• 29 Sep 25
 

Helios Underwriting - Half Year Results


Helios Underwriting PLC | HUW | 218 0 0.0% | Mkt Cap: 158.4m



RNS Number : 1017B
Helios Underwriting Plc
29 September 2025
 




Helios Underwriting Interim Results

Six months ended 20 June 2025


Our portfolio continues to benefit from outstanding Lloyd's market conditions

Helios Underwriting ('Helios'), the only publicly traded company offering instant access to a diverse portfolio of syndicates at Lloyd's of London, the world's largest insurance market, is pleased to announce its interim financial results for the half year ended 30 June 2025.

 

The Lloyd's Market continues to report strong performance and the outlook for 2026 remains positive. Consequently, Helios has and will benefit from its outstanding pipeline profits generated from its broad Lloyd's syndicate portfolio for an extended period.

 

Key highlights

·      6p increase in net asset value (NAV) to £2.39 per share (2024 year-end, post 10 pence dividend payment: £2.33)

·      NAV is expected to increase further in H2 as a greater proportion of pipeline profits are recognised

·      Operating expense (over six months) relative to capacity has reduced by 53.4% Q2 2024

·      £21m of net underwriting profits from 2022 year of account was received in May 2025; £14.3m is being returned to the shareholders

·      A total cash dividend of 10 pence per share paid to shareholders (2024: 6p)

·      Dividend and total expected return of capital of 20p per share in 2025 (2024: 12p per share), which includes our forthcoming tender offer

·      Profit before tax of £4.4m (H2 2024: £1.2m restated) driven by reduced expenses and impact of foreign exchange (FX) change on debt revaluation

·      £40m of Net underwriting profits expected to be received in 2026 from the 2023 year of account. We expect 2024 year of account to produce another strong return

·      Continued focus on reducing operational gearing in 2025

·      Louis Tucker appointed as the Chief Executive Officer

·      Hosting our first Capital Markets Day on 21 October, 2025 for shareholders and existing / new investors

 

Interim Executive Chairman, John Chambers, commented:

 

"The strong pricing environment in the insurance market continues to show through in our pipeline profits. The 2023 profit forecast continues to improve in line with expectations. Historic development patterns indicate that further improvement is likely in the final half year. The 2023 underwriting profit will be received by us next year and will be the largest made by Helios by some margin.  

 

The 2024 calendar year experienced above average losses with hurricanes Helene and Milton resulting in market wide insured losses of $20 billion each and the Baltimore Bridge Collapse one of the costliest losses ever to have hit the marine insurance market. Whilst the significant California wildfires occurred in early 2025 much of the estimated $40 billion in losses will fall to the 2024 year policies. In spite of this the mid-point forecast of 8.0% profit on capacity has improved in the half year and is tracking towards a strong ultimate result. This demonstrates the underlying strength of pricing adequacy.

 

Whilst the 2025 year of account is at a very early stage of development, we are hopeful that the current strong rating environment will ultimately result in good returns for this year and beyond despite the modest headwind of a softening US Dollar The ongoing strong financial performance of Helios reflects the strength of our unique proposition, our continued strategic delivery and favourable underwriting conditions. As a result, we have been able to continue to unlock shareholder returns, including a dividend payment of 10 pence per share in 2025."

 

"Operationally, we are very pleased with the progress made in the first half of the year. The appointment of Louis Tucker as Chief Executive Officer marks a significant milestone for the business. Louis brings over two decades of experience, including deep expertise in third-party capital, and will be instrumental in driving forward Helios's long-term strategy.

 

"We've also invested in the future of the business by adding three talented graduates to our team and accelerating our focus on digitalisation and portfolio management - key areas that will enhance our operational capabilities.

 

"Helios remains a unique proposition for investors seeking access to this favourable market, and we remain confident that, from a returns perspective, the most attractive years of this insurance cycle are still to come and are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead."

 

 

For more information, please contact:

 

Helios Underwriting plc 

 

John Chambers - Interim Executive Chairman 

Email: John.Chambers@huwplc.com

Tel: +44 (0)203 965 6441  

 

 

Adhiraj Maitra - Director of Finance and Operations 
Email: Adhiraj.maitra@huwplc.com  

Tel: +44 (0) 203 743 2114 

 

 

Deutsche Numis (Nomad and Broker) 

 

Giles Rolls / Charles Farquhar 

Tel: +44 (0)20 7601 6100 

  

FTI Consulting 

 

Ed Berry 
Tel: +44 (0)7703 330 199 
 

Christian Harte 

Tel: +44 (0)7974 288 763 

 

 

 

Interim Results

Six months ended 30 June 2025

 

The improvement in underwriting conditions in the insurance market over recent years continues to feed through to the profitability of Helios and is reflected in our net asset value ("NAV") growth.

 

Following the transition to a Fair Value (FV) accounting methodology, we intend to provide Net Asset Value (NAV) reporting on a more frequent basis, subject to the timely availability of data from Lloyd's. This change is intended to improve the consistency and transparency of financial reporting for stakeholders.

The introduction of investment entity accounting under IFRS 10, for year-end 2024, has changed the reporting of the financial information. The areas with significant impacts to the interim results as part of the movement in the fair value of investments are:

 

·    Capacity revaluations as an input to fair value of investments - amounts included will now appear as part of the pre-tax profits. No changes to the year-end 2024 reported value, as there are no Lloyd's auctions in the first half of the year to have an impact on the capacity values. 

