risk of fraud or
non-compliance with laws and regulations.
Our procedures to respond to risks identified included the
following:
-- reviewing the financial statement disclosures and testing to
supporting documentation to assess compliance with provisions of
relevant laws and regulations described as having a direct effect
on the financial statements;
-- enquiring of management, the Audit and Risk committee and
in-house legal counsel concerning actual and potential litigation
and claims;
-- performing analytical procedures to identify any unusual or
unexpected relationships that may indicate risks of material
misstatement due to fraud;
-- reading minutes of meetings of those charged with governance,
reviewing internal audit reports and reviewing correspondence with
HMRC; and
-- in addressing the risk of fraud through management override
of controls, testing the appropriateness of journal entries and
other adjustments; assessing whether the judgements made in making
accounting estimates are indicative of a potential bias; and
evaluating the business rationale of any significant transactions
that are unusual or outside the normal course of business.
We also communicated relevant identified laws and regulations
and potential fraud risks to all engagement team members, including
internal specialists, and remained alert to any indications of
fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations throughout the
audit.
Report on other legal and regulatory requirements
12. Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of
the audit:
-- the information given in the strategic report and the
directors' report for the financial year for which the financial
statements are prepared is consistent with the financial
statements; and
-- the strategic report and the directors' report have been
prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the company
and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have
not identified any material misstatements in the strategic report
or the directors' report.
13. Matters on which we are required to report by exception
13.1. Adequacy of explanations received and accounting records
Under the Companies Act 2006 we are required to report to you
if, in our opinion:
-- we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or
-- adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns
adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not
visited by us; or
-- the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns.
We have nothing to report in respect of these matters.
13.2. Directors' remuneration
Under the Companies Act 2006 we are also required to report if
in our opinion certain disclosures of directors' remuneration have
not been made.
We have nothing to report in respect of this matter.
14. Other matters which we are required to address
14.1. Auditor tenure
Following the recommendation of the Audit and Risk Committee, we
were appointed by the directors on 14 December 2015 to audit the
financial statements for the year ending 30 September 2016 and
subsequent financial periods. The period of total uninterrupted
engagement including previous renewals and reappointments of the
firm is 8 years, covering the years ending 30 September 2016 to 30
September 2023.
14.2. Consistency of the audit report with the additional report
to the audit and risk committee
Our audit opinion is consistent with the additional report to
the Audit and Risk Committee we are required to provide in
accordance with ISAs (UK).
15. Use of our report
This report is made solely to the company's members, as a body,
in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006.
Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the
company's members those matters we are required to state to them in
an auditor's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent
permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to
anyone other than the company and the company's members as a body,
for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have
formed.
Jessica Hodges, ACA (Statutory auditor)
For and on behalf of Deloitte LLP
Statutory Auditor
London, United Kingdom
16 January 2024
Wellcome Trust Finance plc
Statement of Income and Retained Earnings
For the year ended 30 September 2023
Year ended Year ended
30 September 30 September
2023 2022
Note GBP GBP
----------------------------------- ----- -------------- ----------------
Income 3 29,102,488 29,072,237
----------------------------------- ----- -------------- ----------------
Operating income 29,102,488 29,072,237
Cost of sales 4 (25,788,678) (25,772,755)
Administrative expenses 5 (52,581) (47,908)
----------------------------------- ----- -------------- ----------------
Operating profit 3,261,229 3,251,574
Taxation 8 (1,949,709) -
----------------------------------- ----- -------------- ----------------
Profit after taxation 1,311,520 3,251,574
Charitable donation - relating
to current year 16 (3,261,229) (3,251,574)
(Loss)/retained results for the (1,949,709) -
financial year
------------------------------------------ -------------- ----------------
Opening shareholder's funds 137,500,000 137,500,000
Retained earnings brought forward - -
Retained (loss)/profit for the year (1,949,709) -
Dividends declared and paid or payable - -
during the year
(Losses)/retained earnings carried (1,949,709) -
forward
Closing shareholder's funds 135,550,291 137,500,000
------------------------------------------ -------------- ----------------
All results are derived from continuing activities.
The Company has no gains or losses other than the results for
the financial year as set out above, and therefore no separate
Statement of comprehensive income or Statement of changes in equity
have been presented.
The notes on pages 17 to 22 form part of these Financial
Statements.
