Seed Innovations posts decline in net asset value

(Sharecast News) - Seed Innovations reported a decline in net asset value in its full-year results on Wednesday as the AIM-listed investment company repositioned its strategy towards artificial intelligence and robotics while continuing to manage its legacy life sciences portfolio.

Net asset value fell to £11.0m at 31 March from £11.8m a year earlier, equivalent to 5.88p per share compared with 6.10p, while the investment portfolio was valued at £8.4m, broadly unchanged from £8.3m.

Cash and receivables declined to £2.7m from £3.4m, and the company reported a comprehensive loss of £609,000, compared with a gain of £367,000 in the prior year.

Shares traded at a discount of around 57% to NAV at the year end, improving from about 74% a year earlier.

During the year, Seed overhauled its strategy to focus on early-stage robotics and AI businesses and strengthened its board with the appointment of Jim Mellon as non-executive chair.

Following the year end, it completed a $1m investment in US-based Feather Robotics and a £300,000 investment in agricultural automation specialist Fieldwork Robotics, while also providing further funding to portfolio company Clean Food Group.

Mellon said the convergence of AI and robotics represented a significant long-term investment opportunity, adding that the company was seeking exposure to businesses capable of moving from technical validation to commercial scale.

Seed ended the period with cash of £2.8m, which had reduced to around £1.2m by 19 June after the post-period investments.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.

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