Molten Ventures shares jump 4.86% after company signals strong first-half progress
Key Facts
Molten Ventures shares closed up 4.86% at 701.00 pence in London trading on 26 October 2026, according to an RTTNews report, after the company said it had made strong progress in the first half of its financial year. Chief Executive Ben Wilkinson said performance continued to build on the previous financial year’s results, with ongoing growth, a strong level of exits and sustained momentum. The trading update comes as the company moves to strengthen its capital base through a new growth fund, alongside continued share buybacks. The company set 24 November as the date for its interim results for financial year 2027. Those results will provide a regular disclosure of performance for the period ended 30 September.
Against the backdrop of that performance, Molten’s total portfolio value rose to £1,525 million at 31 March 2026, compared with £1,367 million in the previous year. The company said fair value growth reached £172 million in the financial year ended in March, equivalent to 13% of opening value after excluding the effect of foreign currencies. It attributed most of the increase to its core portfolio, which contributed £210 million to fair value growth. ICEYE, Revolut, Ledger and Riverlane were among the leading growth drivers, it said, while valuation reductions in Coachhub and Schüttflix offset some of the gains. This divergence between companies that grew and those whose valuations were cut provides context for reading the latest portfolio update.
Commenting on the first half, Wilkinson said: "We made strong progress in the first half of the financial year, building on our performance in FY 2026, with ongoing growth, a strong level of exits and sustained momentum." He added that the first close of the growth fund had broadened the capital base and that the company was seeking to increase the external capital it manages alongside its balance sheet. The fund’s first close is £175 million, including a £75 million cornerstone commitment from the British Business Bank and a £100 million contribution from Molten. The fund is targeting a final size of £350 million, focusing on Series B and later-stage investments. The fund gives the company a path to expand capital managed outside its balance sheet, according to the chief executive.
These figures describe cash proceeds from exits; the company does not present them as realised profits. The trading update also points to revaluations of investments in portfolio companies, while the company described exits as part of the period’s momentum. The company continues to balance exit proceeds with investment in its portfolio, while the targeted growth fund provides an additional channel for capital. The interim results are expected to provide further detail on performance in the six months ended 30 September.
On share buybacks, Molten extended the programme by an additional £10 million, following the current £15 million tranche. Purchases will continue under the current tranche until it is exhausted, and the announced increase will not be used before then. This arrangement sets the timing for allocating the additional amount, while ongoing purchases remain tied to the existing tranche. The programme extension comes alongside the company’s efforts to continue investing in its portfolio and expand externally managed capital. The next date for shareholders is the announcement of interim results for financial year 2027 on 24 November 2026.