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BPET Bmo Private Equity Trust Plc

438.00
0.00 (0.00%)
Last Updated: 01:00:00
Delayed by 15 minutes
Share Name Share Symbol Market Type Share ISIN Share Description
Bmo Private Equity Trust Plc LSE:BPET London Ordinary Share GB0030738271 ORD 1P
  Price Change % Change Share Price Bid Price Offer Price High Price Low Price Open Price Shares Traded Last Trade
  0.00 0.00% 438.00 438.00 444.00 0.00 01:00:00
Industry Sector Turnover Profit EPS - Basic PE Ratio Market Cap
0 0 N/A 0

BMO Private Equity Trust PLC Quarterly NAV and Dividend Announcement (0609A)

27/05/2021 11:51am

UK Regulatory


TIDMBPET

RNS Number : 0609A

BMO Private Equity Trust PLC

27 May 2021

 
 To: Stock Exchange   For immediate release: 
                      27 May 2021 
 

BMO Private Equity Trust PLC

Quarterly results for the three months ended 31 March 2021 (unaudited)

   --      Share price total return for the three-month period ended 31 March 2021 of 22.5%. 
   --      NAV total return per share for the three-month period of -0.3%. 
   --      NAV of 480.67p per share as at 31 March 2021. 
   --      Quarterly dividend of 4.35p per Ordinary Share. 

Introduction

As at 31 March 2021, the net assets of the Company were GBP355.4m, giving a Net Asset Value ('NAV') per share of 480.67p, which taking into account the dividend of 3.99p paid on 29 January 2021, gives a decrease of 0.3% over the quarter. Exchange rate movements reduced the overall valuation by approximately 1.5% over the quarter. With the discount narrowing to 22.6% as at 31 March 2021 the share price total return for the period was an impressive 22.5%. The discount has continued to narrow and is currently 14.9%.

At 31 March 2021 the Company had net debt of GBP56.8m. This reduced substantially early in the second quarter on the receipt of the proceeds of the Dotmatics exit. Outstanding undrawn commitments were GBP117 million including GBP19 million to funds where the investment period has expired.

The dividend to be paid on 30 July 2021 to shareholders on the register on 9 July 2021 with an ex-dividend date of 8 July 2021 will be 4.35p per share.

This valuation comes quite quickly after the full year valuation and many of the underlying funds had yet to report first quarter valuations by the preparation date of this valuation. There is therefore a lag where the great majority of the March valuations will not be reflected until the June valuation. 15% by value of the portfolio has been valued at 31 March with most of the remainder based on December 2020 valuations. This is a usual feature of the timing of first quarter results.

New Investments

There was only one new investment made during the first quarter. EUR5 million was committed to the Agilitas 2020 Private Equity Fund, a mid-market buyout fund specialising in North West Europe. We know the management group very well having backed their previous fund and co-invested with them twice: in both cases successfully. After the quarter end we have made a new commitment of GBP5 million to Apposite Healthcare Fund III, a European focussed lower mid-market healthcare and life sciences fund. Again, we have a strong relationship with the manager through their previous fund and through co-investing. The pipeline of new investment opportunities is very healthy, and we expect to make more fund commitments and co-investments as the year progresses.

The funds in our portfolio have been active in making new investments during the quarter with a total of GBP10.2 million invested. Although most major economies were in some form of lockdown for the whole of the first quarter many private equity houses have been able to execute new investments, often in sectors where companies have proved their resilience through the pandemic.

We have several holdings across the range of Inflexion funds and they have made a number of new investments. Inflexion Buyout Fund V and the Inflexion Supplemental Fund V together invested GBP1.9 million. This was mainly invested in BES (British Engineering Services), which was a partial reinvestment of a hugely successful exit from the Inflexion 2010 Fund (see below), and in Medik8, a premium skincare brand committed to ethical manufacturing and sustainability. Selling online and through professional channels such as dermatology clinics, spas and beauty salons, Medik8 produces science based anti-ageing products. Inflexion Enterprise Fund V called GBP0.4 million for a number of investments including DR&P Group (corporate insurance broker), Goat Solutions (social media and influencer marketing agency) and Systal (mission critical managed network IT services). Inflexion Partnership Capital II called GBP0.5 million for Phenna, a specialised business in the testing, inspection and certification and compliance services sector. SEP V invested GBP0.8 million in Glasgow based company AutoRek (financial and regulatory data management software). FPE II invested GBP0.6 million in Codestone (ERP and hosting services). MED II, the ArchiMed healthcare fund called GBP0.4 million for Ad-Tech, a niche US manufacturer of electrodes used in neurodiagnostic and neurosurgery applications. Also in the healthcare sector MVM V called GBP0.3 million for Paragon 28 (next generation implants and instruments for foot and ankle orthopaedic procedures) and GT Medical (innovative brain cancer treatments using bioreabsorbable tiles with embedded radioactive seeds). Sticking with a technological theme, ARX CEE IV invested GBP0.5 million in Instrumentation Technologies, a Slovenia based company making components for particle accelerators. Lastly in the US Blue Point Capital IV invested GBP0.6 million in Transtar, a distributor of automotive aftermarket products for the driveline and transmission repair market.

