To view the PDF file, sign up for a MySharenet subscription.

UNIVERSAL PARTNERS LIMITED - Summarised unaudited financial statements for the quarter and nine months ended 31 march 2019

Release Date: 15/05/2019 10:00
Code(s): UPL     PDF:  
Wrap Text
Summarised unaudited financial statements for the quarter and nine months ended 31 march 2019

UNIVERSAL PARTNERS LIMITED
(Incorporated in the Republic of Mauritius)
(Registration number: 138035 C1/GBL)
SEM share code: UPL.N0000
JSE share code: UPL
ISIN: MU0526N00007
("Universal Partners" or "the Company")


SUMMARISED UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE QUARTER AND NINE MONTHS ENDED 31 MARCH 2019

Universal Partners has a primary listing on the Official Market of the Stock Exchange of Mauritius Ltd ("SEM") and
a secondary listing on the Alternative Exchange of the JSE Limited ("JSE").


PRINCIPAL ACTIVITY

The principal activity of the Company is to hold investments in high quality, growth businesses across Europe, with a
particular focus on the United Kingdom ("UK"). The Company's investment mandate also allows up to 20% of total
funds at the time an investment is made to be invested outside of the UK and Europe.

The Company's primary objective is to achieve strong capital appreciation in Pounds Sterling ("GBP") over the
medium to long-term by investing in businesses that meet the investment criteria set out in the Company's investment
policy.


BUSINESS REVIEW

Since its listing on the SEM and the JSE, the Company has been working closely with its investment advisor, Argo
Investment Managers ("Argo"), to identify potential investments that meet its investment criteria.

The Company has completed five investments since its listing up to the reporting date and continues to build a pipeline
of new investments.


Dentex Healthcare Group Limited ("Dentex")
www.dentexhealth.co.uk

Dentex currently owns 56 dental practices and continues to grow ahead of the original business case, due to the
attractiveness of the Dentex co-ownership model and the increase in appetite for Private Dental Groups in the UK. The
company has acquired further dental practices during the period. Dentex continues to roll out its platform of shared
service support to acquired practices, allowing clinicians to focus on providing excellent clinical care, without the
distractions resulting from administration that can be centrally provided. Enterprise and Equity Value continue to grow
at a pleasing rate, and the acquisition pipeline shows that the Dentex proposition of partnership remains very attractive
to many of the top clinicians in the UK.

During the period under review, Dentex raised a further GBP 10,000,000 capital through a rights issue in line with its
growth strategy to acquire additional dental practices. Universal Partners participated in the rights issue and invested
a further GBP 4,981,733 at GBP 1.70 per share. The Company has revalued its investment in Dentex accordingly.


YASA Limited ("YASA")
www.yasa.com

YASA continues to deliver an increasing number of high power density electric motors to clients. We expect that high
profile clients will launch automotive platforms utilising YASA technology during 2019 and 2020, based on
development programmes that are now reaching maturity.

                                                           
YASA launched its controllers in April 2019. These have been in development over the last four years and discussions
with potential clients have commenced. In the same way that YASA motors are able to provide more power per
kilogram of weight in a more compact package, YASA controllers are more powerful per kilogram of weight, with
more compact packaging.

YASA's leadership in electric propulsion in the aerospace and automotive sectors has led to YASA motors and
controllers being chosen to power the Rolls Royce ACCEL ("Accelerating the Electrification of Flight") electric
flight project, which aims to capture the electric aircraft speed record in 2020.


SC Lowy Partners ("SC Lowy")
www.sclowy.com

SC Lowy continues as a leading market maker in distressed and high yield debt, particularly in Asian Loans and Bonds.
The company has increased its third party funds under management in its Primary Investment and Special Situations
offerings, and has to date delivered top quartile returns relative to its peers.

Credito di Romagna, the Italian bank acquired by SC Lowy in 2018, has been re-branded as Solution Bank with effect
from May 2019. Solution Bank is a specialty finance challenger bank operating in the Emilia Romagna region of Italy,
focused on delivering traditional retail banking and wealth management services to individuals, and corporate and
investment banking services to regional corporates. The bank has 125 employees, over 25,000 clients and €650 million
of total assets.

