Last checked at 
2 Mar 2022 07:00
(LSE: APAX)
Apax Global Alpha Limited
Annual results for the period ended 31 December 2021
Key highlights
· Total NAV Return1 of 28.7% (22.8% constant currency), with continued good momentum across the portfolio.
· Total Adjusted NAV2 increased to c.€1.5bn (FY20: €1.2bn) with Adjusted NAV per share increasing to €3.02 (£2.54) from €2.45 (£2.19) in the year to 31 December 2021.
· Operating improvements, earnings growth, and a supportive valuation environment drove performance in the portfolio.
· Reflecting increased investment activity in Private Equity, AGA received distributions of €275m from Private Equity exits during the period, achieved at an average uplift of 50.2%3. This was balanced against €200m of calls for new investments.
· Capital not invested in Private Equity was deployed into Derived Debt, with returns in debt driving steady performance in the Derived Investments portfolio which achieved a 15.8% Total Return (9.3% constant currency).
· AGA had a healthy liquidity position with €108m of available cash at 31 December 2021. Derived Investments of €336m provide a further source of capital flexibility.
· Dividend of 12.33p per share declared for the full year 2021, in line with AGA's stated dividend policy of distributing 5% of NAV per annum.
Tim Breedon CBE, Chairman of Apax Global Alpha, said:
"Despite the emergence of new Covid-19 variants throughout the year, we saw strong economic recovery in 2021 and we expect this to continue, albeit with some inflationary pressures. In this environment, AGA's portfolio remained robust with strong NAV growth. In particular, the Private Equity portfolio was able to capitalise on the high valuation environment to exit companies that had completed their transformation journeys or re-rated to very high levels, particularly in technology. Looking ahead, AGA's portfolio remains well positioned to continue delivering attractive value and income to investors."
Commenting on the results, Ralf Gruss, COO of Apax, said:
"AGA recorded another strong year in 2021, delivering Total NAV Return of over 28% for investors. The portfolio is benefitting from a sector-led strategy and a focus on multiple levers of value creation and business transformation in Private Equity. Operating performance in the portfolio remains strong and there continues to be real momentum."
Financial highlights
· Adjusted NAV2 grew to €1.5bn, compared to €1.2bn at 31 December 2020.
· Invested Portfolio weighted towards Private Equity (75%) vs. Derived Investments (25%), and resilient sectors such as Tech and Digital (40%), Services (24%) and Healthcare (22%).
· AGA was 90% invested as at 31 December 2021 and had outstanding commitments to the Apax Funds (together with recallable distributions) of €385m.
· In addition to future Private Equity distributions, funding sources that can be accessed for Private Equity calls include Derived Investments of €336m and available cash of €108m as at 31 December 2021. This provides AGA with a healthy liquidity position to meet future calls from the Apax Funds.
· AGA also has an undrawn evergreen revolving credit facility4 of €140.0m.
FY 2021 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2020 | |
Adjusted NAV2 | EUR 1,482m | GBP 1,247m | EUR 1,201m | GBP 1,074m |
Adjusted NAV2 per share | EUR 3.02 | GBP 2.54 | EUR 2.45 | GBP 2.19 |
NAV2 per share | EUR 3.03 | GBP 2.55 | EUR 2.45 | GBP 2.19 |
Exposure | FY 2021 | FY 2021constant currency | |
Total NAV Return1 | 28.7% | 22.8% | |
Total Return1 - Private Equity | 68% | 41.0% | 34.6% |
Total Return1 - Derived Debt | 20% | 13.4% | 6.9% |
Total Return1 - Derived Equity | 2% | 37.5% | 30.2% |
Cash & Others | 10% |
Private Equity portfolio highlights
· The Private Equity portfolio performed strongly, delivering a Total Return of 41.0% (34.6% constant currency) in the year.
· Exit activity reflected Apax's investment strategy of "mining hidden gems" within sub-sectors of expertise, focusing on companies where a significant re-rating opportunity existed based on business quality improvement.
· Average uplift on exits of 50.2% compared to Unaffected Valuations3, reflecting the quality of the portfolio.
· Aggregate Gross IRR5 and Gross MOIC5 on Private Equity exits6 and IPOs in FY 2021 were 54.1% and 4.5x respectively.