 

·    Profits recognition - a proportion of the profits based on the syndicate profit estimates submitted to Lloyd's, using quarterly recognition factors. These changes used in the valuation methodology for investment entity accounting are more in line with the valuation methodology generally used in the Lloyd's market and recognises the changes in reporting introduced by Lloyd's.

 

This refinement of our profit recognition methodology results in the Q2 estimates being initially constrained to allow for potential future volatility, but we would typically expect the profit estimates to grow steadily to a higher value in Q4 as the inherent uncertainty reduces over time.

 

Summary Financial Information

Net asset value

-       Year-end NAV per share was £2.43, reduced to £2.33 post payment of 10 pence dividend

-       Movement in H1 NAV per share is a 6p increase to £2.39

This increase is mainly driven by the recognition of underwriting profit in Q2 2025. The increase in cumulative profit relative to Q4 2024 was used in calculating the NAV.

The growth in the net asset value per share remains a key management metric for determining growth in value to shareholders.

Net Asset value per share

 

30-Jun-25

31-Dec-24

Notes


£'000

£'000


Total net assets (net of dividends)

     170,391

          165,982

(less £7.1m dividend)

Shares in issue

        71,380

             71,343


Net asset value per share (£)

            2.39

                 2.33

 

 

 

Following changes to the profit recognition methodology, we have taken a more conservative approach and now recognise a higher proportion of the profit in the second half of the year. This reflects the seasonality of claims activity in a typical year due to the timing of the hurricane season in the North Atlantic. In normal circumstances we would expect an uplift in the NAV in the second half.

 

 

Total shareholder return

Helios is committed to returning capital to shareholders. In 2025 capital of 10p per share has been returned to shareholders through payment of an increased dividend, along with a 10p per share proposed tender offer (a 66% increase to the 12p per share returned in 2024). Note, the tender offer will not have an impact on the NAV per share value.

Distribution to shareholders

 

2025

2024

 

£m

Pence per share

£m

Pence per share

Share buyback/tender offer (proposed)

7.2

10

4.5

6

Base Dividend

7.1

10

4.4

6

Total

14.3

20

8.9

12

 

Helios expense analysis

The continued scale of the business has helped to reduce our operating costs as a proportion of syndicate capacity portfolio. Operating costs were reduced in 2025 and expected to be maintained at a more sustainable level in future. In 2024 operating costs included the impact of previous plans to establish a new Helios follow syndicate; this is no longer part of our strategy. Higher finance costs, reflecting the impact of increased leverage, have been reduced in 2025 and will be reduced further in future years as we replace these arrangements with retained cash flow. A comparison at a group level and details included below:

Expense analysis

 

2025 H1 Actual

2024 H1 Actual

 

£'000

£'000

Operating costs

2,364

5,076

Unsecured Loan Note

2,783

,821

Portfolio stop loss

-

1,750

Portfolio funds at Lloyds Financing

722

1,166

Total costs

5,869

10,813

Operating costs

The operating ratio, i.e. operating expense relative to gross capacity, over six months has decreased from 0.98% for H1 2024 to 0.48% in H1 2025. We expect a similar reduction in the second half of the year.

There is a marginal increase in the estimate for 2025, mainly due to allowing for Director's bonus, that was not considered in the estimate for 2025 reported previously at year end 2024. Operating cost ratio will continue to be a key performance metric for Helios.

 

Subsidiary costs include Lloyd's fees, brokerage associated with syndicate participation, and any other charges specific to corporate members; these are accounted for individually and are part of the net asset value calculation.

 

 

Financing costs

There have been no further changes to the financing strategy outlined in the annual report published in May 2025. The financing costs include the debt interest payment and the excess of loss facility costs.  The excess of loss financing costs are considered within the subsidiary expenses.

 

Helios portfolio information

The returns generated from underwriting results remain strong as the underlying profitability of the portfolio continues to be recognised. The improved rates achieved in the last few years have contributed to the profitability of the portfolio.

 

There are no changes to the portfolio in the first half of the year. The Convex syndicate started underwriting in April 2025, but was already included in the year-end estimate of total capacity of £491m.

 

The table below shows the split of established and new syndicates in the gross portfolio over the last four years. The comparison between 2024 and 2025 years of account demonstrates the remediation action carried out last year to improve the quality of the portfolio.

 

Portfolio Information


As at 30th June 2025

 

As at 30th June 2025


New

Established

Total


New

Established

Total

Year of account

£m

£m

£m

 

%

%

%

2022

16.5

235.1

251.6


7%

93%

100%

2023

63.6

254.4

318.0


20%

80%

100%

2024

190.2

328.5

518.7


37%

63%

100%

2025

95.1

395.9

491.0


19%

81%

100%

At this stage of the year, we expect the 2026 YOA portfolio to be broadly similar in size with a higher proportion of freehold capacity. We also expect to exit from a small number of underperforming syndicates and where possible, replace with new opportunities.

 

Current performance
As mentioned previously, the syndicate forecast for 2023 and 2024 YOA profits include the impact of a few large loss events as well as the impact of FX change. Despite these factors, the 2024 syndicate profit forecast of 8.0% as a percentage of capacity at 30th June 2025(7.6% as at 31st March 2025), has improved and the year is tracking towards a strong ultimate result. This further demonstrates the advantages of the portfolio management strategy of Helios and the strength of pricing adequacy within the market. Whilst at a very early stage of development the 2025 year of account is developing in line with expectations.