Choeun Savings Bank, the group's wholly-owned South Korean bank, continues to perform well.


Propelair
www.propelair.com

Propelair continues to increase sales of its water efficient, enhanced hygiene toilets in the UK. A number of trials have
commenced in South Africa, and the company expects to achieve the required approvals to commence installation in
the next quarter.

In January 2019, the Company invested a further GBP 399,984 in Propelair by way of a rights issue to raise capital to
fund the growth of its business in accordance with its growth strategy. The Company’s shareholding in Propelair is
now 14.4%.


JSA Services Limited ("JSA")
www.jsagroup.co.uk

JSA is a provider of Personal Service Companies, Umbrella and Payroll services to contractors and temporary workers
in the UK. During the quarter under review, JSA has substantially completed the integration of the three companies
acquired during the preceding quarter. In line with its stated growth strategy, the management of JSA remains focused
on generating organic growth in its existing businesses, while building the pipeline of potential acquisition targets.
Despite some short-term uncertainty created by the postponement of the Brexit date from 29 March to 31 October this
year, the company continues to trade in line with expectations.


FINANCIAL REVIEW

For the period under review, income included interest earned from investing excess cash in interest bearing fixed
deposits for periods of up to six months. The deposited funds will remain in short-term fixed deposits, money market
and NCD instruments until such time as they are required for investments in accordance with the Company's
investment policy.

Interest earned for the quarter amounted to GBP 38,476 which included interest of GBP 33,830 earned from cash
balances and GBP 4,646 earned from providing a short-term loan facility to Propelair. The loan was repaid in full
during the quarter.
                                                          
As a result of the successful capital raise by Dentex in February 2019 at a price of GBP 1.70 per share, the Company
revalued its investment in Dentex during the quarter. The net unrealised gain on investments recognised during the
quarter is GBP 3,983,092. The revaluation, together with the additional investment made during the quarter has brought
the value of the Company's investment in Dentex to GBP 30,060,988.

The Company's investment in SC Lowy is denominated in US Dollars ("USD"). During the quarter, the revaluation
of the investment from USD to GBP resulted in a foreign exchange loss of GBP 305,555.

Management fees for the quarter were GBP 286,454, incurred in terms of the investment management agreement
between the Company and Argo. During the quarter, general and administrative expenses amounting to GBP 628,941
were incurred. This amount includes an additional accrual of GBP 543,358 for a performance fee which is calculated
based on the revaluation of the Company's investments. This fee may become payable to Argo in the event that the
Company realises proceeds from the sale of investments in line with the revaluations.


NET ASSET VALUE ("NAV")

The NAV per share as at 31 March 2019 was GBP 1.070 (30 June 2018: GBP 1.032).


EARNINGS PER SHARE

The earnings per share of 3.87 pence for the quarter ended 31 March 2019 and the earnings per share of 6.07 pence for
the quarter ended 31 March 2018 are based on the Company's profit after tax of GBP 2,800,361 and the profit after
tax of GBP 4,389,077 for the quarter ended 31 March 2019 and the quarter ended 31 March 2018 respectively, based
on 72,350,131 weighted average number of shares in issue for both reporting periods.

For the nine months ended 31 March 2019, the earnings per share of 3.81 pence was based on a profit after tax of GBP
2,753,880 and a weighted average number of shares in issue of 72,350,131. For the corresponding nine months in the
prior financial year, the earnings per share of 5.55 pence was based on a profit after tax of GBP 4,018,665 and a
weighted average number of shares in issue of 72,350,131.


DIVIDEND

In line with the Company's investment strategy to achieve long-term growth in NAV, dividends will not be declared
on a regular basis. Accordingly, no dividend has been declared for the period under review.


BASIS OF PREPARATION

The summarised unaudited financial statements for the quarter and nine months ended 31 March 2019 ("summarised
unaudited financial statements") have been prepared using accounting policies consistent with International
Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board ("IASB") and in
accordance with International Accounting Standard (IAS) 34 – Interim Financial Reporting, the SEM Listing Rules,
the Mauritian Securities Act 2005 and the JSE Listings Requirements.

