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EPE CAPITAL PARTNERS LIMITED - Quarterly update as at 31 March 2018

Release Date: 24/05/2018 09:08
Code(s): EPE     PDF:  
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Quarterly update as at 31 March 2018

EPE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD
(Incorporated in the Republic of Mauritius)
(Registration number: C138883 C1/GBL)
ISIN: MU0522S00005
Share Code: EPE
(“Ethos Capital” or “the Company”)

QUARTERLY UPDATE AS AT 31 MARCH 2018

Ethos Capital is an investment holding company, registered and incorporated in Mauritius as a public
company. It is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and offers shareholders long-term capital
appreciation by making commitments and investments into Funds or Direct Investments that are managed
by Ethos Private Equity (Pty) Limited (“Ethos”), providing the Company with exposure to a diversified
portfolio of unlisted private equity type investments (“Portfolio Companies”).

Below is a voluntary update of the financial and operational results and progress of the Company since 31
December 2017.

NAV
At 31 March 2018, Ethos Capital’s underlying net asset value (“NAV”) (net of treasury shares) was R1.9
billion, with the NAV per share increasing to R10.84 (R10.76 at 31 December 2017).

Invested capital
Ethos Capital’s invested capital as at 31 March 2018 was R787 million, c. 42% of the 31 March 2018 NAV.
The investment portfolio provides Ethos Capital with underlying exposure to twelve Portfolio Companies
that have representation across a diverse set of industries, sectors and vintage years.

The Ethos Mid Market Fund I had its final close in May 2018, raising R2.5 billion which reduced Ethos
Capital’s participation in the Fund to 38% (based on its increased commitment of R950 million). As part of
the equalisation, Ethos Capital will receive a c. R89 million repayment of cost as well as an income return of
c. R12 million.

Commitments
As noted above, Ethos Capital’s Investment Strategy is to make commitments into Funds managed by
Ethos, through a combination of Primary, Direct and Secondary Investments. At 31 March 2018, Ethos
Capital had total commitments to Ethos Funds and Direct Investments of R1.3 billion (c. 68% of the 31
March 2018 NAV). The Company had liquid resources of R1.1 billion to meet any outstanding
commitments and in addition, the Company has a four-year revolving credit facility that, once activated,
will provide access to R0.6 billion of additional resources for the Company.

In support of this strategy, Ethos Capital made a first close commitment of R250 million to Ethos Mezzanine
Partners Fund 3, which in total raised R1.2 billion in first close commitments. Ethos Capital’s intended final
close commitment to this Fund is R320 million.
In addition, during May 2018, Ethos Capital made a first close commitment to the Ethos Healthcare
Investment Platform that has since completed its first investment. Ethos Capital intends to commit a total
of R250 million to this Platform.

The Ethos Capital Board has approved a first close commitment to Ethos Fund VII of R1.25 billion with an
intended commitment at final close of R2.15 billion.

In March, the Board approved a R150 million commitment to the Ethos Ai Fund.

Commitments to the Ethos Funds fall within the Investment Strategy and are classified, where the
commitment is in excess of 10% of the Company’s market capitalisation, as a Category 2 transaction in
terms of the JSE Listings Requirements and accordingly do not require Ethos Capital shareholder approval.

Investment pipeline
The past six months have been very active from an investing perspective across all of the Ethos Funds. In
addition to the transactions which were completed up to the end of Q1 2018, a further five transactions
have been signed on behalf of the Funds and are subject only to confirmatory due diligence and regulatory
approval. The Ethos Capital contribution for these signed transactions is c. R200 million. Ethos is also in
advanced and exclusive discussions on a further three transactions for the Funds. The Ethos Capital
contribution for these transactions is expected to be c. R570 million.

The total capital investment for Ethos Capital on the above transactions, if they all complete, would be up
to R770 million which could increase the current invested capital to c. R1.5 billion, c. 78% of the 31 March
2018 NAV. While there can be no certainty that all of these transactions will complete, Ethos remains
confident that it will be able to close on the majority of these investments.

Repurchase of shares
The Ethos Capital Board is committed to a policy of enhancing long-term shareholder value. During the
quarter, the Company continued to repurchase shares. As at 31 March 2018, the number of A Ordinary
Shares repurchased and held in treasury, increased to 5.4 million, representing 2.9% of the issued A
Ordinary Shares. The Board will continue to monitor the Company’s share price performance and the
discount to NAV.

Disclaimer
The financial information on which this announcement is based, has not been audited, reviewed and
reported on by the Company’s external auditors.

Ebene, Mauritius (with simultaneous circulation in Johannesburg)
24 May 2018

Sponsor
RAND MERCHANT BANK (A division of FirstRand Bank Limited)

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