Quest for Growth : Annual results 2015

52538d00-43ab-436d-9af5-ec5eb96570d1.pdf

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Press release Leuven / 21 January 2016 / 5.40 PMRegulated information. This press release contains information subject to the European transparency requirements imposed on listed companies.. Quest for growth

Privak, public fixed capital investment company established under Belgian Law

schedule for Publication

on 21 January 2016

5.40 PM press release available at www.questforgrowth.com

on 22 January 2016

1. AM press & analyst meeting, Capricorn Venture Partners NV, Lei 19, 3000 Leuven

   
   

   
   

   This announcement does not constitute, or form part of, an offer or invitation to sell or issue, or any solicitation of an offer to purchase or subscribe for securities or rights. No securities of the Company or rights relating to such securities may be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration. The securities and rights described in this announcement will be issued and sold only in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. Neither this announcement nor any part of it shall form the basis of or be relied on in connection with or act as an inducement to enter into any contract or commitment whatsoever. This announcement is not an offer document or a prospectus and investors should not purchase any securities or rights referred to in this announcement except on the basis of information in the prospectus to be published in due course by Quest for Growth NV, subject to the approval of the capital increase by the extraordinary shareholders meeting, when approved by the Belgian Financial Services and Markets Authority in connection with the offering and admission to listing of the securities and rights on Euronext Brussels.

   
   

   AnnuAl results Quest for Growth

   
   

   Quest for Growth MADe A ProfIt of € 37.9 MIllIon In 2015

   ProPoseD net DIVIDenD of € 2.70 Per orDInArY shAre

   ProPoseD CAPItAl InCreAse BY IssuAnCe of 1 new orDInArY shAre Per 3 eXIstInG shAres

   
   

   Key facts:

   • Return on equity per share: + 34.50 % since 31 December 2014

   • Net Asset Value per share at December 31st 2015: € 10.81 (December 31st 2014: € 10.28)

   • Net profit for the fiscal year: + € 37,899,036 (+ € 3.29 per share) against a profit of + € 8,712,147 (+ € 0.76 per share) for the previous fiscal year

   • Share price at December 31st 2015: € 11.40 (December 31st 2014: € 7.611)

   • Discount of the share price versus Net Asset Value: 11.04 % at December 31st 2015 (25.98 % at December 31st 2014)

   • The board proposes to the AGM a gross dividend of € 2.73 per ordinary share (net dividend of € 2,70 per ordinary share)

   • The board proposes to the AGM a capital increase by issuance of 3,843,316 new ordinary shares, subject to approval of the Financial Services and Markets Authority

Results

In 2015, Quest for Growth achieved a return on equity of 34.5% (2015 profit against net asset value after profit distribution at the end of the previous financial year), making 2015 one of the best years ever in the history of Quest for Growth, with the best performance of any of the past ten years.

Net asset value per share rose to 12.81 euros on 31 December 2015, as against 9.53 euros (after profit distribution) on 31 December 2014. Net profit in 2015 was approximately 37.9 million euros (3.29 euros per share), compared to a profit of 8.7 million euros (0.76 euros per share) in 2014. Net profit in the fourth quarter was 8 million euros (+ 0.69 euro per share).

The share price ended the year at 11.40 euros, as against

7.61 euros at the end of the prior year. Taking account of the dividend, overall performance of the Quest for Growth share during the past year stood at around 63%. The share price discount against asset value was 11% on 31 December 2015, as against 26% on 31 December 2014.

Allocation of the result

Quest for Growth's articles of association specify that it will distribute at least 90% of the realised profits. The board of directors proposes to the General Meeting of Shareholders that the positive balance to be allocated should be distributed in the sum of 37,735,442 euros. This represents a gross dividend for the ordinary stock of 2.73 euros per share (net: 2.70 euros per share). A balance of 163,954 euros is carried forward to the next financial year. After being approved by the General Meeting, the dividend will be paid on 23 March 2016.

Market environment

The European stock markets closed the year with a more than respectable rise for the Stoxx Europe 600 index (+6.8%, or

+9.6% including dividends). Small caps did better with a rise of 13.3% for the Stoxx Europe Small 200 index.

