Interim Management Statement

RNS Number : 8474X

Electra Private Equity PLC

14 February 2013

 



EMBARGOED UNTIL 07:00AM, THURSDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2013

ELECTRA PRIVATE EQUITY PLC

Interim Management Statement for the three month period to 31 December 2012

The information contained in this announcement is restricted and is not for release, publication or distribution, directly or indirectly, nor does it constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia or New Zealand.

References in this announcement to Electra Private Equity PLC and its subsidiaries have been abbreviated to 'Electra' or the 'Company'. References to Electra Partners LLP and EQM Capital LLP (manager of Electra's money market investments) have been abbreviated to 'Electra Partners' or 'the Manager'.

Highlights

·      Unaudited diluted NAV per share as at 31 December 2012 of 2,468p (2,473p at 30 September 2012)

·      Share price up 35.7% over the year to 31 December 2012 against an 8.2% increase for the FTSE All-Share Index

·      Share price up 22.6% in the period from 30 September 2012 to 12 February 2013 against a 11.1% increase for the FTSE All-Share Index

·      Outstanding commitments of £101 million, inclusive of commitment to EP I Secondary Portfolios

·      Additional commitment (subject to regulatory clearance) on 5 February 2013 to invest £114 million to acquire a portfolio of UBM Plc's Data Services businesses

·      The top 10 and 20 investments accounted for 59% and 75% respectively of the investment portfolio

Collette Bowe, Chairman of Electra Private Equity, said:

"The period since 30 September 2012 has been active for new investment and Electra Partners has invested and committed to invest nearly £200 million on behalf of Electra. Improved sentiment towards the listed private equity sector coupled with portfolio activity by the Manager has resulted in a strong increase in Electra's share price."

Hugh Mumford, Managing Partner of Electra Partners, said:

"The last four months have been busy, with the negotiation of the UBM transaction which, subject to regulatory clearance, should result in an investment for Electra of £114 million. Additionally we have purchased five secondary private equity portfolios for £55 million. Electra Partners remains well positioned to take advantage of current market conditions. As it continues to seek investments, Electra Partners is committed to ensuring that all new acquisitions provide attractive returns for Electra and appropriately reflect the uncertainties ahead."

For further information

For Colette Bowe/Hugh Mumford

Nick Woods/Charlotte McMullen, M Communications                                                                              020 7920 2330

Andrew Kenny/Nick Board, Investor Relations, Electra Partners LLP                                                   020 7214 3902

1 Unaudited Net Asset Value

As is usual for the calculation of Electra's net asset value for the purposes of Interim Management Statements, the investment portfolio (apart from listed investments) has not been revalued at 31 December 2012 although it does reflect purchases and sales of investments, currency movements and bid values in respect of listed investments at that date. The impact of these changes resulted in a diluted net asset value decrease of 0.2% since 30 September 2012.

	31 December 2012 p	30 September 2012 p	Movement %
NAV per share (diluted)	2,468	2,473	(0.2)

2 Share Price Performance

Over the year to 31 December 2012, Electra's share price increased by 35.7% while the FTSE All-Share Index increased by 8.2%. In the period from 30 September 2012 to 12 February 2013 the share price was up 22.6% against a 11.1% increase for the FTSE All-Share Index.

3 Resources and Commitments

	31 December 2012 £m	30 September 2012 £m
Liquid resources	318	377
Bank borrowings (facility committed until 2016)	(156)	(154)
ZDP shares (repayable 2016)	(57)	(57)
Convertible Bond (repayable in 2017 if not previously converted)	(100)	(100)
Net Cash	5	66

On 5 February 2013 it was announced that Electra had committed (subject to regulatory clearance) to invest £114 million to acquire a portfolio of UBM Plc's Data Services businesses. This is in addition to outstanding commitments to invest in funds and secondaries of £101 million at 31 December 2012.

4 Investment Portfolio

	* 31 December 2012 £m	30 September 2012 £m
Direct unlisted	621	612
Secondaries	89	34
Funds	106	117
Listed	98	105
Investment portfolio	914	868

*Valued on the basis of Section 1 (Unaudited Net Asset Value) as set out above

In the three months to 31 December 2012, currency movements increased the valuation of the portfolio by £2.8 million. In the same period there was an unrealised currency loss of £2 million in respect of hedging arrangements utilising drawings under Electra's multi-currency loan facility.

5 Investments and Realisations

Electra invested a total of £69 million in the three months to 31 December 2012. The largest investment in the period was a £55 million investment in the EP I Secondary Portfolios. Realisations over the same period totalled £21 million.

6 Key Investments

Top 10 Direct Unlisted and Secondary Investments*

Company	Fair value of holding at 30 Sept 2012 £'000	Net payments/ (receipts) £'000	Net performance in period £'000	** Fair value of holding at 31 Dec 2012 £'000	Cost of holding at 31 Dec 2012 £'000
Allflex Holdings	154,143	‒	(457)	153,686	49,269
Park Resorts	69,788	(880)	‒	68,908	68,997
esure	58,945	‒	‒	58,945	20,823
EP I Secondary Portfolios	‒	55,498	‒	55,498	55,498
Lil-lets Group	36,265	4,950	‒	41,215	28,144
Promontoria	33,599	‒	758	34,357	14,082
Peverel Group	33,164	‒	‒	33,164	21,972
Nuaire	31,960	‒	‒	31,960	23,138
BDR Thermea	28,900	‒	676	29,576	15,952
Davies Group	23,855	‒	‒	23,855	35,789
	470,619	59,568	977	531,164	333,664

Key Direct Listed Investments*

Company	Fair value of holding at 30 Sept 2012 £'000	Net payments/ (receipts) £'000	Net performance in period £'000	** Fair value of holding at 31 Dec 2012 £'000	Cost of holding at 31 Dec 2012 £'000
Zensar Technologies	34,413	‒	(1,329)	33,084	4,211
London & Stamford Property	34,125	(1,040)	(1,068)	32,017	30,195
	68,538	(1,040)	(2,397)	65,101	34,406

* Excludes liquidity funds

** Valued on the basis of Section 1 (Unaudited Net Asset Value) as set out above

Disclaimer

This statement aims to give an indication of material events and transactions that have taken place during the period from 1 October 2012 to the date of publication of this statement and their impact on the financial position of Electra Private Equity PLC. These indications reflect the Board's current view. They are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties and could change. Factors which could contribute to such difficulties include, but are not limited to, general economic and market conditions and specific factors affecting the financial prospects or performance of individual investments within Electra's portfolio.

No information contained in this announcement shall form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with any offer or commitment whatsoever in any jurisdiction.

The announcement is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy any securities of Electra Private Equity PLC (the "Company" and any securities, the "Securities") in the United States or any other jurisdiction. The Company is not registered under the U.S. Investment Company Act, as amended (the "Investment Company Act"), and holders of any Securities will not be entitled to the benefits of the Investment Company Act. These securities have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and may not be reoffered, resold or transferred in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of U.S. persons (as such term is defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act) unless registered under the Securities Act or an exemption from such registration is available. Copies of this announcement are not being, and should not be distributed or sent into the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia or New Zealand. No public offering of Securities is being made in the United States. If for any reason in the future an offering of the Securities is made, such offering will be made by means of a prospectus that may be obtained from the Company and will contain all relevant information about the Company, its management and its financial statements.

 

END

 

 

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