NB Private Equity Partners

If NBPE’s portfolio companies prove resilient, the 35% discount may offer value…

NB Private Equity Partners - Key takeaways from the CMD 2022

During NB Private Equity Partners’ (NBPE) capital markets day (CMD) on 5 October 2022, its management team highlighted that, despite the recent tough macro conditions, NBPE’s track record remains strong, as its direct co-investments delivered a gross IRR and multiple of invested capital (MOIC) at 18.5% pa and 2.6x over the five years to end-August 2022, respectively. With a sustained strong deal flow generated by the Neuberger Berman (NB) Private Markets platform (in which NBPE can invest on a c

NB Private Equity Partners - Track record yet to be fully rewarded

NB Private Equity Partners’ (NBPE) latest NAV (as at end-July 2022) reflects an update on most private valuations from end-March to end-June 2022, which led to a very limited 2% fall in NBPE’s private portfolio fair value. This impressive resilience allowed NBPE to deliver a strong three- and five-year NAV TR to end-July 2022 of 18.6% and 15.3%, respectively (c 2x the return of MSCI World Index), led by co-investments. Despite its strong track record, NBPE’s shares still trade at a c 31% discoun

Spread ‘em!

We explore how much dispersion in returns of stocks drive the differing fortunes of trusts

Getting in on the act: private markets

Private markets could be the next big opportunity for investors

NB Private Equity Partners

NBPE has had an exceptional 2021, but prospects remain bright

Bargain hunt

We survey the discount opportunities in the market and update on the performance of our Discounted Opportunities Portfolio

NB Private Equity Partners - Strong NAV contribution from exits

NB Private Equity Partners (NBPE) continues its strong performance driven by exits and valuation uplifts in existing portfolio holdings. In the 12 months ending October 2021, it delivered a NAV total return of 57.8% in US dollar terms, with 5.4pp from the recent IPO of the warehouse automation business AutoStore. The performance was also supported by growth in the remaining portfolio companies. The realisations have left NBPE with increased dry powder, while the investment level remained within

How Do You Like Them Apples

Very few investors need to be reminded that the US market has hugely outperformed the rest of the world in the historic bull market following the Great Financial Crisis. Unfortunately, the discretionary fund managers that manage the portfolios of British retail investors need reminding even less, having been as a group systematically underweight in the US in their equity allocations. In the below chart, we have plotted the average US weighting in the equity portion of UK multi-asset funds in the

Even better than the real thing

Private equity investing has been around for many decades. However private equity is making the headlines like never before. The recent bidding war for Wm Morrisons is a case in point although, over the last decade or so, private equity has been steadily increasing as a share of global M&A transactions as the graph below shows.

Bargains galore

We last updated our discounted opportunities portfolio in July. Since then markets have been grinding higher but discounts have not moved – and perhaps slightly widened. We think readers will largely agree that it is hard to have conviction about the direction of markets and leadership at the moment, which may explain the static picture regarding discounts. At a directional level, the easy gains in the recovery have been made, and government support schemes have still to be wound down, creating

60/40 and other dinosaurs

Over the decades, investors’ ideas about how to build the perfect investment portfolio have evolved. Large independent pension fund investors have typically led the way, with consultants and smaller pension funds following, and then discretionary private client wealth managers followed by individual retail investors echoing trends as they trickle down. Markowitz is identified as the architect of modern portfolio theory and, to an extent, over time investors have been working with and adapting t

Grade inflation

Markets had a great first half to 2021 following on from what was a strong 2020, just as we all would have expected during a pandemic, no doubt! Our discounted opportunities portfolio has performed respectably in the six months to the end of June. We had one great success, with a trust leaving the list after a barnstorming rally, but overall results from a NAV and discount perspective were mixed, as we discuss below. Overall share price ratings are now high in the investment trust space, with de

NB Private Equity Partners - Direct co-investments the key return driver

NB Private Equity Partners (NBPE) delivered a 12-month NAV total return to end-May 2021 of 52.3% in US$ terms, strongly supported by its exit activity. This includes 10 deals announced in 2021 with an estimated uplift of US$160m (15% of end-2020 NAV), most of which is reflected in the current NAV. NBPE received c US$139m from all its realisations in 2021 until 15 June and expects a further c US$116m once all the above deals have closed. The remaining portfolio also performed well, benefiting fro

Stable 4Q22

Top Picks for 2023 - 2022 review and outlook for 2023

On 10 January last year, we set out our ten top stock picks for 2022, in what turned out to be a very poor twelve months for global equities, due to war, accelerating inflation, political instability and recession fears. Between 7 January 2022 and 31 December 2022, the AIM All-Share Index declined 30.0%, whilst the average performance of our ten top picks was -24.7%, a modest relative outperformance. In this note we discuss the performance of our 2022 top picks, equities trends in 2022, and our