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Investments in listed companies

An excellent result was once again achieved with the portfolio of listed shares. Performance (before charges) stood at around 33%, which significantly exceeds that of virtually all the other European stock market indices. A number of trends, such as good performance by the sectors in which Quest for Growth invests (IT, healthcare and cleantech) and the outperformance of small caps, produced a good following wind in 2015. In the "Medical Services and Equipment" sector, the outliers were most manifestly present: Fresenius, Gerresheimer, Nexus and UDG Healthcare all rose by more than 40% in 2015. In the same sector, Sartorius went up by over 100% before being removed from the portfolio. In the other sectors, those worthy of mention include USU Software, Nibe and Melexis, given they produced performance of more than 30%. Only two shares in the portfolio closed the year with a negative return: Init and Bertrandt.

In 2015, CFE, Zetes, Cenit and Technotrans were introduced into the portfolio, while seven stocks were sold off completely.

Investments in unlisted companies

Among the unlisted companies, Prosonix stood out the best in 2015. This UK biotech company was taken over in May 2015 by Circassia Pharmaceuticals for 92 million £. The deal had a positive impact on Quest for Growth's intrinsic value, to the tune of approximately 10 million euros.

In addition, Kiadis Pharma was successfully floated in July. Before the IPO, Quest for Growth held 508,799 Kiadis shares, which were valued at around 3.1 million euros. On 31 December 2015, the holding was worth 5.6 million euros, after deduction of a lockup discount.

Investments in venture capital funds

The investments in venture capital funds also had an excellent 2015, particularly thanks to the successful exit of Cartagenia from Capricorn ICT Arkiv. That Leuven company was sold to Agilent for 60 million euros. The gain that the fund realised on the sale was more than seven times the initial investment sum. This deal's impact on Quest for Growth's intrinsic value amounted to approximately 3.7 million euros.

Besides this, the Capricorn Health-tech Fund, Carlyle II and Vertex contributed to the positive result of the venture capital funds in 2015.

Prospects

The economic situation in Europe improved in 2015, with the US economy also continuing to do well. European stocks again became more expensive, with an anticipated price/earnings ratio of around 15.5 for the STOXX 600 index at the end of 2015. Sectors in which Quest for Growth traditionally invests, such as technology and health, are relatively expensive, and certain sub-sectors show extreme valuations. In the Quest for Growth portfolio, we are endeavouring to avoid over-valued shares. Because of the low interest-rate situation, shares continue to

be relatively attractive. The forecast further rise in interest rates in the US in 2016 may nevertheless cause greater volatility in this quarter. Developments in China and the emerging markets also remain factors causing uncertainty in 2016.

The extremely successful year in 2015 will be hard for the unlisted portfolio to emulate in 2016. Following the disposal of Prosonix and Kiadis the main emphasis over the next few years will lie in further expanding the unlisted portfolio, though we do expect that the strategy of co-investing in the Capricorn funds' portfolio companies will, in the medium term, generate better results for the unlisted portfolio.

Capital increase

2015 was an exceptional year for Quest for Growth. The positive results both from the listed and unlisted portfolios and from the venture capital funds demonstrate that the new strategic path embarked on in 2012 has worked and is already bearing fruit.

It is important that, in future, Quest for Growth should continue to be capable of taking on sufficiently large commitments for both funds and unlisted direct investments so as to play a meaningful role in determining the strategy of start-up businesses, which will ultimately produce a more-than-average return. Additionally, Quest for Growth must also maintain sufficient liquidity to meet the future cash needs of unlisted companies and venture capital funds.

We are mindful of the fact that, over the past few years, the listed portfolio's excellent performance has made a major contribution to the success of Quest for Growth. It will therefore be the aim to further nurture the listed segment of Quest for Growth's investment strategy on into the future.

In order to turn that growth strategy to account, the shareholders will be given an opportunity to subscribe to a capital increase, subject to compliance with pre-emption rights. The board of directors proposes to issue a maximum of of 3,843,316 ordinary shares. The issue price for the new shares will be set at a later date and submitted to an Extraordinary General Meeting for approval and a decision on the capital increase. We will be sending out further details of the procedure for the capital increase proposal in due course.