Realisations

During the quarter there were several full or partial realisations across the breadth of the portfolio. The total proceeds and associated income amounted to GBP16.1 million.

The largest inflow of GBP2.5 million came from our Silverfleet led co-investment in cleanroom consumables company STAXS where there has been a refinancing enabled by the very strong trading resulting from the huge demand for PPE created by the pandemic. This investment has now returned 90% of cost within two years. Inflexion have continued their impressive run of exits this quarter. BES (British Engineering Services), the engineering testing, inspection and certification services provider has been an exceptional performer and their 2010 Fund returned GBP2.1 million achieving 14.8x cost and an IRR of 60%. As noted above Inflexion have partially reinvested through their Supplemental Fund V. Inflexion have exited no fewer than three other holdings this quarter. Inflexion Fund IV returned GBP1.4 million principally from the sale of Bollington Wilson (insurance brokers) (5.1x, 50% IRR) and Kynetec (agricultural and animal data provider) (3.3x, 28% IRR). Inflexion Partnership Capital I and Inflexion Supplemental Fund IV returned GBP0.9 million mainly from the sale of investment consultancy LCP (3.4x, 34% IRR). FPE II had two exits with the sale of IWSR, the data provider for the drinks industry returning GBP1.0 million (3.6x, 56% IRR) and the exit of Masstech, the video storage management company for the media and broadcast sector, returning GBP0.6 million (2.7x including partial reinvestment in the stock of acquirer Telestream). A significant inflow of GBP1.2 million came from Pentech Fund II where there has been a partial realisation of sports betting company FanDuel. FanDuel has merged with the US operations of Flutter Entertainment to form a new entity FanDuel Group (FDG), which is listed in the US. Pentech have made over 10x cost so far with further upside possible as the remaining shares in FDG are sold down. Apposite Healthcare Fund II returned GBP1.7 million as part proceeds from its sale of social care company MC Care. This former division of Mitie was acquired for nominal consideration, very successfully turned around and sold to a trade acquirer. Horizon 2013 Fund exited Style Analytics, the provider of investment and ESG analytics software to institutional investors, returning GBP0.5 million (2.0x, 14% IRR). August Equity sold PCS (Pet Cremation Services) returning GBP0.4 million (3.1x cost, 22% IRR). Piper Private Equity achieved a partial exit of online flower company Bloom & Wild which has attracted additional private equity backers from the USA. GBP0.9 million was returned representing 2.0x cost, with the whole investment achieving 3.6x so far. Piper also achieved an exit for Proper Snacks (GBP0.1 million, 2.0x, 17% IRR). Nearly all of these exits are from UK based funds. In the Nordics Procuritas V achieved a notable exit with the partial sale of Pierce, the online retailer of spare parts and accessories for on and off-road vehicles. The company has had a successful IPO on the Nasdaq Stockholm. At IPO 3.3x cost was realised enabling a GBP0.3 million distribution. Procuritas still holds 60% of its investment so there is considerable scope for further upside from here.

As can be seen this was an active quarter for new investments and realisations with new investment clearly focusing on software, healthcare and other technology enabled businesses. Realisations have been from a broader range of companies but again these have included companies which have either benefitted from the pandemic or demonstrated a resilient business model through it.

Valuation Changes

There were comparatively few changes in valuation this quarter given that only a small minority of 31 March reports had been received in time, the uplift to sale value of many of the exits described above will therefore be realised next quarter. The largest factor in the valuation was currency movements with the relative weakness of the euro and some other European currency against sterling reducing the valuation considerably. We maintain a partial natural hedge against this exchange rate movement through borrowing largely in euros. The net effect was that the overall valuation was adversely impacted by around 1.5%.

