EPE Special Opportunities PLC Update Regarding Luceco plc and Share Buybacks (8162G)
06 March 2018 - 7:59PM
UK Regulatory
TIDMESO TIDMEO.P TIDMEC.P TIDMEL.P
RNS Number : 8162G
EPE Special Opportunities PLC
06 March 2018
EPE Special Opportunities plc
LEI: 213800BQKN9C23A7LK98
6 March 2018
This announcement contains inside information
EPE Special Opportunities plc
Update Regarding Luceco plc and Share Buybacks
Luceco plc
The Directors of EPE Special Opportunities plc ("ESO plc", or
the "Company") note the trading update made by Luceco plc this
morning.
Whilst the further downgrade to expectations is disappointing,
the Directors are encouraged by the increased level of clarity that
the update has given to the market. The Directors are also pleased
to note the recent arrival of a highly qualified and experienced
Chief Financial Officer in Matt Webb.
Matt has joined Luceco plc from FTSE 100 listed multinational
building materials distribution company Ferguson plc, where he
spent five years as Finance Director for its market-leading US
Blended Branches business. Prior to Ferguson plc, Matt was at BPB
plc, the former FTSE 100 manufacturer of building interiors, which
was acquired by Saint-Gobain during his tenure. He qualified as a
Chartered Accountant with KPMG and holds a degree in Engineering
Science from the University of Oxford.
The challenging trading conditions in the lower margin retail
division (approximately 25% sales) represent some cause for
concern, but in the Directors' view this is outweighed by the
continued strong growth in the higher margin trade, projects and
international divisions. Overall revenue growth for 2018 is
expected to be 5-10% from a base of GBP168.6 million in 2017, which
in itself represents a healthy increase of 26% versus 2016. This
positive momentum in trading is further enhanced by the reported
success of the margin mitigating actions outlined in the December
trading update, which are expected to deliver the projected margin
improvement during H2 2018.
Overall, the Directors believe that the long term outlook for
Luceco plc remains unchanged and note that ESO plc, as the largest
shareholder via EPIC Investments LLP, remains fully supportive of
Luceco plc.
31 January 2018 Net Asset Value Update
As previously disclosed on 15 December 2017 and in the ESO plc
Report and Accounts for the year ending 31 January 2017, any change
in the Luceco plc share price will impact the fully diluted Net
Asset Value of the Company.
As at market close on 5 March 2018, the fully diluted Net Asset
Value of ESO plc for 31 January 2018 was estimated at approximately
239 pence per ordinary share, which incorporates a Luceco plc share
price of 77.80 pence per ordinary share.
The actual fully diluted Net Asset Value of the Company for 31
January 2018 will be confirmed in the ESO plc Report and Accounts
for the year ending 31 January 2018 which will be released in due
course.
Share Buybacks
Further to the announcement made by ESO plc on 4 January 2018,
the Company announces that, ahead of moving into a closed period in
respect of its results for the year ended 31 January 2018, it is no
longer currently intending to undertake purchases of ordinary
shares of the Company.
No ordinary shares have been purchased by the Company since the
announcement made on 4 January 2018.
The Company will announce any further intention to commence
purchases of ordinary shares, as applicable, in due course.
The person responsible for releasing this information on behalf
of the Company is Hilary Jones of R&H Fund Services (Jersey)
Limited.
Enquiries:
EPIC Private Equity LLP +44 (0) 207 269 8865
Alex Leslie
R&H Fund Services (Jersey) +44 (0) 1534 825 323
Limited Hilary Jones
Cardew Group Limited +44 (0) 207 930 0777
Richard Spiegelberg
Numis Securities Limited +44 (0) 207 260 1000
Nominated Advisor: Stuart Skinner / Hugh
Jonathan
Corporate Broker: Charles Farquhar
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
MSCGIGDXIUGBGIL
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March 06, 2018 03:59 ET (08:59 GMT)
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