Capital/Financing Update • Jan 30, 2009
Capital/Financing Update
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Ad-hoc | 30 January 2009 06:31
New Value develops its portfolio with further investments
NEW VALUE AG / Miscellaneous
Release of a Adhoc News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Announcement regarding Q3 2008/09 (as of December 31, 2008)
New Value develops its portfolio with further investments
In the third quarter of the 2008/09 financial year (as of December 31,
2008), New Value (www.newvalue.ch) supported new additions to its portfolio
companies through multiple additional financing initiatives, all for the
purpose of tapping new sales markets. The net asset value (NAV) of the
investment portfolio, which focuses on young Swiss growth companies, slid
from CHF 28.19 to CHF 22.81 per share, driven by the reduced valuation of
its two publicly traded companies. Despite this 19% drop, New Value
performed significantly better than the LPX (Listed Private Equity)
benchmark index, which fell by 41%.
New Value conducted three financing rounds for portfolio companies between
October and December of 2008. Solar Industries AG (www.solarindustries.ch)
raised CHF 5 million in capital. New Value invested CHF 2 million,
increasing its share in the company’s equity from 31.3% to 33.1%. Solar
Industries plans to build production facilities for silicon (Italsilicon),
solar cells (Solarcell) and solar modules for the Italian market as well as
the entire European market.
Bogar AG (www.bogar.com), which specializes in animal health and nutrition,
raised CHF 7 million in capital in December. Funds were paid in cash or
through setoff of existing loans. With CHF 1.2 million in new cash
resources, existing sales structures will be expanded and new products will
be developed. New Value invested CHF 2.2 million, increasing its share in
Bogar AG’s equity from 16.6% to 29.8%.
New Value also took part in financing the growth of Silentsoft SA
(www.silentsoft.com), a seller of technologies and services for the
operation of M2M (machine-to-machine) networks. The CHF 2 million financing
round was funded by the existing shareholders. New Value AG increased its
stake by CHF 1 million and now holds 23.3% of Silentsoft’s equity.
Finally, New Value contributed to the further development of FotoDesk
(www.fotodesk.com) with a convertible loan of CHF 300,000. The online
photo company recently launched several innovative products, such as
high-quality photographic posters for home use. In mid-2008, New Value
merged newly-acquired Colorplaza SA into FotoDesk.
Market success for 3S Industries, Swiss Medical Solution and Natoil
Other portfolio companies also showed progress, even without new financing.
3S Industries (www.3-s.ch), a worldwide provider of production lines for
solar module production, delivered a semi-automatic production line to the
Spanish firm Eurener Energia Solar. The next line will be delivered to
India. 3S announced on January 22, 2009, that its wholly-owned subsidiary
Somont GmbH has received an order from Renewable Energy Corporation (REC)
worth EUR 14.5 million.
Swiss Medical Solution AG (www.swissmedicalsolution.com), developer and
seller of urine tests for the early detection of urinary tract infections,
has signed a distribution agreement with Zambon Schweiz AG as well as
Dolorgiet GmbH & Co. KG. Swiss Medical Solution products will now be
marketed exclusively in Switzerland by Zambon and by Dolorgiet in Germany.
In addition, Andreas Küng was named the new CEO, bringing a wealth of
market experience to the company.
Increased marketing activities also resulted in a significant rise in sales
for Natoil AG (www.natoil.ch) toward the end of the year. At the same time,
Natoil has expanded its activities to new segments. An engineering release
was obtained from Laufer Pressen. In one Laufer press, up to 20 tons of
lubricant will be used, many times more than the amount used in injection
molding machines or pumps, the company’s first market segments. For this
purpose, Natoil has signed collaboration agreements with multiple vendors
in Germany.
Corrections in the stock market
New Value’s two publicly traded companies, 3S Industries and Meyer Burger
(www.meyerburger.ch), experienced sharp drops in value during the reporting
period of 41% and 47%, respectively, correcting more significantly than the
overall Swiss Performance Index (SPI), which fell by 18%. Solar stocks thus
performed somewhat slugglishly, reflecting overall market developments.
This was not without effect on New Value’s share price, which fell from CHF
20.45 to CHF 16.30 or by 20%. The net asset value (NAV) slid by 19% from
CHF 28.19 to CHF 22.81 per share. The LPX (benchmark index for listed
private equity) lost 41% of its value during the last quarter. New Value
proved to be more crisis-resistant during the 2008 calendar year, both in
share price as well as NAV, with drops of 26% and 25%, respectively, than
the LPX (-56%) and SPI (-34%) benchmark indices. New Value is completely
equity-financed and is not involved in leveraged buyouts, which have been
more strongly affected by the financial crisis. Instead, it is focused on
long-term growth financing. In this difficult market environment, this has
proven to be a successful strategy.
Information about New Value AG
New Value, officially listed at the SIX Swiss Exchange, invests directly in
promising private companies in Switzerland and neighbouring German-speaking
countries with above-average market and growth potential. As an investment
company, New Value promotes innovative business models with venture capital
and accompanies those to market success. The portfolio covers companies of
different stages of development, starting with the market introduction
phase up to medium-sized enterprises with stable profits. A broad
investment approach is deliberately followed regarding industry sectors.
The portfolio contains companies active in renewable energy, medical
technology, health, information technology and new materials. New Value
assigns great value to ethical business concepts and good corporate
governance while selecting their portfolio companies. Criteria such as
meaningfulness, social responsibility and ecological sustainability are
considered by New Value as decisive competitive advantages, which affect
and enhance the quality of products and services offered and thus,
facilitate an above average increase of value potential. Since the
formation of New Value, EPS Value Plus AG, Zurich, has served as investment
manager.
30.01.2009 Financial News transmitted by DGAP
Language: English
Issuer: NEW VALUE AG
Bodmerstrasse 9
8027 Zürich
Schweiz
Phone: +41-43-344 38 38
Fax: +41-43-344 38 39
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet: www.newvalue.ch
ISIN: CH0010819867
WKN: 552932
Listed: Freiverkehr in Berlin, Stuttgart, München, Düsseldorf; Open
Market in Frankfurt; Foreign Exchange(s) SWX
End of News DGAP News-Service
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