Estimated NAV at 31 March 2021

Standard Life Private Equity Trust plc

Legal Entity Identifier (LEI): 2138004MK7VPTZ99EV13

22 April 2021

Standard Life Private Equity Trust plc ("SLPET" or "the Company") announces its estimated net asset value ("NAV") at 31 March 2021

·      Estimated NAV at 31 March 2021 was 522.4 pence per share (actual NAV at 31 December 2020 was 550.1 pence per share)

·      SLPET received £22.4 million of distributions and paid £9.8 million of drawdowns during the month of March

·      Outstanding commitments of £463.9 million at 31 March 2021

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 31 March 2021, excluding new investments, 100.0% by value of the portfolio valuations were dated 31 December 2020. This is an update from the estimated NAV at 28 February 2021, which was based on valuations dated 31 December 2020 and 30 September 2020.

Estimated NAV

At 31 March 2021, SLPET's estimated NAV was 522.4 pence per share (estimated net assets £803.2 million), representing a 5.0% per share decrease from the actual NAV at 31 December 2020 of 550.1 pence per share (actual net assets £845.8 million). The 27.7 pence decrease in NAV per share reflected unrealised foreign exchange losses arising primarily from a 5.1% depreciation in the euro versus sterling during January, February and March, in addition to the fourth interim dividend payment of 3.3 pence per share, which was paid on 29 January 2021.

Drawdowns and distributions

SLPET received £22.4 million of distributions and paid £9.8 million of drawdowns during the month of March. The distributions received generated realised gains and income of £11.9 million.

Commitments

In March 2021, commitments of €25.0 million and €8.5 million were made to IK Small Cap Fund III and Nordic Capital WH1 Beta, L.P. respectively.The Company had £463.9 million of outstanding commitments at 31 March 2021. The Manager believes that around £46.6 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 £62.5 million at 31 March 2021. In addition, the Company 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 from the Manager

The Manager notes that the impact of COVID-19 on the portfolio continues to evolve and maintains regular communication with the private equity managers of the Company's investments.

The latest update from the Manager is available within the Latest News section of the Company website; www.slpet.co.uk.

Future announcements

The Company is expecting to announce its estimated NAV at 30 April 2021 on 17 May 2021. 

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 an 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 manager 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.

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