· On a look-through basis, AGA invested c.€207.2m in 19 new investments that closed in the year, primarily in Tech & Digital and Services.
· Continued strong operating performance from portfolio companies: LTM Revenue and EBITDA growth of 20.2%7 and 35.3%7 respectively across the Private Equity portfolio.
· The Enterprise Value/EBITDA valuation multiple was broadly flat on the previous quarter at 23.2x7 at the end of December 2021, but higher than that of 31 December 2020 (16.9x). This increase over the year was primarily driven by a re-rating of public markets, particularly in tech.
· The share of publicly listed companies in the Private Equity portfolio increased to 25% in the year.
· AGA made a commitment of $90m to Apax Digital Fund II which closed at $1.9bn in the period.
Derived Investments portfolio highlights
· Steady performance in line with expectations across the portfolio with Derived Investments delivering a Total Return of 15.8% (9.3% constant currency) in the year to 31 December 2021, driven primarily by good performance in the Derived Debt portfolio and also benefitting from the appreciation of the US dollar against the Euro.
· Continued focus on investments in first and second lien loans in target sub-sectors in expectation of additional investments in the Private Equity portfolio in the next 12 months - €244m deployed across new debt positions in 2021. There were no new investments in Derived Equity.
· Reflecting the increased share of first lien loans in the portfolio, the average yield to maturity of the portfolio was 6.2% at 31 December 2021.
· Healthy credit portfolio with strong operating performance from underlying Derived Debt portfolio companies: 22.2% LTM EBITDA growth to 31 December 2021.
· Derived Debt delivered a Total Return of 13.4% (6.9% constant currency) and Derived Equity delivered a Total Return of 37.5% (30.2% constant currency) in the year.
For further information regarding the announcement of AGA's 2021 Annual Results, including the annual report and Company's results presentation and details for today's analyst and investor webcast at 9.30am (UK time), please visit www.apaxglobalalpha.com.
Contact details
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APPENDIX
Movements in NAV
Adjusted NAV movements (€m) | Private Equity | Derived Investments | Cash
| Treasury Shares | Facility drawn | Other8
| Total | ||
Adjusted NAV at 31.12.20 | 788.3 | 319.4 | 124.6 | - | - | (31.1) | 1,201.2 | ||
+ Investments | 199.9 | 243.5 | (474.3) | - | - | 30.9 | - | ||
- Distributions/ divestments | (275.1) | (263.7) | 505.6 | - | - | 33.2 | - | ||
+ Interest and dividend income | - | - | 26.5 | - | - | 0.7 | 27.2 | ||
+/- Gains/(losses) | 252.6 | 13.6 | - | - | - | - | 266.2 | ||
+/- FX gains/(losses)9 | 47.2 | 22.8 | 0.8 | - | - | - | 70.8 | ||
+/- Costs and other movements | - | - | (10.1) | - | - | (0.6) | (10.7) | ||
- Dividends paid | - | - | (64.6) | - | - | - | (64.6) | ||
+/- Performance fee reserve10 | - | (8.4) | - | - | - | - | (8.4) | ||
+/- Shares purchased | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
+/- Revolving credit facility drawn/repaid | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
Adjusted NAV at 31.12.21 | 1,012.9 | 327.2 | 108.5 | - | - | 33.1 | 1,481.7 | ||
Private Equity - operational metrics
Private Equity - operational metrics | 31 December 2021 | 31 December 2020 | ||
Portfolio year-over-year LTM revenue growth7 | 20.2% | 6.6% | ||
Portfolio year-over-year LTM EBITDA growth7 | 35.3% | 20.8% | ||
Enterprise Value / EBITDA valuation multiple7 | 23.2x | 16.9x | ||
Net debt / EBITDA multiple7 | 4.2x | 3.9x | ||
Derived Investments - operational metrics
Derived Investments - operational metrics | 31 December 2021 | 31 December 2020 | |
Debt year-over-year LTM EBITDA growth11 | 22.2% | 26.2% | |
Debt average income yield to maturity11 | 6.21% | 8.1% | |
Debt average years to maturity | 6.1 | 5.7 | |
Debt average income yield12 | 5.4% | 7.3% |
Other Invested Portfolio highlights
Invested Portfolio analysis13 | €m | €m | % | % |
- AMI | 28.7 | 2% | ||
- AEVI | 7.1 | 1% | ||
- AEVII | 24.7 | 1% | ||
- AVIII | 143.9 | 11% | ||
- AIX | 537.0 | 40% | ||
- ADF | 40.4 | 3% | ||
- ADF II | (1.1) | 0% | ||
- AX | 232.2 | 17% | ||
Private Equity | 1,012.9 | 75% | ||
- Derived Debt | 304.6 | 23% | ||
- Derived Equity | 30.9 | 2% | ||
Derived Investments | 335.6 | 25% | ||
Total | 1,349.6 | 100% |
Footnotes
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Notes
1. | Note that references in this announcement to Apax Global Alpha Limited have been abbreviated to "AGA" or "the Company". References to Apax Partners LLP have been abbreviated to "Apax" or "the Investment Adviser"
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2. | Please be advised that this announcement may contain inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) NO. 596/2014 ("MAR")