Wellcome Trust Finance plc
Statement of Financial Position
As at 30 September 2023
As at As at
30 September 30 September
2023 2022
Note GBP GBP
--------------------------------------- ----- -------------- ----------------
Fixed assets
Loans to Group undertakings 9 676,000,000 676,000,000
Current assets
Amounts owed by Parent undertaking 3,742,690 5,145,081
Accrued interest on loans 5,415,548 5,415,548
Prepayments 7,933 9,240
Cash at bank and in hand 3,664,988 1,146
12,831,159 10,571,015
Total assets 688,831,159 686,571,015
--------------------------------------- ----- -------------- --------------
Creditors: amounts falling due
within one year 10 (9,952,980) (6,094,306)
--------------------------------------- ----- -------------- --------------
Net current assets 2,878,179 4,476,709
---------------------------------------
Total assets less current liabilities 678,878,179 680,476,709
--------------------------------------- ----- -------------- --------------
Creditors: amounts falling due
after more than one year 10 (543,327,888) (542,976,709)
Net assets 135,550,291 137,500,000
--------------------------------------- ----- -------------- --------------
Capital and reserves
Called up share capital 12 137,500,000 137,500,000
(Losses)/retained earnings (1,949,709) -
Total shareholders' funds 11 135,550,291 137,500,000
--------------------------------------- ----- -------------- --------------
The Company has no changes in equity during the year as set out
above and therefore no separate statement of changes in equity has
been presented.
The Financial Statements on pages 15 to 22 were approved by the
Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 16 January 2024 and
signed on its behalf by:
Karen Chadwick
Director
16 January 2024
Wellcome Trust Finance Plc
Company Number 5857955
Wellcome Trust Finance plc
Notes to the Financial Statements
For the year ended 30 September 2023
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The Financial Statements are prepared in accordance with
applicable United Kingdom law and United Kingdom accounting
standards. The accounting policies which have been adopted
consistently in the current and prior year are described below.
(a) Statement of compliance
The Company, a public limited company, is incorporated in
England and Wales, United Kingdom under the Companies Act. The
address of the registered office is given on page 22. The nature of
the Company's operations and its principal activities are set out
in the Strategic Report on page 1.
The Company is a wholly owned subsidiary undertaking of the
Wellcome Trust through its corporate trustee, The Wellcome Trust
Limited, and is included in the Consolidated Financial Statements
of the Wellcome Trust, which are publicly available.
The Financial Statements have been prepared on a going concern
basis as well as in accordance with applicable UK accounting
standards (UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice), including
Financial Reporting Standard 102 the Financial Reporting Standard
applicable in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland ("FRS
102"). Refer to the Directors' report for more information.
The functional and presentational currency of the Company is
pounds Sterling. Most of transactions undertaken by the Company are
denominated in pounds Sterling.
The Company meets the definition of a qualifying entity under
FRS 102 and has therefore taken advantage of the disclosure
exemptions available to it. Exemptions have been taken in relation
to financial instruments, the presentation of a Statement of Cash
Flows and the Related Party disclosures. The equivalent disclosures
relating to the exemptions have been included in the Consolidated
Financial Statements of the Wellcome Trust at
wellcome.org/news-and-reports/reports .
(b) Summary of significant accounting policies
The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of
these Financial Statements are set out below. These policies have
been consistently applied to all years presented, unless otherwise
stated.
Basis of preparation
The Financial Statements have been prepared under the historical
cost convention. The preparation of Financial Statements in
conformity with FRS 102 requires the use of certain significant
accounting estimates. It also requires management to exercise its
judgement in the process of applying the Company's accounting
policies. The areas involving more judgement or complexity, or
areas where assumptions and estimates are significant to the
Financial Statements are disclosed in note 2.
(i) Income
Income is interest derived from loans to Wellcome Trust. Income
is calculated using the effective interest rate method and is
recognised on an accruals basis. Interest is earned on amounts due
from the Parent undertaking which are repayable on demand or
repayable on agreement between the Company and Wellcome Trust.
(ii) Cost of sales
Expenditure is the effective interest on the Bond liabilities
(as described in Bond Liabilities section below) and is recognised
on an accruals basis and recognised in the statement of income and
retained earnings.
(iii) Gift Aid
The amount of Gift Aid donation recognised for each period is
equal to the estimated taxable profits of the Company for that
period at the time of the approval of the Financial Statements.
Gift Aid donation payments made within nine months after the
balance sheet date are equal to the estimated taxable profits of
the Company for the period at the time of payment less any interim
donations made in the year. Any difference between the Gift Aid
donation accrued and Gift Aid donations paid is recognised at the
time of payment.