 

Portfolio performance

Year of Account

 

2025

2024

2023

 

£m

£m

£m

Capacity 

 



Retained

322.6

403.5

251.7

Reinsured / third party supported

158.3

115.2

66.3

Total capacity

490.9

518.7

318.0

Profit forecast at 31st March 2025

 

7.6%

15.2%

Profit forecast (30th June 2025)


8.0%

15.6%

Improvement in profit forecast


0.4%

0.4%

 

Capital Position as at 30th June 2025 supporting 2025 YOA and prior portfolio

Our capital position remains broadly unchanged from the year-end. There is a reduction in Helios own funds and the excess of loss funds due to the movement in FX and our decision to scale back this form of gearing.

 

Capital Position

Underwriting capital

 30 June 2025

£m

31 Dec 2024

£m

Third Party Capital

32.9

31.6

Excess of loss funds at Lloyd's

20.8

26.1

Helios own funds

67.9

72.2

Solvency credits

105.7

102.7

Total

227.3

232.6

 

The improvement in the solvency position of the portfolio, increasing available solvency credits to £105.7m, reflects profits recognised by the syndicates in the portfolio.


 

Condensed statement of Income

Six months ended 30 June 2025

 



30-Jun-25

30-Jun-24



£'000

£'000


Note

 

(Restated)

Income




Interest income


              491

                  716

Dividend income


                 -  

                     -  

Net gains on financial assets at FVTPL

4

           4,728

               7,805

Other income 


              100

                  746

Total income

 

           5,319

               9,266

Expenses




Operating expenses


         (2,148)

             (5,202)

Interest expense


         (2,783)

             (3,106)

Other expenses


            (991)

                (217)

Total expenses

 

         (5,922)

             (8,525)

Operating profits


            (604)

                  741

Foreign exchange movements

7

           5,017

                  469

Net profit before income tax 

 

           4,414

               1,210

Income tax (charge)/credit

5

                   -

             (2,177)

Net profit for the year after tax

 

           4,414

                (967)

Basic EPS

6

             6.19

(1.31)

Diluted EPS

6

             5.92

(1.31)

 

 

Condensed statement of Financial Position

As at 30 June 2025



 30 June 2025

 31 December 2024



 £'000

 £'000


Note

 

 

Assets




Equity investments at FVTPL

3.2

        156,644

      151,916

Due from related parties

9

          37,053

        62,048

Deferred tax


                  -  

                -  

Other debtors


               110

             110

Cash and cash equivalents


          49,551

        28,935

Total assets

 

        243,358

      243,009

Liabilities


                  -  

                -  

Borrowings

3.1

          53,543

        58,457

Due to related parties


            7,987

          6,881

Other creditors


               380

             106

Accruals and other payables


          11,057

          4,449

Total liabilities

 

          72,966

        69,893

Equity


                  -  

                -  

Share capital

10

            7,811

          7,811

Treasury shares

10

(8,211)

(8,265)

Share premium

10

          98,882

        98,882

Other reserves

10

               718

             786

Retained earnings


          71,192

        73,902

Total equity

 

        170,392

      173,116

Total liabilities and equity

 

        243,358

      243,009

 

 

Condensed statement of changes in equity

Six months ended 30 June 2025

 

 

 

 Share capital

Treasury shares

Share premium

Other
reserves

Retained
earnings

Total
equity

 

 £'000

 £'000

 £'000

£'000

 £'000

 £'000

At 1 January 2025

7,811

(8,265)

98,882

786

73,902

173,116

Company buy back of ordinary shares

-

-

-

-

-

-

Share issue net of transaction costs

                                        -

54

-

                                       (68)

                                                 14

Net profit/(loss) for the year

-

-

-

-

4,414

4,414

Dividends paid/ payable

-

-

-

-

(7,138)

(7,138)

At 30 June 2025

7,811

(8,211)

98,882

718

71,192

170,392

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At 1 January 2024

7,795

(3,736)

98,597

190

37,256

140,102

Restatement of prior period

-

-

-

110

17,533

17,643

At 1 January 2024 - restated

7,795

(3,736)

98,597

300

54,789

157,745

Company buy back of ordinary shares

-

 (811)

-

-

-

(811)

Share issue net of transaction costs

-

-

-

-

-

-

Net profit/(loss) for the year

-

-

-

-

(967)

(967)

Dividends paid/payable

-

-

-

-

(4,418)

(4,418)

At 30 June 2024 - restated

7,795

(4,547)

98,597

300

49,404

151,549

 

 

Condensed statement of cash flows

Six months ended 30 June 2025

 



 30 June 2025

 30 June 2024

 


 £'000

 £'000


Note

 

 (Restated)

Cash flows from operating activities

 



Profit before tax


                4,414

               1,210

Adjustments for:

 

 


 - Net gain on financial assets at FVTPL

4

               (4,728)

              (7,805)

 - Purchase of equity investments

8

                        -

                       -

Foreign exchange on net borrowings


               (5,017)

                  469

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

                      -  

                     -  

 - Decrease/(increase) in due from related parties


              24,997

              (1,214)

-  Increase in due to related parties


                1,106

                 (531)

 - Decrease/(increase) in other debtors


                   299

              (1,241)

