Pre close briefings

3i Group PLC
25 March 2004

3i Group plc - Pre close briefings 25 March 2004


3i Group plc ('3i'), Europe's leading venture capital company, will today start
its pre close period analyst briefings ahead of the announcement of its
preliminary results on 13 May 2004.


The results for the year will be based on the normal detailed valuation exercise
carried out at 31 March 2004.


The main topics that will be discussed during the briefings are:


1    Investment

     Investment, including co-investment funds to 29 February 2004, totalled
     £794m.  This eleven month performance compares with £273m for the first 
     six months.

2    Realisations

     Realisation proceeds were £807m in the 11 months to 29 February 2004.
     This compares with £503m for the six months to 30 September 2003.

3    Unquoted portfolio

     The latest Enterprise Barometer survey of the 3i portfolio was
     published in February 2004.  It suggests that business confidence has 
     continued to improve across Europe with the third quarterly improvement 
     and the highest level of confidence reported since November 2000.  
     The majority of 3i's unquoted portfolio continues to perform satisfactorily.

     We expect that the level of provisions for investments that may fail
     and down rounds for the year to 31 March 2004 will be substantially lower 
     than the same period last year.

4    Unquoted fund management activity

     The final closing of 3i's latest pan European mid-market buy-out fund
     will take place at the end of June 2004.  This will provide funding of up 
     to €3bn for mid-market buy-outs over the next three years and we expect 
     that at least €0.8bn will be committed by external investors.

5    Strategy

3i's key strategies are to:

•   Build strong businesses in each of the major venture capital markets

•   Achieve a balanced business by product, by industry sector and by geographic
    region

•   Invest in companies that have the potential to grow their revenues and 
    profits

•   Use our international network to provide real competitive advantage for 3i
    and our investee companies


Ends

For information please contact:

Michael Queen - Finance Director, 3i Group plc - 020 7975 3386
Patrick Dunne - Group Communications Director, 3i - 020 7975 3566
Philip Gawith - The Maitland Consultancy - 020 7379 5151



                      This information is provided by RNS
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