3i Group PLC Q1 Performance update (0791M)

TIDMIII

RNS Number : 0791M

3i Group PLC

26 July 2017

26 July 2017

3i Group plc

FY2018 Q1 performance update

 
      A busy start to the year with four new Private Equity 
       investments and good portfolio performance 
 
        *    NAV per share of 628 pence and total return of 4.1% 
             at 30 June 2017 
 
 
 
        *    Good level of new investment in Private Equity with 
             GBP276 million invested in Hans Anders and Lampenwelt 
             in the quarter and a further GBP241 million committed 
             to Formel D and Cirtec 
 
 
 
        *    Successful close of two new Infrastructure funds, the 
             3i Managed Infrastructure Acquisitions Fund and the 
             3i European Operational Projects Fund 
------------------------------------------------------------------ 
 

Simon Borrows, Chief Executive, commented:

"This was another good quarter for 3i and our portfolio of international investments is performing well against an improving economic backdrop. We completed or signed four new investments in Germany, the Netherlands and the US and some GBP250 million of divestments, including the announced sale of Mémora at a significant uplift to its March 2017 value. We also added two new Infrastructure funds, the 3i Managed Infrastructure Acquisitions Fund and the 3i European Operational Projects Fund."

Private Equity

Portfolio performance

The Private Equity portfolio performed well in the quarter. Action continued to see strong earnings growth and cash flow generation. There was robust earnings growth across the portfolio more generally with a good contribution from ATESTEO, Q Holding and Audley Travel, together with strong cash flow generation from Scandlines.

Private Equity investments

We completed our investments in Hans Anders (GBP172 million) and Lampenwelt (GBP104 million) in May 2017 and Formel D (GBP136 million) in July 2017. We also announced a c.$136 million investment in Cirtec Medical, a leading provider of outsourced engineering and manufacturing to the medical device sector, which is expected to complete by 30 September 2017.

Private Equity realisations

We generated total cash proceeds of GBP107 million in the quarter from the full realisations of MKM and Dphone at uplifts of 3% and 30% respectively against 31 March 2017 book value.

 
                                    Realisation proceeds 
                                                    GBPm 
--------------------------------  ---------------------- 
 Full realisations 
  MKM                                                 70 
  Dphone                                              26 
  Other                                               11 
 -------------------------------  ---------------------- 
 Total Q1 FY2018 cash proceeds                       107 
--------------------------------  ---------------------- 
 

We also announced the sale of Mémora on 17 July 2017. This disposal, which is expected to complete by the end of September 2017, will generate proceeds of c.GBP117 million to 3i. Mémora was valued at GBP86 million at 31 March 2017 and has been moved to an imminent sales basis at 30 June 2017.

Infrastructure

Our team, which advises 3i Infrastructure plc, is working actively on its more recent acquisitions, including potential follow on investments, and its pipeline of possible new investments. 3i also invested GBP21 million in the new 3i Managed Infrastructure Acquisitions Fund and committed EUR40 million to the new 3i European Operational Projects Fund, which achieved its first close in April 2017.

Top 10 investments by value at 30 June 2017

 
                                                    Valuation   Valuation 
                          Valuation    Valuation       Mar-17      Jun-17 
                          basis        currency          GBPm        GBPm   Activity in the quarter 
-----------------------  -----------  -----------  ----------  ----------  ------------------------------ 
 Action                   Earnings     EUR              1,708       1,835 
-----------------------  -----------  -----------  ----------  ----------  ------------------------------ 
 3i Infrastructure plc    Quoted       GBP                655         658   Ex-dividend date 15 June 2017 
-----------------------  -----------  -----------  ----------  ----------  ------------------------------ 
 Scandlines               DCF          EUR                538         571 
-----------------------  -----------  -----------  ----------  ----------  ------------------------------ 
 Q Holding                Earnings     USD                222         238 
-----------------------  -----------  -----------  ----------  ----------  ------------------------------ 
 Weener Plastic           Earnings     EUR                200         213 
-----------------------  -----------  -----------  ----------  ----------  ------------------------------ 
 Audley Travel            Earnings     GBP                185         194 
-----------------------  -----------  -----------  ----------  ----------  ------------------------------ 
 Basic-Fit                Quoted       EUR                184         182 
-----------------------  -----------  -----------  ----------  ----------  ------------------------------ 
 Hans Anders              Earnings     EUR                  -         175   New investment 
-----------------------  -----------  -----------  ----------  ----------  ------------------------------ 
 ATESTEO                  Earnings     EUR                160         172 
-----------------------  -----------  -----------  ----------  ----------  ------------------------------ 
 BoConcept                Earnings     DKK                146         156 
-----------------------  -----------  -----------  ----------  ----------  ------------------------------ 
 

The top 10 investments in this table comprise 71% (31 March 2017: 70%) of the total Proprietary Capital portfolio by value.

Total return and NAV position

The continued weakening of sterling against the euro following the UK General Election in June 2017 contributed to a total foreign exchange gain in the quarter of GBP68 million. Based on the balance sheet at 30 June 2017, a 1% movement in the euro and US dollar would result in a total return movement of GBP37 million and GBP7 million respectively. Altogether the diluted NAV per share increased to 628 pence (31 March 2017: 604 pence) and 609.5 pence following the payment of the FY2017 final dividend.

Balance sheet and dividend

The Group's balance sheet remains well funded. Net cash reduced to GBP161 million, due to the investment activity in the quarter. Liquidity remained strong at GBP1,086 million. The GBP136 million investment in Formel D completed on 17 July 2017 and the 18.5 pence FY2017 final dividend (GBP178 million) was paid on 21 July 2017.

Notes

 
 1.   Balance sheet values are stated net of foreign exchange translation. Where applicable, the 
       GBP equivalents at 30 June 2017 in this update have been calculated at a currency exchange 
       rate of EUR1.1388:GBP1 and $1.2989:GBP1 respectively. At 30 June 2017, 61% of the Group's 
       net assets were in euro and 12% were in US dollar. 
---  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
 2.   At 30 June 2017 3i had 968.4 million diluted shares. 
---  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
 3.   Action was valued using a post discount run-rate EBITDA multiple of 16.0x based on its run-rate 
       earnings to 19 June 2017, the closest period end to 3i's. 
---  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
 

- ENDS -

For further information, please contact:

Silvia Santoro

Investor Relations Director

Tel: [phone]

Kathryn van der Kroft

Communications Director

Tel: [phone]

About 3i Group

3i is a leading international investment manager focused on mid-market Private Equity and Infrastructure. Our core investment markets are northern Europe and North America. For further information, please visit: www.3i.com

All statements in this performance update relate to the three month period ended 30 June 2017 unless otherwise stated. The financial information is unaudited and is presented on 3i's non-GAAP Investment basis in order to provide users with the most appropriate description of the drivers of 3i's performance. Net asset value ("NAV") and total return are the same on the Investment basis and on an IFRS basis. Details of the differences between 3i's consolidated financial statements prepared on an IFRS basis and under the Investment basis are provided in the 2017 Annual report and accounts. There have been no material changes to the financial position of 3i from the end of this quarter to the date of this announcement.

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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July 26, 2017 02:00 ET (06:00 GMT)