The accounting policies and methods of computation adopted in the preparation of these summarised unaudited
financial statements are consistent with those applied in the preparation of the audited financial statements for the year
ended 30 June 2018.

The directors are not aware of any circumstances or matters arising subsequent to the quarter that require any additional
disclosure or adjustment to these summarised unaudited financial statements.


AUDITORS

These summarised unaudited financial statements were approved by the board of directors of Universal Partners
("Board") on 14 May 2019. These summarised unaudited financial statements have not been reviewed or reported on
by the Company's external auditors, Grant Thornton.

                                                            
By order of the Board

15 May 2019

Intercontinental Trust Limited
Company secretary

For further information please contact:

South African corporate advisor and JSE sponsor
Java Capital 
+27 11 722 3050                                                            

SEM authorised representative and sponsor
Perigeum Capital Ltd                                                       
+230 402 0890

Company Secretary
Intercontinental Trust Limited                                             
+230 403 0800


NOTES

Copies of these summarised unaudited financial statements as well as copies of the statement of direct or indirect
interest of the Senior Officers of the Company pursuant to Rule 8(2)(m) of the Securities (Disclosure of Obligations
of Reporting Issuers) Rules 2007 are available to the public upon request to the Company Secretary at the Registered
Office of the Company at c/o Intercontinental Trust Limited, Level 3 Alexander House, 35 Cybercity, Ebene 72201,
Mauritius.

This announcement is issued pursuant to the SEM Listing Rule 12.19, Section 88 of the Mauritian Securities Act 2005
and the JSE Listings Requirements.

The Board accepts full responsibility for the preparation of these summarised unaudited financial statements and for
ensuring that the financial information has been correctly extracted from the underlying unaudited financial statements.

                                                         
SUMMARISED UNAUDITED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AS AT 31 MARCH 2019

                                                    As at 31 March 2019    As at 30 June 2018
                                                            (Unaudited)             (Audited)
                                                                    GBP                   GBP
Assets
Non-current assets
Investments at fair value through profit and loss            63,720,485            54,657,723

Current assets
Receivables and prepayments                                      80,000               160,000
Short-term financial asset                                            -             5,158,274
Cash and cash equivalents                                    15,005,414            15,534,242
                                                             15,085,414            20,852,516

Total assets                                                 78,805,899            75,510,239

Equity and Liabilities
Equity
Stated capital                                               71,847,164            71,847,164
Retained earnings                                             5,545,285             2,791,405
                                                             77,392,449            74,638,569
Current liabilities
Payables and accruals                                         1,413,450               871,670

Total equity and liabilities                                 78,805,899            75,510,239

NAV per share                                                     1.070                 1.032


                                                
SUMMARISED UNAUDITED STATEMENT OF PROFIT OR LOSS AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE QUARTER AND NINE MONTHS ENDED 31 MARCH 2019

                                                                                                           Nine months      Nine months
                                                                     Quarter ended    Quarter ended
                                                                                                                 ended            ended
                                                                     31 March 2019    31 March 2018      31 March 2019    31 March 2018
                                                                       (Unaudited)      (Unaudited)        (Unaudited)      (Unaudited)
                                                                               GBP              GBP                GBP              GBP
Income
Interest income                                                             38,476           89,956            258,296          391,105
Other income                                                                     -           75,000             96,877          113,064
Total income                                                                38,476          164,956            355,173          504,169

Expenditure
Management fees                                                          (286,454)        (276,439)          (888,084)        (677,939)
Transaction costs                                                                -         (60,310)            (2,000)        (191,305)
General and administrative expenses                                      (628,941)         (88,018)          (790,187)        (265,148)
Total expenditure                                                        (915,395)        (424,767)        (1,680,271)      (1,134,392)

Operating loss                                                           (876,919)        (259,811)        (1,325,098)        (630,223)
Fair value gain on remeasurement of financial assets at fair value
through profit or loss                                                   3,983,092        5,227,691          3,983,092        5,227,691
Net foreign exchange (losses) / gains                                    (305,812)        (578,803)             95,886        (578,803)
Profit before tax                                                        2,800,361        4,389,077          2,753,880        4,018,665
Tax expense                                                                      -                -                  -                -
Profit for the period                                                    2,800,361        4,389,077          2,753,880        4,018,665