 - Increase in accruals and other payables


                  (454)

               3,588

Net cash used in operating activities


              20,616

              (5,524)

Cash flows from financing activities

 



New shares issued

10

                      -  

                     -  

Share buy-back

10

                      -

                 (811)

Net proceeds from borrowings


                        -

                       -

Repayment of borrowings


                        -

                       -

Net cash (used in)/provided by financing activities


                      -

                 (811)

Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents


              20,616

              (6,335)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year


              28,935

             40,596

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year


              49,551

             34,261

 

Analysis of changes in net debt

 

 

 

At 1 Jan 2025

 Cashflows 

Currency translation

 30 Jun 2025

 


£'000

 £'000

 £'000

 £'000

 






 Cash and cash equivalents


              28,935

             20,616

-

           49,551

 Unsecured debt


(59,793)

-

               (5,017)

(54,775)

Total

 

(30,858)

             20,616

              (5,017)

(5,225)

 

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash at bank and in hand. The notes are an integral part of these Financial Information.


Notes to the condensed financial information

Six months ended 30 June 2025

 

1.     General information

 

Helios Underwriting plc ("Helios" or the "Company") is an investment company with variable capital incorporated on 1 September 2007, organised under the laws of the United Kingdom. It is quoted on AIM and was incorporated in England, domiciled in the UK. Our registered office is 1st Floor, 33 Cornhill, London EC3V 3ND. The principal purpose of Helios is to provide investors with exposure to the Lloyd's insurance market through an actively managed portfolio of syndicates, who participates in insurance business as an underwriting member of Lloyd's, which are fully owned undertakings of Helios. We prepare separate financial information as its only financial information, and its subsidiaries are not consolidated in line with IFRS 10.

 

We have aggregated our investments in similar entities in line with IFRS12.

These condensed financial information do not comprise statutory accounts within the meaning of section 434 of the Companies Act 2006. Statutory accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024 were approved by the board of directors on 29 May 2025 and delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The report of the auditors on those accounts was unqualified, did not contain an emphasis of matter paragraph and did not contain any statement under section 498 of the Companies Act 2006.

 

2.     Accounting policies

Basis of preparation

These condensed interim financial information have been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 'Interim Financial Reporting' and the AIM rules. They do not include all of the information required for full IFRS annual financial information and should be read in conjunction with the financial information of the Company for the year ended 31 December 2024.

 

The condensed interim financial information is prepared for the six months ending 30 June 2025. The condensed interim financial information for the six months ending 30 June 2025 and June 2024 are unaudited, but have been subject to review by our auditors.

 

The accounting policies adopted by us in these interim condensed financial statements are consistent with those applied by us in its financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024.

 

Going concern

Helios has net assets at the end of the reporting period of £170.4m (31 December 2024: £173.1m).

Our subsidiaries participate as underwriting members at Lloyd's on the 2023, 2024 and 2025 years of account, as well as any prior run-off years, and they intend to continue this participation in the 2025 year of account.

The Directors have a reasonable expectation that we have adequate resources to meet their underwriting and other operational obligations for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, they continue to adopt the going concern accounting basis in preparing the Financial Information.

 

Material accounting policy information

The accounting policies adopted by us in these interim condensed financial information are consistent with those applied by us in our financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024.

 

There were no new UK-adopted IAS or amendments to UK-adopted IAS applicable to the current period which had any significant impact on our Financial Information.

 

3.     Fair value measurement

 

The valuation of the equity investments at Fair value through P&L (FVTPL) include several key components which are set out below:

 

Syndicate capacity

The Market Approach is the primary approach in estimating the fair value of the right to participate in a syndicate in future years, based on the weighted average price of Lloyd's syndicate capacity auction results. This approach is most appropriate in determining the fair value of the syndicate capacity where the auction pricing is reliable, and this approach is widely adopted in practice.  Consideration is also given to observable data from recent market transactions.  In addition, the board has made a provision of 10% on capacity to reduce the value of capacity held on the balance sheet.  An independent model that takes into consideration various uncertainties around auction trading has been developed to validate the 10% reduction in capacity value assumed since Q4 2024 reporting. It should be noted that there are no Lloyd's auctions in the first half of the year, resulting in no changes to the capacity values estimated since Q4 2024.

 

Funds at Lloyd's

Each asset included in the FAL is valued at its current market price. FAL can consist of a variety of assets, including cash, bonds, letter of credit ("LoC") and other approved financial instruments. As such, the fair value would be based on quoted market prices and face value of the assets held in the FAL. The Market Approach is preferred for determining the fair value of FAL because it uses observable values for each component asset.

 

Open year results

In accordance with Lloyd's requirements, each managing agent prepares syndicate level information and allocates each corporate member's share of their best estimate results based on their capacity participation for each YOA.

 

Quarterly Monitoring Returns A and B are considered to be a reasonable and supportable proxy in determining the fair value of open year results.

 

Profits recognition

The Board considers the potential syndicate profits that the syndicate management are forecasting. The ultimate YOA profits forecasted by syndicates are included in the QMRs submitted to Lloyd's in each quarter. A quarterly recognition pattern is applied to reflect the inherent uncertainty in those forecasts which are subject to changes in the ultimate outcome.

 

Following changes to the profit recognition methodology, we have taken a more conservative approach and now recognise a higher proportion of the profit in the second half of the year. This reflects the seasonality of claims activity in a typical year due to the timing of the hurricane season in the North Atlantic. In normal circumstances we would expect an uplift in the NAV in the second half.