(iv) Taxation
Although subject to taxation, the Company does not pay UK
Corporation Tax because its policy is to donate taxable profits as
Gift Aid to the Wellcome Trust. Subject to the above, current tax,
including UK corporation tax and foreign tax, is provided at
amounts expected to be paid (or recovered) using the tax rates and
laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance
sheet date.
(v) Financial assets and liabilities
The Company has chosen to adopt Sections 11 and 12 of FRS 102 in
respect of financial instruments. Financial assets and financial
liabilities are recognised when the Group becomes a party to the
contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial liabilities and equity instruments are classified
according to the substance of the contractual arrangements entered
into. All financial assets and liabilities are initially measured
at transaction price (including transaction costs), and
subsequently at amortised cost.
Financial assets which qualify as basic financial instruments as
laid out in FRS 102 paragraph 11.8, including trade and other
receivables and cash and bank balances, are subsequently valued at
amortised cost and assessed for impairment at the end of each
reporting period. Financial assets and liabilities are only offset
in the Statement of Financial Position when, and only when, a
legally enforceable right exists to set off the recognised amounts
and the Group intends either to settle on a net basis, or to
realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
Financial assets are derecognised when and only when (a) the
contractual rights to the cash flows from the financial asset
expire or are settled, (b) the Company transfers to another party
substantially all of the risks and rewards of ownership of the
financial asset, or (c) the Company, despite having retained some,
but not all, significant risks and rewards of ownership, has
transferred control of the asset to another party .
Financial liabilities are derecognised only when the obligation
specified in the contract is discharged, cancelled or expires.
Loans to Parent undertakings
The loans are not quoted in an active market. The loans were
recognised initially at fair value and after initial recognition
are measured at amortised cost using the effective interest
method.
Bond Liabilities
The initial measurement of the liability is equal to the
proceeds of issue less all transaction costs directly attributable
to the issue for each Bond. After initial recognition the liability
is measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
The Company is not required to, and therefore does not, recognise
any adjustment to fair value in the Statement of Financial Position
and Statement of Income and Retained Earnings.
2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING JUDGEMENTS AND KEY SOURCES OF
ESTIMATION UNCERTAINTY
Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated and are based
on historical experience and other factors, including expectations
of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the
circumstances.
Accounting judgements
The Company has made no significant accounting judgements in the
application of the Company's accounting policies that have a
significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying
amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial
year.
Significant accounting estimates and assumptions
The Company has made no significant accounting estimates and
assumptions in the application of the Company's accounting policies
that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to
the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next
financial year.
3. TURNOVER
2023 2022
GBP GBP
Interest receivable on loans to Parent
undertaking 29,068,750 29,068,750
Interest receivable on cash
deposits 33,738 3,487
Total turnover 29,102,488 29,072,237
--------------------------------------------- ----------- -----------
Interest receivable on loans to Parent undertakings in the UK
(see note 9) is the effective interest on:
-- Loan A to Wellcome Trust at a fixed rate of 4.75%;
-- Loan C to Wellcome Trust at fixed rate of 4.00%; and
-- Loan D to Wellcome Trust at fixed rate of 4.125%.
All income is derived from the United Kingdom.
4. COST OF SALES
2023 2022
GBP GBP
Interest payable on bond
liabilities 25,788,678 25,772,755
Total cost of sales 25,788,678 25,772,755
------------------------------ ----------- -----------
5. ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES
2023 2022
GBP GBP
Auditor's remuneration 31,980 27,744
Rating agency fees 18,084 17,520
Tax compliance 2,400 2,554
Other 117 90
Total administrative
expenses 52,581 47,908
---------------------------- ------- -------
Auditor's remuneration is solely in relation to the statutory
audit of the Financial Statements.
6. EMPLOYEE INFORMATION
The Company has no employees (2022: nil). Employees of The
Wellcome Trust Limited (acting as trustee of the Wellcome Trust)
undertake the administration of the Company at no incremental cost
to the Wellcome Trust.
7. REMUNERATION OF DIRECTORS
The Directors of the Company received no remuneration from the
Company for their services. There were no Directors for whom
retirement benefits provided by the Company are accruing under a
money purchase or defined benefit scheme. The Company does not
issue share options or offer any long-term incentive schemes, so
there were no Directors who exercised share options during the year
or became entitled to shares under a long-term incentive
scheme.