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3. | This announcement is not for release, publication or distribution, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, into or within the United States or to "US persons" (as defined in Regulation S under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act")) or into or within Australia, Canada, South Africa or Japan. Recipients of this announcement in jurisdictions outside the UK should inform themselves about and observe any applicable legal requirements in their jurisdictions. In particular, the distribution of the announcement may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions
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4. | The information presented herein is not an offer for sale within the United States of any equity shares or other securities of Apax Global Alpha Limited ("AGA"). AGA has not been and will not be registered under the US Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act"). In addition, AGA's shares (the "Shares") have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act or any other applicable law of the United States. Consequently, the Shares may not be offered or sold or otherwise transferred within the United States, or to, or for the account or benefit of, US Persons, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and under circumstances which will not require AGA to register under the Investment Company Act. No public offering of the Shares is being made in the United States
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5. | This announcement may include forward-looking statements. The words "expect", "anticipate", "intends", "plan", "estimate", "aim", "forecast", "project" and similar expressions (or their negative) identify certain of these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are statements regarding AGA's intentions, beliefs or current expectations concerning, among other things, AGA's results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, prospects, growth and strategies. The forward-looking statements in this presentation are based on numerous assumptions regarding AGA's present and future business strategies and the environment in which AGA will operate in the future. Forward-looking statements involve inherent known and unknown risks, uncertainties and contingencies because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future and may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of AGA to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. Many of these risks and uncertainties relate to factors that are beyond AGA's ability to control or estimate precisely, such as future market conditions, currency fluctuations, the behaviour of other market participants, the actions of regulators and other factors such as AGA's ability to continue to obtain financing to meet its liquidity needs, changes in the political, social and regulatory framework in which AGA operates or in economic or technological trends or conditions. Past performance should not be taken as an indication or guarantee of future results, and no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made regarding future performance. AGA expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release any updates or revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect any change in AGA's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based after the date of this announcement, or to update or to keep current any other information contained in this announcement. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this announcement. |
About Apax Global Alpha Limited
AGA is a Guernsey registered closed-ended collective investment scheme incorporated as a non-cellular company that listed on the London Stock Exchange on 15 June 2015. It is regulated by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission.
AGA's objective is to provide shareholders with capital appreciation from its investment portfolio and regular dividends. The Company is targeting an annualised Total Return, across economic cycles, of 12-15% (net of fees and expenses) including a dividend yield of 5% of Net Asset Value.
The investment policy of the Company is to make Private Equity investments in Apax Funds, and Derived Investments which are investments in equities and debt derived from the insights gained via Apax Partners' Private Equity activities.
Further information regarding the Company and its publications are available on the Company's website at www.apaxglobalalpha.com.
About Apax Partners LLP
Apax Partners LLP ("Apax") is a leading global private equity advisory firm. For nearly 50 years, Apax has worked to inspire growth and
ideas that transform businesses. The firm has raised and advised funds with aggregate commitments of more than $60 billion. The Apax
Funds invest in companies across four global sectors of Tech, Services, Healthcare, and Internet/Consumer. These funds provide long-term equity financing to build and strengthen world-class companies. For further information about Apax, please visit www.apax.com.
Apax Partners is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK.