Pre-close period briefing

3i Group PLC
29 March 2007



29 March 2007




3i Group plc - Pre-close period briefing




Highlights



•         New investment up 35% over same period last year



•         Intended further return of £800 million to shareholders, reflecting
the continued strong level of realisations



Philip Yea, 3i's Chief Executive, said:


'3i has been able to grow investment levels significantly over the eleven months
as well as make excellent realisations in buoyant markets.  Our announcement
concerning a further return of capital reflects the continued delivery of strong
realised returns whilst still allowing for planned growth in the future.'



3i Group plc ('3i'), a world leader in private equity and venture capital, will
be briefing analysts and investors ahead of its close period for the year to 31
March 2007.


The main topics that will be discussed with analysts and investors are set out
below.



1        Investment and realisations



3i invested a total of £1,598 million in the eleven months ended 28 February
2007, compared with £1,184 million in the equivalent period last year.  This
includes £250 million (2006: £186 million) invested on behalf of co-investment
funds managed by 3i.



Realisation proceeds received by 3i (excluding co-investment funds) totalled
£1,948 million in the eleven months ended 28 February, which compares with
realisation proceeds of £1,815 million in the equivalent period last year.



The realisation proceeds to the end of February do not include £267 million
subsequently received from the recent National Car Parks transaction.



2        Returns



Realisations for the eleven month period have generated aggregate uplifts over
31 March 2006 carrying values ahead of the uplift percentage generated during
last year, reflecting the continued good markets for the sale of assets.



Consequently, realised profits (net of write-offs) on the disposal of
investments for the eleven month period to 28 February are ahead of prior year
levels.



An important element in the determination of 3i's results for the year to 31
March 2007 will be the detailed valuation exercise carried out on its investment
portfolio as at that date.



3        Return of capital



The Board is currently intending to make a further return of cash to
shareholders of £800 million.  The current intention of the Board is to repeat
the method adopted last year of a bonus issue of preference shares and
subsequent purchase offers.  The Board expects to follow a similar timetable
with proposals considered by shareholders at an EGM at the time of our AGM,
currently scheduled for 11 July 2007.  The Board will make a further
announcement in this regard at the time of the preliminary announcement of the
Company's annual results on 10 May 2007.



Since the announcement of its interim results on 9 November 2006, 3i Group plc
has purchased for cancellation 7,430,000 of its ordinary shares for £73,540,060
(excluding stamp duty and brokers' commissions), representing an average price
of 989.77 pence per share.



4        3i Infrastructure Limited



On 8 March 2007 3i Infrastructure Limited announced that it had raised £700
million through an initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange.  As
part of this process, 3i Group plc subscribed for 325 million £1 ordinary shares
in the company.  3i Infrastructure Limited has an independent board of
non-executive directors, chaired by Peter Sedgwick.  3i Investments plc, a
subsidiary of 3i Group plc, acts as investment adviser to the company through
its infrastructure investment team.



3i expects to announce its results for the year ending 31 March 2007 on 10 May
2007.



Ends



For information please contact:


Simon Ball              Finance Director, 3i Group plc                           020 7975 3356
Patrick Dunne           Group Communications Director, 3i Group plc              020 7975 3283
Philip Gawith           The Maitland Consultancy                                 020 7379 5151



This statement gives some indication of 3i's expected return (and of key
components of that return) for the twelve months to 31 March 2007.  These
indications reflect the Board's current view.  They are subject to a number of
risks and uncertainties and could change.  The final results for the twelve
months to 31 March 2007, due to be reported on 10 May 2007, may differ
accordingly.  Factors which could cause or contribute to such differences
include, but are not limited to, general economic and market conditions and
specific factors affecting the financial prospects or performance of individual
investments within 3i's portfolio.


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange