Deutsche Beteiligungs - Market decline weighs on H118 performance

Deutsche Beteiligungs (DBAG) reported €19.3m net income for the first half of FY18, with a 4.5% dividend-adjusted NAV return. NAV per share declined slightly to €29.43 at end-March 2018, after payment of the €1.40 FY17 dividend. Management has lowered earnings guidance for FY18 due to a decline in market valuation multiples that also weighed on returns in the first half, while the underlying progress of portfolio companies remains broadly on track. The recent sharp decline in the share price premium to NAV to 19.6% suggests the market may now be applying an underlying discount to the NAV of the private equity investment portfolio.