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AGA’s 1Q’25 results to 31 March (presentation here) reported i) PE portfolio EBITDA growth (LTM 16%, 2024 14%) was offset by adverse FX movements, while valuation multiples were flat overall, ii) net asset value (NAV) of €1.16bn (FY24 €1.23bn), equivalent to a NAV p/sh. of €2.38/£2.00; total NAV return p/sh was (2.5%) and 0.5% on a constant currency basis, iii) the latest Apax Fund (XI), an important value driver of future NAV growth saw faster-than-average LTM EBITDA growth (25%), iv) AGA deployed €52m on a look-through basis, v) AGA expects to receive distributions of €55m, and vi) debt portfolio 2.5% constant currency return.

  • Active buyback programme:  AGA has been active on most days buying back shares. Through 2025, the reduction in shares in issue has accelerated: 488.2m end-Dec’24, 487.7m (end-Jan’25), 487.2m (end-Feb’25), 486.1m (end-Mar’25), 485.1m (end-Apr’25), 484.1 (end-May’25) to its current level of 483.3m.
  • Recent investments: In June, AGA announced a €3m look-through investment supporting WGSN (alcoholic beverage market data/insights) acquiring of IWSR. In May, it announced investments of €14m in Norva24 (infrastructure maintenance services) and €25m in Finastra’s TCM division (software).
  • Valuation:  AGA’s discount to NAV (41%) is above peers (8%-29% discount range). Apax Funds continue to see exit uplifts, and the NAV is resilient to economic downturns, which, combined with the value creation through Apax’s hidden gems strategy, make the discount absolutely and relatively anomalous.
  • Risks:  Sentiment to costs, the cycle, valuation and over-commitment are sector issues. Residual risk on the listed positions is just 2% of NAV. The Debt portfolio generates additional returns and income towards dividends, and has liquidity/capital benefits, but complicates the story.
  • Investment summary: Apax has delivered long-term, market-beating returns by selecting businesses that it can transform post-acquisition. Buying these companies at a discount to peers (24%), accelerating their EBITDA growth and improving their margins, and then selling the reinvigorated business at a premium (8%) to those same peers, is the playbook; Apax’s “mining the hidden gems” strategy, which has been repeated again and again. Investments are focused in sectors with structural growth and resilience. Capital flexibility is enhanced by the Debt portfolio. The discount is the “icing on the cake”.
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