 

The profit recognition methodology has been further refined to assume a gradual increase in recognition over twelve quarters. This approach has been reviewed and approved by the Board.

 

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash represents cash deposits held at financial institutions. Cash equivalents include short-term highly liquid investments of sufficient credit quality that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash and have original maturities of three months or less. Cash equivalents are held for meeting short-term liquidity requirements, rather than for investment purposes. Cash and cash equivalents are held at major financial institutions.

 

3.1 Borrowings

For most of the financial assets and liabilities not carried at fair value, the fair values are not materially different from their carrying amounts due to their short-term nature.

For the borrowings, the fair value differs from the carrying amount as set out below:

Borrowings


2025

2024


Carrying amount

£'000

Fair value

£'000

Carrying amount

£'000

Fair Value

£'000

Borrowings

53,543

58,148

58,457

62,802

 

 The fair values of borrowings are based on discounted cash flows using a current borrowing rate and FX rates. They are classified as level 3 fair values in the fair value hierarchy due to the use of unobservable inputs, including own credit risk.

3.2 Movements in Level 3 financial instruments

The following table presents the movement in Level 3 instruments for the half year ended 30 June 2025:

As at 30 June 2025

Equity investments

£'000

Opening balance

151,917

Purchases

-

Sales

-

Net gains/(losses)

4,728

Total

156,645

 

The following table presents the movement in Level 3 instruments for the year ended 31 December 2024:

As at 31 December 2024

Equity investments

£'000

Opening balance

115,885

Purchases

1,520

Sales

-

Net gains/(losses)

34,512

Total

151,917

 

 

3.3 Impact on the fair value of Level 3 financial instruments to changes in key assumptions

The following table summarises the valuation techniques together with the significant unobservable inputs used to calculate the fair value of our Level 3 assets.

 

Amount

Valuation technique

Significant unobservable inputs

 

As at 30 June 2025

£'000

 

 

 

Equity investments

155,746

Discounted projected cash flows

*Projected cash flows of syndicates
*Auction prices and syndicate capacity
*Discount rate

 

 

 

 

 

 

As at 31 December 2024

 

 

 

 

Equity investments

Discounted projected cash flows

*Projected cash flows of syndicates
*Auction prices and syndicate capacity
*Discount rate

 

 

3.4 Quantitative analysis of significant unobservable inputs

See section "Equity investments at FVTPL" for details on the unobservable inputs, notably the pipeline profit calculation and capacity valuation. The following should also be noted:

Discount rate: the discount rate applied to the projected syndicate profits from the date of valuation to the date of final determination of the profits to be distributed is based on the coupon negotiated on the unsecured loan note 2030, 9.5% being a proxy for the Helios cost of debt.

3.5 Sensitivity of fair value measurements to changes in unobservable market data

The table below describes the effect of changing the significant unobservable inputs to reasonably possible alternatives.

 

Change in variable

30 June 2025

£'000

*Pipeline profits - a range of extreme recognition patterns

Faster and unrealistic recognition: 0% Q2, 100% Q6 and Q10

+£15,933


Slower recognition: 25% Q2, 39% Q6 and 85% Q10

-£9,352

 

The sensitivity shows that lower recognition in more mature quarters has a bigger impact on the net result than in the first few quarters. The selected pattern sits somewhere between the faster pattern/higher profit and slower pattern/lower profit.

 

4.     Net gains on financial assets at FVTPL

 

 

 

 30 June 2025

30 June 2024

 £'000

 £'000

Unrealised gains on investments 

4,728 

7,805

Realised gains on investments and currencies

-

Net gains on financial assets at FVTPL

4,728

7,805

 

 

 

5.     Income tax charge

 

Analysis of tax charge in the period

 

 

 

 30 June 2025

30 June 2024

 £'000

 £'000

- current year

-

-

- prior year adjustment

-

(2,177)

Total current tax

_

(2,177)

The income tax expense is recognised based on management's best estimate of the current annual income tax rate expected for the full financial year. The annual tax rate used is 25% (2024: 25%).

 

6.     Earnings per share

 

Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing the profit attributable to ordinary shareholders after tax by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period.

Diluted earnings per share is calculated by dividing the net profit attributable to ordinary equity holders by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period, plus the weighted average number of ordinary shares that would be issued on the conversion of all the dilutive potential ordinary shares into ordinary shares.

Earnings per share has been calculated in accordance with IAS 33 "Earnings per share".

The earnings per share and weighted average number of shares used in the calculation are set out below:

 


30 June 2025 Unaudited

At 30 June 2024

Restated

Profit for the period after tax attributable to ordinary equity holders of the parent

4,413,500

(967,020)

Basic - weighted average number of ordinary shares

71,342,947

73,727,064

Weighted average number of ordinary shares for diluted earnings per share

74,579,624

76,285,215

Basic earnings/(loss) per share

6.19p

(1.31)p

Diluted earnings/(loss) per share*

5.92p

(1.31)p

* Diluted loss per share is not permitted to be reduced from the basic loss per share.

 



 

7.     Foreign exchange movements

 

The exchange movements are a result of the exchange rate moving from year end to 30th June and its impact on the revaluation of the loan.

