Successful pricing of Manx Telecom plc IPO

RNS Number : 2998Z

HgCapital Trust PLC

05 February 2014

 



5 February 2014

HgCapital, the Manager of HgCapital Trust plc ("The Trust"), has announced the successful pricing of the initial public offering (IPO) of Manx Telecom plc ("Manx"), a leading UK communication solutions provider based on the Isle of Man, and its forthcoming listing on London's Alternative Investment Market (AIM). This realisation represents an investment multiple of approximately 2.1x original cost and a gross IRR of c. 26% p.a. over the investment period for HgCapital's clients.

HgCapital Trust plc, the listed investment trust which participates in all HgCapital's investments alongside its institutional clients, will realise cash proceeds of approximately £13.1 million on completion. This represents an uplift of £5.7 million over the carrying value of £7.4 million as last reported in the Net Asset Value ("NAV") of the Trust at 30 November 2013, which was based on the Directors' valuation as at 30 June 2013.

Based on the 30 November 2013 reported NAV (and after adjusting for the impact of all reported transactions since 30th November) the NAV of the Trust is expected to increase to £432.4 million or 1,158.5 pence per share. The Trust's liquid resources available for future deployment are estimated to be £88 million (20% of the 30 November 2013 adjusted NAV).

HgCapital announces the successful pricing of the initial public offering of Manx Telecom

HgCapital today announces the successful pricing of the initial public offering (IPO) of Manx Telecom plc, a leading UK telecommunications operator based on the Isle of Man. The Admission Document in respect of Manx Telecom'slisting on London's Alternative Investment Market (AIM) will be published later today and completion of the listing is expected to occur on 10 February 2014. Manx Telecom's shares will be sold at a price of 142 pence per share as part of the IPO, which is fully underwritten, representing a market capitalisation of c. £160 million.

HgCapital has agreed to sell its entire shareholding in Manx Telecom as part of this process. This realisation represents an overall investment multiple of 2.1 times original cost and a gross IRR of 26% for HgCapital clients.

Manx Telecom will continue to be led by its current management team. Employing more than 280 people, Manx Telecom offers a wide range of fixed line, broadband, mobile and data services to consumers and businesses on the Isle of Man. The business has a track record of innovation and was the first company in Europe to launch a live 3G service. Manx Telecom continues to support the Isle of Man Government's e-business strategy of developing a world-class telecommunications infrastructure to attract future investment to the island.  As part of this commitment the business will be rolling out 4G mobile services in 2014.

HgCapital, along with CPS Partners and management, acquired Manx Telecom from Telefonica in the summer of 2010. In their three and a half year ownership of Manx Telecom there has been a significant transformation of the business.   After initially building an experienced management team, subsequent initiatives led by HgCapital, working closely with CPS Partners, have included driving accelerated revenue growth through a focus on offering high quality, attractively priced packages to customers, alongside a clear emphasis on improving cost control processes within the business.  These changes have helped to deliver improving profit growth, in-line with HgCapital's original investment hypothesis.  Manx Telecom has also remained highly cash generative throughout HgCapital's ownership, facilitating a recapitalisation of the business in March 2013.  The business has delivered strong growth under HgCapital's ownership and for the six-month period ended 30 June 2013, Manx Telecom grew revenue by 4.5% on H1 2012, generating operating profit growth of 8.2%.

Manx Telecom represents the fifth realisation from the 2009 vintage HgCapital 6 Fund; and is the fourth exit by the same Fund over the last 12 months.  Following this realisation, HgCapital 6 will have returned c. 45% of all invested capital back to clients.  In aggregate, the Fund's five realisations to date have delivered an overall investment multiple of 2.6x original cost whilst generating a gross IRR of 40%. 

Nic Humphries, Managing Partner of HgCapital and Head of TMT, said:

"We are delighted to have helped facilitate Manx Telecom's transition to the public market.  We believe Manx is well suited to thrive as a public company, especially after the changes we have made to drive performance and improve efficiency, as well as capitalise on the growth opportunities available to it in particular in the provision of high end data centres.  We wish the Manx management team every success as the company enters the next phase of its development."

Edward Wielechowski, Associate Director in HgCapital's TMT team added:

"We are very pleased with the strong performance of Manx Telecom during its partnership with HgCapital. The business has delivered against our investment thesis; continuing investment in the high quality, cash generative on-island businesses, whilst supporting acceleration in the data centre and off-island businesses. The management team built up over the last few years has been crucial for delivery of this strong performance and the business is well placed for the next phase of its growth; we wish them well in this."

Simon Cunningham, Partner at CPS Partners, said:

"We are delighted with the way that Manx Telecom has developed and grown its business over the past three and half years. We feel pleased to have worked closely with HgCapital and wish management every success in the future."

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For further details:

HgCapital

Stephen Bough                [phone]

Maitland

Peter Ogden                  [phone]

Seda Ambartsumian        [phone]

About HgCapital Trust plc

HgCapital Trust plc is an investment trust whose shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange (ticker: HGT.L). The Trust is a client of HgCapital, giving investors exposure to a portfolio of high-growth private companies, through a liquid vehicle. New investments and existing portfolio companies are managed by HgCapital, an experienced and well-resourced private equity firm with a long-term track record of delivering superior risk-adjusted returns for its investors. For further details, please see www.hgcapitaltrust.com.

Neither the contents of HgCapital's, HgCapital Trust's nor Manx Telecom's websites nor the contents of any website accessible from hyperlinks on the websites (or any other website) is incorporated into, or forms part of, this announcement.

 

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