Most of the valuation changes were upwards. Amongst the co-investment portfolio Coretrax was up by GBP0.5 million reflecting a strong finish to FY 2020. Rosa Mexicano, the US based Mexican restaurant chain has started its recovery and is up by GBP0.9 million. In Norway software company Safran has been uplifted by GBP0.4 million. In the funds portfolio notable increases include SEP V up by GBP0.6 million and SEP IV by GBP0.4 million. In Europe our portfolio of Italian assets was up by GBP0.7 million mainly due to a strong uplift for Georgetti, the high-end furniture company.

Financing

As reported with the full year results the Company has increased its multi-currency revolving credit facility from GBP75 million to GBP95 million. In addition to this there is a term loan of EUR25 million. At quarter end exchange rates this gives a total borrowing capacity of around GBP116 million. At the end of March, the Company was utilising 58% of this but also held some GBP10 million of cash. Since the quarter end the proceeds of the realisation of Dotmatics have been received and the current net debt position is much more modest at GBP30 million or 8.4% of NAV. The Company retains plenty of capacity to fund its ongoing investment programme even if realisations do not match new investment activity every quarter.

Outlook

The COVID-19 pandemic is by no means over with very few countries sufficiently well vaccinated yet to be able to have assumed normality. That said the recent lockdowns have been characterised by a far smaller reduction in economic activity than was the case a year ago. Many companies have found ways of operating fairly successfully despite the constraints that COVID places on business travel and the ability of many to attend work. As previously noted and illustrated by the portfolio activity in this quarter private equity investors have a clear appetite for companies in the technology and healthcare sectors. Their attributes of resilience and clear added value products and services have been thrown into relief by the pandemic. The private equity asset class as a whole has proved adaptable to the constraints of the pandemic and for the last two quarters deal making has reached approximately normal volumes, albeit that much more of the investment process has been done virtually. The exits in the latest quarter are not all yet reflected in the valuation of the funds. There are also a number of other investments making good progress towards exit. There are therefore excellent prospects for further gains for shareholders as the year progresses.

Hamish Mair

Investment Manager

BMO Investment Business Limited

BMO PRIVATE EQUITY TRUST PLC

Statement of Comprehensive Income for the

three months ended 31 March 2021 (unaudited)

 
 
                                                   Revenue            Capital         Total 
                                                   GBP'000            GBP'000       GBP'000 
-----------------------------------------------  ---------  -----------------  ------------ 
 Income 
 Losses on investments held at fair value                -            (3,537)       (3,537) 
 Exchange gains                                          -              3,568       3,568 
 Investment income                                     529                  -           529 
 Other income                                            -                  -             - 
-----------------------------------------------  ---------  -----------------  ------------ 
 Total income                                          529                 31           560 
-----------------------------------------------  ---------  -----------------  ------------ 
 
 Expenditure 
 Investment management fee - basic fee                (84)              (757)         (841) 
 Investment management fee - performance                 -                  -             - 
  fee 
 Other expenses                                      (224)                  -         (224) 
-----------------------------------------------  ---------  -----------------  ------------ 
 Total expenditure                                   (308)              (757)       (1,065) 
-----------------------------------------------  ---------  -----------------  ------------ 
 
 Profit/(Loss) before finance costs and 
  taxation                                             221              (726)         (505) 
 
 Finance costs                                        (61)              (551)         (612) 
-----------------------------------------------  ---------  -----------------  ------------ 
 
 Profit/(Loss) before taxation                         160            (1,277)       (1,117) 
 
 Taxation                                                -                  -             - 
 
 Profit/(Loss) for period/ total comprehensive 
  income                                               160            (1,277)       (1,117) 
 
 Return per Ordinary Share                           0.22p            (1.73)p       (1.51)p 
 
 

BMO PRIVATE EQUITY TRUST PLC

Statement of Comprehensive Income for the

three months ended 31 March 2020 (unaudited)

 
 
