Edison Investment Research - Mercia Asset Management (MERC) Mercia Asset Management - Profits, growth and value

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Edison Investment Research

Richard Williamson

Mercia Asset Management - Profits, growth and value

Mercia reported a strong rise in the NAV of its Northern Venture Trust (NVT) subsidiary, reflecting the IPO of musicMagpie and other successful exits, leading to Mercia receiving a net performance fee of £1.6m. As a result, together with Mercia’s substantially recurring management fees, management expects H122 PAT to exceed £10m, with the FY22 adjusted operating profit (excluding the NVT net performance fee) expected to be materially ahead of market forecasts. The shares trade at a larger discount to NAV than peers and at a discount to the historical FY21 NAV of 40p. They also trade at a material discount to the prospective NAV implied by a strong H122 performance, even without considering the incremental value of the fund management business. As an alternative valuation approach, moving away from NAV, Mercia trades on 8.1x annualised H122 earnings.

30/11/2021 1 EN

Underlying

Mercia Asset Management

Mercia Technologies is an investment group focused on the creation/identification, funding and scaling of technology businesses from the U.K. regions. Co. directly invests across four sectors: Software & the Internet, which consists of cyber security, software as a service analytical tool, Adtech and artificial intelligence; Digital & Digital Entertainment, which consists of virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality and serious games; Electronics, Materials & Manufacturing/Engineering, which consists of energy and communications, value electronics, and manufacturing applications; and Life Sciences & Biosciences, which consists of diagnostics, digital health and medical devices.

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GB00BSL71W47 London Stock Exchange United Kingdom

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Edison Investment Research

Edison is an investment research and advisory company, with offices in North America, Europe, the Middle East and AsiaPac. The heart of Edison is our world renowned equity research platform and deep multi-sector expertise. At Edison Investment Research, our research is widely read by international investors, advisors and stakeholders. Edison Advisors leverages our core research platform to provide differentiated services including investor relations and strategic consulting.

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Analysts

Richard Williamson

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Mercia Asset Management - Profits, growth and value

A rarity in the sector: Revenue +19%, EBITDA +34%

Positive trading, discount-to-NAV being addressed

A deeply undervalued specialist in private markets

Accsys Technologies - Upgrading guidance for the full year

Topps Tiles - Market outperformance again in FY24

Nabaltec - Resilience and margin expansion

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