8. TAX ON RESULT
The profits of the Company for the year will be paid under Gift
Aid to the Wellcome Trust, a charity registered in England under
the UK Charities Act 2011 (registered charity number 210183). There
is no difference between retained profit/(loss) and taxable
profits, so there is no provision required for deferred tax.
2023 2022
GBP GBP
Profit before
tax 3,261,229 3,251,574
Current tax charge for
the year:
Tax on profit on ordinary activities
at standard corporation tax rate
of 22% (2022: 19%) 717,738 617,799
Tax relief on gift aid donations (717,738) (617,799)
Adjustment to tax charge in respect 1,949,709 -
of previous periods
Total current 1,949,709 -
tax
------------------------ ---------------------------------- ------------ ------------
The standard rate of corporation tax applied to taxable profit
is 22% per cent (2022: 19%). The corporation tax rate increased to
25% (effective 1 April 2023) following the substantive enactment of
Finance Act 2021. Subject to recognition criteria, all deferred tax
assets and liabilities are recognised at a rate of 25%.
As per the tax note above, Wellcome Trust Finance plc generated
accounting profits of GBP3,261,229 in the year. Following
adjustments for corporation tax purposes, any current year taxable
profits have been extinguished to GBPnil due to qualifying
charitable donations ("Gift Aid") to be paid to Wellcome Trust.
During the year the Board identified that the interim Gift Aid
donations made by the Company in prior years had not been made in
accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006, current
tax has been recognised in relation to these interim Gift Aid
donations.
9. LOANS TO PARENT UNDERTAKING
Principal Interest Loan anniversary Amortised Amortised
amount rate per date cost cost
annum 2023 2022
GBP % GBP GBP
Non Current Assets
Loan
A 245,500,000 4.750 25 July 245,500,000 245,500,000
Loan
C 280,500,000 4.000 25 July 280,500,000 280,500,000
Loan
D 150,000,000 4.125 25 July 150,000,000 150,000,000
676,000,000 676,000,000 676,000,000
------- ------------- ---------- ----------------- ------------ ------------
Loans to Parent undertakings are loans (the "Loans") to Wellcome
Trust (Loan A, Loan C and Loan D). The principal under Loan A is
repayable on demand by the Company. The principal under Loan C and
Loan D is repayable on agreement between the Company and Wellcome
Trust. The Loans have an agreed repayment date on 25 July 2036
(Loan A, Loan C and Loan D). Each Loan has a fixed redemption value
equal to the principal amount and a fixed interest rate.
10. CREDITORS
2023 2022
GBP GBP
Accruals 3,001 2,540
Gift Aid due to the Wellcome Trust 3,261,229 1,352,725
Bond liabilities 4,739,041 4,739,041
Corporation 1,949,709 -
tax
Total creditors: amounts falling
due within one year 9,952,980 6,094,306
------------------------------------------ ------------ ------------
Bond liabilities 543,327,888 542,976,709
Falling due after five
years 543,327,888 542,976,709
---------------------------------------- ------------ ------------
Total creditors: amounts falling
due after one year 543,327,888 542,976,709
------------------------------------------ ------------ ------------
The Bond liabilities are stated at the amortised cost using the
effective interest method for the GBP550 million 4.625% Guaranteed
Bonds due July 2036 ("GBP550 million Bonds"), issued by the Company
on 25 July 2006. The Bond liabilities falling due within one year
are the unpaid coupon interest accrued for the year to 30 September
2023. The interest payment to the Bond holders is at a fixed rate
of 4.625% per annum (GBP550 million Bonds) and is paid in arrears
on 25 July each year until repayment of the Bond principal. The
bond repayment and amounts receivable from group companies are
aligned in timing for liquidity management. Effective interest on
bond liabilities is shown as Cost of Sales in the Statement of
Income and Retained Earnings.
The obligation of the Company on the Bonds is governed by a
Trust Deed dated 25 July 2006 (GBP550 million Bonds) between the
Company, The Wellcome Trust Limited, as trustee of the Wellcome
Trust, and Citicorp Trustee Company Limited, as the trustee for the
holders of the Bonds (the "Trust Deed"). The payment of all amounts
due in respect of the Bonds is unconditionally and irrevocably
guaranteed pursuant to the terms of a guarantee given by The
Wellcome Trust Limited, as corporate trustee of the Wellcome Trust;
the guarantee is part of the Trust Deed.