                                                Revenue    Capital       Total 
                                                GBP'000    GBP'000     GBP'000 
--------------------------------------------  ---------  ---------  ---------- 
 Income 
 Gains on investments held at fair value              -      1,897       1,897 
 Exchange losses                                      -    (1,982)     (1,982) 
 Investment income                                  177          -         177 
 Other income                                         6          -           6 
--------------------------------------------  ---------  ---------  ---------- 
 Total income                                       183       (85)          98 
--------------------------------------------  ---------  ---------  ---------- 
 
 Expenditure 
 Investment management fee - basic fee             (72)      (649)       (721) 
 Investment management fee - performance              -          -           - 
  fee 
 Other expenses                                   (222)          -       (222) 
--------------------------------------------  ---------  ---------  ---------- 
 Total expenditure                                (294)      (649)       (943) 
--------------------------------------------  ---------  ---------  ---------- 
 
 Loss before finance costs and taxation           (111)      (734)       (845) 
 
 Finance costs                                     (64)      (578)       (642) 
--------------------------------------------  ---------  ---------  ---------- 
 
 Loss before taxation                             (175)    (1,312)     (1,487) 
 
 Taxation                                             -          -           - 
 
 Loss for period/total comprehensive income       (175)    (1,312)     (1,487) 
 
 Return per Ordinary Share                      (0.24)p    (1.77)p     (2.01)p 
 
 
 

BMO PRIVATE EQUITY TRUST PLC

Statement of Comprehensive Income for the

year ended 31 December 2020 (audited)

 
 
                                                Revenue    Capital      Total 
                                                GBP'000    GBP'000    GBP'000 
--------------------------------------------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
 Income 
 Gains on investments held at fair value              -     74,076     74,076 
 Exchange losses                                      -    (2,705)    (2,705) 
 Investment income                                4,988          -      4,988 
 Other income                                         8          -          8 
--------------------------------------------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
 Total income                                     4,996     71,371     76,367 
--------------------------------------------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
 
 Expenditure 
 Investment management fee - basic fee            (294)    (2,650)    (2,944) 
 Investment management fee - performance 
  fee                                                 -    (3,007)    (3,007) 
 Other expenses                                   (952)          -      (952) 
--------------------------------------------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
 Total expenditure                              (1,246)    (5,657)    (6,903) 
--------------------------------------------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
 
 Profit before finance costs and taxation         3,750     65,714     69,464 
 
 Finance costs                                    (260)    (2,337)    (2,597) 
--------------------------------------------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
 
 Profit before taxation                           3,490     63,377     66,867 
 
 Taxation                                             -          -          - 
 
 Profit for year/total comprehensive income       3,490     63,377     66,867 
 
 Return per Ordinary Share                        4.72p     85.71p     90.43p 
 
 

BMO PRIVATE EQUITY TRUST PLC

Balance Sheet

 
                                             As at 31      As at 31   As at 31 December 
                                           March 2021    March 2020                2020 
                                          (unaudited)   (unaudited)           (audited) 
                                              GBP'000       GBP'000             GBP'000 
---------------------------------------  ------------  ------------  ------------------ 
 Non-current assets 
 Investments at fair value through 
  profit or loss                              417,444       352,588             426,249 
---------------------------------------  ------------  ------------  ------------------ 
 
 Current assets 
 Other receivables                                285            42                 562 
 Cash and cash equivalents                     10,679         5,673               8,344 
---------------------------------------  ------------  ------------  ------------------ 
                                               10,964         5,715               8,906 
 
 Current liabilities 
 Other payables                               (5,543)       (4,130)             (4,492) 
 Interest-bearing bank loan                  (47,267)      (33,173)            (49,666) 
---------------------------------------  ------------  ------------  ------------------ 
                                             (52,810)      (37,303)            (54,158) 
 
 Net current liabilities                     (41,846)      (31,588)            (45,252) 
 
 Total assets less current liabilities        375,598       321,000             380,997 
---------------------------------------  ------------  ------------  ------------------ 
 
 Non-current liabilities 
 Interest-bearing bank loan                  (20,182)      (21,072)            (21,514) 
---------------------------------------  ------------  ------------  ------------------ 
 Net assets                                   355,416       299,928             359,483 
---------------------------------------  ------------  ------------  ------------------ 
 
 Equity 
 Called-up ordinary share capital                 739           739                 739 
 Share premium account                          2,527         2,527               2,527 
 Special distributable capital 
  reserve                                      15,040        15,040              15,040 
 Special distributable revenue 
  reserve                                      31,403        31,403              31,403 
 Capital redemption reserve                     1,335         1,335               1,335 
 Capital reserve                              304,372       248,884             308,439 
 Shareholders' funds                          355,416       299,928             359,483 
---------------------------------------  ------------  ------------  ------------------ 
 
