26 Jan 2017
Q3 Performance update
- Financial
A robust performance from our portfolio companies and continued investment momentum
- NAV per share of 558 pence and total return of 24.1% at 31 December 2016
- Cash realisations of £917 million in the nine months to 31 December 2016 from our Private Equity business
- Continued momentum in investment activity taking year to date Private Equity cash investment to £356 million
- Infrastructure announced the launch of a new £700 million fund, managed by 3i, to acquire a portfolio of European infrastructure assets
Simon Borrows, Chief Executive, commented:
"Q3 was an active quarter for our investment teams. We announced two significant Private Equity investments as well as the launch of a new fund managing a portfolio of infrastructure assets. Realisation activity continues apace and we received proceeds from Action''s recent refinancing and our shareholdings in Loxam and Go Outdoors.
Overall our portfolio remains well positioned, with our key assets continuing to deliver consistently robust performance. 3i is set for a strong close to the current financial year."
Private Equity
Portfolio performance
The Private Equity portfolio continued to perform well in the quarter. In particular, Action delivered another excellent performance. Its rapid store expansion programme, strong earnings, like-for-like sales growth and cash generation allowed it to secure a €1.675 billion refinancing. As a result, 3i received £187 million of proceeds.
There was a mixed performance from other retailers in our portfolio with Hobbs trading well through Christmas but Agent Provocateur and our German investment, Christ, experienced more subdued December trading.
We continue to see good earnings growth across the portfolio more generally, with assets such as ATESTEO, Aspen Pumps and Euro-Diesel performing well and strong cash flow generation from Scandlines.
Private Equity investments
In December 2016, we made a £62 million further investment in Q Holding to support its transformative acquisition of Degania Silicone Ltd ("Degania") to create one of the largest medical silicone and systems manufacturers globally. Our £122 million investment in Ponroy Santé, a manufacturer of natural healthcare and cosmetics products, completed on 24 January 2017.
Private Equity realisations
We generated total cash proceeds in the quarter to 31 December 2016 of £263 million, taking total cash proceeds received in the nine months to 31 December 2016 to £917 million. In addition, we announced the disposal of Lekolar in January 2017 for proceeds of c.£33 million.
|
Realisation proceeds
£m |
|
|---|---|
| Full realisations | |
| Go Outdoors |
21
|
| Loxam |
40
|
| Other |
4
|
| Partial realisations | |
| Refresco |
11
|
| Refinancings | |
| Action |
187
|
| Total Q3 2017 cash proceeds |
263
|
| H1 2017 cash proceeds |
654
|
| Total cash proceeds as at 31 December 2016 |
917
|
In October 2016, we announced an implementation agreement to sell ACR to two Shenzhen-government sponsored investment companies. The transaction is subject to a number of regulatory approvals including the National Development and Reform Commission ("NDRC") authorisation to remit renminbi outside of China. The recent tightening of NDRC policy means that inevitably the approval process will take longer than previously anticipated. As a result, we have not valued the investment on an imminent sales basis at 31 December 2016.
Top 10 investments by value at 31 December 2016
Valuation basis |
Valuation currency |
Valuation Sep-16 £m |
Valuation Dec-16 £m |
Activity in the quarter |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Action | Earnings | EUR | 1,549 | 1,369 | Refinancing returned £187m of proceeds to 3i |
| 3i Infrastructure plc | Quoted | GBP | 673 | 648 | |
| Scandlines | DCF | EUR | 434 | 443 | |
| Q Holding | Earnings | USD | 134 | 209 | Further investment of £62m to support Q Holding''s acquisition of Degania in December 2016 |
| Weener Plastic | Earnings | EUR | 187 | 189 | |
| Basic-Fit | Quoted | EUR | 195 | 182 | |
| Audley Travel | Earnings | GBP | 162 | 168 | |
| Schlemmer | Earnings | EUR | 157 | 156 | |
| BoConcept | Earnings | DKK | 133 | 138 | |
| ATESTEO | Earnings | EUR | 115 | 136 |
The top 10 investments in this table comprise 74% (30 September 2016: 74%) of the total Proprietary Capital portfolio by value. This table does not include ACR, which has been excluded for commercial reasons.
Total return and NAV position
The foreign exchange impact was flat in the quarter despite intra-period volatility. Based on the balance sheet at 31 December 2016, a 1% movement in the euro and US dollar would result in a total return movement of £28 million and £8 million respectively.
Altogether the diluted NAV per share increased to 558 pence (30 September 2016: 551 pence) and 550 pence ex-dividend.
Balance sheet and dividend
The Group''s balance sheet remains well funded. Net cash increased to £348 million, following good levels of realised proceeds in the quarter. Liquidity remained strong at £1,517 million. The 8 pence FY2017 interim dividend (£77 million) was paid on 4 January 2017 and our €310 million bond, due in March 2017, will be repaid out of cash resources.
-ENDS-
For further information, please contact:
Silvia Santoro
Investor Relations Director
Tel: 020 7975 3258
Kathryn van der Kroft
Communications Director
Tel: 020 7975 3021