Other comprehensive income
Items that will not be reclassified subsequently to profit and loss              -                -                  -                -
Items that will be reclassified subsequently to profit and loss                  -                -                  -                -
Other comprehensive income for the period, net of tax                            -                -                  -                -

Total comprehensive income for the period                                2,800,361        4,389,077          2,753,880        4,018,665

                                                                             Pence            Pence              Pence            Pence
Basic and headline earnings per share*                                        3.87             6.07               3.81             5.55



* The earnings per share for the quarter ended 31 March 2019 and earnings per share for the nine months ended 31 March 2019 are based on
profit after tax of GBP 2,800,361 and profit after tax of GBP 2,753,880 for the Company respectively and the weighted average number of
shares in issue of 72,350,131 (31 March 2018: Based on profit after tax of GBP 4,018,665 and the weighted average number of shares in issue
of 72,350,131).

There were no dilutive shares in issue. There were no reconciling items between the basic and headline earnings per share.


SUMMARISED UNAUDITED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED 31 MARCH 2019

                                                             Retained earnings /
                                            Stated Capital                               Total
                                                              (accumulated loss)
                                                       GBP                   GBP           GBP

Balance at 1 July 2017                          71,847,164             (665,999)    71,181,165

Profit for the period                                    -             4,018,665     4,018,665
Other comprehensive income for the period                -                     -             -
Transactions with shareholder                            -             4,018,665     4,018,665

Balance at 31 March 2018                        71,847,164             3,352,666    75,199,830

Balance at 1 July 2018                          71,847,164             2,791,405    74,638,569

Profit for the period                                    -             2,753,880     2,753,880
Other comprehensive income for the period                -                     -             -
Transactions with shareholder                            -             2,753,880     2,753,880

Balance at 31 March 2019                        71,847,164             5,545,285    77,392,449

                                             
SUMMARISED UNAUDITED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED 31 MARCH 2019

                                                                        Nine months        Nine months
                                                                     ended 31 March     ended 31 March       Year ended
                                                                               2019               2018     30 June 2018
                                                                        (Unaudited)        (Unaudited)        (Audited)
                                                                                GBP                GBP              GBP
Operating activities
Profit for the period / year                                              2,753,880          4,018,665        3,457,404
Adjustments for:
Fair value gain on remeasurement of investments at fair value
                                                                        (3,983,092)        (5,227,691)      (5,227,875)
through profit or loss
Interest income accrued                                                   (258,296)          (391,105)        (521,374)
Net foreign exchange (gains) / losses                                      (95,886)            579,543        (137,054)

Net changes in working capital:
Changes in receivables and prepayments                                            -             27,454           27,454
Changes in payables and accruals                                            541,780           (13,260)          807,421
Net cash flows utilised in operating activities                         (1,041,614)        (1,006,394)      (1,594,024)

Investing activities
Acquisition of investments                                              (5,381,717)       (35,270,682)     (45,137,652)
Proceeds on disposal of investments                                         400,000                  -                -
Loans advanced to subsidiaries                                          (4,163,000)        (5,040,000)      (5,080,000)
Loans repaid                                                              9,562,498                  -                -
Interest received                                                            97,071            184,202          209,812
Net cash flows generated from / (utilised in) investing activities          514,852       (40,126,480)     (50,007,840)

Net change in cash and cash equivalents                                   (526,762)       (41,132,874)     (51,601,864)

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period / year          15,534,242         67,137,560       67,137,560
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents                (2,066)              (740)          (1,454)
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period / year                15,005,414         26,003,946       15,534,242




                                                                     

Date: 15/05/2019 10:00:00 Produced by the JSE SENS Department. The SENS service is an information dissemination service administered by the JSE Limited ('JSE'). 
The JSE does not, whether expressly, tacitly or implicitly, represent, warrant or in any way guarantee the truth, accuracy or completeness of
 the information published on SENS. The JSE, their officers, employees and agents accept no liability for (or in respect of) any direct, 
indirect, incidental or consequential loss or damage of any kind or nature, howsoever arising, from the use of SENS or the use of, or reliance on,
 information disseminated through SENS.

Share This Story