 

8.     Dividends paid or proposed

 

It was proposed and agreed at the AGM on 30 June 2025 that a dividend of 10p would be payable. The Dividend was paid post period end on 17 July 2025 totalling £7,138,000 and has been accrued in the period ended 30 June 2025.

 

9.     Investments in Subsidiaries

 

 

 

Company or partnership

Direct/indirect

interest

2025

ownership

2024

ownership

 

Principal activity

Nameco (No. 917) Limited

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Nameco (No. 346) Limited

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Charmac Underwriting Limited

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

RBC CEES Trustee Limited(ii)

Direct

100%

100%

Joint Share Ownership Plan

Chapman Underwriting Limited

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Advantage DCP Limited

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Romsey Underwriting Limited

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Helios UTG Partner Limited(i)

Direct

100%

100%

Corporate partner

Salviscount LLP

Indirect

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Inversanda LLP

Indirect

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Fyshe Underwriting LLP

Indirect

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Nomina No 505 LLP

Indirect

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Nomina No 321 LLP

Indirect

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Nameco (No. 409) Limited

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Nameco (No. 1113) Limited

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Catbang 926 Limited

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Whittle Martin Underwriting

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Nameco (No. 408) Limited

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Nomina No 084 LLP

Indirect

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Nameco (No. 510) Limited

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Nameco (No. 544) Limited

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

N J Hanbury Limited

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Nameco (No. 1011) Limited

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Nameco (No. 1111) Limited

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Nomina No 533 LLP

Indirect

100%

100%

Corporate partner

North Breache Underwriting Limited

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

G T C Underwriting Limited

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Hillnameco Limited

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Nameco (No. 2012) Limited

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Nameco (No. 1095) Limited

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

New Filcom Limited

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Kemah Lime Street Capital

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Nameco (No. 1130) Limited

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Nomina No 070 LLP

Indirect

100%

100%

Corporate partner

Nameco (No. 389) Limited

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Nomina No. 469 LLP

Indirect

100%

100%

Corporate partner

Nomina No. 536 LLP

Indirect

100%

100%

Corporate partner

Nameco (No. 301) Limited

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Nameco (No. 1232) Limited

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Shaw Lodge Limited

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Queensberry Underwriting

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Nomina No 472 LLP

Indirect

100%

100%

Corporate partner

Nomina No 110 LLP

Indirect

100%

100%

Corporate partner

Chanterelle Underwriting Limited

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Kunduz LLP

Indirect

100%

100%

Corporate partner

Exalt Underwriting Limited

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Nameco (No. 1110) Limited

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Clifton 2011 Limited

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Nomina No 378 LLP

Indirect

100%

100%

Corporate partner

Gould Scottish Limited Partnership

Indirect

100%

100%

Corporate partner

Harris Family UTG Limited

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Whitehouse Underwriting Limited

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Risk Capital UTG Limited

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Nameco (No. 606) Limited

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Nameco (No. 1208) Limited

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Chorlton Underwriting Limited

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Park Farm Underwriting Limited

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Hyde Park Capital Limited

Direct

100%

-

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Helios LLV One Limited

Direct

-

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Helios LLV Two Limited

Direct

-

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Helios LLV Three Limited

Direct

-

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Helios LLV Four Limited

Direct

-

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Helios LLV Five Limited

Direct

-

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Helios LLV Six Limited

Direct

-

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Helios LLV Seven Limited

Direct

-

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Helios LLV Eight Limited

Direct

-

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Helios LLV Nine LLP

Indirect

-

100%

Corporate partner

Helios LLV Ten LLP

Indirect

-

100%

Corporate partner

Helios LLV Eleven Limited

Direct

-

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Helios LLV Twelve Limited

Direct

-

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Helios LLV Thirteen Limited

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Helios LLV Fourteen Limited

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Helios LLV Fifteen Limited

Direct

-

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Helios LLV Sixteen Limited

Direct

-

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Helios LLV Seventeen Limited

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Helios LLV Eighteen Limited

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Helios LLV Nineteen Limited

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Helios LLV Twenty Limited

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Helios LLV Twenty One Limited

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Helios LLV Twenty Two Limited

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Helios LLV Twenty Three Limited

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Helios LLV Twenty Four Limited

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Helios LLV Twenty Five Limited

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Helios LLV Twenty Six Limited

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Helios LLV Twenty Seven Limited

Direct

100%

100%

Lloyd's of London corporate vehicle

Helios LLV Twenty Eight LLP

Indirect

100%

100%

Corporate partner

Helios LLV Twenty Nine LLP

Indirect

100%

100%

Corporate partner

Helios LLV Thirty LLP

Indirect

100%

100%

Corporate partner



 



 

(i)   Helios UTG Partner Limited, a subsidiary, owns 100% of Salviscount LLP, Inversanda LLP, Fyshe Underwriting LLP, Nomina No 505 LLP, Nomina No 321 LLP Nomina No 084 LLP, Nomina No 533 LLP, Nomina No 070 LLP, Nomina No 469 LLP, Nomina No 536 LLP, Nomina No 472 LLP, Nomina No 110 LLP, Kunduz LLP. Nomina No 348 LLP and Gould Scottish Limited Partnership. The cost of acquisition of these LLPs is accounted for by Helios UTG Partner Limited, their immediate parent company.

(ii)  RBC CEES Trustee Limited was an incorporated entity in 2017 to satisfy the requirements of the Joint Share Ownership Plan.

