ICGT, the 39-year listed private equity (PE) investor, has delivered a total NAV return of 178% over 10 years (comparable FTSE All Share return 61%). Since Intermediate Capital became the manager in 2016, ICGT has earned mid-teen p.a. underlying returns every year. This has been achieved by leveraging the attractive PE market with incremental manager synergies. It has a concentrated portfolio of “high-conviction” investments (19% p.a. average returns over five years, 42% of portfolio, defensive growth focus) and a diversified third-party PE funds book. ICGT manages over-commitment tightly. The 33% discount to NAV is above peers.
Value-added: ICGT invests in the attractive PE market, where operational improvements, well-funded strategic development, valuation opportunities and good corporate governance create superior returns. It adds value in its strategic focus, investment process, and fund manager relationships and selection.
Outperformance through COVID-19: In January to April, the portfolio return was -3.8% (-7% local currency). The high-conviction portfolio fell less than 3% (local currency). The third-party funds fell 10%. ICGT’s defensive growth investment strategy is very evident, as the falls were well below those of indices.
Valuation: The valuations are conservative (uplifts on realisations averaging 33% to latest book value over medium term). The ratings are undemanding and the carry value against cost modest. The discount to NAV is 33% (ca.3x recent levels), and is anomalous with defensive long-term market-beating returns.
Risks: PE is an above-average cost model, but post-expense returns are marketbeating. Even though actual experience has been continued NAV outperformance in economic downturns, sentiment is likely to be adverse. ICGT’s permanent capital structure is right for unquoted and illiquid assets.
Investment summary: ICGT has consistently generated superior returns, by adding value in an attractive market, having a defensive growth investment policy and exploiting synergies from being part of the ICG family. The valuations and governance appear conservative. It has an appropriate balance between risks and opportunities. The risks are primarily sentiment-driven on costs and cyclicality, as well as the underlying assets’ liquidity. It seems anomalous that a business with a consistent record of outperformance is trading at a 33% discount to NAV.
