Interim Management Statement

RNS Number : 6426I
3i Group PLC
27 July 2012
 



 

 

3i Group plc - Interim Management Statement

 

 

27 July 2012

 

3i Group plc ("3i"), an international investor in private equity, infrastructure and debt management, today issues its Interim Management Statement in accordance with FSA Disclosure and Transparency Rule 4.3. This statement relates to the three month period from 1 April 2012 to 30 June 2012 (the "period").

 

Simon Borrows, 3i's Chief Executive said:

"We are making good progress in implementing the strategic changes announced at the end of June to refocus our investment capabilities and reduce the Group's cost base."

 

Realisations

 

Realisations in the period were £119 million (2011: £337 million), generating net realised profits over 31 March 2012 value of £56 million (2011: £8 million) and a money multiple of 1.6x on a cash-to-cash basis. The most significant disposal related to EUSA Pharma, a legacy Venture Capital asset, which generated proceeds of £72 million and a profit of £42 million over 31 March 2012 value.

 

Realisation proceeds by business line were as follows:

 

Realisations £m

 

3 months ended

3 months ended

 

30 June

30 June

 

2012

2011

Private Equity

47

332

Infrastructure

-

-

Debt Management

-

-

Non-core activities

72

5

Total

119

337

 

The realisations in the period do not include proceeds in respect of the announced disposals of Hilite's SCR division (Private Equity, Germany) or the Group's holding in LNI (Infrastructure, Europe), which together are expected to generate further realisation proceeds of c.£70 million.

 

Investments

 

Cash investment from the Group's balance sheet was £65 million in the period.
This primarily relates to the completion of the acquisition of GEKA (Private Equity,

Germany) announced in February, which is the last new investment in Eurofund V.

 

Investments during the period by business line were as follows:

 

Investment £m

 

3 months ended

3 months ended

 

30 June

30 June

 

2012

2011

Private Equity

49

161

Infrastructure

5

33

Debt Management1

11

-

Non-core activities

-

-

Total cash investment

65

194

Non cash investment2

6

39

Total gross investment

71

233

 

1

Debt Management investment reflects net cash investment in the quarter into the Credit Opportunities fund.

2

Non-cash investment includes capitalised interest and other of £21million (2011: £39million) offset by unsettled trades on the Credit Opportunities fund of £(15)million (2011: £nil).

 

Investment in the period does not include the £28 million investment in Blue Interactive (Private Equity, Brazil), which was announced in December 2011 and completed in July 2012.

 

Balance sheet

 

Gross debt as at 30 June 2012 was reduced to £1,254 million (31 March 2012: £1,623 million), following the £223 million repayment of the remaining balance of the June 2012 Floating Rate Note, and early repayment of €150 million of a €300 million bond, which is due to mature in May 2013. The early partial repayment of the May 2013 bond means full year interest costs have been accelerated into this quarter. The benefit in reduced costs will be seen next financial year.

 

Net debt increased to £490 million (31 March 2012: £464 million), as net divestment was offset by operating and interest costs. Consequently, gearing also increased to 19% (31 March 2012: 18%).

 

Liquidity was £1.3 billion (31 March 2012: £1.7 billion), comprising £764 million cash and cash deposits and £491 million undrawn committed facilities.

 

Portfolio

 

The unaudited valuations as at 30 June 2012 of our Top 10 assets are shown in the table below and reflect 30 June 2012 exchange rates. These comprise 43% of the total portfolio.

 

Top 10 Investments by value at 30 June 2012

 


Investment




Valuation


Valuation




Valuation


March 2012


June 2012


Geography

Basis

£m

£m

3i Infrastructure plc

UK

Quoted

375

364

Peer Holdings BV (Action)

Benelux

Earnings

143

137

Eco US Holding Inc (HILITE)

Germany

Earnings

115

128

Mayborn Group

UK

Earnings

105

113

Foster + Partners

UK

Earnings

112

112

Mold-Masters Luxembourg Acquisition S.A.R.L.

Canada

Earnings

115

111

ACR Capital Holdings Pte Ltd

Singapore

Industry metric

118

110

Element Materials Technology

Benelux

Earnings

90

97

Quintiles Transnational Corporation

US

Earnings

86

91

Scandferries Holding GmbH (Scandlines)

Germany

DCF/Earnings

89

86

 

The earnings used to value the Private Equity portfolio grew by 1% in aggregate and included the use of forecast accounts for 16% of companies (31 March 2012: 8%). Companies valued using forecast earnings accounted for 9% of the Private Equity portfolio value at 30 June 2012.

 

Earnings growth was largely offset by a reduction of 1% in multiples, resulting in broadly flat unrealised profits in the period to 30 June 2012. No new provisions were made in the period.

 

Returns

 

Unaudited NAV as at 30 June 2012 was £2.75 per share (31 March 2012: £2.79).

 

Along with the realised and unrealised profits noted above, the calculation of NAV also includes provision of £15 million for implementation costs relating to the strategic review of the business announced on 29 June 2012, a non-cash negative movement of £26 million relating to foreign exchange as the Euro and Rupee both continue to weaken against Sterling and a non-cash negative movement of £14 million relating to IAS 19 losses on the Group's pension fund due to corporate bond rates falling in the period.

 

Debt Management

 

On the 31 May 2012, the Debt Management team announced an agreement to acquire CLO fund management contracts from Invesco, which is subject to consents. The acquisition would add c.€2.0 billion of AUM and additional fee income to the Group. 

 

AGM and Investor meeting

 

On 29 June 2012, the Company held its Annual General Meeting and an Investor meeting. At the AGM, a final dividend of 5.4p was declared, giving rise to a cash payment of £50 million in July 2012. At the Investor meeting, 3i's new Chief Executive, Simon Borrows, set out 3i's future strategy as it relates to its investment strategy, asset management, operating costs, balance sheet and shareholder returns. The presentation is available at 3iGroup.com.

 

Ends

 

 

For further information, please contact:

 

Julia Wilson
Group Finance Director

Tel 020 7975 3285

Kathryn van der Kroft
PR Director, 3i Group plc

Tel: 020 7975 3021

 

 

 


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