(iii) During the period, we sold 100% of the shares in Helios LLV Eleven Limited, Helios LLV Twelve Limited and Helios LLV Fifteen Limited and Helios LLV sixteen LLV

 

10.  Share capital and share premium

 

No changes to the share capital from Q4 2024. Please see note 12 for details on events after the financial reporting period.

 

11.  Related party transactions

 

Other than those related parties transactions and balances noted within the rest of the report, there are no material changes in Director shareholding from Q4 2024. Please see note 14 for details on events after the financial reporting period.

Refer to note 9 for details on investments in subsidiaries.

 

12.  Ultimate controlling party

 

The Directors consider that the Group has no ultimate controlling party.

 

13.  Syndicate participations

The syndicates in which our subsidiaries participate as corporate members of Lloyd's are as follows:

 

Syndicate number

Syndicate

2025

2024

2023

2022

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

33

Hiscox Syndicates Limited

15,108

15,358

15,358

15,357

218

ERS Syndicate Management Limited

19,399

18,438

18,438

8,246

318

Cincinnati Global

1,082

1,082

862

993

386

QBE Underwriting Limited

2,889

3,139

3,139

3,067

510

Tokio Marine Kiln Syndicates Limited

15,307

31,807

29,591

35,379

557

Tokio Marine Kiln Syndicates Limited

-

-

-

3,509

609

Atrium Underwriters Limited

18,794

19,527

18,421

13,714

623

Beazley Furlonge Limited

28,866

32,686

28,909

23,293

727

S.A. Meacock & Company Limited

2,956

2,956

2,956

2,423

1176

Chaucer Syndicates Limited

2,575

2,875

2,875

2,875

1200

Argo Managing Agency Limited

-

-

55

10,050

1609

Mosaic Insurance

20,000

-

-

-

1699

Volante Global

-

5,000

-

-

1729

Dale Partners (Asta)

25,117

25,117

21,694

11,690

1796

Parsyl

-

7,000

-

-

1902

Medical & Commercial Insurance

12,635

12,635

10,688

10,000

1910

Ariel Re

20,000

-

-

-

1925

Envelop Risk

7,500

12,500

-

-

1955

Arch Managing Agency Limited

24,640

20,000

12,500

-

1966

Medical & Commercial Insurance

12,600

15,000

-

-

1969

Apollo Syndicate Management Limited

-

25,498

12,171

5,675

1971

Apollo Syndicate Management Limited

25,000

25,000

10,000

6,467

1984

Convex Insurance

6,980

-

-

-

1985

Flux Syndicate

12,693

20,108

16,946

-

1988

CFC Syndicate

-

15,125

15,000

-

1996

Wildfire Defense Syndicate

-

9,523

5,988

-

2010

Lancashire Syndicates Limited

-

7,338

7,338

10,642

2024

AdA Special Purpose Arrangement

6,712

8,522

-

-

2121

Argenta Syndicate Management Limited

5,206

5,206

272

10,267

2358

Nephila: Follow syndicate

25,000

20,000

-

-

2427

Agile Underwriting Services

15,000

15,000

-

-

2454

Africa Specialty Risks

7,500

5,800

-

-

2525

Secure Liability Solutions (Asta)

2,412

2,612

2,311

1,856

2689

Hampden Risk Partners (HRP)

14,755

6,428

3,359

10,771

2791

Managing Agency Partners Limited

16,172

16,422

12,001

10,123

3123

Fidelis Insurance Group

14,060

5,239

-

-

3939

NormanMax Insurance Solutions

12,000

12,000

-

-

4242

Beat Capital

16,523

16,662

12,607

14,747

4444

Canopius

-

24

21

20

5183

Micro Insurance Digital Solutions

 Beazley Furlonge Limited

-

1,727

5,000

-

5623

26,843

27,877

18,422

7,100

5886

Blenheim Underwriting Limited

37,478

30,840

27,132

23,165

6103

Managing Agency Partners Limited

4,615

4,150

3,301

3,480

6104

Hiscox Syndicates Limited

12,008

10,000

32

1,774

6107

Beazley Furlonge Limited

-

1,550

164

1,682

6117

Argo Managing Agency Limited

570

947

491

3,189

Total

Syndicate capacity

490,995

518,718

318,042

251,554

 

14.  Event after the financial reporting period

 

JSOP update:

The JSOP Shares were jointly held with JTC Employer Solutions Trustee Limited (as trustee of the Helios Underwriting Plc Employees' Share Trust (the "Trust") as co-owner ("JSOP Co-Owner") of JSOP Shares pursuant to the terms of the JSOP.

 

The JSOP Shares were sold to JTC Employer Solutions Trustee Limited as trustee of the Trust. The Trust is a market standard discretionary employee benefit trust.

 

The Trust purchased the JSOP Shares (together with an additional 315,778 Ordinary Shares sold at the same time by a former PDMR JSOP participant) with loan funding provided by Helios and the resulting Ordinary Shares are now held in the Trust.

 

The Ordinary Shares now held in the Trust (remaining at 1,100,000 Ordinary Shares further to the purchases made by the Trust and it exercises a call option over the unvested JSOP shares) are available to the Trust for trust purposes (including therefore for use in connection with future maturities under our Long-Term Incentive Plan).

