Estimated NAV at 30 November

Standard Life Private Equity Trust plc

Legal Entity Identifier (LEI): 2138004MK7VPTZ99EV13

14 December 2020

·      Standard Life Private Equity Trust plc ("SLPET" or "the Company") announces its estimated net asset value ("NAV") at 30 November 2020

·      Estimated NAV at 30 November 2020 was 490.6 pence per share (estimated NAV at 31 October 2020 was 459.6 pence per share)

·      SLPET paid £10.3 million of drawdowns and received £9.5 million of distributions during the month of November

·      Outstanding commitments of £473.4 million at 30 November 2020

SLPET's valuation policy for private equity funds and co-investments is based on the latest valuations reported by the managers of the funds and co-investments in which the Company has interests.  In the case of SLPET's valuation at 30 November 2020, excluding new investments, 99.0% by value of the portfolio valuations were dated 30 September 2020. This is an update from the estimated NAV at 31 October 2020, which was based on valuations dated 30 June 2020.

Estimated NAV

At 30 November 2020, SLPET's estimated NAV was 490.6 pence per share (estimated net assets £754.4 million), representing a 6.7% per share increase from the estimated NAV at 31 October 2020 of 459.6 pence per share (estimated net assets £706.6 million). The 31.0 pence increase in NAV per share reflected primarily a 8.1% uplift in the valuation of investments as at 30 September 2020, partially offset by a 0.5% depreciation in the euro versus sterling during November.

Drawdowns and distributions

SLPET paid £10.3 million of drawdowns and received £9.5 million of distributions during the month of November. The distributions received generated realised gains and income of £4.9 million.

Commitments

A new commitment of €25 million was made to Triton Smaller Mid-Cap Fund II. The Company had £473.4 million of outstanding commitments at 30 November 2020. The Manager believes that around £68.2 million of the Company's existing outstanding commitments are unlikely to be drawn.

Balance sheet and credit facility

The Company had cash and cash equivalents of £32.7 million at 30 November 2020. In addition, it is due £15.1 million of deferred consideration during the year from investments sold in 2019. It also has an undrawn £200 million syndicated revolving credit facility, provided by Citi, Societe Generale and State Street Bank International, that expires in December 2024.

Update on COVID-19

The Manager continues to be mindful of the impact of COVID-19 and maintains regular communication with the private equity managers of the Company's investments.

The latest update from the Manager, which provides responses to frequently asked questions in relation to COVID-19, is available within the Latest News section of the Company website; www.slpet.co.uk.

Future announcements

The Company is expecting to announce its Annual Results to 30 September 2020 on or around 25 January 2021 and will announce its estimated NAV at 31 December 2020 at the same time. 

Additional detail about SLPET's NAV and investment diversification can be found on SLPET's website. Neither the contents of the Company's website nor the contents of any website accessible from hyperlinks on the Company's website is incorporated into, or forms part of, this announcement.

For further information please contact Alan Gauld at SL Capital Partners LLP (0131 528 4424)

Note:-

Standard Life Private Equity Trust plc is an investment company managed by SL Capital Partners LLP, the ordinary shares of which are admitted to listing by the UK Listing Authority and to trading on the Stock Exchange and which seeks to conduct its affairs so as to qualify as an investment trust under sections 1158-1165 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010. The Board of Standard Life Private Equity Trust plc is independent of Standard Life Aberdeen plc and Phoenix Group Holdings.

Valuation Methodology

Unquoted investments are stated at the directors' estimate of fair value and follow the recommendations of EVCA and BVCA. The estimate of fair value is normally the latest valuation placed on a fund or co-investment by its manager at the balance sheet date. The valuation policies used by the manager in undertaking that valuation will generally be in line with the joint publication from EVCA and BVCA, 'International Private Equity and Venture Capital Valuation guidelines'. Where formal valuations are not completed at the balance sheet date the last available valuation from the fund manager or co-investment lead is adjusted for any subsequent cashflows occurring between the valuation date and the balance sheet date. The Company's Manager may further adjust such valuations to reflect any changes in circumstances from the last manager's formal valuation date to arrive at the estimate of fair value. Quoted investments are valued based on quoted prices as of the last day of the relevant period.

The Company intends to release regular estimated NAV updates around ten business days after each month end, while continuing to issue quarterly updates. A breakdown of SLPET's portfolio can be obtained in the latest monthly factsheet, which is published on SLPET's website at:

www.slpet.co.uk