The notice calling the first Extraordinary General Meeting to decide on the capital increase will appear together with the agenda on 26 January 2016 in the Belgian official gazette, the written press and on the company's website at www.questforgrowth.com.

The offer of new ordinary shares will only be possible once the issue prospectus has been approved by the FSMA and after approval by the Extraordinary General Meeting.

The General Meeting will be held on 17 March 2016 at 11 am in Leuven.

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totAl shAreholDers return ( 31/12/2005- 31/12/2015)

DIsCount of the shAre PrICe Versus the net Asset VAlue untIl 31 DeCeMBer 2015

60%

55%

50%

45%

40%

35%

30%

25%

20%

15%

10%

5%

Average discount of Belgian investment companies (Source: KBC Securities)

Discount Quest for Growth

0%

PortfolIo CoMPosItIon AnD MArket CAPItAlIsAtIon At 31/12/2015

results froM 31/12/2005 untIl 31/12/2015

100,000,000

34.5 %

€ 160,000,000

14.68%

80,000,000

€ 140,000,000

16.61%

60,000,000

55.08%

17.4 %

€ 100,000,000

€ 80,000,000

€ 60,000,000

€ 40,000,000

40,000,000

22.4 % 1.8 %

24.7 %

17.2 %

+ Other net assets

+ Commercial Paper

-40,000,000

€ 120,000,000

13.63%

€ 20,000,000

€ 0

Cash Quoted portfolio Unquoted portfolio Venture funds

Market cap

7.9 %

20,000,000

16.0 %

26.8 %

-12.1 %

-

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

-20,000,000

-41.8 %

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31 December

1. Balance sheet 2015

2014

31 December

2013

31 December

2012

31 December

2011

31 December

ASSETS
Fixed assets	127,605,558	110,414,970	120,264,108	104,265,373	86,989,456
Formation expenses	0	0	0	0	0
Financial assets	127,605,558	110,414,970	120,264,108	104,265,373	86,898,456
Shares	112,654,890	98,488,620	106,950,253	100,625,585	79,492,057
Loans to portfolio companies	14,950,668	11,926,350	13,313,854	3,639,788	7,497,399

Current assets	20,278,986	8,229,318	5,083,517	2,632,925	4,203,529
Amounts receivable in more than one year	2,448,120	1,399,479	666,305	0	0
Trade receivables	0	0	0	0	0
Other receivables	2,448,120	1,399,479	666,305	0	0
Amounts receivable within one year	4,533,187	150,425	70,187	689,618	1,165,102
Trade receivables	0	0	0	0	0
Other receivables	4,533,187	150,425	70,187	689,618	1,165,102
Short term investments	0	0	0	0	0
Own shares	0	0	0	0	0
Term deposits	0	0	0	0	0
Cash at bank and in hand	13,284,643	6,670,317	4,280,362	1,867,036	3,038,427

Deferred charges and accrued income	13,036 147,884,544	15,192	66,662	76,271	31,501
TOTAL ASSETS		118,650,383	125,347,624	106,898,298	91,224,485

LIABILITIES
Capital and reserves	110,012,217	109,848,623	109,837,261	106,803,118	91,101,307
Issued capital	109,748,742	109,748,742	109,748,742	109,748,742	109,748,742
Reserves	0	0	0	656,423	656,423
Reserves not available for distribution	0	0	0	0	0
Reserves available for distribution	0	0	0	656,423	656,423
Profit carried forward	263,475	99,881	88,518	0	0
Loss carried forward	0	0	0	(3,602,048)	(19,303,859)

Amount payable	37,872,327	8,801,760	15,510,364	95,180	123,179
Amounts payable within one year	37,780,621	8,745,601	15,478,430	43,405	105,882
Financial debts	0	0	0	0	0
Trade debts	0	0	0	4,971	55,358
Taxes	191	162	346	447	432
Dividends to be paid for the fiscal year	37,735,442	8,700,784	15,440,141	0	0
Other amounts payable	44,988	44,655	37,944	37,987	50,092

Accrued charges and deferred income	91,705 147,884,544	56,159	31,933	51,775	17,297
TOTAL LIABILITIES		118,650,383	125,347,624	106,898,298	91,224,485

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