 Net asset value per Ordinary Share           480.67p       405.63p             486.17p 
 
 

BMO PRIVATE EQUITY TRUST PLC

Reconciliation of Movements in Shareholders' Funds

 
                                          Three months   Three months     Year ended 
                                        ended 31 March       ended 31    31 December 
                                                  2021     March 2020           2020 
                                           (unaudited)    (unaudited)      (audited) 
------------------------------------  ----------------  -------------  ------------- 
                                               GBP'000        GBP'000        GBP'000 
 Opening shareholders' funds                   359,483        304,277        304,277 
 (Loss)/profit for the period/total 
  comprehensive income                         (1,117)        (1,487)         66,867 
 Dividends paid                                (2,950)        (2,862)       (11,661) 
------------------------------------  ----------------  -------------  ------------- 
  Closing shareholders' funds                  355,416        299,928        359,483 
------------------------------------  ----------------  -------------  ------------- 
 

Notes (unaudited)

1. The unaudited quarterly results have been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies set out in the statutory accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 December 2020. Earnings for the three months to 31 March 2021 should not be taken as a guide to the results for the year to 31 December 2021.

   2.     Investment management fee: 
 
                                  Three months ended               Three months ended           Year ended 31 December 
                                       31 March 2021                    31 March 2020                             2020 
                                         (unaudited)                      (unaudited)                        (audited) 
                       Revenue    Capital      Total    Revenue    Capital      Total    Revenue    Capital      Total 
                       GBP'000    GBP'000    GBP'000    GBP'000    GBP'000    GBP'000    GBP'000    GBP'000    GBP'000 
-------------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
 
 Investment 
  management 
  fee - basic fee           84        757        841         72        649        721        294      2,650      2,944 
 Investment 
  management 
  fee - performance 
  fee                        -          -          -          -          -          -          -      3,007      3,007 
-------------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
 
                            84        757        841         72        649        721        294      5,657      5,951 
-------------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
 
 
   3.     Finance costs: 
 
                                 Three months ended               Three months ended           Year ended 31 December 
                                      31 March 2021                    31 March 2020                             2020 
                                        (unaudited)                      (unaudited)                        (audited) 
                      Revenue    Capital      Total    Revenue    Capital      Total    Revenue    Capital      Total 
                      GBP'000    GBP'000    GBP'000    GBP'000    GBP'000    GBP'000    GBP'000    GBP'000    GBP'000 
------------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
 
 Interest payable 
  on bank loans            61        551        612         64        578        642        260      2,337      2,597 
 
 
   4.     Returns and net asset values 
 
                                      Three months ended       Three months                   Year ended 31 
                                           31 March 2021     ended 31 March                   December 2020 
                                                                       2020 
                                             (unaudited)        (unaudited)                       (audited) 
 The returns and net asset 
  values per share are based 
  on the following figures: 
 Revenue Return                               GBP160,000       (GBP175,000)                    GBP3,490,000 
 Capital Return                           (GBP1,277,000)     (GBP1,312,000)                   GBP63,377,000 
 Net assets attributable                  GBP355,416,000     GBP299,928,000                  GBP359,483,000 
  to shareholders 
 Number of shares in issue 
  at the period end                           73,941,429         73,941,429                      73,941,429 
 Weighted average number 
  of shares in issue during 
  the period                                  73,941,429         73,941,429                      73,941,429 
 

5. The financial information for the three months ended 31 March 2021, which has not been audited or reviewed by the Company's auditor, comprises non-statutory accounts within the meaning of Section 434 of the Companies Act 2006. Statutory accounts for the year ended 31 December 2020, on which the auditor issued an unqualified report, will be lodged shortly with the Registrar of Companies. The quarterly report will be available shortly on the Company's website www.bmoprivateequitytrust.com

Legal Entity Identifier: 2138009FW98WZFCGRN66

For more information, please contact:

 
 Hamish Mair (Investment Manager)       0131 718 1184 
 Scott McEllen (Company Secretary)      0131 718 1137 
 hamish.mair@bmogam.com / scott.mcellen@bmogam.com 
 
 

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END

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