 

The loan funding by Helios to the Trust in relation to the sales noted above in connection with JSOP (including in respect of sales made at the same time by a former PDMR JSOP participant) was £ 1,515,667. Additional loan funding of £305,320.97 was also provided by Helios to the Trust at the same time.

 

A sum of £1,182,213 was immediately credited back to Helios by the Trust equating to the proceeds accrued to the JSOP Co-Owner under the JSOP and was applied by Helios towards payment of the outstanding subscription price in relation to the Ordinary Shares that had been held under the JSOP.

 

The loan to the Trust constituted a related party transaction for the purposes of AIM Rule 13. The independent directors being John Chambers, Adhiraj Maitra, Andrew Christie, Tom Libassi and Katie Wade, having consulted with our nominated adviser Deutsche Numis, confirm that they consider that the terms of the loan are fair and reasonable insofar as the shareholders are concerned.

 

Distribution to shareholders:

In July 2025 a base and special dividend of 10p per share (£6.8m + shares) was returned to shareholders. This has been allowed for in the interim result.

 

It is proposed to make a Tender Offer to shareholders pro-rata to their shareholdings in due course to potentially return a further £7.1m (10p per share). This increase in overall distributions to shareholders reflects the increase in underwriting profits distributed from Lloyd's and from the sale of capacity in the recent auctions.

 

 

 

Directors, Registered office and advisers

 

Directors

John Chambers (Interim Executive Chairman)

Nigel Hanbury (Non-Executive Deputy Chairman)

Andrew Christie (Non-Executive Director)

Thomas Libassi (Non-Executive Director)

Katie Wade (Non-Executive Director)

Adhiraj Maitra (Director of Finance and Operations) appointed 1 July 2025

Arthur Manners (Finance Director) resigned 30 June 2025

 

Company Secretary

 

Reva Jain

Shakespeare Martineau No 1 Colmore Square Birmingham

B4 6AA

Company number

05892671

Registered office

1st Floor, 33 Cornhill, London, EC3V 3ND

 

Statutory auditors

 

PKF Littlejohn LLP 15 Westferry Circus Canary Wharf

London E14 4HD

 

Lloyd's members' agent

 

Hampden Agencies Limited

40 Gracechurch Street London EC3V 0BT

Argenta Private Capital Limited

70 Gracechurch Street London EC3V 0HR

 

Registrars

 

Neville Registrars Limited

Neville House Steelpark Road Halesowen B62 8HD

Nominated adviser and broker

Deutsche Numis 45 Gresham Street London EC2V 7BF

 

INDEPENDENT REVIEW REPORT TO HELIOS UNDERWRITING PLC

 

Conclusion

We have been engaged by the Helios Underwriting Plc (the "company") to review the condensed set of financial information in the half-yearly financial report for the six months ended 30 June 2025 which comprise the Condensed Statement of Income, the Condensed Statement of Financial Position, the Condensed Statement of Changes in Equity, the Condensed Statement of Cash Flows and related notes. We have read the other information contained in the half-yearly financial report and considered whether it contains any apparent misstatements or material inconsistencies with the information in the condensed set of financial information.

 

Based on our review, nothing has come to our attention that causes us to believe that the condensed set of financial information in the half-yearly financial report for the six months ended 30 June 2025 is not prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with UK-adopted International Accounting Standard 34 and the AIM Rules for Companies.

Basis for conclusion

We conducted our review in accordance with International Standard on Review Engagements (UK) 2410, "Review of Interim Financial Information Performed by the Independent Auditor of the Entity", issued for use in the United Kingdom. A review of interim financial information consists of making enquiries, primarily of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters, and applying analytical and other review procedures. A review is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) and consequently does not enable us to obtain assurance that we would become aware of all significant matters that might be identified in an audit. Accordingly, we do not express an audit opinion.

 

As disclosed in note 2, the annual financial statements of the company are prepared in accordance with UK-adopted IASs. The condensed set of financial information included in this half-yearly financial report has been prepared in accordance with UK-adopted International Accounting Standard 34, "Interim Financial Reporting".

Conclusions relating to going concern

Based on our review procedures, which are less extensive than those performed in an audit as described in the Basis for conclusion section of this report, nothing has come to our attention to suggest that management have inappropriately adopted the going concern basis of accounting or that management have identified material uncertainties relating to going concern that are not appropriately disclosed.

 

This conclusion is based on the review procedures performed in accordance with ISRE (UK) 2410, however future events or conditions may cause the company to cease to continue as a going concern.

Responsibilities of directors

The directors are responsible for preparing the half-yearly financial report in accordance with the AIM Rules for Companies.

In preparing the half-yearly financial report, 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.

 

Auditor's responsibilities for the review of financial information

In reviewing the half-yearly report, we are responsible for expressing to the company a conclusion on the condensed set of financial information in the half-yearly financial report. Our conclusion, including our conclusions relating to going concern, are based on procedures that are less extensive than audit procedures, as described in the 'Basis for conclusion' paragraph of this report.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the company's directors, as a body, in accordance with the terms of our engagement letter dated 10 September 2025.  Our review has been undertaken so that we might state to the company's directors those matters we have agreed to state to them in a reviewer'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 directors as a body, for our work, for this report, or for the conclusions we have formed.

 

 

 

PKF Littlejohn LLP                                                                                                                                                                    15 Westferry Circus

Statutory Auditor                                                                                                                                                                       Canary Wharf

26 September 2025                                                                                                                                                                       London E14 4HD

 

 

 

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