11. RECONCILIATION OF MOVEMENTS IN SHAREHOLDER'S FUNDS
Called-up (Losses)/retained Shareholder's
share capital Earnings Funds
GBP GBP GBP
As at 30 September 2022 137,500,000 - 137,500,000
Retained loss for the year - (1,949,709) (1,949,709)
As at 30 September 2023 137,500,000 (1,949,709) 135,550,291
-------------------------------- --------------- ------------------ ----------------
12. CALLED UP SHARE CAPITAL
2023 2022
Number GBP GBP
Issued and fully paid ordinary
shares of GBP1 each 137,500,000 137,500,000 137,500,000
-------------------------------------- ------------- ------------------------ -------------------
13. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The Company has taken advantage of the exemption contained in
FRS 102 Section 33 paragraph 33.1A3 "Related Party Disclosures",
which exempts it from disclosing details of transactions with the
Wellcome Trust and its subsidiary undertakings, as the Company and
its related undertakings with whom it may have transactions are
wholly owned subsidiaries of the Wellcome Trust through its
corporate trustee, The Wellcome Trust Limited. There are no other
related party transactions requiring disclosure.
14. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The Company's financial instruments comprise the loans to Parent
undertaking and the liability arising from the issue of the Bonds.
The Company's loans are non-derivative financial assets with fixed
payments which are not available for sale. The Bond liability is a
non-derivative financial liability with a fixed redemption value,
fixed interest rate and fixed maturity date. The Company has not
undertaken any trading in financial instruments during the
year.
The financial instruments issued by, or held by, the Company are
Sterling denominated and at fixed interest rates and carry no
foreign exchange risk or interest rate risk.
The key risks relating to the financial instruments held by the
Company are the credit risk and liquidity risk of the counterparty
Wellcome Trust. These risks are in respect of the Wellcome Trust's
ability to meet the interest and principal payments as they fall
due. The total value exposed to credit risk as at 30 September 2023
is GBP688.8 million (2022: GBP686.6 million), which comprises the
value of the loans to Parent undertaking, amounts owed by the
Parent undertaking, accrued interest on loans and cash at bank and
in hand. The liquidity risk of the Company is mitigated by the
exact matching of the cash flows from the Company's loans to the
Parent undertaking to those arising on the Bond Liabilities.
Credit risk exposure of the Company's loans is reduced by the
Company only advancing loans to its Parent undertaking. Credit risk
exposure of the Company's remaining financial assets is reduced by
stringent selection procedures for any external counterparties with
which the Company transacts.
15. COMMITMENTS
The Company has no outstanding commitments to make further
investments at 30 September 2023 (2022: GBPnil).
16. GIFT AID DONATIONS
During the year the Board identified that the interim Gift Aid
donations made by the Company to the Wellcome Trust (the Company's
ultimate parent undertaking and controlling party, see note 17)
during the financial years ending 30 September 2007 until 30
September 2022 had not been made in accordance with the
requirements of the Companies Act 2006, because interim accounts
had not been approved and filed at Companies House prior to each
payment. The Board proposes to undertake rectification to return
all parties so far as possible to the position they would have been
in had the interim Gift Aid donations been made in full compliance
with the Companies Act.
17. ULTIMATE PARENT UNDERTAKING AND CONTROLLING PARTY
The Company is a company limited by shares. Its sole shareholder
is the Wellcome Trust through its corporate trustee, The Wellcome
Trust Limited, whose place of business is Gibbs Building, 215
Euston Road, London, United Kingdom. The Company is considered a
wholly owned subsidiary undertaking of the Wellcome Trust for
accounting purposes and its assets and liabilities have been
consolidated with those of the Wellcome Trust as required by
section 9 of FRS 102.
The ultimate parent undertaking and controlling party of the
Company is the Wellcome Trust, which is the parent undertaking of
the smallest and largest group to consolidate these Financial
Statements.
Copies of the Wellcome Trust Annual Report and Financial
Statements 2022 are available from Wellcome's website (
wellcome.org/news-and-reports/reports ) or from the Company
Secretary.
18. EVENTS AFTER THE END OF THE REPORTING PERIOD
There have been no subsequent events requiring disclosure.
Wellcome Trust Finance plc
Administrative Details
As at 30 September 2023
Directors
Karen Chadwick
Nicholas Moakes
Fabian Thehos
Company Secretary
Christopher Bird
Registered Company Number
5857955
Registered Office
Gibbs Building
215 Euston Road
London
NW1 2BE
Independent Auditor
Deloitte LLP
Statutory Auditor
1 New Street Square
London
EC4A 3HQ
Banker
HSBC Bank plc
31 Holborn Circus
Holborn
London
EC1N 2HR
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