QuotedData’s Real Estate Monthly Roundup – January 2023

Performance - 2022 ended with another difficult month for property companies as the sector continues to get to grips with the impact of higher interest rates. There were several funds that performed well during December, however, with secondary shopping centre landlord Capital & Regional top of the pile. For a second month on the trot Home REIT saw its share price tank after it came under attack from a short seller in November. Valuation moves - It was a mixed bag for valuations, with six-month

Sustained execution drives value opportunity

Urban Logistics REIT (ULR) has deployed a further £48m selectively into attractively priced assets (~6% NIY) with strong covenants and rent reversion opportunities. Further asset management efforts enhanced passing rents and WAULTs. Development activity has also bolstered the rental base. MSCI has made a material upward rerating (A from CCC) on enhanced disclosure. We make no changes to forecasts. We continue to see attractive value here with the shares trading on a 30% discount to EPRA NAV with

FY22 TU – Strong Upgrades on Better Performance

Argentex has issued a trading update for the 9M22 period this morning, with revenue and earnings performance ahead of expectations. FY22 revenues are up 54% yoy to £50.4m (+7.5% vs. SCM estimates) and operating margins are ahead of management expectations. This was driven by growth in the number of corporate clients as well as good progress across its growth strategy, with robust trading across all products and geographies. Another strong update from Argentex, as the Group continues to deliver o

Cenkos; Marlowe Plc -- Building the software offering

Marlowe hosted a well-attended CMD last week in which it provided a deep dive into its burgeoning software business, which from a standing start in 2018, has grown to represent c25% of group Adj EBITDA today, driven by a combination of targeted acquisitions and strong organic growth (mid-high teens in FY22A). Multiple macro drivers underpin growth in the global GRC market, which is expanding at a c8% CAGR. With the share price having nearly halved over the past 12-months, Marlowe now trades mate

FLASH: Strong realisation proving the model

Hybridan Small Cap Feast - 17 Jan 23

17 January 2023 @HybridanLLP Status of this Note and Disclaimer This document has been issued to you by Hybridan LLP for information purposes only and should not be construed in any circumstances as an offer to sell or solicitation of any offer to buy any security or other financial instrument, nor shall it, or the fact of its distribution, form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any contract relating to such action. This document has no regard for the specific investment object

Hybridan Small Cap Feast - 23 Jan 23

23 January 2023 @HybridanLLP Status of this Note and Disclaimer This document has been issued to you by Hybridan LLP for information purposes only and should not be construed in any circumstances as an offer to sell or solicitation of any offer to buy any security or other financial instrument, nor shall it, or the fact of its distribution, form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any contract relating to such action. This document has no regard for the specific investment object

LIBERUM: NewRiver* - Trading update shows continued resilience of business model

Hybridan Small Cap Feast - 19 Jan 23

19 January 2023 @HybridanLLP Status of this Note and Disclaimer This document has been issued to you by Hybridan LLP for information purposes only and should not be construed in any circumstances as an offer to sell or solicitation of any offer to buy any security or other financial instrument, nor shall it, or the fact of its distribution, form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any contract relating to such action. This document has no regard for the specific investment object

Hybridan Small Cap Feast - 26 Jan 23

26 January 2023 @HybridanLLP Status of this Note and Disclaimer This document has been issued to you by Hybridan LLP for information purposes only and should not be construed in any circumstances as an offer to sell or solicitation of any offer to buy any security or other financial instrument, nor shall it, or the fact of its distribution, form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any contract relating to such action. This document has no regard for the specific investment object

Subdued sales backdrop weighs on FY23 outlook

Foxtons year end update follows recent commentary from peers in highlighting the impact of market volatility on house buyer confidence. Whilst the conclusion to FY22 is strong and ahead of expectations (revenue +11% to c.£140m vs. our forecast of £135m), investors are likely to focus on a more subdued current year outlook. Management expects a challenging H123, expecting a significant reduction in sales volumes and, to a lesser extent, sales prices. There are however some tentatively positive si

WHI Support Services Sector Comment: Challenges and opportunities

Bleak expectations for the UK economy in 2023 anticipate underperformance against other G7 countries based on factors such as (a) the UK's higher than average mortgage rate sensitivity and (b) relative exposure to high gas and energy prices. Some measure of political / economic stability has returned, though this arguably remains a brittle quality, given the scope for dissent within the Conservative party and the unpredictable impacts of industrial action, among a range of factors. All of this s

Hybridan Small Cap Feast - 18 Jan 23

18 January 2023 @HybridanLLP Status of this Note and Disclaimer This document has been issued to you by Hybridan LLP for information purposes only and should not be construed in any circumstances as an offer to sell or solicitation of any offer to buy any security or other financial instrument, nor shall it, or the fact of its distribution, form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any contract relating to such action. This document has no regard for the specific investment object