Investcorp has reported ‘significant progress in the execution of its growth strategy’ which produced a healthy level of activity across all its businesses in terms of investments, realisations, fundraising and portfolio performance, for the twelve months ending 30 June 2017 (‘FY17’).
According to the firm’s full year results, Investcorp made a profit for the year of USD120.3 million (FY16: USD90.1million), a 34 per cent increase over the same period last year. Gross operating income was 10 per cent higher at USD421.7 million (FY16: USD383.5 million), reflecting solid performance from core operations, including the newly acquired and fully integrated credit management business. Fully diluted earnings per share for the period increased 33 per cent to USD1.25 (FY16: USD0.94 per share), while return on equity increased to 12 per cent (FY16: 10 per cent). Profit for the second half of the fiscal year (H2 FY17) was USD84.6 million (H2 FY16: USD39.2 million), a 116 per cent increase over the same period last year.
During the year, distributions to Investcorp and its clients from investment realisations and other distributions more than doubled to USD3.4 billion, the highest level in the Firm’s history.
The firm’s focus on strengthening its Gulf-based placement team is yielding positive results. The addition of 10 new members to the team over the last two years has helped the Firm achieve its highest ever deal-by-deal placement in the Gulf, totalling USD1.1 billion. More broadly, the firm raised USD4.1 billion from its broad range of clients in the Gulf and institutional investors in the US, Europe and Asia. This is in line with the Firm’s strategic goal of diversifying its investor base geographically, by segment and by asset class.
In parallel, significant progress has been made against a number of growth initiatives during the period. In March 2017, the Firm completed its acquisition of 3i’s debt management business and rebranded it as Investcorp Credit Management, adding a further USD10.8 billion to the Firm’s AUM with immediately accretive contributions to the group’s gross operating income.
The Real Estate business continued to grow both geographically and in terms of new products, with the newly established European team now fully ramped up and functional having already made a couple of investments in the UK, and the US team successfully adding Core-lite club style office properties to its traditional Core-plus product offerings. The Firm continues to invest in its client-facing resources to deepen client relationships in the Gulf. These developments were all received well by the market as corporate investment and real estate deal placement in the Gulf reached an aggregate record level of USD1.1 billion in FY17.
Building on the success of the first three funds that have seen Investcorp develop a reputation as a leading investor in technology-based enterprises, the Firm successfully launched its fourth Technology Fund in FY17 and completed a first closing at USD215 million in short order. The Fund also made its first two investments during the year.
Fee income during the period was USD316.5 million (FY16: USD307.5 million) and asset-based income was USD105.2 million (FY16: USD76.0 million), driven by increased recurring fees and strong performance of the co-investment portfolio.
Aggregate operating expenses increased 7 per cent to USD239.9 million (FY16: USD224.3 million) reflecting the expansion in the Firm’s capabilities and resources and the Firm’s investment in the future growth of the business, resulting in increased profitability. The Firm’s cost-to-income ratio improved to 67 per cent at the end of the period from 71 per cent in FY16.
Investcorp remains well capitalized with total assets as at June 30, 2017, at USD2.7 billion, up from USD2.5 billion as at June 30, 2016. Total liquidity remains strong at USD1.0 billion and more than covers the bonds and bank debt maturing over the next five years. The Bank’s capital adequacy ratio, at 31.7 per cent, remains strong and is more than double the requirements of the Central Bank of Bahrain (12.5 per cent). The Bank remains well within the required leverage ratio and maintains significant headroom in all financial covenants. Fitch upgraded its rating outlook on Investcorp to “positive” in November 2016.
The strength of the balance sheet positions the Firm well to take advantage of both inorganic and organic growth opportunities as they arise.
Mohammed Alardhi, Executive Chairman, says: “This has been a pivotal and successful year for Investcorp. We have made significant progress towards delivering on our ambitious growth strategy, as well as producing robust financial results for our investors. The Firm is making great headway executing a number of initiatives that are designed to diversify the Firm’s client base, product offering, geographical reach and, ultimately, better serve the needs of our clients wherever they are in the world.”
“We have seen strong returns to clients and record levels of activity, and our pipeline of strategic initiatives and investment opportunities remains very strong. There is real momentum across the business and we enter our new financial year with a fresh sense of confidence and ambition.”
